Fireworks, Bonfires, and Burning Effigies

International Living Postcards—your daily escape
Thursday, Dec. 31, 2009

Dear International Living Reader,

Cuenca is known as the City of Festivals. Tonight is one of the biggest festive nights of the year all over the world. So, there must be something pretty special planned in the Ecuadorian colonial city, right?

Our man in Cuenca, Kent Zimmerman, reports below from the thick of the celebrations.

Len Galvin
Managing Editor, IL Postcards

P.S. Today is the final day of our Big Holiday Sale. This is your very last chance to get 20% off every book, report, course, subscription, and resource we publish. You may not get the chance to leverage our experience at such a low price for a long time.

Cuenca, New Year’s Eve
By Kent Zimmerman

If you are a pyromaniac, living in Cuenca anytime is a thrill—but on New Year’s Eve, it’s nirvana. You can buy just about any kind of firework imaginable (Ecuador is just behind China in producing fireworks). You can set them off anywhere to your heart’s delight, and people around you will applaud, not complain.

–Recommended By IL–

One of the Cheapest Places on Earth
(Where You Can Live Like an Emperor)

Own a brand new beachfront condo for $75,000. Or a luxury apartment for $28,000. Employ full-time household help to cook and clean for $30 a week. Enjoy a gourmet meal for two, with wine and dessert, for $25.

Every cliché you’ve heard about living large on little…about settling into the lap of luxury on even a pensioner’s budget…is true in this country.

Save 20% during our Christmas Sale with this link.

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There are many places in the world where you can watch the city-sponsored New Year’s Eve festivities. Here in Cuenca you are in the middle of the revelry.

After all the celebrations and festivals of Christmas, you would think these good-natured people would have had enough. Then December 31st comes around and it is like the entire city turned into 15-year-old boys whose favorite uncle just took them to a real fireworks stand across the state-line.

It starts in the morning with piles of “monigotes” (paper-mache effigies) available all over town for $4 to $8. Your goal is to stuff it with fireworks (which are available everywhere as well) and make it look like your least favorite politician, your boss, yourself, a celebrity… Creativity is the key, and there are no rules. Whole neighborhoods will get together with a theme and set up elaborate and intricate political commentary using these fireworks stuffed dummies. Got a gripe with the current administration, this is your chance.

Once all the effigies are set up, it’s time to wander around from one neighborhood to another, check out the monigotes displays, and celebrate. Block-parties fill the streets and a foreigner with just a little Spanish will find a warm welcome anywhere.

Have a drink, have a dance, Feliz Año Nuevo! Only in Cuenca, can a city of 250,000 feel like such a small town.

The energy and high spirits keep building, everyone is out from great-grandma to the smallest baby. Meanwhile young boys dressed as widows humorously stop every car going down their streets, demanding small change in order that they can afford to bury their roguish “husbands” who will be thrown to the fires tonight.

With the approach of midnight the countdown begins: 5,4,3,2,1… pandemonium. The sky fills with rockets, the street with firecrackers and suddenly huge bonfires leap up on every block. The detailed monigotes are ripped from their staging and thrown into the fire, shrieking with an ear-splitting cacophony as their firework stuffed innards explode.

An hour later, it’s over, the bonfires die down, the pall of fireworks dissipates, and the industrious Cuencanos clean up the ashes, kiss their neighbors, send off a paper balloon for good luck and head home. Of course, a few have to stop to send off just one more rocket into the smoky skies.

The best part about living in South America is how free you are to live your life. Government has bigger fish to fry then some of the issues that come up in your local paper and there is a cultural understanding that you can live the way you want to, and your neighbors will do the same.

Editor’s note: If Ecuador sounds like your kind of place, remember: Today is your last chance to get the Ecuador Owner’s Manual with a 20% discount.

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We asked our International Living network of over 200 seasoned travelers and expatriates to spill all their best-kept secrets…and they obliged:

Hidden mountain monasteries in Bulgaria…celebrated honeymoon spots from Paris to Macau…breathtaking beaches dotting the Caribbean…the hidden sights of Europe…exotic markets in China… Dirt-cheap dinners in Central America…raucous nightlife in Brazil…strange festivals in Ireland…unspoiled coastlines everywhere…

The result is a rare glimpse into 4,493 of the world’s most fascinating places to go and things to do ever assembled…
Dec. 27, 2009

Dear International Living Reader,

Every traveler has precious moments they can recount after a fabulous trip.

The romantic café you stumble upon accidentally down a cobblestone alley in Paris, where time stands still for an entire afternoon. The locals-only market in Shanghai where you discover bargains beyond what you imagined possible for a tourist. The 1,000-year-old cathedral you traipse through in Rome—when you close your eyes, you can still see the light streaming through the stained glass just so at sunset.

At International Living, we’re lucky to have people who share these private moments with us all the time… too lucky, in fact, to keep them selfishly to ourselves.

So we compiled literally thousands of our favorites for you to explore and enjoy, and we’ve humbly called it The World’s Best: The Ultimate Book for the International Traveler.

This is, by far, our most ambitious publication. I think the result will surprise you. Or amuse you. Maybe even excite and inspire you.

I can tell you this, you’ll be a little breathless when you open the first page and look at the table of contents. Here’s why…

A Little of Everything…From Everywhere

The World’s Best is exactly that—a subjective set of bests culled from more than 200 seasoned travelers and expatriates around the world who are affiliated with International Living. It spans 62 countries across six continents…and is contained within 706 pages…barely!

It isn’t exactly the stuff of guidebooks…although it is chock-full of phone numbers, addresses, and directions to incredible places. It isn’t exactly a history lesson…although you get snippets of stories behind the places that will make you laugh, and a few that will make you cry.

It is more of a traveler’s log, with notes to a dear friend in the margins. From the sites you shouldn’t miss to the restaurants you might unless you know where to look for them.

We didn’t give our contributors a template, or a word count, like most publishers do. We didn’t just have them collect a bunch of brochures, or call the Ministry of Tourism for a general overview. Believe it or not, we weren’t looking for quantity of information (though we got that, too!), but quality. The quirks as well as the straightforward facts:

The World’s Best covers so much ground you’ll have jetlag by page 350 (by then we are in India)…and you’re still only half-way through(there’s still North and South America, Japan and South-East Asia to go!).

