How to Decide Where to Live in France with Adrian Leeds 

Hello Friends, The French love *Bretagne,* I believe it's not for nothing. And Tourists (Americans un particular) always think *Paris, Nice, Strasbourg, Aix-en-Provence.* But they don't know the Westside of the country: Occitanie (you have mountains, sea and the Spain so close and the same weather as the Riviera), Pays Basque (surf), Bretagne which are beautiful too and less expansive than the usual touristic area. It doesn't seem essential to me to have an international airport nearby, even if it's a plus, it's not an obligation. If you settle in France, in general, it's not to return to the USA every month. Traveling through Europe, even if it's not as expensive as in the USA, it still represents a cost. It's therefore not an activity you will do every month if you aren't particularly rich. My advice: start by discovering France to begin with. There's plenty to do and see. France isn't the USA. It's much smaller (the size of Texas) but with huge cultural disparity from region to region. Nothing prevents you from changing places when you have found your happiness. Peace, people. ☮😉

Very interesting observation by Adrian saying Americans are culturally closer to the French than the British. Always love that Adrian has definite opinions.

I am only a few months away from leaving the US. I am commiting to living one year in France and go from there. So happy to have found this video. Love Ms. Leeds!

I lived in strasbourg and paris as a student, late 90s. Recently i returned for a few weeks each at alliance schools in bordeaux, toulouse, Montpellier, antibes. Don't even bother with the alliance in the US. Overpriced and a waste of time. AF classes in france cost less than a third the price, and you can do a homestay with meals for $35/day. It's an incredible deal. You could use that time to explore regions you're interested in.

22 years in France as French never back, Vive la France !!!

So appropriate, i took notes. My only thought is consider a segment for a single woman in 50s- 60s moving to France- all i shoud know.❤

I've listened to the presentation approximately 10 times day dreaming about moving to Paris. I still have little ones and I will need to convince the wife.

I can't wait to leave the car behind and never have one again. When we were in London a few months ago we lived across from Eustace station. It was so great to the have the bus on train right there. I'm looking forward to mass transit. So much great info Adrian! TY!

Adrian - Thank you for your wonderful videos on moving to France. They were professional and informative. FYI - I have always enjoyed your HGTV House Hunters International episodes. As former US Foreign Service Officers, my wife and I think you have nailed on the head the crucial points about relocation to France. Mel Harrison

I am relocating to Europe this year and although am nearly certain to move to Spain, have always considered France to be also a place I feel at home and consider a an excellent place to live. The language factor is important and I speak Castillian, so no difficulty in Spain, except I will probably settle in Catalunya and need to learn Catalan. However, I also love the French region of Occitaine and would consider Perpignan, Toulouse or one of the smaller towns with a train station to be perfect. I spent some weeks in Occitaine and fell in love with the nature and culture of the place. I liked your approach to evaluate what it is your're looking for, such as car or no car, urban, suburban, rural, pace of life, access to medical, etc. to mirror the approach I have taken. I decided the key thing is to be walking distance to everything I need on a daily or weekly basis, access to a train station, an airport within 2 hrs using public transport, access to nature, public markets, something interesting going on locally. Unlike your approach, the presence or absence of other Americans is a neutral and wouldn't affect my choice since I fully intend to learn French or Catalan as needed. I found your presentation to be excellent overall, only I suggest that for people like me who love both sea and mountains, Occitaine is also a contender. I will be in touch regarding consultation since the potential is there to relocate just north of the Pyrenees instead of just south.

Quel exposé ! vraiment complet. Attention vivre sue "la côte d'Azur" c'est aussi cher que la région de Paris et les villes du bord de mer sont très chères ! Et le Mistral c'est en Provence pas sur la côte Atlantique 😁

I've been planning to move to France for retirement for 7 years.. I've had an offer accepted on a lovely village house in the Quillan area. It's remote but the transport is available, frequent and cheap. I'm hoping for a move date in the summer or fall of next year. Lots of moving parts but I love a challenge.

We first met Adrain in Paris over 20 years ago and she should be your first resource on all things France. She is a delight in person with boundless energy and information. She provides a comfortable transition to this exciting new lifestyle.

You missed Orly airport that fly to SFO,(french bee). Never been using it but ehen booking flights it asking SFO or Orly

Bravo! This is the first time I've seen the information on which U.S. States have reciprocal agreements for driver's licenses. I wish I'd known this 3 years ago when I moved from Arizona to Arcachon, France. Getting a French Permis B has been a nightmare. I spent two months in Illinois working on my visa app and would have gotten an Illinois license if I'd known.

Cette etait une excellent presentation. Tres utile et aide. Madame Leeds possède d'excellentes aptitudes et connaitre. Merci beaucoup, Madame Leeds et FDAFUSA. Chapeau !

I really enjoyed this educational video. Thank you! The Q&A was so fun and informative and I especially enjoyed this.

Very informative and helpful, and lively w the hosts and of course w Ms Adrian Leeds! Fantastic!!

Bonjour! Thank you so much for posting this, I had signed up to zoom in but had to work. Great information and lots to think about!

howdy, i recently watched your video: "top retirement towns in France" and came to the conclusion that your list skewed to retirement for the richer Americans who can afford to live in the 6 towns/areas that you mentioned.... i was hoping to see Montpellier on your list of places for Americans to retire as its a nice sized city with what seems to be good local and outgoing transportation links and medical institutions and lots of restaurants, points of interests and great shopping... AND its less expensive than the places in your list. i plan to rent a place and enjoy my walks, plenty of great food and lots of window shopping/people watching and then there is the beach....whats not to like??!

