Travel / Are Filipinos welcome in Poland? [6]

Filipinos beeing mostly catholics ( and usually Big church goers) there should no be big Cultural problems in Poland for them.
As how they are welcomed I don't think that Polish people have met so many Filipinos if not any.
The general reputation of Filipinos in Europe is that they are quiet, polite, hard working and sweet.

Work / Salary Expectations for Language Schools in Krakow [6]

Does not sound bad at all given the cost of living in Poland .
( especially if you compare teachers 's hourly rate in England ,Ireland, France and the cost of living over there)

News / WHY DOES POLAND, EU PERMIT FLOOD OF CHINA JUNK? [40]

There are top quality products from China, just go to Shanghai or Beijing to check it yourself.

If businesses/import companies in the western world were not buying so much Chinese crap because there are dirt cheap to buy and re sale ,we consumers would not buy this crap.

Real Estate / Renting flats in Poland [13]


Margaret, no offense but are you serious ? These are huge price for Katowice ,don't you think ?
I strongly advise you to lower your rents by 30 % or 35 % if you wish to rent your flats.
Katowice is not Krakow, Warszawa or Wroclaw!

Life / Gift ideas for new "parents to be" in Poland [9]


You may get them a cute pair of US sneakers for babies ( converse type) because shoes for kids are so expensive in Poland. Actually anything from Gap will do since there is no Gap in Poland yet, so for them it will be much appreciated .

I have a few friends who had babies in Poland and I sent them some adorable little shoes ( for 18 months but it is ok since for newborn there is not much) + pretty outfits ( warm sweaters since in Poland winters are long and horribly cold ... ) They loved everything because i got useful stuff.

Cds can break and toys are great for children when they are toddlers , in my opinion.

Life / More Polish supermarket griping...this time about customers [29]


I am not an American but I am also surprised that people in Poland never offer to give up their place in a queue even if you have 1 item in a shop.

Also in airports, one day I had a 1 year old baby asleep in my arms + all my luggage , there was a big queue and I asked out loud if people wouldn't mind allowing me to check in 1st with the kid and they looked at me like cows but no one answered or even reacted so I had to ask the person at the check in to do me this 5mns favour.

I was not late , i was even earlier but Poles love to arrive hours in advance.
I think it is because of Communism for so long in Poland when People had to care about themselves only in order to survive.

Life / Why the Poles don't like AC (air conditioners)? [16]


Excellent ,hi hi

Life / What's popular gift for kids in Poland? [4]

Children 'shoes are very expensive in Poland.
And I saw a lot of imported toys , toys are very dear .

There is an excellent Shop specialising in children clothes called 5,10,15.

In my opinion a Barbie doll and a cute car would be a god idea.

Also i am sure they would love tee shirts with lots of design on it (sport, touristic city etc).

Life / How do you recognise landline phone number versus mobile phone number/Krakow? [3]

Thanks Harry.

Travel / Prague Vs Krakow [34]


What do you mean? Are you crazy? I have never heard of brothels in Krakow.

Travel / Driving from the UK to Krakow [11]

Matowy
Yes I agree , it seems so long and stressful but maybe it is just more convenient when there with family and kid.
Don't you also have to have a special car insurance which covers problems in Poland?

Real Estate / Advice on best interior fit-out company in Krakow: mamdom or JoshuaMills? [32]

I will contact you this week.
Thank you,

Real Estate / Advice on best interior fit-out company in Krakow: mamdom or JoshuaMills? [32]

Jul 12, 09, 18:23 - Thread attached on merging:
Question about FITOUT Companies in Krakow

Hello,
I would like to use an English speaking fitout company in Krakow for my 2 rooms flat in Krakow/stan developer but I already have some part of the equipment needed such as tiles,and the bathroom equipement.( a present from my sister) and i would of course like to use them.

Do you know if Fitout companies offering their services in Krakow such as Mamdom etc would do the general fitout work such as painting, flooring , electricity, doors etc and accept to use what i already have? I also have an architect project for my flat to follow.

Does it reduce their fees per square meter?

Anyone had a similar experience?

I would like to start the fitout soon in August 09 .
Thanks a lot,

Real Estate / I want to buy a 2 bedroom apartment in Krakow - suggestions and advice. [20]


I suggest that you do not buy any property off plan , just get something already buillt and newly renovated like the place Bonduk is selling above.

Security Security

Law / Bank interest rates and deposits in Poland [14]


Why don't you try Zachodni Bank(BZWBK) ? It belongs to an Irish Bank and the Irish Government said it would warrantee al the deposits without any limit.

Real Estate / Current state of the property market in Krakow [135]


Sorry to contradict this optimism but according to this article from the Warsaw Business Journal , Unemployment IS increasing in Poland like everywhere nowadays.

wbj.pl/article-43217-corporations-increasingly-announce-mass-redundancies.html?type=

Real Estate / Current state of the property market in Krakow [135]


I agree.Besides it is a World Recession coming so Real Estate is hit first and I don't see how Poland would be different than the rest of the world.