Seriously, I was amazed at the massive amount of material we collected when we put out the call. There are enough snippets of history and storytelling to give you the flavor of a place, but not so much that you get bogged down. Enough inside information to give you an edge, but not so much that you miss out on the main attractions.

Even if you’re a seasoned traveler, you’re sure to discover more than a few places that weren’t on your must-see list. Until now.

Personally, I was ready to book a trip around page 152 when I read about Bulgaria’s spa resorts. The country has more than 220 mineral water springs which, along with the mud along the Black Sea coast, are believed to have curative properties. One of the best spa resorts in the world is here with its abundance of sunshine and rich vegetation which make for a very relaxing stay.  For some, this is armchair travel at its best. No need to board a plane…unless you desperately want to…instead, you can enjoy The World’s Best from a cozy spot in your living room.

For others, the urge to run to the phone and call your travel agent will be almost impossible to resist. So why bother?

Why We Think This Is
‘The Ultimate Book for the International Traveler’

It’s almost impossible to sum up the magnitude of The World’s Best…and that’s just the point. Of course, there are hundreds of places that you might already know, such as:

Embrace a vast and diverse world

Then, there are the “signature” aspects of each country…the places you must see, and the things you must do. It’s more than you can squeeze into one lifetime—but it’s certainly worth a try:

Plus, hundreds of little surprises and curiosities, like:

Use Our Best To Discover Your Best

Our best may not be your best. To some, the best means the most expensive, luxurious digs in town. Like the Claridge’s Hotel in London—where a Hungarian Quartet plays in the lobby (and have been for nearly a century), liveried attendants greet you at your door and dress-maids are available to help you choose what you’d like to wear for the evening.

To others, it’s knowing the best place to go to get the inside scoop on the town and its major characters. Like Eva’s in Belize, where you get the cheapest food…and all the local gossip.

Woven throughout the newest edition of The World’s Best, you’ll find the fodder for creating your own personal best list. Start with ours, and explore from there. After all, most great adventures start with a tour guide of some sort. Maybe it’s a book. Or the local guy you meet when you sidle up to the bar and have a drink before you get settled in your hotel.

There’s a strange balance—one that every experienced traveler understands—between embracing such a vast and diverse world, and breaking it down into cherished moments when it feels small…and uniquely your own.

Our first edition of The World’s Best dates back to 1986—and was just 207 pages. The world has changed so much since then. The Berlin Wall came down, Eastern Europe opened its doors to foreign travelers, China joined the World Trade Organization, sleepy Caribbean islands woke up, and Central America started coming back to life one small, impoverished country at a time.

The world seems to have gotten much bigger in the intervening years. Yet, at the same time, it seems smaller and more accessible than ever.

I certainly wouldn’t presume to call The World’s Best complete. Even 200 people don’t have a handle on such a vast and glorious place.

But I can tell you that you will discover nooks and crannies that you never knew existed, experiences you’ll want to have for yourself, and a wish-list longer than a child’s at Christmas of places to go and things to do.

Take a look at this list…it is merely a smattering of this impressive, and slightly quirky, compilation of The World’s Best:

• Decadence in Germany—450 kinds of bread, 1,000 kinds of sausage, and 1,000 different cheeses await you at Berlin’s equivalent of Harrod’s (p.287)
• The best afternoon tea in Dublin…in the building where the Irish constitution was drafted (p.368)
• The most authentic castle stay in Scotland—no tartan drapes or armor anywhere (p.145)
• The best place to be single in Japan (p. 423)
• A cheap date in Portugal that won’t make you look bad (p.486)
• Watch the most macho surfers paddle through crashing waves during Sydney’s most imaginative water festival (p. 63)
• Where to stay in the heart of the Brazilian rainforest (p.111)
• 500-year-old mountain monasteries that will keep you pious in Bulgaria (p.151)
• The world’s most mysterious rock in Queensland (p.72) and the best place for a festival in the Outback (p.75)

You will discover nooks and crannies that you never knew existed, experiences you’ll want to have for yourself, and a wish-list longer than a child’s at Christmas of places to go and things to do.

• The best mint tea in Morocco–and why you must drink three glasses (p.50)
• The prettiest town in the most maligned state in the U.S.—it’s not Newark, but you’re close! (p.599)
• The best bathtub race in Vancouver (p.180)
• Where to go to try Asia’s most dangerous food—you need a license to prepare it or death is imminent! (p.415)
• The Caribbean’s best bird watching where you can expect to see no less than 136 species of birds (p.187)
• The best way to send a message from Nairobi (hint: it’s not e-mail!) (p.11)
• Forgotten French towns–.in Canada (p.172)
• The best way to get a hangover in the Caribbean…and the best way to avoid one (p.192)
• Original William Spratling silver—and discounts of 25% to 50% on everything from silver candelabras to jewelry (p.436)
• The world’s best colored gems (for 25% less than you’d find in New York) (p.112)
• The most colorful festival in India—where you’ll witness the symbolic destruction of evil (p.339)
• Seven hundred and fifty acres of botanical beauty you won’t want to miss just northeast of Guangzhou (p.216)
• A dinner treat you’ll love: Moreton Bay bugs and Victorian yabbies (p.77)
• The steamiest side trip in San Miguel (p.436)
• The priciest café in Paris where an espresso will set you back $8—maybe more depending on the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the euro that day (p.257)
• The best “almost free” lunch in Ecuador (p.253)
• The saddest sight in Dallas (p.619)
• The oldest living things on earth (p.207)
• Rome’s best-kept secret (a town with no tourists for miles!) (p.381)
• A car-free Alsatian town that clings to a vine-covered hill—and has some of the best white wine in Europe (p.279)
• Butterfly kisses in Mexico (p.436)
• The magic of Madrid during Holy Week (p.562)
• The famous seven pagodas guarded by statues of an elephant, a lion, and a bull in the ancient city of Mammallapuram (p.352)
• The best roast beef in London (p. 123)
• More Rembrandt than anywhere else in the world (p.286)
• The door to the underworld (p.392)
• The most frightening sights in Poland: from the Mausoleum to Struggle and Martyrdom to a less obvious manhole cover through which 5,300 insurgents escaped the sewer canal during the Warsaw uprising. (p.478)
• The red-light district of Shanghai known as Blood Alley—with the best opium dens and brothels, even today (p.219)

Even if you’re a seasoned traveler, you’re sure to discover more than a few places that weren’t on your must-see list. Until now.

