Thanks for the replies. As my job position is sometimes a tricky one to fill (depending on location) I am going to put my resume out there and see what bites. At the very least it lets my target schools know I am interested in joining them if an opportunity arises. Nothing ventured, etc. Being a niche appointment it is rarely worth the time and expense to go to a recruiting fair, I have found.

I would definitely recommend citronella lotion for keeping the bugs away and if the location requires it a good quality mosquito net (and deet refresher spray). Being a big chap with big feet I have to rely on my brought-with clothes and shoes for many areas. Personally I almost always replace the usual school provided plastic kettle with a quality stainless steel one - healthier in my opinion.

I'll approach this from the other ending - leaving!
Of course it also depends on how long you intend to stay. I usually travel in light with my maximium baggage allowance and carry on. I have certainly shipped out of a country with more - including a container load of furniture, etc but that won't happen again any time soon. I have previously met two veteran teachers who travel with 2 container loads of their personal furniture and stuff and while that meant their accommodation was home from home it seems like an insane burden and cost even if you planned to stay put for 5 years or more.
In terms of electrical goods, I have been lucky in working in the ME where the goods I have bought can be used without adapters 'back home' since the voltage and plugs are the same so keeping rather than selling on worked out for me. North American colleagues have not had it so lucky.
Depending on where you are in Asia, electronics can be pretty reasonable or ridiculously expensive (Philippines).

I am not xenophobic. If I was I wouldn't be working overseas, I wouldn't have a wife from a different country/race, and nor would I have spent almost a decade in the ME. My beef is not with legitimate refugees or economic migrants (I am one myself I suppose), but with the genuine and growing threat of nihilists intent on destroying our ways of life and values under the cover of their chosen religion.

The undeniable fact is Merkel's open-door policy to help Syrian refugees (admirable but clearly misguided) has exposed western Europe to infiltration by numerous jihadist groups and individuals, to say nothing of the influx of economic migrants from other areas posing as refugees. These are supported by migrants already in the EU who despise our way of life and values and seek its destruction.

Increased attacks on women throughout Europe in the months since the Syrian migrant explosion cannot be ignored nor can the self-styled 'religious watchdogs' who have attempted to impose shariah laws on their European hosts. The situation in Sweden has been increasingly worsening with an alarming increase in sex attacks on women and young girls - which the press are gagged from reporting on.

The jihadists/extremists' own websites and propaganda speak for themselves - exploit the welfare systems and liberal rights of the host nation, arbrogating those very freedoms and then take increasing control. For once i am in agreement with Putin -

"Any minority, from anywhere, if it wants to live in Russia, to work and eat in Russia, should speak Russian, and should respect the Russian laws. If they prefer Sharia Law, and live the life of Muslims then we advise them to go to those places where that's the state law. Russia does not need Muslim minorities. Minorities need Russia, and we will not grant them special privileges, or try to change our laws to fit their desires, no matter how loud they yell 'discrimination'. We will not tolerate disrespect of our Russian culture."

Can anyone advise on the effectiveness or otherwise of speculative applications to schools where someone is interested in working? Planning ahead to 2017-18 I am hoping to make my next move to one of the better schools on my wish list.
My job field is non-/semi-teaching admin/specialist not a classroom teacher. I was thinking of sending our my resumes from September. Any thoughts?

I feel the same as the OP. Am also in the ME and despite a promising start I feel like I am here because I have a pulse. My ideas and initiatives are not considered and I am surrounded by a body of (regional) teachers who just don't cut it and a local admin that is lacking. Do I bail after Year 2 or grit it out for a 3rd year? yes I am making some savings but it is hurting my professionalism and enthusiasm. I am not the sort who can come in, be mediocre and take the pay. As I approach the final 3rd of my career I also don't have the time or the temperament for b.s.

I have never worked there but my wife has and hated it. by no means is it like the UAE. The infrastructure is crummy, it is tediously boring and the locals have the worst attitude in the region (from her experience and what i have been told by others). Salaries are pretty low compared to other countries in the ME and there are a lot of exceptionally bad schools. I haven't heard anything about Kuwait that would tempt me there.

The terrorism threat is a genuine worry and I would probably not consider Belgium now given the pretty serious concerns there. The whole mass immigration to Europe has caused us to change our plans - and I am waiting to see if the UK decides to leave the EU. Potentially, for either reason, for me a decent number of job opportunities might be about to vanish or become considerable more difficult to get.

Cost of living in Norway is very high - it would be doable as a singleton but of you have a family to support I think it might be hard to save anything. More of an experience/lifestyle choice location. Cebu is ok but not as good as Manila and the salaries I have seen offered there are low. The IS I know of in Cebu is 3rd tier and a low payer but a happier place to be at since the previous Head moved on.

@PsyGuy, I am a LMS so although I teach research skills among my other duties, it has not been an absolute requirement (in my personal experience) that I be a certified teacher. When I applied to a school in Brunei the offer was withdrawn on the grounds that the school could not get a work visa for me as all staff in schools have to be certified. It may have been baloney but i think the Principal was being honest as he genuinely was very keen to hire me. In fact it was one of the fastest job offers I have had and was made during the interview. It's moot now given the way Brunei is heading.

The salary quoted seems ok for Qatar in my experience. I left after 4 years and reached $50K USD a year but I know the school I was at was bringing in new staff on much lower salaries (around $30K USD a year). You were considered lucky to reach year 4 or 5 before the school would not renew your contract so they could hire a cheaper replacement. Tutoring was forbidden but widespread and you could easily make enough to match 50% to 100% of your salary if you put in the hours. It passed the time because Doha is a pretty dull place and crazy hot/humid in the summer.

I appreciate the replies given although I am not the OP!
In my case I am a LMS with IB experience.
The schools I have worked in have been (in order): low Tier 2 (4 years), Tier 3 (1 year), Tier 1 (2 years), upper Tier 2 (current).
My job area can be hard to find - and I am told hard to recruit for in some regions.
I think my resume and experience are strong but as I have a trailing family I appreciate each job search becomes harder.
I am looking at one more 3-5 year position for the savings and then a more longer-term location with a view to putting down roots.
I am approaching the end of year 1 in my current position but by summer 2018 the push factor is my own children's education.
My concern is 2018 may be a year with no or limited vacancies in my field (it does happen) and if a position appears in 2017 should I try for it. (I should mention my current school only offers 1 year contracts).

What are the average salaries like for ITs in Manila?

@PsyGuy

Many thanks for the clarification. I will keep that in mind should anything ever come up i can apply for.

So as far as western Europe goes, Switzerland appears to be the only country where free tuition for dependent kids is not taxed as a benefit?