Renowned for its sumptuous chateaux, the relics of royal days gone by, the glorious valley of the Loire is rich in both history and architecture. Like the river Loire, this vast region runs through the heart of French life. With sophisticated cities, luxuriant landscape and magnificent food and wine, the Loire valley has something for everyone.

Within one hour’s drive are the historic cities of Tours, Chinon and Poitiers, and the chateaux of the Loire valley – both the famously beautiful such as Chenonceau and Villandry, and those with other charms: Cheverny, the model for Captain Haddock’s home in the Tintin stories, and Chaumont with its marvellous if often bizarre garden festival.

During your holiday you can do your Sunday marketing at Descartes and visit the philosopher’s house or go a little further to see the town of Richelieu created by the infamous Cardinal of that name. Futuroscope is another big attraction, especially for children. And finally, there are the vineyards of the Loire and the Touraine…. The wine is good and the cooperatives cheap!

Nearby Preuilly has its own tennis courts and swimming pool and good shops. There are also ‘beaches’ on local rivers and Bellebouche, a lovely pine-fringed lake 30 mins drive away, where you can swim, sunbathe, picnic or buy food, take out pedalos and canoes, learn to windsurf.

It is excellent walking and cycling country and you can walk for miles. The Brenne, a region with hundreds of small lakes which includes a number of nature reserves (with hides) where you can see egrets, bittern, freshwater tortoise, Camargue horses and purple herons. Also nearby is the Forest of Preuilly, with marked walks, and the Parc de la Haute Touche where bison, wolves and wild boar live among the pinewoods. (There is also a really good zoo at St Aignan, 45 mins away by car.) Bicycles can be hired locally.

The nearest tourist ‘resorts’ are Loches, 30 mins drive north, with its impressive chateau and excellent twice-a-week market, and La Roche-Posay, 15 mins drive west, where spa waters draw visitors from all over France and many recreational facilities are laid on such as horse-riding, golf, cinema.

The custom of buying or selling a vehicle in the traditional manner have ended. The online world offers a wide range of opportunities, allowing things to be a lot more simple in the process. There are multiple online companies that now specialize in buying or selling cars, and all you need to do is complete some basic information!

When it comes time to sell your car, you no longer have to worry about going to the trouble of advertising it in various places, for example in your local newspaper, a used car magazine or a local website. There’s also the tedium of having to deal with lots of people who want to take a look at your car. More often than not, many of them aren’t especially serious about making the purchase, and in the event that they are, they will usually spend the entire time aiming to get you to lower the price. When selling online, you initially need to find out your car’s value.

You can get an basic quote on certain sites merely by entering your registration number. The price that you will be quoted is estimated depending on certain industry standards. Undoubtedly, every car is different, and once you furnish them with more detailed information, such as the miles on the clock, the the car’s general condition, and any improvements you have made, the appraisal will be adjusted accordingly.

Remember to mention something that would make your car more desirable, such as a custom stereo system, choice wheels or a new paint job. Don’t exaggerate these details, as their price is specific to the information. Once you receive an offer, its your decision whether you accept it or not. Always remember that you aren’t obligated to sell the car, but if you do, it’s simply a case of arranging a time for a representative to collect the car. After doing a quick inspection to ascertain that the car is the same as your description, the money will be deposited directly into your bank account – it’s a simple as that!

If you are thinking of buying a car, you don’t have to spend your time trudging around a car lot, coping with aggressive salespeople. Usually, your budget goes out of the window when you discover that you’ve been coerced into buying something way more pricey than you had planned. If you decide to buy a used car online, the ideal way is to go through a website that only works with pre-approved dealers. Just enter your requirements, including the make and model, and then proceed to narrow your choice down. The cars have all been rigorously inspected, and you will have a guarantee which is either the remaining balance on the existing warranty, or a period of 1 year after purchase. If you require financing, you can set up an online payment plan that is affordable, or a customer representative will be able to assist you in setting it up. Getting approved can take just two hours, and as soon as you agree to the purchase – you own the car. Furthermore, the majority of these sites provide a free delivery service, and you have 7 days to decide whether the car is right for you. The scenario is the same when purchasing a brand new car online – you simply let them know exactly which type of vehicle you are looking for, pick a particular make and model, arrange a payment plan, agree to the terms, and you’re good to go! If you are looking for a new car, it’s a good idea to look online for the business that can offer the best price, as they tend to vary greatly between dealers/brokers. Also, don’t forget the art of negotiation, as brokers will usually reduce the cost or financing, saving you a quite a bit of money.

When you are buying or selling a vehicle online, an important thing to remember is researching the various companies. Sadly, the online world is much like real life – there are people doing business who will swindle you given the chance. If you sell a car, don’t do business with a company that wants an upfront payment for a quote: a respectable company doesn’t charge you for this service. Similarly, if you are purchasing a car, you shouldn’t pay any sort of service charge to your dealer, and don’t hand over any type of deposit prior to having all the paperwork completed to your satisfaction. In conclusion, purchasing or selling a car online is extremely swift, simple and headache-free, as long as you know exactly how to go about it.