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I was asking from the point of view of a visitor to France rather than a resident. Personally I have credit cards coming out of my ears and a French bank account but then I’m mature enough to handle them. A friend, on the other hand, sent her student son abroad last year with a credit card and will regret it for some time to come. As he’ll be visiting France next month I wanted to be sure that travellers cheques are still accepted.   So it seems that Euro traveller cheques are still accepted but I should advise them that he should cash them at a Bureau de Change or La Poste rather than a bank.   The statement that I had read was so vague – should it be interpreted to mean that foreign (non Euro) travellers cheques are not accepted anywhere as the Banque de France do not now negotiate them.   Thank you all for your help.     Teamed Up – If you do find out if La Poste cashes travellers cheques would you post here?

Whilst doing some research today I have come across the following statement - "in 2002 the Banque de France stopped dealing in foreign currencies and therefore no longer accepts travellers cheques." I've seen it in several sources, although none official. It's many years since I've used travellers cheques and I wonder if anyone can clarify what this statement means or even if it's true. I can't find any info on the Banque de France website. Does it mean that only Euro travellers cheques (as opposed to foreign currency travellers cheques) are now accepted in France or no travellers cheques? Any help with this gratefully received.

On the original point of how many 'views' to your property advert it could be that people clicking your property weren't interested in your property, your area or even France. We have a home in Alpes-Martimes and have alway driven down in one day. We decided that on our next visit we would like to stop for a few days, maybe in a chambre d'hote around Burgundy. As I was updating my own advertisement on Visit France I thought I would see what was avaialble en route south. Very few ads actually took me to the area I was interested in. Although I left the site without sending any enquiries I know that I clicked on some ads that didn't match the description - some weren't even in France! After looking from a searchers angle I then tried to find my property. Even though I had just finished updating my calendar I wasn't on the first page for my specific town search so I clicked next and it took me to a page covering all of france - mostly just text ads. The first text ad looked very much like my property description with my French town in the heading. Clicking the ad took me to ... a hotel in Derbyshire. Sorry for long post but it seems probable that most of the views to our pages are people looking for something totally different, maybe they were looking for a hotel in Debyshire. They have alway had a problem with some links but not on this scale before.

Hi Lizzie15 I replied to Tris via PM as it was quite lengthy and probably not of interest to experienced Gite Owners who already know what works for them. My original posting was more of a view that if you're new to advertising try some of the sites that don't already have properties in your immediate area (on a free trial of course). I can go on and on about the subject and bore everyone but ....... Anyway, the site that has worked very well for me for the past two years is www.holiday-rentals.com. Having said that, their database is now very large and my apartments are now lost in so many for my area so I'll see what 2005 brings. My properties are modern apartments on Cote d'Azur and a wonderful gite in a rural location might produce a totally different result. You don't know until you try but don't restrict yourself to sites that are only ranking for your area because that would mean they already have properties in those area. Why am I thinking about 'kissing frogs'?

Hi Kiwi in Cognac   Although not all websites can optimise for all search phrases do bear in mind that the home pages of listing sites optimise for general keyphrases i.e. holiday accommodation, holiday cottages etc (and US equivalents) and that specific search phrases containing Charente or Cognac will be optimised within the page containing your advertisement, on good sites at least.  Therefore if you search for very specific phrases relating to your location you a likely to find listing sites that already have properties advertised in your area (competition). Try free trials on quality websites that don’t already rank for your particular area but do for more general (or neighbouring) terms and see in a couple of months if that site then ranks for your specific area using your advertisement.   In your first season you may have to invest a lot of time on listing sites with trial periods but it will be something that stands you in good stead for future years. Finally, do keep a record of where your enquiries came from and (very importantly) how many of the enquiries replied to your response and how many converted to bookings. One site in particular shocked me with the amount of enquiries I received within a month of placing my advertisement. On analysis I could see every one of them was from Hotmail accounts and not one responded to my reply. The next best performing (in terms of enquiries) advertisement returned serious enquirers, all of which responded, with at least questions and 70% converted to bookings.   Best of luck for 2005 and don’t leave it too long. Most of my enquiries for summer come in January. Sorry I can't help with plumber or electricians.

I think that the posting I saw was referring to the distribution of the new magazine for 2005 season. As I said I don't advertise with them - just thought that anyone considering it should ask them to clarify if there is going to be any change to the distribution for next season.

I have just seen a posting on another forum which says that the Chez Nous brochure will not be available for sale in any high street outlet (including WH Smith) this year. I don't advertise with them, or receive their newsletter, and couldn't see an announcement on their website and so I cannot verify anywhere. I just wondered if their advertisers were aware. Can anyone confirm if this is true?

