France Attractions

The UK property market is a sorry, unpredictable state - many properties have been repossessed and the numbers are rising, the market is unpredictable and who knows when it will stop shrinking? But there are ways of making a return on your investment in the property market without having a bit of a punt. One way is to look elsewhere, shun the UK and search further afield. Maybe even somewhere a bit exotic... OK, that may not eliminate the risk. What about just across the pond? That's right; France is the place to look to if you want to invest in property at the present time.

French leaseback is becoming increasingly popular with UK residents, mainly because it is straightforward and largely risk free, unlike investing in other parts of the world, even other EU countries. For a start there is much less red tape to slow the process down, which also saves on extortionate solicitors fees. In layman's terms a French leaseback property in essence is a freehold buy to let property which compares favorably with a buy to let property in the UK. Not just because of the location culture, and if you're lucky enough to purchase a property in the south of France, the sunnier climate, but because a French leaseback property offers the very tempting advantage of a full VAT rebate of 19.6 per cent on the purchase of the property.

A French leaseback property is also guaranteed to bring in a tax free rental income, so the occupancy concerns are eliminated and you will begin to recoup on your investment almost as soon as you sign the papers. Add to that the stability of the French housing market, especially in comparison to the UK property market. And where else would you invest your money at the moment? Do you really trust the UK banks? And even so, interest rates are at 1 per cent! That's a paltry return on your savings. And as for the stock market, that really is a gamble these days, even if you profess to know what you're doing. Wall Street is at its lowest for 12 years and who knows when this economic downturn will eventually come to a close.

The other advantage of buying a French leaseback property is that France is of course in the EU which means that UK citizens do not have to apply for visas or permits to visit, stay, live or work in France so effectively a French leaseback property could become your second home - a holiday home. And this is what many people are doing. By obtaining a French leaseback property you can let it for, say 9 months of the year and live in it for the remaining three months. The possibilities are endless and all with the minimum of fuss and risk.

As stated, you receive a guaranteed tax free rental income and a VAT cashback payment, plus there is the added benefit of the French banking system which is far more confident than in the UK given that banks in France have been much more responsible with their lending - no 100 per cent mortgages banded about as in the UK - resulting in a property market that is still resilient and healthy. And you do not even have to reside in France in order to own a French leaseback property. The pros very much outweigh the cons, so what are you waiting for? Utilise your idle savings straight away.

France is the third largest country in Europe in terms of land area and it draws in more than 70 million tourists every year. These tourists visit the many different exciting places in France from the world famous Riviera to the city of lights which is Paris. Museums, great architecture and great cuisine are what make France an interesting place to visit.

The ideal time to visit Paris is during spring or fall when the weather is good and the waiters in restaurants are good-tempered. For great skiing, the Alps is best visited during the months of December to January. France got its name from the Latin word Francia which means "country of the Franks", a reference to the Germanic people who conquered the area during the 5th century B.C. It became a country during the 9th century and today it is a major member of the European Union. Tourists who want to enter France must have proper documentation first. Citizens of the U.S. just need to present a valid passport to enter the country while citizens of other nations may be asked for a visa. Inquire at your nearest French embassy on the requirements needed to enter France.

When your visa is ready and you have finished packing up, the quickest way to go to France is by airplane. The city of Paris has two major international airports to handle flights; these are the Charles de Gaulle airport and Orly. Many flights from North America and European cities land at these airports. Taking the train and bus is a cheaper although longer way of entering France. Trains and buses from nearby major European cities arrive and depart at Paris everyday bringing in lots of tourists and travelers alike.

Upon your arrival in France, finding accommodations would be your first priority unless you have booked in advance. There are many types of accommodations to choose from, be it hotels, hostels, bed and breakfast places or apartments and villas. Make sure to choose the accommodation that suits your needs. If staying only for a day or two in a particular area then a hotel is a good choice but if you plan to stay for a week or two in one particular area the renting an apartment would be much cheaper. Once you have settled in then the fun begins. There are lots of tourist spots to visit all over the country. Paris city alone has many scenic spots like the world famous Eiffel tower which has come to symbolize the city and the Louvre which is a world famous art museum which was once the residence of kings.

For great beaches head out to the Riviera where the rich and the famous hang out or for great skiing proceed to the Alps. Feeling nostalgic? Then head out to the Normandy coast where Operation Overlord of World War II began. After visiting these tourist destinations you may want to experience the nightlife of France. There are a lot of nightclubs, dance clubs, discotheques, bars and pubs for you to enjoy. The crowd is vibrant at night especially in major cities like Paris, Lyon and Marseilles. When the day ends and you head out to your bed and sleep, the following day promises a new place for you discover.

One of my favorite past times is to go mountain biking down countryside trails and travel long distances from one town to another. For me this is an enjoyable form of keeping fit and you have the added benefit of appreciating the scenery. Mountain biking does not necessarily have to be enjoyed in your own home territory and one can be involved with mountain biking abroad. Places like France, Italy, Spain, Africa and Australia.

Mountain biking in France is more popular than any other destination because of the smooth and challenging trails that make biking here more fun. The French Alps is famous for holding the popular Tour de France biking event, whereby thousands of spectators come from all over the world and support the contenders. The Alps is also popular with skiing holidays and professional skiing competitions, which has placed the French Alps as one of the top destinations for activity holidays.

The Tour de France has helped to keep the Alps to maintain its reputation for being one of the best experience mountain biking in France as a whole. The first Tour de France event began in 1903 and is structured so it is partaken in stages rather than one long marathon. History will reveal that the Tour de France was largely influenced and inspired by the popular sporting magazine in France, called Le Velo. Like most sporting magazines, this focused on sporting events but also included politic and current affairs in France.

Le Velo was produced and published to symbolise the innocence of Alfred Dreyfus, who was accused and found guilty of selling secrets to the Germans. There was a large division between the people of France, with one side favoring his innocence and the other believing he was guilty. Some of the advertisers were against what Le Velo stood and were very much against the support of Dreyfus's innocence. Those that withdrew their advertising later published their own rival magazine.

L'Auto was established and to promote it the Tour de France began. This was also a publicity spectacle to rival Le Velo and their event, Paris-Brest et retour organized by editor Pierre Gifford. Originally, the race was discussed to be a five weeklong tour, however with only 15 entrants this was then reduced down to just 19 days. Cycling journalist Geo Lefevre and Editor Henri Desgrange announced the event on January 19th of 1903 - thus born a new trend of mountain biking in France.

The public were caught and drawn in by the event, from the growing number of entrants (who were offered a daily allowance) and the entertainment attractions (some amateur and unemployed entertainers). The tour was split into stages of riding 400km, this saw the riders riding into the night, which captured the spectators attention. After the event, the magazine sales went from 25,000 copies sold to 65,000. By 1933 when the Tour had finished Desgrange had received a record of 854,000.

L'Auto magazine was not a direct predecessor to the now popular magazine L'Equipe, but was a spiritual figure and influence to the current organizers of the Tour. This is not directly organized by L'Equipe but is run by its owners called Societe du Tour de France. To this day this is an event which has grown on a massive scale over the years. This has influenced much of France to see many holidaymakers take part in mountain biking in places like the French Alps, but also open up other events like the Tour such as Giro d'Italia based in Italy and Vuelta a Espana based in Spain.