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5 Top Choices for International House Moves in 2017

Now that spring is here and summer holidays are fast approaching, many people are making plans for their future, which could include a house move. This may not be simply to a new home down the road, but to a totally different country, if you fancy a complete change of lifestyle. But which are the most popular destinations?

There are many factors to consider, such as climate, cost of living and tourist attractions. Hamiltons Removals can organise your whole move, whether you are moving house to Europe or the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or South Africa.

Here are five of the most popular places for those people who have decided that 2017 is the year to be on the move.

Berlin: If you are moving for work, the German capital has a growing reputation for attracting start-up businesses and technology companies. Berlin also has a wealth of outdoor attractions, boasting two zoos and plenty of open spaces like the Tiergarten in the centre and the Grunewald Forest to the southwest.

Other places of interest include the Reichstag, the Cathedral, the world-famous Brandenburg Gate and Checkpoint Charlie, one of the points of entry between east and west Berlin when the city was divided by the Wall. The city also has a thriving nightlife scene and a number of major sporting venues. The Olympic Stadium hosted both the 1936 Olympics and the final of the 2006 football World Cup.

Toronto: If you are moving home to Canada, this city has a large ethnic population and plenty of students too, reflected in a cosmopolitan food and art scene. Expats rate the city highly for friendly attitudes and the ease of settling in.

Attractions include the CN Tower, from which you can see all of the city, as it stands over 550metres tall. There are than 250 stores in the massive Toronto Eaton shopping centre, while the Yonge-Dundas Square nearby hosts community celebrations, theatrical events, promotions and concerts.

Melbourne:  This Australian city has the country’s second largest population (4.6 million, after Sydney, which just tops 5 million). It is top of the latest InterNations Expat Insider survey which polled 14,000 expats, because of its fine reputation for a good work-life balance among residents.

Availability of leisure activities also helped push the city to the top of the charts – it hosts Formula 1 motor racing, Test cricket matches, Australian Open tennis, plus other leading domestic sports fixtures. Nature-lovers should enjoy the Royal Botanic Gardens, on the banks of the Yarra River, and the city’s zoo, which has more than 300 species of animals. Those who want a reminder of the UK should check out Captain Cook’s Cottage, which was transported from his home in Yorkshire and erected in the city’s Fitzroy Gardens.

Geneva: Those who head straight for the neighbouring mountains on a skiing holiday in a nearby resort are missing out on all this Swiss city has to offer. Expats say Geneva has great job prospects and a very high standard of living, although that does mean some things can be quite pricey.

Geneva has been dubbed the world’s peace capital. As well as being the venue for a number of international peace talks, the city is also home to HQs of the Red Cross and the United Nations. The city’s famous watermark, the Jet d’eau, regularly shoots a water jet 140 metres into the sky. The city’s Old Town, an ancient maze of small streets and picturesque squares full of shops, cafes and restaurants, can take you back hundreds of years.

Stockholm: The Swedish capital is the birthplace of Skype and Spotify and the city has a growing reputation for being a major tech hub, like Berlin. As a result its economy is forecast to have one of the highest growth rates in Europe. Work-life balance is also a massive part of the culture and the country is experimenting with six-hour workdays. The World Health Organisation says it is the cleanest capital city on Earth, due largely to the drive to get people out of cars and onto bikes, and cutting down on unnecessary waste.

The city is home to a variety of museums. The Vasa has the only preserved 17^th century ship in the world; the Royal Palace, which is open to the public and has five museums, even though it is the official residence of the King of Sweden; and, for those who like their history more recent, the Abba Museum, which also incorporates the Swedish Music Hall of Fame. The city boasts more than 1,000 restaurants as well as a number of parks and art galleries.

If you are moving house to Europe, Hamiltons Removals operates weekly to most destinations on the continent, including France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, The Netherlands and Gibraltar.

Hamiltons’ international department can organise and streamline your move to Canada, Australia, the USA, South Africa and New Zealand and a host of other worldwide destinations. Click on the link for more information about the services we can offer and the countries we cover.