Where Should I Move In Europe?
 

I'm going to keep this as an ongoing thread. A few days ago I came close to securing a business deal in Spain that would require me to go live there. Last night the deal pretty much fell through. However, I am still left with the bug to move. I do run offline businesses here in the UK but these are predominantly run by a small staff, so moving would not unduly affect income.

I spent most of my younger life travelling (Im now an old 31 yo bastard). The wife and kids are super and will let me take them wherever I choose. So the question is, where should I go?

I'd like it to be somewhere in Europe, just to make the process easy, and of course it will need to be suitable for an adult webmaster.

I'm hoping this thread will help me decide on a place and maybe some kind folks will even hook me up with contacts.

Fire away! :)

Prague is not the worst place to live: low prices, nice girls, adult friendly. just the language sucks, but english takes you almost everywhere

Check out Geneva or Lesanne(?) Switzerland. Great people and great cities. But mroe info might help people help you. Like do you like big or small cities. Language important?

It's funny you should mention Prague. It's actually one of my top choices. I've been looking at pics online and posted here and doing a little research about the history and current affairs. I think also Charlie has an apartment there where he shoots. You're right though, the language did put me off a little. Part of the fun in moving will be learning a new language, which I intend to try my best to do, but I hear it can be a slow process.

Would it be relatively easy for a UK citizen to move there (not sure if you will know this) and can you tell me any pros and cons I should consider?

Cheers :)

I should give more info, you're right.

Criteria :

- English-speaking schools for my kids (12 and 5)
- Able to get by with English language (but we really want to learn language in time)
- A city (since I am a sucky driver, so is best to be close to amenities, etc)
- Ability to rent first so we have time to choose something to buy
- Low Crime rate
- No laws against internet porn
- Large Or Small city ... as long as it has everything and we're not stuck out in the country.

man you should stick with Spain, especially where i Live in Barcelona. The cost of living is relatively low, and the quality of life is VERY high. You have year round great weather, about two weeks of rain the entire year. You have the beach AND you have the mountains (bout 1 1/2 hrs to the pironese, and 2 1/2 to the french alps). The food is great (if you like lots of pork and seafood). Its a very international and hapening city imo. I've been here two years.

Good luck whereever you end up :thumbsup

moving to Prague is technically no problem - you can rent real nice houses or apartments there. and it's european union, no restriction for you if you're from the UK. riding with a cab is stunningly cheap - you just have to have the right telephone number, never pick a cab from the street.

no clue about english speaking schools, but since it's the capitol i'm sure there are some

crime rate is not worse than any other big city in europe, i think it's mostly stealing cars or tricking tourists.

porn is no problem at all - otherwise we wouldn't be all working there ;)


for me the language really is the biggest turnoff. people are super friendly, architecture is great, nightlife too.

Not sweden

I'd reckomend Barcelona, great place to live in

england ill sell you my house for 2 million

lol I've got enough houses in england matey :)

Thanks a lot for the great info. :) Prague stays at the top of my list.

Spain is a top choice too, along with Cyprus. I'm very much into my fishing and both places would be great for that. Wife speaks spanish and so that is also a plus.

Paris is all u need...

Must admit, I'm not a huge fan of France ... but always happy to be proven wrong. If anywhere, I'd like Cannes.

I hear Bratislava is nice this time of year.

Prague is my choice

move to paris yo!

Prague is a firm favorite. How MUCH of a problem is the language-barrier? As mentioned, we hope to try learning the language, but it will not be immediate. Will we get by with English for time being? Will it cause problems doing simple stuff like getting phone and internet connected, going to hospitals should it arrise, dentists, doctors, and so forth? Can we manage with english, or get a translator for instance?

i live in Hull in the UK and have a holiday home up the coast.

I am leaving everything as it is for the next 15 years then i am going to sell everything, get a bank account in my daughters name, go unemployed and move to somewhere like torquay and live off the government in rented accomodation paid by the government of course, with a pretty sum in the bank and retire ..

I'll be 50 by then anyway
just holidaying away and living it up

agree or budapest...love both of those places..

Mr. Romance

Amsterdam

If you're sick of people being friendly, talking to you at bus stops, smiling... come to Finland! But hey, at least we have no council tax!

