Moving to Stuttgart Archives - Living in Stuttgart

Expat Interview with Ken, co-author of “A Handbook of Rental Law for Americans in Germany”

Mellivinginstuttgart — Tue, 07 Jul 2020 12:26:00 +0000

Ken is originally from Florida, US and moved to Stuttgart with his family in February 2016. He used to work as an engineering recruiter and is a stay at home father at the moment. In this Expat Interview he shares his experiences with us about moving to Stuttgart and settling in.

[Please note: This interview contains affiliate links to amazon]

Ken, what brought you to Stuttgart?

My family landed in Germany at the beginning of 2016. My wife had gotten a long term contract position focusing in technology project management, and I was taking time off from my career to focus on raising our family.

What did you know about Stuttgart before you arrived here?

Although we had traveled Europe previously, my wife & I had little knowledge of Germany’s culture or language. Our research on the Stuttgart real estate market involved my wife & I watching an episode of “House Hunters International.” Having lived the previous five years in Miami, we felt we had enough experience with a strained rental market such as Stuttgart and wanted an international experience. We decided to take a chance.

What was your first impression?

Previously, we had been living in Miami Beach, and we got here in the dead of winter. It was gray and cloudy for days. It would literally be a month before I saw direct sunlight. Plus, I found myself in the same situations that every recently arrived American finds themselves in; standing in front of a closed grocery store on a Sunday, wondering why a washing load takes longer than an NBA season, trying to decipher rail timetables, etc. However, spring did come along eventually, the weather got better, and I started getting the hang of things.

I can imagine what a huge change that must have been… Did you find a place to live easily?

Stuttgart is a tough market for a renter. There are corporate employees, college students, US military service members / contractors, and local residents all competing for the same rental properties. Before arriving, we had been trying to schedule apartment viewings for over a month. My wife and I knew that we wanted a place in the middle of Stuttgart and close to the U-Bahn. Although we sent over twenty email inquiries in English and German, we only received one response. It was from a Stuttgart real estate agent who was offering short term furnished apartments. When we told him we were a family of three with two dogs, the agent told us that finding anyplace in downtown Stuttgart would be “impossible” and it would be best if we focused on looking in more rural areas. We kept looking. No matter how hard we tried, there were few return calls from landlords and almost no viewings. It would be almost to the end of our first month before we were able to find a place, but we did succeed.

Was it easy to settle in?

Settling in was not easy, and I think getting our first son into a German Kindergarten was what really helped move things along. But I do not think we have ever completely settled in. The moment we think we have fully transitioned something comes up such as when my wife was pregnant with our second child or moving our oldest to the Grundschule. Thing that we could have easily handled in the US have to be relearned within the confines of our new culture.

Was there anything that was very strange to you about the life in Stuttgart or Germany in general at the beginning?

There is a subtle yet stark difference in anything related to numbers in Europe as compared to the US. I would not say this is strange, but it was just difficult for me to overcome at the beginning. While in the US, people talk about Fahrenheit, Miles, and Gallons. Europeans are working with Celsius, Kilometers, and Liters. Yet there are other differences that are more subdued here. Time is regularly observed on a 24 hour clock. Decimal points are put where comas typically go and vice versa. Months expressed as numbers are changed. (May 6th of 2021 would be written as 06/05/2021 not 05/06/2021). Zip codes on addresses are placed before the city not after the city as in the US. It may not seem like a big deal to those who have been here for awhile. However, it was for me. And I found myself in situations such as when I was waiting for a furniture delivery on April 5 when it was actually scheduled to arrive on May 4.

Oh wow, yes I can imagine that this was – and still is – very confusing. Is there anything you like in particular about living in Stuttgart?

Although not specifically related to Stuttgart, I have an interest in the region’s history. Americans operate on a shorter timeline than in Germany. We get excited when we see a stage where Jimmy Hendrix played in ‘68 because that seems like a long time ago. In comparison, things here in Germany have been going on for many more centuries. For obvious reasons, the mid and late parts of the 1900s take up a lot of the conversation regarding Germany’s history. But there was a lot of other stuff that has been going on here and all with critical repercussions for the rest of the world; the Weimar Republic, the Bauhaus Movement, the Dadaists, the Franco-Prussian War, the Protestant Reformation, the Gutenberg printing press. All of it interests me, and it is great that I am able to visit these places.

Do you have a favorite place or area in Stuttgart?

I like Königstraße and the park in the center of the city. We have two children and want to make sure they get enough outside time. Of course, we all now live in the age of Covid. So, a place like the park downtown gives our boys a place to be outside while maintaining proper social distancing.

What would you have loved to know before or while you moved here?

I was way to cautious about the myth of the Ugly American when it was unnecessary. It is the fear that people from the US are overly boisterous and jingoistic. As a result, we tent to overcompensate, be overly polite, and easily intimidated. Swabians are very upfront and simply do not have time anyone overly polite or timid.

Ken, you are co-auther of the book „Mieter and Vermieter: A Handbook of Rental Law for Americans in Germany“[affiliate link]. Can you tell us more about it?

The catalyst for the book was related to issues we were having with our overly aggressive landlord. He was demanding thousands of Euros for minor damages that we felt were not our responsibility, and our insurance company agreed with us. So, the landlord began to do everything to make us uncomfortable. He made outrageous demands threatening to evict us and have us turned over to the police for insurance fraud. Although we had been working with the local Mieterverein, we felt we needed a more direct approach in working with this issue. We needed an attorney who would work exclusively on our issue.

This is how I came to meet my co-author, Josef Gläser. Josef’s focus is criminal law. His foray into landlord / tenant law was accidental. While in college, many of his fellow students were having issues with their rentals. Josef would help them and make a little extra money. The result was that he had become an expert in the subject, and it was a significant part of his practice along with criminal law. When Josef took our case and began talking with the landlord on our behalf, the issues did not completely end. However, the threatening dialogue subsided immediately.

While all of this was going on, I was talking with American expats on social media sites. Numerous American renters in Germany were having similar stories of being taken advantage of by landlords. It appeared that foreign tenants, particularly US tenants, were being singled out for abuse be exploitative landlords. Not wanting to seem biased, I asked Josef if my suspicions were accurate. Not only did he confirm this, but he was also bewildered by the response of US tenants. He said they were more likely to do repairs that were not their responsibility and forfeit deposit money that was due back to them. He did not understand why the US renter typically just gives up. As well, I was constantly showering Josef with questions due to my own inquisitive nature; damages, deposits, repairs, evictions, etc. Part of it was due to my own case, but part of it was because of my curiosity about the German culture.

