Ladoix

Hi, Can anyone clear up a matter of public liability insurance please.  Where do you buy public liability insurance for up to £1 million cover and is it normally compulsory.  The apartment in question is normally let to french clients who have their own insurance but what about UK clients? Thanks for any thoughts.

Good point Sprogster, However, would hate to live down there, much as we intend to follow the sun as we get older, that part of France is of no interest to us.  Hqving spent 7 years in Chamonix and watching it change from mountain town to international resort, (with the associated rise in crime) anywhere with a 'popular' following is off the list.  We moved here partly because of the change in atmosphere and partly because of the rising prices - it is now the most expensive place to live in France after Paris and the Cote d'Azur, yet everyone pays the SMIC! So, yes, work is a problem in places like that and so is the quality of life. 

Grimaud Dreamer, Follow your dream!  My husband and I have 2 small children (2 and 5) and we love it here in France.  We both have lived and worked here for many years and our children were born here, so don't know any different.  We live in a similar size town to the one's we grew up in and still return to, to visit our parents, so allowing some comparison between there and France.    France wins hand's down, I feel that living in semi rural France is like going back to the values of my childhood (early 70's).  People say hello to you in the street, the children are amazingly polite at school when I take my daughter in (and the school has children to college age, not just little ones) and she is learning the basics of education by heart - so when she is older she will be able to spell, do mental arithmetic and have excellent table manners, not such a bad education really - it's certainly stood me in good stead.  You should see the canteen menu - not a frite in sight, just a 4 course meal including cheese or yoghurt, at the age of 4 - not cheap though at 4.30€ a day! For activities, although we live in a small town, we have access to all the usual stuff, swimming, gymnastics, karate, music lessons - the local club des sports has amazing amounts of activities and all for a town of approx 6000 inhabitants.  In the holidays, summer camps abound from the age of 6. Work wise, my husband has his own carpentry business and I work for a local french company.  One thing that is difficult for foreigners is accepting the lower wages in France but you have to learn to live the French way, old car, growing veggies, not having the all mod cons - silly things like not having a sink in your loo 'cos of the extra tax (though personally, the idea of a loo without a hand basin - [+o(] ).  We don't go without though, we have everything we need, including good wine that we could not afford in the UK - living in Burgundy helps though! Anyway, for all those who don't like it, there are many of us that are perfectly happy for our children to grow up here and would not inflict a nasty, money obsessed society like the UK on anyone.  We are all different and it all comes down to what you think is the most important in your life, lifestyle or money.  For money, career, future, choose the UK, for living life as you really want to, choose France. All the best PS It's also nice giving your kids the choice to be French or English and from what I am led to believe, no one understands teenagers anyway[;-)] PPS There are some things that are better in the UK but not enough to want to make me live there

Hi Sweet17, Your normal mutuelle generally covers you on holiday and you can add on baggage cover etc.  The specialist skiing insurance is called Carte Neige, it's an annual insurance and covers all mountain activities in France and Europe.  Have lived in ski resorts for years and have always used it, I believe it costs around 50€ these days. Have fun, I'm still waiting for my kids to grow a little before we go skiing again.

As Nick says, ask the appriate chambre, as they all differ. However, if registering at the moment as AE, some Chambres are just asking you to sign a form, saying that you have the qualifications/experience and you are aware of the penalties for working unqualified. Getting insurance however, does involve showing all your qualifications and attestations de travail! Good luck, if it's what you want to do, you'll find the best way.