Reader experiences

Our French gîte: Couple combine farming with tourism in Burgundy

Owner Ghislaine Bentley explains why juggling a beef farm and popular chambre d’hôtes is worth the hard work

How I moved to France and took up pottery

Former head teacher Sarah Patterson found a new home and a new passion in her 50s

Experiences: Why I love living in Lot-et-Garonne

Connexion reader Richard Hall explains why he and his wife Maria settled on the banks of the river Lot

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How I became a ghostwriter after moving to France

Tracy Stewart, 58, a risk specialist, moved to France in 2014. Her life took an unexpected turn, leading her on a new career journey within the publishing industry

'We founded a musical theatre for young people in France'

Juliana Rambaldi, 60, and her husband Victor Benedetti, 56, are both professional classical singers. They moved from Seattle with their two children in 2011 intending only to stay for a year…

Why I love where I live... in north-west France

Roger Mew relocated from London to near Derval (Loire-Atlantique) in 2001 after he had to give up work

How I became a life coach after moving to France

Discover how Patricia Brooks, 57, transformed her life by moving to France and starting a successful coaching business for aspiring expats.

'I built my own natural pool in France for only €8,000'

Alex Wells explains how she discovered the health benefits of water free from chemicals

'I moved to France and became an estate agent for luxury homes'

Former probation officier and mum-of-three Leila Bodross, 44, now sells premium properties on the Bretagne coast

Career change in France: from plastics to creative recycling

Bob Hope explains his decision to leave a job in the chemicals industry to breathe new life into everyday objects

How to navigate the dynamics with a French stepfamily

Columnist Cynthia Spillman explains how to survive and thrive in a new-formed family

'I found my voice when I joined a French choir'

Hannah Pickup from Vendôme (Loir-et-Cher) got involved in 2013 and is now its secretary and treasurer

'We moved from the US to France to restore a château'

Mark Goff and Phillip Engel swapped the California wine country of Napa Valley for a new life at Château d’Avensac

How I became a beautician after moving to France

When Teri Fox, 55, relocated in 2007, she mastered lots of new skills including fitness and aesthetics courses, as well as managing beauty salons – before going on to open her own

Experiences: Why I love living on the Côte d’Azur

Connexion reader highlights the community spirit of his home in Alpes-Maritimes and the surprising lack of crowds

Letters: France needs to support Ukraine or I will with my credit card

Connexion reader says individuals feel increasingly pressured to support the fight

Letters: Is France lagging behind UK in banking security?

Connexion reader says phone call from bank seemed more like a scam

Letters: Bordeaux airport is struggling for good reason

Connexion reader says it deserves its bad reputation and should concentrate on improving safety

Letters: 'France's aggressive drivers make me shudder'

Connexion reader says French drivers are 'more reckless' than those in Germany

Letters: HRT in France and osteoporosis

Reader says pharmacists were surprised by this treatment as it is not standard here

Letters: France should do more to support Ukraine

Connexion reader wants to start crowdfunding campaign to help war effort

Letters: French tax problems easier to resolve than UK issues

Connexion reader says that their attempts to contact HMRC have proved frustrating

Letters: far right win was a shock but no surprise - like Brexit

Connexion reader with UK/French dual nationality says she is faced with a voting conundrum

Letters: Amazon UK is too expensive in France

Connexion reader says the reasons behind rising prices are unclear

Letters: Britons in France wrestle with bank account closures

Connexion readers say letter from Crédit Agricole was 'alarming'

Letters: high death toll on French roads is no surprise

'France is a wonderful country to live in except for the drivers!' says Connexion reader

Letters: postal vote delays could deny France residents UK vote

Connexion reader says service limits voting rights

Letters: pensioners in rural France fight digital life certificates

Connexion reader says providers presume that everyone has access to online services

Letters: patients face six-month wait to see doctor in parts of France

Connexion reader says that nobody seems to be tackling the problem of medical deserts

Letters: check your receipt at supermarket till in France

Connexion reader says overcharging is commonplace and staff rarely apologise for mistakes

Letters: French visa application complicated by inferior software

Connexion reader says applicants must pay more for insurance due to limitations of embassy computer

'Lacking’ ‘nice’ 'pointless': your view on no-alcohol wine in France

Updated: mixed responses from readers, who believe industry still has a way to go

How I moved to France and turned my craft hobbies into income

Karen Corbridge, 58, talks about her journey from project management to arts and drafts

Is French cuisine really the best in the world?

A Connexion reader challenges the country’s gastronomic credentials

Beware of bulk-buy ‘deals’ in French supermarkets

A Connexion reader advises that you should always check the price per kilogram

Homemade garden fire protection system in France

A Connexion reader shares their solution to the threat of wildfires to their garden this summer

Reader’s experience of France’s DPE energy rating: ‘nonsense’

They believe their low rating is inaccurate and devaluing their stone property

All in favour of EU flag-flying in France

Connexion readers give their feedback on mairies being made to fly the EU flag

‘Therapy’ dogs long overdue in France

A Connexion reader shares her experience of therapy dogs in the UK

How to access the British gov.uk website as a French resident

A British Connexion reader shares how he was able to create a Government Gateway account

Do non-EU six-month visitors have to undergo a medical in France?