Finally, Josef asked me if I would like to work with him on what he described as a brochure for Americans renting in Germany. So over a period of eight months, Josef & I would meet regularly to discuss the inner workings and hidden mechanisms of German rental law and make it more understandable for an American audience. The result was “Mieter & Vermieter – A Handbook of Rental Law for Americans Living in Germany” which was published on Amazon Kindle earlier this year. Primarily in the book, I play Robin to Josef’s Batman. He is the one with all the heavy legal descriptive super powers and I provide the narrative equivalent of a “Holy cow, Batman!”

What are you personal tips for everybody who is looking to rent a flat in Stuttgart?

A person may spend their time in the Germany with an easy and understanding relationship with their landlord. If so, they should consider themselves fortunate and be thankful. However, the alternative is equally possible. They may have a landlord who is looking to take advantage of your naiveté as an Ausländer or foreigner. The landlord may not have a proper understanding of German landlord / tenant law themselves. It is for these reasons that there are three things a renter should consider when renting in Germany in order to indemnify themselves.

The first is insuring they have the proper resources available if needed. This includes becoming a member of the local Mieterverein (www.mieterbund.de). Or it can also include getting attorney insurance and finding an attorney specializing in German landlord / tenant law ( Fachanwalt für Mietrecht und Wohnunseigentumsrecht) when necessary. German Personal Liability Insurance is also helpful to have during the occurrence of any damages to a rented property that are above the normal wear & tear. Most of the major insurance providers in Germany offer this kind of coverage.
The second thing is that a renter needs to understand that a German rental contract is a fixed document. It is not an easy task for a landlord to alter it. For example if a renter tries to do something that the landlord dislikes such as dispute the ancillary costs (Betriebskosten), an irritable landlord may instead demand immediate payment and threaten to terminate the lease. The truth is that there are very few reasons that a landlord can end the lease, and German law appears to be very tenant friendly with these issues. The same goes for rental increases. A landlord may send a letter to the tenant saying, “This past year has been very expensive unfortunately and as a result, we must sadly increase the rent cost an additional 15% per month starting with the following month.” Without question, the tenant will dutifully respond by paying the increase the following month. In actuality, the increase may not be justified. There is a thinly defined set of circumstances where an eviction or rent increase is warranted. The tenant should always contact a German attorney or their Mieterverein immediately when these issues come up.
The third item is in regards to return of rental deposit. A rental deposit is expected to be returned to the tenant within six months from their returning the apartment / house to the landlord. However, this is not a fixed timetable. The German Federal Supreme Court is remarkably unclear about an exact timetable. A nefarious landlord who is seeking to keep the deposit for themselves has a prominent legal gray area to work with.

A landlord acting in bad faith will come up with elaborate excuses on the reason why the deposit cannot be returned; bookkeeper is out of town, final invoice on repairs has not been received, a damage that was not recorded previously has just now been noted, etc. What the landlord is trying to do is to have the tenant give up on trying to recover their deposit. If the landlord can get the renter to give up on recovering the deposit, the renter’s deposit claim expires after three years.

Even if the former tenant is back in the US or their other home country, they can easily give the German attorney or Mieterverein power of attorney to resolve these issues. Any potential cost on these items tend to be relatively small in comparison to the money lost from forfeiting the deposit.

Wow, it looks like you have learned A LOT about German rental law! Very interesting, even for me as a German 🙂

Ken, thank you very much for this Expat Interview and the insights into your book.

More information:

Mieter and Vermieter: A Handbook of Rental Law for Americans in Germany [affiliate link]

The post Expat Interview with Ken, co-author of “A Handbook of Rental Law for Americans in Germany” appeared first on Living in Stuttgart.

Expat Interview with Tina from Room for Colours

Mellivinginstuttgart — Mon, 08 Jun 2020 12:57:24 +0000

This Expat Interview is a bit different because Tina is actually German. But she has lived abroad for quite some time. First in China, then in Hungary. Now that she’s back she sees Stuttgart more through the eyes of an expat than a local.

Tina, what brought you back to Stuttgart?

I first moved to Stuttgart as a teenager. However, I spent the last 8 years abroad with my family working and teaching in various international schools. We returned back “home” in January this year.

What did you know about nowadays Stuttgart before you arrived here?

Having lived in Stuttgart before I know the city and local culture well, and still have several friends living in the area. However, I was amazed how much has changed in the city during the time we were away. My perspectives have also changed during this time and I see things more through international eyes.

Did you expectations live up to reality?

Funnily enough, I like Stuttgart even more since we returned!

Even though you have lived here before, was something very strange to you when you came back?

Considering that Stuttgart is really a big city it can often feel like living in a small village. People are curious about changes and newcomers. We also have to get used again to the Schwabian way of doing things, such as “Kehrwoche”, the local cleaning custom.

How long did it take you to settle in?

I’m still settling I think – everything is still new and exciting. Unfortunately we arrived just at the beginning of the Corona crisis and it will take a little longer until the “daily routines” kick-in, however we’re very positive.

Is there something you like in particular about living in Stuttgart?

I really love the surrounding countryside and all its greenery. But I also like the city, with all the parks and vinyards in the middle of the city. Here I can recommend a walk up the many “Stäffle” to the surrounding districts. However, my favorite place is the Birkenkopf which I often climb in the mornings with my dog.

You are an artist and offer art classes for kids and adults in English under the name Room for Colours. Tell us more about your services!

Room for Colours was born while I was living in Budapest, An Art and Creativity school to make sure everybody feels free to express themselves through art. I’m not offering strict lessons where my students have to follow my lead, I rather give guidance and explain techniques when my students are ready for it. I often met adults and children scared of painting as they had been told that something is wrong in their approach. So my big aim is to take away fear and preconceptions. I had never anybody leaving my classes not been happy with what they had produced. I really believe that everybody is an artist.

What recommendations would you give to expats who move to the area?

Keep calm and eat Maultaschen! But to be a little serious – just accept the Schwabian culture and be open to the new experiences.

Tina, thank you very much for your time!

More information:

Room for Colours

Picture credit title photo: Sandra Ruth Photography

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How do internationals in Stuttgart feel in times of Corona?

Mellivinginstuttgart — Tue, 07 Apr 2020 14:21:44 +0000

This situation is new for all of us: We have to stay at home, work from home and can’t see friends, family and colleagues anymore. I have asked seven internationals who are living in Stuttgart currently how they are dealing with the situation and what tipps they can share with us that might help us to make life in quarantine a bit lighter, healthier and easier. Here are their stories.

Internationals in Stuttgart in times of Corona: Joana and Teddy

Picture credit: Theophilus Vesely

Hey, we are Joana and Teddy and we live here, in Stuttgart, because we are dancers at Gauthier Dance. Originally we are from Portugal and Austria.

It´s difficult to understand what is happening at the moment, for real, and its scary to not know what the future prepared for us. All the plans, projects, dreams and goals need to be in standby, without knowing when we can access to them. Even the most simple things, that we gave as guaranteed, are difficult to access in times like this. Hugs, kisses, dinners and parties, walks outside are, now, far from what we have.

