Paris, also called the city of lights, and the city of love, is one of Europe’s most charming capitals. It is situated in the North of France, along the river Seine.

Paris features some of the most famous monuments of the world, such as the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Versailles, Champs-Elysees and Sacre Coeur. But that is not everything Paris has to offer … the city counts among the world’s fashion metropoles, is known for its stunning art galleries, and of course, the right-light district with the Moulin Rouge.

Metro-boulot-dodo is how the Parisian lifestyle is described, which is not entirely true. The Parisians do celebrate life and enjoy the warm summer evenings strolling down avenues framed with stores and cafes – the French ‘savoir-vivre’, as they say.

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How to get there and around.

Airports in Paris :

Paris has two main airports – Charles de Gaulle (CDG, also called Roissy) in the North, and Orly in the South. Both have bus shuttle and train services that take you to and from the city. More info here: http://www.aeroportsdeparis.fr/. 

Cabs are a very expensive way to reach the city, especially in rush hour, and cost you up to 100 Euros!

Trains :

France operates two types of train services – the regular local transport, and the intercity TGV. Seat reservations are obligatory for the TGV. You can book any journey here: http://www.sncf.com/. You can also take the Eurostar train straight to London within 2 hours!

In and around Paris you can take the RER http://parisbytrain.com/paris-rer/ for distances longer than metro stops.

Public transportation in the city :

Paris offers different means of public transport – Metro, Bus, RER and Tram. Metro tickets cost 1.70 EUR per trip. Daily and weekly passes are also available. Find out more here: http://parisbytrain.com/.

Cabs :

Cabs can be found on every corner in Paris. Fares are quite expensive, and it is recommended not to take taxis during rush hours because of the possible delays. All cabs go by meter.

Rental cars :

Every major rental car company can be found in Paris, however, due to its excellent public transport system, there is probably no need to rent a car. Most Parisians have never owned a car in their lives, and parking is pure hell in most areas!

Finding a place to stay and starting a new life.

Neighborhoods :

Paris is divided into ‘arrondissements’, which can be seen as districts. The 16^th and the ‘cité’ area (where Notre Dame is) are known to be very posh and expensive. It is recommended to mind the North in general. The better districts to live in are between the 7^th and 13^th or in the Marais, because of their chic neighborhoods and accessibility.

Apartments for rent/share :

Most landlords prefer to rent apartments to tenants directly, without going through a real estate broker. The most common sites to find apartments are http://www.pap.fr/, http://www.seloger.com/ and http://www.avendrealouer.fr/.

You’ll come across listings, which describe a shared shower/bathroom on the hallway. This is a very common accommodation type especially for students, and used to be the rooms of staff & maids to richer families. These rooms are called ‘chambres de bonne’.

Power plugs and sockets :

France uses the European standard plug.

Water, gas, electricity :

When renting a ‘chambre de bonne’, all utilities are usually included. Full apartment rentals will require you to open bills with the respective authorities. Ask your landlord about the options.

Furniture :

While many apartments in Paris come furnished, you may have to find more furniture and décor to complete your new home. For a vintage look, you should consider going to the ‘puces’ in the North, near ‘Porte de Clignancourt’.

‘Le Bon Marche’ is a big department store that offers lots of options in terms of furniture and décor.

Internet service :

The most popular internet service provider in Paris is ‘Free’, which allows you to purchase a home service bundle – telephone, fax, TV and internet for a fixed monthly fee.

Supermarkets, pharmacies and other stores :

Parisians are old-fashioned. They love going to the local ‘epicerie’ (which is like a family owned corner supermarket) for food shopping. Many main avenues have markets on weekdays during the mornings, where you can shop for the freshest fish, fruit and vegetables.

You still may find big supermarket chains as well.

Shopping :

Shopping is a cure in Paris. Rue de Rennes offers plenty of options, and so does Rue de Rivoli. Le Bon Marche, Galleries Lafayette and Le Bazar de l’Hotel de Ville are department stores that carry every brand possible.

Cell phone service :

There are several cell phone providers to choose from - Virgin Mobile and Vodafone being only two of them.

If you choose a prepaid plan, you may buy recharge bons at any ‘Tabac’ or on the respective website.

Bank :

You will find that every French bank has branches in the city. International banks, such as UBS and HSBC do exist as well, but require a rather high capital to open an account with them.