And, if so, what happens if you fail?

How to avoid the wait for a driving test in France

France first-hand: Learning to drive - we speak to Libby Abel, who moved to Brittany as a toddler, about her learning to drive experience

Connexion reader gives his views on the Paris e-scooter ban

Self-confessed ‘lifelong motorcyclist’ Chris Levings is in total agreement with the ban

Newcomers must not put off swap to French driving licence

Reader issues warning to others as he faces sitting French test due to delay

Connexion reader overcharged by TLS Contact for French visa

Here they share their experience of getting a refund

‘Preparing to put house up for sale’: Readers blast French visa woes

Delays are putting people’s plans for a longer-term stay in France over the summer in peril

Five reader tips on how to avoid French visa delays

Advice and tricks on how best to deal with TLScontact, the firm that manages the French visa application process in the UK

Will UK pension increases apply to state pensioners in France?

The Brexit deals safeguarded certain entitlements for Britons abroad

French renovation rule over children having to OK work is insulting

Firm told readers they needed to have their children sign-off on a payment they need to make to it

Visits to second home in France: be prepared for visa wait

A Connexion reader shares his experiences of the French visa application process

What are moves to change 90-day visitor rule in France for Britons?

Some UK nationals who bought a holiday home before 2021 believe they should be allowed more flexibility when visiting

Dry January in France: how our readers are changing drinking habits

Readers have been sharing observations about how their alcohol consumption has evolved since they moved to France and whether they are trying out Dry January this year

Drivers from France shocked by London low emission zone penalties

The ULEZ does not automatically detect if foreign-registered vehicles are exempt. ‘Perhaps TfL should reconsider how it communicates with visitors from abroad,’ said one driver

Solution to bug hindering online French work permit applications

A reader who runs a bar in the Alps told of frustration completing the website form for non-EU workers; an official has explained what to do

Eurostar says response times improving after customers report issues

Connexion readers reported being unable to speak to staff by phone, contact form or social media, but the operator says the backlog will be cleared by Christmas

Updated: Is France in a ‘spiral of chaos and decline’? Your feedback

An article on the website of the UK Telegraph claims France has lost control of its borders and French cities are often sites of ‘lawless anarchy.’ Our readers do not generally agree

Stress at the border as UK pet passport is rejected on leaving France

The Connexion checked out the rules on use of UK pet passports issued before 2021 after a reader reported difficulties

Reader's tip on pet passport after cat issues boarding UK-France ferry

The animal’s documentation was correct but ferry worker had a problem with its wording. We explain the rules for pet travel between the UK and EU

Three month wait, 50km away: Your experiences finding a French dentist

Some rural Connexion readers say they have no problem securing an appointment, but others have had to travel over an hour, even in an emergency

‘Surprised, touched’: our French neighbours’ kindness at Queen’s death

Connexion readers tell of emails received from French friends and ‘a more gentle approach’ by shop staff after the news broke

Planes, trains, cost, carbon - how do you travel to and from France?

Travel can throw up questions of price, convenience and climate change - readers share what is important to them

‘Enchanted’, ‘amazing’: Your memories of the Perseids shooting stars

The meteor shower will be visible on clear nights above France until August 25, so stargazing is still possible

Ask a French person: why would bakery not swap my ‘soggy’ pastry?

We look at why a reader’s request to swap a pastry resulted in the baker threatening to call the police

Excess red tape and bureaucracy in France is a myth

Helpful tax office staff and easy online forms - one Connexion reader shares his experience of completing his tax declaration in 13 minutes

Banking in France without a mobile phone is near impossible

Crédit Agricole insist on a mobile phone to receive SMS and security codes for online banking - otherwise ‘tant pis’ says reader

Bottled or tap: How do you take your water in France?

Some drink bottled water to avoid the chlorinated taste of its tap counterpart, while another sees buying from supermarkets as a ‘con’

‘How I went about applying for French citizenship’

The process can take 18 months to three years, involves several different stages and a lot of waiting

Hebrew, Spanish, Esperanto: readers speak more than English and French

We asked what languages you know and how you learned them following the story of the American who can speak 24

UK nationals may only have one six-month French visa per year

Connexion readers report being told a new rule means people can only obtain a second visa from six months after the expiry of their first

‘New bins only make recycling in France more difficult’

The Connexion reader shares frustration at waste and recycling bins which are so impractical they may discourage not encourage recycling

‘Reason €10bn in French state aid is unclaimed is simple - paperwork’

A Connexion reader shares his tiring experience of trying to getting government support

French dental service is ‘fundamentally flawed’, says ex NHS dentist

The retired practitioner writes that the system is ‘badly organised, poorly regulated, understaffed and not based on continuous patient care’

Is Amazon France censoring my bad reviews?

Amazon customers in France have reported that their feedback on certain products is not getting published, but they have not had the same experience in the UK or Germany

French couple’s detective work reunites stolen bag with Scottish owner

A Scottish sweet and tartan facemask in the bag, which also contained important medical equipment and a Valentine’s Day card, led to an international appeal for help

Aperos, choirs, cars, cards: Readers’ French integration successes

We asked how you define and measure ‘cultural integration’ and how important language skills are - here we share some of the replies we received