Hi! Moving to Basel

Welcome and Introductions
21
Hi everyone!

I am also a newbie, arriving with my husband in Basel on 29th September!

We are moving from Dubai but from Dorset/Wiltshire originally. We are excited about the move and the huge change of lifestyle but I have sooo many questions still!

It would be really great to meet up with some people once we are in town.

We will be in a hotel for the first month whilst my husband settles in to work. I will be looking for our new home during that time - any advice welcome!!

22
Hi

Yes it would be fantastic to meet up. We arrived in Basel on 8th July 2013 also due to my husbands new job. So far we absolutely love it here.

A good friend of mine from the UK Denise & Martin Vertigen are also currently living in Dubai and have done so for several years now. Would be spooky if you knew them. It's a small world after all.

Would love to meet up just let me know what works for you.

23
Hi Gin & Tonic,

Thanks for your message! I don't think I recognise your friends' names although yes it really is a small world (Dubai especially so!) and maybe we've passed each other at some point! How did you find your new home in Basel, was it sorted through your husband's company?

Winnc, how did you decide about living in France? We've heard about this as an option. Has anyone here looked at living across the border?

Looking forward to getting over there now and settling in a bit!

24
Hello again

Yes my husbands company provided us with a relocation consultant who initially supported us. However, we searched on many occasions ourselves without their help and this is how we eventually found our permanent apartment in Bachletten 5 mins walk from the zoo. I cannot wait to move in on the 1st November. It will be more like home once we have all our own belongings with us.

25
Absolutely what we feel like here...a great lifestyle change and although there is always the occasional challenge things have been wonderful so far.

And yes, it would be nice to meet somewhere, unfortunately I missed the BBQ...

26
I'm really excited about the move now. I'm going to be getting in touch with real estate agents as soon as we arrive and will be finding my way around. Any areas that you guys recommend us to look at/steer away from?!

As newbies to Basel, is there anything that you would recommend bringing with you that you've found hard to find over there? I'm thinking little things, I don't know like Marmite, or favourite tea bags etc?!

27
Hi Millberry - Self raising flour!

28
Good luck with the move!!

Marmite is available in Coop but not cheap at all... and unless your favourite tea is Tetley (or at a push, Typhoo) make sure you stock up!

I've also been asking for people to bring over brown sugar (although muscovado is available at Globus, again not cheap!) and Golden Syrup as I haven't found that anywhere!

29
What's wrong with the brown sugar they sell at Coop?

30
self raising flour - asia store near SBB

tea bags pgtips or typhoo asia - store in martkauf

brown sugar - well....

31
Cream crackers, that is what I would bring. But I don't think many others would

32
I've read on this forum that apparently in England there is a kind of sugar that is brown but is not the same thing as the natural brown sugar (which is like regular sugar to the touch and is the common one all over the continent).

Someone said this has been debated to death on this forum and that you can't find that kind of sugar in Switzerland, just the normal brown sugar.

33
Thanks for the info, I did not know that. I'll have to ask my British friends to bring me some of this other brown sugar to see the difference

34
Hello everyone!

My husband and I are also moving to the area...not until the beginning of the year though! :-)

The forum has been a fantastic resource for us, and I am really looking forward to being able to come to some events after we've moved and get to know some of you.

We just got back from Basel on Sunday (there for some formalities with my husband's job) and we fell in love!

I wish everyone who is moving the best of luck!!

AK

35
Good luck Millberry, at least there are a few of us making this move at the same time, keep in-touch , it will be nice to all keep in touch and support each other. there are some great and helpful members on here. are you becoming a trailing spouse?

Winnc

36
We too had ,well still have relocation consultant , she took us to e few places. I have a large dog and needed a biggish garden to get a property the size we wanted(family visiting ) we would have had to pay much more in Switzerland, I think you need to weigh up tax V rent and so on but we have a good size property in Hesingue , but not cheap still, but much less than Basel. its on 15 mins to Basel though and hubby's work , look forward to meeting up with folks . I will be there by the 10th Oct

37
The brown sugar we have in the UK has added molasses which gives it more of a caramel flavour. It's pretty much a staple of British baking. The brown sugar available in Coop is closer to what we call 'golden cane' which basically means it is unbleached. It's nice but just not the same.

38
Hello everyone,

I've recently moved to Hegenheim in France and would also like to meet up if you are arranging something. Wincc - we're neighbours, Hesignue is about 5mins up/down the road from me.

39
Wow nice to see so many new peeps moving to Basel.

I'll be moving to Basel 1st of Dec on my own and hoping for my girl to join me in 6 month time as soon as she finishes her current contract!! I'll be working over the border at Basel Airport!

I think I'm going to miss Southampton though!! We'll see

Since I'll be totally on my own looking forward to see you guys soon!

40
Hello, I am in Leymen so not far from Hegenheim. I moved here in May. Would be nice to organise a get together if anyone is interested.