Plenty of first-hand advice here Scaley....I too have mulled this notion.Many thanks, mine is a police pension, so i assume that means I’m ok. Any suggestions re areas other than the Dordogne?
That long bread isjust showing offpainfully white.
Pfffft!! Those are starving consumptive models thin as rails; they'll never catch S.A.'s eye.
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- Eating out - there are some excellent value places for good food and wine, but you have to know where they are. Going out on spec can be pricey. Lunchtime is a good time to wine and dine as cafes, bistros, and restaurants do reasonably priced dishes of the day, and 'menus' of the day - they often include a glass or two of your favourite wine or beer. Lunchtime is relatively cheap compared to the UK.
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Canada has become much harder to get in to these days. Unless you are 24-35, have a degree and a nailed on job offer it is getting harder to get the points for PR. Still ways to get in but not as easy as it used to be.Canada, I would in a heartbeat, Mrs SA not so much....
Amen brother!This applies to all things however, so if you’re the type of people who expect things done quickly then you must adjust your expectations. Again, do-able.
If he wants some practice, come to Cornwall
French side of Canada? Best of both worlds for you then.Canada, I would in a heartbeat, Mrs SA not so much....
Worth joining some of the expat sites and asking for ‘local’ knowledge of longer term rentals, rather than via formal rental sites. Lots of Brits have places with gîtes and may either agree to a long rent or know someone else who would.Thank you all for the info. Renting first seems a sound option as does avoiding the Dordogne.
As we want seasons our list of places to consider stands at:
Limousin
Poitiou Charente
Aquitane
Clermont area - is a bit of a wild card. Dont know much about it but understand it's good walking country?
I've been looking at rental sites. All I can find is winter holiday lets, which is ok, but any arrsers know of any regular rental websites?
When we did our 18 months travelling Europe (2016) we spent a month to 8 weeks in each location. We booked all of our main accommodation through AirBnB; if you book for a month or more you get a massive discount. It’s a good, cheap way to find the place you want to get started in a place and then explore / find a longer term rental.Thank you all for the info. Renting first seems a sound option as does avoiding the Dordogne.
As we want seasons our list of places to consider stands at:
Limousin
Poitiou Charente
Aquitane
Clermont area - is a bit of a wild card. Dont know much about it but understand it's good walking country?
I've been looking at rental sites. All I can find is winter holiday lets, which is ok, but any arrsers know of any regular rental websites?
Further to my last dit and extremely mindful that I have only lived just across the border in Italy, not France as some members here, depending on what floats your boat you could consider the Alpes Maritimes (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur).
Yes, it is the epicentre of the rich and beautiful (pain in the arse) folk but go inland and you get the rustic (and affordable bits). Nice City airport to get you back to Blighty, very hot weather (which can be a downside) and easy access into Italy and beyond. Even a direct train from Nice to Paris (quick metro change) then onto London.
As long as you avoid Monaco like the plague there are some great seaside towns (to put it lightly) and then it is your choice of 'managing' the season (aka tourists) while enjoying both the French and Italian Riviera.
Mrs SB is fluent French, I am ok in Italian and we holiday almost exclusively over there straddling both Cote d'Azur and across in Italy. Unfortunately she refuses to live in that part due to the heat, I would move there this afternoon.
ETA - Again, depends on what floats your boat WRT France and your thoughts of the style (not necessarily cost) of living you want. And again, I don't live in France and defer to those here that do.
When we did our 18 months travelling Europe (2016) we spent a month to 8 weeks in each location. We booked all of our main accommodation through AirBnB; if you book for a month or more you get a massive discount. It’s a good, cheap way to find the place you want to get started in a place and then explore / find a longer term rental.