On the other hand, all this time makes us think and revaluate what is really important. Maybe this is one of the most important moments in our lives. Finally we have time to do more, to think more, to feel more, so in the end, time to live more.
Of course the concern with our jobs, finances, families, friends, ourselves and all the people in the world is huge and inherent. But in times like this we can simple follow important rules for our safety. We have to do our part in order to reduce the virus spread. Things will never be the same, but we have to believe that this is just a period and that everything will be fine.

A few weeks ago, all public performances were banned. Therefore, we stoped working because in order to do our job, even more in the studio, we can´t respect the social distance. And in times like this the health of everyone is more important.
In our job, as company dancers, we live a crazy life where we barely have time to rest and to make our bodies recover, being 100% healthy.
Like this, in the first week we were able to take time to rest our bodies and take care of ourselves. Which is not always possible because of our busy schedule. We simply took our time to relax, do other things and recover. Since it is important for dancers to stay in shape and keep the body moving, at this point in the quarantine, we are taking some classes provided from our company. For example, ballet and Yoga. Online there are also a lot of other people giving classes of all kinds, so we are free to choose what we feel on the day.
We do as well some workout. We have some friends living in Portugal and we created a group so everyday one of us gives a different dance class or workout. It´s a beautiful way to keep fit and be closer to the ones we love and can´t be with.

This quarantine also gave us the time to be closer to our families, to have the possibility to talk longer and share more.
With so much time, which is new for us, we did a list of things we were procrastinating, and now we are doing them. Things like, organizing paperwork, cleaning out old boxes, planting on our balcony and just fixing things at home. A list is always a good way to organize our day or week! And to keep in mind. Maybe we should appreciate the new speed of life, now that feels slower. The whole world is on hold but once we go back to normal we will go full speed.

We think to go through this period with so many uncertainties is very important to:

Don´t Panic
Exercise a bit everyday
Read Books
Learn something new
Talk to your friends and family
Do a “To do list”
Look through your window
Learn how to enjoy To Do Nothing
And in our opinion: Don´t forget that you don´t need to be productive all the time, you will be when you go back to work!!!!

Internationals in Stuttgart in times of Corona: Stef

Picture credit: Stephanie Lantin

Hi, I am Stef from Guadeloupe. I am living in Stuttgart because I am married to an Austrian man and I have started my own meditation studio here and I am also a Life and Relationship Coach.

The confinement can be a curse and a blessing. Work as a Life Coach is very busy these days. Now more than ever people need to talk! I am asking the ladies in my Facebook group how I can support them as a Relationship Coach. I create Live videos where I answer their questions. We are talking these days about managing the extra stress, protecting and nurturing relationships and adjusting working from home with your partner.

My husband and I are on the phone a lot for work, which is a great challenge. The life saver was the following: creating “do not disturb hours”. It allows us to be productive, have time for ourselves and also to miss each other. We are both grateful for being able to work from home because I know it is not the case for everyone. We have ups and downs like everyone, but we are grateful to not be alone in this crisis.

It is also nice to have more chats with my friends and family. We do a lot of video calls but even a simple text message brings my mood up. Small acts of kindness feel big nowadays.

The main tip I want to give is to be aware that it is ok to have bad days! We don’t always have to be productive and feel good. But, we can decide to make the best out of the current situation.

Internationals in Stuttgart in times of Corona: Catherine

Picture credit: Catherine Schulz

Hi, I am Catherine from the UK. I live in Stuttgart for quite some time now and am the mum of two wonderful children. I work as a trainer for Laufmamalauf.

This is a whole new ball game for us. My partner is working from home and our kids are doing their schoolwork here. I am trying to rotate work and study commitments and my new role as teacher into the day. I’m worried about family back home in the UK – currently one of the countries least prepared for a pandemic. Overall, I would say we have now found a rhythm that works for us and I have been amazed in particular at how well our kids have adjusted. We are all missing our friends, but enjoying new opportunities to meet them online instead. I am a great believer in finding the silver lining in a difficult situation: in this case I am enjoying the extra time we get to spend together, a focus on simple things such as having more time to cook a great meal or make music, sitting outside in the sunshine and watching spring burst into life.

Various interruptions make it difficult to create time for items that need an hour or two of concentration. My best time of day is first thing in the morning before anyone else is awake: I do an hour of study or go out for a power-walk in the forest. We have moved our outdoor courses for mums and for mums-to-be online (for details please refer to www.laufmamalauf.de/kursplan/?city=Stuttgart) and I am now running these courses via ‘Zoom’ app from our terrace. This was nerve-wracking at first, but feedback from our participants is very positive and it is uplifting to speak and work out hard with our fantastic group of mums and mums-to-be on a daily basis – even if it is ‘only’ in a virtual sense. We are staying at home and helping others to stay active AND stay at home. We would usually have a surge in new participants in the spring and we are pleased to see that some of these new mums are trialing our online courses despite the current limitations.

Tensions can run higher than normal when we spend almost all of time at home with our loved ones. I highly recommend a daily hour of me-time: whether it be walking, running, music, stretching and relaxation or just doing something you love. Fortunately, there are as yet no restrictions on being outside alone in this amazing spring weather. Set yourself a realistic number of potential Corona-achievements to replace all the things that have been cancelled or are no longer possible. My son and I are aiming to play (an easy version of!) Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody on the piano. My daughter is learning to juggle. Once the restrictions are lifted, perhaps we will all be proud of what we achieved – despite the circumstances.

Internationals in Stuttgart in times of Corona: Veerle

Picture credit: reloxx relocation service

I am Veerle from Belgium, mum of two teenage daughters and owner of the relocation agency reloxx.

Of course I feel insecure as everyone does but I’m grateful that my family and I are all healthy, that we are together and we are living in this part of the world where health care is excellent.

Home office itself is not something new to me having my office at home since more than 15 years. New is that all family members are at home now having home office and home schooling themselves. So we had to make new arrangements for our living together. Every night we discuss the schedule for the next day fixing breakfast, lunch/coffee break and dinner times as our family meeting time.

As for my job as relocation agent: of course a huge part such as home search, preparation of administrative appointments, contacts with clients abroad, contacts with local companies is office related but I’m definitely missing the personal meetings with my clients, the many house and apartment viewings with the sharing of thoughts and experiences on location, I’m even missing the appointments at the authorities. The “on the road part” of my job is what I love actually most and I realize this more than ever.

When it comes to my personal tipps: I think a structured day is very important. Even if due to the Corona Pandemic our usual activities are different we nevertheless need a daily plan. Add some special “to do’s” for each day: call or write family members and friends who are alone, help neighbors/people in the suburb with grocery shopping or a cheerful call, clean up your kitchen/wardrobes or office (this took me several days, you won’t believe which things saw the daylight;-)).

