A lot of people on this forum seem to be seriously considering a change of lifestyle and embarking on a permanent move to Arillas, fair play to you all, from Neil who has obviously been planning for a long time to others who are trying to decide.
As this forum is getting busier and older threads get buried behind numerous pages I thought it would be a good idea to create a Moving to Arillas FAQ and sticky the thread at the top of the page so if anyone has any questions this is the first port of call. A few of us are in unique positions to help others with questions about living costs, utilities, transport, travel, etc, it’s a long list.
I would be happy to start writing something, which over time everyone & anyone could add their own input to eventually creating a nice concise and informative guide. Does anyone else think this is a good idea?
Joe
I think its a great idea, everyone can share their information and it will help put peoples minds at rest about some things and help make them think about other things that may not have crossed their mind, good thinking Joe!
Excellent Idea Joe. - I think you would be kept very busy though.
I wonder if Dimitris would create a section for it ?
Neill Egg
Yes Joe, it sounds an excellent idea.
However, I know it will increase my, already serious, mental problem of wishing my life away until August 2009!!
Fiona
Great, I can use a lot of the information I have sent out already and 'borrow' other items people have posted to amend the first thread in this topic. Once the basic part is done everyone can reply, comment and correct me no doubt many errors with their own factoids and I can incorporate these to, hopefully over time it will build up into a useful resource and keep all the information in the same place. I'm sure Dimitris will have no problem stickying the thread at the top of the page so it doesn't move down when new topics are created, I'll PM him in a little while, he's no doubt got other things on his mind at the moment.......
If this works out perhaps we could do more such as Arillas Restaurants etc, however I'm opting out of that one is enough for me
:-)
Hi Joe, A great idea but the Boss isn't that fond of sticky's, you could always email him and ask if he could make a special board for it, as he has done before for certain subjects. Viv
Good idea but a new board will create lots more threads on this subject which would slightly defeat the purpose of keeping it all in one easy to find place. Agreed lots of sticky threads make things just as hard to navigate but I believe one for this subject is valid seeing the amount of threads that are created on similar topics, a lot of new users or all these mysterious guests won't trawl through them and there is a lot of good information contained within.
Great pictures by the way you even managed to snap my Mum in two (stood below in the green coat), she must have gone for a nosey, ha ha.
(http://www.holmvalley.dnsalias.com/photos/dimitriswedding/slides/IMG_0803.jpg)
Haha oh bless her, shes just like me when a wedding is happening, have to have a nose :-D !!
Hi Joe, wish we had known at the time, would have gone over and said hello, Still at least I will be sure who she is in May. Viv
Thought I recognised her Joe x
Joe, I think this is a great idea!! It,s not always easy to find out about
living abroad, but I,m sure this would help lots. Well done.
Hi Viv, I would have told her to look out for you guys to but I didn't know she was going myself, it's a good photo.
Brainwave Joe! Brilliant idea!!!! I will look forward to reading the posts on this.
I'll cobble something together and add it to the first post in the thread, hopefully this afternoon will stay quiet and I can crack on so to speak.
Good idea Joe, it will help keep the forum lively and interesting. :-)
Quote from: Joe on February 22, 2007, 01:20:15 PM
hopefully this afternoon will stay quiet and I can crack on so to speak.
Put up the 'do not disturb' sign, get your head down and no distracting yourself by popping into the other boards to see whats happening!
Eileenxxx
Haha easier said than done though isnt that Eileen, its too tempting, for me anyway, i just have to have a nosey and see what everyone has typed!!
Me too! I have to will myself away from logging in and being nosey! Just morning and evening now....
Just 4 months and 2 stone to lose before we go.... getting excited now!
We are busy packing ready for our move. I am interested to know how prices compare with regard to white and electrical goods t'v's etc . Is it cheaper to buy there or to ship over.? If moving costs go into the thousands, I feel i would rather spend that money on new stuff than pay for older stuff to be shipped. Does anyone have any feelings on this? Marie
I have no real idea on moving to Corfu but my friend moved to Crete about 4 years ago and she bought most of her stuff out there as it costs a fortune to ship. She shipped her new bed and 3 piece suite though. No doubt someone can let you know more up to date information.
Wouldn't it make more sense to but electrical goods there, then the plugs will be ok, and you won't need to put adapters on them.
Sorry I meant to post in here earlier but I forgot.
Electrical goods such as LCD TV's, PC's, etc are cheaper in the UK, it just depends on how much you are willing to spend getting them out there, a very cheap option is drive them yourself, then all you need to do is a hire van.
