You're planning to take the plunge and invest in your dream: a property and a life in France. How can you be sure to avoid mistakes? This book will take you step by step through all the questions you need to ask, such as: Has this property been treated for infestation? Is there mains electricity? Is there a possibility of purchasing further land? Are there any plans for development in the area?Use the benefit of someone else's experience to guide you through questions about the structure of the building, letting the property and the availability of workmen. Each topic will include a brief disc.

If anyone should know his onions about France, the French and their funny little ways, it's George East. When he and his wife Donella bought their first home across the Channel, they made so many cock-ups that George wrote a book to warn others about the perils and pitfalls. Home & Dry in France became a best-seller, and was the first of a series of acclaimed books recording their adventures while living with the enemy. After countless articles, blogs and lectures, George has finally compressed half a lifetime's experiences of French adventuring into this single publication. If you are even thinking about thinking about buying a home in France or moving there to live, we think you'll find it essential reading.

This essential new book takes you through all the stages of buying a house and moving to France, covering everything a non-French person needs to know about:? Buying a house in France- choosing the right area- the different property styles- looking for the right property- dealing with property agents- building your own house- arranging finance for the purchase- negotiating the property transaction? Moving to France- moving into your new house- getting all the paperwork right- opening bank accounts and tax- health and the French social security system- running a gite business- finding a job or starting a business in FrancePlus hundreds of tips and lots of advice on all those small matters that are key to making your purchase in France a success.All this is explained in straight-forward language, supported by a wealth of tables, contact details for further information, and many case studies of people who have bought property in France.Is this book for you?The book is for anyone looking to buy a property in France to use as a holiday home, to work from, or to start a new life abroad.It can be used as an active reference guide when "on the ground" in France, getting up early for that 8am appointment with an immobilier. But can also be used by people thinking about moving to France in the future, but who are not quite ready to make the move yet. This book highlights all the issues that you need to consider.

The Basque Country is an area of undoubted beauty where green mountains clamber up from a rugged coastline, cities tempt with world class galleries and tables are laid with the best food in Europe. This book contains detailed travel information on the whole Basque region as well as Navarra and includes dedicated hiking and surfing chapters.

This new title from Bradt is the only English-language guide to focus on this part of the Pays de Loire: The Vendée and surrounding area including Pornic, La Rochelle, Île de Ré and Nantes, an increasingly popular part of France. Written by award-winning travel writer Murray Stewart and Angela Bird, who for almost 50 years has owned a home in the region, it offers comprehensive coverage of this beguiling area, with details on everything from family holidays to walks, cycling, local cuisine and history. Thanks to the author's long history with the area, the guide also reveals the quirks and themes which give the Vendée its own distinct character, as well as straying just beyond the area's boundaries to incorporate La Rochelle and Nantes, both entry points for those arriving by air and both offering urban distractions for the occasional rainy day. The Vendée offers all the benefits of a well-established destination, both with French and British visitors, with easy access times from the UK by ferry adding to its appeal. Popular with campers and self-caterers, its sunny climate and 140km of sandy beaches, combined with tree-lined canals and open marshland, make for a diverse outdoor playground. Bradt's The Vendée and surrounding area includes information on suggested walks and cycleways, and also summarizes the best places for bird-watching. The region has no true cities, or even large towns, but the guide includes details of the many local museums which provide easily accessible insight into the bloody history of an area which has, at times, been central to the evolution of modern-day France.

