IN TODAY'S ISSUE #8
(See past issues here)
📍 Hidden Gem: Tours — Loire Valley’s vibrant hub with storybook neighbors Amboise & Cinq-Mars-la-Pile.
🏡 Affordable Find: A family home near Descartes for €265,000 and a spacious rental apartment in Tours for €1,200/mo.
🎓 Workshops + Webinars: The U.S.-France Tax Treaty in Plain English. Join me Tuesday to get your questions answered.
📺 France Must-Watch: Cruising the Loire valley on a luxury canal boat. (Idea for a retirement retreat?!?)
👋 Personal Update
After my 100-mile trek around Mont Blanc—exhausting, yes, but also unforgettable—I’ll soon be heading back to France to experience Tours, deep in the Loire Valley.
And here’s the exciting part: I’m scouting locations for our very first Retirement Retreats in France next year!
These small, intimate gatherings (limited to just 10–15 people) will be packed with practical insights, local exploration, and the kind of camaraderie you can only get when dreaming of France together.
Because of the limited size, spots will go quickly.
If you want to be among the first to hear when dates open, click here to join the waitlist now. I truly believe these retreats will sell out fast.
Let’s get into it –
📍HIDDEN GEM - TOURS, LOIRE VALLEY
Nestled along the Loire River, Tours is the beating heart of the Loire Valley, famed for its Renaissance squares, lively café terraces, and proximity to the world’s most enchanting châteaux. It’s cosmopolitan without losing its small-town charm.
Nearby, Amboise dazzles with its château overlooking the river, once home to Leonardo da Vinci. A short way downstream, the quieter Cinq-Mars-la-Pile offers village serenity with its medieval tower and easy access to vineyards and river walks—making it a perfect spot for those seeking a slower pace.
From Tours, you’ll enjoy excellent transport links: direct trains to Paris in just over an hour, plus regional trains and flights connecting you to the rest of France and Europe. The city buzzes with students and professionals, while surrounding villages strike a perfect retirement balance of calm and convenience.
Housing here ranges from city apartments to village homes with gardens, often more affordable than Paris or Provence. For retirees, that means history, gastronomy, and community—without breaking the bank.
📍 Fast Facts: TOURS
🚉 Train Station: Gare de Tours — ~1h15 to Paris
✈️ Nearest Airport: Tours Val de Loire — 20 min drive
🏥 Nearest Hospital: CHU de Tours — central location
🛍️ Amenities: 🛒 Grocery 🥖 Bakery 🍷 Bars/Restaurants 🌳 Greenways 🎭 Culture
👣 Walkability: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (Flat streets, easy for daily errands)
🧺 Weekly Market: Yes — multiple markets across the city
🌦️ Climate: Mild Atlantic climate, warm summers, cool but not harsh winters
*Anything underlined is clickable 🔗
🏠 AFFORDABLE FINDS
✨ Exceptional Family Home with Separate Apartment – Near Descartes – €265,000 ($285,000)
This spacious home in Abilly, south of Tours, offers three bedrooms, Provençal-style kitchen, open living/dining, plus an independent one-bedroom apartment with private terrace.
Outside: enclosed garden, multiple garages, barn, and outbuildings.
Amenities nearby, TGV access in Châtellerault, airports in Tours and Poitiers. Perfect for a multi-generational move or income opportunity.
✨ Rental Apartment in Tours – Lamartine District – €1,200/mo
A bright, fully equipped 81 m² apartment with one bedroom and a modern kitchen, set in Tours’ Lamartine neighborhood. Furnished for comfort, it’s move-in ready—ideal for testing out French city living before buying.
⁉️ DID YOU KNOW?
Tours is often called the “Capital of the Loire Valley” and is renowned for speaking the “purest French.” It’s historically been the city where language professors send students to perfect their accent.
🎓 Workshops + Webinars
The U.S.-France Tax Treaty in Plain English
Retiring in France comes with incredible rewards—and a few tax questions.
In this live webinar, I’ll walk you through the U.S.–France Tax Treaty in plain English, showing how it helps retirees avoid double taxation, what income is covered, and what you need to know to enjoy your French retirement with peace of mind.
📅 Sept. 23rd (Tuesday)
🕖 12pm EST
No registration required
🏡 How to Find & Run a Profitable Gîte in France (with Rupert Springfield, from The Gîte Guru)
Dreaming of running a gîte for extra income? Rupert Springfield, known as the Gîte Guru, will share insider tips on choosing the right property, attracting guests, and making it profitable.
📅 Sept. 29th
🕛 12pm EST
No registration required
📺 France Must-Watch
Enjoy this video I found!👇
🎥 Cruising the Loire Valley in a Luxury Barge
This one takes you along the river on a luxury barge, complete with gourmet food, beautiful landscapes, and the kind of tranquil pace that many dream about for retirement.
This could make for a great retirement retreat!
👉 Watch it here
🇫🇷 One Step Closer to France
That’s it for this week. Whether you’re dreaming, planning, or already packing—we’re in this together.
Until next time,
Tommy
PS - Have you visited Tours and/or the Loire valley? What are some must-see places when I travel there soon?