IN TODAY'S ISSUE

📍HIDDEN GEM: Orléans — Loire-side charm, Joan of Arc history, and easy Paris access (without the Paris price tag).

🏡 AFFORDABLE FIND: Bright 1-Bedroom Near the Jardin des Plantes, Orléans, for just €850/month.

📜 TAX, VISA, HEALTHCARE: Arriving late in the year? You may still need to file in France—even if you’re under 183 days.

📺 FRANCE MUST-WATCH: Experience the stunning Loire Valley by bike in this must-see video.

📚 FRANCE RESOURCE LIBRARY: (New) How to find your first apartment in France without getting scammed.

👋 Personal Update

One of the best parts of sharing my France obsession online is when Americans already living in France reach out and say, “Hey—come see our corner of it.”

This week it was a gentleman originally from Hawaii, now living in Orléans with his wife—right on the Loire River just outside the historic center. When he saw our first retirement retreat is in the Loire Valley, he invited us to visit.

So… it’s happening. 😄

That means our scouting trip now includes Tours, Amboise, Orléans, and two smaller villages in between (Montrésor and Chédigny)—all woven together with wine tastings, expat meet-ups, and at least one “lunch in a vineyard” situation.

These personal connections genuinely make my day.

On to the newsletter...

Affiliate Disclosure​
​Some links in this newsletter are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase—at no extra cost to you. These commissions help support the free content I create for this community, like this newsletter. Thank you!

📍Hidden Gem - Orléans

​Orléans sits on the Loire River in the Centre-Val de Loire region—perfect if you want Loire Valley scenery plus a city that feels vibrant and everyday-friendly.

It’s lively, walkable, and has real year-round momentum (not just summer-tourist energy).

You’ll find a handsome old town with half-timbered streets, a cathedral that anchors the skyline, and long riverside paths that make daily walks feel like a vacation.

And yes—Joan of Arc is everywhere here (in the best possible way).

​La Loire à Vélo runs right through Orléans, so you’ve got one of France’s most scenic cycling routes literally at your doorstep.

What I love about Orléans for would-be retirees is the balance: you get history and scenery, but also practical city life—shops, healthcare, transit, and plenty of cafés for “serious French living” (aka people-watching with purpose).

And compared with the big-name French cities, Orléans can feel refreshingly doable from a budget standpoint—many cost comparisons place it meaningfully cheaper than Paris.

📍FAST FACTS: [Location]
​🚄 Train: Gare d’Orléans — ~1h 06m to Paris (Gare d’Austerlitz)
✈️ Airport: Paris Orly (ORY) — ~1h 15m drive
🏥 Hostpital: CHU d’Orléans (Hôpital de la Source)
👣 Walkability: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (Flat riverside strolling + an easy-to-navigate center; some areas spread out beyond downtown)
🧺 Market: ​Yes — multiple markets weekly (including Friday evening + Saturday morning options)
🌦️ Climate: ​Temperate—cool winters, pleasantly warm summers (Atlantic influence)

*Anything underlined is clickable 🔗

AFFORDABLE FIND 🏠

Bright 1-Bedroom Near the Jardin des Plantes, Orléans — €850/month

This furnished one-bedroom apartment in Orléans' quiet Saint Marceau neighborhood offers 47 m² (about 505 sq ft) on the 3rd floor with a nice energy rating (C energy / A climate).

It features an open, fully equipped kitchen (including washer, dryer, and dishwasher), a bedroom, a bathroom with bathtub, and a 6 m² balcony.

You also get a secure 28 m² garage with camera access and a basement storage space.

The Jardin des Plantes is just around the corner, central Orléans is a 15-minute walk, and Tram Line A is at the end of the street.

Fiber internet, electric shutters with remote control, and video intercom round it out.

TAX, VISA, OR HEALTHCARE TIP 💡

Question:

“If I’m not in France for 183+ days in a calendar year, do I have to file taxes?”

Yes, you very likely do.

Even if you arrive in September, France can still expect a tax return for the months you were there that year.

In practice, it’s less about “counting days” and more about your intent and your residency status.

If you arrive on the VLS-TS Visitor visa planning to stay, you’re essentially telling France: “I intend to become a tax resident.”

So don’t assume that arriving late in the year means you can skip the paperwork.

The good news: many retirees won’t owe French tax if all income is U.S.-based (Social Security, IRA/401(k) distributions, U.S. dividends, etc.).

But—and this is the key—you still have to file and report it in France.

(And yes: it’s annoying. But it’s also very France. 😅)

FRANCE MUST-WATCH 📺

🚴 The Loire By Bike (Échappées Belles)

Experience the stunning Loire Valley by bike.

Échappées Belles takes us on a gorgeous ride through one of France's most beautiful regions — the châteaux, the vineyards, the river light. It's the kind of scenery that makes you want to quit your job on the spot.

Turn on Closed Captions to follow along, or leave them off and just listen in French — it's a great way to train your ear!

📚 FRANCE RESOURCE LIBRARY - How to Find an Apartment in France (new PDF)

My friend Ben Small (and his wife Alex) help Americans secure long-term rentals in France through a clear, step-by-step process — while steering you away from the scams that catch way too many people off guard.

I can't overstate how valuable this is.

Ben is not only an experienced expert in the French rental market, he's fluent in French. Trust me — this is not something you want to navigate alone.

Several newsletter readers have already worked with Ben and Alex to find apartments that fit their budgets and preferred locations.

The feedback? Nothing but praise. 🙌

​Click here to book a free call with Ben​

The Your First Rental in France PDF is now located in the Real Estate + Housing section of the resource library.

FYI if there are resources I should consider adding to the library, just reply and tell me about them!

That's it for this week's issue.

À bientôt,

Tommy

PS - FYI only 4 spots left of my France Retirement Stress Test call. Grab one now if you want to work with me 1-to-1.