Luxembourg areas to live and should we move there...

[PalomaBlanca]

Just wondered if anybody had any recommendations of what areas would be good to live if working in Kirchberg? I have not spent much time in Luxembourg but potentially considering a move there and trying to get a feel for different areas. Would like to be somewhere within half an hour´s commute. Have had a quick look on athome.lu but not really sure what areas to start with. Prices (we are looking to rent) seem very high so any ideas of areas which are better value for money gratefully received.

More generally, having spent a couple of days in Luxembourg I did not really come away with much of a sense of what everyday life would be like there, other than seeing lots of traffic jams and ludicrously priced restaurants (I was stuck in meetings most of the time mind you so my fault not Luxembourg´s necessarily). If you have lived or lived there, what do you think is nice about the place (and what is annoying)?

Thank you.

[PetiteRaleuse]

Don't know about car seats, sorry. Taxi will be fine though, for the city, and the bus system is v good. The Bradt guide I linked to upthread will be a good read. If you want to explore the wider region (and with a week, you will) tbh I'd hire a car. Either on some days or for the whole time. Lux is a tiny city, there is lots to do in the rest of the country and surrounding countries so a car would be much easier.

[GalensOyster]

Taxis outside of Lux city can be extremely expensive. If you're wanting to explore a bit a rented car for a few days might be the best idea.

[sagsj]

Hello Timoask,

I was going through the discussion to check on options to live around contern, since I would be starting a new job shortly and am relocating from Germany.

It would be me and my husband. But since he would be mostly travelling for work and my new place of work is in Contern, I would appreciate a few pointers for renting in and around contern so I can commute with public transport. Also what areas should be preferred, and what range of rent should we be expecting?

Hope to get some inputs.

[Gfplux]

To get an idea of rental prices look at athome.lu which has a good search function.

Look at mobiliteit.lu for public transport. The search function will enable you to check journey times, frequency and any changes.
Public transport is really a good option it is cheap by U.K. Standards, clean and reliable.

We live in Strassen and I know a couple who have been here for two years without a car.

[Gfplux]

Just an added thought. Many new apartments have been bought as an investment and the rental price tends to reflect the recent (high) price paid. Older property's although older can be found at lower prices for the same square meters.
Perhaps I am stating the obvious!

[Crockodile]

Hello all,

I know this thread started years ago but I'm hoping that (some of) you are still active on mumsnet and might have more/ up-to-date information on Lux. My family (DH and DD) might move to Lux later this year and I'd like to have an idea of where might be good to live.

I was wondering whether anyone is living/ has lived/ knows about living in the communes Strassen, Bertrange, Mamer, Sandweiler and/ or any others near the city that I might not have read about yet.

Any info would be welcome!

[Weta]

Hi Crockodile,

I can tell you about Mamer, what would you like to know?
Where will you and/or your DH be working? one thing I would say is that the traffic has got much much worse in the last couple of years, so it's definitely something to take into account.

[Lalux]

We live in Bertrange and have been here for 2.5 years (I was on this thread under another name when we were looking at moving here) so can try and help too.

[Crockodile]

Great fab, I'll send you a private message x

[Gfplux]

This might be of interest.
spirallingupinlux.wordpress.com/about/

[henstooth]

Hi, DH has just landed a job in Lux too and is starting work there in 3 weeks. I'll be moving out with DC in the summer. Would also be very grateful for any tips/ meet ups. Is it worth joining the American and British Ladies clubs? We're planning to send DC to St George's school, as I wasn't sure they would cope with the local school system (DD is 8 and has no German, only a little French). We plan to visit in May for a look around. I've heard finding rental properties can be difficult, due to a lack of availability?

