This issue we look at the life of reader Shunney Nair, author of the newly published book app, London via Surrey, an insider’s guide to the best of London and Surrey
Where did you move from and what brought you to the UK?
We moved here five years ago from Houston, Texas due to my husband’s job.
What places in the US does living here remind you of?
London is like Boston, Los Angeles, New York and Washington, D.C. all rolled into one city; while Surrey reminds me of Boulder, Colorado, though without the mountains and snow. Since these are some of my favourite places in the US, it is no wonder that I enjoy living here so much!
What was your transition like?
Having worked full-time prior to moving here, becoming a stay-at-home Mom was a big adjustment. My goal each day was to find places for the kids to burn-off some energy in the hope they would be quieter than usual, so as to not disturb our downstairs neighbours.
A month into living in London, I called my husband’s company’s expat services group and asked ‘what now?’ Once we moved from our temporary apartment to our home in Surrey, I became active with American Women of Surrey (AWS) and my children’s school. I guess I became a full-time volunteer helping with fundraisers and event planning using skills I had from my working days. Between volunteering and shuttling kids, I had a chance to go on some amazing outings through AWS. When a friend moved on, I ended up helping to organise these outings. It made me realise that planning comes second nature to me — the more challenging or unusual, the better.
Why did you begin writing?
It was somewhat by accident – I had been sharing what I learned and experienced through informal e-mails with friends and people I met along the way. It wasn’t until I learned that my emails were being saved and forwarded to others that I started to consider writing a book. It took a while before I was convinced I should attempt it.
After doing some research, I realised while there is a lot of practical advice about moving and living here, there was not a guide about lesser known attractions in London and Surrey, or a place to find answers to a range of typical questions. I am finding new people who move here have the same questions I did and locals are enjoying learning something new too. I am told that this book app fills a nice niche.
Why an app?
When I was editing the book in the spring, I learned two of the restaurants I wrote about
went out of business. I realised I needed to find a format that I myself could update and keep current. I also loved the idea of an interactive exchange, real-time access while on the go and the ability map locations (something especially important to me given I get lost so easily).
What are the most interesting things you have done here?
Some highlights have been climbing Big Ben, watching catwalk shows at London Fashion Weekend, seeing the Queen at Royal Ascot and sitting at Wimbledon’s Centre Court.
What are your favorite things to do here?
Afternoon Tea
I cannot get enough of afternoon teas because it reminds of brunch and lighter fare. One of my favourite traditional teas is at Fortnum & Mason, but I also enjoy quirkier ones like those at Grand Imperial’s Dim Sum Tea, OXO Tower’s Not so Afternoon Tea and Sanderson’s Mad Hatter Tea.
Public Foot Paths
I am still in awe of the number of footpaths that criss-cross the English countryside. It is not unusual to pass through farmer’s fields, golf courses and even horse racing tracks. In the right season, there are fields of bluebells, rapeseed (canola) and wild garlic. It is one of my favourite ways to spend a Saturday or Sunday afternoon – especially if there is a gastropub at the beginning or end of the walk.
Theatre
Before we had kids, we would visit New York in the spring just before the Tony Awards to catch all the top-rated shows. What is exciting about going to the theatre here is seeing some of Hollywood’s A-list actors. In addition to seeing Bradley Cooper in Elephant Man and Nicole Kidman in Photograph 51, my favourite actor was Kevin Spacey in the one-man play Clarence Darrow. Spacey selected this play as his last act after 10 years of being the artistic director of the Old Vic (the first American to do so).
What has surprised you the most?
I am intrigued and impressed by the creative ways charities are supported here. Nearly every High Street boasts a charity shop, just as it has an Indian curry restaurant or a Post Office. These are well-organised shops with window displays of‘nearly new’items that rival their equivalents at retail shops. It’s not unusual to find clothing or a decorative item worth taking home.
Wimbledon’s Ticket Resale scheme has got to be one of the best surprises. As a general rule, I do things only once; but an exception to this rule has been going to Wimbledon. I am still floored by the idea that you can purchase a general admission ticket and with a bit of patience and luck end up seeing some of the top tennis players in the world play on Centre Court. Spectators leaving Wimbledon are encouraged to turn their tickets in to be re-sold – £5 for Courts No. 1 and 2 and £10 for Centre Court. This is such a great way to fill empty seats and support charity at the same time – I hope the idea catches on to more sporting events.
What are your three top tips?
