Luxembourg - more questions...

[Weta]

I asked about living in Lux a while ago and it's now looking likely that I may get a job there working for the EU, so I have some more questions for you!

Someone last time gave me a link for looking at house prices but I'm a bit lost as to what suburbs/communes to look at - can you help? I think we would probably send our kids to the European school, so ideally close to there.

And would anyone have an idea of a ballpark figure (range) for a 3-4 bedroom house (at least 100 square metres) with a bit of a garden (nothing huge) in a reasonable area?

Also, how practical would it to be to live in France, or to live in Lux and for DH to work in France (somewhere just over the border)? He's an optician, so can look for work anywhere really.

Aaargh, this so wasn't the outcome I was after!!!

I believe it was my DW who suggested www.athome.lu to look at.

In terms of location: Given the fact that yoy will probaly take your children to the European School in the mornings, I would suggest something direction Trier and/or Echternach (Communes: Niederanven, Berg, Grevenmacher - Junglinster). Always remember that Luxembourg is very small and that driving through Luxembourg for an hour is nigh on impossible.

I also recently read an article on the housing market in Luxembourg and they currently have twice as many properties on the market at the moment than usual. The reason is mainly that people are reluctant to advertise at a lower price...but if you make a decent offer on the right house, they will not say no!

A price is difficult to say, but 400k should get you what you are looking for.

The current job market is a bit tight, at least in the financial sector. Not sure about opticians, but if at all possible I would try to work in Luxembourg as benefits and salary are significantly better here.

Hope all this helps

Thanks, DE, that's great. It helps to have some ideas of suburbs, although none came up with anything on that site - might try some others.

I have an interview in a couple of weeks so will go to check it out with DH for a few days...

Do you or your DW have any info about English-speaking playgroups/parents groups etc? (DS2 will be about 2). Or other good ways to meet people?

mums bumps and babies are a good source of English speaking contacts but I should imagine that if you are going to be working for one of hte European Institutions you should be able to access their crèche facilties? I might be mistaken though. There are some English speaking creches (google Montesorri in Luxembourg) but be v. careful as many of the educatrices will not be mother tongue English. We went for a Luxembourgish creche in the end .

Best of luck with your interview. Just be aware that Luxembourg is not at its best at the moment - the weather is awful and I think we are all going to have to grow gills to cope with the rain.

sorry i just got curious about this when i saw in active conversations because i used to live there... ages ago so my experience completely irrelevant i am afraid. however my mum used to volunteer for an organisation called Luxembourg Accueil, it seems they are still around (just google them), and while i suspect they're a bunch of ladies who lunch they might be able to give some help with practicalities, perhaps worth shooting them an email with some questions?

Also try googling British Ladies Club and American Women's Club. Have not been in contact with either of them so can't give any personal experience / recommendation.

But why is it British Ladies and American Women??? This disturbs me for some reason.

The European school is outside luxembourg city, in a district called Kirchberg, where most of the EU offices are. But really near, 3 km after the bridge, Pont Rouge.
The school has something like 50 buses collecting children all over the city/country, so you can live where you like. Some Eu office are at the cloche d?or which is in Bonnevoie, others near the station. But most likely you will work somewhere in the Kirchberg plateau. Lux is small, but traffic can be really really bad.

Yes, correct , lux has a shitty weather, but the same applies to many European cities, so what? Nobody moves to Luxbg for the weather. It?s a very nice place, the town is nice, the old town even nicer, the petrusse valley is great fun whenever there is snow, and very romantic in spring, there are fantastic playgrounds, the one with the pirate ship (almost real size) downtown and Bambusch, the one in the forest. Great sport facilities, amazing swimming pool. And whenever you are fed up because luxbg is small, you take the tgv and 2.5 hours later you are in Paris.

Yes Luxbg is small, that?s what makes it precious; just accept the fact that Luxbg is small (ok I said it twice, so you do know it now), everything will be easy. It is very safe, and children can play outside without you worrying every minute. You?ll earn great money, quit work early in the evening and have plenty of time for you and your family, and when you miss the sun, book a flight and spend a week in Tenerife.

Hope it helps

Lux is a lovely place to be. Why not take the bus instead of the car to work? There are bus lanes through the city & over the bridge.

@BM, thanks for the advice - those groups look good although I agree with you about the ladies/women - and my DH was a bit aghast when I suggested he attend the British Ladies Club! I'm not particularly fussed what language DS2 goes to creche/nursery in, it'll only be part time and he's small enough for it not to be an issue.

@BS, thanks too, have checked the website and it looks good.

@Lory, yes I think I would be working in Kirchberg. Thanks for all the positive things you say about the city, it does sound like a lovely place. As you say, the proximity to Paris is definitely a plus, especially once the kids are a bit older. As for the sun, I'm hoping the salary will allow a trip back to the NZ summer every winter or two

@Almeida, taking a bus to work would certainly be my preference - something we'll have to look at when trying to find accommodation.