Posts Tagged ‘Destination’

France: Number One Destination For British Purchases Abroad

Although economic recession has plagued the UK since 2008, France is still the number one destination for British citizens desiring to buy property abroad. Fifty percent of foreign buyers in France are British, and the 2009 French Property Exhibition in London tallied an audience increase of 10 percent.

Cautious lending behaviour has given France a relatively stable housing market sheltered from extreme upturns and downturns. More than 80 percent of all French housing loans are fixed rate. During the recession that spread globally through 2009, more properties came available on the market in France, but the average price in real terms was down 6.4 percent.

Many British buyers are attracted to the Mediterranean climate of the French Riviera. In April when the lilacs are in bloom across the region, temperatures average 12° C. January is the coldest month in the south of France with an average of 8° C, while July and August — the beach season — climb to an average 23° C. The moderate weather draws many British expatriates, as does the relaxed French lifestyle, the exquisite cuisine, and a health system ranked as one of the best in the world.

While cost of living comparisons realistically depend on individual lifestyle, France has the sixth ranked economy globally. Food and drink costs are significantly lower than in other European nations. Dining out is expensive, but the markets offer affordable, high quality staples like meat and fish, milk, fruits and vegetables, and herbs. The average Briton spends approximately €200 to €350 per month on food. In France the amount averages less than €100 euro per week with greater volume acquired per amount spent.

Britons are drawn to the prominent cities of the French Riviera including:

Cannes – Home to the Cannes Film Festival, this elegant, modern city offers gated communities and villas with breathtaking ocean views in close proximity to premier shopping and dining.

Mougins – Located on the heights approximately 15 minutes outside of Cannes, forests of pine, olive, and Cyprus trees surround the village of Mougins, mixing rural elements within easy reach of urban sophistication.

St Tropez – Known as a playground for the wealthy, the port city of St Tropez has a five kilometre shore of beaches for sailing, motorised water sports, windsurfing, and more.

Nice - The fifth largest city in France is also one of the world’s oldest settlements. With breath-taking beaches and celebrated squares like the Place Masséna, Nice is an entrancing blend of old and new with a thriving museum and cultural district.

Other prominent locales in the French Riviera include the Cap d’Antibes, a resort town between Cannes and Nice; Villefranche sur Mer to the east of Nice, featuring a natural, deep harbour; and Cap d’Ail, a modern seaside resort bordering the Principality of Monaco. Quaint small towns and villages dot the region, ensuring that expatriates can find an area that suits their needs and tastes.

Attracted by high availability, falling prices, favourable lending policies, a moderate climate, and a relaxed and affordable lifestyle, it is little wonder that France remains the number one destination for British citizens looking to buy property abroad.

What Make the French Riviera an Ideal Destination for Your Holidays?

 

With 9 million visitors every year, the French Riviera (Cote dâ??Azur) is one of the most famous holiday destinations in the world. It is the most visited region by French tourists and the second most frequented region by foreign tourists, just after Paris. Bordering Italy, it is located in the South of France and extends along the Mediterranean Sea.

The strongest pull for visitors to this region is its diversity, as the French Riviera offers all kinds of tourists a wide range of activities all year round.

For yachters and boaters, there are 135 marinas in The French Riviera. These give you access to amazing seaside resorts. The beaches on this stretch of the South French coast are highly popular during the summer. Saint-Tropez and Saint Raphael are very famous for their exceptional beaches. The climate is exceptional during the summer and even the winter stays quite warm. The French Riviera is a region which can be visited all year.

If you like sport youâ??ll enjoy walking in the mountains, surfing on the sea, skiing in the winter, cycling and the 66 golf courses invite for a round all year. The surrounding Alps, some of which reach 3,000 metres, provide excellent ski resorts. Youâ??d no doubt be surprised to hear that the area boasts 68 ski resorts within easy reach of the coast. The sea and the mountains give an exceptional landscape, making this destination unique.

The three national parks in the area are very popular. The national park of les Ecrins which is located amongst the mountains, welcomes 800,000 visitors each year. Mercantour National Park is another of the nine national parks in France with 800,000 yearly visitors as well. Mercantour National Park is well known for the wolves it welcomes from across the Italian border. Finally, Port-Cros, located on an island, welcomes around half a million visitors every year. In the Cote dâ??Azur, you will also find another four regional nature parks.

The cultural heritage of the French Riviera is amazing. Among the 1,800 edifices registered or classified as historical monuments, three are classified as world heritage site by UNESCO. The old harbour of St Tropez has some very charming small streets, Cannes and Nice welcome celebrities all year for different events and Marseille is very famous for its old harbour as well. You will be welcomed by small villages where you will be able to discover their custom and their local traditions.

