Move to Tenerife for a better quality of life

May 2, 2010 – 11:11 am

Moving to Tenerife may improve the quality of your life

Moving to Tenerife may improve the quality of your life

According to research by NatWest International, a good life/work balance under-girds the sentiment, with 87% of respondents rating their personal balance in these areas as excellent or good. The annual survey, which is undertaken with the Centre for Future Studies, asks expats to assess 16 “life experience” factors in order of importance and to indicate levels of satisfaction with each one. Nine out of ten British expatriates say moving overseas has given them a better quality of life.

For Britons abroad, financial security and financial wellbeing occupied sixth and eighth place respectively, with the natural environment, climate, culture and leisure, healthcare and education taking priority. In addition, the number of respondents who said they would return to the UK fell to 19% in 2009, from 26% a year earlier, despite the financial pressures of the global economic downturn.

Natwest International’s head of personal banking, Dave Isley, comments, “The fact fewer expats say they will return to the UK in the future, compared to three years ago, proves that the pace of life, work life balance and earning potential abroad means life as an expat is sunnier in more ways than one – and that they are weathering the financial storm.” The study also revealed that professional expats typically earn over £20,000 more than their peers in the UK, with 92% reporting a salary increase over the past three years.

So moving to Tenerife or one of  the Canary Islands may be the best decision you ever make.

By Angela | Posted in Economy, General, Health, Holiday, Inspirational, Miscellaneous Articles, Property, Tenerife, Things to Do, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Tenerife to cash in on latest survey?

October 12, 2009 – 4:26 pm
Tenerife could cash in on the latest gloomy British survey

Tenerife could cash in on the latest gloomy British survey

Britain is the worst place to live in Europe, according to a study.

Although Britons earn high incomes that money is cancelled out by long working hours, poor annual leave, rising food and fuel bills and a lack of sunshine. Britons have  the highest after-tax household income of £35,730-a-year, more than £10,000 above the European average.

But most of it goes on keeping a “roof over our heads, food on the table and our homes warm”, according to the uswitch.com European Quality of Life Index.

Ann Robinson of uSwitch.com, said: “There is more to good living than money – and this report shows why so many Brits are giving up on the UK and heading to France and Spain.”  Perhaps now is the time to think of renting out your Tenerife property or even selling via an estate agent as winter approaches in the UK and thoughts turn to sunshine!

By Angela | Posted in Economy, General, Health, Holiday, Inspirational, Miscellaneous Articles, Property, Tenerife, Things to Do, Uncategorized, Weather | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Traffic tickets could follow you home from your holiday in Spain and Tenerife.

October 3, 2009 – 11:41 am
spee

A ticket in the post may greet those returning from Tenerife and Spain

Britons caught speeding in Europe will soon be forced to pay their fine when they arrive back home in the UK if they fail to pay in the country the ticket was issued.The new EU legislation, which comes into force on 1st October, allows the government to chase any fines issued in Europe above €70 (£64).

Fines handed out to foreign nationals in the UK will also be enforced by authorities in the drivers’ home countries. However, all fines will be kept by the enforcing state to pay for any costs involved.

The Ministry of Justice explains: “This will not be a loss of revenue as the UK will receive the revenue from fines imposed abroad and successfully enforced over here.” The framework will eventually apply to all EU member states. So far 13 out of 27 EU member states have signed up to the framework.

The Sparks Network, which focuses on traffic enforcement in EU member states, says it welcomes the new legislation.

Sparks Network spokesman Bill Blakemore told TravelMail: “It’s not something that most drivers have to worry about as you won’t be chased for any fines under 70 euros and most European fines are less than this.’

“It’s actually good news from a British point of view as British drivers who are caught speeding in France are likely to get an on-the-spot fine.

“A lot of European countries issue on-the-spot fines but Britain doesn’t have this system. Around 200,000 speeding tickets are handed out to foreign drivers every year in the UK so they will now be enforced when the driver returns home.”

However, British drivers will be forced to pay any parking fines they acquire abroad in countries such as Spain and areas like Tenerife, unlike foreign tourists in the UK who will be able to avoid such penalties.

Mr Blakemore explains: “If you get a parking fine in Europe you will be chased for it back in the UK. Parking isn’t something that is covered by the new legislation if the fine is not criminal – this includes British parking fines and the congestion charge. It’s a weakness of this law.”

Drivers’ associations have criticised the new legislation as simply another attempt at raising revenue by the government.

A spokesman for the Association of British Drivers, Brian Gregory, told TravelMail: “This is part of the continuing jihad against drivers. The legislation doesn’t address the problem. Speed isn’t the problem, it’s bad driving.

“Speeding fines are a cash cow for the government. They’re just another way of squeezing money out of motorists. We’re interested in seeing road safety improved not just bolstering the Chancellor’s coffers.”

By Angela | Posted in Economy, General, Holiday, Inspirational, Miscellaneous Articles, Property, Tenerife, Things to Do, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)