• The three best ways to spend a Sunday afternoon in London (p.118)
• The traditional fishing village that inspired Matisse—and remains unspoiled still (p.283)
• Beautiful bodies and the hottest nightlife on Portugal’s southern coast (p.488)
• The world-famous opera house that was dubbed the “Operasaurus” by locals when it first opened (p.59)
• The best “ghost walk” in the only genuinely haunted burial grounds in Scotland where thousands of 17th-century plague victims are buried beneath grassy slopes (p.144)
• Ski with the stars in Austria—at the resort where tour groups are verboten (p.675)
• Not for the faint-hearted: discover the most exotic market in China, where live animals (of all kinds!) await slaughter and organs you have never heard of are for sale (p.691)
• When to give baksheesh, and when to say Emshee! while traveling in Egypt (p.47)
• The place known as “the end of the world”—before the New World was discovered (p.489)
• The best star-gazing, where every constellation in the sky is visible every night of the year (p.11)
• The best cigar shop in the world—and its not in Havana (p.270)

If you’ve ever wanted to have the inside scoop on just about any place you want to go. From the biggest and best attractions, to the little hole-in-the-wall dives that serve the best food and spark the most animated conversations. This is your chance to enjoy that insider’s privilege.

You’ll want The World’s Best immediately…  while all the information is completely fresh and up-to-date.

And I’d like to send it to you for FREE.

All I ask in return is for you to give International Living’s magazine a try.

There’s absolutely no risk to you. You have my 100% satisfaction guarantee. If for any reason you don’t find IL’s magazine and all the benefits that come with it an absolutely amazing value…just cancel…  no questions asked. You’ll get a prompt pro-rated refund.

International Living is so much more than just a magazine. It’s like a portal to a new life. It opens the doors of a world of possibilities to you.

There is much, much more for you to discover!

You see… when you become a subscriber to International Living magazine, not only will you receive an info-packed issue every month…

… but you’ll also gain immediate access to our online archives… which contains every issue we’ve published in the past ten years in PDF format.

What’s more, ALL of these issues are searchable online.

So if you fancy retiring in Ecuador… or starting your own B&B in Italy or taking a round-the-world trip… or whatever else you might have in mind… just type in a few  search words… hit ENTER… and you can find what you’re looking for.

It’s like having the whole world… decades of research… and all the hard-won knowledge you could possibly want… right at your fingertips… no matter where you are in the world.

And if receiving the gorgeous, full-color International Living magazine AND access to the online archives isn’t enough to convince you to say, “YES!” to this amazing offer…

… I’ve got a feeling you’ll like this.

You’ll also get theAnnual Global Retirement Index

Each September… International Living’s most well-known and well-respected report is available to subscribers. It’s International Living’s Annual Global Retirement Index.

It’s a list of the top 30 countries for North Americans to retire in. What’s more, each country is analyzed and ranked in categories – including health care, cost of living, climate, culture, safety, stability, and more…

For anyone who has dreamed of retiring overseas… yet isn’t sure exactly where to retire, International Living’s Annual Global Retirement Index can be the perfect place to start.

When putting together the Annual Global Retirement Index, we look closely at the best opportunities worldwide for retirement living. Where will the retiree’s dollars go farthest? Which country is the safest? Where is the health care best? We give top priority to those things that matter most to anyone planning for retirement, including programs with special benefits for retirees… things like tax breaks and discounts, for example, that various governments offer in an effort to attract investment and retirement dollars.”

NOTE: When you find out which country won this year… and what it’s like to live there (especially the incredibly low prices)… you’ll probably want to book a ticket as soon as you finish reading the issue!

By the way, when you subscribe to International Living, you’ll gain access to the 2009 Annual Global Retirement Index IMMEDIATELY. Simply go online with your subscribers-only username and password (You’ll receive these within minutes of subscribing online) and read the issue in PDF format.

You’ll Also Receive The Annual Quality Of Life Index

The Quality Of Life Index is a snapshot of the world’s best – and worst – places to live. Not just for North American expats and retirees… but for anyone.

It’s well worth taking a look at when looking for a new place to live overseas… or even when planning a trip.

After all, you may have your heart set on living in a country that doesn’t appear in the Annual Global Retirement Index. If that’s the case, the Quality Of Life Index (which analyzes and ranks over 190 countries) can give you some quick facts to help you weigh the pros and cons against your country of choice.

It’s immensely helpful… and even a little bit controversial (wait until you see where the USA ranks)… but you’ll definitely refer to it again and again.

You’ll receive the annual Quality Of Life Index in January as a subscriber to International Living magazine.

Here’s the best deal that you’ll ever be offered to subscribe to the print edition of International Living and start receiving all the benefits reserved for subscribers only:

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If you’re like many folks these days—not entirely sure your retirement savings will go the distance… or not sure where to put what’s left of your nest egg so it’s safe and growing…

Then I encourage you to give International Living a try right now. There’s no risk for you. When you do, I’ll send you your free copy of The World’s Best (value: $39.95).

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The truth of the matter is: An international lifestyle isn’t just for the rich and famous. It’s for anybody willing to take advantage of the best-value opportunities in welcoming communities around the globe.

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Sign up online right now for just $69 $49 for one year of International Living, you can have everything that I described above, including a free copy of The World’s Best (value: $39.95), you’ll save $20 on the regular subscription price. And if for any reason you cancel, please keep the book it’s my way of saying “thank you” for giving International Living magazine a try.

Reserve your free copy of The World’s Best here.

Sincerely,

Jackie Flynn
Publisher, International Living

P.S. As you log thousands of miles and cross over rivers, valleys and oceans with The World’s Best, the only thing you’ll miss are the frequent flyer miles you’d accumulate if you had to pack your bags and hop on a plane, rather than merely turn the page to get from one place to the next.

