Going to Live on the French Riviera: The Cote D'azur (How to)

233 Pages·2006·9.48 MB·English

by  Charles Davey

G O I N G T O L I V E O N T H E
FRENCH
RIVIERA
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G O I N G T O L I V E O N T H E
FRENCH
RIVIERA
C H A R L E S D A V E Y
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Begbroke, Oxford 0X5 1RX. United Kingdom.
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Contents
Preface xi
1 Welcome to the French Riviera 1
The Cote d'Azur: the place and the people 3
Practical help 7
Particular locations 9
2 Finding somewhere to live 14
Finding a property to rent 14
Buying a property on the Riviera 26
3 Finding a job 32
Working at home and long-distance commuting 32
Working in France for a UK employer 33
Finding a job on the Riviera 34
Tax and Social Security contributions 43
Useful websites 4
ANPE ofices 4
Working from home 4
Contracts of employment 45
Pay and hours 46
Dismisal 46
Le cheque emploi service 47
Seting up a busines 48
UK unemployment benefit 54
v
GOING TO LIVE ON THE FRENCH RlVIERA
4 Finding a summer job 5
A step towards permanent employment 55
Job fairs 56
Leisure industry oportunities 56
Where to lok for jobs 58
Other oportunities 58
ANPE 63
Improving your chances 64
Useful guides 65
Temporary work agencies 65
Seasonal contracts of employment 6
Receiving UK unemployment benefit whilst in France 66
5 Studying on the Cote d'Azur 67
University education 67
Qualifications equivalence 70
Studying French on the Riviera 70
Studying French in the UK 70
6 Retiring to the Cote d'Azur 71
Points to bear in mind 71
Receiving your pension in France 72
Aproaching retirement 73
Other UK benefits 74
7 Setling on the Cote d'Azur 75
Your right to stay in France 75
Importing your belongings 75
Taking and looking after your pets 75
Cars and driving 79
Opening and running a bank acount 82
Home insurance 85
UK state benefits 85
French state benefits 86
VI
CONTENTS
Your regime matrimonial 87
Pacte civil de solidarite (PACS) 87
La protection juridique 87
Help with the authorities 8
Energy audit 8
Solar energy 89
Air conditioning 90
Electricity 90
Emergencies 91
Water 92
The telephone 92
Utility bills for the handicapped or those in receipt of RMI 94
Mobile telephones 94
The postal service 94
Television and satelite receivers 95
Internet 96
Meting French people 96
French - acquiring the language 97
God and bad neighbours 98
Cuting back tres and vegetation 9
Consumer protection 100
Trade estimates 100
The black market 100
Employing people in your home 101
Moving house 102
Voting 102
Managing disabilities 102
Insect stings 103
Home security 103
Lost property 104
Taking French nationality 105
VII
GOING TO LIVE ON THE FRENCH RlVIERA
8 Schols 106
Pre-school education 106
Private French schools 107
State schools 108
X
Primary school (Ecole primaire) 6 to 11 years 109
Secondary school (College) 11 to 16 years 109
Equivalent educational year groups in France
and the UK 112
Educating your child on the Cote d'Azur 113
Learning French 13
Private international schools 114
Alternatives 15
The private international and bilingual schools on
the Cote d'Azur 116
French state and private schools with Anglophone sections 124
Applications to French state schools 130
School children with special needs 131
Useful addresses and websites 131
9 Health Services 132
Quality of care 132
Pressures on the French health system 133
Medecin traitant 134
Reimbursement of medical costs 134
Care for the old and the infirm 135
Child care 135
Care for the physically and mentally handicapped 136
Maternity services 136
Hospital care 137
Preventative health care 137
Chemists (pharmacies} 138
English-speaking doctors 138
Your rights to medical cover and treatment 138
VI I I
CONTENTS
La Carte Vitale 140
Rates of reimbursement 140
La mutuele and private insurance 141
Emergency telephone numbers 141
10 Shops, services, social groups and activities
for English speakers 143
Shops 143
English language bookshops 144
Banking 145
Takeaway Indian food 146
Doctors and dentists 146
The Sunnybank Retirement Home 147
Churches 147
Sources of information in English 149
Asociations 149
Films in English 153
Private lesons 153
English-speaking electrician 154
English libraries 154
English language magazines, newspapers and
radio stations 15
Marseille British Consulate's emailing list 156
11 Leisure time on the Cote d'Azur 157
Beaches 157
The region's lakes 160
Horse racing 161
Sking 161
Day trips 162
Culture in France 162
Restaurants 162
Evening entertainment 164
Holidays from Nice 164
IX