Tips for newcomers moving to Frankfurt

Hi all,
I move to Frankfurt in April, and I´ll stay several years overthere. I have of course to find a flat... I am right now in Munich, but finding a flat from here is not that convenient, so if anybody would heard about a friend/neighbour that would leave his apartment around this period... it would be nice to tell me!
I´m looking for a 2 rooms flat, around 500 euro, max 600, between the universitary campus Niederursel and the center, so, along the subway lines: U1, U2, U3.
Thanks!
Anna

Hi, I have just been in Frankfurt now for a few weeks and am starting to settle in nicely. I have a place of residence already and since my mother is British I am an EU citizen. I was just wondering if anyone could answer a few questions that I had.

1. How hard is it and / or where would good places be to start college / university level studies in English in Frankfurt? All that I have really been able to find were master's degree level business school, would these accept one that has only completed high school thus far?

2. Where are good places for English speaking jobs? I don't have a comfortable amount of knowledge of the German language so I was wondering where the best places to get a job might be, bearing in mind that I am an EU citizen and don't have a degree from a college in the states. I do however have a lot of experience in the music industry and also D.J. experience in the states. Are there places that seek any people from the states that may be able to provide a new type of music experience to their club or bar?

3. Is there a good place to buy English language magazines or newspapers in or around Frankfurt? I'm not looking for anything major, just the basic stuff like The New York Times, Rolling Stone, etc.

4. Are there any central places or good spots to meet up with fellow English speakers to have conversations, drinks and a social atmosphere? So far I've been around to a few of the Irish pubs, which are fun, but at this point, I'm a little weary of talking U.S politics which I am in no way connected to, I didn't vote Bush after-all.

I hope that someone can help with some of these things as I would like to spend an extended period of time here, love the area. It's just a few things that I need to get worked out before I can fully reside within myself that I can stay here.

Thanks!
Paul

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You oughta be able to get the NYT and other stuff in one of the newspaper shops in the Hauptbahnhof. I'm not sure if Hugendübel (betwee the Zeil and the Fressgass) has magazines. Worth a look. TT is the best place to meet a lot of English speakers. Check the Rhein-Main Events and Metups forum. I think there's a curry-night this Wednesday.

Welcome to town.

Hey welcome! What kind of music do you dj?If house ,minimal techno do you have any tracks?

As per DanHessen's post, the newsagents in the Hauptbahnhof (I think they're Schmidt & Hahn?) would be a good place to start. There's also a little bookshop next to the Turmpalast cinema at Eschenheimer Tor which stocks foreign newspapers and magazines. Or you could try the Relay newsagents in Frankfurt airport; Terminal 1 is nothing but an excuse for a shopping mall anyway.


How about checking the Events section of this very forum for upcoming meet-ups? There's a curry night, a book club, a friday night drinking club, a kiddies twenty-somethings meetup...

HTH.

Hi Guys & Girls

I am possibly moving over to Frankfurt late September / Early October with my girlfriend.

We have been looking online at apartments and houses. I was just wondering if there were residential areas to avoid, and also which areas are considered more desirable to live in. Any replies / suggestions you could make would be appreciated.

I am also currently very heavily involved in martial arts (kickboxing, submission wrestling and MMA). Does anyone on this forum train in any of these? If so, please can you send me the contact details or at least the name of any clubs you know of?

Many thanks for any help you can give me.

Paul

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well...have a quick search for areas in frankfurt here on TT to get a full discussion...

..but basically, more desirable/popular with expat areas are Sachsenhausen, Bornheim, Nordend, Westend, Bockenheim...

Thanks for the response. It has made searching for appartments a lot easier.

Cheers

Paul

Hi folks,
I will be moving to Frankfurt for a period of around an year or so. This is for an official assignment. The office would be in a location called Niederrad (I hope I spell i correctly)
What areas should I be looking at to rent an apartment? What are the approximate rent for an apartment? I'll cook my own food mostly so need a kitchen.
Also, living a decent lifestyle (eating out once-twice a week, using local transportaion + a movie now and then...the usual) , what would be the monthly grocery cost (food + toileteries + misc). Plz do not include trnsportation in this as transportation is reimbursed by the employer.

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Niederrad is a big office park area right next to the Main. I don't think there's a lot of residential availability there per se, but the Sachsenhausen is very close.

Your living options will clearly be governed by whether you want to walk, bike or drive to work.

I have no idea on specific costs, but others likely will.

As Expaticus said, niederrad is a big office park - good connections to public transport (S-Bahn, trams, buses)

Have a search on Google Maps for your company's address to get an idea of location and proximity to transport. Basically all the areas that have been mentioned in this thread are accessible...the price you pay for a flat depends (obviously) on what you want - number of rooms, sharing or not...

