JOLLY GOOD ADVICE. (Going to live in France - Alan Hart)

Member Name: thingywhatsit

Product:	Going to live in France - Alan Hart
Date:	31/07/06 (145 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Factual, easy to source individual information, extremely well written.

Disadvantages: Slight changes in law, but nothing to make the book lose value.

Since living and working in France, I have read many books on the subject of people coming here to set up home, because it interests me, and because I wondered what kind of advice people are taking, since many make classic mistakes on their move here, misunderstanding the paperwork, and the need to conform with the French beaurocracy. Alan Hart's book is the best that I have read on the subject, and I really was impressed, and although little things seem out of date because legislation changes on a regular basis, it still strikes me as the very best advice that a person wishing to live in France can hope to have in one handbook.

What I liked about this book was the simplicity of layout, as opposed to the jumble of books like The Survival Handbook by David Hampshire. The quality of print, and clarity of subject matter is actually amazing. He covers every aspect of the move, and his book opens with a lovely and realistic vision of what the French are like, understanding their complex legal system, their need for paperwork in mountains and the political stance of the French as a nation.

A whole section is devoted to preparation, and believe me, when making a drastic move such as this, then preparation counts for a lot. Here, he really has covered location, the kind of things you need to think about taking with you, preparing yourself financially and culturally, learning how to register your existance in France, although here, laws have changed and the paperwork side of registration is a little different, since the Carte de Sejour (or stay permit) is no longer a necessity.

Property in France is also covered pretty well, in that he explains the process of renting property as well as the ever popular renovation of your home in France, discovering legal issues, having your investment surveyed (not a popular thing in France, although well worth considering), and here the information is crystal clear.

Settling in to your new home is covered pretty accurately too and the writer gives a comprehensive rundown of the things that people need to know in order to enhance their experience of life abroad. There are sections on how to meet people, working in France, Tax payments, self employment, seasonal work and studying in the country, and all these sections are accurate, though of course, employment will vary considerably from one area to the next.

Retirement is covered in detail and one of the points that he dealt with quite well was how to cope with bereavement in a foreign country, a question that needs to be prepared for, preferably before events turn into out of control situations. Claiming your pension, drawing up a pension plan, accessing the health system in France and how to cope with disability and handicap abroad are all discussed in a very clear manner, making this book the best I have read on the subject, giving practical advice and not making the mistake that many books of this nature have made in boasting about the author's own achievement.

Travel and Leisure time, and a voyage of discovery of other parts of France are well described by different regions, giving the reader a clear idea of what the different parts of France offer.

This is a Howtobook, published by the Daily Telegraph and a superb example of what can be learnt in advance of moving to a country, and actually enhance the experience. Read it if you are thinking of a move, because the information contained within it is well thought out, undramatised and factual.

At 10.99 GBP, it could save you a fortune in mistakes that you may otherwise make. Even better, it is available from Amazon.co.uk from as little as 3.74 GBP which is indeed a bargain.



Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: How To Books (1 Feb 2003)
Language English
ISBN: 1857038541

Summary: A delight to read, and extremely factual.