Moving to a Warm Country

Updated on May 11, 2023

You’re about to live the dream and emigrate to a warmer climate – congratulations! Now once you’ve secured your property, booked your flights and started your language lessons, it’s time to think about shipping your belongings and household goods. And in your case, there’s a lot more to packing for life in a hot country than ditching your thermals and stocking up on shades and swimwear. A lot of the furniture and electrical equipment you’d consider bringing with you might not suit its new environment, and we’re not just talking aesthetically.

What follows is a list of things you should consider shipping or leaving behind, though for the most part it’s all about common sense. Electronic gadgets do generate heat by simply being switched on, but when devices are exposed to high temperatures or direct sunlight, they can shut-down, malfunction or suffer component damage. Hot temperatures can also heat can also warp and melt plastic enclosures and cases, so often it’s a case of making sure your appliances are kept shaded and out of direct heat and sunlight.

Ready to move abroad? Find out what it might cost to move your belongings with our guide on international shipping costs.

Don’t:

Ship plastic garden furniture

You’ll be better off donating your garden set to friends or leaving it in the shed for whoever moves into your home. Plastic garden tables and chairs might be easy to keep clean, but in a hot and humid climate they can either start to melt, or will burn arms, legs and bottoms on contact. Resin wicker is a superb alternative to wood: durable, easy to maintain and light. Bring seat pads with you as you can use them on your new garden furniture.

Bring the tumble dryer

Might sound obvious, but it’s surprising how many people bring these sorts of creature comforts with them when they relocate somewhere hot. Sell it on Gumtree, put it into storage or donate it to friends or family. It’ll take up valuable container space and you don’t need it any more. Replace with a snazzy washing line and lots of pegs.

Pack too much bedding

It’s bulky it’ll take up space in the container, and bedding is relatively cheap to replace if needed. Put your blankets and heavy winter duvets into storage or donate them to charity. Stock up on bed sheets and lightweight quilts, and pack them into vacuum pack bags to maximise space.

Do:

Pack parasols

Those cumbersome things we’d barely have to dig out during a British summer will become essential in your new home, especially if you’re lucky enough to have a garden or terrace for sitting out on. Avoid being stung at the local home store when you first arrive and bring as much of your hot weather gear with you. The same goes for your gas barbecue – just leave the gas canister behind.

Look after wooden or wicker garden furniture

More suitable than plastic stuff, but beware that wood will crack when exposed to rapid changes in temperature and humidity – keep your wooden furniture indoors or in the shade when you first unpack it and let it acclimatise gradually. Whatever you do, don’t plonk your garden furniture in direct sunlight straight away.

Buy a laptop kit

Whether you’re going to be spending time in the sun with your laptop or not, you need to prepare it for the transition to warmer climes. Never leave a laptop exposed to direct sunlight is the first rule, but if you must email your friends from the pool we recommend a glare screen, laptop hood and a stand to keep the device shaded and cool.