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Whether you are buying property in France, heading there on holiday or considering whether to invest, few can ignore the country’s presidential elections.

And it seems that despite the media frenzy surrounding the possible result, a new president could, according to one expert, hail a new era in the country.

Economist predicts good things for French investment

James Macmillan, head of European equities at BlackRock Merrill Lynch Investment Managers has revealed that the result could mean good things for investors and could encourage the "entrepreneurial spirit" of the country.

According to the economist, the current situation sees employers with huge pressures but a new president could allow "smaller and mid-sized companies and the economy as a whole to match the performance of France’s world class companies that are prospering on the world stage".

France’s future looking positive

Things look good for other parts of the economy too, with Mr Macmillan saying that "fresh political impetus" could mean great things for the country.

He said that, despite some poor decision making with regards to the French economy, it is "in reasonable health and is very much a world leader in important sectors, including aerospace, tourism, food manufacturing, luxury goods and nuclear power". …

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So you have bought that perfect French holiday home and are planning to head down there as much as you can. But what about bringing along the pets?

With the introduction of pet passports in 2000 more than 350,000 people have now decided that their holiday would not be complete without their pampered pooch.

France welcomes furry friends

Travelling with our furry friends is certainly getting easier, but according to insurance firm Saga, there are still some holidaymakers who struggle to get their heads around the system.

Those who are planning to take a break in their new French cottage are therefore being urged to take steps to ensure that taking along your pet is as stress free as possible.

Checks needed for pets to enter France

Things to be taken in to consideration include ensuring your animal has been vaccinated against rabies and that it has been fitted with a microchip, which can be done at the local vet.

Also necessary is that a blood test is carried out so a vet can issue you with a certificate confirming that your pet has had its jabs.

It is also a good idea to get the details of your nearest vet in …

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If you are thinking of buying a chateau, investing in a French farm or simply wanting a holiday home it is recommended that you attain at least some grasp of the language.

And it seems that although we don’t have the best reputation for bothering with our neighbouring tongue, 49 per cent of Brits with property abroad claim to be able to speak the lingo.

The recent study conducted by holidaylettings.co.uk also found that 22 per cent already knew the language before purchasing abroad while 27 per cent picked it up along the way.

French language for property investors

So the idea of getting to grips with the lingo may seem a little daunting but it could work wonders when it comes to the purchase of a new home.

According to the survey, 30 per cent of second homeowners who had already purchased a property said that knowing the language was beneficial when sealing the deal and getting information from local service providers.

Ross Elder, managing director of holidaylettings.co.uk, said: "These results, whilst not scientific, show that British holiday homeowners and expats are far from ignorant when it comes to the languages and cultures of other countries.

"These are positive statistics that Britons …

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