Some of the best restaurants in the world are found in the greater London area. Surprisingly, they can be reasonably priced with lunch being a great and affordable option. Many are also found in stunning settings whether in historic buildings or with impressive views.
With a bit of pre-planning and effort, it’s possible to schedule unique private outings with a group of family or friends. The only limits are your interest and imagination – on offer are archeology, embroidery, gardens, music, tea or something else. Professionally trained Blue Badge Guides make what you see and do come to life.
Take an iconic Routemaster bus to see the London sites at a fraction of the cost. The Number 11 bus starting at Liverpool Street Station goes by many of the major landmarks, including Bank of England, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Trafalgar Square, Buckingham Palace, Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey.
What is the best thing about living here?
Beyond the endless number of places to go, it has to be the amazing people I have met – both locals and people from around the world.
What advice do you have for our readers?
Make a list of all the things you have wanted to do and start ticking them off by actually doing them. You’ll soon find there is so much to see and do and so little time!
Shunney Nair, author London via Surrey, an insider’s guide to the best of London and Surrey - with mini reviews of what to do, where to eat, tips on living here and more.
Culture shock is often talked about in terms of symptoms or phases. It’s about a series of ups and downs. It’s important to acknowledge those feelings because they are a gateway to what lies beneath, but we shouldn’t forget to dig deeper. So to begin with, here are feelings travellers might experience when going through culture shock:
• Alienated
• Alienated from our own culture
• Angry
• Anxious
• At peace
• Confronted with our own limits
• Confronted with yourself
• Curious
• Disconnected
• Easily annoyed
• Excited
• Feel like your personal space is being
intruded upon
• Feeling of familiarity
• Feeling out of place
• Free
• Full of anticipation
• Fully alive
• Guilty
• Happily overwhelmed
• Happy
• In touch with yourself
• Inexplicably connected
• Insecure
• Interested
• Irritated
• Isolated
• Judgmental
• Lonely
• Nervous
• Numb
• On edge
• Raw
• Sad
• Scared
• Shocked
• Stressed
• Tired
• Torn
• Uncomfortable
• Vulnerable.
A Moment Of Growth
As I see it, this is only the surface. What lies beneath this emotional roller coaster?
1. We need to process a lot of new information
2. We need to process our reaction to that
information
Adaptation consists of digesting all of that. On the way, we are led to put our whole lives into perspective, question what we know and assume, and learn new ways of functioning to attempt to understand another culture and ourselves within it. Culture shock strips us from our comforts straight down to our core, puts us eye to eye with our basic needs, and propels us into a moment of accelerated growth. We slowly begin to make sense of all the new sights, sounds, smells, tastes and textures. We learn about this place we didn’t know before, about people’s lives and we attempt to understand our relation to both.
So, in its essence, the experience of culture shock is a profound shift in consciousness. How does that shift take place?
Often our ideas and the reality we find don’t match. There is a dissonance on multiple levels that can feel threatening because some of our basic assumptions and abilities might be challenged. What do I eat? Where do I sleep? Who do I connect with? Where do I belong? Will it be safe? We question our abilities to meet some of our basic needs.
Then of course we also wonder about our new surroundings: What is there to see? What are the stories behind it? How do they reflect local beliefs? What do people think? What do I think? The list is endless.
To get through culture shock, we need to reconcile the information we’re getting with our own reactions, thoughts (in the shape of ideas, preconceived notions, expectations, hopes, cultural background) and personal needs, and adapt our thoughts and reactions to that information as well. We need to let go of preconceived notions to make room for reality.
So essentially, by learning to live in another culture we...
• Confront our own boundaries (cultural, self-
imposed or other)
• Question ourselves
• Confront our own notion of personal space
• Confront our own way of relating to other
people
• Redefine our need for comfort
• Learn about our need for control
• Develop a stronger sense of self
• Confront our own prejudices and biases, and
those of others
• See our own roots and culture with different
eyes ...and so on.
It is a raw but exhilarating experience. One of the wonderful things about culture shock is that it brings us back to basics. It is a reminder of what’s essential.
Of course, the essential is sometimes clouded
by our perception of everything surrounding it. So when it feels like we suddenly don’t control anything, everything around us simply happens and we’re not quite sure how to manage, it’s important to realise what we can control - our own behaviour and attitude. Through both we can learn to meet material and emotional needs at a time when meeting those needs is not a given and we don’t necessarily have many resources to do so.
In this sense, simple actions also have a deeper effect beyond the immediate relief they may bring. They help us tune into our core, handle change, connect across cultures and become aware of others and ourselves.