It will likely be another 20 years before we undertake such a project again…most of us here at International Living are going to be too busy checking out each other’s “best” recommendations. So I hope you won’t delay and will reserve your free copy now.

What the Toughest Lady in Real Estate Thinks of Costa Rica
International Living Postcards—your daily escape
Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2009

Dear International Living Reader,

When real estate expert Ronan McMahon can’t investigate a potential new market personally, there’s only one person he trusts enough to send in his stead—Margaret Summerfield.

Margaret was handpicked by Ronan for this job. Developers hate to see her coming—they say she’s a real tough number, even harder to please than Ronan.

I wouldn’t know about that. I’ve always found her to be thoroughly charming. But she is one of the few people I turn to when I need an opinion on international real estate.

Margaret’s onto something on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast. See her report below.

Len Galvin
Managing Editor, IL Postcards

P.S. This is the last day you can subscribe to the International Living magazine for just $17. Our print publication is the world’s premier magazine on traveling, living, retiring, and investing overseas…and $17 is an incredible deal.

The Next Big Windfall: Profits on Costa Rica’s Forgotten Coast
By Margaret Summerfield

Locals refer to Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast—the region of Limon—as the “Forgotten Province.” Both the government and developers have long neglected it in favor of the nation’s Pacific side, where it’s easy to find million-dollar homes today.

–Recommended By IL–

Costa Rica’s Next Beachfront Boomtown

No duty-free or airport food here … just rough roads and bargain-priced property.
But over the ridge massive changes are already taking place. Bulldozers and workers are turning the rough-and-tumble dirt track into a modern highway.

Until now this area has been largely ignored by investors … mostly because it’s been hard to get to. But this is all changing…

Save 20% during our Christmas Sale with this link.

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Now Caribbean Limon is readying for a makeover that will, if history is any guide, propel prices through the roof there, too. Properties selling for $55,000 today could well be worth ten times that in a decade.

That’s exactly what happened with Los Suenos, the first major marina development on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast. When the developers broke ground back in 1997, you could have bought for $250,000. Today, a home at Los Suenos costs from $500,000 to $4 million. And you’ll find no end of upscale developments in the region.

Now, the first major real estate development on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast is gearing up. It’s a $40-million project, with plans for a 390-slip marina, two breakwaters, a shopping center, a hotel, and 800 homes. It’s the first luxury development of this scope on this coast. A home here will cost up to $2 million.

And once the development is under way, expect to see restaurants, cafés, and boutiques springing up to service the marina residents. The ripple effect will wash over into neighboring towns and villages, transforming them from sleepy backwaters to chic destinations.

Yet right now, you can still buy property in this region for $55,000—that’s for a large three-bedroom home. City lots can be had for $11,500.

It’s undeniably pretty here. Coconut trees fringe long stretches of white-sand beach on this coast. The town of Puerto Viejo is popular among surfers, and Punta Uva ranks as one of the top 10 beaches worldwide, according to Outside magazine.

Inland in Limon you’ll find lush rainforests, tropical wildlife, and the towering Talamanca Mountains. It’s all an accessible two-hour drive from Costa Rica’s capital, San Jose, with its international airport. So why long “forgotten?” Simple: not enough infrastructure and few tourism amenities.

But, as I’ve said, that’s about to change. Here’s why. When you head for the Caribbean coast from San Jose, you drive east through Braulio Carillo national park, a vast expanse of pristine rainforest. But then you reach the port town of Limon, which is noisy, dilapidated, and lacks basic tourism necessities.

For much of the last century, the United Fruit Company ran Limon. They constructed a railroad linking it to San Jose. And they built colonial houses and cottages for their workers. But when the company pulled out of Limon in the 1960s, the town slipped into decline.

Now, things are looking up. This past June, the Costa Rican government kick-started a gentrification plan with the first funds from an $80-million investment program. An additional $900 million will come from private investment.

This cash injection is going to transform the province of Limon into a tourism hotspot.

Get full details about property opportunities in this part of Costa Rica…from $11,500 to $217,000…in the December issue of International Living magazine.

Editor’s note: This is the last day you can subscribe to the IL magazine for just $17. If you want instant access to the current issue, including Margaret’s Costa Rica article…plus instant access to every premium article we’ve published during the past 100 months…for just $17…this is your last chance.

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You May Qualify For Ecuador’s Special Benefits

International Living Postcards—your daily escape
Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2009

Dear International Living Reader,

If you’re a retiree in Ecuador, you’re eligible for the same benefits as Ecuadorian retirees at age 65. This includes 50% off all public transportation and utilities…tax benefits…and half-price sports and recreational events.

You’ll also get 50% off domestic flights and international airfares for round-trip flights originating in Ecuador. This isn’t part of an official government program, but it’s offered on Taca, Copa, and AeroGal airlines.

Best of all, you never have to wait to be served. Retirees go to the head of the line every time.

Lee and Peggy Carper aren’t “retirees” (he’s 56 and she’s 53). Yet since they moved to Ecuador, they’ve been spoiling themselves with a luxurious retirement. Their apartment is bigger than they need…they never cook…and they have a maid and laundry service.

But they can’t spend more than $700 per month—and that’s without all the retiree discounts you may be entitled to. See below for their story.

Len Galvin
Managing Editor, IL Postcards

P.S. Our latest report on Ecuador reveals everything you need to know about this country. The pros and cons…the ins and outs…hard-won knowledge from expats and keen advice from experts. Take a look.

“I Haven’t Felt This Good in So Long I Can’t Remember…”
By Laura Sheridan

Every year, IL’s Annual Global Retirement Index rates 30 countries in the world under eight categories to give you the results of the best places in the world to retire to. This year, Ecuador is top of our scoreboard. Not only that, but it also wins in a category that is important to most people when they consider retiring overseas—the Cost of Living category.

Ecuador is the place to go to make your retirement dollars stretch even further. In fact, two retirees we know, Lee and Peg Carper live well here on less than $600 a month.

