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Living overseas

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Original poster

Advice on moving to Guernsey :)

13 replies

scorcio5 · 09/04/2015 21:50

Hi, we are considering moving to Guernsey as a family, ( have hopefully got a job interview soon) and am just wandering if anyone could give me an insight into what its like to live out there, there would be two kids, OH, and myself, oh and not forgetting the dog :) have done some research via internet and been getting mixed reviews from expats, tia for any advice :)

OP posts:
ArcheryAnnie · 09/04/2015 21:55

I've got no experience, but am dying to see answers, so marking place!

(And good luck with the interview, OP.)

Original poster
scorcio5 · 09/04/2015 21:57

Thankyou :)

OP posts:
drspouse · 09/04/2015 22:06

I have a friend who lives in Guernsey and has two children and is on MN but I don't know her username on here. However I may give her a heads up via FB!

FriendofDorothy · 10/04/2015 04:40

Thank you drspouse.

I live in Guernsey and think it is a great place to live. I was a returning native not an ex-pat when we move back a few years ago.

What sort of job have you applied for?

Do you have any specific questions and I'll see if I can answer them for you :)

FriendofDorothy · 10/04/2015 04:40

Thank you drspouse.

I live in Guernsey and think it is a great place to live. I was a returning native not an ex-pat when we move back a few years ago.

What sort of job have you applied for?

Do you have any specific questions and I'll see if I can answer them for you :)

FriendofDorothy · 10/04/2015 04:41

Thank you drspouse.

I live in Guernsey and think it is a great place to live. I was a returning native not an ex-pat when we move back a few years ago.

What sort of job have you applied for?

Do you have any specific questions and I'll see if I can answer them for you :)

FriendofDorothy · 10/04/2015 04:43

Thank you drspouse.

I live in Guernsey and think it is a great place to live. I was a returning native not an ex-pat when we move back a few years ago.

What sort of job have you applied for?

Do you have any specific questions and I'll see if I can answer them for you :)

FriendofDorothy · 10/04/2015 06:18

Oops dodgy Cyprus wifi posted it 3 times!

LillianGish · 10/04/2015 07:37

My brother used to live there - I loved going to visit, but wouldn't want to live there. It's very small - a novelty when on holiday, but I would go stir crazy not being able to get off without getting on a plane or in a boat. How old are your kids? Great for little ones I would I imagine - not so good as they get older. Is the job a well paid one in finance? I ask because there are a lot of extremely wealthy people and you can end up feeling like the poor relation even with a very reasonable standard of living. You won't pay much tax, but everything else is expensive - housing, cost of living etc And if your kids are getting to the age of going to Uni remember it is not in the EU so will be paying top whack on the fees.

FriendofDorothy · 10/04/2015 08:17

'Tis true. It's very small and some like that and others don't. I do think it is important to get off the rock every now and then.

Having said that, it is an awesome place to bring up kids. Great schools, fab quality of life, lovely beaches on the doorstep and hardly any commuting.

We pay a load on a mortgage for what is a relatively small house but pay little in monthly travel costs compared to what we used to spend. Food can be expensive but that it mainly because our major supermarkets are Waitrose and M&S.

I love it but you have to be prepared to engage with the different way of life. There is always loads going on but sometimes you have to look for it.

londonerlass · 28/03/2016 22:19

I know this is an old thread, but I was wondering if anyone else had any advice? My husband has been offered a job in Guernsey, but the only Guernsey person I know is an old uni friend (Guernsey born and bred)! We have been to visit and also met up with my friend, but are still in two minds. From what we have seen and heard, the pros are :-

  • Lovely scenery and beaches. There seems to be endless beaches!
  • Near to France (we love going on holiday there)
  • Lower income tax rate
  • Short drive to work instead of a train commute
  • Low crime rates

Cons :-

  • Very expensive housing, and 'Housing Licences' restrict which houses non-Guernsey-born-people can buy and rent.
  • My friend says that the education system is not early as good as it used to be. What do other people think about this?? My friend said in the last year or so, they closed the small single-form entry schools - and now many classes in other schools are full and you are not guaranteed a place at your local school anymore, plus last year some parents were very disappointed not to get the school place they wanted.
Have other people experienced this? It would concern us because we had a look at some houses to buy or rent and it was clear that houses in more desirable school catchments cost significantly more to rent / buy. We wouldn't want to pay more and then not get a place (we have a 3 year old and a baby). We looked into schools and saw that Hauts Capelles School and Vale School were massive primaries with big intakes (not keen on this), but that some other primaries only take 60 children a year so those sound better.
  • We have read in the local paper that Guernsey is in the process of abolishing the Eleven Plus and its grammar schools - what do people think about this?
  • We looked at the private schools, but my friend says that there is only the Boys private school, the Girls private school and one Co-educational private school. I heard mixed things about them - that they get very good results, but are not good at supporting children with additional needs and have been known to ask some children to leave the school if they can't keep up or do not meet expectations. Has anyone got experience of any of the private schools?
  • Parking in St Peter Port for work is a nightmare - my husband's company said they have no spare parking spaces, so we need to know what the parking situation is really like.
  • Expensive living costs as most things are imported , plus its expensive to get off the island by ferry or plane. Plus we hear travel delays are common due to the island having a lot of fog and the ferry breaks down frequently!

Its seems like a lovely island, but we wonder if we will actually be financially worse off there, particularly because of housing costs - how have other people who have moved to the island found it? Would love to hear some more from people living in Guernsey. Thank you in advance!

golfbal1945 · 28/08/2018 17:56

It is a small depressing insular overpriced tedious style-less rip off bit of granite in the sea, tax is high despite what you may hear, the whole island is dying a slow death, property is unsaleable and travel on and off expensive and difficult, ok for a weekend if you have abso no other options, winters endless, locals a bunch of robbing axxholes. You will pay more to rent some ghastly 1970's bungalow that a duplex in London. We have been here a year and are just desperate to get out.

FriendofDorothy · 31/10/2018 12:55

Why stay then?

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