Do you holiday in France?

[holidayinyourpocket]

Hi all,

We are expanding our portfolio of properties on the site to France where we have a handful at the moment. I want to initially target areas that are popular with UK holidaymakers.

I would like you assistance if I may be so bold:-

Do you holiday in France? And if you do, where do you go?

I'm thinking Provence for summer and Alps or Pyrenees for winter sports.

Any opinions or suggestions?

 

[Stephen Berry]

We've holidayed in France at some point in the year for 13 of the last 15 years - I guess we've been everywhere except those you mention (so they are on the list for next year)!
Large holiday destinations throughout the Dordogne and Loire plus Brittany and Normandy. Even Vendee has some great attractions - not least brilliant beaches - and is so easy to get to from St Malo. Cahors was great, Cognac, La Rochelle.
The downside of provence and Alps is probably journey time (no different to Dordogne in reality).

 

[serendipitybusiness]

We haven't had a holiday in France but the southern coast tickles my fancy, fresh air, beautiful sunshine, fresh French bread, beautiful wine hmmmm. Can I be your holiday home tester, I will only charge airfare and will take photos and set up a website and everything

 

[David Griffiths]

We wander further afield these days, but when we had the children with us we usually went to Brittanny or the Vendee, down to Royan. We wanted the sea for the children (and the wife!) but wanted things to do and see in the area.

The coast from Royan (well, the opposite side of the Gironde) south didn't offer a lot other than sea, sun and forests, and the South was too far, too hot or too expensive, or all three!

Now we don't travel as a family there is less restriction, and we'll consider going anywhere - in France

 

[JackieC]

I have holidayed in France for more times than I care to mention over the last 30-odd years. Mostly south coast, ranging from Saint Tropez to Perpignan - some on Atlantic coast. Most people I speak to have the Languedoc region on their agenda.

Ryanair, Jet2 and EasyJet make south coast an easy, inexpensive option nowadays.

We now have our own wee place between Toulouse and Carcassonne.

 

[sm1]

We go to Cannes a bit Been twice, but like a few other areas as well.

 

[dp0848]

Provence for the food and the fresh produce in the markets.

 

[holidayinyourpocket]

Thanks for those replies guys.

Anyone else?

 

[dagr]

There are the obvious places for Brits, most of which have been mentioned above (Dordogne & Provence for guaranteed weather, and Brittany & Normandy for easier access, specially by car). Some areas, specially the Dordogne, are overrun by Brits. This may put off some holidaymakers (or attract others). There are other, lesser known areas that would appeal to the more francophile bunch, but I'm not saying where.

 

[Stephen Berry]

There are other, lesser known areas that would appeal to the more francophile bunch, but I'm not saying where.

now you have me intrigued! We'll be planning our 2009 holidays probably next week ...... mmmmm


by the way - don't forget good old Paris - I was there for a few days with my 6 year old 2 weeks ago.
A flat in central Paris might be an attractive venue. I was really interested by the unfashionable 19th arrondisement - high immigrant population and clearly run down but in the early stages of regeneration - like the London docklands a few years ago.
Dagr - what's the feeling in Paris about that? If my observations are right, that could be a place to invest for a holiday home empire!

 

[dagr]

As the "true" Paris (inside the Peripherique inner ring road) is quite small, there aren't many bohemian areas left, probably just parts of the 13th, 19th & 20th arrondissements. I can see these slowly being redeveloped and the current occupiers pushed out into the soul-destroying, dormitory suburbs east and north of the city. But I haven't heard of any concerted movement to make that happen (although it may well be afoot).

Paris is still a bit cheaper than London for real estate, even with the current £/€ rate.

 

[adventurelife]

Last few have been family ones have been

Brittany
Provence
Central Massif Region

Alps regular short visits

 

[franglaisaccounts]

Hi
We live in France and are currently near Fontainebleau. We'll soon be relocated with my husbands work so will be selling up our house if you're interested in aquiring a property in this area?!

Otherwise more seriously, with regards to popular holiday spots over here:

La Gorge de Verdon is amazing
Megeve & Mont Blanc area fantastic
Brittany lovely but already loads of british property owners around there.
North Lyon - Mont du lyonnais, Mont D'or, Beaujolais all fab (we used to live around there)
Avignon, Valence
and obviously the south coast, mostly between Marseille and Nice, all beautiful!

Have you thought of setting up a French SCI company over here since you are looking to get several properties?

If you want any french/uk account advice or number crunching then feel free to ask!

Rachel

 

[sm1]

I like the name franglais - very clever

 

[franglaisaccounts]

cheers!
very natural name as that's my language these days!

 

[sm1]

Must be great fun to be bilingual

 

[franglaisaccounts]

yeah its quite cool & does come in handy quite often, ie when salespeople call I speak my faster english to scare them off or if frenchies are slagging off les anglais I can catch them in the act, hehe

 

[sm1]

Hahahahaa

 

[aeridley]

I live in Morzine in the French Alps. It's hugely popular for skiers and snowboarders in the winter, and mountain bikers and hikers in the summer. It's only an hour away from Geneva.
I only moved here last year but it is so popular with mostly UK tourists despite being so close to Switzerland and Italy! And it does really feel like you are on a permanent holiday out here.