German airports are **** - sorry, user-unfriendly. Discuss and vent.

[camlough 1,859]

On 12/29/2017, 10:53:28, arunadasi said:

 

 

We are not looking at houses in Drogheda or near Dublin, but further north, near the border, in villages.

Also I am not looking for a job and neither are they.

Further up around Dundalk? That's a severely economically depressed area - you may not look for a job but living there impacts this. There is only one hospital in that area in Dundalk which is severely limited in what it can offer, including A&E. The one in Newry across the border is in danger of being closed or cut back massively, I can't remember which right now. Do not underestimate that. You know that you must pay for every Doctor's visit yourself? Make sure you have extremely good health insurance and even with that you will have looooooong waiting lists to see anyone. People have been put up in trolleys because A&E's cannot cope.

 

Even so, you do not get a house for 50K anywhere, not Dundalk, not the villages. I presume you have thought about living outside of a town, what it entails with shopping, driving, etc? The countryside up around the Cooley and Gullion is gorgeous, but living there isn't at all a bed of roses.

 

[Tap 8,460]

There is also the fact that when Brexit happens and if you're living near the border, there could be issues, especially if they decide on a hard border.

[RedMidge 6,638]

6 minutes ago, camlough said:

Further up around Dundalk? That's a severely economically depressed area - you may not look for a job but living there impacts this. There is only one hospital in that area in Dundalk which is severely limited in what it can offer, including A&E. The one in Newry across the border is in danger of being closed or cut back massively, I can't remember which right now. Do not underestimate that. You know that you must pay for every Doctor's visit yourself? Make sure you have extremely good health insurance and even with that you will have looooooong waiting lists to see anyone. People have been put up in trolleys because A&E's cannot cope.

 

Even so, you do not get a house for 50K anywhere, not Dundalk, not the villages. I presume you have thought about living outside of a town, what it entails with shopping, driving, etc? The countryside up around the Cooley and Gullion is gorgeous, but living there isn't at all a bed of roses.

 

Valid points for all to consider when moving in senior years!  When young, we never think about health needs, but hospitals, doctors, shops, transport etc become vital when we age. 

 

[arunadasi 7,074]

25 minutes ago, camlough said:

Further up around Dundalk? That's a severely economically depressed area - you may not look for a job but living there impacts this. There is only one hospital in that area in Dundalk which is severely limited in what it can offer, including A&E. The one in Newry across the border is in danger of being closed or cut back massively, I can't remember which right now. Do not underestimate that. You know that you must pay for every Doctor's visit yourself? Make sure you have extremely good health insurance and even with that you will have looooooong waiting lists to see anyone. People have been put up in trolleys because A&E's cannot cope.

 

Even so, you do not get a house for 50K anywhere, not Dundalk, not the villages. I presume you have thought about living outside of a town, what it entails with shopping, driving, etc? The countryside up around the Cooley and Gullion is gorgeous, but living there isn't at all a bed of roses.

 

 

 

Not Dundalk ( coincidentally we were in Dundalk this morning after a New Years party nearby).

Further north, Monaghan area. Here's a 50k house in a village nearby. http://www.daft.ie/monaghan/houses-for-sale/scotshouse/25-scotshouse-close-scotshouse-monaghan-1610347/

Quote

 

. Monaghan itself has nice houses in the 150k range.   

http://www.daft.ie/monaghan/houses-for-sale/monaghan/36-belgium-park-monaghan-monaghan-1488506/

 

[Guest]

34 minutes ago, camlough said:

There is only one hospital in that area in Dundalk which is severely limited in what it can offer, including A&E. The one in Newry across the border is in danger of being closed or cut back massively, I can't remember which right now.

 

Daisy Hill? IIRC that's the only one left in  Newry since the early 90s. There was another before, St. Whatever, can't remember the name.  

 

 

[Tap 8,460]

20 minutes ago, arunadasi said:

 

 

Not Dundalk ( coincidentally we were in Dundalk this morning after a New Years party nearby).

Further north, Monaghan area. Here's a 50k house in a village nearby. http://www.daft.ie/monaghan/houses-for-sale/scotshouse/25-scotshouse-close-scotshouse-monaghan-1610347/

 

Now I understand, it's an area of Clones.  I wish you luck there, just remember, that particular town is in a very deprived area economically, but if I understand rightly, you won't be looking for work there.

 

[arunadasi 7,074]

No, I have a couple of pensions as well as a variable income from writing.

[Metall 14,539]

When buying real estate, you might want one with a downstairs bedroom for you, especially if your hip continues to be a problem!

[camlough 1,859]

Yeah, daisy hill in newry. A hard border is very unlikely but still, services there are being reduced.

monaghan????? there is NO A&E anywhere in the county, are you insane??? 

