Travelers hoping to practice a foreign language this summer may not need to leave France, according to a survey published by language app Babbel and travel search platform Skyscanner. The companies said they analyzed international travelers' accommodation searches to identify French coastal destinations expected to draw the widest diversity of nationalities this summer.
Sophie Vignoles, a linguist and head of learning content production at Babbel, said a beach towel in Figari or Brest could be enough to practice a language in 2026, without needing to book a flight. She said the holidays offer a chance to start or return to practicing a foreign language.
Julie Wojtkiewicz, a travel expert at Skyscanner, said the evolution of hotel searches shows foreign travelers are now exploring the full diversity of the French coastline, not just the best-known towns.
Corsica leads foreign interest
Corsica stood out among the dozens of coastal towns analyzed, with the survey's authors saying the island had four cities in the top 10 destinations for growth in hotel searches by foreign tourists. Figari topped the list with a 115% rise in searches from abroad, followed by Bastia at 982% and Ajaccio at 663%. Calvi ranked fifth with a 623% increase. Brest was the only mainland town to make the ranking, with a 642% rise in foreign searches.
Starting a conversation
The survey suggested starting simply, with a smile, a hello, or a question about the weather or a nearby activity to begin a conversation. Vignoles said that on holiday, the motivation to communicate outweighs the fear of making mistakes, and the positive emotions from these exchanges help make the learning stick.
