The majority of expats who come to work in Libya seem to come without their families. Oftentimes, they get contracts that allow them to work for an extended time here in Libya and then they are given extended times off when they travel back home to be with their families. While this may work for some, most find it hard to be away from their spouse and children for these extended periods of time. We understand that there are security concerns that are behind some of these decisions. However, we have many friends and clients who have decided to move to Tripoli to work and live with their families.
Parks
A drive along the coastal road (Trek Shut) will lead you to a number of great parks to enjoy with your family. One of our favorites is the Abu Sitta Horsetrack (Fursia), located just past the LTT building as you are heading east from downtown along the coast. Here you will find well maintained and secure playgrounds, exercise stations as well as a few different track options. The tracks are great for walking, running, or even roller blading with your children!
Other parks along the coastal road have an abundance of play items. You will find blow up bouncy houses, carnival type rides for the smaller children as well as beautiful fountains and paddle boat rentals. Most also now have cafes with seating areas where the parents can sit and chat while watching the kids play on the rides!
Beaches
The beaches are also a hit with the kids. Located right on the coast of the Mediterranean there are a few beach options for families. If you want to be where the action is, try out the beaches around the Corinthia Hotel on the western side of the port. For calmer waters, many enjoy the beaches that are inside the harbor. If you travel east along the coastal road there are other nice beaches where you can rent a table and chairs under a thatched roof and enjoy the beach without having to be under the direct hot sun. At many of these beaches you will find kite surfing, snorkeling as well as jet skiing.
Schools
One of the main concerns that expats usually have is the schooling options for their children. Tripoli has a few international schools that are available. One of the larger one is the International School of Martyrs (ISM) (www.ismschool.com). Located in Hay Alandalous, this school has about 700 students from elementary through high school. It has an English curriculum with several international expat teachers.
Other options are also available. One is the American School of Tripoli (www.astripoli.org). It has not yet opened for this school year but check out their website for more information as to when it will reopen. The International School of Tripoli (GEMS) is another option offering a British curriculum. Another is the Ladybird International School (Ladybird_School@yahoo.com) offering nursery thru grade 6. For Germans, there is the Deutsche Schule. For French, check out Ecole de la Communaute Francaise.