As an aging woman, why would you even consider this? No health services, terrible economy, why?

would you not reconsider moving somewhere with decent healthcare and facilities?

 

edit, the link is in scotshouse?????. That is the back of beyond, nothing there at all

[Tap 8,460]

I believe the hospital covering that area is Cavan, which is about 45 km away

[arsenal21 401]

3 hours ago, arunadasi said:

No, I have a couple of pensions as well as a variable income from writing.

 

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/money_and_tax/tax/income_tax/artists_exemption_from_income_tax.html

 

Your income from writing might be tax exempt.

[Guest]

On 1.1.2018, 14:22:36, Malt-Teaser said:

I recently flew to Sumburgh (Shetland), not much signage there, but hardly any needed as it's basically a shed, albeit a large-ish one and the main feature of the airport?

 

How about this for a runway?

 

At least they have a barrier now, many years back, it was just a traffic light 

[arunadasi 7,074]

6 minutes ago, LeCheese said:

 

At least they have a barrier now, many years back, it was just a traffic light 

 

So weird  that you posted in this thread, as I was just rereading a post in it myself.

 

Someone above had mentioned Dundalk negatively and i was checking what they said.

 

My ex-landlady from Germany is coming to my daughter's wedding in August and I had fixed her up in a wonderful BNB near the venue. But no, she wants to stay in Dundalk because is is near the reception venue. Even though it is over an hour's drive away from us. She is tying herself up in knots about her travel arrangements. She has not travelled much outside Germany and is in a bit of a panic. I think it's crazy to spend the first night in Dundalk; it means they will be all by themselves the whole of the first day. Crazy. Anyway it's her (stupid) choice.

[swimmer 3,707]

On the original, I have to say I find Frankfurt Airport fantastic. although of course I know my way round it down pat.   The thing about payment is it can be a no-win.    The bus system round it is all cash and so of course people in turn wonder why there's no other option.

 

Schengen flights are usually a breeze.  Off the bus through security in about 10 minutes often, if already checked in.   The amenities are terrific - swanky stores, underground mall, unlimited free hot drinks (from Lufthansa but for all, including on arrival if in the right place) and papers, wifi, yoga,rest seats, the inter-city connections.  It's got loads.   Heck even the McDonalds (the big spacious sofa-laden one overlooking the planes) is a cut above the norm.    It's not even expensive in many parts, the underground bits in particular are very good value for food.

 

Last time I was there, I had an emergency buy from one of the travel concessions.  I duly picked up the branded item (like a decent lock or something) and the assistant said "You'll be wanting one of these then" and opened up a drawer of far cheaper alternatives.  So not even the usual airport price gouging.

 

I find it quite a pleasure to spend time there.  It's kind of my local premium mall, a role airports play for quite a lot of us.

 

 

[fraufruit 42,185]

Sounds great if you don't have a connection to make in 20 minutes at the other end of the airport.

[Adem137 180]

DUS is probably the worst airport i've been to. The size and capacity of a large international airport, the organisation level of a Kiosk.

[katheliz 17,879]

I haven't been to lots of airports, but of the twenty I've visited in the US and Germany, Duesseldorf is without a doubt the most unpleasant.  Schipol, in Amsterdam, after almost forty years, is still my favorite.

[Guest]

1 hour ago, Adem137 said:

DUS is probably the worst airport i've been to. The size and capacity of a large international airport, the organisation level of a Kiosk.

 

Hah!  Try Schönefeld  (SXF). Voted the worst airport in the World in 2017 ( and rightly so ) it is a dump.

It makes Tegel ( TXL ) look positively wonderful ( and that is hard to do )

My favourite has to be Gardermoen ( OSL ). 

[yourkeau 7,721]

SXF is definitely not the worst in the world (planes start and land, and the luggage is not lost) nor the worst in Europe, but perhaps the worst in Germany. Mind you this is the only eastern airport I have been to, so maybe others like Dresden are worse, dunno.

 

Best airport in Germany: definitely BER! All planes start and land on time, no luggage is ever lost, check in and passport control the fastest in the world. Highly recommended! (satire off)

 

Second best: Cologne/Bonn.

 

I also like Memmingen and Nuremberg, these are small lowcost airports without any importance, but it is good so. NUE is 10 minutes by driverless subway from the center of the city.

[arunadasi 7,074]

11 hours ago, fraufruit said:

Sounds great if you don't have a connection to make in 20 minutes at the other end of the airport.

 

11 hours ago, swimmer said:

, unlimited free hot drinks (from Lufthansa but for all, including on arrival if in the right place) and papers, wifi, yoga,rest seats, the inter-city conections.  

 

 

Where are these unlimited hot drinks???