Also enjoy having your family around. So many families are involuntarily separated and would love to be together.
Get in touch with friends you lost sight of: we are all sitting in the same boat and sharing feelings and experiences definitely helps.

Stay healthy!

Internationals in Stuttgart in times of Corona: Rachel

Picture credit: Rachel Sang-hee Han

I am Rachel. I was born in South Korea and lived in the US for quite some time. I am now living in Stuttgart with my Italian husband and our little daughter. On my blog rachelsanghee.com I write about our life and travels.

To be quite honest, I thought it would be easier for me since I’m a freelance journalist and most of the work I get done is actually at home. Boy, was I wrong. Having a toddler of four years old the entire day is no joke, and since we don’t have a garden, I feel it’s quite limiting in what we can do during the day.

But, after a few weeks, I’ve found a rhythm. We get up around 9 am (yes, quite late for Germans), we make breakfast together, eat breakfast and then she gets a bit of screen time. Thank goodness for Netflix and Disney+! Yes, it’s not the best way to entertain, but this isn’t the time to get super productive, I believe. This is survival! Then we have a bit of an activity time; drawing, painting, reading, making crafts, washing toys, the list goes on and I’m learning more everyday, thanks to instagram! Then a quick break for mommy so the little one spends some time with Papa and then we sometimes go out for a short walk or bake something. I always wondered why there were no flour in the markets, but now I know why! Then we make dinner together, eat dinner, have a long dessert (which normally means we talk about the day and what we can do the next day etc), a bit of music listening, reading books and off to bed.

I think it’s important to keep a schedule, that would be my best tip. And also getting as much help in terms of activities! Instagram has been such a great help and I find so many great ideas every day. Calling family and friends also help a lot, we share how we are doing, what we ate etc and it’s a great comfort.

Another tip would be trying to stay positive! This will end some day and then we’ll be able to do all the normal things we used to take granted and feel so grateful for them.

And stay home and stay safe, everyone.

Internationals in Stuttgart in times of Corona: Josette

Picture credit: Josette Sticher

I am Josette from the UK. I have two children and have recently started my own business: I teach baby massages at The little nestling place and I am a welcome angel with Gravidamiga.

t’s been three full weeks of school and Kita (day care) closures.
I was apprehensive at first because “how on earth was I going to manage home schooling my 7 year old- in a language which isn’t my mother tongue, day-caring an active 2 year old, making lunch, tidying up, entertaining, cooking dinner?” I had a small panic but collected myself.

I made a mighty plan to keep us going from 7.30am-12.30pm. The first two days were brilliant but at 3.45pm on Friday, at the end of the first week, I put my youngest into the bath and I sat on the toilet with a small prosecco. The first week was tough. I sat with my feelings and I cried.

However, this taught me that I needed to change my super plan. So for the second week, I had a structure and not a plan. We went more with a flow, and it helped tremendously, by then the UK had school closures so I was able to see their tips which helped.

We’ve done lots of online yoga, dancing, sports, I’ve managed to be in my zen zone teaching baby massage, my husband rearranged his conference calls this week, so his support has been phenomenal. We’ve been out in the garden and front terrace.

You’ve probably got life down by now as we’re three weeks in, and everyone’s home life situation is different. However, what I grew to learn in a short time which is helping me accept this situation is this:
• gratefulness- I’m so grateful.
• acceptance
• humanity
• structure, but no plan
• our children can adapt AMAZINGLY.

Time is a great healer.
We’ve all got this.

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Stuttgart Hacks – Women-Night-Taxi

Mellivinginstuttgart — Tue, 18 Feb 2020 08:42:38 +0000

In my new series Stuttgart Hacks I share information that might make your life in Stuttgart a bit easier. Today I talk about Women-Night-Taxi (Frauen-Nacht-Taxi).

Ladies, do you know this problem: You travel alone by public transport at night but dread walking all the way from the station to your home by yourself in the darkness? The operator of the Stadtbahnen (U-Bahnen – click here for more information about public transport in Stuttgart in general) in Stuttgart, SSB, is aware of this problem and offers a special service for all women who travel solo at nighttime: the Women-Night-Taxi (Frauen-Nacht-Taxi).

Stuttgart Hack: When you are a female traveling solo after 8 pm you can order a Women-Night-Taxi and get a 5 Euro discount from SSB on the price you have to pay the taxi driver!

All you have to do is:

select a station (SSB provides a list of stations where the taxi can pick you up on their website and on banners inside every U-Bahn),
tell the U-Bahn-driver that you want to order a Frauen-Nacht-Taxi and name the station you have chosen (there is a communication system next to the doors in every U-Bahn)…
and make sure the taxi that is waiting at the station is the Frauen-Nacht-Taxi (and not another one that randomly parks there – otherwise you won’t get the discount).

So if you don’t feel safe at night, don’t take any risks and take advantage of this great offer.

Disclaimer: I write the articles for the blog with great care. However I cannot be held responsible for any incorrect or outdated information.

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Expat Interview with Josette from The Little Nestling Place

Mellivinginstuttgart — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 09:16:06 +0000

I met Josette a few weeks back when I visited the Bumps and Baby meetup at Karls Kitchen with my little one (to find out more about the playgroups I visited so far, check out my mom life post from December 2019). Josette is originally from the UK and moved to Stuttgart in 2012. She is not only a co-organizer of the mom meetups, she has a degree in children’s nursing and has founded The little Nestling Place here in Stuttgart where she teaches baby massages in English. In this Expat Interview she shares her experiences of how it feels like moving to Stuttgart with a baby under your heart, what was hard at the beginning, what helped her settle in eventually and more.

Josette, what brought you to Stuttgart and when did you move here?

Love. Love brought me to Stuttgart. I met my now husband in the UK and started to grow my first boy in there in 2012 then off I popped to Germany in the August; my 6th month bump, two suitcases and I, where I gave birth to him 3 months later in December in a lovely clinic. What an experience!

What did you know about Stuttgart before you arrived?

I knew absolutely nothing about Stuttgart and only the obvious things about Germany. My husband is from North Germany so her wasn’t familiar with Stuttgart either. I knew very little, I didn’t even know the alphabet was pronounced differently until someone pronounced the name of my child.

Actually, when I announced to a German Dr at the hospital where I used to work that I’d be moving to Stuttgart he said “Stuttgart is very conservative”. I didn’t think much of that statement until I arrived.

What was your first impression of Stuttgart?

2012. I’ve arrived in Stuttgart…I LOVED the look of this city (and still do). I think the city’s landscape is incredibly unique. The weather magnificent in the peak of summer and winter (in comparison to the British weather).

What was hard for you at the beginning?

