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The Federation of Alliances Françaises USA is pleased to offer our second language-immersion travel program to Bordeaux, France in
the fall of 2026. This is a benefit of Federation membership, allowing smaller chapters in many states to offer a language-immersion
experience to their members. Bordeaux is an international tourist destination known for its architectural and cultural heritage and is
often referred to as the world capital of wine, with many castles and vineyards.
In cooperation with the Alliance Française de Bordeaux
Nouvelle-Aquitaine (AFB),
program participants will have the opportunity to enroll in a group class at the AFB in the morning and attend cultural activities in the
afternoon. Travel partners are welcome to attend under certain conditions.
For A2-level to C2-level students (from advanced beginners to advanced learners)—sorry, we cannot accommodate beginners. (All
participants will be tested to ascertain their language level.)
Two housing options: homestay (organized by the program) or hotel (booked on your own)
Mornings are dedicated to language learning and some afternoons will include cultural activities
Please note: Unfortunately, for legal reasons, we are unable to accept registrants who are residents of
California, Florida, Hawaii or Washington state.
Program Schedule
Please note that the schedule and order of activities throughout the week may be subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances.
Program Details
L'Alliance Française Bordeaux Nouvelle-AquitaineLocated in the center of Bordeaux, the AFBNA belongs to the international network of the Alliances Françaises and trains more than 3,000 students of 110 different nationalities every year.
Support StaffMurielle de Wekker, Ph.D.
Alliance Française de Charlottesville Executive Director
Support StaffMo Omari, Ph.D.
Federation of AF USA Vice President & French Institute of MI/AF de Detroit President
Group Classes
The AFB will assess your level of French once you are registered for the trip. Classes will take place every day of the week
(Monday-Friday) from 9am – 1pm. The AFB will provide the course materials for the week.
Housing Options
Participants have the option to select a homestay experience or to stay at a hotel in town. The homestay experience is strongly
recommended to maximize your full immersion in the French language during your stay in Bordeaux.
Hotel accommodations are to be arranged by participants on their own.
Homestays are set up and coordinated by AFB. The homestay option includes the following:
9 nights at a French family’s house. (Check-in on Thursday, September 24 | Check out on Saturday, October 3.)
Breakfast and dinner are included (lunch on your own).
The AFB will do its best to place homestay participants within a walking distance of the AFB, but there is no guarantee.
If you attend the program with a travel partner who will not take classes at the AFB, you must select the hotel option.
Federation board support throughout your stay in Bordeaux
Alliance Française de Charlottesville Executive Director Murielle de Wekker and Federation of AF USA Vice President and French Institute
of MI/AF de Detroit President Mo Omari will be the support staff for the entirety of the program (Thursday, September 24 to Saturday,
October 3). During the welcome reception, Murielle and Mo will be able to answer any questions you may have about the program,
Bordeaux, travel logistics and other topics. Murielle will also hold morning office hours throughout the week and both Murielle and Mo
will accompany the group for all scheduled cultural activities in the afternoons. They will be your contacts for any emergency during
your stay from Thursday, September 24 to the morning of Saturday, October 3.
Local Transportation
A local transportation card is included in the fee. It gives you unlimited access to Bordeaux buses and its tramway network during the
time of your stay in Bordeaux (8 days included).
Travel Partner Participation
The Federation of AF USA welcomes travel partners of registered participants taking classes at AF Bordeaux who would like to share
the experience without taking morning classes at the AFB.
Please note that certain conditions apply:
The accompanying adult must select hotel accommodation (the homestay option is not available).
The accompanying adult must speak some French above the A1 level and will be expected to speak in French during the whole program.
Maximum of 2 travel partners for this trip.
Each travel partner must complete and submit their own online registration form.
The travel partner's participation fee includes the following:
The welcome reception
All AFB cultural activities as listed on our website (Please note that because of the immersive nature of the program, all activities will
be conducted in French only).
A public transport pass for the city of Bordeaux
The support of Federation staff during the program (touristic and logistical information; emergency support if needed).
Excluded from the travel partner's participation fee but required to attend the program are:
Proof of health and repatriation insurance including repatriation, health and liability coverage.
1st Installment: March 16, 2026 Invoice sent upon registration
$1,175
$975
$775
2nd Installment: April 16, 2026 Invoice sent after first payment
$1,175
$975
$775
Excluded from the program fee:
Transportation to and from Bordeaux (to be arranged on your own)
For homestay participants: lunches
For hotel-based participants: all meals and accommodation
As required by the AFB, participants must purchase insurance for the length of the program. It must
include repatriation, health and liability coverage.
Chapter membership (the participant’s chapter must also be a FAF USA Chapter member)
Incidentals
Bordeaux Trip Cancellation and Refund Policy
$50 registration deposit is non-refundable.
If you cancel your participation for any reason between March 16 and March 23, 2026, the Federation of AF USA will refund 100% of
your first payment minus a $200 penalty fee.
If you cancel your participation for any reason between March 24 and April 16, 2026, the FEDERATION OF AF USA will refund 25% of
your first payment.
After April 16, 2026 no refund will be given for cancellations for any reason.
Once in Bordeaux, no refund, nor partial refund nor credit will be given for any portions of the program that are not attended by the
participant, which includes tuition, cultural activities, the welcome reception, the local bus/tramway pass as well as meals (for homestay
participants only).
All cancellations must be emailed to melissa.saura@afusa.org (we will NOT acknowledge any
verbal/ over-the-phone cancellation request or voice mail).
Should the Federation cancel the trip, all payments will be refunded.
We will process your cancellation/refund request within one to seven business days. Your partial refund will be processed and mailed as a
check.
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