Janu Villas

Would you look forward to eating in an airport restaurant?

admin — Wed, 08 May 2013 16:49:55 +0000

No! Well at Nice Airports Riviera Restaurant upstairs in Terminal 1 you are missing out. Yvette and I always make time for that last taste of France before returning to the UK. It is a welcome time to relax and reflect on what has usually been a frantic few days viewing Villas to add to our website www.januvillas.com.

Tired and hungry our default setting is generally Beef Carpaccio for Yvette and Confit de Canard for myself, all washed down with a demi pichet of house red and if I have room, which invariably I do, a Café gourmand.

Access to Riviera Restaurant is easy, as there is a free shuttle bus between terminal 1 and terminal 2 every 10 minutes, so really does not matter which terminal you are flying out from.

So next time in Nice Airport forgo the burger or sandwich and treat yourself to a meal at Riviera Restaurant, it is surprisingly affordable, we comment every time on some of the experiences and mediocre fare served at other airports in Europe and wish they would use this establishment as a template on how to get it right.

View of Nice

What steps do I take to let my French holiday home to paying clients?

admin — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 18:36:23 +0000

Talk to your local Marie informing them of your intentions. Their advice is useful as well as it being a requirement when offering paid for holiday accommodation to the public. You will need to supply details such as property type, number of rooms and beds offered, estimate of rental periods and charges. If you wish the property can get a classification of between one and five stars awarded by the Marie for a small yearly charge. The property can then be registered with the local tourist board helping marketing and giving potential client’s confidence in your product.
See what similar rental properties in your area charge before setting your rental rate. A realistic rate will secure more bookings bringing in more income and spreading your fixed costs so your net income is greater.
Consult a specialist rental agent for advice on all aspects of your preparation.
By far the biggest area of complaint relating to holiday properties is cleanliness or rather the lack of so do ensure your holiday property is spotless and well equipped for daily living. Bearing in mind the numbers you are catering for may exceed the numbers in residence when you occupy the property yourself.
Prepare an inventory for checking in and out your clients.
If not on site yourself do have a reliable person to meet and greet clients, handing over keys, explaining how all appliances work, showing the property, checking and getting the inventory signed, outlining when a cleaner or pool person will call if applicable and answering any questions they may have.
At Janu Villas we always request our owners to provide a villa book with details of who to contact in an emergency, doctor, ambulance, police the owner’s representative in case of equipment malfunction or other unforeseen problems. Also details of local attractions to suit all age ranges. Local market times etc. Supermarkets and shop opening times and where to get the morning croissants. Recommendations for restaurants is also helpful as your clients are there for one or two weeks only and the better their overall holiday experience is the more likely it is that they will be back or recommend your French holiday villa to friends or family.
Tax: Well there is no getting away from them so it is best to set everything up correctly from the start. Ownership and occupation of residential property incur local tax (taxe fonciére and taxe d’habitation). Rental income is French income and payable in France at a rate of 20% less deductions. In addition since January 2013 a new social tax is also being levied on rental income to get specific advice on this consult a (conseil fiscal) for advice. Our advice is with regard to taxation always seek expert help as it may save you money in the long run.
Insurance: Inform your insurance company that you are renting your property as a vacation home as you do not want to invalidate any insurance policies. Some insurance policies do not cover the owner’s liability to third parties or indeed may only offer it as an option. This cover (garantie recours du locataire le propriétaire) deals with your personal legal liability as owner of the building to cover material (injury caused by falling loose brick or tile) or immaterial damage (compensation for loss of earnings due to hospitalisation). This cover provides the owner protection in case a client sues. Minor damage caused by a tenant, stains breakages etc. is covered by the security deposit and most letting agent / client /owner contracts cover the owner should damages exceed the security deposit. Likewise if you have a mortgage inform your lender.
CONCLUSION: Initially it may seem daunting but if you do everything correctly and set up all aspects of your holiday property and in accordance with local legislation you are fully covering yourself. In our opinion it is time and money well spent with your rental income going a long way to covering the expense of your home abroad, and giving you peace of mind.

