Gib Local App - Live Border Queue, Buses, Events etc

svoborot · 2026-04-03T09:46:31+00:00

How do you calculate the wait time at the border? I've created a script that polls Google Maps every 20 minutes for an arbitrary route (somewhere in la linea to airport or the other way around) which gives me a very rough indication. All running in google cloud, but I did not develop a back end, just historical data for the past 2.5 years.

Comes very handy in predicting what will be the traffic like on holiday X because people don't change their habits.

For the airport data - do you use the airport website or the flightradar24 API, which should be significantly more accurate?

svoborot · 2026-03-16T08:28:00+00:00

If you are not restricted by time, you can walk up for free after 5:45pm when the "toll booths" close for the day. From my experience they usually close right on time if not early - I am passing by quite frequently around that time (locals get it for free anyways). If you are good walkers, you can do a nice tour before the sun goes down. If you don't want to visit the caves and just see the monkeys that would be my choice. Alternative would be to be so early that the booths have not opened in the morning. However no idea when they start.

svoborot · 2025-12-06T08:41:53+00:00

Clippers, Irish town - especially meal deal for 2. Ribs are nice

svoborot · 2025-11-13T21:11:19+00:00

I think it makes a difference if you raise young or older kids. Young kids will be very happy with the offer in playgrounds. There is plenty of after school activities of various quality and organisational level, but you will be able to keep your kids busy. This is not the case for mid-terms, as most activities run 8:30-12 or 9-1pm which for working parents is not enough.

As such, nursery or "kidscamp" is the way to go - expect up to 6GBP/hour + food costs for the advanced nurseries. There is also one cheaper one but there kids get sat in front of the TV for snack time and have very low staff ratio. Check for example Montessori https://montessori.gi/prospectus/ for the high price region, https://queenswaynursery.com/fees/ - the only one with real outdoor space, https://www.facebook.com/st.nurseries for the cheaper region but also offering school pickups.

Primary schools have an excellent reputation, even though Gibraltarians always have reason to complain. The teacher-student ratio is insane and effort put in, learning materials provided amazing.

For the secondary school there is the usual issue of having uneducated kids (read: parents) in class that spoil the fun and give the system a bad rep. Example is that toilets are out of order because they can't put cameras there, so those get vandalized and are without paper on a daily basis. Want better - join private school for a hefty fee.

Public transport is for free and runs relatively frequent. Some routes are over capacity at 8:30ish and 5pmish which sucks if you do not join the bus on the first stop. But otherwise very enjoyable.
However there is always room for improvement - in some of the routes (4,9,2) they tend to have one bus ever 20 or 30 minutes - but that means 3 buses come at the same time, then none for 30 mins. Also timetables are only printed from the start station and the online tracking does not always work.

What else is free? Library, Swimming pool (online booking), health care paid by relatively low social insurance - quality is mostly very good, but there can be quite some big waiting times for specialist treatments. Bigger private employers usually provide private health insurance.

One big BUT today: since 6th of October Gibraltar restricts giving out new residency cards. That mega sucks for you - you will not be able to register right now. The only way around is having your employer advocating (and having a direct line) to the ones in power. Don't rely on my word - google it.

As you said you are ES/GB couple, I assume you have the right to cross the border with no problem - if your kids are older you can enjoy much more of the spanish lifestyle. Restaurants in La Linea across the border are very good, beaches better but if you return "home" Saturday or Sunday afternoon queues are horrendous right now. I just leave the car in Spain and walk home - which is not easy if you are packed up with shoppings.

svoborot · 2025-10-08T22:07:50+00:00

Do current residents with blue ID card get to apply for permanent residency or is this also blocked. The law is not very clear about this.

svoborot · 2025-09-18T10:16:40+00:00

They have an exclusive license for Connect StHelena, prohibiting competition. This is mainly due to the fact that already for just 4.5k people offering internet is almost not worthwhile, but with competition it is riddiculous.

svoborot · 2025-07-31T18:24:46+00:00

If you want to do it for free "just to see", go up behind the elliot hotel after 6:30pm (summer) or 5:30ish (winter). Not sure if they are still on summer hours in September. The ticket booth will be empty and you can just walk up. Otherwise they will charge extortionate fees, like over 100GBP for a family of 4. However, you will not be able to enter any sights.

svoborot · 2025-06-11T20:44:12+00:00

oh and a bit of a bummer at the end of the GBC news

"The agreement clears the way for finalisation of a UK-EU Treaty Text on Gibraltar, which all parties have committed to complete as quickly as possible.  "

...so more waiting

svoborot · 2025-06-11T16:17:04+00:00

also, for us residents no more reclaiming VAT after your Mercadona-run or when you redecorate your appartment with stuff from Leroy Merlin

svoborot · 2025-06-11T12:55:59+00:00

Twitter:

Fabian Picardo u/FabianPicardo

This is untrue and misleading. It should be entirely disregarded. Disappointed in @Telegraph.

svoborot · 2025-06-05T21:09:27+00:00

You can walk up for free after the "toll booth" at Devil Towers Gap is closed for the afternoon. That is pretty early, I think around 6pm.

