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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 17th 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.
Timing is Everything When You Are Moving Abroad
You have decided to take the plunge and move abroad. But when is the best time to go?
Spring is a time for thinking of changes, and it’s when many people start planning to live and work in another country. But there are so many factors to consider, whether you are moving to France, Germany, Canada, or South Africa, that in practice another time of year may often be best for your actual relocation.
At Hamiltons Removals, we specialise in international removals to Europe, the USA and destinations across the globe. Here we look at how timing is key to getting the most out of your move.
School Year
If you have children, it’s important to check out when the school year starts in your new country. There is obviously an advantage in moving abroad in the summer holidays. It gives youngsters time to adjust before they start at their new school, and means they will be starting the school year with all the other children in their class rather than joining them in the middle of term.
However, there are cultural differences to bear in mind with term times. In some countries, such as Australia or New Zealand, the main holiday will fall at a different time of the year. So moving from the UK when it’s winter here could be the best arrangement if you are relocating to the other side of the world.
The ages where children start and change school in different countries is another thing to bear in mind when deciding on timing of a move. For example, in the USA, kindergarten and elementary school start at the age of 5-6 and finish at 10 or 11. Junior high school runs from 11-12 to 14-15 and senior high is from 15-16 to 17-18.
If you plan to move back to the UK at some stage, you might prefer to enrol your child in a local private school, but this means there could be some additional costs such as school fees. Another option is an internationally-accredited school, which will allow your child to move more easily between the different systems. All of these may have different term times which again may affect your choice of when to move.
Learning the Language
At the moment, if you are an EU national migrating to another EU country for work, your children are entitled to free language tuition in your new home country. If you do move in at the start of the summer holidays, that will give them the chance to learn the language, possibly at a summer school. Of course, as an adult you may also want to take a course in the language of the country and often the summer is the easiest time to arrange this too.
Weather Eye
Starting life in your new home and country when the weather is good means you can get out and about and get to know the area much more easily. In some places, such as parts of Australia, this doesn’t mean you have to stick to summer, as these areas have mild winters and hot summers. Checking out the average temperatures before you go, and which seasons are likely to be rainiest, can help you decide when to travel. It is also a good idea to check out when the peak holiday season is, as you might prefer to avoid travelling at the busiest time or arriving on a public holiday.
Culture and Events
Favourite sports or hobbies could help you blend into your new surroundings, especially if you are able to join a local club. Timing, and the weather, are again major factors here. If you fancy a regular game of outdoor tennis, then the spring and summer months might be the best moving months; but if you are a keen rugby or football player, then you should be able to play all the year round.
You might want to time your move for when your new country can be seen at its finest, for instance during the tulip flowering season in the Netherlands, or where you can look forward to enjoying events such as sports tournaments, festivals and pop concerts. This will help you get out and about and give you a greater feel for your new country.
Hamiltons Removals operate weekly removals services throughout the year to most destinations in Europe including France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Spain and Gibraltar. We also arrange international removals to the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, USA, South Africa and a host of other countries.
Call us now on 01379 855203 for more information, or click here for a free online moving quote.