Accommodation

This guide provides a summary of the different types of student accommodation in Lebanon.

Prior to selecting any accommodation it is advisable to take into consideration the local traffic situation. Depending on the location of your accommodation, many hours can be lost sitting in traffic jams!

We would recommend to source accommodation close to the Le Cordon Bleu and avoid issues with traffic.

Le Cordon Bleu Lebanon is located in Tabarja which is 25km north of Beirut centre, near a coastal city called Jounieh. Generally traffic heading towards Beirut is at its slowest between 07:00 – 09:30 and heading out of Beirut between 17:00 – 19:00. Therefore if your accommodation is located south of Beirut you will have traffic delays in the morning and, potentially, issues in the evening as you travel through the Beirut centre.

Ideal areas for accommodation include:

• Tabarja
• Jounieh
• Kfrayassine
• Adma

If you are arriving from overseas, it might be worth it to book a hotel for the first few days as a base, while you look for something more permanent.

Le Cordon Bleu Lebanon is located within the BURJ on BAY Hotel and we have secured special short and long term rates Le Cordon Bleu students.

Other hotels are available in the area around Le Cordon Bleu. For listings of hotels and up-to-date pricing information, visit a comparison site such as:

www.airbnb.com

www.booking.com

www.lastminute.com

www.tripadvisor.com

www.laterooms.com

As a general rule, hotels, on a long-term basis, will be expensive and you may want to seek rented accommodation as a cheaper alternative. Rates can vary according to time of year. As a general rule:

• Low season is from October to March
• Mid-season is from April through to end of May
• High season is from June through to September

Note: Christmas (December) and Easter (mid April) holiday periods are generally priced as high season, but may include slightly higher charges.

There are several different types of accommodation available to students enrolled on a course at Le Cordon Bleu.

These fall into the following categories:

• Student accommodation within the BURJ on BAY Hotel
• Private flats/houses through estate agents
• House or flat shares (can be arranged through an agency)

Please note that the duration of property leases vary, including

• short term (less than 6 months)
• six month
• long term (minimum 12 months)

Rental rates will vary accordingly, with longer-term rates being the least expensive. It is advisable to check with the Estate Agent on lease conditions in advance.

You can download the "Square Meter" app for help in locatins accommodation.

Le Cordon Bleu strongly recommends taking legal advice prior to signing any binding contract. Our law offices, B Legal, can assist you.

Travelling to and from Le Cordon Bleu and general internal travel

Public Transport is very limited with no trains, trams or metro. There are however some bus services.

In general, the level of comfort is low and the service very erratic, with drop off points being on the edge of the main highway.

The Lebanese address system is very limited with very few buildings having numbers. Outside of urban areas, it’s also possible the street/road will not have a formal name. Therefore, unless you are 100% sure of your destination, it is advisable to have the telephone number of someone at your destination.

Taxi
After the personal car, this is the most common method of transport. Generally taxi operation is split into two very different categories:

“Service” – These taxis are not a door to door service and will stop to pick up other customers along the route. They are very cheap.

“Private Hire” – This is a door to door service and it is advisable to agree on the price prior to starting the trip. 

Le Cordon Bleu Lebanon has onsite secure car parking.

The airport is approximately 35km south of Le Cordon Bleu.

There is no public transport between the airport and Beirut or Le Cordon Bleu.

By Taxi

Airport Taxi: Follow the signs to the taxi area. Taxis charge on an agreed price prior to departure, and on average a journey to Central Beirut takes approximately 30 minutes but is very dependent on the time of day and traffic conditions. These taxi are generally considered to be expensive.

Pre-Booked Taxi: A driver will wait at arrivals area with the passenger’s name on a sign. Price is usually agreed at booking with some addition depending on Car Park charges. Le Cordon Bleu can arrange an airport pick up.

Avoid any persons approaching you offering taxi services, they are almost certainly not official (even if they have a badge) and the charges will be very high.

Medical treatment in Lebanon can be expensive. Most hospitals are well equipped. Doctors are generally well qualified though nursing standards vary. The majority of medical staff speak French and English. Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation.

If you need emergency medical assistance during your trip, dial 112 and ask for an ambulance. You should contact your insurance/medical assistance company promptly if you are referred to a medical facility for treatment.

Drink

Bottled water that is sealed

Ice made with bottled water

Carbonated drinks

Hot coffee or tea

Pasteurized milk

Don’t Drink

Tap or well water

Ice made with tap or well water

Drinks made with tap or well water (such as reconstituted juice)

Unpasteurized milk

 

In case of emergency, call 112.

Le Cordon Bleu Lebanon is located inside the Burj On Bay Hotel. Through them, we are able to provide students with accommodation in a Private Student Room within the hotel, starting at $1333 plus tax per month, for 9 months. Shorter stays are also available.

We are located close to residential areas where accommodation is generally available. Prices will depend on location, number of rooms, and whether it is shared or single occupancy. Please feel free to contact our admissions team for more information on accommodation.

Please note that the information provided in this document was correct when issued.
Le Cordon Bleu takes no responsibility for any changes that may occur.