Local gastronomy is also a good reason to spend your holidays in the French Riviera. Lavender grows wild in this area of France and is very typical of the regionâ??s cuisine. The plant is used both in the Provencal herb mixture so common in traditional French food and to make lavender honey. Adding to the flavour of the Cote dâ??Azur are the olive groves that have become a regional speciality.

Alternatively the Cote dâ??Azur is excellent for just sitting back, sunbathing, and relaxing on one of the many fantastic beaches!

With something for every visitor, whichever season you wish to visit, the French Riviera is an ideal destination for your next holiday.

 

For more tips, and accommodation in the area visit South of France Tips

Cannes – an All Year Round Destination

The weather in Cannes can top 40c in the Summer months but even through the Winter months pleasantly mild temperatures are seen with low rainfall making this city a year round destination.

Cannes is probably best known for the Cannes Film Festival. The film festival takes place every May and takes over the whole of the city. Much revered within the film industry, Cannes attracts high profile actors, actresses, directors and royalty. The Festival de Cannes has been going for 61 years now and seems to get more popular each year.

The concentration of famous faces brings many fans and tourists during festival time. All but a handful of the many luxury Cannes villas are fully booked. Being a very affluent area, Cannes has some of the most stunning holiday villas in France. Many villas south of France are even located within private gated communities, extremely sort after by celebrities. With such clientele, it is no surprise that Cannes is also famous for its luxury shops, exquisite restaurants and prestigious hotels such as the Majestic Barriere. Popular with famous faces all over the world, this legendary hotel epitomizes the Cannes Film Festival.

When staying in Cannes, of course a shopping trip must be done but on from that there are many sights and cultural experiences to be had. One such is a walk up Mont Chevalier up to Suquet. The panorama up there is breathtaking and whole of Cannes including the Lerins Islands can be seen. For those interested in fishing, the Vieux Port is a must see where the fishermen work alongside the sightseeing boats. And then what everyone does when they visit Cannes is walk the three kilometres of one of the most famous promenades in the world, The Croisette. This stretch follows the curve of the bay and is adorned with palm trees, lawns, planted gardens and flowers.

Another activity that must be done is the boat trip to the islands of St Marguerite and St Honorat. St Marguerite is famous for the cell at the Fort of St Marguerite, now called the Musee de la Mer, which is said to have held the â??Man with the iron maskâ? for 11 years. It is also the location of many shipwrecks. St Honorat is only inhabited by Cistercian monks. There are the ruins of the 11th century monastery on the edge of the island right by the sea and the monks spend their days praying and making the famous Curvee St Honorat red and white wine.

The Nice Cote dâ??Azur Airport is located just 15 miles from Cannes making it an easily accessible destination. By car, the A8 motorway goes all the way from Paris to Nice. Transportation by rail is also available with services from all the major French towns but also from Brussels, Rome, Milan and Venice.