In the end, culture shock is about growth. It teaches us compassion, kindness and gratitude. So what matters is what we learn and how we act and change as a result of that experience. But we can only grow and learn if we take responsibility for our experiences, reactions, perceptions, behaviour, thinking, beliefs and interactions.
Experiencing culture shock then becomes a gift that helps us find our story within a world of stories and understand how all are connected.
This was an excerpt from Chapter 1 of Culture Shock: A Practical Guide. It is followed by six chapters full of tips:
1. How to deal with craving comfort
2. How to process new information
3. How to cope without autopilot
4. How to deal with difficult situations
5. How to deal with alienation
6. How to unite both worlds within yourself
In the meantime, here are five quick tips to get you started:
1. Consider The Benefits
The term ‘culture shock’ often evokes negative connotations. Using the excerpt above, ask yourself the following question: How have challenging cultural transitions positively impacted my life?
2. Use Food As An Icebreaker
Food can give you a tasty insight into another country’s culinary traditions. Food is also a source of comfort. It’s a great way to learn about a new country and connect with people over something that we share: the need for food. A great icebreaker for sure!
3. Communicate
Please, thank you and a smile go a long way. Learn some basic phrases to get you started.
Bring a small phrase book, pocket dictionary or app, depending on where you go and what kind of trip it is.
While this may not lead to an in depth conversation about political or social issues, it gives you a place to start. Communicate not only to express your needs but also to ask questions and learn something.
Remember that most communication is non verbal, so don’t be afraid to use your hands and feet - that’s always fun no matter how clumsy it might feel! Don’t just stick to words. Find out about body language. What’s the polite way to hail a cab? Beckon someone to come over? Is it rude or polite to look someone directly in the eyes? Observe.
4. Slow Down
This is an opportunity to slow down and take it easy. Take your time to adapt. Let go of any preconceptions you might have. Leave stress and pressure behind.
Don’t force yourself to visit as many sights as you can - even if you think you should. The point is to enjoy yourself, isn’t it? Make a choice and then relax.
This is a great time to get to know yourself a little better by observing your reactions and understanding your needs in a challenging situation.
Allow yourself time to fully experience this transition.
5. Practice Gratefulness
Seeing life from a different perspective is a wonderful way to learn to appreciate what we are given in life, both at home and on the road.
Here are some of the things I’ve become grateful for while travelling:
• Hot water
• Clean water
• A bed
• Access to fresh food
• Restrooms!
Mostly, though, I’m grateful for the kindness of strangers, conversations I had with people I met along the way, friends I made, lessons I learned and the privilege of having had the opportunity to experience all this in the first place.
H.E. Rybol is an Adult Third Culture Kid, which means that her parents have two different nationalities (German/ French) and she grew up in a third country (Luxembourg). She has a BA in English (USA) and an MA in Interpreting, Translation and Diplomacy (England). She has spent her life living, working, studying and travelling around the world.
We talk to Rick Furno who has lived in the UK for 22 years and now runs his own business
Where in the US are you originally from?
I’m originally from the great “Rust Belt” of the US, Erie, Pennsylvania. Born and raised literally on the shores of Lake Erie directly across from Canada, so I consider myself an honorary Canadian, even if Canadians don’t see me that way! I lived 26 years of my life there and still consider it ‘Home’, so I go back as often as I can. I mean, where else in the world can you find delicacies like “pepperoni balls” and “ox roast sandwiches” (just Google them) and walk along 14 miles of sandy beaches on a beautiful fresh water sea. I love Erie, but honestly, I could never live there again.
How long have you lived in the UK and what brought you over here?
I’ve lived in the UK for 22 years. Originally I came to do a course in teaching English as a foreign language just after I received my MA in Applied Anthropology from Boston University. I was going to work my way around the world teaching English and writing a book. At the time, Eastern Europe was opening up and there was a need for English teachers so I had every intention of heading in that direction after I got my qualification. Well, things happened and I found a job at an American university in London as an administrator through someone who knew someone who knew someone. It really did happen that way! I never left and here and I am still here two decades later.
What did your role in the US Embassy in London involve?
I was the Global Employment Advisor for 7 years at the Embassy and by far it was THE best job I had ever had. I was what you might call a careers counsellor for the diplomats’ “family members”, aka, spouses and partners. But it involved a lot more that just career counselling, writing CVs, doing mock interviews, etc. I actively worked to find employment connections for family members on the local economy through my sizable number of professional contacts that I had amassed through years of working and doing business in London. Through the State Department, which ran the entire programme, I was able to travel to Scandinavia every once in a while and assist family members in the US embassies there as well. It was a wonderful, very helpful programme for State Department staff and their families who were grateful for my assistance, but unfortunately in late 2011 it was cut from the London Embassy budget and I was made redundant.
