Stevehoward

oops, sorry, you're right, I didn't.  French school holiday dates please.  From the responses so far, it appears that these dates vary from region to region, is that correct? Thanks to all those who have responded so far Steve Howard

can someone tell me where I can find the exact school holiday dates for 2006 so I can plan the relevant charter rates for my boat. Many thanks Steve Howard

 We are starting a Catamaran charter Business in the South of France and wonder if anyone knows a good accountant in this area who is familiar with pan european V.A.T./T.V.A. issues.English speaking would be a distinct advantage.Many thanks Steve Howard  

 We are starting a Catamaran charter Business in the South of France and wonder if anyone knows a good accountant in this area who is familiar with pan european V.A.T./T.V.A. issues.English speaking would be a distinct advantage.Many thanks Steve Howard  

We are starting a Catamaran charter Business in the South of France and wonder if anyone knows a good accountant in this area who is familiar with pan european V.A.T./T.V.A. issues.English speaking would be a distinct advantage. Many thanks Steve Howard  

My wife and I are considering purchasing a (an?) hotel in France and notice there is an aspect to hotel keeping which rarely, if ever, gets a mention on these pages. We need to know if it is obligatory for all the bedrooms to be decorated in a particularly horrible floral wallpaper with lino floors without rugs. Also, does it take a special skill known only to hotel proprietors to buy the orange and yellow swirly pattern bedspreads which  manage to clash spectacularly with the walls  I only ask because this is what we have enjoyed(?) in each of the various visits to France so far and am not sure that we have this particular talent. We are worried we may bring good taste to the decor.  Is it some sort of regulation in order to achieve two star status? Just wondering. . . . . Steve Howard P.S.  Do the regulations also cover the sixties retro brown shiny bathroom tiles as well?

hhmmm, so let me get this right. . . . . A grey barren town without a trace of vegetation apart from the occasional clump of tumbleweed rolling desolately down the main street, accompanied by the sound of wolves howling mournfully on the wind. Not so much the place for a holiday hotel, more like the set off a Clint Eastwood movie! Seriously though, the figures show a healthy turnover on an eight month season so it does appear to be popular. I just wonder, based on the above, how many come back! I have included the sale details website below and wonder if anyone recognises the hotel and where it is actually located. It does say it is only near to Gramat.   Methinks I had better come and have a look   Thanks to the two people who have responded so far, any other info gratefully received   Steve Howard   http://www.frenchhouserestoration.co.uk/franceproperty500over/bautan28wf.html

My wife and I have been looking for a hotel to buy in the Midi pyrenees for the last eighteen months without success, but have just received details on one that may be suitable but is located just outside Gramat, north east of Cahors. Trouble is we have not ventured this far North in the region and have no idea what the area is like. Any information would be gratefully received before we decide whether a trip would be in order. There, that seems vague enough! Many thanks, Steve Howard

Could anyone recommend either a broker or bank in the market for commercial mortgages on a hotel in France. I have made enquiries on some of the ads in Living France, but they appear to deal exclusively with domestic mortgages.   Many thanks   Steve Howard

I am not sure if the answer to this will contravene the advertising restrictions for this forum, but I wonder if anyone knows of immobiliers in the South West of France that specialise in the sale of hotels and b&b's.   Any details of websites would be gratefully received.   Thanks   Steve Howard

We are currently looking to buy a hotel just outside Toulouse and have received brief details of the hotel's turnover. Firstly, it states that they take 27,000 euros for breakfasts for the year with the cost for supplying this at 5,750 euros. Looks like a terrific mark up to me, could this be right? Secondly, the hotel is showing a profit of 117,000 euros before tax and after deducting all overheads and runing costs. I have tried and failed to find what the tax burden would be on this sum and wonder if anyone could give me an idea. I will have to consult an accountant in the near future but do not want to start racking up charges until we see the property early next month. Many thanks Steve Howard

We are currently investigating the possibility of buying an established hotel/chambre d'hote/B&B in the south west of France and have found several possibilities on estate agents websites. Estate agents have been pretty good at getting answers to our preliminary questions regarding the various properties, but the one thing they more or less universally do not seen to be able to get from the vendors is an indication of the turnover of the business! What is it that is so secretive about this. How am I able to put together any sort of business plan and cash flow forecast without this information. My immediate reaction is that they either a, have something to hide or b, the turnover is so bad and that is why they are selling and they do not want people to know. Some have said that this info will be made available once an offer has been put in for the business (like that's going to happen !) and others have stated that the info will be made available should I visit the property. Thing is I do not know whether I want to visit the property unless the figures initally stack up. Any thoughts?

The purpose of going is to visit a property suitable for conversion into apartments for short term holiday letting. From what I am hearing, being a busy town with year round trade, but also scenic, it does seem that it seems suitable albeit there appears to be a fair bit of competition if the Luchon tourist website is anything to go by Still, lets have a look first, no trace of rose tinted glasses here! Thanks to all who have responded, anything else gratefully received Steve Howard

My wife and I are travelling out to Luchon later this month to see what the area has to offer with a view to settling there There seems to be very little mentioned about BdL within these forums (fora?)and I am enquiring if anyone is familiar with this region and can let me know more about the infrastructure, ski-ing, weather etc.along with anything else that might be useful.(there,that seems vague enough !) Many thanks