Two things Americans should do, firstly try to learn a bit of French before you come over, secondly when in restaurants and public places keep your volume down.

A great video full of valuable infromation. Love it. Adrian is such an interesting and fun person to listen to. 👏🙏🥂

I wished after watching "many" RU-vid hosts regarding the medical in France... which should be something that hosts should and yourself really...look at. Especially, if you have preexisting conditions. It's socialized medical, and how government runned programs are.(the government runs alot of things there). I didn't live in France but I lived in Germany and Austria please do your homework regarding the medical. Two words to keep in mind, quality and quantity.

I definitely plan a vacation for two weeks in Nice this coming summer . I always dreamed of moving to France. I guess a vacation there is a very good step forward. I am very happy to come across this channel and I have learned a lot from this episode. I have a double citizenship, Romanian/American and perhaps my move would be going in a different route if I was to establish myself as Romanian citizen to get the resident papers. My 3 kids are born in America but I have already made for them Romanian Passports so they too have dual citizenship. My husband is American so he might have a totally different route approach. Nice seems to be the place would fit me . I love to switch to no-car lifestyle and I love a sunny place. I like an international airport nearby and best transportation availability as I have siblings in Brussels , Austria, Italy, Romania, and lots of friends in London and Germany. I wonder how I could arrange a vacation in Nice this summer with my kids so that I can explore the city. An air b&b would be great but perhaps I need an agent to arrange it and not pick someone from off internet. I wish you would have some help for those of us that wants to visit France first before we would make the move. Thank you so much for your great content. I appreciate it so much. Leontina Goodin

Thanks so much, it’s very informative and excellent advice.

When I lived in Versailles many Franco American org there was telling that there are about 100K Americans in France with about 80% in the Paris area or Île de France region.

Really informative! Thanks!

After watching numerous videos on Mexico, Portugal, Phillipines, Thailand, I am wondering if France would be a better fit for me. Those places mentioned always have the same theme... very noisy places!! I want quiet. I want quiet and no extreme weather. Is there any place in France that isn't really cold in the the winter?

This is exceptional! Great info

Happy International Women's Day 🌺 Adrian, Thank you for that video and all the graphics and maps, as I am a visual person. Adrian, I love your story and I'm so impressed with you as a businesswoman. I am in the midst of doing my research about France - where to Live, keeping costs as low as possible, as I look for a job opportunities, make friends and contacts. Patty and Adrian are you hiring?😊 Would you help with job possibilities in your area to live and work? If you would share an email address or contact info so we could connect that would be wonderful and most appreciated.

So much great information! Thank you!

Thank you!

Interested in the area if Rennes, Normandy or Lyon. Why not these areas? Also how can we get in touch for additional planning?

Like it! Thank you

You really need to put some info in the description. There is no link to her website or any of the other websites/emails mentioned in the video.

I've already decided; it's Éze, France!

Incredibly informative presentation. Very, very un-RU-vid like.... ;) Now, take my money and help find me a flat on the Promenade des Anglais!!!! :D Seriously, one question I'm not seeing answered much: Say I relocate to Nice and live there a couple of years. But, then I decide I want to try Paris for a few years. Can you discuss on a future video how hard it is to relocate within the country if you're already on a visa like Visa de Long Séjour pour Retraite? Many thanks!

Hello! very useful post! So far, I am finding Pau as a very attractive place to retire. Would you agree?

Really enjoyed this ! Thx!

Most people would like to rent an Apartment first for a few month before making a purchase why don’t you have some rentals listing?..🤨

Occitainie, pour moi!

Lots of info from New Zealandia

That “little trick” of ordering a second license is illegal. It’s illegal to have more than one active license for more than one jurisdiction.

How are the fees paid for your services? I ask because I’m use to the US where the fees are paid by seller. Also, wondering if you know of sellers that do something like rent to own options for property?

France is wonderful but Paris winters are wet and cold and heating sucks while most apts in Paris have poor insulation. Maybe should spend winters elsewhere. That would be perfect.

Hi Do you know if France taxes American capital gains, for an American moving to France? If so at what amount.

I am interested in the Carcassonne area, L’Occitainie region. I am also interested in Perpignan and Narbonne since they are coastal. Do these areas have an American Expat community?

We are looking to retire in the French Rivera and to buy for about 300k US dollars we like the area in Nice any ideas

I'm a manhattanite. No thanks on the car. I'm looking at Montpellier because I think Nice will be over my price range. I have no wish to live in Paris, or I'd still be in Manhattan LOL.

Please could you address the rise of anti-semitism in France and how that effects property prices? I know Bastille Day 2016, Paris 2015, is still fresh in everyone’s mind. I am now having second thoughts about buying a home in France because of these terrible tragedies.

Carcasonne covered?

Do french people want americans to come? I know individually they dont seem to care, but en masse? Genuine question.

Sete France ?

Cannes is pronounced "can"

I think Brits resent or look down on Americans more than the French do. I my experience.

One word. Don't.

Did you just tell your audience how to get around the rules? Seriously? Commit a crime as a guest? 😮 And many wonder why the Franch hate Americans.