Lee and Peg live in Cotacachi, a small village in the Ecuadorian Andes two hours north of Quito. Cotacachi has a real sense of community. There are a couple of barbers, a small health clinic, and a pavilion for the town band. At night, the artisan shops close up and only a few restaurants and small mom-and-pop shops are open. That’s all you need. After a day of sunshine in the 8,000-foot-elevation mountain climate, night time is for sleeping.

The $600 a month covers their total expenses in Cotacachi—food, utilities, medical expenses, dog food, and even the rent on their new 1,200-square-foot apartment. An additional $100 covers miscellaneous expenses including cigarettes and a couple of cases of beer.

We’re not saying you should move abroad just because the cost of living is low (though that helps). The IL readers who have moved to Ecuador—to seaside resorts, mountain villages, or colonial cities—all report back on how happy they are in their new havens.

“We have it good,” Peg Carper says.

Her husband Lee agrees. “In the last 50 years, we’ve gone from a society where Dad worked and everyone was happy to one where both Mom and Dad have to work just to make ends meet, and no one is happy. I’m enjoying life here.”

Before moving to Ecuador, Lee was on disability from a work injury. But now? “I haven’t felt this good in so long I can’t remember,” Lee says. “I used to take pain medication, but here I rarely take an aspirin.”

Editor’s note: We’re so excited about Ecuador right now because it’s this year’s world’s best retirement haven—and so many IL readers are making it their home. To celebrate, we’ve released the Ecuador Trail-Blazer’s Kit, which includes the Ecuador Owner’s Manual (worth $69). You also get three free bonuses: the special reports Colonial Cuenca: The World’s #1 Retirement Haven (worth $19) and South America’s Last Coastal Frontier (worth $49)…and The Expanded Ultimate Ecuador Audio Collection (worth $49). Total value: $186. Price of the Ecuador Trail Blazer’s Kit: $55.20. This is the best Ecuador deal we’ve ever offered…but it only lasts until Friday. Order yours now.

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The Hidden Paradise Where A Couple Can Live Well On Less Than $600 a Month!

Sell your winter clothes…and get ready for the adventure of a lifetime in the
Land of Eternal Spring.

December 15, 2009

Dear International Living Reader,

Every cliché you’ve heard about living large on little…about settling into the lap of luxury on even a retiree’s budget…is true in the place I’m about to reveal.

This is one of the world’s cheapest places to live. Take $150 out of the ATM Monday morning…and your expenses are covered for the week.

You heard right. In a moment I’ll show you the actual monthly budget of a couple living the good life in one of the most beautiful, healthy and relaxed places on earth on less than $600 per month…much less than an average Social Security check.

And this couple rents. If you own your own home in this remarkable place you could pay even less each month for one of the best lifestyles on the planet.

Happily, owning in this place is easy, because it also boasts some of the world’s great real estate bargains and investment opportunities. How about 2,100 square feet of beach front land… with two-bedroom house… for $115,000? Or 1,200 square foot beach view condos with hotel and beach club privileges for $79,000? Or a three-bedroom, lock-and-leave condo in a charming village in the heart of the Andes with mountain views for $54,500?

Some countries offer low costs of living. Others have good real estate buys…or attractive business opportunities. But, in two decades of looking, we’ve never found a country that offers all these things in abundance…plus perfect year-round weather.

I’m talking about Ecuador.

We’ve been telling you about the attractions of life in Ecuador and the many opportunities this country offers for nearly a decade. There are so many good reasons for coming to Ecuador, it’s hard to pinpoint the best one…but this is for sure: It’s a remarkably affordable place to live.

You can employ full-time household help to cook and clean for $30 a week…enjoy a gourmet meal for two, with wine and dessert, for $25…get a haircut or take a taxi for $3…have your shoes shined for 30 cents…own a grand colonial mansion in the heart of Quito’s old quarter for $150,000 or a three-bedroom home overlooking the ocean for just $85,000…pay just $150 per month for a two-bedroom apartment with courtyard in a fairytale Andes mountain village…

Indeed, Ecuador wins top honors in nearly every Global Retirement Index we’ve done in the past few years. It is among the cheapest places on earth…and the most beautiful.

Cheap…But Not Backward

Lots of places are cheap. But you wouldn’t want to live in most of them. Ecuador offers a high quality of life, too. This is no isolated backwater.

And it’s better every time we return. Most recently, the Quito airport has been improved dramatically–new jet ways, a totally renovated entrance, new waiting area, and huge vases of roses everywhere.

And an even newer international airport is nearing completion…one that will land passengers outside the congested metropolitan Quito area and drastically cut drive time to some of the country’s most popular highland destinations like Otavalo and Cotacachi.

In Ecuador, you can live on little…and you can live very well. You can golf on breathtaking courses so free of crowds you never have to make a tee time. Indulge in a gourmet meal in a world-class restaurant. Why not? The cost is about what you’d pay for bottled water and an appetizer in a restaurant in Los Angeles, New York, or London. The fresh fruits and vegetables you find overpriced at specialty “organic” shops up north…sell here at the local markets for pennies.

And Ecuador is increasingly connected. Daily flights depart for destinations across the hemisphere. Cell phones are standard issue. Cyber-cafes are easy to find, and home-computer hookups are common. Cable TV gets you the major U.S. networks, CNN, three HBO channels, CineMax, TLC, and more (for less than $50 a month).

You give up nothing to live here… except the high prices.

Safe…And Stable

Before I go further, let me reassure you: Ecuador is a safe place to live and invest.

Crime isn’t unheard-of. Petty theft, particularly in the big cities is an issue…as it is in all big cities. But a bolstered police force and greater attention to education have been brought to bear on the problem.

In the small towns and in the countryside, the calm, quiet, and safety are remarkable. In the highland towns of Otavalo and Cotacachi, you can stroll the streets at night accosted only by the sounds of music from the parks and the greetings of passers-by. You’ll find graffiti if you look hard enough…you’ll find things like “Julio ama a Maria”.

Ecuador is a peaceful country. The population is gentle. Even in the throes of a violent economic upheaval when the local currency careened downward, losing 67% of its value against the dollar in 1999, protests were peaceful. Nobody fired a single shot.

