S'poreans Migrated to Canada LIP LAI

[patryn33]

You looking at 2-3bedroom? Family with kids? U may want to consider school district. If not a 1 bedroom will do just fine
http://www.aptrentals.net/apartments/crescent-view-townhomes
http://rentbc.com/burnaby-apartments.html
http://www.downtownsuites.ca/unfurnished-condos/

I wouldn't look for apartment at Craigslist

Vancouver publish crime rates online look for latest info in general those area u mention bad
http://www.city-data.com/forum/vancouver/2032801-what-safe-neighbourhood-van-suburbs.html
http://vancouver.about.com/od/neighbourhoodshousing/a/Newcomers-Guide-To-Vancouver-Neighbourhoods.htm
http://www.moneysense.ca/planning/canadas-best-places-to-live-2015-overview/


Interactive crime map
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/british-columbia/vancouver-police-geodash-crime-map-1.3357691

Making big $$ stay in the wealthy ppl area
http://www.canadianbusiness.com/lists-and-rankings/richest-neighbourhoods/slideshow-2014/image/25/

Outdoors - u be driving? Buying car? Want to look at parking at the rental

 

[xiaomitao]

Will be going Vancouver for overseas posting coming Jan for more than 2 years.

@kaisin82, how's the cost of Vancouver compare to Singapore?

I read in many places that Vancouver rental is expensive, so any good places to recommend? North Vancouver?

Next is medical, which I think MSP is as good as general coverage for consultation and medical?

How's internet there compare to Singapore? Here I using ViewQwest which is reasonably cheap for unlimited speed.

where exactly is your office in vancouver?

You pay $70+ per month for the "free" healthcare.

you pay at least $50 for LIMITED interneton cable/adsl

you pay at least $40 for few hundred MBs of cellphone.

Don't have to do any currency conversion CAD to SGD for the above mentioned. Exchange rate is the same now.

 

[patryn33]

where exactly is your office in vancouver?

Generally not in ppl comfort zone to disclose the exact location.

 

[Mancunian2]

...and no direct flight from Singapore to Vancouver, at least not by SQ, and Cathay looks like good flight for cost and service.

Cannot use the Krisflyer points that have been saving all along

no more direct flight on SQ?

they used to have....

 

[Mancunian2]

Will be going Vancouver for overseas posting coming Jan for more than 2 years.

@kaisin82, how's the cost of Vancouver compare to Singapore?

I read in many places that Vancouver rental is expensive, so any good places to recommend? North Vancouver?

Next is medical, which I think MSP is as good as general coverage for consultation and medical?

How's internet there compare to Singapore? Here I using ViewQwest which is reasonably cheap for unlimited speed.

North Vancouver is the more expensive part of the city
Surrey or Fraser will be cheaper, but more ulu

be prepared to pay more for internet
and there is usually a datacap for most plans

medical, not sure
I was last there as a postgrad student in UBC

 

[kangks]

no more direct flight on SQ?

they used to have....

Apparently SQ stops direct flight on 2009: https://www.singaporeair.com/jsp/cms/en_UK/press_release_news/ne090214.jsp

 

[xiaomitao]

Apparently SQ stops direct flight on 2009: https://www.singaporeair.com/jsp/cms/en_UK/press_release_news/ne090214.jsp

you probably get SQ codeshare flights on star alliance partners like air china, eva or air canada to yvr

if you want to spend your krisflyers miles on star alliance partners, then you have to call krisflyer to redeem on the phone.

 

[xiaomitao]

Generally not in ppl comfort zone to disclose the exact location.

just wanted to check if it is vancouver vancouver, or somewhere near vancouver...

 

[kangks]

just wanted to check if it is vancouver vancouver, or somewhere near vancouver...

Open to nearby city such as Burnaby, with reasonably rental (not $3k for a 1 bedroom apartment which I found in downtown) and reasonable traveling time (learnt that Coquitlam has express train to Vancouver downtown, but still googling for more details).