Many thanks

[Quercy2017]

Hello all,

I am sorry to gate crash, I can't be of help with questions above, however I am also in the same boat. Husband has landed a job in Lux and we are planning an imminent move.
Also hoping to get into St George's but with a son starting reception sept - apparently a wait list thus far. Also a younger daughter, who would normally start preschool sept (turning 3 in Nov) but that looks like it's another year away in Lux, so I assume she can only do crèche?
Feeling slightly overwhelmed as to where to start with planning and where the best places are to live? Is it usual for families to live in apartments (some apartments sound like they are large)? Though the lack of outdoor space for the children is not ideal, unless there are good parks on the doorstep?!
Convenience for the school (hopefully we get in) and amenities and activities, as well as hubbie's work would be preferable, though it seems everything might be spread out a bit perhaps? (Hubby will be working in the southern part of the ring road, I think it's Gasperich).

I would also be interested to hear if it's worth joining the "ladies' clubs", if anything at least for the social aspect.

Also very grateful for any tips on where we might find activities for the children such as baby ballet, football, tennis and swimming classes etc given their young ages?

Again, apologies for gatecrashing. Henstooth - I would love to hear anything you've found out about Lux too. I am also planning on moving over for the early summer too. Just hope finding accommodation/getting school place isn't too difficult!

[Gfplux]

Just to add a little to the information and opinions.
Many family's with young children do live in apartments. When you consider a three bed apartment (105sq meters) in Luxembourg might be larger that a semi detached house in the U.K. We live in a semidetached house in Strassen and it is not considered large at 250 sq meters.
You will be amazed at how many parks and children's playgrounds there are in a Luxembourg.

[Gfplux]

Sorry I should have said 250sq meters of living space plus 100 sq meters of garages/basement.

[henstooth]

Hi all,

We're coming out for a visit in May, so will be having a look round at the area - DH starts work in 3 weeks near Kirchberg, so I'll be back in the UK with the kids until school breaks up!

We're also on school waiting lists for DD, though looks like our DS may have a place due to people moving.

Our kids do a few clubs after-school so hoping they'll have the chance to do lots of things and learn french too.

Have also managed to setup a bank account, so DH can get paid - at least that was easy as the BNP bank allow you to setup a current account online, so we've done that. One thing ticked off at least :-)

[Quercy2017]

thank you for the heads up re the apartment sizes etc Gfplux. We are over in lux tomorrow through the weekend to view a variety of houses and apartments in various locations from Bereldange to Sandweiler and to the south Kokelscheuer/Crauthem. Also some in the centre too.

I am pleased to hear about the abundance of playgrounds/parks! I heard there is a great pirate one in particular near Lux City. My 4 and 2 year olds should like that very much!

I am hoping that once we find accommodation that all the other classes etc will then fit in according to location and ultimately the school our son can get into (hopefully st G).

I also wondered if anyone had information on crèches please? I have looked at an English speaking crèche, but open minded as I think age 2 is a perfect age to start learning another language so naturally and easily. It would also definitely be good to learn more French myself. My French is very school girl - I can order a croissant and a cafe au lait okay, but conversationally I am useless!

Henstooth - that's interesting re the BNP bank account being easy to set up and I have taken that tip on board! Good luck with your visit trip too. We are hoping to join DH by end of half term.

we are very excited about the move and in particular, to take advantage of the location in Europe and visit many places on the weekends while we are relocated there! Just hope the kids enjoy it!

[movingsoon10]

Would welcome some guidance please to learn which areas
close to Luxembourg City are countryside - not a park but real fields with some foot paths or at least areas not fenced off with access to walks

It seems south east of Lux City seems like this but not sure of travel times at peak times into City from for example Hesperange We hope to move there and rent a small house which overlooks fields Any advice most welcome Thank you (and indeed any advice on best estate agents! )

[Weta]

Not sure what to say about fields, although there are quite a few areas that would have access to walks I would think.
But I can recommend an estate agent who is a friend - she is very honest (unlike most here) and worth contacting even if she doesn't have anything suitable on her website at the moment, plus her site gives advice about renting here.
The site is mondeavenir.lu/

[Luxembourgmama]

Once you reach the city limits there are pretty much fields. Its very tiny.

For renting try athome.lu or wortimmo.lu or habiter.lu estate agents are very very bad here they'll try to offload whatever crap is on their books so its best just to check the websites daily and call any that are of interest to you. Decent places go fast though if you are looking for somewhere in a sought after area you'd need to be available that day to see a place or it may be gone.