In 2000, with its back against the wall, Ecuador implemented an economic program aimed at stabilizing the country. It replaced the sucre, the local currency with the U.S. dollar, and the congress managed to approve significant reforms in tax and Social Security law.

Ecuador is still walking its own path to recovery despite the world financial crisis. President Correa is a U.S. trained economist who is serving back-to-back terms and has instituted constitutional reforms guaranteeing human rights, property rights…even the rights of Nature to protect and preserve Ecuador’s incredible biodiversity.

And what a diverse country it is. Since Ecuador lies on the equator, it gets year-around, continuous sunshine…just one reason some of the world’s largest rose plantations thrive here. And because Ecuador has everything from gorgeous Pacific coast beaches to snow-capped Andean mountains to lush, tropical Amazon rain forest, you can pick your favorite environment just by choosing your elevation and which side of the mountains you want to be on.

In fact, Ecuador is so affordable that many expats keep two places… one on the beach and one in the highlands.

There aren’t many countries left in the world where you can do that and still keep most of your nest egg intact.

Extraordinary Profit Opportunities

Local expatriates are involved in all kinds of business endeavors–import/export…small hotels…spas…restaurants…tour companies… One of the easiest businesses to get into in Ecuador is import-export. Done even on a small scale, buying merchandise in markets and shops for resale back home can easily pay for your travel. Done on a larger scale, you could turn this kind of project into a steady income.

Ecuador’s artisans are highly skilled. The markets are overflowing with handicrafts, jewelry, sweaters…all on sale for bargain prices. From turquoise, silver, and leather goods to statuary, fine alpaca apparel, and magnificent textiles, you’ll find an endless selection of products you might export and resell for great profits.

But that is just one business option. The list of potential fields goes on–ecotourism, extreme sports, textile manufacturing and export, hospitality, real estate development, and much more.

Time For A Closer Look

For all these reasons and many others, it’s time to take another close look at Ecuador. That’s why we’ve compiled our experience and firsthand information into the most complete guide to Ecuador we’ve published yet… Ecuador: The Owner’s Manual.

This is the most comprehensive, current guide to this country available anywhere. In truth, to call it a “guide” is an understatement. This is nothing like Frommer’s or Lonely Planet…not by any stretch.

For example, in our new edition of Ecuador: The Owner’s Manual, we devote a full chapter to current opportunities for the entrepreneur, outlining not only the sectors where you’ll find the most promise, but also providing complete references and resources to help you launch your new business in whatever field interests you most.

This manual, literally years in the making, gives you everything you need to invest, travel, buy real estate, or retire in this Land of Good Living and Eternal Sunshine.

We’ve included contacts and how-to information in every chapter, filling this new edition of Ecuador: The Owner’s Manual with the kind of firsthand, on-the-ground insights you can gather only when you live in a place. We’ve included step-by-step guidelines and how-to’s at every turn…the useful things you won’t find in a run-of-the-mill guidebook or an embassy’s country report. You’ll find details on:

How To Invest In Places That Promise The Best Lifestyle…And The Highest Returns

* Whether it’s a mountain view or a beachside hideaway you’re looking for, we’ll pass along the names, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses for the contacts we’ve found most trustworthy and helpful in each of our favorite destinations.

* If you’re coming here to settle, you’ll need a place to live. We’ll tell you what, exactly, you can expect to pay in fees when you buy property in Ecuador…don’t worry, it’s seldom more than $1,000. And we’ll explain how everything is calculated so there won’t be any surprises.

* How to find an attorney who can arrange everything from residency…to your home purchase…to setting up a business. We recommend honest, efficient, and affordable lawyers you can be sure will take care of every detail and make navigating the bureaucracy a breeze.

* Firsthand tales from the field — stories from people who have already done what you’re thinking about doing. Their hard-won advice from hacienda owners, shrimp-farm proprietors, tour operators, and resident retirees will save you time, money, and hours (maybe even weeks) of frustration…

* Nine steps to buying property in Ecuador. We’ve spelled out in plain English exactly what you can expect when you buy…with notes about each step that gives you the inside, “we did it, and here’s what you need to watch out for” story.

The Practical Know-How For Living In Ecuador

* Complete details about residency and citizenship, learn which of the six visas is right for you…plus how you get it. * How much it really costs to live here. You’ll find a sample monthly budget for a couple living in Quito on $1,600 per month and for another living in less-expensive Cuenca on a mere $1,415 per month, (and yes – the couple I told you about earlier who are living a dream life in Ecuador’s highlands for $600 a month!), plus notes about what things cost, from cable TV to dentures.

* What you should bring. Whether you’re traveling for a week or six months, we’ve included our list of eight things you don’t want to be without.

* What it costs to use a phone…hire a maid, employ a gardener, visit a doctor or dentist…and much more.

* Where to find the best medical and dental care and how much you can expect to pay to have your shoulder repaired or your teeth cleaned.

* How to get full-coverage health insurance in Ecuador for $133 per month (for a couple), including 100% hospitalization benefits, 60% paid prescriptions, and visits to doctors and clinics for $5-$6, among other benefits.

* Getting your pet to Ecuador is easy. But you’ll need to start the paperwork a few weeks before you go. Learn what to do first, what you’ll want to have with you when you travel, and the key person to speak with if you bring your pet back to the States.

* How to pay no taxes on your household goods…including brand-new appliances…and some firsthand advice about what to bring and what to leave at home if you’re moving here full-time.

Traveler’s Tips You Can’t Afford To Ignore:
Luxury Hotels At Boarding House Prices…A Smart Shopper’s Handbook…And More

* Where to find leather handbags…shoes and jackets…ponchos…hats…mittens… blankets…silver jewelry with lapis and turquoise…painted balsa wood birds… handmade flutes…and more. You’ll learn where the best markets are, the best days to go…and the smartest way to negotiate.

* A world-class spa resort at one-third what you’d pay for a comparable experience in Europe. Five-star meals. Gardens filled with flowers and hummingbirds. Spa treatments so divine you’ll never resist a return visit.

* The village where you should buy an original Panama Hat (that’s right… authentic Panama hats actually come from Ecuador). Here you get them straight from the families who weave them in their homes.