By French law, all your account changes will have to be made at the branch you opened your account at, therefore choose a convenient location!

Starting a job/business and becoming a local.

Job search :

The French are not very big on public advertising. Therefore, most job offers will be posted on their company website only. You may still search on http://fr.jobrapido.com/ which pulls results from every main job search page.

Company formation :

France has a great way of encouraging entrepreneurship. While establishing a ‘société’ can be quite complex, there is another system that allows you to work independently: http://www.lautoentrepreneur.fr/. You may register your profession and profit from a simplified entrepreneurial scheme, which allows you to make money even if you also have a job.

Registration :

When getting hired, your company will submit all details to the authorities. When registering a company, this will occur in the process of the registration.

Health insurance :

France offers public health insurance when employed and self employed. There is no need for a private arrangement.

Driver’s license & vehicle registration :

In the EU, you may drive with any foreign license. If you hold an EU driver’s license from another country you are required to attain a French EU license once you establish your residence there.

Fun things to do and places to go.

Restaurants, bars and clubs :

There are very few place with so many hang-out places. The ‘quartier’ of St. Germain appears like a hub of bars and restaurants, from simple to eclectic. The Marais is knows as the gay quarter and has a lot of cute places to offer, too.

Check out ‘Café Carette’ on place Trocadero for amazing macarons, the upscale restaurant ‘George’ at Centre Pompidou for a fantastic dinner inclusive of a view of the city, and the nightclub ‘L’Arc’, where the professional party people of Paris meet.

Cultural sites :

There is no end in recommending places to see. The main attractions of Paris are a must, but then there are art exhibitions that run only temporarily in different venues. Be sure to find out more when you are there!

Paris is also surrounded by castles and palaces in the surrounding areas.

Sports :

Parisians are not very sporty, they do enjoy going to the gym but no sport dominates the culture.

Foreign authorities and legal help.

Embassies :

Find them all here: http://embassy.goabroad.com/embassies-in/France

Local authorities :

Find out more on http://www.paris.fr/, in French, English and Spanish.

Lima is the capital city of Peru, it has 8 million inhabitants and is facing the Pacific Ocean.

Living in Lima is great, it is a little messy but is really nice. For foreigners it is a little bit complicated to find a job because you need a working Visa or being married with a Peruvian. You need to have a contract for the visa. In other hand Peru is open to foreigners Investments so if you want to run a business you are gonna be able to do it.

How to get there and around.

Airports:

We have one international airport in Lima http://www.lap.com.pe . It is very easy to go from every part of the city.

Trains:

We have trains but they are not for passengers transportation.

Public transportation in the city:

We have two systems, Metropolitano and the Subway. Both of them are really good and cheap. We have buses all over the city but they are not organized so their service is poor.

Cabs:

It depends on your destination. But in worst case they are going to charge you S/ 40.00 ($15). It is better to call a taxi company.

Rental cars:

Most major car rental companies are present in Lima, such as Alamo, Avis, National rent a car, Budget Peru and Dollar rent a car.

Finding a place to stay and starting a new life.

Neighborhoods:

You can stay in Miraflores, San Isidro, La Molina. Those are the more quiet and save places. It is recommended to stay in Miraflores, you can find everything there. Also, most of the hotels are in Miraflores (from back packers to luxury hotels)

Apartments for rent/share:

The best place to find rentals is Clasificados del Comercio: www.elcomercio.pe

Power plugs and sockets:

220 v electricity plugs and sockets are used.

Water, gas, electricity:

They have a separate billing system and they are typically very affordable.

Internet service:

Movistar is the main internet provider.

Supermarkets, pharmacies and other stores:

Popular supermarkets are Wong, Plaza Vea, Vivanda and Metro. You can find everything in these places: Food, electronics, alcohol, etc.

Shopping:

The best shopping places are Larcomar (Miraflores), Jokey Plaza (Surco) and Caminos del Inca (Surco).

Cell phone service:

There is cell phone service available, however, all of them have poor service: Movistar, Claro and Nextel.

Bank:

The best banks to use are Banco de Credito del Peru, Scotia Bank, Interbank or Continental.

All of them are good. The most popular is BCP. They have ATM´s and agencies everywhere.

Starting a job/business and becoming a local.

Job search:

Clasificados del Comercio: www.elcomercio.pe

www.computrabajo.com

www.boomerang.com

www.laborum.com

Company formation:

The easy way is with a lawyer.

