France or Brazil?

[nicolest]

Hi
I'm a Canadian and I'd like to open a hostel outside of Canada. The two places that are of interest to me are France and Brazil.
Does anyone have any idea how difficult it would be as a Canadian, to immigrate to France to start a hostel? I understand that there are a few cities there that could use a couple more.
As far as Brazil goes, would that be considered a saturated market?

[santa klaus]

Originally Posted by nicolest

As far as Brazil goes, would that be considered a saturated market?

Not at all. I haven´t been there for a while, but is doesn´t look there are hostels in abundance - like in Buenos Aires.

[Hostels]

There is a list of Brazil hostels here:
http://www.hostelz.com/hostels-in/Brazil

I haven't been to Brazil yet, but I've heard good things about Santa Catarina Island. I'm not sure how many hostels are already there.

[Abientot]

These contries are rather different and first of all you'd better choose what climate you prefer and what people are easier for you to communicate with.

[Tim]

Personally I would choose France. You can't go wrong with a good hostel in Paris or Nice and other big cities like Lille, Lyon, Marseille and Toulouse only have one or two hostels so it wouldn't be hard to do well there either and Bordeaux can definitely do with a hostel.

However a hostel would work well in both countries so it really depends on where you would rather be. Both places are popular with backpackers and have a network of other hostels although Brazil has a more competition than France.

Here is a list of hostels in both countries:
http://www.bug.co.uk/reviews/hostels...ance/index.htm (France)
http://www.bug.co.uk/reviews/hostels...azil/index.htm (Brazil)

[Paul]

hi

I undarstand you preferences, both countries are exeptional. But in my opinion, there are totally different challenges. Brasil is dangerous country. There is lots of robberies with weapon. I dont know, which are legal regulations of this business. I have hostel in Lisbon, and to open hostel, I had to cover very long and difficult way. There was connected with specyfic portugal law, specyfic relations with local authorities. I suposse, that in Brasil it may be much more difficult. You can invest money - to open hostel, and one day tax police, or something like that may close your business immediatelly. Because, in the country like Brasil - everythink is possible.
France is European Union, safe country, and in my opinion everything should be clear.From the legal point of view. I hope. But in Paris - prices of rent a place for a hostel seems very high. It may be a problem. I want to open hostel in Paris / I have allready 4 hostels in Portugal and Poland /, if anybody has information how to do it i will be greatfull.

[valmas]

Sorry Paul but what the heck was that comment about it?!

Do you know witch country are you talking about it?!

Yes we do have our problems back in Brazil, but still, we have a strong economy and since the mid 90s we are heading year by year to less criminality rates and more than that in the next couple of years were gonna host a world cup!

Thats a hell of opportunity back here!

You shouldnt do a comment like this if you havent travel overseas... common you are from Poland!

[nicolest]

Thank you all for your advice. Would anyone happen to have insight as to why a popular tourist destination such as France would have so few hostels in the first place?

[santa klaus]

Expensive real estate, strict regulations (such as zoning laws, fire code etc).

[maatnee]

so nicolest, which country are you leaning towards? ... brazil will probably be cheaper, but france may be easier to setup.. are you going about this by yourself or do you have investors/partners? ... where in canada are you from out of curiosity? ...