Working and then slowly retiring on the Cote d’Azur; isn’t that a great idea? Thanks to the COVID plandemic, people have discovered the beauty of working from a distance. Even to save the climate, it is better if you would stop driving daily from home to work and spend hours on a highway to get from A to B; it is so 2020.
More and more people are changing their life’s into a more flexible way of living. Maybe a weekly Zoom or a monthly get-together could be enough. With Nice Cote Azur airport nearby, you can fly to more than 100 cities worldwide.
The French Riviera is a great, maybe even the best, retirement destination. Permanently living on the Cote d’Azur won’t be the same as visiting it on holiday. Living in a smaller town instead of in the main hotspots will give you less buzz and a more relaxed feeling. Although it’s not always the best idea regarding certain vital things. In France, shops in smaller villages usually close for lunch every day. But that’s an excellent excuse to have lunch and take a nap!
Taxes and IFI
If you planning retiring in the South of France, you might sell some properties in your home country and buy a really nice house on the French Riviera. If you have the money in the bank to buy, you’re what real estate agents call ‘a cash buyer’. But wait one second before you sign anything. Being a property owner, you will be taxed on your capital in France, this is called IFI. For properties between 5 and 10 million euros, this is easily 100,000 euros you have to pay. But if you take a 100% mortgage on your French property, you don’t need to pay this IFI tax. In that case you can keep some cash flow for a nice lifestyle. How does this work? Contact us for an introduction at a private bank.
Reflect on whether your sales, design, marketing, writing or service support activities can be made from home. If this is the case, let’s have a more serious look at why you could start working from the Cote d’Azur. Adding more sunshine to your life will make you feel happy daily. Everybody benefits from a smile on your face!
And while you are partly working at home, you can start thinking about slowly semi-retiring on the French Riviera. This journey begins with more extended trips to the South of Frace, buying a property on the Cote d’Azur, setting up a home office for the Grand Finale, and then living your dream life. Living in the South of France can be very expensive. It’s important to consider that it’s not a penny-pinching destination. You’ll want to spend around 1,100 per person for a reasonably comfortable retirement.
Working from your second home or retiring on the French Riviera
The French Riviera, also known as Cote d’Azur, is a desirable destination worldwide. It is one of the wealthiest regions in the country. If you’re planning on remotely working or retiring to the French Riviera, you must have a certain standard of living. The South of France has long been regarded as where the world’s rich and famous reside. However, there are still plenty of affordable options to change your lifestyle.
We live in a beautiful region that offers a variety of activities and experiences. Some of these include exploring the history of various cities such as Cannes or Nice, skiing in the Alps, and taking in the area’s beautiful nature. Known for its lavish lifestyle and high-quality healthcare services, this is the best place on Earth.
After work activities
Within one hour, you can reach anything you like: glamour and glitter, mountains and hikers, watersports like sailing, dining in the best restaurants, cycling along the coastline and visiting other countries like Italy and Monaco. Even Barcelona is just six and a half hours by car from Nice.
The French Riviera is famous for its many tourism activities, excellent restaurants, and watersports. This region is ideal for retirees who are looking for an active lifestyle. It also offers a variety of activities for those looking for a more relaxed working environment.
The Cote d’Azur is also a great place for retirees looking for various activities and exciting life experiences in retirement. You can enjoy a variety of seafood dishes and other French specialities. And healthy food is the base for a healthy lifestyle.
Fast Internet
Working from home requires fast Internet. This allows you to have video calls with your colleagues worldwide while you have the Mediterranean sea behind your screen. Until a few years ago, the local standard speed was 2 MB down and 500 MB up. Luckily, today’s standard is 1 TB, with the result that people can work efficiently from home. Find all Internet suppliers in the South of France here.
The climate on the French Riviera
The French Riviera’s climate is consistent. It’s during the summer, always around 30 degrees Celsius. The Alps provide the French Riviera with a stable climate, which helps prevent the weather from coming from the north. Wintertimes feels like spring during the day. Nights can be chilly but never too cold unless you are in the mountains.
If you would live in the mountains, or at least further from the coast, you will have more foggy days than people living close to the sea. The sea’s proximity also keeps the weather from getting worse.
The choice of famous people
If you’re a fan of celebrity spotting, then take a walk along the French Riviera’s famous streets. Some famous individuals you might see walking the streets include Johnny Depp, who owns a small villa near Saint-Tropez in Plan De La Tour. Elton John owns a beautiful property in Mont Boron, located near Nice.
