Testimonial - Doug & Petal  - living Toronto, Canada

  1. What drew you to Marseillan and what excites you the most about living near the Thau Lagoon?

    I lived in Montpellier for a year in 1990 and loved the area. Petal and I love the French culture, cuisine and were looking for a 2nd property whose location offered a better climate than Canada. The combination of all of these factors drew us to the south of France in general but specifically to the southwest. After having chosen the Southwest region, we also knew we wanted to be on/close to the water. Our search took us from Sete to other communities on the Thau. We started to learn more about the Thau including that it is the centre of oyster farming and has some of the beach beaches in country (as well as the Canal de Midi).  In fact, from our research, 50% of the best beaches in France are in the Thau region and from our experience, the beach, which essentially extends from Palavas to Agde might be the longest sand beach in Europe.  Furthermore, it seems to us that most of the beaches in France (Nice area)  and the ones we saw in Costa Brava are rocky and small. The ones in Portugal are on the Atlantic have very cold water. The fact that the Thau is clean, warm, full of activity and seafood make it an ideal and unique location.

  2. How do you feel about the overall concept and design of the development where your new home will be located?

    The design of the community is fantastic as its offers activities with it being centred by the hotel. But it is also close enough to Marseillan to become involved and immersed in the local community. In fact, we believe it offers the best of both worlds in that regard.

  3. What are your expectations for the local community and amenities within Port Marseillan?

    Being close to Marseillan offers opportunities to get more immersed ni the local community. Whether it be pottery, sailing, golf or heading out to a local restaurant.  Petal and I really enjoy food and with local oyster houses as well as all of the fine dining/Michelin restaurants in nearby Sete offer something for all occasions.

  4. Are there specific features or aspects of the development project that influenced your decision to purchase?

    In terms of specific features of the development, we like both the hotel for the amenities it offers but also the potential of a brand name flag operator who can manage the rental of our townhouse when we are not using it.

  5. What are your thoughts on the environmental considerations and sustainability features of the new development?

    The environment and maintaining its integrity is important to us. We love the fact that the Thau is protected which should ensure the region does not become an overcrowded/overdeveloped region like certain regions in Spain.

  6. How do you envision your lifestyle changing once you move into your new home?

    We are not sure if our lifestyle will change too much but we certainly anticipate exploring and enjoying the region. To us, one of the important attributes of Port Marseillan is its proximity to other interesting regions. Within a reasonable distance (3-5 hours by car or train), one can be in Barcelona, Bordeaux, Lyon, Cassis, Nice and even Paris or Geneva. Aside from the ability to easily get to other regions, there is ample opportunity in the backyard of the development. By our research, the Marseillan region has ~100km of dedicated bike paths (no sharing the road with cars!), 8 golf courses within a 10-40 minute drive and the sailing school in Marseillan.

  7. What feedback can you provide on the buying process for a property that is not yet built? Were there any challenges or areas that could be improved?

    This is the second development we have bought pre-construction (the first one being the home we are in now in Toronto).  While such developments can take longer than anticipated, we believe the end product is worth it. We are incredibly happy with our townhouse in Toronto and we think the same will be the case in France. Ultimately to us, it is the development team and location that are critical. We have trust that the team will make our dreams come true!

  8. Would you recommend this type of project to others looking for a new home? Why or why not?
    We would highly recommend this type of project to others. Especially for those who like more “culture” than just buying a second home in places like Florida, which does not appeal to us at all.