Europe – A Most Desired Vacation Destination

Europe-An amazing continent in the world is basically attached to Russia, but is regarded as an autonomous continent by itself. It is not required to pioneer Europe as it is a famous destination and is the hottest and one of the favorite destinations for tourists. It is regardedas an amazing holiday stay for a honeymoon pair. You have abundant number of causes to visit and explore this grand continent-Europe Europe is originated from a name of Phoenician Princess, Europa, as in Greek mythology Europe is located on the west of Eurasia but is regarded a separate continent due to political and civilizing influence. Basically, Europe covers an area of 4,000,000 square miles and hence is the second smallest continent in the globe with around 700 million citizens living in Europe. The populace is stable as the death and the birth rates are same, so it has controlled its population from past twenty years, and still maintaining it! Europe is one of the most beautiful locations in the entire globe preferred by numerous tourists. If you are deciding to visit Europe you are going to cherish the most precious reminiscences of your lifetime. It’s a wonderful experience to visit this dream destination —Europe . It attracts a lot of tourists from all over the globe for its natural picturesque splendor. European countries are rich in artistic heritage and natural splendor with a lot of antiques and ancient museums that reveal the past European tradition. It is truly a paradise on earth with a number of hot spots that attract a lot of tourists, some of the hot favorites in Europe are: Italy-Italy is most well known for its historic and creative collections that disclose ancient civilization in modern times. It has remarkable scenery carpet lawns and sparkling beaches. The mouth-watering food served with wine is one of the customary ways to receive the visitors. You have a lifetime experience when you drink and eat in renowned hotels in Italy. If you are roving to Rome, don’t miss the opportunity to see the well-known Coliseum, and if you are on a visit to Naples, try and soothe your eyes by viewing the best location in Monte Solaro or pleasure your day trip to Pompeii. France: Another mind-blowing occurrence is to visit France as you will be tired of a number of options offered by the country. With a diversified culture and assorted civilization, you will get the real sense of France and its unique culture. Cuisine is as delicious as the beauty of France, its tempting delicacies are world famous and more appreciated throughout the country. France is a dynamic country with a number of incidents and celebrations placesoccurring throughout the year, March comes with modern fashions and styles that are depicted in Paris Fashion week, May gets in a flow of tourists pouring in from all over the globe to enjoy the Cannes Film Festival, Carcassone comes in August, it’s a medieval festival celebrated with great enthusiasm in Carcassone Fortress. With a large varietyof fairs and incidents in France, it has become a hot spot for the tourists and visitors. Czech Republic: Czech Republic is regarded as one of the romantic destination of the world, it is located in Central Europe and is popular for quixotic cities like Prague which is the capital and ancient city of Czech Republic. It is a charming and attractive romantic city which just escaped the destruction caused due to World War II. Its natural atmosphere and lovely weather attracts a number of romantic pairs to enjoy their dream vacation here. You can understand the historical look by viewing and sensing it cobblestone lanes, cultural patios, a idealistic bridge which is over five hundred years old, an eleven hundred year old superbly maintained and valued castle and lastly, not to refer numerous churches that sum up t its artistic and antique charisma of this romantic city. You will also see modern bars, gardens, hotels, shops etc. Apart from this there are many more romantic destinations to visit and relax your body and mind entirely. Discover Europe by visiting many beautiful cities of historical and cultural significance.

Looking for a Property for Sale? Provence is a Perfect Destination

If you’re looking for a property for sale, Provence is a perfect destination for many reasons, and this article will provide you with an overview of Provence and the property market.

With an appealing coastline and a typical Mediterranean climate, Provence never fails to captivate people. Located in the south-east of France by the Mediterranean Sea, with the beach-laden Cote d’Azur in the south, Provence takes you back to the classical times of the past. Tranquillity is in abundance, with ancient oak groves and forests that induce a pronounced feeling of calmness. The scenery is breathtaking with natural gorges, fragrance-laden slopes and dazzling fields. There is an array of activities for cultural enthusiasts, ranging from art exhibitions to traditional music and facilities such as: kayaking, trekking, biking and even skiing in winter for outdoor sport lovers. Last but not least, several stylish cities are only one to two hours away in the car.

Do you have your mind medieval village-like picture in your mind? Then you are both right and wrong at the same time! Provence has the rare twin-mix of being steeped in culture while at the same time being equipped with a good, modern infrastructure. Provence is well connected by a good network of roads and high-speed train services, and several towns boast of great markets, schools and health services.

Provence broadly comprises of the regions of Var, Vaucluse and Bouches du Rhone Toulon. Brignoles (in Var), Avignonm Orange (in Vaucluse) and Aubagne (in Bouches du Rhone) are some of the prominent cities, and the well-known city of Cannes that hosts the prestigious film festival nestles in Alpes-Maritimes, is essentially a part of Provence as well.

Coming to the property scenario in Provence, there is only one way the market has gone – up. There exists a clear two-fold benefit to the property buyer – a second home for an idyllic getaway coupled with the fact that it is an undeniably good investment as property prices soar even during the course of a year. Several options exist for the buyer looking for a property for sale in Provence, for example: two-bedroom apartments that would cost around 150,000 Euros to exotically designed villas that can cost over 3,000,000 Euros.

Location plays an important role in the property price. While properties for sale in the coastal Var region (cities like Toulon, Brignoles and Frejus) are more affordable, the downside is a population bottleneck on the roads, especially in early summer, owing to a heavy influx of tourists. Cities like Orange and Avignon in Vaucluse have lower property prices due to Parisians owning second homes in the region and the homes tending to have basic amenities. However the area has a strong musical culture and the beauty of open-air festivals needs to be seen to be believed. Properties in the Alpine region in Provence often have their own vineyards and olive groves and are a wise consideration when you’re looking for a property with a really good return for investment purposes.

When it comes to buying a property for sale, Provence has made it straightforward. All you need to do is contact real estate agents in South East France who are registered with recognised bodies. The agent’s fee is approximately 4-10% of the property price.

In conclusion, investment in property is never considered a waste; more so in a rapidly growing region such as Provence. Non-residents benefit from having a property they can visit whenever they want, then using the property for short-term rental income, and then benefiting from a high return when the property is sold. So when you’re looking for a property for sale, Provence is the perfect destination.