We (my girlfriend and I) are living in a rented flat in Niederrad. There are 4 tall blocks of flats near-ish the river (the north of Niederrad) and that's where we are. The one we have is fully furnished and all the bills are included in the rent. My gf found it when she moved here in February, just by looking on the internet. There were no problems with rules/regulations etc., so perhaps it depends on who your landlord is?

Niederrad isn't the most lovely part of Frankfurt but is a short cycle or 30 min walk from the centre. Of course, being a not-so-plush area means the rent is cheaper than you would find nearer the centre of the city.

If you want any more info about the above, just let me know and I'll see what I can do

Leo

Hello to all. I am new to this site. It is likely that I will be accepting a job near Frankfurt in Langen. I will be working at the DFS Aeronautical Academy, Langen and scheduled to arrive in April 2009. I do not speak German, but would love to immerse myself in the language and culture. I will be looking for a modest flat that will allow me to use public transportation to work. It would be awsome if I were able to rent from someone locally who would be able to help me with language and integrating into the community. I don't know if something like that is even possible. I am open to any and all advice.

Since I have six months to prepare for my arrival, is there any preparation that any of you might recommend? Also, and most importantly, have any of you used Rosetta Stone as a means to learn basic German? Worth the money and effort? Any other advice? I am trying to prepare myself for the deep lonliness that will come from being in a new country and isolated by my lack of language skills. Thanks to all who respond!

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Have asked this before and many people helped me alot,but this time i now have inherited some money and ask a few questions.1)how much is a 2 bed property nr Russelheim,to buy or rent? 2)Is work available if after 3 months if have picked up my language skills in general jobs?? 3) Germany or England for my 2 children( 3 and 8 ) which is best???

After a lot of time back and forth between the US and here it is settled. My daughter and I (Americans)are moving her in Feb and I will be marrying my long-time German partner in the summer. We are not overly traditional people so just a reception party that will not be too formal. We can find a good place but I need help with where to buy a dress and what might be some typical styles of dress (no large white princess gown for me but I do want to stand out as the bride) and other traditions to be considered.

I could also use help with schools for my daughter. She will be 6 next year and I want to get her in some language classes as soon as possible so she can start at the neighborhood school in the fall. I did get a copy of that great new addition of the Frankfurt Journal, Welcome to FRA (in both languages), but any input you all have would be greatly appreciated. Also, I am here now until Nov. 25th and have a lot of free time during the day next week. Anyone who wants an active listener for their input on German life let's meet for a beer (I live in Nordend). Also, any recent feedback on adult language courses would be helpful. I have read through old posts but some are quite dated.

Thanks so much!

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Did you look at the Events and meetups section? If there's something already planned for next week you can always join in, or you could contact some of the people who've expressed a wish to meet others (e.g. on SAHW meetup in Wiesbaden).

I can't help with any of your other questions, I'm afraid, but I hope you'll get some tips and advice soon. All the best!

Thanks Kay. Yes I saw the meetups but they all seem to happen in the evening and as an unemployed stiff I get to drink in the afternoon :-) Any takers?

Ps. Also seeking info on shipping boxes from US to FRA - cost is more important than time it takes for stuff to arrive.

On the dress, I'm a guy and will probably be no help whatsoever. However, all the german weddings I've been to have not had a wedding cake bridal dress ... chiefly because they've more often than not involved people who've cohabited for so long that the pre-installed offspring are old enough to give a toast at the reception. Therefore, you shouldn't have any issues finding something. Please try to visit the unfortunately-named Haus der Braut so that I can say I know of someone who'se actually been there

On the language schools, for the big people I would recommend the Goethe Institut. They're no nonesense. They also offer kids' programs with which I have no experience, but they appear to be for nine and up. Maybe these people could point you in the right direction.

Hmmm, i've been to one or two... in one case the bride in the usual princess thing, with the two daughters in something glaringly pink and the 6-year-old son in a suit. *shudder*

Just a note on the Rosetta Stone. I've only been in Frankfurt for a couple of weeks, but I started using the Rosetta Stone about three weeks before I arrived. I speak pretty good French and have studied Italian (normal classes) and, for what it's worth, I've found Rosetta Stone to be excellent. Depends how best you learn, but I have found I really retain what I learn and that it comes to mind pretty easily when I've had to use it so far. Obviously it would be good to do a more traditional class too (I'll be getting lessons at work), but it's definitely been worth the money for me so far! Hope this helps a little...

Thanks all. I will check out the Rosetta Stone. I had heard nothing but great things about the Goethe but am having a hard time (emotionally) parting with the finances to make it happen. No big white fluff of a dress for me - maybe that is partly why I like it here better than the U.S.