Or maybe just get a summer cottage here, land is dirt cheap in Finland :thumbsup

I'm miserable with people so I will fit in lol. I hadn't thought of finland, but I know its a lovely country. Dirty cheap land sounds cool. I'll do some searches now.

Try Palma de Mallorca. There's at least one English school as I stayed in a hotel not to far). Decent bus system and lot's of taxis. Lot's of ex-pats from the UK there, there's even a weekly newspaper in English.

What do you folks think of Malta??????

I've been to very few places in Europe, but of them all, this was my favorite.

Budapest is a really cool city.

Rome, beautifull city, awesome country and hot girls

Sold an aprtment in Rome last year. Nice place but very pricey.

if you are looking for a country where taxes are low (around 14%-16%), good english schools for your kids, adult-friendly and low crime rate, then theres no other choice in Europe than Switzerland. :2 cents:

I recommend Zurich (highest quality of living world-wide), Geneva (#2 i think), Berne (somwhere in the top 10) or Lausanne.

But theres always the other side. Nothing is free. Switzerland is for sure one of the most expensive countries when it comes to costs of living.


up to you

honestly: getting someone for translation from time to time would help. you got no problems in bars or restaurants, or when going to the supermarket. but when going to the authorities it might help to have someone with you.

my advantage is that lots of people also speak some german there - so with english and german i usually have no problems.

i think you should just go there for a couple of days and see yourself

Personally if I had kids and was going to move to Europe I would go for Oxford. It is one of the most beautifull places on the planet, it is cheaper than London, it has a very low crime rate, the people are wonderfull and the schools are excellent.

You've been a great help dude (or dudette??) -- thank you! I'm not really one for drinking or night clubs, but if we do go I'd sure like to meet up, grab dinner, lunch, coffee, whatever. The wife and I will be planning a few trips in 6 weeks and Prague is, as mentioned, top of our list.

In any case, cheers for the info . :) :thumbsup

I have to agree. Been to Oxford many times. We live in a nice area now in North Wales (llandudno), but I just feel the need to get away. I grew up in different countries as a kid and teen (rome, HK, bejing, nigeria, canada, sweden, so on) and miss the adventure.

http://www.isaleporn.com/pix/z04435.jpg

any questions?? :winkwink:

sure - see sig for contact :)

thought about vienna?

Hey -- we could be brothers!

Nice one, I will definitely get in touch :thumbsup

Things to consider Kristian:

(a) You are a UK citizen. That means if you are "non resident" in the UK, there is latitude to chose a low or non-tax jurisdiction to live in.

(b) Where you live does not mean that has to be where your business is based - it's a virtual world.

(c) You may live.. eg in Spain, but one of your businesses could be in Gibraltar (not physical), - from which, as a modest employee, you recieve a certain income.

Think three areas - where you bank, where you conduct business and where you may live - your "playground". There are many advantages to thinking internationally :winkwink:

Nice thing is... you have the freedom to do this as a UK citizen.

Sounds like Copenhagen, Denmark is the place for you. All the above criterias can be filled. Let me know if you deside on Copenahagen. Will be glad to show you and your family around:)

Come to Glasgow, and get drunk. Alot... :winkwink:

Come to Holland, we are getting a new government, hopefully more relaxed than the one that is just sent home :)

This is great advice. I'll look more into this when formulating my plan. Overall, I'm loving this more and more. It might be interesting to spend a year one place, then move on elsewhere. Cheers for the advice -- it will certainly play a big part in this adventure.

Swiss cities are great, I like them. But they are a bit boring, banks close too soon and so do shops. I'm used to shops and banks open until 9:00PM, malls open 24/7, etc...

Thanks, Katinka, that's really nice of you! :)

14-16% taxes? I'm already on the plane! :1orglaugh The cost of living might be countered by those taxes. I'll certainly put those places on the list to investigate further.

another Spanish option is Madrid, a little slower pace than Barcelona... although be aware that it becomes somewhat of a goast town during summer when everyone heads to the coast. not a bad thing.

I have spent a fair bit of time in Berlin too and have always thought that it would be a nice place to live. Especially if you see yourself ducking back to the UK alot to see friends / family... its a very easy trip.

Come to Serbia:)
We are tax free for internet:)lol

Quality of living survey:
http://www.mercerhr.com/referencecon...ontent=1173105

:2 cents:

go to Zurich

prague sounds really nice