HOLIDAYS IN FRANCE - HOTEL BARGE
If a Self-Drive Barge Holiday is not for you and you still wish to enjoy the scenic beauty and tranquility of the French inland waterways, then a Hotel Barge Holiday may be the answer. This is an enjoyable and relaxing way of discovering the beauty of rural France.
You can explore the French countryside on board a small, floating luxury hotel, attended by an experienced crew, ready to meet your every need. Hosting a small number of guests means attention to detail and an exceptional level of service and cuisine. Hotel Barges have all the modern comforts, with accommodation based on twin and double-bedded staterooms and suites, all with private en-suite shower or bathroom.
The finest regional cuisine is prepared by an on-board gourmet chef. Breakfast and lunch may be enjoyed on the sundeck with a candlelit dinner being the culinary highlight of the day, complimented by the finest French wines.
As your floating hotel cruises at a sedate 6-8Km per hour along the rivers and canals, you have the opportunity to stroll or cycle along the tow path or visit the quaint canal side villages, with your hotel barge waiting at the next lock or mooring. If that sounds too strenuous then just relax on the sundeck.
Daily excursions are arranged so that you may explore the local region, with wine tasting often on the agenda. These trips are either a short distance from the waterway or reached by using the hotel’s minibus.
If you feel the need for exercise, optional activities such as horse riding, golf or tennis are available. On some cruises, hot air ballooning is possible so that you may view the area from above.
Whether you opt for a Hotel Barge or a self-drive Penchinette, these holidays provide a rich experience and a new perspective of a beautiful country.
SELF-DRIVE BARGE HOLIDAYS IN FRANCE
As an alternative to cruising on the high seas in a luxury liner, why not try a boating holiday in France. France has 10000 Km of tranquil canals and waterways, linking the entire region. Boating is a wonderful way to discover the country. You can cruise at the official speed limit of 8Km per hour on the canals (10Km on the rivers) past chateaux, castles, monasteries, vineyards and fields of sunflowers.
The best choice of vessel is the “Penichette” a barge specifically designed for river or canal cruising, based on the traditional French barge design. Do not let the term” barge” fool you. These are sophisticated boats, more akin to the normal cabin cruiser. The Flying Bridge Penichettes are the latest designs providing dual inside and outside steering positions with bow thrusters for maximum maneuverability in narrow spaces. They provide accommodation for 4-8 persons, mainly in single or double en-suite cabins. The saloon is the place for family board games and intimate dinners. The boats are roomy with showers and hot and cold running water. Water tanks are easily filled at locks and villages. All linen is provided. A permit is supplied by the boat-hire company and you will receive basic instruction on driving, together with detailed navigation guides. Going through the Locks is all part of the fun, and a ritual, as explained in your guide and you will be assisted by friendly Lock Keepers. Cruise at your own pace and moor up to dine ashore, fish or explore the local scene. Most boats carry bicycle racks and bicycles can be hired. Ride ahead on the towpath for that French bread and warm croissants for breakfast!
France has an enormous choice of waterways for your trip. Each region is perfect for a relaxing holiday. In Western France is the rugged beauty of Brittany. In Eastern France the canals of Alsace Lorraine flow past medieval, fortified towns, the Black Forest and the Vosges Mountains. The Canal du Midi in the south is a World Heritage Site. This canal links Toulouse with Agde flowing past the walled city of Carcassonne. The Canal du Rhone and the Canal de la Robine bring one to the Camargue, famed for pink flamingos and wild horses. Finally, the canals of Nivernais, Loire and Bourgogne open up the heartland of France. This is the region to sample Boeuf Bourguignon with chilled Chablis.
Boating in France is a unique and rich experience on canals and beautiful rivers far away from the madding crowds and the busy Routes Nationales! With self-drive Barge Holidays in France you see the country from a different perspective.
FRANCE - COST OF LIVING
The cost of living in France is supposedly 65% of the cost of living in Britain. As in most countries it is cheaper to live in the countryside or a small town or city than in Paris or one of the major cities. For the average British family of four relocating to France I think you will find your yearly expenditure comparable to your British expenses.
Most Brits who move to France buy older properties in need of renovation. Homes in general are cheaper than in Britain. However, unless you take a truck load of supplies and do the work yourself be prepared for it to be more expensive to purchase DIY materials in France. Labour in France works out more expensive since they are allowed to work only a 35 hour week and the average day includes a 2 hour lunch. So work moves along at a slower pace and although the workmanship might be the same it will take longer and therefore cost more to get the job done.
Again most people relocating to France live in rural areas. The quality of life may be wonderful but it comes at a cost. You need at least one car and possibly two with all the usual expenses involved. Also France being rather a large country by comparison to Britain distances to the shops etc might be quite considerable so costing more in travel expenses whether you use your own car, the bus if available or a taxi again if available.
Grocery shopping for wine, pate, fresh produce and cheese is somewhat cheaper than the UK. This is very attractive to holiday makers who take home an abundance of French food products on their return to the UK. If you are doing a normal weekly shop on the other hand you may find cleaning products, toiletries and imported items to be more expensive. Add in the cost of VAT and there really isn’t saving to be made.
Depending on where you live and the type of heating you have the costs can be generally higher. If you live in the South of France and have access to gas it will be much the same price as the UK. But, you will have additional costs in summer on your electricity bill if you have air conditioning. In rural areas and the North you will likely have electric heating, diesel fuel or wood. All of which are expensive when you are living there full time.