Pixietoadstool I have tried buying smoke detectors in France and agree it’s impossible. I spent a whole day doing the rounds of Castorama and the like in search of smoke detectors before letting our holiday homes. I had read somewhere that they are not allowed to be marketed in France as they contain a minute amount of radioactive isotope. I too bought mine in the UK and would not have considered letting the properties without them. The day I installed them I was listening to the local radio station and heard the news that 2 sisters had died of smoke inhalation when their neighbour in the apartment below had a fire. The flames caused very little damage but the smoke killed 2 people while they slept.   I’m not quite sure what you mean by following latest trends and I certainly wouldn’t suggest that life is simple. You have taken the trouble to install smoke detectors which makes me believe that you are a responsible person. I have trouble even walking in my own shoes let alone any one elses but my father (a very experienced wood machinist) lost part of his hand in a wood machine, along with his livelihood.   My post wasn’t about smoke detectors and I wasn’t criticising – it was more of a plea. To expose people to electrics which don’t conform to current safety legislation and lathes, circular saws etc. and then discuss how troublesome tenants can be and that maybe I1 can find a nice responsible family that could keep a garden alive just took my breath away.

I don’t know if I more disturbed that you’ve even contemplated it or by the response you’ve already received.   Why the talk of the cost involved in ensuring that your electrical system conforms to current safety standards. I think by “grief factors” you are referring to the hassle you might encounter rather than the real grief experienced by people who have lost loved ones because some body didn’t ensure that their property was safe.   I would hate to think that French law was any less clear than English law in that everybody has an obligation to ensure that their property is free from dangers such as wiring which does not conform to current safety regulations and that lathes are not easily accessible to anybody whether they are visitors to your home or tenants.   My advice to you is don’t do it. Advice to anybody else who is concerned with law, insurance etc. is to make sure that your property conforms to current safety regulations. For the remainder (majority I hope) I’m sure that as responsible people, caring for others wellbeing, you already go beyond what is law and have smoke detectors etc.

In case anyone is interested I had noticed some time ago that the FSA website have a normal rate landline listed as their contact number for Money Bookers, although it is not published by Money Bookers.

Andy, you don't mean the high cost 0709 Personal Rate Number do you?

We travel quite regularly from Nice into, and throughout, Italy. If you're using the A8 (France) then A10 (Italy) the only things which come to mind are it's probably best to avoid early Friday mornings as the market in Ventimiglia is very popular with French residents and the traffic is noticeably heavier. There is also one in San Remo on Saturday mornings but not quite so popular/touristy. Beware of the radar camera in the tunnel between Nice Nord and Monaco on the A8. Info here http://www.radarsfixes.com/p_rou.asp?rou=A8 I haven't seen border controls for years although I do hear stories of spot checks by customs looking for large quantities of fake designer goods from the Italian markets. As you enter Italy and encounter more Italian drivers you will notice an increase in speed, courteousness and driving skill and a marked decrease in erratic road use. Bon voyage

Is it all clear now Musicmonkey? I've done it for the first time this year as a UK resident and it really is quite painless. Do ask again if you need clarification on anything. One thing not mentioned on this thread (although it's probably elsewhere) is that if the rent is paid in Sterling then you need to phone the Centre des Impots des Non-Residents in Paris and ask for the official exchange rate to use. If you're declaring income for the 2003 year the rate was 1 Euro = 0.7048.

I've just had a look at BT.com and noticed that although the trading name isn't listed the lady who setup the site (name in the About Us page)) is listed with the same address as the trading address. Her name might make you giggle. Although I don't advertise with them I have got 50 enquiries since January, most of which have not even acknowledged my prompt replies.

My understanding is that any problem with common parts should first be addressed to the Elected Conseil Syndical (CS) rather than the Syndic. The CS should certainly take it very seriously and raise the matter with the Syndic as there may be an issue with security of the building. It might be worth checking on the Syndics policy with regards to informing residents of damage to their property whilst they are away or not resident. I would certainly expect to be informed of any damage that may need attending to. Dont accept any shrugs from the CS or the Syndic they are elected and paid for by you.

I would appreciate some advice on the best way to employ (pay) a changeover cleaner. It seems that the chque d'emploi system might not be appropriate for this type of work where the owner lives in the UK (i.e. the letting property is not part of a family home). Have I misunderstood? Any ideas gratefully received.

Yes, me. We've got two apartments in Antibes. The lettings market is strong in Antibes, for both holiday lets and long term rentals. Holiday lets have an obvious market with a well established EasyJet route into Nice (14kms). The close proximity to Sofia Antipolis (tech. area) makes for a good long term rental market. Of course you can, much to the dismay of the permanent residents, catch the summer short term bookings and then let on a longer term basis during the winter. Rental rates are good but do bear in mind when you're calculating the feasibility the high costs down here - we've paid 1,050 in Taxe Fonciere for 2003 and the Coproprit charges are frightening.