Originally Posted by windsong

Be prepared to have some breathing problems. It is known as the "mile high" city and only has 80% oxygen in the air. There is also no humidity in the air and, since you are much closer to the sun, your skin will dry out like a prune. Go without sunscreen all over your body at your own risk.

If you decide to venture into the mountain towns, be prepared to suffer from altitude sickness. Not everyone does, but many do. It's quite an adjustment to get used to the lack of "flatness", too. It is a visual adjustment that takes time.

It rains a lot and it rains hail the size of ping-pong balls - no joking! There is snow from October until May - and not just a few inches. There are very few plants. It is hard to grow them when there is snow eight months of the year and in the remaining months when it is warmer, the very large hail kills them. Be prepared to experience cold temperatures, very hot temperatures, thunder and lightening, strong winds, rain and hail the size of ping pong balls all in the same week in the middle of summer. The hail covers the ground like snow and accumulates just like snow in certain parts. There was large hail just two weeks ago and it accumulated to 18 inches in parts.

There is hardly any suburbia. You have two options - city or mountains. There is such a thing as "mountain people"!!!! I kid you not! They can be strange.

Be prepared for mediocre or lower standards in the mountain areas when it comes to hairdressers, doctors, etc. You have to go to the city to find people who have any idea what they are doing.

Having said that, Denver is not too bad a city, as far as American cities go. However, be prepared to see very few "lakes", if any. There is no water - a small man-made puddle here and there but nothing more. It does have a fairly good light rail system.

Do visit Boulder. The brightest, most creative and educated people are there.

Drivers are not courteous - and they are not good drivers so beware.

Above all, do NOT let your pets out without a leash and do not leave them unattended, not even in your own back yard. Many pets have been taken by hawks and mountain lions. Just about everyone in the general area knows someone whose pet has disappeared!!! I am not exaggerating. Everyone knows about the mountain lions.

Denver is as far away from British culture as you could possibly get in America.

Originally Posted by MrBaker2011

There is plenty of flatness away from the mountains - they're called the plains for a reason...!!

Originally Posted by Sally Redux

They are much further away from the sun, with 100% oxygen and good hairdressers.

Originally Posted by Sally Redux

They are much further away from the sun, with 100% oxygen and good hairdressers.

Originally Posted by MrBaker2011

I am now extremely concerned about my proximity to the sun ...

Originally Posted by Sally Redux

I'm fairly short so I think I'm OK

Originally Posted by deepcpearl

That's why the mountain people walk around on all fours.

Originally Posted by ChrisBennett

We will go down the route of a green card after we are settled. We have a 7 year L1A visa to start with.

Originally Posted by christmasoompa

I've only skimmed the rest of the thread, so somebody else may have mentioned it, but make sure you get it in writing from your company that they will sort your green cards within a certain date (preferably asap). If you've asked for the move, they may be reluctant to do so given that it will (a) cost them a lot of money; and (b) mean you can go and work for anybody else.

So get it in your contract, don't rely on a promise.

Good luck.

Originally Posted by ChrisBennett

Hi ~thanks Guys...Yes move will be perminant and the fam,ily are really excited. I requested teh move to the USA as we spend alot of time there. So as it is at my request no relocation allowance is there. I have asked them for info and details of companies used. Waiting their response. All I need to sort out early is a Bank account and a short term rental in October and then again in February. Any help would be amazing guys????

Originally Posted by Sally Redux

The only problem might be that he's requesting the move and therefore not putting conditions on it. He should try though.

Originally Posted by joto

I loved it when we lived in the western Denver suburbs. It should only take a week at most to get used to the altitude. Keep hydrated and it shouldn't be a problem. The winter weather isn't too bad most of the time and the roads get ploughed, so the traffic keeps moving for the most part. It does get a lot colder than the UK, but it's not that nasty damp cold that gets to your bones. I am not a skier, so wouldn't venture into the mountains in winter, but a lot of people are winter sports fans. If our stint in S. CA comes to an end, I would move back to the Denver suburbs in a heartbeat.