A Voyage of Discovery: Living Abroad

“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.”  (Mark Twain)

Making the jump from whimsical daydream to bold reality can be more than a little daunting for the best of us, especially when such actions involve travel; perhaps uprooting a young family, and moving to Germany, moving to Belgium, moving to Egypt, moving to Japan – anywhere away from home! Here are few pros and cons we picked up from previous clients moving to Belgium, Spain, and our other noted destinations.

Pros
•    Excitement! When travelling, the thrill of the new is something beautiful. It can’t be replicated, can’t be found through books, and can’t completely be explained verbally.
•    The UK is going nowhere. So, perhaps relocating to Germany was wrong for your family. So what? Count your blessings, pack up, head home and settle back into a life you now KNOW you want.
•    Difference. As Mark Twain professed above, travel and new cultural experiences go a long way to expanding the mind, soul and that little font of knowledge within. Children’s brains particularly are truly great information sponges!

Cons
•    Fitting in. Taking the first step isn’t the only hard part! It can take months – years even – for an expat to feel truly settled.
•    Homesickness. Time heals all wounds? Suddenly you forget how tedious the British drizzle was – “I miss the dull weather/late trains/familiar road signs etc!”
•    Loneliness. Expat communities are common throughout most of the world, however being apart from trusted supports back home can be heart-wrenching.

Moving To France Without The Stress

Moving To France Without The Stress

France remains one of the most popular destinations for disillusioned Brits who are looking for a better life for themselves and their families and believe that it lies just across the water.

Certainly, the warmer climate, varied landscape and rich culture go a long way to endear it to those currently living in the UK who are tired of long winters and the pub culture.

Many books, films and television shows encourage this trend with successful and unsuccessful stories of people who have dramatically changed their lives by emigrating – and even the negative stories have little effect on the morale of people who have set their hearts on moving to France.

Before you pull your kids out of school, sell your house and tell your boss what you really think of him, ensure that you are making the right decision by asking yourself – and your partner – some difficult questions. Of course it is true that you can always come back, but the financial and emotional cost of emigrating is large and therefore it isn’t something that should be taken lightly.

Deciding where you want to live, what sort of property you want to live in and what you can afford is probably the most important decision. Presumably you will have visited the part of France that you intend to move to – hopefully you aren’t considering moving to France without having been there! -and you have an idea about what properties are available. Ensure that the estate agents you are dealing with are registered, and that you are prepared for the rather more lengthy process that buying a property is in France, as compared to the UK.

When moving to France it is likely you will want to move most of your worldly possessions with you. Contact a reliable and experienced removals company such as European Removal Experts for help getting everything you love to your new home. They are fully insured and will help you with all aspects of moving to France.

Furnishing Your Holiday Home In France

Furnishing Your Holiday Home In France

France is still the most popular country for many British people who wish to buy a holiday home. Because it is easy to get to by car or a short flight the house can be used more often during the year. If you are thinking of buying in France take a minute to think about how you will furnish your holiday home. Although driving round flea markets and second hand dealers can be a fun part of a holiday buying all your furniture and white goods in the UK is more sensible.

Moving them to France is simple with the services of an experienced removals company like us here at European Removal Experts. The furniture and other goods that you need to take to your holiday home can be collected at your convenience, stored if required, and then delivered when you are there to receive them. Furniture and white goods are generally cheaper in the UK and many people already have furniture that they would like to use in the new house so the cost of shipping included you will still save money as many people who are moving to France discover too late.

When you are moving to France, to a holiday home, you actually want to be able to be comfortably settled there as soon as possible. Then you can enjoy your holiday time to the full and not come home exhausted so it makes perfect sense to put in the majority of the furnishings in one go. Of course you will still want to potter round the Vide Grenier picking up beautiful French pieces for your home but that will be part of the pleasure of your holidays to your home in France, rather than something to stress you out when you should be enjoying your Bon Vacances.

Moving to Belgium to further your career

The EU has created new jobs in the international market, and none more than its central administrative bases in Belgium – both in Brussels and Strasbourg. Whether you’re an intern working for a few weeks to earn some international experience, or if you’re a fully qualified bilingual worker who is an essential cog in the wheels of the EU or EC, then you’ll need to work out how you’re going to get you and your belongings across to Belgium.