Nice Carnival

admin — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 16:07:53 +0000

NICE CARNIVAL 15/02/13 to 6/03/13

Rio too far! Nice 2 hours away!

The Nicecarnaval is 15 days of fun, music, extravagance and special events centred at the amazing Promenade des Anglais. The giant floats, music and fantastic flower displays are a small part of this premier Côte d’Azur event. The 2013 carnivals theme is “King of the five continents” and all parade and flower floats give their interpretation of this. This year the Rock ’n’ Roll marathon series the world’s largest running series is adding Nicecarnaval to its 2013 schedule. The 10 mile race along the Promenade des Anglais takes in the scenic Baie des Anges (Bay of Angles) with live bands encouraging you along.

Escape the grey skies and expose yourself to Le Carnaval Parade with 18 giant floats designed around this year’s theme, the Flower Parade with 20 flower covered floats carries on the tradition from 1876 when wealthy visitors to Nice arrived for winter sun and exchanged bouquets of flowers on the Promenade. The flower floats with their costumed models who throw 100,000 flowers to an enthusiastic crowd. The carnival Parade of Lights especially at night is a feast for the senses. Tickets for the grandstands can be purchased online at www.nicecarnaval.com Nice is two hours from the southern Alps so you could enjoy Carnaval today and sky tomorrow.

Janu Villas have superb self-catering villas close to Nice at attractive low season rates so with good value and a mild climate why wait. Nice as a destination is often overlooked with a lot of people only experiencing Nice airport which is a shame as this vibrant city has so much to offer from its world renowned flower market to the seafood restaurants. Nice is one of my favourites especially at this time of year as most airlines have a year round schedule unlike other holiday destinations where they only fly into during the high season. If you fancied a day trip to Monte Carlo why not base yourself midway between Nice and Monaco in Villefranche-sur-Mer where we have some amazing villas overlooking Villefranche bay.

Is France next for Eurozone bail out?

admin — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 14:15:06 +0000

Camerons Sterling zone encourages entrepreneurially spirit, a culture of deal making with less bureaucracy and red tape.

Hollande’s Euro zone is sinking under punitive bureaucracy, social charges, taxation and red tape.

Will debt build up end French “joie de vivre”, unlike other Eurozone countries France has not realistically addressed its debt mountain. A lot of economic observers have recently commented that in their opinion France is in danger of failing to tackle their deficit while the markets still see France in a favourable light. While François Hollande points out that French debt is at a low rate of interest thereby signifying a confidence in his policies one only has to look to the populations of Greece, Spain, Ireland and Italy who are only too aware how this comfortable position can radically change in a very short time frame. One example recently cited is that a lot of French companies due to over-zealous bureaucracy, taxation, social charges and government inspections to name but a few have kept employee levels below fifty people as to exceed this number multiplies the red tape to unacceptable levels so restricting growth and as a consequence lower contributions to the exchequer and limiting growth. It is no surprise to learn that to launch a new company successfully in France is extremely difficult due to over bearing bureaucracy, employment laws, licenses, taxation and a system not in tune with the entrepreneurial spirit at a time when these individuals should be fostered and encouraged. France for all her spirit and pool of talented people has in fact fewer small and medium size companies compared to Italy, Germany and Britain.

I am not and do not pretend to be an expert on world economics but even I recognise that France needs a cohesive strategy to address the problems it is heading towards, no doubt in the short term there will be difficult times for some but long term it can only benefit the country and her people, so France now is the time for action.

A French holiday villa with a pool?

admin — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 19:34:37 +0000

Financially self supporting; completely, partially or a financial drain?