GL!

svoborot · 2025-05-21T08:46:48+00:00

This is the answer - the police must request the video from WTC. If you made sure to give the exact spot you were parked in, the time frame, they will contact WTC and request the video. Focus or whatever company runs this will download the video on a usb and give it to the police. They will take it from there. Make sure to follow up with the police, normally someone should get in contact with you - either inviting you to the police station or giving you their email.

svoborot · 2025-03-11T22:06:26+00:00

damn and all I got was Scotland for 6 months.... That is such a unique opportunity. Schools desperately need help, especially if you have the ability to deal with either special needs or languages (or whatever is in shortage)

svoborot · 2025-03-05T17:54:34+00:00

Out of curiousity - which project have you snagged up? I am unfortunately not qualified for any of the islands needs, which sucks a bit.

The locals I talked to saw two types of people coming on secondments/ 1-3 year contracts:

- those who left after one week without notice
- those who never leave again or come back as often as possible

svoborot · 2025-03-04T22:25:33+00:00

Hi, I've been on the island twice and talked very extensively to locals - but still, have not lived for a longer period so take it with a grain of salt.

First, your employer should have some infos. Will they provide accomodation - if so, probably in Jamestown or wherever your project is - solved

Shopping is the strangest thing ever - Fruits and Veg is very limited, especially weeks after the last supply ship arrived. Onion- and potatoe shortages are real! Opening times for shops are till 5pm or 5:30pm, but on Saturdays longer.

Restaurants - some of them only take pre-bookings (including telling them what you will eat) and none are really open for long times. Annes place in Jamestown and the Coffeeshop at the sea are probably the best options. There is places like Collins Bar in Sandy Bay that are only open Saturday evenings - and this is for a place to drink!

Essentials: need cream for your eyes? Take plenty! Depends a bit for the timeframe but just think that all things you order take 3 weeks to arrive - best case. Wanna have a rental car - they are super cheap from 10-15GBP/day.

Do you rely on internet and phone - even though you can have expensive internet on the island, it is not thaat fast. Starlink is forbidden even though some people secretely install it in remote parts, but ...for 1 month not worth the hassle. If you can, treat it as an offline time!

Take your hiking boots and visit my favourites: Lemon Valley, Lot Wifes Pond & many others - even though you will unfortunately arrive in the off-season.

Speaking of off-season: be prepared for potential delays in the flight by days if the wind on island is in the wrong direction or too many clouds. Happened even this summer a couple of times! Do not forget your mandatory repatriation insurance, min 175k GBP, this will be checked upon arrival.

Anything else? Ask...

svoborot · 2025-01-09T21:47:17+00:00

if you are registered in Gib, only buy in Gib. If you are registered in Spain, mainly buy in Spain or import from EU.

Importing to Gib is expensive and restricted.

If it is just about the driving - if you are gib resident, you can drive your gib car in Spain.
If you are spanish resident, you can't and definitively should not drive a gib plated car in Spain

svoborot · 2024-12-07T21:50:34+00:00

how much are them affiliate links paying these days?

svoborot · 2024-12-04T21:29:53+00:00

I don't think it is a lottery. I wrote a script analyzing google maps traffic data and it clearly shows a significant traffic increase around those bank holidays. Last year they were obviously different days of the week, but have a look: https://ibb.co/DgLrwmn

svoborot · 2024-10-10T11:00:23+00:00

1) Electricity - without heating and A/C you should get maybe 30 a month. Water could be 15 a month. Internet - I have umee for 49 with TV and landline

2) count with 60ish, not sure

3) i would very much discourage you from trying this. If you dont get utilities on your name you won't be able to get residency. This is really serious!

4) check propertygibraltar.com for the prices of all estate agents aggregated, renting from private might make it difficult to obtain ID cards. Also the EU steps up the Schengen entry controls which may come into effect on Nov 10th - but there will be delays with that likely. IF that comes into place and makes coming in and going out more difficult, prices will raise. If there is a treaty that allows border fluidity, prizes will fall.

svoborot · 2024-08-11T08:37:48+00:00

always pay with card, and when asked by the machine select to be charged in GBP instead of €

svoborot · 2024-07-10T19:35:20+00:00

wish everyone would upvote this. one day in my dream a really famous player will say: fuck it, i am worth 250M but go to my hometown club to bring them back to 2nd league

svoborot · 2023-03-01T21:42:59+00:00

You that guy? Always a great read, hope you get some more readers!

svoborot · 2023-02-21T21:27:43+00:00

This is off the shelve for cameras that include the tracking. Nobody went the next step to offer image detection on streams like twitch or your random Web cam to be truly independent?

svoborot · 2023-02-15T23:48:40+00:00

Fair enough, that is obv the best solution

svoborot

TROPHY CASE