Another benefit of bringing your own equipment is the FUSED 3-pin plug; in Corfu they only use the 2-pin socket, which is not fused and susceptible to spikes. With the older electricity network and semi-frequent electrical storms these spikes are much more common than back in the UK. If one occurs whilst your TV, PC is on and there is no fuse it will destroy it, whereas all you need to replace on an English plug is the fuse for a few pence. 2-pin adaptors cost next to nothing, all the expensive electrical items at my mum's house were bought in the UK, they were advised of this mainly due to the fuse issue.
Apart from this everything is pretty much the same standard throughout Europe, TV signals vary a little but if your TV works in the UK it will work in Corfu.
Thats really interesting Joe, I didnt know that about the electrical stuff and the plugs.. That is really worth knowing about if ever we decide to move out there (I can dream cant I?) but would shipping cost a lot out of interest?
My mum used a van so not sure about shipping but I'm sure Neil (Negg) can help with that. You get a lovely tour through Europe with the van and a nice ferry ride from Venice, unfortunately you do have to bring it all the way back.
Wasnt there someone called a "white van man" who makes regular visits to Corfu and is happy to bring stuff over if you are moving. I read that somewhere, it might not have been on this site though.
Yes there is, he can be found on another site, his name is Dave, apparently he is very good and very busy! We have just got back and looked at a few places, they are becoming harder to find as an awful lot of us are looking for that same dream. As for prices we were told there are lots of places to buy furniture e.t.c. which compare with u.k. The only thing we heard whines about was the guarantee's apparently not worth the paper they are written on.(so whats new)
Are you thinking about Dave from the Agni site, Im sure you will be able to get hold of him if you go to the site on search on put MacJackson in. Viv
Thanks Joe, The electricity spikes is something we didn't know about, would the same apply to fridges and washing machines too?
As for the white van man he charges £3000 to move, and thats not a full house.
Marie
Yep nothing with a 2-pin plug is fused. There doesn't seem to be many sensible things we do in this great country of ours anymore but a 3-pin plug is one of them.
The white van man Dave McJackson hails from Yorkshire and makes frequent trips to Corfu.
After obtaining quotes from a few companies we decided on Dave whom we have used many times since.
He is fully insured and his prices for door to door service are very reasonable especially considering that he has to come up to Scotland to collect our goods.
Dave will combine several part-loads, or can be booked for a full load.
Dave can be contacted here...
mcjacksonsattiscali.co.uk (I have replaced @ with at to prevent his address being picked up by robots or whatever it is you call them!)
Eileenx
I agree with eileen, We had Dave transport some stuff for us, and had excelent service. I thought his prices were very reasonable too. I would definitely use him again.
( and yes he is VERY busy).
Hi Joe, we were wondering if you had any information about renting a property in the Arillas area? Do you have any idea of cost, what you get included in the rental cost, what other costs are there e.g. the equivalent of a council tax? We are trying to work out a budget to understand what our overall monthly cost would be if we were to rent in the area. Just thought you might have some info. Thank you. Regards, Wendy & Stuart.
Hi Wendy And Stu, we have just got back from looking, an apartment is around 300-350 e proprty 400-450e some include water but not elec and local taxes. the cost for all amenities are good, phones seemed to be the sticking point. There is not a lot about, some on the net have long gone, you are probably better to ask locals and the rate then also becomes better than dealing with an agent. I wish you luck with your search.
best wishes Eve.
Thank you. That's really helpful to know. We are thinking about renting our home out in the UK and then giving it a try in Corfu before we make a comittment to buy. We will keep you posted. Best Regards, Wendy.
Yes we thought about renting too but we heard so many stories, decided if we sold it was no longer our worry, but I will this babe fought us all the way but it is the belle of the ball now, All our hard work better be appreciated for a while! tee hee! Thank you for your wishes may you fulfil your dream also, we all deserve a bit of special time, even my youngest (shes 30) is trying to get there failing but trying!
Stay in touch,
Eve.
Can't really add much to Eve's previous post, prices are about what my Mum pays and this includes water. Electricity seems to be paid 2/3 times a year and their last bill was about €300 for 5 months, including winter, taking into account their heating and hot water is electric that is much cheaper than here. Taxes also come in lower than the UK so on the whole cost of living is much less. With my Mum working other the summer it looks like the part jobs can support her, with some to spare without even touching the pension.
Thanks Joe, much appreciated. Regards, Wendy.