There does seem to be a lot of threads about NS recently . We are planning on having a second recci at some point between July and September. I would really appreciate some advice on places to stay and advice on how long we might need in certain places. That will help us decide how much time to dedicate to the trip.

My husband is a manufacturing accountant and I'm a town planner. We are definately planning on doing some networking mainly for my husband at the moment as there doesn't seem to be many planner jobs.

We almost certainly want to stay in or near Halifax. We hope to network with potential employers and visit areas to live outside the city including looking at houses. How many days would you recommend we should include as a minimum in this area? I think this is where we will concentrate our efforts on moving to the most.

We don't want to rule out other areas so we think we also want to visit the Truro and New Glasgow area and do the same thing. Although there is going to be less employers to meet here. Not sure if there are any other areas we should tackle in NS? Then we want to visit Moncton and Saint John in New Brunswick. Any advice on times in these areas?

Many Thanks

The first time we came to NS we planned to include trips to Moncton and St John in our itinery. We stayed for 2 weeks, did the Annapolis Valley, the South Shore, Halifax and the Eastern Shore.

We never found the time to go the NB at all and we weren't even networking for jobs at that time. If you want to see alot of NS and go to NB you should allow alot more than 2 weeks

However, you have been before so there may be places you know that you don't want to see. All I can say is that I would go for as long as you can afford to pack the most in.

Our first trip to NS was for 2 weeks. We didn't venture as far as NB, in fact we struggled to see a great deal of NS in that time. We did go to the Valley, Peggys Cove, Mahone Bay, Lunenberg etc, but time does fly when you are trying to take everything in. Also, we had two young children with us, so that did limit what we could do somewhat as we had to mae it a holiday as well as a reccie trip

We plan to make it a recci trip and not really a holiday. We have done some of the tourist things on our last visit. The last trip was to get a little bit of a feel for the place (as much as you can being a tourist). This trip really is about looking at houses and meeting potential employers etc. As you say time does fly and no matter how much time we dedicate to the visit it won't be enough. I have a feeling we are being too ambitious but we want to do as much as we can.

I did have a week in NS in February networking,looking at houses and schools etc. I was there by myself - amazing how much more you can get done that way - and cheaper !

If you are seriously making it a recce not a holiday then just concentrate on the areas where you have a realistic chance of employment. Make the contacts beforehand so that you make best use of the time then if you get an offer (or think you will) look at houses, school, amenities etc in that area.

What jobs were you planning to do? Accounting and Town Planning or more specialized?

It took us three weeks to do a circuit without touching Cape Breton. BBCanada is a good site for B&B's. Tatamagouche has Cabooses at the Train Station Inn http://www.trainstation.ca/ which is a fun place to stay.

I would say avoid anyone who approaches you privately from here with offers of accommodation, it does happen and this site isnt for that purpose. However if someone can offer you a suggestion of somewhere they stayed and loved - go for it.

An odd suggestion to some, but for frugality and really surprisingly nice surroundings, a friend of ours was very surprised by the Chocolate Lake Grand Western (if that is what it is called). He got a good deal for 32 pounds a night and it has been refurbished, so contrary to the the taxi driver's scoffing when he dropped him off there, it was really nice. They also have a resident chocolate lab who goes everywhere which is really cute!

Outside of Halifax, I have no ideas, but good luck!

Hi - agree with Poppy2, the Chocolate Lake Hotel is a great suggestion just had British friends stay there while their house was being made ready - from all accounts it was very good!

Liff

You have limited options in NS being a town planner as a) there aren't many municipalities that need a full time town planner on staff and b) in many places town planning is overseen by a building official.

Other options include the consulting field (i.e working for a private sector firm and often they are in with engineers, architects, landscape architects).

Have you looked online with the Canadian Institute of Planners...they have job listings there (if you need a password to get on there, PM me). The Halifax RM may be another option.

What field in Town Planning is your choice?

Good luck.

http://www.chocolatelakehotel.com/

Go check out the gallery section of the website.......that dog makes me smile every time I see it! He apparently goes up and down in the lifts as he sees fit and often just wanders into the room with you. I was alarmed at first to think of a dog living in a hotel, but apparently the staff fight over who takes him for a walk (he gets walked several times a day) and he is dearly loved.

[QUOTE=Poppy2;6215226]

An odd suggestion to some, but for frugality and really surprisingly nice surroundings, a friend of ours was very surprised by the Chocolate Lake Grand Western (if that is what it is called). He got a good deal for 32 pounds a night and it has been refurbished, so contrary to the the taxi driver's scoffing when he dropped him off there, it was really nice. They also have a resident chocolate lab who goes everywhere which is really cute!

QUOTE]

I stayed at the Best Western Chocolate Lake in February,and can recommend it. It has recently been refurbished and is therefore in the build up of trade position that allows flexibility on the rates it charges. Because I was there for a week they gave me a free upgrade to a King sized room. All in allgreat surroundings and in a pretty convenient position if you have a hire car and want to travel around. The restaurant was pretty good also

I think you'll find that 'he' is a 'she' called cocoa !

hey, I didnt stay there and our friend is one of those guys who we are lucky realised it was a dog.............. Just kidding Rob! You know how it is, all medium to large dogs are boys in our heads, why is this? I might have to dog-knap her, she sounds too cute!

Our friend had such a great amount of advice when he got here. A Haligonian on the flight over warned him of Downtown after dark because it was so rough. The taxi driver offered to take him somewhere else other than his hotel, because it has always been a bit grim. And someone said something suitably caustic about Spryfield, where we are currently renting - we scoffed and laughed amongst ourselves about the rough places in the UK we have lived and the very next night there was a shooting at some traffic lights where 2 guys were shot in the chest................bring bullet proof undies! Or........alternatively, do good drug deals, its totally up to the individual