Cyprus-Forum.com

[shanie]

Hello, we are relocating to cyprus in march. we are planning to drive from the uk with our possesions. can anyone offer any advice or usefull websites on routes and ferry crossings? thanks

[twinkle]

There are LOTS of threads for this. Try the search facility. My sister drove from the UK down through Italy across to Greece, then ferry from Pireaus to Limassol. That was during the summer though, the ferries might not be operating. You may have to send you car separately once in Greece.

[shanie]

Thank you for your reply, I am new to forum and had not tried the search option. I take it you now live in cyprus? how is it? any advice? we will be based in coral bay temporaily and we are looking at the international school for our daughter who is 7.

[twinkle]

Moved here 7 years ago, Dad is Cypriot so it was fairly easy. Employment over here is limited. Nicosia and Limassol are the main work areas. Most people speak English but work again is limited if you don't speak Greek. Wages are alot lower than the UK, but the cost of living is lower. I rented for the first year and paid around 200 for a 2 bed flat with C/H and Aircon. Prices have shot up though. The weather is the main benefit to living here.

Best words of advice, don't expect people to change over here, YOU have to adapt. Too many Brits come over and expect things the same way as the UK....."Yeah, but in England it was like this and that wouldn't be accepted over there. Surely it's illegal!!!" This is how it is in Cyprus. The sooner you accept the easy life becomes. Driving is pretty haphazard, car prices are still ludicrous, petrol is slowly rising and the cost of heating oil is ridiculous. Coral Bay, in fact most of the Paphos area is losing it's ethnicity and is turning into an English Colony.

If you haven't got a job here and are expecting to find one easily...start looking now. So many expats and other nationalities are moving/have moved over here without any solid base and are finding it difficult. The streets are not paved with gold......Sorry to sound a bit negative but you'd rather hear the truth. It is great here though. I had a friend in Cuffley so know Herts fairly well.

[shanie]

appreciate you honesty, thank you. Cuffley not far from us, we are is St Albans. We dont have jobs sorted yet but have savings so will not urgently need to work. hubby is plumber do you think he will get work easily? He would maybe like to try something new so this could be good opportunity. As for me, I am not sure what I will do for work. Definately wont stay in coral bay. We are not looking for mini england, we looking for a laid back good life! We escaping rat race that is england! Found some great advice on driving by typing in ferries to cyprus in search. Where abouts are you based?

[Johnson&Johnson]

Moving to Cyprus ? Aaaaah, you are joining the exodus from England like the rest ! Cyprus is a great country, why anyone would want to live in the UK is beyond me. BUT be careful: you need a good source of income here. Life is no longer cheap. Good jobs are few and far between and salaries are very low - average being about 800 Cyprus Pounds per month. The cost of living is rising all the time and buying a house is an impossible feat for most local people. Also you need to really speak some Greek to get a decent job and survive here, unless you are very lucky. From what I have seen, the locals do not like to support businesses owned and run by foreginers - we are still rather a xenophobic bunch.

As for plumbing ? Well, there are lots of English chavvy-types here eeking a living doing every trade imaginable. They think that if they put 'BRITISH OWNED AND RUN !' all over their white vans in big letters it will be good for trade, sadly for them this is not the case. To really succeed here you have to integrate, just like in any other country. The Chav enclaves in Paphos and Larnaka have quite a high turnover, and many are those who came in search of the dream and left the island a few grand lighter, with nothing but a bad sunburn to show for it.

Tread carefully, I wish you luck.

[twinkle]

I live and work in Larnaca. The English areas of Larnaca are Oroklini and towards the Base in Dhekalia. Larnaca town is lovely. It still has that village feel about it. Limassol is way too commercialised and Nicosia is too but I also find the people of Nicosia fairly stuck up. No doubt I've opened a can of worms.........

[Cyprus Vending]

Hello, we are relocating to cyprus in march. we are planning to drive from the uk with our possesions. can anyone offer any advice or usefull websites on routes and ferry crossings? thanks

Hi Shanie

There are NO ferries sailing in March, Louis Lines are the only ones that do the trip you are planning, but I have heard they may not be doing it again this year!

We live in Mesoyi about a 2min' drive from the Int' school, we moved here so when Louis our son goes we don't have a long drive! If you have not already taken on a place in Coral Bay, you would be better to find one closer to the school. As it will take you at least 30min's EACH way!!!

As for hubby getting work - do LOTS of advertising from the minute you get here, it will take time to build up a good client base! And saving don't last forever.....

All the best.

Stuart.

[shanie]

We coming out in feb to look around different areas for our permenant place to live.......any suggestions as to areas local to pafos internatioal school? Ideally it will still be a traditional cypriot area?

[G.Man]

you can get driving directions from google earth, give it a try