I couldn’t handle the stares when I first arrived. That was really difficult to comprehend. I just didn’t experience this in the UK. Why were they constantly staring? Because I am black? Pregnant? With a white man? Dressed alternativly? Yes, yes, yes and yes- probably. It really, really got to me at the beginning and after a few years I realised this is their culture and I quickly learned how to stare back which I can see makes them just as uncomfortable as it makes me.

So other than the ghastly stares, the language comes in second as a difficulty I have and still experience. I have now learned enough German to have a light hearted conversation but I’m not quite there yet to converse about politics- for example. I took B2 in German and two years ago, spent 4 weeks in a north German hospital plus another 8 weeks with my German mother in law. I learned a lot of German in those 12 weeks in the north.

What helped you settle in?

I had to settle the hard way or right in at the deep end. At first finding as much English speakers as possible helped, and through my son going to kita/kindergarten/school I came into contact with amazing families who’d speak German to me but at a level where I’d be able to understand. I had also found an English speaking church and through the church I found a gospel choir where they were all German but a few members had AMAZING English. They too helped with settling into Stuttgart. I’m forever grateful to them.

Finally, letting go. Letting go of my life I had back in the UK and focusing on the life I’m currently living. That was incredibly difficult to do and once I had done that life became easier.

What do you like most about living in Stuttgart?

I love that nowhere is too far from Stuttgart. Neighbouring countries, The Alps, Sea life centre, Legoland, Monkey park, Bodensee, Black Forest, Europa Park, tandem parachuting.

Once up on the hills the views are so lovely; at night time the lights are pretty, in autumn the changing of the leaves are pretty, in winter the snow in the hills are pretty.

I love the public transport system in Stuttgart too!

Is there something you don’t like at all?

Except for the construction sites, road works and traffic there’s nothing I do not like about Stuttgart.

You have founded The Little Nestling Place. Tell us more about it.

The little Nestling Place…

When I had my first baby I missed EVERYTHING about the UK and I was craving English.

When I arrived I found it difficult trying to find places in Stuttgart to take my baby boy where English was the predominant language. Why would it be easy? I’m in Germany! But fast forward a few years, a few completed German language courses later, I became a certified baby massage instructor and the little Nestling Place was born.

I’m a university graduate obtaining my Bsc (Hons) in Children’s Nursing and worked at Birmingham children’s hospital on the Neonatal Cardiac High Dependency Unit.

But I now teach newborn nurture courses, baby massage courses and I’m currently studying to become a hypnobirthing instructor. My classes are to support, facilitate and empower parents and to help form connections.

Picture credit: The little Nestling Place

Each course is taught with love and care.

Due to my own struggles and experiences;

The Little Nestling Place was born because no parent or parent-to-be should feel isolated at what should be an amazing time in their lives. Every parent-to-be should be able to birth their baby into this world without fearing parenting in silence and isolation.

The Little Nestling Place was born so I can continue working with babies and families, to offer nurturing support and knowledge to all parents through baby massage which teaches us that connection, touch, bonding is so vital to baby’s development and to the parents mental health.

The Little Nestling Place is here to help support those families who have moved to Stuttgart who are facing the challenges of becoming a new parent with no extended family for emotional, mental or physical support.

The Little Nestling Place is here to connect people with people because after all, sometimes it does take a village and by coming together we aim to tackle some of that isolation and create community bonds that last a life time. “When the isolated mother no longer feels isolated, she can start to feel love, she can give her baby her love, her baby will feel this love and give it back to her. And so it begins” Josette tlnp.

You are a mom of two yourself. Do you have any tips for other expat parents what to do with their children in and around Stuttgart?

Ones needs or wants will be totally different from the other so I can only speak from my experience.

At some point, learn the language. I learned the language for my children- this is their home and I also learned for myself. I send my children to German speaking day care/school, we go to local parks, city attractions, I do as much German things with them as possible because we’re living here for the foreseeable and they are indeed German children.

A new parent can get in touch with Kiramiga a relocation company in Stuttgart to help with settling into Stuttgart and finding great things to do with their children. They really do know a lot of places and things to do in and around Stuttgart for families.

On a fun note, getting a balance bike, scooter and lined waterproof trousers/dungarees (matschhose) is a must!

Going swimming inside and out are something my children love. Indoor play areas on wet and rainy days. The Alps is great for amazing fresh air and skiing!

I saved my sanity by finding other English speaking mamas. To have a coffee and chat with another mama in a similar situation, to just speak and be able to express oneself without having to think to me was needed therefore important. So if you’re someone who needs that, it’s out there.

Dear Josette, thank you very much for taking the time for this Expat Interview!

More information about:

The little Nestling Place

Kiramiga

The post Expat Interview with Josette from The Little Nestling Place appeared first on Living in Stuttgart.

Expat interview with Veerle from reloxx relocation service

Mellivinginstuttgart — Tue, 08 Oct 2019 09:00:54 +0000

Veerle Ullrick is Belgian and moved to Stuttgart in 1994. After facing some challenges at the beginning she now happily calls Stuttgart her home. But Veerle’s relocation to Stuttgart was not her first, she has undertaken numerous international moves to Chicago, Düsseldorf, Warsaw and finally to Stuttgart. All these experiences inspired her to start her own company in 2004, reloxx relocation service. I’ve talked to her about her experiences with relocating to Stuttgart from both sides, a relocation officer and an expat herself.

[Post with personal recommendations]

Veerle, what brought you to Stuttgart?

As for so many expat wives: it was my husband’s job that brought me to Stuttgart. For him it was coming back to the roots – he is Swabian and studied in Stuttgart for a few years.

It was not your first move, you have been kind of all over the place before you settled down here in Stuttgart. What was different with moving to Stuttgart compared to your experiences with other countries and cities?

Well, for the first time I moved to a city where I already knew some people, friends of my husband who became my friends as well and who had visited us at our destinations abroad. So for the very first time it wasn’t starting from “zero”.

What did you know about Stuttgart before you arrived here?

I knew very little from Stuttgart, to be honest. Main railway station, Königstraße, Schloßplatz, Udo Snack at Calwer Straße and the TV tower, that was pretty much it.

Did your expectations about Stuttgart live up to reality?

To be honest, I didn’t have many. Stuttgart was still pretty much a sleeping beauty in the mid 90s and people kind of felt pity for you when you told them that you move to Stuttgart.

Was something very strange to you at the beginning?

I was quite surprised that Stuttgart, although being a city, had a bit of a countryside mentality. For instance, in 1994 going out for dinner on a Monday evening was very difficult with most restaurants closed. Also there were no cafés or bars to sit outside on the terrace and enjoy a drink. The choice of restaurants was quite limited. I still remember how happy we were when we discovered the (then) only Japanese restaurant, Kicho.

Thank god these days are over… How long did it take until you’ve really settled in and felt like home here in Stuttgart?

The first year was pretty tough, I have to admit. But then step by step we felt more at ease, made new friends, discovered the city and the region.

Is there something you like in particular about living in Stuttgart?