Taxes in France are higher and if you are self employed apart from the taxes there are numerous social services to contribute to. Being self employed in France is a whole article in itself and I will research and write about this in the future. Also check out my article on ”Where Not To Die” and research French Inheritance Laws and see how they apply to you and your family.
Medical care is excellent, for those relocating to France from the EU you should receive medical care if you have the necessary documents. The EHIC card is usable for 2 years. It is advisable to take out private medical insurance for the whole family if you plan on staying long term. I won’t give prices as they vary so much given the many variables in a family’s circumstances. However the cheapest I have seen for full cover for an individual is 1500 euros per year. Also Medical info is changing rapidly at the moment as the new President is making some changes which will affect those already in France and those who are retiring to France before retirement age. I will update these pages when I know the situation for sure but in the meantime check this out carefully as it may affect your decision to move.
Property taxes seem to be lower but if you have moved from a small but expensive house in the UK and you buy a large farm house with several acres of course the bill will probably be higher. Check these costs out thoroughly before you buy your lovely French home.
All in all it depends on each family’s individual circumstances. If you enjoy holidaying in France and plan to move there permanently, do a thorough cost of the everyday price of the things you usually purchase. Food, clothing, utilities, taxes, petrol and medical care should be on your list of costs to compare. Then if you have a fair idea of what your income will be in France you will have a better idea of what your circumstances will be. Personally I think things average out about the same but you will be living in a beautiful country, probably in the home of your dreams and living a more relaxed lifestyle.
BUYING A HOUSE IN FRANCE
If you are one of the 400,000 people who are currently leaving or thinking of leaving Britain, here are a few considerations when buying a house in France. Remember that French bureaucracy, still largely based on Napoleonic Law, can be totally frustrating. Buying French property provides no exception.
Having found the dream house, it is essential to find out if the asking price includes commission and legal fees, or in other words what is the total price. As in the UK, a private sale will save you a good 6% on agent’s fees. In this respect a thorough reconnaissance of the desired area could provide you with information from the locals on people in the area selling or thinking of selling property. Bars in small villages and towns are the ideal source for such valuable information. A private sale without agents involved is the ideal.
As in the UK, Notaries (legal) fees cannot be avoided. and usually add 10% to the price. A Notaire may represent both parties since he or she represents the State. The 10% fee includes the local and government taxes and the French equivalent of stamp duty (Currently 19.6%) If you fancy renovating a “ruin” the duty is half this amount. Any commission or fees should not be asked for before the normal seven day cooling off period that follows the signing of the “Compromise de Vente” ( contract) and should only then be a deposit.
If you are not a cash buyer the fees will increase if the Notaire is involved in the work of obtaining a mortgage. Some UK banks will lend against foreign properties. The other option is to obtain a mortgage from a foreign bank. The requirements for borrowing in France are quite stringent. Repayments must not exceed 33% of joint or single earnings and a deposit around 15% is normally required. The good news is that interest rates are generally lower in France than the UK. Obviously, as in Britain, cash buying is the better choice.
Having said all that, France has many advantages and despite the bureaucracy is a beautiful country in which to live. Happy house hunting and enjoy your new life in France.
CHRISTMAS IN PARIS
Posted by Sunny
How about a romantic Christmas in Paris this year?
Paris is beautiful at any time of the year but especially so at Christmas. Imagine strolling down the famous Champs Elysee, with the twinkling fairy lights in the trees and looking in all the famous shop windows. Watching the ice skaters in front of the town hall. Enjoying yourself at the Christmas Market. A feature of most major European towns and cities at Christmas. The Paris market is beautiful. Traditional wooden stalls like mini chalets filled with wonderful goods. The perfect place to find something different for Christmas. Everywhere you look Paris is decked in Christmas finery that delights the eye.
There are all the usual sights to see but for something special the service at Notre Dame on Christmas Eve or for those who like the unusual how about the Da Vinci Code tour.
The area around the Eiffel Tower is lovely for a walk on a crisp winters day and you could make your way down to the River for a cruise on the Seine surely the best and most comfortable way to see many of the sites. Lovely at night too for a romantic candlelit dinner cruise while looking out at the twinkling lights of Paris.
For those who will spend Christmas in Paris, you will notice that from about December 23-January 2, everywhere is quiet and peaceful. This is because Parisians leave town en masse to visit their family homes in the provinces. With fewer people and less traffic, combined with the early nightfall, you can expect wonderful walks where one can enjoy all the decorations and markets and the echo of church bells throughout the city without all the hustle and bustle. Major avenues and tiny village-like quartiers await you. Arm in arm with your loved one,huddled against the cold, this is one of the most romantic experiences that the city can offer.
LIVING IN FRANCE - RESIDENCY
Those people from the EU who want to live in France are no longer required to obtain a Carte de Sejour (Resident’s Permit)
Citizens from the USA who are moving to France for more than three months need a Visa de long Sejour (long stay visa) These can be obtained from your nearest French Consulate. Once you have your long stay visa you must obtain a Carte de Sejour (residence permit) within one week of your arrival in France from the Prefecture de Police. Take with you a valid passport, Birth and /or Marriage certificate and proof of accommodation, proof of contributions to the French Social Security, contract of employment or if you are self employed an authorisation from the Chamber of Commerce, 3 passport photographs, if retired - proof of pensions, if a student - proof from your university, if married to a French national - a copy of your marriage certificate.
Now for those people from the newer EU member states contrary to the above you do need a residence permit to both live and work in France. You can get long or short stay permits and they can be renewed as necessary. It will also cover your spouse and dependants who are under 21 years of age.
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