France is a beautiful, varied country with huge swathes of pristine beaches, craggy alpine peaks and rolling meadows. Above all the culture of France is one to be savoured.

You get a really good taste of living in France just by renting a house abroad - and it's a lot easier to organise! Gites de France is a perennial favourite with visitors and the French themselves.

Lonely Planet Guide to France

Beautiful images of France

Rent your own house abroad

There are many great opportunities for renting a house abroad, and it's just like having your own `Place in the Sun' without all the hassle of dealing with lawyers, builders, banks, estate agents, etc. It's also considerably cheaper, even to rent a luxury spot in the most prestigious of locations. Also, year after year you can visit different places and countries.

However, although you may well have great holidays, one thing is for sure... there are no financial benefits in the long term. Capital gains and rental income are of quite likely if buying your house abroad (wisely!).

Another frequently recommended method fo moving abroad is to rent somewhere first for a few months while you settle in. You then have lots of time to find that dream house - and make sure you like the area and lifestyle. If you don't like it then you will have spent considerably less money than buying a duff house in a duff area, and having to sell it straight away.