Fortunately, over the past two decades, Stuttgart has become more and more open and international. For me, it has the perfect size to offer everything one could wish. Plus there is this fabulous cultural package of jazz festivals, opera, ballet, theater, museums. On top of all, it is really green. Do you know of any other metropolis where the vineyards grow right into the center of the city? And yes, the local wines became really good over the years, too!

Oh yes, that’s true. Do you have a certain place, restaurant, museum… you love the most?

This is a very difficult question – I have so many favorites. The Grabkappelle on the Rotenberg is my favourite place for a sunset picknick – that makes me very happy every time. Favorite restaurant is Perbacco at the Paulinenbrücke. Apart from the Städitsches Kunstmuseum at Schloßplatz and the Staatsgalerie I love the Mediterranean atmosphere and architecture at the Lapidarium in the Mörikestraße. That’s not enough? Check out a very recent book by Emma von Bergenspitz: “Glücksorte in Stuttgart” and you will be surprised how many wonderful corners this city has!

You are a mom of two. Do you have any tips for other expat parents what to do with children in and around Stuttgart?

In the meantime my girls are grown up, but the open-air swimming pool in Möhringen as well as the Fildorado in Filderstadt were always their favorites during summer. Also on our list: the forest-playground on the Waldau Degerloch and the “Jugendfarm” in Riedenberg. And let’s not forget: Lake Constance is just a two-hours drive from Stuttgart. If you want to get away from it all, have a dip at the Strandbad in Überlingen (very casual), or go back in time at the Art Nouveau jewel “Parkstrandbad Hotel Bad Schachen”.

You have founded the relocation company reloxx in 2004. Did your personal experience with moving to Stuttgart inspire you to do so and why?

It was in fact my personal experience of moving to Warsaw that inspired me to offer professional help with home search and administrational assistance. When you arrive in a new country and city and you barely speak the local language because you didn’t have the time to learn before arrival it is very difficult to get around. To know where you can live, how you can find an apartment, how to sign up for utilities etc. or even the easiest of tasks sometimes.

What are the greatest challenges expats face when they relocate to Stuttgart?

At this very moment I think the biggest challenge is finding suitable accommodation. The situation on the real estate market is very tense – small offer, high demand and high rents. Even with a good budget it is hard to find anything that lives up to your expectations. Another challenge are kindergardens There simply aren’t enough. There is some improvement, but it is still difficult in some suburbs.

How can the services you and your team provide help with these challenges?

We do know the real estate market inside out since many, many years. We built up a good network of private landlords and real estate agents, so we can give our clients a head start every now and then. And we know how to address the administrational challenges to keep as much hassle as possible away from our clients.

Picture credit: reloxx relocation service

What would be your personal tipps for expats moving to Stuttgart?

As soon as you have arrived in Stuttgart, focus on exploring the different areas, so you can make your mind as of where you would like to live. This will definitely help when you start house hunting. Join expat groups for personal exchange, learn or improve your German. And: THINK POSITIVE! Small miracles happen every day – and we are sure working very hard for our clients to make them happen.

Veerle, thank you very much for your time and for sharing your experiences with us!

More about Veerle and her relocation service:

reloxx.com

Tipps Veerle shared in the interview:

Emma von Bergenspitz: Glücksorte in Stuttgart [Affiliate link]

Freibad Möhringen

Fildorado

Jugendfarm Riedenberg

Strandbad Überlingen

Parkstrandbad Hotel Bad Schachen

Transparency: This Expat Interview is part of my cooperation with reloxx.

The post Expat interview with Veerle from reloxx relocation service appeared first on Living in Stuttgart.

Expat Interview with Stef from REBOOT Meditation

Mellivinginstuttgart — Tue, 17 Sep 2019 09:00:45 +0000

Stef is a bilingual meditation guide and a Life-Transition Coach. She stems from Guadeloupe (a beautiful island in the French Caribbean) and has lived in many different countries in the last years. In early 2019 she has finally set her new home in Stuttgart and is now starting to offer French and English meditation classes here in town. In this Expat Interview she shares her experiences with starting a new life in Stuttgart with us.

Stef, you stem from a beautiful island in the French Caribbean, Guadeloupe. What brings you to Stuttgart??

I left my childhood island when I was 17 to study in Paris. Since then I lived in Dublin, Boston and Zurich. After living in Zurich for over 2 years, my husband got a job opportunity in Stuttgart so we thought why not set our new home there and here we are!

What did you know about Stuttgart before you moved here a few months ago?

I knew nothing about Stuttgart to be honest. My first time in Germany had only been on a weekend trip in Berlin a few months before. When my husband came for his interview we walked around the city and I also took the opportunity to contact some expats living in Stuttgart to ask a few questions. But that was about it. We didn’t see any red flags about moving there and the feedback from the expats were very positive.

Do you remember what was strange to you at the beginning?

A few things come to my mind. For example, when we were looking to rent an accommodation it seemed strange that it is very common that people need to get their own kitchen. I was also surprised by the high price of the rent in general. The last thing that surprised me is the fact that living in Stuttgart with a limited level of German is more challenging than I thought. I was under the wrong assumption that all German people speak very good English.

Was it/is it hard to settle in? What experiences have you made so far with Germans, the German burocracy and such?

If you don’t speak German or have a German speaker to help you then it can be challenging to register at the city hall or contact people about visiting apartments. Fortunately my husband is a native German speaker but I felt frustrated to have to go through him for all administrative tasks. When I tried to open a bank account by myself, the bank told me they could only offer me limited options and to come back for better offers when my level of German would be better. I therefore opened a bank account online where everything can be done in English. That being said, I knew moving to Germany that I could not expect people to speak my languages. However, some cities are a bit friendlier for international communities on the administrative point of view.

Apart from the language barrier, I have to say that locals were all very friendly and welcoming.

Is there something you like in particular about Stuttgart?

I like that it feels very safe and is surrounded by nature.

If you had to pick one, which would be your favorite place in Stuttgart?

I love to have brunch or work from Café Lumen.

As a meditation trainer you are an expert when it comes to relaxation. Which places in Stuttgart would you recommend going to if one needs a break from city life?

Being here for only a few months I don’t feel like I have explored a lot yet. For now, one of my favorite place to disconnect and relax is the Mineral Bad Cannstatt. The other place is actually behind my house in Ehningen, I can stroll around and watch animals behind outdoors: horses, cows, goats or donkeys. It gives me a sense of peace to connect with nature.

You have started your own business after arriving here in Stuttgart. Tell us more about your English and French Meditation classes.

Picture credit: www.sandraruthphotography.com

The main goal of my class is to take a moment just for you, a moment to clear your mind. A moment to hit pause and reboot your energy. A moment to be and feel. During the class, I guide you with my voice and I introduce you to a topic for self-reflection. I also prepare a special play list to help you focus through your meditation journey.