The answer is simple it can be all of those. The old estate agent adage applies the world over, location, location, location. Once you have your budget in place your next decision is “where”? Your budget and your personal preferences will determine where you desire and where you can afford. If you are going to rent your property on the holiday villa rental market you must ensure that your personal requirements match those of the rental market. If you know the area well you are in a more powerful position – knowledge is power. Remember, that quaint vibrant village in the hills in summer can be a bitterly cold ghost village outside the high season, so before you make a large financial decision do make a visit at different times of the year to get a realistic feel for the area. I have seen more than once where a purchase has been made on an emotional level without proper due care and diligence and all too often with the benefit of hindsight it has ended up as a costly mistake, remember the more informed you are the less likely you are to regret your purchase later. Some sellers can exaggerate how lively their village is out of season to help facilitate a sale and their idea of lively may not tally with your own. A property with more positive attributes in its favour will be easier to rent. It will not be possible to accommodate the wish list of every prospective villa renter. When I am looking for a villa to rent I like to have some facilities within walking distance, a couple of restaurants being my top priority to enable me to sample French cuisine without having to forgo my few glasses of red. A local boulangerie is always a plus though not a deal breaker if not that close and an AutoRoute is also handy, thirty or forty minutes away, especially if some visits in the area are planned. We quite often have family joining us for part of our holiday and if this is the case, a convenient train station that links with the TGV or a local airport on the budget airline routes is always a plus, though personally I prefer to drive across France as part of my holiday finding new inexpensive places to stay and eat, this could of course be part of my dread of Easyjet and Ryanair which I avoid if at all possible.

If the property you choose is in an area popular with vacationers and has a good supply of rental villas do try and ensure yours sticks out for all the right reasons. Have it well equipped, arrange additional services, a chef for that special meal, babysitter, but above all relevant information on what is available locally from restaurants to activities that suit all age groups. Villa renters today are a savvy group and quite rightly expect a good standard in all areas, so the more of their wish list you can help them tick off the more likely they will opt for your property. It is not uncommon for family parties to rent the same villa again and to personally recommend it to their family and friends, advertising your villa at no cost to you. You are in the villa rental business; never lose sight of this especially if you depend on that income stream to alleviate your running costs. It seems obvious that a well presented clean property will have more occupancy in what can be a relatively short season than a villa looking a bit shabby but it is amazing how many people forgo that extra decorating. When you compare the cost of some paintwork to the financial loss of your property being empty for weeks, it is a no brainer, as most villas with a private swimming pool in high season rent for thousands. Quite rightly a lot of emphasis is on the summer months but do not ignore the quieter times as often people who do not have young children prefer the less hectic times of year. France has something to offer all year, be it festivals, grape harvest music events, the list is endless and details can be given by your local tourist board or Marie. So investigate and empower yourself, but above all enjoy the experience.

Loire Valley – Home of Chateaux, Wines and Gastronomic delights

admin — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 14:57:35 +0000

Considering that the Loire Valley wine region stretches from the Muscadet region near the city of Nantes to Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé in north central France near the city of Orléans it is easy to understand that in a Blog I can barely scratch the surface. August to October is harvest time and is an interesting time to visit this region, affectionately known as the garden of France for good reason, to soak up first hand all that is involved in the harvest . Anjou, Saumur, Bourgueil, Chinon and Vouvray as well as Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé are responsible for most wine production in the Loire Valley wine region. With 750 square kilometers of vine plantations encompassing grape varieties such as Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Franc, Melon de Bourgogne, Gamay, Pinot Noir and others producing still red and white, sparkling, dessert and rosé wines with 87 appellations under the Appellations d’origine Contrô lée (AOC) , Vin Délimité de Qualité Superieure (VDQS) and Vin de Pays systems. See Wine Wine Wine blog/news to get a brief description of the Appellation system.

The area around Saumur is the third largest sparkling wine Appellation in France after Champagne and the Crémant d’ALSACE aoc with more than 12 million bottles of Saumur Mousseux produced yearly, based on the Chenin Blanc grape. Of worthy note is a red produced from the Cabernet Franc grape in the area around Saumur-Champigny very similar to the reds of St-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil.

