Reply to: Ever worked in Gibralta?

[xchaotic]

Anyone worked there recently? Is it a serious option to rent accommodation in Spain and commute in every day - I've heard there can be serious queues at the border post.

I am based in Spain at the moment and have looked at Gib as an alternative to Spainsh work culture (sitting long hours doing nothing, drinking lots of coffee for no reason and missing deadlines for no reason), while keeping Spanish weather and cheap accommodation (due to recession).

Unfortunately, in my case at least Gib is uninhabitable. The tip itself is too tiny and too expensive for a family, while the border makes it too long to commute from Spain (and like others have said just next to the border is not nice and not too cheap). In other words no improvement to SW UK, save for the weather which can bee too hot or too windy, but when it's not it's just awesome.... and of course it being UK it is raining rather often.

[MrMark]

Anyone worked there recently? Is it a serious option to rent accommodation in Spain and commute in every day - I've heard there can be serious queues at the border post.

[Ardesco]

It's nothing more than a big rock with aggressive monkeys and lots of sun. You may glean from that your answer!

The RAF Regiment Isn't that bad....

[Flubster]

As a first contract abroad, it won't get much easier than Gibraltar. All your money works and the airport is 5 minutes walk from the town centre. Flights are cheap too. I'll take it if you don't want it.

Well, if I don;t take it, I'll give you a shout. However, might be worth knowing your skillset...

[TimberWolf]

I'm currently in initial discussions about a role in Gib. Anyone with further, more recent insights?

Having never contracted abroad, I'm naturally hesitant, but with accomodation thrown in, along with some flights I don't want to turn it down outright, but rather understand any other pitfalls/benefits.

As a first contract abroad, it won't get much easier than Gibraltar. All your money works and the airport is 5 minutes walk from the town centre. Flights are cheap too. I'll take it if you don't want it.

[Flubster]

Not if I'm going to be there for the 65 days it's chucking it down...

[bren586]

Does 300 sunny days a year help the decision making process?

[Dandyman]

Marbella is not too far from there (think it was around an hour to 90 min drive) so would be an option to hit that area at weekends perhaps.

Strange place, first sight that hits you when going past customs is a couple of English style council flat blocks! Not a great deal to do there agreed after you spend a few days there, it's like your standard English town centre but with added sunshine.

[Flubster]

I'm currently in initial discussions about a role in Gib. Anyone with further, more recent insights?

Having never contracted abroad, I'm naturally hesitant, but with accomodation thrown in, along with some flights I don't want to turn it down outright, but rather understand any other pitfalls/benefits.

[eyetie]

Thank you for the tips!

Any more gratefully accepted!

e

[bren586]

Gib

I lived there for 2 years and had a pretty good time.

If you have accom thrown in then the biggest problem is gone.

However - the place is tiny. You need to get off the rock from time to time and, as some one else pointed out, the border guards are complete w!nkers. 2 hours is nothing to cross the border in a car.

The town across the border is a crime ridden cess pit so scratch that off places to go. However there are loads of places to go within a hour of Gib.

If you like your wine and sherry then there are so many places to try it in the area.

And there is Jerez for motor sports and wind surfing.

As a place to do water based activities it is 1st class.

[Sockpuppet]

But have spent quite a bit of time there crewing and skippering sailing boats backwards and forwards between the Med and the UK.

It's mostly hideous. Always makes me want to get back out to sea as soon as possible.

Agreed. Spent a few months out there at DTC.

Its a tulip hole (and DTC was worse). Really Gibraltar is nice to visit but you can do it in a few days.

The water tastes manky and the spanish border dudes fecking hate you.

[Bob Dalek]

It's nothing more than a big rock with aggressive monkeys and lots of sun. You may glean from that your answer!

[Svalbaard]

Not contracted...

But have spent quite a bit of time there crewing and skippering sailing boats backwards and forwards between the Med and the UK.

It's mostly hideous. Always makes me want to get back out to sea as soon as possible.

[NickNick]

One of the contractors here has. He said it was very dull. He spent all his free time in Spain.