Austria. It feels like the cleanest place on earth - if nobody's bottled the air here yet, apply for the patent. The scenery of the Tyrol, the thrills of the Alps, trailing a hand in the Danube, this land was made as a backdrop for outdoor pursuits.
It's also a country of immense cultural value: the birthplace of Mozart, home to the Spanish riding school and the Vienna Boys' Choir. Then there's the architecture - the flaunt of the Habsburg palaces, Salzburg's baroque splendour.
For all its love of tradition, Austria today is a thoroughly modern place. In 1995 it became a full member of the European Union, heralding its entry into the mainstream of politics, with contemporary culture following close behind - for every Strauss fanatic there's a clubber in Vienna, for every Kaffeehaus, a sushi bar is opening next door.
There is an extensive network of hospitals and doctors covering even the remotest areas of Austria. Funded by social security contributions, citizens can enjoy basic and specialist healthcare, medicines and dental treatment, with costs dependent on income. The various fees and pay-scales also guarantee accident, pension and unemployment cover.
Creating a bank account is not a difficult process, requiring the usual documentation - passport, proof of employment - to get set up. At larger branches you will find English-speaking employees who can help you with the forms. Once established, the bank will issue you with a debit card.
You can approach finding a property in a number of ways: The first, probably the quickest and certainly the most expensive way is to go through an estate agent; they usually charge between two and three months' rent for their services. This fee is separate to the deposit you pay the landlord, usually a further two to three months' rent, and you'll also have to pay for the first month in advance.
If time is not so much of an issue, the obvious alternative is to sift through the classifieds or use the internet. In both cases you'll still have to pay a deposit but will avoid those exorbitant agency fees. It's also advisable to employ the services of a lawyer or legal advisor before signing a lease. Even if you speak excellent German, the lease may be long and too couched in legalese for a layman to comprehend.
Travel in Austria is a pleasure, with a non-centralised network of roads serving moderately sized cities - you'll be hard pushed to find a traffic jam.
Your EU driver's license will be valid at the start of your residency but must be replaced with an Austrian one at the first opportunity. If your licence was issued by non EU country it can only be used for six months.
The Austrians are a car-loving nation, which can cause parking problems in some towns. You also require a vignette to drive on Austria's motorways - these are available at gas stations, border crossings etc.
Austria's rail network is comfortable, reliable and fast. Larger cities enjoy a good network of underground systems, buses, tramlines and suburban railways - good news for those who don't share our passion for the automobile.