If you fancy an exciting stay in this area we at Janu Villas are offering a stunning property, a house with a private pool quietly located , yet a few minutes’ walk from the centre, with restaurants the market and beautiful old town awaiting your discovery. “La Maison Blanche” has been renovated and furnished to an exacting standard and is currently been offered at a much reduced rate. Check out januvillas.com and click on the Loire for suggestions and hints on what to do. We can arrange lot’s of extras from private chef to Vineyard tours and more.

To experience the food of the bountiful Loire I always choose one of the set menus (Menu du Jour) as they offer fantastic value and without fail include some of the areas specialities and as such give the diner a real flavour of the Loire. It is also the choice most French people opt for as it is set daily it will usually put on your plate that day’s freshest produce. The many forests of this beautiful region supply lovers of game with an endless offering of Venison, Pheasant and delicious Wild Boar often cooked in wild Mushrooms from these areas. Dishes are accompanied by the vegetables in season, such joy when compared to our never ending offering of green beans flown in from Kenya. If like me you are a big fan of Charcuterie then the Rillettes, Pates and Rillons of the Loire and Touraine in particular will go down exceedingly well. In common with the French I love Veal and the speciality of Anjou Cul-de-Veau á la angevine ( Veal in white wine) is superb. Who from the British Isles does not like sausage? Well the Andouillettes de Jargeau from Orléans will be remembered long after your trip as will the mesmerising variety of Goats cheese, lots of which emanate from small artisan producers. No article on food can be written, by me at least, without mention of Dessert. It is common knowledge amongst my family and friends that when I first peruse the menu it is to the Dessert section I go initially before I order my starter and main course to ensure I leave enough room for whatever Dessert takes my fancy. Fellow Dessert fiends will not be disappointed in this region of France, whether it is a calorie laden chocolate affair made with chocolate from the producer at Poulain or a mouth- watering crêpes angevines (pancake with Cointreau soaked apples). All washed down by a beautiful Loire wine.

The Chateaux of the Loire are simply stunning. On each return visit I always see something new, to me their magnificence and beauty demonstrates itself anew depending on the seasons. The difference in the quality of light highlights the many facets of these historic buildings. Suffice to say I have been seduced by the Chateaux of the Loire and they have been responsible for many hours on French estate agents websites dreaming my life away whilst viewing the Chateaux for sale at ridiculously low prices. Eventually reality kicks in when I realise, or my wife points out, how much a new plumbing system would cost or the fact that we do not have an endless supply of retainers to minister to our every whim but HEH! A man can dream and I do on every Loire Chateaux visit as invariably I am Lord and Master of all I survey. For more useful links on the Chateaux of the Loire go to our website and venture forth on you own voyage of discovery.

Saumur the birthplace of Coco Chanel and the eponymous Chanel No 5, when she decided to launch a perfume she instructed Ernest Beaux the perfume creator to the tsars of Russia to concoct sample fragrances. His sample range numbered 1 to 5 and 20 to 24. She choose number 5 launched it on the 5^th day of the 5^th month believing it to be lucky, I think we all know the answer to that. Saumur’s pretty streets of the old quarter of Fenét/Ardilliers between the Loire river and the Chateaux are part of the regional Loire a Vélo the new cycle route which stretches from the Atlantic to the Black Sea.

French Riviera, Cote d’Azur Oui! Bling Bling Non!