 

[patryn33]

just wanted to check if it is vancouver vancouver, or somewhere near vancouver...

Singaporean - it always somewhere around I suppose hehe

 

[kangks]

you probably get SQ codeshare flights on star alliance partners like air china, eva or air canada to yvr

if you want to spend your krisflyers miles on star alliance partners, then you have to call krisflyer to redeem on the phone.

I have bad experience with US airline especially in long haul.

For example, when cabin lights off, with SQ or Asia airline, I still can see the cabin crew walking around and I can get a drink or snack if I cannot sleep. But with western airline, I learnt that the cabin crews are also taking their rest in their reserved last 2 rows (due to strong UNION that demanded resting hours of cabin crews).

So probably I will stick to either Cathay or Eva.

 

[xiaomitao]

Open to nearby city such as Burnaby, with reasonably rental (not $3k for a 1 bedroom apartment which I found in downtown) and reasonable traveling time (learnt that Coquitlam has express train to Vancouver downtown, but still googling for more details).

you should find a lot of rentals in Burnaby Metrotown. 30 mins should get you to downtown. 10 dollars per day for roundtrip.

Rentals depends on whether you want to stay in new concrete buildings or wooden condos.

Coquitlam evergreen line is delayed till 2017.

 

[kangks]

Singaporean - it always somewhere around I suppose hehe

Yup, somewhere around

 

[xiaomitao]

I have bad experience with US airline especially in long haul.

For example, when cabin lights off, with SQ or Asia airline, I still can see the cabin crew walking around and I can get a drink or snack if I cannot sleep. But with western airline, I learnt that the cabin crews are also taking their rest in their reserved last 2 rows (due to strong UNION that demanded resting hours of cabin crews).

So probably I will stick to either Cathay or Eva.

call krisflyer and tell them about the dates you want to travel. they will check how many points you need to fly on eva

 

[patryn33]

I have bad experience with US airline especially in long haul.

For example, when cabin lights off, with SQ or Asia airline, I still can see the cabin crew walking around and I can get a drink or snack if I cannot sleep. But with western airline, I learnt that the cabin crews are also taking their rest in their reserved last 2 rows (due to strong UNION that demanded resting hours of cabin crews).

So probably I will stick to either Cathay or Eva.

U moving for a overseas job posting company not paying for your flight?
U use you miles u get the make some $ from relocation?

Can try JAL. ANA they don't walk around but leave an entire bunch of goodies and you can load it up

 

[kangks]

U moving for a overseas job posting company not paying for your flight?
U use you miles u get the make some $ from relocation?

Can try JAL. ANA they don't walk around but leave an entire bunch of goodies and you can load it up

Good question! The relocation does not cover the look-see trip of my family.

Being a bit kiasi (or very kiasi), I wanna settle housing first before my family come over, so I paying my own look-see trip for the family.

That's why now my focus very much on housing so that I can settle it ASAP and don't need another look-see trip.

 

[patryn33]

If family coming in and going to school you may want to look into school rating. Better school less chance of kena bad influence
http://www.compareschoolrankings.org

International school - http://www.studyinburnaby.ca

If look see trip in Jan when u going over perm? May? School maybe close for summer and can delay things abit

Apartment finding not hard not like u buying. Apartment once u see good sign contract can move in next day! Buy house sign still need to order inspections process mortgage which can take up to 30 days easy. Don't have to be stress out. Unless u only renting houses or town houses then can be tricky. Need to sign contract early if not they rented b4 u go down months later u have to start over again.

U can ping them https://m.facebook.com/VancouverSingaporeClub/

 

[moi几够力一下]

Vanoucver weather is very very very very very depressing. But got convenience skiing and snow boarding.

 

[patryn33]

Vanoucver weather is very very very very very depressing. But got convenience skiing and snow boarding.

Don't let the weather put you down
Cloudy can go out doors without breaking much sweat

Singaporea great weather lots of sun shine but ppl still ......

 

[highsulphur]

Anyone here mitgrated with school going kids? Did your kids adjusted well?