hotelhotel

Again thanks everybody for your replies.

Driftdown, you say in your post that it is cheaper to live in Bahrain than in the Uk but so far, reading all the different replies; appartment prices seem higher, car costs the same, eating out prices seem higher or the same, membership costs of these clubs seem quite high....

What things are cheaper in Bahrain? Yes, I know, gold is cheaper but there is only so much gold one needs...

Looked up the the cost of living price index and for London it was 122, Amsterdam 111 ( I am Dutch so for me this is a good reference) and Bahrain was 73 so overall life should be a lot cheaper over there than in both European cities.....but what is exactly cheaper?
Trying to figure out salaries...
Help me out here...Thanks!

TAF Oscar

As far as salaries goes the income tax is a lot cheaper (like zero) and with the exception of maintaining shiny Germans cars aren't too bad, at least we don't have road tax based on weight (so it's possible to afford a big 4x4 unlike in Holland) and petrol is a fourth the price it is in Europe and didn't change since 1973. And the council doesn't suddenly slap huge extra taxes on us for the purposes of tree planting or to repaint the white lines on the road.

Eating out is comparable with Europe especially since the Euro came in and hiked all the prices, and shopping also provided you don't go mad on fresh veggies (most of which come from Holland ).

And we get to see the sun, quite a lot. Unlike the typical summer in the Lowlands...

We leven maar een keer. Maak er een mooie tijd van en genieten en nog eens genieten !!

Groetjes...TAFO

VIPangel

Dear hotel hotel,

Yes you will love living in Bahrain. The people are so nice & life is very easy. If you thought you where giving up drinking & partying when you come here...forget it! Its a party island! Its the best place to live in the Gulf.

Anyway I am leaving after 11years...only came for 2! Hope I'm making the right decision, but one can't party forever...did I say that?!!

I have a fab 2 bed appartment in Adliya(cente of the universe) and a fab Audi A4 for sale, plus other fab items, so if your interested, let me know. Will be in Bahrain to pack up all next week.

Enjoy your time in Bahrain, you will never forget this Wonderful place for the rest of your life.

Oh yeh and as someone else has said....You're Mohammed is NEVER differant!

Good luck!

Sorry but forgot to let you know the prices......2bedrm FAb & huge appartment BD250( You will never find anything this good, for that price) and my beautiful red Audi A4 is goign for BD3000 ONO. So get in before its too late......

4HolerPoler

Normally no advertising but I'll ignore it for such a positive first post. Best wishes angel & here's to having as good a time in your next eleven years as you've had in the past.

4HP

EuroATC

kind of brutal, VIP trying to flog his/her apt and car on the forum. But this further proves my point, having to even think about mentioning your AUDI for sale on PPRUNE ..well need I say more. Buy a jap car!!! when you want to sell.. you need not even advertise.. just word of mouth sells your car!!

Panama Jack

I think that the sale of alcohol goes by the "don't ask, don't tell" policy.

ironbutt57

the policy as it was published in the news when implemented was non sale of alcohol to Muslims of all nationalities or races by the bottle shops, did not include non- serving in restaurants, clubs...

EuroATC

we all know that happens haha.. I've been to BMMI countless times and I was the only non thobe wearing person in there.. why bother having a rule if you won't enforce it? it's a society based on hypocracy! they all preach about their holy beliefs and morals.. then you find them in the bottle shops and on exhibition rd. trying to rent a room by the hour....

Monty77

hotelhotel

Suck it and see. If it's not your bag, you can leave, but do tell us your impressions if/after you've done the interviews. Small Jap car definitely the way ahead, rent in the meantime till you find your feet so you don't buy a lemon. It seems EuroATC wasn't overly happy, but I've been to Canada (prairies, unfortunately) and wouldn't go back to a 8 month winter and a plague of midges for the rest of it.
And for the record, I'm English (as opposed to British), proud of it, and don't care for those who stereotype entire national groups. Xenophobic windup removed

Monty77

Crikey, moderator, that was quick. I am actually a Francophile (that means I like French culture/mode d'emploi). No comment on the rest!

EuroATC

I wouldn't live out in the prairies either!!!! I was in Ottawa, Toronto and now Montreal.. come have a look sometime!

AirNoServicesAustralia

Hey EuroATC, I heard a rumour NavCanada gives 3 weeks leave a year, and what was the tax rate again?? Oh and what pay band do you start on over there?

reverserunlocked

I lived in Dubai for two years, and visited Bahrain recently on business. I was pleasantly surprised at the contrast with Dubai. The driving was a damn sight better for starters, and I found the Bahrainis to be polite, gracious and educated in a way that escapes most Emiratis. From the short time I spent there, I'd look at it as a place to live.

RU

EuroATC

3 weeks!! yeah maybe for you Aussies...us canadians get better deals You get 5 cycles off which translates into about 5 times 11 days if you count days off before and after. Tax rate is 50%.. and for that tax rate you get roads that are policed where you don't worry about being killed in a car accident.

About the payband..not sure what i'm being paid.. I haven't looked at my cheque.. don't need my cheque to live. I have no mortage and no car payment.