admin — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 11:55:06 +0000

Now don’t get me wrong, I love the vibrancy, joie de vivre, beautiful people, magnificent villas with pools and the buzz that is synonymous with the Cote d’Azur. Though occasionally when the mood takes I like to kick back and live life at a slower pace with time to enjoy the myriad blues of the Mediterranean, to take a little longer over lunch without the pressure to vacate my table as I watch the world go by, gazing at all the comings and goings from my harbour-side vantage point. My answer then is to travel further west along the coast to the more relaxed Var. Beginning around Cavalaire-Sur-Mer and stretching all the way to the heady port of Marseilles, it is a stunning coastline noticeably less developed with umbrella pines growing out of rocky headlands and the light a favourite of post impressionist artists. This is an area people go to “see and enjoy” as against to be “seen and enjoyed”, where the more famous amongst us go to mingle and fit in rather than to stand out. A lot of the villages feel, to me at least, more typically French. There are so many but a few that spring to mind are the fishing villages of Anse de Méjan, Anse de San Peyre and Les Oursinières. The beautiful long sandy beaches at St. Clair near Le Lavandou are perfectly suited to relaxing and chilling out. On days when you want to get out and explore how about a short ferry ride to the island of Porquerolles, departing from the Giens peninsula.

The close proximity of the city of Aix-en Provence makes it a must see, no bland roundabouts here as most have a beautiful fountain at their centre. Fond memories of many’s a seafood lunch at one of the restaurants that line the Cours Mirabeau, the main tree lined street of Aix. This city has it all, really fantastic architecture, history, good weather and is surrounded by charming villages well worth a visit. I must admit my love of Aix-en-Provence has been inspired by my wife Yvette who had the fortune of spending her teenage years in this beautiful city. Many of you may not know of Chateau d’If a fortress built on an island in the Bay of Marseille, famous for being one of the settings for the adventure novel “The Count of Monte Cristo” by Alexandre Dumas. This fortress was built in 1524 under the instructions of Francois 1, and was later used as an ideal escape proof prison. Marseilles the city of Bouillabaisse is still something of an unknown to many people who love and holiday in France. Nestled between the sea and hills, the oldest city in France founded 2600 years ago is a city awaiting discovery,,, more on Marseilles soon!!!

Wine Wine Wine !!!

admin — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 17:31:29 +0000

Unless you know a wine area intimately or are good friends of a producer buying a good wine at a reasonable price can be a minefield. It also is worth considering that my idea of a reasonable price and other wine lovers can vary greatly, I shall not at this stage embarrass myself by declaring my preferred spend. There is a direct correlation between cost and quality though I must say less and less of my purchases now find their way into the vinegar pot Voila!! (some say good wine makes good red wine vinegar, more on this in future news posts) For me the challenge has always been to try and find the tipping point , that is the best wine at the fairest price. Some aficionados that is to say wine lovers, not wine snobs who think only the best labels or chateau will suffice, will often buy their wines direct from one or two producers whom they have built up a relationship with over many years and supplementing their caves by buying wine from the large French supermarket chains typically in September or October when these outlets usually run their wine fares.

To give you an idea of how difficult choosing can be at a blind tasting in 2009 of eleven vintage 2001 Bordeaux wines an expert jury from the “World Wine Symposiums European Grand Jury”, nine out of ten top vintages were comprehensively beaten by a Bordeaux superieur that cost less than 15 Euros in comparison to bottles that ranged from 152 to 1,521 Euros, yes that’s per bottle not per case. So whilst a high price does not always equal high quality you cannot expect to get really good wine at a knockdown price again we are seeking the mid point.

One way to de-mystify the wine buying process is to understand the wine labels and classifications. Wines with a label Appellation Contrôlée or Appellation Protégée usually indicate a wine of good quality being from a specific region. Though wines with the Appellation labels can be of very different qualities, depending on the Appellation or area they are from. Appellation Contrôlée rules indicate where the wine is from, grape variety and grown under certain conditions. Also stipulating that only a certain volume can be produced each year with a certain label. So excess production is sold off under a different Appellation with a wider remit or as a”declassified Wine”(Vin déclassé) and at a far more palatable price. Appellation Contrôlée was first granted to protect Châteauneuf de Pape in 1923 with the system being run nationally in 1935 by the “Institut National des Appellations d’origine” Nowadays it is nigh on impossible to gain a new Appellation Contrôlée.