Pop star Rihanna is another well-known celebrity who owns a property in Villefranche-sur-Mer, close to Nice. In 1995, the town of Villefranche-sur-Mer granted her honorary citizenship. U2’s Bono is a well-known celebrity who owns a beautiful property in Eze-sur-Mer. His guitarist also owns the nearby property. If you’re a vast Bono fan, then you might be able to get double the stars for your money. And rumours go that Madonna has a villa in Mougins.
Pro food and wine movement
The pro-food and wine movement is also applicable to France. The Cote d’Azur is no different, as it features some of the best seafood and wine in the country. One of the best ways to get the best local food is by visiting the open-air markets. These are usually held weekly in different cities and towns. It’s essential to take advantage of the local produce available in this area.
October is National Wine promotion month. Many supermarkets are filled with the best wines you can buy for a bargain. An excellent moment to fill up that cave!
Where would you live on the French Riviera?
Although the cities and towns in the French Riviera have their unique characteristics, they share some of the same factors. The weather is constant, the quality of food and wine is consistent, and there’s plenty of activity for people looking for an active lifestyle. The French Riviera is known for its history. It features numerous Roman ruins, as well as ruined castles and other notable sites that were once popular with the Victorian and Georgian upper classes.
People come here also for the beautiful beaches. One of these is the beautiful beach known as Paloma Beach, located near the town of Villefranche-sur-Mer. Beach restaurants offer as excellent cuisine, comfortable loungers and good service. Juanita or Esterel in Juan Les Pins are popular beach clubs. You can even get a Chinese massage on the beach.
Despite the positive effects of tourism, it’s still not what people are looking for when it comes to choosing a retirement destination in France. Some of the larger cities in the country, such as Nice, and Saint-Tropez, will see a lot of tourism the whole year. If you’re worried that this will negatively affect your lifestyle, one of the easiest ways to avoid this is to live in a smaller town. This will allow you to enjoy a more quiet lifestyle.
The French Riviera is where you can live on a permanent holiday. It’s known for its various events, such as the Monaco Grand Prix and the annual Film Festival in Cannes. The Cote d’Azur has everything that you could need. If you’re a lover of glamour and excitement, take a walk along the Boulevard de la Croisette in the French Riviera. It’s lined with high-end boutiques and elegant hotels.
Safety and healthcare
It’s always important to be realistic about the area’s offerings, as it can provide you with everything you need. The healthcare system and international connections of the French Riviera are proof of this. As an affluent area, the French Riviera benefits from having a more significant police force. This helps lower its crime rate.
Compared to other areas, such as London and Marseille, the French Riviera is more secure. In Marseille, the crime index is around 58.5, and the level of crime is around 63.7. A look at Antibes, between Nice and the city of Cannes, shows that its crime rate has dropped to 21. Its level of crime is still lower than the rest of the areas on the French Riviera. Living in a safe area can be a huge advantage when choosing to live on the French Riviera. Although living in larger cities is possible, moving to a more rural area can provide you with a more secure lifestyle.
The area is known for its considerable money and is home to some of the best healthcare services in the world. There are plenty of private hospitals in the area, but the public ones are also outstanding. If you are a doctor in Paris or Lyon, the best you can wish for is to work on the Cote d’Azur and buy a villa and sailing boat. Some prominent public hospitals in the area include the Cimiez Hospital in Nice and the Hospital Centre in Monaco.
In addition to public hospitals, various private healthcare facilities are located in the area. These include the Polyclinique Saint Jean in Cagnes sur Mer and the Hospital Grasse. The various public hospitals in the French Riviera are equipped with English-speaking staff members, making communicating easier.
Shopping
There are plenty of shopping malls in the Cote d’Azur, which are known for their selection of designer goods. Look at Le Metropole in Monaco, the Nice Etoile, Cap 3000 in Saint Laurent du Var and Polygone Riviera in Cagnes-sur-Mer.
In addition to these establishments, you should also check out small boutiques in various areas in the centre town of Nice. These will allow you to find some of the hottest brands you’ll never find in a shopping mall.
Wintersport
Due to the proximity of the Alps, it’s not surprising that the French Riviera has plenty of opportunities for snowboarding and skiing. Whether planning to visit the area for a day trip or stay the entire winter, plenty of places are suitable for snowboarding and skiing.
One of the most popular areas is Valberg. This resort is known for its various activities, such as cross-country skiing and snowboarding. There are plenty of hotels that are available in this area. The largest ski resort is Isola 2000. This resort is known for its early and long snow season. It’s also the largest in the region, so it has plenty of options for snowboarding and skiing. Other family-friendly resorts located on the French Riviera are La Colmiane and Auron. Both are known for a variety of accommodations and activities. Find more information about ski resorts in the South of France here.
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