The worst is to come in a few months our economists predict.

Real Estate / Current state of the property market in Krakow [135]


Yes but the banks are not giving credit in Poland either so the Polish buyers for off plan properties whether they represent 90% of the buyers or not will have to pay cash .Beeing nowhere near Recession does not change banks 'attitude nowadays so even if Poland is doing extremely well compared with Western Europe not everyone will have that much cash.

In short in my opinion the prices will decrease at least 15%.

Real Estate / Current state of the property market in Krakow [135]


I hope that you are right , we will see in a few months if everything is ok.
of course wealthy Poles from Upper Middle Class with tons of liquidity need to invest their money somewhere and Real Estate seems the best investment but the prices in Krakow city center are quite unreasonnable for the average Pole or even the average European.

It is ridiculous and does not match people 's salaries at all whether you can get a loan or not.The difference is too WIDE !

Law / Starting a Business In Poland - what should I know? [28]


Your friend will definitely need the assistance of a bilingual HR manager or Work Law lawyer to explain all the subtleties of the Polish Work Code such as mandatory and non mandatory policies employers must /may implement (sick leave policy, maternity leave policy, breaks, holiday policy etc)

Real Estate / considering purchasing an apartment in Siemiradzkiego 25 Krakow [13]

The price looks ok too on this thread

viewr.com/properties.search.detail.html?vlsn=1000913.

If the building is almost completed it looks very good but if it is not completed do check the reputation of the developer with former clients .Or just wait until it is done.

A nice facade does not mean anything in Krakow.

Food / Krakow Restaurant Recommendations [17]


Come on Wiezynek is really over rated .The place is extremely beautiful and the service excellent but the food most unremarkable for the price.
Chimera is much better in my opinion.

Life / Studying the possibilities of living in Poland.. [34]


Krakow is definitely a great option for everything including work,entertainment etc .
If you don't have Polish friends yet or contacts who may help and if your Polish is not enough I recommend you hire a bilingual Polish student for helping you to set up your bank account etc.

It creates a small job and it is efficient .

Real Estate / Mortgage prices and rates in Poland [28]


Be Careful guys, don't take a mortgage if it is not with a FIXED RATE because you could easily encounter negative equity .

Who is trusting banks nowadays?

Real Estate / Be careful when buying apartments with BUD MAR Investment in Krakow [23]


It should be the job of Polish authorities to clean their Real Estate markets and get rid of corruption.
I don't think we will wait for a long time because it is in the interest of the Polish Economy to make it safe for investors and buyers to invest in Polish real Estate .

We 'll see!
In the mean time it is at least very good for Polish lawyers !
Plenty of work and money!

News / Bronislaw Geremek died in a car crash today ( 13.07 ) [6]


Bronislaw Geremek was a genuine " communist" who left the Communist party when USSR invaded Prague and felt desillusionned and betrayed like many intellectuals of those days such as Jean Paul Sartre ,the poet Louis Aragon, etc.

He was always a great historian and a free spirit and he did everything he could to promote Poland to be accepted in the European Union before 2004.

He was Jewish and his parents died in Auswitch, he could have easily blamed Poland like many Polish Jews did for this tragedy and find success in major American or other famous Western Universities but until the end of his life he remained profundly attached to his country and participated fully in Poland 's revival.

Real Estate / Be careful when buying apartments with BUD MAR Investment in Krakow [23]

I am wondering Fred if your friend who bought a flat with Bud Mar Investment on Lwowska is still "Not nearly as emotional" as the clients who are still waiting for their flats now in July 2008?

Do you still think that we poor buyers should be " a little more patient"?

Thread attached on merging:
IsThere a Black List of BadDevelopers such as Bud Mar investment KraKow?

I am wondering if there is a Black List of bad developers such as Bud Mar investment/Prosperity Nieruchomosci in Poland because it would definitely help buyers to select the right developers and clean the Polish Real Estate of its black sheep and crooks.

Now it seems that people are turning away from new developments out of fear that they will be ripped off and prefer to buy existing flats.

What do you think?

Real Estate / Advice on best interior fit-out company in Krakow: mamdom or JoshuaMills? [32]


Thank you, that is good to know. in the Future , if you offer excellent service and reasonnable rates for Property Management in krakow ,You will certainely get a lot of clients who are members like me of Polish forums.

Real Estate / Advice on best interior fit-out company in Krakow: mamdom or JoshuaMills? [32]

Thanks a lot eleanoroconner for sharing your experience with Mamdom and details about Joshua Mills (partners of Keen properties +Rednet+Property secrets : higher prices )
I already hired and paid an interior designer and he did the design of my little flat ( ihave the project of the layout)because I am like you I find it a headache to decide about colour, measurements etc.

and thank you Andy B for the reference about Drew Grodzicki.
Will check him too.