This new, thoroughly updated edition of Bradt's award-winning guide to the Basque Country and Navarre remains the most comprehensive and in-depth guide available to this multi-lingual, multi-cultural borderland encompassing parts of southern France and northern Spain. This fully revised second edition includes all the elements required for an enjoyable holiday and also the unique aspects of Basque culture and traditions which make this such a fascinating part of the world. Bradt's The Basque Country and Navarre seeks to give a real insight into what is a strong regional identity, uncovering the peculiarities which imbue the area with its aura of intrigue and taking you way beyond the delightful, well-known cities and into the heart of the beautiful Basque countryside. When it comes to food, discover not just what to eat, but also how to eat it, for many Basque eating rituals apply! In this, the most complete guidebook to the Spanish and French Basque Country and Navarre, Murray Stewart covers the principal cities - rejuvenated Bilbao with its famous Guggenheim Museum, beautiful San Sebastián, verdant Vitoria-Gasteiz and lively Pamplona - and also delves deeper into the region's interior, capturing the quirkiness that makes it so special. With 36 maps, 16 walks, advice on where to cycle, horseride and surf, he guides travellers through an area whose profile is firmly 'on the up.' Find the best pintxos (Basque tapas) and txakoli wine, the finest chuletón (beef chop) and the freshest fish. From elegant Biarritz, via the French Basque Pyrénées, to the Navarran 'badlands' of Bardenas Reales, travel to fascinating, less-visited places. Here are the best festivals, including Pamplona's famous, bull-running San Fermin. Learn how the handing-over of three cows has kept the peace for centuries, or where you can see the annual 'Benediction of the Red Pepper'. Join the walkers on the Caminos de Santiago, the pilgrim routes which still sustain the local economy, 1,000 years after they began. Find information on the unique Basque and Navarran wines, top birdwatching sites, history, music, sports and culture - and when to visit. Bradt's The Basque Country and Navarre is the ideal companion.

The Rough Guide to the Dordogne and the Lot Make the most of your time on Earth with the ultimate travel guides. World-renowned 'tell it like it is' travel guide. Discover Dordogne and the Lot with this comprehensive and entertaining travel guide, packed with practical information and honest recommendations by our independent experts. Whether you plan to visit deep cave formations resplendent with prehistoric art, marvel at cliff-edge castles or sample one of the many truffle-toting restaurants, The Rough Guide to the Dordogne and the Lot will help you discover the best places to explore, eat, drink, shop and sleep along the way. Features of this travel guide to the Dordogne and the Lot: - Detailed regional coverage: provides practical information for every kind of trip, from off-the-beaten-track adventures to chilled-out breaks in popular tourist areas - Honest and independent reviews: written with Rough Guides' trademark blend of humour, honesty and expertise, our writers will help you make the most from your trip to Dordogne and the Lot - Meticulous mapping: practical full-colour maps, with clearly numbered, colour-coded keys. Find your way around Bergerac, Cahors and many more locations without needing to get online - Fabulous full-colour photography: features inspirational colour photography, including the Parc Naturel Régional des Causses du Quercy, with its swathes of wild limestone plateau, and the intriguing maze of medieval lanes that make up Sarlat-la Canéda - Time-saving itineraries: carefully planned routes will help inspire and inform your on-the-road experiences - Things not to miss: Rough Guides' rundown of the best sights and top experiences to be found in Monpazier, Cordes-sur-Ciel and St-Cirq Lapopie - Travel tips and info: packed with essential pre-departure information including getting around, accommodation, food and drink, health, the media, festivals, sports and outdoor activities, culture and etiquette, shopping and more - Background information: comprehensive 'Contexts' chapter provides fascinating insights into Dordogne and the Lot, with coverage of history, religion, ethnic groups, environment, wildlife and books, plus a handy language section and glossary - Covers: Périgueux and the north, Bergerac and around, Sarlat and the Périgord Noir, the Upper Dordogne valley and Rocamadour, the Lot valley and around, south of the River Lot You may also be interested in: Rough Guides to France, Languedoc & Roussillon and Provence & the Côte d'Azur About Rough Guides: Rough Guides have been inspiring travellers for over 35 years, with over 30 million copies sold globally. Synonymous with practical travel tips, quality writing and a trustworthy 'tell it like it is' ethos, the Rough Guides list includes more than 260 travel guides to 120+ destinations, gift-books and phrasebooks.