Belgium is quite unique in that it has many long, straight roads, so many people choose to move by car. However it’s a long, tiring and arduous journey if you choose to do this yourself, and you’ll have several borders to cross and customs declarations to complete if you set off from the UK towards your new home .

Removals to Belgium can be made less stressful and more productive if you use a specialist removal company. You can leave at the last minute as your belongings go ahead of you, rather than having a stressful time packing and then launching yourself at a new job.

Another consideration is that most people live in small apartments in Brussels in the main cities, and you may need to scale down your belongings so it all fits. If not, you’ll be paying for storage on top of removals, which only adds to your costs in addition to the fluctuating Euro. At least by using a specialist removal service to Belgium, that’s one piece of the move puzzle already solved for you.

Making Your Move Easier

The notion of moving abroad is nothing new, but it seems that more and more people are moving to France and Spain, even if they don’t speak the language. People move abroad for many reasons, but when it comes to retiring abroad it is often because they are after a more relaxing lifestyle with better weather.

Relocating to France is not an easy task, however. While it may be just across the water, there is still a lot to organise and the French administration system is notoriously difficult even when fluent in the language. You should never decide to relocate to another country without first doing some research. Just because you enjoy going on holiday there does not mean that you will have the same great experience living there.

If you have done your research and decide that moving is definitely for you, then we can help organise your furniture removals to France and take some of the hassle out of the experience of moving. Once considered an expensive country, the UK is now actually a lot cheaper for buying furniture and other belongings than a lot of the countries on the continent, so organising a furniture removal will work out much cheaper than buying new items when you get there. It also means that you can feel more comfortable in your surroundings by having familiar things around you. At European Removal Experts, we aim to make the process of moving as easy as possible, and deliver your furniture on the date or dates you specify.

European Removals Belgium

Facts About Belgium

Moving to Belgium offers people a chance to experience one of the most interesting cultures in the world, whilst also very rarely having a language barrier ever becoming an issue as many Belgians are bi- or tri-lingual.

The Belgians are extremely passionate about food and drink. Not only did they make some of the most important advancements in the making and designing of chocolates (yes, you have them to thank for that!), but they also gave the world waffles, and more surprisingly French fries. They also have a surprisingly low number of fast food restaurants, much preferring ‘real’ food. They also love their beers, drinking more per year than most other countries and having over 800 different beers made there alone.

Moving to Belgium is not just for those interested in cuisine though. Moving to France offers similar levels of gastronomical delights and moving to France is often favoured by many who are unfamiliar with the rich culture of Belgium. However, Belgium has a very liberal nature and is very much focussed on equality and fairness, being one of the first countries to legalise things were once quite controversial ideas. They were also the first country to produce newspapers and, surprisingly, a Belgian founded the Holy Roman Empire.

However, whilst it is the culture and great standard of living that may attract people to the country, there is one other interesting fact that is worth knowing about this somewhat enigmatic country: The Belgian motorway system is the only man-made structure visible from the moon. Not even the Great Wall of China gets that accolade.