Figured I would respond with a smart post since that's what you sent me. Why waste everyone's time on this forum with crap like this? If you want to give me a shot do it Via PM please. I"ll be more than happy to unload on you there.

VIPangel

Dear 4Holer Poler, oops sorry I didn't know advertising wasn't allowed...obviously didn't read the small writing........Thanks for your wishes & yeh lets hope the next 11years will be as good as the last 11!

As for EuroATc....heh man whats your problem...not getting enough of it??????
Ridders is absolutely right...Zoe's is c**p! Ok must admit decor is nice but service and food are something else to be desired. I even had the Manager, Titus, call me a B*****D in AL Jezzera once 'cause I told him he skipped the Q! Lovely manners heh? Hotelhotel if you are looking for somewhere nice to eat &for great atmosphere & service, go to Mezzaluna & Monsoon. Hash house is a great Thai restaurant & Traders Vics is fab for a great day or night out!

As for German cars, I only put it on PPrune, to help poor hotelhotel out...you might drive a lousy Jap car & may subject your poor wife(thats if you have one!) to drive one, but some of us like class! Hotelhotel I have had my car since 1997, and have had nothing go wrong with it...I wouldn't swap it for anything. But unfortunately can't bring it home. Before that had a Merc & that was great too, so don't mind all the BS about Euro cars! We have the BEST in the world...certainly Canada doesn't! As for attacking Ridders on not having a decent car at home in the UK...how do you know she didn't? Maybe that's because you did???? ANyway, you sound like a very bitter & twisted person & yes best you left Bahrain for the decent nice people, who actually enjoy life & live it to the fullest.......


PS I'm not English!

PPS Oh yeh EUROATC, why call yourself \'EURO\' when you\'re Canadian

ia1166

i see schools out again. its pretty obvious you're not english.

EuroATC

I call myself Euro because I was living/working in Switzerland as a controller when I signed on to PPRUNE

As for the rest of your "rant" .. well just go back and read my posts to provide some answers to your questions.

I am not bitter at all, I quit my job in Bahrain... why would I be bitter about that? ..didn't get fired, terminated.. we provided the required notice to end our contracts. Both my wife worked and filled our pockets full of cash for a couple years. Yeah I am real bitter about that!! HAHA.. What I find really sad is people who glorify Bahrain to being a paradise when it isn't. I guess it's a way for those who have no options to brainwash themselves into actually believing they like it there!

ironbutt57

All I can say is I spent 11+ years there, and overall it was a comfortable, enjoyable experience..having previously lived in L.A., Detroit (uugh!) and several other metropolitan centers USA style, I found Bahrain to be safe..(ok-ok the weekend driving was a bit interesting) but if I accidently cut somebody off in traffic, didn't have to worry about being shot..could get totally wall-hugging drunk, pile into a taxi with my cashed paycheck in my pocket and still have it with me in the morning...sure, not a who;e heap of out-door style activities, but relatively short airline flight to somewhere that has them...met all sorts who either loved it or hated it...seems the ones who hated it had little sense of humour...one of those things I guess...just go see for yourself I guess is the best approach....

Captain Sensible

HH, a lot of us think Bahrain's a nice place to be, my wife doesn't want to think about when I have to retire and maybe leave. As far as money is concerned, you can live fairly cheaply if you keep a low profile, rent an average villa, drive a reliable far eastern car, and join an expat club where the food and drink is amazingly good value. Or then you can drive an expensive car, piss it up in the best restaurants and clubs and let the wife loose in the jewellry and designer shops, ( jewellry and real watches are however good value). At the end of the day, or contract, its a balance between taking advantage of what Bahrain has to offer, and having a nice time and putting enough money aside for personal needs when you leave.

As for the security issues, its very much a personal decision to come here, but use of common sense is highly recommended!

WhaleOilBeefHooked

HH, I lived in Bahrain for 25 years in total and enjoyed every moment. My wife originally came out for one year and stayed for 12.

We belonged to many of the clubs previously mentioned including the Dilmun and the Ritz Carlton or Meridien as it was known then and all have something to offer, it just depends what you are looking for. You pay your money and take your choice.

As far as cars go I had a Lexus and a 4x4. Japanese cars definately have the better A/C's but with luxury cars such as the Lexus you do pay for it when it comes time to service them. I also owned a Mercedes, BMW and Camero so talk from experience.

Eating out in Bahrain is one of the things I think I miss most about the place. I think every imaginable taste is catered for and most price ranges too. Also the take away or home delivery service is outstanding and far cheaper than UK.

The Bahraini people, IMHO are the nicest by far in the Gulf and I only ever found them to be hospitable, friendly beyond expectation, honest and ingratiating.

If you decide to go I wish you all the best and hope you have even half the fun I had living there, but do give yourself at least a year to see how you like it, and no your Mohammed is NO different from the rest.

Ironbutt: the only reason you still had your paycheck in your back pocket was because you never bought a drink and when was the last time you ever did any out-door style activities besides sitting on your hog dressed as Santi Claws and drinking free booze.