We have in principle decided to leave the UK and retire to Switzerland in March next year. I am 45 and my wife is 32. The main reasons for the decision are tax and a real dissatisfaction with UK society, government and EU bureaucracy. I just don't feel I belong any more.
I've always loved the Swiss countryside and on the face of it society does appear to be more conservative and respectful of individual privacy. Crime is low and although the cost of living is high, quality of life appears to be very good indeed. Switzerland seems ideal.
However, there's no substitute for experience so we decided to take a few short reconnaissance trips. We flew to Geneva on Sunday, hired a car and stayed in Laussane until we returned to the UK on Thursday. We have decided we'd like to live in a French speaking Canton for the language and geographic location so confined our travels to Vaud, Valais and Fribourg. Actually we didn't spend much time in Vaud, except on the motorway and hotel.
Day 1 we drove to Sion and up into the mountains around Ormone, Lens and Crans. We really loved this area although Crans itself looks very commercial and primarily holiday homes and hotels. But on the way there the countryside was just beautiful. Sion and Sierre look like they have most usual facilities and are close enough to the higher areas to be convenient.
Day 2 we headed for Fribourg and drove to Bulle and Gruyere. Gruyere really is beautiful but again a big tourist draw. Hardly surprising many people would want to visit such a beautiful area. We then took the road (not motorway) to Fribourg and then drove the other side of the city to Romont and then back on the motorway to Lausanne. Fribourg is very beautiful (where isn't in Switzerland?) but I prefer the more mountainous terrain of Valais.
Day 3 we head to Martigny and a little further to the Val d'Bagnes. Then up the mountain to Verbier which is worth doing just for the fantastic zig-zag road. Verbier was quite a surreal experience. Brilliant sunshine, 20C and a virtually deserted village of chalets and shops. No snow on the mountains but still very beautiful. Couldn't live there though as it is really a holiday resort, but good to see out of season.
So we ran out of time without having explored much of Vaud. Maybe we'll do so in a few weeks when we return. But having spoke to a few estate agents it seems that nearly all the properties in not in the valley in Valais are chalets and if you want something older and bigger then Vaud would be a better choice. Certainly searches on the more popular real estate sites would confirm that. If we lived in Valais we'd probably rent for a while whilst searching for the right home.
My wife is particulary concerned about the language and making friends. It's an easier decision for me but she is younger and is a bit more apprehensive about the move. Although we intend to brush up on our (very) rusty French, it would be nice to make contact with other British folk especially in our first year. This is one of the reasons I joined this forum and I've asked my wife to do so too. She may be along later
Anyway, thanks for listening and hope these thoughts were not too boring. We just need a little friendly help and guidance.