Removals to Turin- Removals to Italy from UK

Moving to Turin

The cultural centre of northern Italy and the second major business centre after Milan is called Turin. Turin is the capital of the Piedmont region and it is situated on the left bank of the Po River, surrounded by the western Alpine arch. Turing is well-known for its numerous art galleries, restaurants, opera houses, theatres and other venues as it is a city which has a rich history and culture. The town houses various constructions that have a variety of architectural styles such as neo-classical, baroque, Art Nouveau and rococo. Many of the public squares, gardens, castles and elegant palazzo that can be found in the city, were built between the 16th century and 18th century. That was the time when, due to urban expansion, the capital of Duchy of Savoy was moved from Chambery to Turin. The city has been the home of many important politicians and contributors to the Risorgimento and has received the nickname of “cradle of Italian liberty”. In Turin you will find some of the best universities in Italy, also many collages, lyceums and gymnasiums as well as academies which have quite a prestige not only in Italy but even internationally. Examples of such are the Turin Polytechnic and University of Turin. Turin is also the home of various prestigious museums, for example the Museo Egizio and The Mole Antonelliana which can also be found inside the city and it is a major landmark for Turin. Overall Turin has several significant sights and monuments which attract tourists, making it the tenth most visited city in Italy and ranking in the world’s top 250 tourist destinations. Back in 1861 Turin was Italy’s first capital city and a major political centre in Europe. It was also home to Italy’s royal family, the House of Savoy. By the World War II Turin has lost most of its political power and importance; however it soon became a major crossroad for industry, trade and commerce in Europe. Even today it retains its influence and it is considered Italy’s main industrial centre, which along with Milan and Genoa forms the “industrial triangle”. It is ranked third in Italy regarding its economic strength right after Milan and Rome. Turin also possesses a lot of influence as the home of most of the automotive industry in Italy. Turin is the home of the well-known Shroud of Turin, which is a famous piece of linen cloth dating back to the medieval period that is said to have the image of a man which suffered physical trauma alike a crucifixion. The city is also the home to two major football teams, Juventus F.C. and Torino F.C. It also contains the headquarters of various famous automobile manufacturers such as Alfa Romeo and FIAT, also Lancia. Turin hosted back in 2006 the Winter Olympics and several modules appertaining to the International Space Station were manufactured in the same town, such as Columbus and Harmony. Turin is also known as “the Capital of the Alps” because of where it’s situated and also as “the Automobile Capital of Italy” or “Detroit of Italy” because it is the home of FIAT. There are several important locations one must visit while in Turin, such as the Downtown or Centro, where you can find that baroque architecture predominates and where you can find various significant buildings. For example, here you can find the Palazzo Regale and Palazzo Madama located at the Piazza Castello, and also buildings such as Teatro Regio and the Biblioteca Reale which houses a Leonardo da Vinci self portrait, and many other worthwhile places and buildings to visit. Another famous and beautiful location that you should visit is the San Salvario district which is located south-east of the Centro. This is where you can find various pubs and restaurants and quite a few nightclubs. In the centre of the district is the Piazza Madama Thomas Franklintina, where a big open market is hosted which has around it several commercial activities. In this location you can also find the Parco del Valentino which is a popular gathering place for the local people. In the centre of the park the Castello del Valentino is situated, which was built in the 17th century, and also the medieval village is located there, named Borgo Medioevale, that was built for the international Exhibition of 1884. Other such famous locations are the Crocetta district, which is one of the most exclusive districts in Turin, the small district named Cenisia which hosts the recent expansion of Turinese Institute of Technology Politecnico, and Cit Turin which houses several high-rated residential buildings, being considered a prestigious residential neighbourhood. There are many districts which offer a lot to their dwellers so no matter what you can surely find one that suits you every need. When you do, moving there will be a breeze with our help.

Removals Company London UK - European Removal Experts - Moving to France, Moving to Switzerland, Moving to Italy, Moving to Netherlands

 

Removals Companies London UK - Removals to France - Removals to Germany - Removals to Switzerland - Removals to HollandEurope Remove is specialised in Removals to Italy with door to door deliveries. We offer Storage and Removal Services at attractive prices and will ensure your moving will take place as a fast paced and secure operation.
We provide a cost effective and reliable service to you. Be it a small or a large number of boxes that needs moving, we can arrange collection of your belongings and relocation, as well as Storage, all only under the best conditions and with highly Qualified Professionals Removers. You can even leave the Packing to us. We will make sure everything will be Packed Securely with only the best Packing Supplies available. If you’re not convinced just use our Free Quote service.
You can contact us for any questions you might have. +44 020 3150 2668

Removals Company London UK - European Removal Experts - Moving to France, Moving to Switzerland, Moving to Italy, Moving to Netherlands

Removals to Turin- Removals to Italy from UK

Photographer: Xadhoomx

European Moves

Move at Your Own Pace

Deciding to move to another country means a big change with a lot to organise. The last thing you want to do when you get there is to have to go out and buy all new furniture, and this is where we can help. We understand that moving to Germany or any other Western European country means that you’ll have a lot of other things going on, and so we try and make moving your furniture as hassle-free as possible.