What have you found most challenging living here?
That’s easy. Customer service. Or rather, the difference in what constitutes “good” customer service. In the US, customer service is “good” if the representative is helpful in someway, gets your problem solved, or goes out of his/her way to do something for you. If Plan A doesn’t work, they will find a Plan B for you. And if that doesn’t work, they will go on to Plan C. And if it’s all done quickly and with a smile and a friendly tone, that falls into the category of “good” customer service. In the UK, “good” customer service has its roots in the class system, or what I like to call the “master/servant” relationship. Customer service reps are there to serve you, but they’re not there to solve your problems and they’re certainly not there to be friendly to you. Afterall, they are “serving” you and that’s all that matters. For those of you familiar with “Little Britain” you need only refer to the “computer-says-no” lady, a brilliant and cleverly crafted take on the typical British service industry representative who cannot think further than what her computer tells her to say and do. It’s very challenging for me, even after all these years, to know that customer service reps have no Plan B in place in case the original plan falls through. If the computer says “no” in the UK, you’re not going to get any further with the customer service rep.
What made you decide to run your own business?
I found myself, like many people, jobless. After the Embassy job, I did a bit of consulting work, mostly cross-cultural training which I love, and still do, but on a very limited basis now. A friend of mine, Bruno, who is French and is a fantastic pastry chef was finding success in London with his bakes at street markets and through wholesaling them to restaurants. He had won all of these culinary awards from the BBC Good Food Show and from the Guild of Fine Foods and was featured in a couple of magazines already. Since I was in grad school, I had always had this dream of managing a coffee shop, you know, one of those cool, hip places all the cool people like to hang out in. So when I found myself unemployed, and with a bit of money to invest, I approached him about opening up a “bricks and mortar” coffee hop/patisserie to showcase his work which, by the way, includes a lot of American bakery items as well as French. (His peanut butter and chocolate cream pie is to die for and is one of our top sellers). We pulled our resources together and in September of last year we opened Bruno’s French Bakes and Coffee in Rochester (Kent) in a 17th century building on the High Street, and I am fulfilling my grad school dream of owning a coffee shop. How cool and hip it is, well, that’s for others to decide. It has been called “quirky” by many of our customers though, so I think I’m at least on my way to being cool and hip.
How easy was it to set up your business and how did you do it?
It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life! How did I do it? I don’t think I’ve “done” it yet, actually. I look at opening a business as a work in progress. A very, very long work in progress. It’s ongoing. I’m always having to do something different, or rethink something, or change directions at the last minute. Every day is a new challenge and I always feel like I’m still setting up the business even though it’s been running since September 2013. The most difficult part of setting up a business is dealing with the bureaucracy of the local council. They say they’re there to help you, but they’re not. They’re secretly there to make your life hell and I’m sure they go home at night laughing and planning how they’re going to screw up everything for you the following week. Dealing with landlords is not fun either, but we’ve lucked out in that we have a very straight forward, business-like landlord. The thing that I’m most grateful for though is that we had enough of our own money to start the business, and we didn’t have to rely on banks for loans because, of course, they’re still not lending to small businesses as readily as they once were. We started and remain debt free.
Do you have any advice for fellow readers?
First, if you decide to open a business that entails buying or renting property, get a very good solicitor and listen to him/her. Property law is very different in the UK and a good solicitor will guide you through the maze and will ask the questions that you never thought of asking. Yes, they’re terribly expensive, but worth every penny if they can help you avoid problems down the line.
Second, although I’ve dissed my local council above, they do offer a lot of guidance and have an awful lot of resources at their disposal. Just don’t take no for an answer when dealing with them and go above their head if need be to get what you need – see my comments above on customer service in the UK. Also, join organisations like the Federation of Small Businesses who also offer invaluable advice and guidance. I’ve used FSB for everything from insurance to employment issues to networking opportunities. Well worth the joining fee. And last, and most importantly, talk to others who have been successful in the same type of business that you would like to start. They know the questions that you should be asking. I was lucky again in that Bruno especially had a lot of contacts in the hospitality industry that we could go to for advice. We have both built up our network of contacts through social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook and rely on them to put us in touch with those in the know. Twitter, especially, is invaluable for getting you and your product known and out-there.