I invite the students to lay on paper whatever is on their mind, putting down any thoughts that might bug them at that point in time which will allow them to clear their mind.

There is no right or wrong when it comes to my meditation class. My classes are for everybody and for any levels.

You are also a life transition coach. Could you explain what that means exactly?

Sometimes people can feel stuck, disconnected, or feel that they need a push or a change. It usually happens during a transition period like a breakup or moving to a new environment.

I help my clients handling the transition, identifying and achieving (new) goals. I help my clients to be in control of a life they love.

I provide my clients with a confidential, safe and non-judgmental space for them to speak, reflect and explore. I challenge them and hold them accountable because people can always achieve more than what they think.

My clients are located all over the world and are mainly expats. The sessions are in English and French. I offer a free consultation that can be done in person or via video-chat.

Stef, thank you very much for your time and see you soon in one of your meditation classes!

More information

Stef’s meditation classes in Stuttgart

www.stephanielantin.com

The post Expat Interview with Stef from REBOOT Meditation appeared first on Living in Stuttgart.

Expat Interview with Tom from Esslingen City Tours

Mellivinginstuttgart — Tue, 03 Sep 2019 09:00:27 +0000

Tom moved to Esslingen from the US in 2004 for a new job in the automotive sector. Nowadays he is a happy early retiree who happens to offer guided tours for the city of Esslingen. In this Expat Interview he tells us how this transition happened and shares his insights about expat life in Esslingen with us.

Tom, what brought you to the Stuttgart area?

I had been working in Germany near Ulm and for personal reasons (ie. my future wife) wanted to be closer to Stuttgart. I was offered a job by an American company in Boeblingen, and was the only American working there. This resulted in a move to the Stuttgart area to be closer to work.

What did you do before you moved here?

I had been working as an engineering manager and sales engineer in the aerospace and automotive business for over twenty-five years, living in Los Angeles, California. As a sales engineer, I was able to work with many interesting companies like Boeing, McDonnell Douglas, Lockheed, GM, Toyota and Ford selling them testing equipment to determine the quality of their products. Prior to that, I was a metallurgical engineering working on the Space Shuttle main engines at Rocketdyne, Rockwell International, the prime contractor on the Shuttle. In 2004, I got a job with Zwick (leading materials testing equipment manufacturer) in Ulm as an Automotive Market Manager, responsible for Zwick’s business development in this market sector. Boy was I shocked to experience a real winter in Ulm after all those years in California!

Oh I can imagine that being a shock! It can get really cold here during winter… Did you know anything about Esslingen before you arrived?

I had a good friend who had lived in Esslingen, but knew nothing about the city. I knew it was close to Stuttgart and Mercedes Benz.

What was your first impression of Esslingen?

When I visited the first time, I spent a whole day walking around the city and photographing it. I immediately became enchanted about the old buildings (half-timbered homes) and architecture and how many beautiful sights it had. And of course, the canals in the city and the location in a river valley were quite impressive. I was really quite amazed about the city’s market square, the Kielmeyer house and double-towered church. (St. Dionyisius – the parish church)

Picture credit: Tom Hale

Was something very strange to you at the beginning?

Living and working in Germany in general was an unusual experience. Not only the language (which I had to re-learn after having had German in high school), but the customs and day-to-day life. It was a “total immersion” experience as I tried to acclimate as quickly as possible.

How long did it take you to settle in and what helped you?

It took me a good year before I settled in and began to feel comfortable with life in Germany. It helped that I made friends quickly with colleagues and also joined a sports club. That helped tremendously with the transition. In addition, I was committed to speaking, reading and writing in the German language, including some further education in German as a second language course. I should mention that I was an exchange student in Germany in the 70’s, so it was not my first time living in the country.

Oh really? Where did you stay in Germany when you were a student and what were your impressions of Germany at these days?

Wow, what an impression it was indeed. I was a summer exchange student with a wonderful family from Aachen – a very historical city where dozens of Kings were crowned from the Holy Roman empire and maybe that influenced my life and my love of history. I guess as a 16-year old from a small town in Michigan, it was something that taught me a lot about myself and other people. Germany in 1976 was different then of course with West and East Germany being two countries, only three channels on TV, English and Belgian tanks driving on the streets, worries about terrorism and Russia, and a different music culture (people were crazy about Genesis, Deep Purple, James Harvest Barkley and other groups). The best thing was that I could legally drink beer!

Picture credit: canva.com

Is there something you like in particular about living in Esslingen?

I have lived in three different countries, and in over 15 places. Esslingen is one of my favorites because it has a combination of things that suit my present lifestyle. I live outside of Esslingen north of the city and enjoy the rural aspect of living there, view of the mountains (Schwabian Jura) the moderate climate with four seasons, and that in 8 minutes I can be in the city, or when necessary travel to Stuttgart and easy access to Southern Germany, Austria and Italy. The older I get, the less tolerate I am of traffic, crowds, parking etc.

What advice would you give other expats that are moving to Esslingen?

Try to learn the German language, get involved in all the various clubs in Esslingen or in your area and participate in the festivals, tours and adopt your new town with an open and inquisitive mindset. There are also now many groups on Facebook who organize activities for expats – a good opportunity to meet others who have come here.

You started working as a tour guide for the city of Esslingen. How come?

Picture credit: Tom Hale

I was able to retire early and was looking for something to keep me busy, and out of my wife’s hair (laughs). I love history, culture, photography and am a bit of a story teller, so I thought that it would be fun to show visitors this beautiful city of Esslingen. I introduced myself to the Esslingen Stadtmarketing GmbH, and they happened to be looking for new guides. I am the only American guide, so my English is a bit different than that of my colleagues. I have learned so much, discovered so many interesting parts of Esslingen and in addition to offering the standard historical tour, am expanding my offerings to specialized tours of Esslingen (wine tour, medieval Esslingen, Church Crypt tour etc.) The city offers over 30 tours, which is impressive. I also enjoy meeting so many new people from all over the world.

What are the three main places/sights one should not miss when visiting Esslingen?

Wow, it is quite challenging to limit the recommended sights to three places as I need at least 90 minutes to show my guests the main sights on my tours. However, if I had to recommend only three sites that visitors should not miss they would be:
1. Main market square with the St. Dionysis chuch,
2. Klein Venedig (little Venice)
3. the Maille island with the Inner Bridge (second oldest stone bridge in Germany)

Picture credit: Tom Hale

Tom, thank you very much for your time and for sharing your insights about expat life in Esslingen with us.

For more information about Tom’s tours visit his website:

thomasleytonhale.wixsite.com/esslingencitytours

The post Expat Interview with Tom from Esslingen City Tours appeared first on Living in Stuttgart.

