Thread: Moving to Celle for just 12months before moving onto Cyprus....

Hi all,
We are due to move to Celle sometime in June/July, dates yet to be confirmed. My concerns are limited, namely to 3 issues.

Firstly will be commuting back to UK twice a month due to work commitments. So am wondering roughly how far the station is from MQ's & how much if it's far do taxi's cost? Best airlines to London?

Secondly, I am worried about getting to know people properly, given the fact that we have no kids & also that I will be commuting back & forth... Daft I know.

Third & final thing, is there a gym on camp for wives to use?

Thanks all

Hi and welcome

first station isn't that far and prices are ok.....best airline to use is germanwings directly from hannover airport.
second ...depends how friendly you are really.
thirdly , as far as i know , you're free to use the gym the boys are using....there is a very big swimmingpool in celle tho, plus a fitness club not that far from the barracks .

Not sure about quarter areas to the train station etc, never had the pleasure of working in Celle, do you not drive? Might be worth picking up a cheap car over in Germany and leaving it at the airport when you fly back (parking at the airports in Germany seems so much more than the reasonable than the UK).

Cheap airlines a plenty flying out of Hannover, Bremen and Hamburg - just don't book for Hamburg Lubeck cause that's about an hour the other side of Hamburg. Ryanair are good when they have deals on, you can get flights for a between £1 - £5 if you book in advance and I'm guessing you know when you are going to need to be back for work and things. Sure there is a thread about flights in this forum, which might give you some more ideas. No idea about the gym on camp either, but usually the wives are allowed to use the gyms on camp as long as they have had an induction.

Hope this helps

Sluice

Thanks very much padme & sluice.

Padme, I like to think I am fairly friendly, however the regt we are currently with is not very social & my OH deployed as soon as we arrived here. As a result i struggled to make friends. He is currently away too & due home just before our posting. I am very willing to make friends, I guess it'll just take a little longer than normal due to my work commitments. It's great news bout the gym though & especially if there is a pool close by, as I have turned into a bit of a fitness fan lately & hope to continue with this once in Germany.

Sluice, I do drive, but so too does my OH, so will need to make sure he has the car for him too. I'm hoping he'll be able to drop me at the station most times, but other times may need a taxi.

Thanks for your info, will give German wings a go....

You have both been very helpful, thanks

Atst

Atst,

We moved from Celle July last year. They have a main coffee place where everyone used to go and have breakfast/cuppa/toasted sandwich/break from the kids (soft play area), I do not know if the current RIB use this, but our lot did.

The train station is NOT within walking distance, but I would hazard a guess that a taxi to the autobahn would be about €10 ish. At the train station you get a 25% discount if you produce your ID card on the fare.

Germanwings is definately one to look at when flying, if you can fly into Southampton then flybe is a good option.

There is a well equipped gym on camp, and the swimming pool in Celle is walkable and very reasonably priced (they have a lovely hot tub room too).

Camp is about 5 minutes walk from Himmelsberg, or 35 from the music patch (taking the short cut).

Oh and whilst your there take my address and send me some gewurz please!!!

Gonzo you are a real fountain of knowledge, so too is this website, can't believe I didn't find this before! Am really glad I have now. That's fantastic info about the coffee place & the discount for the train fare.... I guess I'll have to get an ID card when I arrive!

I take it himmelsberg is one of the MQ patches?

I certainly will send you some gerwurz when we get there..... I have to admit to being a tad apprehensive about all of this, excited but apprehensive!!!!

Air Berlin is another airline to try? They are a little bit more expensive - I flew with them alot to and from Hannover and never had any problems - good flights, always on time, friendly staff. If you book in advance they're usually fairly cheap.

Airberlin doesn't do hannover anymore, hence me advising on germanwings, Ryanair is 2 hrs drive away, plus if it's foggy or icy you're stuck and get booted out of the airport at 2300 hrs.

Yes if you can help it don't go via Bremen, it is a bit of a trek. Himmelsberg is where we were qtr'd. It is alright. If you get a flat they are HUGE. Although now I have said that you will probably get a house. Some houses on Himmelsberg have been done up, others haven't. However it will be reflected in the rent.

You will have to get an ID card - make sure you take in 8 Passport pictures to Welfare. Also make sure your Passport is up to date.

If your husband is taking a car make sure he goes to see the BFG Office asap. The sooner he BFG's the car the sooner you get fuel vouchers - which is copiously cheaper than paying the full fuel cost.

Hark at me, can you tell that I miss the place?

Originally Posted by Gonzo

Hark at me, can you tell that I miss the place?

Me too, but for different reasons

I'm going on the assumption that we will get a flat, anything else is a bonus....

Gonzo, why so many photos? Will get some sorted asap.

I'd heard about the petrol coupons...god send... It's just all the other expense of headlights & do you really have to have winter tyres?

Mrs M & Padme, I'll look into the flights, ideally landing a heathrow would be best, as it's then just a hop, skip & a jump to work.... When my OH was in Hameln when we first met, I flew with bmi.... Will check out flights once we have a move date etc, then will know when I'm due in work.....

Originally Posted by padme

Airberlin doesn't do hannover anymore, hence me advising on germanwings, Ryanair is 2 hrs drive away, plus if it's foggy or icy you're stuck and get booted out of the airport at 2300 hrs.

Sorry I didn't realise! It all changes so quickly!!!

2 things: I live in Germany and you MUST make sure your car has the right tyres, there are plenty of on the spot fines around and if you're deemed to be a road hazard it can get pretty hefty. They do make a difference, winter can get very cold with lots of snow, snow chains are a good investment too. Guess this is why LOA was invented.

Another thing is late last year the gym's brought in a slight change, you're allowed to use them free of charge but you must have your own public liability insurance. Check your household contents cover as this is mostly included, if not head to your bank (most camps have a Sparkasse somewhere around) and they will sort you out some for around 7euro's a month but you could probably shop around and get it cheaper. Hope that helps!