Registration:

RENIEC

Health insurance:

It´s better to establish a private insurance through Rimac Seguros, Pasifico Seguros or Mapfre Seguros.

Driver’s license & vehicle registration:

You can drive with a foreign driver’s license, but for 6 months only. If you want to buy a car you have to go to a Notaria and they do all the paper work for you.

Fun things to do and places to go.

Restaurants, bars and clubs:

You can find hundreds of places to eat and clubbing. Miraflores is one of the most popular places for localities and tourist places.

Cultural sites:

We have several museums in down town. You can find city tours as well and they take you to the most important places.

Sports:

Most popular is Football (not soccer, people do not like to call it that way).

You can have surfing lessons at Miraflores beach. 

Foreign authorities and legal help.

Embassies:

You can find all information in this web side: http://www.masitravel.com/peru-information.asp?idioma=sp&categoria=Embajadas%20en%20Peru

Local authorities:

It depends what you need to do but you can find basic information at this web side:

http://www.peru.gob.pe/.

Cancun has undergone a very interesting development over the past few decades. The town was barely visible on a map in the 70s and now hosts the second busiest airport after Mexico City, both for transit between North and South America as well as tourism.

What was considered a luxury destination in the 80s and 90s slowly changed into an all-inclusive hotel-after-hotel boulevard, while huge luxury resorts opened their doors along the Riviera Maya.

It is rare to bump into a real ‘Cancunese’, as the vast majority of the population has moved in due to the availability of jobs – again, mostly in tourism. No matter where the people are from – they are all very proud of their rich Mayan heritage and Mexican culture.

Very few places in the world can fuse authenticity with modernism so well. In Cancun, you can go have tacos at the corner store one night, and a fance dinner at a five star restaurant the next – and appreciate both the same way.

How to get to there and around.

Airports:

Cancun has an international airport (CUN) [http://www.cancun-airport.com] that manages hundreds of flights every day. There is a taxi van service available from the airport, which will likely cost around 60 USD or 700 Pesos (negotiable) for the van. As an alternative you can take a ‘Colectivo’, which costs only 16 USD per person and runs as soon as the load is full. There is also a bus, ADO [http:www.ado.com.mx], which goes into town.

Trains:

There are no trains.

Public transportation in the city:

There are buses that run every few minutes into every part of town. The cost is 8.50 Pesos and is paid directly to the bus driver.

Cabs:

Taxis are very common in Cancun. Most of the time they will charge you tourist prices, however, if you make clear that you live in Cancun, there should not be any circumstance or trouble. A cab ride within the city costs ALWAYS 25 Pesos, to the airport 150 Pesos. The drivers have rate charts they are supposed to apply.

Rental cars:

You may find rental car companies at the airport, downtown (close to Walmart) and at La Isla shopping center (Zona Hotelera).

Finding a place to stay and starting a new life.

Neighborhoods:

Cancun is divided into Supermanzanas which are like districts. They go from 1 – 500 and more. The best areas to live in are the lower ones, of which 1, 2, 3 are around Avenida Bonampak, 28 is the famous Mercado 28 etc. You can easily see this indicated on a Google Map. Also the Zona Hotelera has apartments and housing to offer.

Apartments for rent/share:

The best websites to look for places are www.vivastreet.com.mx, www.locanto.com.mx,  www.tuaviso.com.mx and www.trovit.com.mx. When going around Cancun you will find lots of buildings with signs for available units!

Power plugs and sockets:

Mexico uses the same plugs as Canada and the United States.

Water, gas, electricity:

Depending on your contract with your landlord, these services may be included in your rental agreement. Check carefully before signing.

Furniture:

You can shop for furniture at Plaza Solare – Ambienta, at Plaza Las Americas (different stores) and of course at the big department stores such as Walmart & Sam’s.

Internet service:

You can get internet service together with the installation of a landline from www.telmex.com.mx, www.movistar.com.mx and others.

Supermarkets, pharmacies and other stores:

While you can find the basic stuff at Oxxo, which is a convenience store chain open 24/7 and found on every corner, you have supermarkets of different sizes such as Aki, Superama, Soriana, Mega, Cosco and more.

Shopping:

Shopping centers reign in Cancun – you have Las Plazas Outlet Mall, Plaza Las Americas, La Isla, Plaza Kukulkan (luxury) and the souvenir stores at Mercado 28.