* Get a taste of the Galapagos for one-tenth the price. This little island we’ll tell you about is inhabited by albatrosses, boobies, and other rare birds. Eleven species of whales come to court in these waters each year, and you can see them between June and October. We’ll tell you where to stay…and the best month to go.

Business Opportunities Detailed

* From auto parts to snack food…there’s a market for U.S. goods and services in Ecuador. Find out which four sectors show the most potential, and our take on how you might best position yourself to profit.

* The names and contact information for 13 excellent resources to help you launch your business in Ecuador.

* The web address for our favorite on-line site about investing in Ecuador. The more than 100 links posted there will prove invaluable, saving your time, energy, and frustration.

Think Of Us As Your Own Private Consultants…

You’ll find on the shelves in Barnes & Noble a short stack of guidebooks about traveling through Ecuador…and an on-line search invariably produces hundreds of websites with Ecuador content.

None of this compares with this new edition of Ecuador: The Owner’s Manual. This is not a guide for a general audience. It’s designed to help you focus your search for the right place in the world to live and invest…and, specifically, to introduce you, in full detail, to all the reasons Ecuador should be at the top of your list.

It’s like having a consultant walk you through your options and offer you advice. Only instead of paying somebody hundreds, even thousands of dollars for his time and expertise, you get the benefit of our collective experience and know-how, earned over more than two decades researching the world’s top havens, for the price of a modest meal out.

International Living has been writing about Ecuador for nearly a decade now and over the years has developed an extensive network of local contacts. We’ve been to the places covered in this newest edition of Ecuador: The Owner’s Manual again and again, noting changes, finding new advantages. We’ve long championed this country, never more enthusiastically than when economic crisis scared off so many other investors.

We have a history here. And that gives us a competitive advantage. The truth is, our team is uniquely situated to give you insider advice…for example:

* Our Rolodex of contacts–the names, phone numbers, emails, and fax numbers for every one of the people and resources we’ve found helpful (and trustworthy) over our years in this market.

* First-person accounts from people who have already invested in or moved to Ecuador. It’s the next-best-thing to chatting with these folks face-to-face. They’ll tell you why they chose this country…what they most like (and dislike) about it…and what they wish they’d known before they jumped in.

* Detailed, step-by-step guides to buying property, getting residency, and launching a business, for instance including an outline of what to expect and what to watch out for.

* A full description of the areas in Ecuador where you’ll find the best opportunities for an affordable lifestyle…profitable investment…warm-weather escape…and cool-weather living…in other words: the places we think have the most to offer you in terms of value investing and quality of life–specifically, Quito, Cotacachi, Cuenca, Vilcabamba, and beyond…

Get In Now…And Beat The Crowds

Your timing is good. Now is a smart time to gain a foothold in Ecuador…before the rest of the world catches on to what a wonderland this is. Like Costa Rica and Mexico before it, Ecuador will attract a growing number of foreign retirees in the years to come.

Baby Boomers are approaching retirement at a time when the world economy is in tatters. The global financial crisis has pummeled their investment portfolios, IRAs, 401Ks, and pension funds. They face greater financial pressures in retirement than at any time since the Great Depression. And in greater numbers than ever, they are seeking alternatives to a retirement of merely scraping by in the U.S.

Right now…today…Ecuador makes perfect sense as an ideal escape from the financial chaos.

Tale of the Tape

Remember that monthly budget I mentioned earlier? The one that allows two U.S. expats to live a healthy, happy lifestyle on less than one average Social Security check?

Lee and Peg Carper live in Cotacachi, a small village in the Ecuadorian Andes two hours north of Quito. Like the clock above the town park with hands permanently stopped at 1:07, time stands still here.

Even though they live in one of the most beautiful spots on the planet, neither of them is worried about stretching their retirement dollars. That’s because their total monthly expenses are less than $600. This includes food, utilities, medical expenses, dog food, and even the rent on their new 1,200-square-foot apartment. An additional $100 covers miscellaneous expenses including cigarettes and a couple of cases of beer.

Banking scandals, market crashes, collapsing hedge funds? Living well on less than $600 a month, you can see why Lee and Peg barely give them a thought from their home in Ecuador.

It’s All at your Fingertips

As another expat in Ecuador, Chuck Brown, puts it:

“I retired here in 1996 for many well-considered reasons–including low to no taxes…a non-invasive government…a pleasant, non-violent environment…plus a very low cost of living. I enjoy a good lifestyle on $700 a month. For this semi-retiree of 56 years, Ecuador offers exactly what I was looking for.”

And Ecuador: The Owner’s Manual puts everything you need to live and prosper in one of the most beautiful and affordable places on earth right in the palm of your hand.

You’ll get:

• An review of Ecuador’s history, customs, and culture so you’ll know exactly what to expect when you get there;
• A list of need-to-know Spanish terms for getting around (although many expats get along just fine with only English);
• An overview of Ecuador’s economy (hint: it’s more than just bananas!);
• A complete rundown of Ecuador’s diverse climate and geography and a guide on choosing which area – beach, mountains, or forest — is right for you;
• A step-by-step guide to buying real estate, including fees, legal considerations, land measurements, and much more;
• A guide to Ecuador’s visa and residency requirements;
• How to get your pets and household goods to your new home in Ecuador;
• A practical guide to the nuts-and-bolts… how to manage your utilities, internet, telephone, banking, transportation, mail, etc.;
• A review of social and business etiquette in Ecuador, including tipping, taxis, meeting protocols, business dress, personal titles, greetings, gifts, and much more;
• A complete chapter on business opportunities, including examples and advice from entrepreneurs actually doing business in Ecuador;
• An introduction to commercial real estate opportunities in Ecuador, from hotels and apartment buildings to farms and ranches;
• An overview of tax considerations for expats living and doing business in Ecuador;
• A complete cost of living overview including how much you can expect to spend to live in four of Ecuador’s most popular areas;
• A guide to health care in Ecuador including general prices, insurance resources and hospital recommendations (hint: you simply can’t get the same quality care in the U.S. for the same price);
• Ecuador travel advice, including what to pack, where to go, how to get there, how to stay in touch, and incredible deals on some of Ecuador’s most astounding natural wonders;
• Extensive appendices full of invaluable Ecuador contacts and resources, including our comprehensive Rolodex of legal, personal, and professional services that will be your Ecuador bible for getting anything you want done in Ecuador.