If you are renovating your property, then no doubt you won’t want to receive all your furniture at the same time as you’ll have nowhere to put it. When you’re relocating to Germany, you don’t want to have to be back and forth in a rented vehicle to pick up items of furniture as you go, which is why we can help you move in stages. We will store your possessions and deliver them to you on the dates you specify, so you can move in to your new home over a gradual period of time rather than trying to deal with everything at once. With two weeks Long and Short Term Storage, you needn’t feel like you need to rush the process.

If you’re moving to Berlin, it’s even easier because we carry out weekly trips to this and many other cities around Europe, thereby making it possible to give you even cheaper prices. Call or email us now and we’ll give you a quote, or you can use our online free quote service if you prefer.

European Removal Experts Offer Summer Discounts

European Removal Experts Offer Summer Discounts

European Removal Experts, a London-based removals company serving clients moving to France, Spain and across the EU for domestic, business and educational purposes, are now offering considerable discounts in time for summer on trips to and from the Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland.

With 30 percent off for full and part loads on vans with a generous capacity of up to 20 cubic metres, European Removal Experts cite their summer discounts to these European destinations to and from the UK as a strategic and timely opportunity for families and businesspeople either permanently or temporarily moving to Germany, Switzerland or the Netherlands, to undergo the transfer with ease – no matter their budget size.

European Removal Experts are keen to promote their sympathy for people travelling during the summer months, as June through to August are the busiest holidaying months of the year, and prices for hiring removals vans and airplane flights tend to be higher during this time.

“At European Removal Experts, we fully understand how stressful travelling can become during the summer,” commented Christian Popovici of European Removal Experts. “Many removals companies and travel agents raise their prices to take advantage of the influx of people moving to Switzerland and other European countries at this time, and because holidaymakers and movers have no choice, they usually end up paying these extortionate prices to get away as quickly as possible. We believe that this simply isn’t feasible for gaining consumer trust, which is our number one priority, so we make the removals process as simple and affordable as possible to each and every one of our clients with our frequently-changing discounts and customer satisfaction-based approach to carrying out removals.”

5 Tips for Dealing with Homesickness When Moving Abroad

5 Tips for Dealing with Homesickness When Moving Abroad

 

Some folks get homesick when they spend a night away in a hotel, but if you’re taking advantage of our European removals service, it’s likely you’re going to have to deal with more than a few weeks away from your native soil! Homesickness can break even the most hardened of folks, but there are usually enough similarities in each case to make some of the following five tips effective measures against the worst of it.

1. Be aware of the normal cycle of culture shock and homesickness
Most folks find they experience homesickness as a W-curve. Once we’ve tidied up the last of the removal packing materials and you’re free to explore, the honeymoon period begins! This period can last anything from a day to a month or so and it finished off by a gradual slide into melancholy when you begin to miss things like your family and friends, favourite takeaway shop or familiar TV adverts. Gradually this feeling will lift as you adapt to your new home. The next dip usually occurs when you relocate back home and gradually acclimatise again. Be aware of what’s normal for you, especially if you’ve suffered from depression or anxiety in the past.

2. Get involved
Playing an active role in your new home can be daunting, especially if you’ve relocated on your own. But having a friend or two to spend time with can be an exceptionally effective way to deal with homesickness and culture shock. Use personal interests like sports and hobbies to find like-minded people.

3. Talk about it
Sometimes a chat over a nice brew can help the weight of homesickness lift significantly. Don’t call home at every opportunity to complain, you need a support network in the place you’re physically living in. If you’re on a placement, talk to your host family or project organiser. If you’re a professional working abroad for the first time, there are likely protocols within your company for handling culture shock and home sickness. There’s no shame in getting it off your chest!

4. Give yourself time
The rule of thumb is that it takes around five months to really figure out whether you want to be somewhere. It doesn’t matter whether we’re handling removals to Brussels or you’re heading out to the Far East alone; give it five months and then reassess your feelings. Five months isn’t much in the scale of life, and you’ll kick yourself if you go home early and then think “Well it doesn’t seem so bad now I know home is still here!”

5. Stay healthy
Throwing yourself into an ambitious marathon training schedule may not be for everyone, but definitely give yourself a little TLC in the health department. Improving your physical fitness and all-round health (yes, that includes saunas and a bit of pampering!) will give you a real sense of achievement and a positive outlook on your new situation.