Cell phone service:

Although most people will say TelMex works best, it does not always work with foreign phones. Movistar offers cell phone service too, and you can subscribe to dataplans for as low as 300 pesos a month (even with a prepaid phone service!).

Bank:

Both national and international banks can be found in Cancun. BBVA, Scotia and Santander are just a few of the many. Fairly high fees apply when using your card at an ATM machine, better check in your country if any bank has an agreement with a Mexican bank (such as Bank of America does with Santander).

Starting a job/business and becoming a local.

Job search:

The main site to look for jobs is www.computrabajo.com.mx, although it is still very common for Mexicans to look for openings in newspapers, such as ‘Novedades’. If employed, you will be required to get an FM3 work visa, which is valid for a year, before you can extend this visa with an FM2, valid for 3 years.

Company formation:

To open a business in Mexico you must hold a valid FM3 visa. More information at the local authority.

Reporting your residence:

There is no such thing as an official registration.

Health insurance:

Health insurance is supposed to be provided by your employer. Nonetheless, a doctor’s visit is payable by yourself, and costs around 600 Pesos for an ordinary check up.

Driver’s license & vehicle registration:

You may drive with a foreign license in Mexico.

To get a driver’s license, however, you need to hold an FM3.

Fun things to do and places to go.

Restaurants, bars and clubs:

Cancun has lot’s to offer. From the casual taco place Les Bons at Mercado 28, to Yucatecan specialities at Emara, to fancy Italian at Cenacolo or really good sushi at Hanaichi … There are some great bars around Parque de las Palapas, on Avenida Yaxchilan and at La Isla. Clubs are found at KM 8.5 in the Zone Hotelera, of which Mandala is known to be best.

Cultural sites:

There is a historical museum being built in the Zone Hotelera at the moment. All historical sites are outside the city and can be visited by booking tours. (Tip: Merida has a stunning anthropology museum!!)

Sports:

Cancun is all about watersports – swimming, kite surfing, jet skiing – but you can also go for aventure tours into the jungle, climb on ruins and go on offroad tours!

Foreign authorities and legal help.

Embassies:

Find the representative authority you are looking for in this list [http://www.cancuntoday.net/services/consulates.php]

In recent years, Vienna has been rated among the top 5 (!) most livable cities in the world. Giving it a closer look this is no surprise. Vienna offers a great combination of lifestyle, culture and activities. Trendy restaurants, lots of museums, well-working pubic transportation, old fashioned shopping streets and its close location to vinyards in the north and the Alps in the south west make it an ideal place of residence.

The seasons give Vienna a special flair at any time of the year – mild spring brings the first touch of sunlight, summer reigns with hot temperatures and sunny days, fall colors the trees in shades of red orange and yellow, and winter promises snow and a cozy Christmas feel.

The Viennese, althought known to be grumpy, love their afternoon coffee, dining out at night, exhibitions and operas, and are very proud of their proper little Vienna.

Here is a map of Austria’s capital city:

Wikipedia features an extensive article about Vienna:

Vienna is a very well connected city with lots to offer. Here are the most important details about living in Vienna, from getting there to moving in.

How to get there and around.

Airports:

Vienna has one international airport, Wien-Schwechat (VIE) [http://www.viennaairport.com], which is located in the South East of the city. You can catch the City Airport Train (short CAT) [http://www.cityairporttrain.com], which takes 15 mins to the center and costs 11 EUR for a one way, and 17 EUR for a return ticket. Alternatively there is the airport bus (Flughafenbus) which goes to Meidling train station and West train station (Westbahnhof), and costs 6 Euros.

Trains:

The Austrian national railway company is called Oesterreichische Bundesbahnen (short OEBB) [http://www.oebb.at]. Vienna offers great connections to any destination in Austria and Europe.

Public transportation in the city:

Vienna disposes of a great public transport system [http://www.wienerlinien.at]. Subway stations can be found throughout the city, tramways are common, especially in the centre and bus lines run 24/7. Daily, weekly, monthly and annual passes are available.

Cabs:

Taxis are mostly operating in the city center but do take you wherever you need to go. Fares start at 2.30 EUR when getting on the cab. A surcharge applies for service after 10pm.

Rental cars:

All major rental car companies have outlets in Vienna.