Relocating to Stuttgart with a smile – Reloxx relocation service

Mellivinginstuttgart — Tue, 13 Aug 2019 09:00:30 +0000

Will you be relocating to Stuttgart soon? If you don’t want to organize everything by yourself you might want to hire a relocation service. Such a service offers support with various tasks like finding a place to stay (which can be quite tough in Stuttgart), finding a kindergarden or school for your kids or helping you with all the paperwork (which is usually a lot in German) to name just a few. I have found a relocation service company that I can highly recommend because of their personal, very supportive approach: reloxx. I’ve reached out to them to form a partnership because I really think this company can provide very useful support for expats who are relocating to Stuttgart. In this post I introduce their services to you and point out why I think these guys are special and truly amazing.

[This post is part of my partnership with Reloxx. As a reader you will get 3 percent off on any service you book with reloxx relocation service. You find the promotion code at the end of the article.]

reloxx was founded in 2004 by Veerle Ullrick in order to support families and individuals who were relocating to Stuttgart. Veerle: “I know from personal experience what a difference it makes to feel at home in a new city, country and culture from the first moment on.”

Relocation with a smile is offered by Veerle Ullrick and her company reloxx. Picture credit: reloxx relocation service

And she really does: After having undertaken numerous international moves to Chicago, Düsseldorf, Warsaw and finally to Stuttgart, she personally knows what it means to move house, children and home, and she understands the special challenges involved in settling into a new environment. I think her personal experience is the best qualification for her job as relocation agent and her insights and her understanding of the situation make her services truly outstanding.

What to expect when relocating to Stuttgart with reloxx

reloxx offers several relocation packages that you can book individually or combined.

If you want a concise overview of your new city in order to make quick decisions about where it’s best to live you can book the First View package. Veerle and her team will provide you with a lot of insider information like information about the housing market, an overview of the public transportation system, details about the health system, the school system and more. A tour and guided walk are also included in this package.

Stuttgart is a beautiful city that has a lot to offer.

Once you have made up your mind that you want to relocate to Stuttgart you will have to find a place to live. And that is quite a task here as flats and houses are scarce and high in demand. It is definitely helpful to have an expert by your side who knows the housing situation and has contacts to real estate agencies. reloxx offers a House & Home package that includes research and pre-screening of suitable properties, a guided tour of potential residences, negotiation and closure of rental contracts, registration for utilities such as electricity, gas, water, telephone, internet and more.

Finding a place to live in Stuttgart can be challenging. reloxx supports you and takes the steps towards your new home with you. Picture credit: canva.com

Nothing moves in Germany without a paper trail, and compared to most countries there is an overwhelming number of official registration forms to complete. The whole process is daunting and extremely time consuming, especially if you speak no or only little German. When you book the Registration package, reloxx will handle all of the registration steps for you with a view to minimizing the number that you personally need to attend. This includes for example registration at the city and public works authorities, car permits driver’s license applications, school registrations and more.

Nothing goes without paperwork in Gemany. Picture credit: canva.com

Even when you’re leaving Stuttgart again you can count on reloxx and their Departure service. Veerle and her team are happy to manage all the official paperwork on your behalf like cancellation of utilities and verification of final billings, notice of address change at the city authorities, closure of bank accounts and such.

Special offer for all readers of Living in Stuttgart

As I wrote at the beginning of this article, I have formed a partnership with reloxx relocation service. And you can benefit from it directly: With the code LIVING-IN-STUTTGART you will get 3 percent off on any service you book. Just name that promotional account when you get in touch with reloxx.

Get in touch

The team of reloxx is specially trained and experienced in managing the personal and family issues involved in relocating employees to Stuttgart, whether they are coming from within Germany or from around the world. Veerle herself is multi-lingual and happy to work with you in your native language, whether that’s German, English, French, Spanish or Dutch. Veerle: “I am delighted to help you and your family settle into your new environment – to help you find your way, to help you build new relationships, and to make you feel at home.”

Find out more online:

reloxx relocation service

Contact reloxx directly:

If you are interested in more information about the relocation services offered by reloxx you can contact Veerle and her team directly via the following form:

[contact-form-7]

Picture credit title photo: canva.com

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New prices for public transport in Stuttgart

Mellivinginstuttgart — Mon, 25 Mar 2019 20:08:03 +0000

Maybe you have heard about it already: Using the public transport in Stuttgart will get a lot cheaper from April 2019 onwards! That’s because VVS, the organization responsible for the public transport in Stuttgart will introduce new prices and also a new structure of the different zones. In this post I will point out what changes await us this April. [This article contains non-paid advertisement as I point out the services of VVS Stuttgart]

When it comes to complaints about the public transport in Stuttgart, people mainly name high prices and confusing zone structures. But this will change in April as VVS Stuttgart will introduce a new pay scale as well as a new structure of zones. This does not only make traveling by bus, tram and train cheaper and easier, it might also encourage more people to use public transport in general and to leave the car at home. A development that would be great for the air quality in Stuttgart.

What will the reform and the new prices for public transport in Stuttgart cover?

For most of us it will get cheaper to make use of the public transport. Mainly because the zones you travel through will be bigger than they used to be. This means you pass through fewer zones on one trip and thus have to pay less. There will be only five different zones, not 52 as it used to be.

Let’s have a closer look at the different zones. What used to be zone one and two will be combined to only one zone. Here’s an example: Someone who takes the S-Bahn from Stuttgart-Rohr to Hauptbahnhof had to pay 2,80 Euro for two zones. With the new rate this person has to pay only for one zone and saves 14 percent. Not too bad, right?

Moreover, day tickets will become cheaper as well. From April onwards it will be possible to buy a day ticket in every of the five new zones (and not only for three combined zones as it used to be). This makes the pricing much fairer and also cheaper as rates start from 5 Euro for one zone when you buy your ticket online.

You can calculate your new rate here. (Only in German)

You find more information about the new prices for public transport in Stuttgart in this brochure (PDF Download).

What happens when I’ve got an annual subscription?

When you have chosen the monthly payment VVS will switch to the new rate in April automatically.

When you have paid the annual rate in advance VVS will transfer the amount you have paid too much due to the new prices back to your account.

When you have bought an annual ticket at the service desk, you can go there again and get the amount you’ve overpaid back.

Can I save even more?

Yes, you can! When you buy your tickets online you save with every purchase. And when you travel quite a bit with public transport you can get a subscription.

Here’s an example: The annual subscription “JahresTicket jedermann” for a commute from Leinfelden-Echterdingen to the city center will cost you 72,08 Euro per month for two zones (which used to be 96 Euro for 3 zones) and you can travel within these two zones as often as you please.

More information

vvs.de

VVS-Infothek
Königstraße 1 A
70173 Stuttgart

more information about public transport in Stuttgart in general

Please note: I have written this post to my best knowledge but things can change and mistakes are possible. For individual information about ticket prices for the public transport please turn to VVS.

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