Which European country should we look at?

[Myhnabird]

My husband and I (both early 60's) live in a southern European country. It's unbearably hot in the summer so we're trying to work out where we might spend our summers. Passports are not an issue - I have British and irish; husband is "spouse of...".
We had assumed we'd be in the UK but frankly, after lurking on mumsnet for a year or so, it's become clear that it's not a great option. So - all you mumsnetters who live in France, Spain, Germany, etc - tell me about your country. What's it like from a social perspective? Environmental? Economic? Language? (at our age, we recognise we've no hope of ever being fluent though we will learn enough to be polite). Weather (considering climate change)? Mumsnet has been a fabulous window into UK culture but I don't imagine there's a Portuguese mumsnet and even if there was, I don't speak Portuguese.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

[heldinadream]

So you want a cooler climate to spend your summers but think the UK isn't a good option? Why? It's not the best run country in the world but surely as tourists there's plenty here to attract you without having to get involved in the hassles of living here? Or is something else putting you off?

[Autumcolors]

Spend it in the mountains? Austrian or Italian Alps. Maybe even Switzerland?
cooler, beautiful and peaceful if you choose her right village. Learn German - even for some areas of italy.

[ArghhWhatNext]

Are you looking to effectively holiday somewhere every summer? Or for somewhere to live?
There are parts of the UK where the standard of living remains fine and as long as you’re not dependent on public transport things are great.
I’m thinking Yorkshire Dales, parts of Derbyshire, parts of Lancashire…

[Ilovemyshed]

MN is skewed, the UK is largely a great place to live.

[MinnieMountain]

I know of a couple who retired to Slovenia. Having visited twice, I can see the appeal. I have no idea about health care etc though.

[Myhnabird]

@ArghhWhatNext

Are you looking to effectively holiday somewhere every summer? Or for somewhere to live?
There are parts of the UK where the standard of living remains fine and as long as you’re not dependent on public transport things are great.
I’m thinking Yorkshire Dales, parts of Derbyshire, parts of Lancashire…

It would be more than a holiday - just under 180 days so we could retain residency where we are.
I'm glad to hear that the UK isn't as bad as mumsnet makes out. I was born there and have spent quite a lot of time there in the past few years. Just never "lived" there, iyswim?

[PieAndLattes]

What about Ireland? Somewhere like Galway with its Atlantic coast or the outrageously green and beautiful Donegal would be wonderful.

[backinthebox]

So you want a country to use in your old age? What’s your plan for medical care, home help
if needed, etc? What will you be giving back? You’ve already stated you won’t be learning the language of wherever you go! This won’t endear you at all to the native population anywhere, and will cause you problems everywhere you go. Why not look at the cooler options in the country you currently live in? There are mountain ranges in most southern European countries where the summers are cooler (unless it’s Portugal.) Even Greece has mountain ranges.

Btw the UK is fine, you are reading a forum site full of people who sometimes have nowhere else to have a grumble so you are going to see the downsides exposed a little more. Thanks to not speaking any of the languages of anywhere else you are looking you will not see the downsides anywhere else. Like having your own digital pair of rose tinted glasses.

[Tempnamechng]

The UK is beautiful - just live semi rurally in the North. Its cheaper and prettier ;-)
If I was tempted anywhere else it would be Switzerland.

[sofasofa42]

Northern Portugal? Cost effective and not roasting.

[IpanemaCaipirinha]

I wouldn’t choose the uk in its current state. Public transport is struggling, my dc use it for uni and sixth form and there isn’t a week without train delays, cancellation or reduced service. Eating out is poor now, we’ve given up. Also you have to factor in getting in and out, we use the tunnel and euro star but it’s become much more of a headache, expensive with long queues.

We love the Netherlands but that’s skewed because we have family there. Climate same as uk in summer, lots of outdoor and cultural stuff. Also love the Alps in summer, hiking and lake swimming. Gorgeous food and wine. The great thing is you can hop in the car and drive to another country from Netherlands or France.

It depends what you are into really.

[Startingagainandagain]

Well with climate change you can expect places like Spain, Portugal, Greece and Italy to keep getting hotter in the summer.

So you need to think more about places like France (not the South), the Netherlands, Switzerland or even Ireland and Scotland.

As other have said the UK has some beautiful places where you could live part of the year. As you get older you might appreciate speaking the same language and having access to the health service.

[Daveandroger]

Cork. All day long.

[Caspianberg]

North. Not the southern European mountains. It’s still hot here most the summer ( we live up one and it’s still 35 degrees most the summer). So excludes Austria, Italy, Slovenia, southern France if you don’t want a hot summer

I would choose Denmark

[CousinGreg55]

What type of plan for accommodation do you have for whatever country you choose. Buying a house? It would be difficult to rent for a few months and holiday type rental would be very expensive

[Bansheed]

We have the same passports as you and are looking at living our retirement out in Europe, in 10 or so years' time. We are both good with languages and plan to learn or fine tune so we can assimilate fully.

There is a lot of chat about southern Europe being too hot, We are looking at northern France and were looing at the northwest coast of Spain. Friends also have bought in Norhtern France and the Alps, after considering hot summers. Spain also has the incoming wealth tax for up tp 2.5% of global assets, which made us rethink buying there.

I'll be very interested in the advice you receive!

[Myhnabird]

Thank you for everyone's replies, even the snarky ones. We'll be insuring ourselves privately for the time we're not in our own country. Language is a big issue for us. I speak a little Spanish and have been duolingo-ing to try and improve it but I won't pretend that I'll ever be able to catch subtle nuances. I've picked up some French and German but can't really hold conversations. It's a pity we didn't make the move decades ago but it really wasn't economically possible. Anyway, we can only start from where we are.
@Bansheed I'd be interested in having a private conversation, if you're willing. Does mumsnet do DM's?

[CousinGreg55]

No one is being snarky but I wouldn't go onto a French website and ask where should I live in Europe but not France because some people on social media say its not a good place to live.

[chopinwaltz26]

Germany, Austria or Alsace in France might fit the bill.

[Myhnabird]

@chopinwaltz26

Germany, Austria or Alsace in France might fit the bill.

Thank you - those 3 are definitely worth a good long look.

[TwigletsAndRadishes]

Mumsnet has been a fabulous window into UK culture

You have a British and an Irish passport, yet you need MN to give you an insight into UK culture? Where have you actually been living for the last 60 odd years?

And why have you been considering moving to the UK but not to Ireland?