One of the biggest problems facing accompanying-partners when they move abroad is the loss of their professional identity. Doing ‘nothing’ all the day might be fun for a while, but for how long?
If you are used to working, or if you left behind a career that you really enjoyed, it can be very hard, and finding another job in a foreign country is not always easy.
A Career In Your Suitcase by Jo Parfitt and Colleen Reichrath-Smith helps you to build a ‘portable’ career that can relocate with you, wherever you go.
One of the perks of being an expat spouse is that you are generally not expected to produce a second income; so this could be a wonderful opportunity to find something that you love doing; whatever it is that energises you in the morning, and turn it into a new career, with a pay cheque.
The authors have included practical exercises and anecdotal stories, designed to make you look deep inside yourself, to help you discover your true passions and combine them with your skills.
There is also a whole chapter on networking: how to build one, and using it to create valuable opportunities for you and your career.
A Career In Your Suitcase will help you to find your creative flair, and give you the adaptability to rediscover the professional in yourself no matter where you find yourself living.
When it comes to helping expat children navigate cross-cultural life, Julia Simens’ Emotional Resilience And The Expat Child: Practical Tips and Storytelling Techniques That Will Strengthen the Global Family is a must-read.
An educator, consultant, speaker and seasoned expat parent whose focus includes family therapy, early childhood education and international relocation, Simens has helped thousands of families transition between cultures and adjust to their global lifestyle.
A veteran of many cross-cultural moves herself, Simens knows firsthand the challenges families face when adjusting to life in a new country. She highlights the significance of healthy relationships for expat children to thrive, including the importance of accurately identifying, expressing and coping with their emotions before, during and after such transitions. This includes learning to read their body’s cues and those situations or actions which might trigger positive and negative emotions. Awareness of how they tend to react in different circumstances helps children – and adults as well – make sense of their surroundings, an especially useful skill when encountering a new culture.
To develop a sense of attachment necessary for nurturing relationships, children must feel not only loved and protected, but also understood and have a sense of belonging, especially in a highly mobile environment. ‘While many expat children are quite adept at all stages and thrive in their cross-cultural awareness, I do see that it is hard for some to ‘belong’,' Simens says. 'It is hard to be loyal to someplace if you feel you are just passing through.’
In addition to concrete suggestions for helping children of all ages share their thoughts and feelings, Emotional Resilience and the Expat Child offers ways to maintain a supportive home environment and foster familial and other connections. Chief among these are sharing life stories and developing rituals. Simens encourages finding ways the individual and family can honour experiences and create memories of people and places that matter. No expat family bookshelf is complete without this insightful guide to enhancing the emotional resilience of young children and teens alike.
After spending the last decade (and almost my entire adult life up to that point) following my husband around various locations in the United Kingdom and Ireland, I thought I had the whole ‘experienced traveller’ thing mastered, and frequently boasted that “I could move anywhere, in a heartbeat.”
Instead, on repatriating to Canada three years ago, I found myself diving rapidly into self-destruct mode from my weak and reluctant attempts to settle back into life as a Canadian. It never occurred to me that trying to integrate myself back into my own country of origin would be such a shock, or so difficult.
The well-travelled, social butterfly, and outgoing dinner party host that I exuded in my life in the UK, quickly evaporated and morphed into an unmotivated, unsociable, regret-filled wanderer. I spent my days wishing I had never left England.
The Emotionally Resilient Expat by Linda A. Janssen helped me understand that I was mourning the loss of my life as I knew it. That even the simplest of daily tasks can turn into gargantuan efforts when we are out of our comfort zones. Inadvertently, Janssen touched on every thought, feeling and personal struggle that I encountered in my life as an expat.
Reading the book, helped me to put some closure on the stumbling around that ensued as soon as I returned to Canadian soil, and comforted me with the knowledge that I hadn’t suffered a breakdown. I had simply returned to a life that I didn’t know anymore, and couldn’t immediately relate to! I had the emotional resilience to get on with my life, but it took me a while to tap into that skill.
The excerpts from other expats that author Linda A. Janssen has included, were wonderful demonstrations of human efforts to forge a life in foreign surroundings and shows that this vast network of expats around the globe, all experience the same challenges, all trying to find ways to make the most of their ever-changing lives.
The Emotionally Resilient Expat is a very readable survival manual, and the insightful and loving friend that you can pick up and take with you, wherever you may end up.
