To ask if you'd rather retire in Spain or France

[mycatisannoying]

You have to choose one. Not say 'but I'd never pick either of those for retirement'.

Some points to consider:

• you don't drive
• you love the sea
• you want good healthcare (no pre-existing conditions)
• a friendly community is key, with lots to do
• value for money, both in terms of the property you'd buy and everyday life in general
• decent airport links
• your language skills are good; fluent in French and Spanish could be picked up easily
• somewhere with a holiday - but not a party - feel.

Go!

I was just about to say the exact same thing.
I've been looking at moving to Spain for retirement in 15 years because I'm Mexican-American and fluent in Spanish but that problem with the dual citizenship has bothered me.
I suppose I have 15 years to become fluent in French.

Spain

France.

Total headache “picking up” a new language. Don’t underestimate the ease of already being fluent in the language especially when it comes to life admin.

Things that you would normally do over time like opening a bank account, registering yourself with the health service (which is excellent in France) and getting your drivers licence exchanged etc all needs to be done together. It’s infinitely easier when you already have the language.

Food is better in France too 😁

Spain because I prefer the culture and climate, but I speak French and not Spanish.

Spain. Along it's Mediterranean coast.

I'd say Northern Spain, specifically Santiago de Compostela or around San Sebastian. The weather issues others have highlighted would be a genuine concern, I find the UK summer heat unbearable let alone some of the temps you see you in southern Spain, whereas its a much more temperate climate in the northern region.

The beaches in Galicia are unbelievable, you could live like a queen on a UK pension and it has an influx of tourists doing the camino, perhaps too remote without a car, although of course all the pilgrims seem to be able to walk or cycle to get from A to B. Alternatively, with San Sebastian you're only a hop, skip and a jump from Biarritz, and have beaches, mountains and world class food on your doorstep, much pricier though.

Spain - because you want a friendly community

France for me
since you don’t drive I feel like Spain would be easier and you can pick up an additional language, and I think there are more welcoming communities, particularly communities of expats ime. Places like javea

france would be less holiday vibes, but more difficulties and expectations to fit in. And I’d go crazy without a car. But I love the food and vibe. You could do places like Bergerac which has a (very) small city feel.

France if you are fluent. Even having decent language skills in a foreign country makes life very tiring and hard to navigate. If you are fluent it will be so much easier to do things incl making friends and being part of the community of wherever you end up.

I'd look at the west coast eg La Rochelle which has good rail links and nice weather. There are lots of nice little towns there (but honestly I would learn to drive as there are so many really friendly rural communities esp in the SW).

Very interesting! I've been looking at properties in your region.
Can you tell me which is the larger town by population - Javea or Denia?
Thanks!

I'd say France but that's probably because I took early retirement last year, and moved to a village near Limoges at the tail end of last year.

Yes you need income, either your pension or private pensions or rental from a house or investments.

Yes you need private medical insurance for the first year for your visa, but we got into the French system which pays for 80% of medical bills 6 months after getting here.

The weather is quite variable, but it is always warmer here, the veg grows quicker, there is less time being so cold and damp, but on the other hand some days it is too hot to do anything.

It all depends on what you want really, flights are weekly from some airports all winter and stop altogether from other UK airports and only start up again in June. We live in a village that is owned by 60% Brits, who come and go often staying 2-3 weeks only. It's more usual to hear British voices here, in the middle of nowhere, than French. There are no buses at all, and you have to drive everywhere but the house was half the cost of our UK house and twice the size.

The cost of housing is more expensive by the sea and coastal towns are mostly quite well kept unlike the UK. There has seen a larger contingent of city types moving out of the cities here, partly to do with COVID and new types of working arrangements.

My recommendation is to visit in mid winter. If you still love it then, it more likely you won't hate it if you move there.

You would die spending the summers inn Coimbra or Evora!! Portugal is amazing but climate change has not been kind on inland areas and some may even become inhabitable in the not so distant future. Where my in-laws live, close to Evora, minimum temperature yesterday was 25 degrees. Will be similar the whole week.

You could have the best of both worlds.

Come down to Southern France and you'll find community, plenty to do in most areas, easy to avoid the super busy areas, bus links between villages and towns/cities, property is cheap, culture is incredible, food to die for. I've lived here almost my entire life and you couldn't pay me to leave.

I can be in Spain within 1 and a half hours drive/bus ride or less by train. We literally go there just for the day.

Beach is 15 mins from my house. Mountains 25/30 mins. Larger cities within 1 or 2 hours depending where you go. 3 big airports with links everywhere.

Good places are Narbonne, Beziers, Pezenas, Capestang, Sauvian, Serignan, Gruissan, Collioure, Leucate, La Franqui, Montpellier.. and about a million more.

I’m in a similar position mycatisannoying
for those who say France , could you recommend some areas? Single 60 yr woman here

Ooops just say your reply Grenouilledesjardins

Spain every time. Friendlier, cheaper, better food and I’m Spanish.

Southern France for sure, but around the Montpellier area rather than the Riviera - much more for your money, far quieter and wonderful culture

Spain for me. Although a friend who has retired there does struggle with the heat sometimes. I like France too, just prefer Spain. I find the language easier too.

Grenouilledesjardins

could you narrow it down to 3 good value but really nice areas?

thank you

Neither. I'm sure French and Spanish locals are fed up of leathery old English people buying their homes too. Brexit makes this more difficult.

Went to Spain recently and it was a sea of sun damaged 70 plus year olds from England.

Oh, those are my two favourite countries. I love both! Whilst I prefer France as a place, I'd probably like to retire to Spain, Mallorca specifically. I know it well and get on with the feel of it.

Spain

Edit: Apologies just seen it was would you rather, not would you ever! Ignore me!

Original post:
Not unless all my family and friends are no longer with us / local. I love my life because of the people in it. I can't imagine leaving them behind.

In an ideal world I'd like a holiday home, somewhere I could go back and forth to for some sun. Somewhere for my children and their families to come spend time too.

But I can't see a time I'd retire abroad permanently.

France if already fluent in French. The idea you could easily pickup a language at retirement age is niave.

If you don't drive I would chose Nice.