First Stop France
So we decided on an adventure moving to another country and to start with France. The plan was to enjoy some (comparatively) warm weather over the winter and have family come visit for Christmas.
Where to stay
The start of our search was on the internet, there are several sites that will give lots of rental options, which allows you to experience an area before jumping in and committing long term. One of the main reasons we decided to rent first was because we had been warned: some of the towns and villages look amazing on the internet, full of French charm with lots to see and do, bars, shops and many other must haves, but when the seasons change, so do the locations. One minute you are in a vibrant bustling location, but once the the holiday season is over, it seems everyone, including the businesses, disappear. Perhaps you were looking for some time off the beaten track, and then the tourists descend and for the next four months you are fighting the crowds. So a word of warning, try before you buy!
Websites we searched for property
- https://www.longtermrentalsinfrance.com
- https://www.rentaplaceinfrance.com
- https://www.french-property.com
There are a lot of sites full of information on ‘how to’ that will assist in the understanding of the systems and processes in the country.
Good website for information
https://www.longtermrentalsinfrance.com
This is a great source of information. It always good to have a checking tool as there are a lot of opinions out there and by checking with someone who has had a business in France for many years, you get to understand who will become your most reliable source of advice. We actually ended up renting our house through this site. The process was straight forward and easy. As it was a holiday let there was none of the usual tenancy application procedures, which would have been complicated in a foreign country.
Life in our new location
So we arrived in France, but within four days had started, France goes into a second lockdown (the UK followed within a couple of weeks). That was the end of our French family Christmas plans.