Finding a place to stay and starting a new life.

Neighborhoods:

The 1^st, 13^th and 19^th district are famous, fancy and expensive. Both the 15^th and the 10^th district are known for their large Eastern European population, whereas the 22^nd almost feels like a suburb instead of part of the city. Due to the fantastic public transport system it pays to select a neighborhood that allows you to take advantage of it.

Apartments for rent/share:

On http://www.jobwohnen.at, www.willhaben.at and other internet platforms you may encounter listings for apartments/houses in Vienna. If you are shooting for a shared flat, try www.wg-gesucht.de. Usually rental agreements are signed on annual terms, and the collection of a security deposit is common practice.

Power plugs and sockets:

Austria uses AC power plugs.

Water, gas, electricity:

Depending on your contract with your landlord, these services may be included in your rental agreement. Check carefully before signing.

Furniture:

There are some major stores where you can get furniture – XXXLutz, Moebelix, Leiner etc. They are typically located in the outskirts of the city.

Internet service:

All major telephone providers in Austria offer internet service for your home. Check with your landlord for the best signal quality in your apartment.

Supermarkets, pharmacies and other stores:

Most supermarkets are chains. That could be Hofer, Billa, Penny and Spar to name a few. It is very unlikely that there won’t be one in close reach. Pharmacies are privately owned and carry a green symbol of a snake as a signage up front. For electronics, Media Markt is probably your best choice.

Shopping:

You’ll find lots of stores in Vienna’s shopping streets (Mariahilferstrasse and Kaerntnerstrasse are the most popular ones), but also in shopping centres like Lugner City. Austria’s biggest shopping center is located in the South of the city, and is called Shopping City Sued.

Cell phone service:

A few years ago, A1 – Austria’s biggest telephone service provider – launched a new daughter company called Bob [http://www.bob.at]. The prices are very reasonable, and there is no contract necessary.

Bank:

Bank Austria, Erste Bank, Volksbank, Raiffeisen are only a few banks that offer banking services in Austria. While Bank Austria can only be found in rural areas, Raiffeisen is widely found in the provincial areas of the country. Big international banks such as HSBC and UBS only offer wealth management services in Austria.

Starting a job/business and becoming a local.

Job search:

All major newspaper have a job ad section which is updated frequently. Websites like www.jobrapido.at, www.stepstone.at and others are common to use. Best search results will though yield from industry specific websites and magazines.

Company formation:

Businesses are separated in different categories, for which different prerequisites are necessary. To open a company in Austria you have to speak to an advisor at the economic chamber (Wirtschaftskammer, short WKO) [http://www.wko.at].

Reporting your residence (Meldezettel):

Once you are established, you will need to register your place of residence at the local authority (Bezirkshauptmannschaft, short BH, or Magistrat), which exists in every district.

Health insurance:

Whether employed or independent, health insurance is an obligatory service in Austria. A part of your income will go towards this each month, for which you will receive free health care (including dental) in all public hospitals and doctor offices. Once registered, you will get an ‘e-card’ which is carries your personal information.

Driver’s license & vehicle registration:

You may drive in Austria with a foreign driver’s license. If you wish, you may exchange it to an Austrian license at any time.

You may drive a foreign registered car in Austria. If you purchase a vehicle in Austria, you will be required to register your vehicle at the BH or Magistrat.

Fun things to do and places to go.

Restaurants, bars and clubs:

Vienna offers a wide range of establishments. Particularly the 1^st district has many good restaurants to offer – Steirereck (Austrian), Fabios (Italian), Motto am Fluss (perfect to hang out in the afternoon), Onyx Bar, Café Sacher, The Box (night club), Comida and many more.

Cultural sites:

There is no place like Vienna. Museums, exhibitions, operas, musicals, historic buildings & gardens, castles – you’ll find it all!

Sports:

Vienna is close to the skiing region of the Semmering, while the Viennese enjoy the close proximity to lake Neusiedl (Neusiedlersee) and the vineyards in the north in the summer.

Gyms are very common in Vienna, a membership costs around 100-150 EUR a month. There are indoor climbing centers, public swimming pools, skating rinks and much more.

Foreign authorities and legal help.

Embassies:

Find the representative authority you are looking for in this list [http://embassy.goabroad.com/embassies-in/austria]

Austrian authorities:

You may find all necessary information you require on http://www.help.gv.at.