On the lower end of the scale large general regional Appellations like Bordeaux, Côtes do Rhône and Bourgogne are familiar, though these regional Appellations have smaller more specific higher quality Appellations such as Medôc, Côte Rôtie, Côte de Beaune or other small localised areas, these perceived as producing the best wines in an area such as Pauillac in Bordeaux. So let us say there was over production in Pauillac, the excess wine produced then is sold under a lesser classification of Bordeaux wine, you are then effectively getting the Pauillac at the price of a bog standard Bordeaux, sadly you really really need to be in the know to avail of these opportunities, happened to me only once and being a bit sceptical I only bought a few cases, very much to my regret.

Personally I buy my wines on taste first and price second, not being in a position to spend excessively on wine. Having a few hours to spend and my I-pad is invaluable in my hunt for the best wine at the keenest price.

Soon I will go into a little more detail regarding labels and classification but for now Chin Chin!!!!!!

September in France

admin — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 14:15:39 +0000

A conversation I seem to have most years is akin to déjà vu. Whilst friends and colleagues are lamenting our inclement weather and giving out about hose pipe bans in August while the heavens are opening with a deluge of the wet stuff conversation inevitably turns to how pleasant it would be to be stretched out poolside at a nice rental villa in France. This is usually when I interrupt this splendid idle and comment in the affirmative, not too convincingly mind, as in my next breath I am championing the delights of a September break. Once into my stride I point out that the weather is still superb, o.k. maybe not 40º centigrade but a comfortable high 20º or low 30º degrees. I love the idea of getting a table in a good restaurant at a moments notice, not having to book well in advance, spur of the moment, my idea of holiday bliss. The fact that I am saving a whole lot of money by holidaying a few weeks later than families with kids at school does bring a smile to my face especially as when we drive through the French countryside and take in a scene that has gone on for centuries, that of the Vendanges, and I make a quick calculation that with what I have saved enables me to take an even bigger piece of France back home with me, in the form of extra cases of wine to gladden the heart during the winter. France is a beautiful country during all seasons and I hope you agree with my train of thought regarding September and even October further south that it has that “je ne sais quoi”. Actually I remember fondly one delicious lunch where we ate al fresco at a restaurant along the old port in Villefranche-Sur-Mer en route home from a ski trip in the French Alps a few days before last Christmas. Vive la France!!!!!

Latest on driving in France

admin — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 15:04:50 +0000

Driving in France whether a mad dash down to the Côte d’Azur or a leisurely journey with one or two overnight stops should be trouble free if you observe “la code de la route” in other words the French driving laws are much stricter than the UK.

To avoid on the spot fines you should ensure that you comply with the following:

Original documents: a valid driving licence, insurance certificate, MOT and registration documents are all required to be presented on request if stopped.
Breathalyser: from July 1st, 2012 all motorists should carry breathalyser kits in the car to avoid an on the spot fine (we have been advised the law will not be enforced until November 2012 but best play safe!)
Headlight beam adapters: the purpose of these is to avoid blinding on coming traffic, but more importantly in the event of an accident your insurance may be invalidated as your car is legally unroadworthy without them, not to mention the hefty fine on the spot.
Warning triangle:a legal requirement to carry in the car and in case of break down should be displayed 150 yards back from the car.
Reflective jackets:legally required for driver and recommended for all passengers, needs to be accessible so should not be packed in the boot under all your travelling paraphernalia.
GB sticker: is a requirement only if car does not have an EU number plate.
Spare bulbs and fuses: a slightly difficult one this! as those who have tried to change a bulb on a modern car will attest to. Not a legal requirement but if you are stopped for a faulty light you will be expected to replace it before driving off or alternatively pay a large on the spot fine.

It should be noted that the French Gendarme are much less tolerant of speed limit violations than was once the case, as France had a high incidence of mortality due to traffic accidents.

Leave yourselves plenty of time and remember you are on holidays so enjoy the drive!

Various companies sell driving in France kits try the AA www.shop.theaa.com