THE STRESS-FREE GUIDE TO STUDYING IN THE STATES: A STEP-BY-STEP PLAN FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Toni Summers Hargis
Summertime Publishing: $13.71
For many non-US students, enrolling at an American university seems to be the unattainable dream. To pack a suitcase, board an aeroplane, and sign up for a law degree at NYU or a business degree at Harvard – is something that only happens to elite students miraculously discovered by US college recruiters in the movies. Right?
Wrong. A new book: The Stress-Free Guide To Studying In The States: A Step-By-Step Plan for International Students, dispels the myth that admission to universities and colleges is limited to ‘the chosen few’ and supports the reality that international students make up 21% of the student population in the US.
Toni Summers Hargis (a British-born expat living in the US) takes prospective students through the process of researching suitable universities and courses; assessing their potential for admission based on selection criteria; identifying options for financial aid; uncovering government regulations including the restrictions of living and studying under a foreign student visa; and dissecting American student life to give valuable survival tips for new students.
Succinctly, the author addresses the needs of her target audience i.e. young adults and their parents. Procedures are covered in a task-oriented, step-by-step format. Clearly presented facts are enriched by supplementary explanations, tips, warnings and resource lists.
Additional inclusion of topics like - how to write personal essays; homesickness and culture shock; room mates; sports; laws on alcohol and drugs; insurance; and study loads - make this book a truly comprehensive guide essential for prospective students wanting to realise their dreams of an American higher education.
The UK serviced apartment sector has grown very rapidly over the last 4 years.
Virtually every major UK city can now offer a range of serviced apartments as a serious alternative to hotel accommodation. The Association of Serviced Apartment Providers (ASAP) can confirm this trend. Its membership has more than doubled in the last 4 years and its 60 members now collectively represent in excess of 12,000 properties in the UK and Ireland.
David Smith, Chairman of the ASAP, confirms the key reasons for the increased popularity in this sector:
‘A serviced apartment is the ideal solution for the business traveller and especially for expatriates relocating to the UK. It provides a fully furnished self-contained flat with separate areas to sleep, work and eat, so it offers a more complete ‘home-from-home’ experience where you can properly relax and enjoy more privacy. A key benefit is the extra space offered – you can expect 30% more space than a comparable standard of hotel room'.
Serviced apartments are a very cost-effective option offering excellent value for money – there are no expensive ‘extras’ to consider such as hotel minibars, restaurants and room service. Guests appreciate the flexibility to prepare their own meals and not be restricted by hotel restaurant opening times. Many operators provide a generous ‘welcome pack’ of groceries to ensure guests have sufficient food for the first 24 hours of their stay.
Families relocating especially appreciate the more spacious living environment which serviced apartments offer. Children, in particular, benefit from having enough room to have more of their personal possessions around them which is so important when settling in to a new country. Staying in a 2- or 3-bedroom apartment means children can have their own bedrooms; in smaller apartments extra beds for children can be easily arranged.
The fully equipped kitchen is a key feature. It will normally include a cooker/microwave, fridge-freezer and dishwasher, as well as an extensive range of crockery, cutlery, glassware and kitchen utensils. And while most serviced apartments offer a laundry service, families enjoy the convenience of having a washer/dryer provided within their serviced apartment which also saves them money. Bed linen, towels and toiletries will also be supplied. A weekly housekeeping service will be included, but a more frequent service can easily be arranged.
There is a wide product choice ranging from studios to 4-bedroom apartments and penthouse suites. Top of the range developments may even offer roof terraces or access to a swimming pool or gym. In this dynamic young industry the vast majority of developments are modern so you can expect contemporary, stylish interiors complete with mood lighting and the latest in-room technology.
Serviced apartments can be booked for one night, one week, or several months with the cost generally decreasing the longer the stay, (for stays of 28+ days the VAT element reduces to only 4%). A further advantage is that even for longer stays, there are no separate utility bills to worry about, since all these costs will be included in the overall price.
Apartments are normally in prime city locations, conveniently close to the place of work which delivers a further advantage – clients may be living only a very short walk away from their office, meaning minimal time is spent commuting.
Visit www.theasap.org.uk – for full details of the 60 members of the Association of Serviced Apartment Providers (ASAP). You can also search for suitable properties by city or company name and view the short video (accessed from the homepage) which provides a useful insight into the many benefits of staying in a serviced apartment.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT OUR SERVICED APARTMENTS PAGE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND USEFUL LINKS
One of the biggest problems facing accompanying-partners when they move abroad is the loss of their professional identity. Doing ‘nothing’ all the day might be fun for a while, but for how long? 
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