That’s it… a complete manual for everything you’ll want to do, know, and see in Ecuador.

And the best part is that we publish this manual electronically…so it’s much more useful, colorful, and interactive than ever before. Plus you’ll have access to it as soon as your order has processed.

What’s more, we’re so confident that you’ll be pleasantly surprised by all Ecuador has to offer, that we’re giving you a 90-day, no-hassle, money back guarantee. If for any reason you’re not completely satisfied with the depth and breadth of information you find in Ecuador: The Owner’s Manual, we’ll refund your purchase within 90 days, no questions asked.

The newly updated edition of Ecuador: The Owner’s Manual is your best guide to the best retirement haven around, and right now we’re offering it for just $69. But for this week only, you pay just $55.20

That’s a bargain for the amount of current, usable information in this manual… especially considering that it could launch you on your way to the most enjoyable…and affordable…life you’ve ever imagined.

But we’re not stopping there. We think that Ecuador makes so much sense right now… from almost every economic and quality of life point of view that we’re going to send you our exclusive The Ecuador Trail Blazer’s Kit … in addition to Ecuador: The Owner’s Manual we’re going to send three additional Ecuador bonuses… they are yours absolutely free.

Special Bonus #1: Colonial Cuenca: The World’s #1 Retirement Haven (Value $19)
The cultural heart of Ecuador, colonial Cuenca enjoys well-preserved Spanish architecture and cobblestone streets. Its universities are among the best in South America, and it is home to a thriving artistic community. This special report contains first-hand accounts from IL readers already living here who agree: This is the world’s #1 retirement haven..

Special Bonus #2: South America’s Last Coastal Frontier (Value $49)
In this in-depth report we take a look at a very special area of Ecuador. In it we reveal the incredible details about Ecuador’s soon-to-boom stretch of magnificent Pacific coastline, including:

• Ecuador’s “Little Miami Beach” … This up-and-coming resort town hosts the country’s biggest fishing tournament. At any given time, this city is likely to hold two or three world fishing records for sailfish, tuna, and black marlin. Hemingway even fished here. You’ll also find excellent restaurants, casinos, beach activities, and it’s close to an international airport. We recently spotted a new two-bedroom, two-bathroom, 1,000-square-foot house in a gated community for just $46,000.
• If you love peace and quiet, a pleasant community of beach houses, and a natural setting, we found a three-bedroom, two-bathroom, beachfront house that was recently for sale in the area for just $67,000 … and an oceanfront lot that was offered for only $39,000.
• South American Boomtown… This small town is on the verge of a growth explosion. There’s a major program in the works to expand its shipping and transportation capacity. The mayor says the city is setting its sights on becoming South America’s largest port (more than $800 million has been committed to upgrading the port) and many in the shipping trade think the goal is achievable. In short, it’s one of the top investment opportunities in Latin America. And here you could recently find a new three-bedroom, two-bathroom, 1,400-square-foot house with a swimming pool for just $70,000.
• Sport fishing, Surfing, And Spectacular Sunsets … In this small fishing town, you can stroll on a beach that’s 2,600 feet wide in places (that’s half a mile wide). You can enjoy world-class waves, exceptional sport fishing, windsurfing, hang gliding, horseback riding, jet skiing, and other outdoor activities. And in this area, which has all the earmarks of this country’s newest coastal resort, properties are still cheap. In fact, a rustic two-bedroom, one-bathroom cottage that is just 150 feet away from the water was listed at just $43,000.
• Caribbean Character, Lush Green Vegetation, And Palm-Lined Beaches… In this party town, you can swing to reggae and salsa beats. Enjoy spicy Afro-Caribbean inspired cuisine, go swimming and snorkeling, or just relax on one of the gray and white-sand beaches. Recent listings in the area include a new 1,100-square-foot, two-bedroom, two-bathroom condo in a small beachside complex, with a pool and nicely landscaped gardens for just $82,900.

We’ve done our homework and found beachfront deals that would go for millions in San Diego or Malibu… deals you can take advantage of right now with this special report.

Special Bonus #3: The Ultimate Ecuador Audio Collection (Value $49)

This 3 1/2-hour audio collection features the candid comments and advice from:

• Gary Scott, publisher of EcuadorLiving.com and long-time contributing editor to International Living. Among many other things that keep them busy, Gary and his wife, Merri, own and operate a hotel and hacienda in Ecuador and hold Ecuador tours and seminars on shamanic healing, import-export, real estate, and many other topics. In his recordings, Gary talks from experience about Ecuador’s people, culture, and business opportunities.
• Ronan McMahon, director of Pathfinder Real Estate, International Living’s preferred real estate advertiser, on behalf of his Real Estate Trend Alert members finding the best deals available in international investment properties. Ronan tell which areas of Ecuador are high on his investment radar right now, and why.
• Suzan Haskins, Latin American Editorial Director for International Living introduces you to The Land of Eternal Spring. Suzan makes it her business to stay on top of the latest changes happening in this part of the world.
• Roberto Moreno of Moreno di Donato Law Firm who provides and candid overview of the legal considerations for living and investing in Ecuador.
• Ozwaldo Munoz of Nuevo Mundo Expeditions. As former head of the Ecuadorian Ecotourism Association and vice-president of the International Ecotourism Society, Ozwaldo provides detailed and personal insights into the ecological wonders of Ecuador and how their proper management and use can be a profitable venture.
• John Curran, native of Wisconsin and former university teacher in the United Arab Emirates, John and his partner Susan explain exactly how they managed to “get off the merry-go-round” and begin new lives in their riverside homestead in one of Ecuador’s most beautiful and fabled valleys, Vilcabamba.

These speakers will come directly into your living room with their tips, advice, stories and exploits via the The Ultimate Ecuador Audio Collection.

With The Ecuador Trail Blazer’s Kit you’ll get all the information you need to research how to live and prosper in one of the most beautiful and affordable places on earth.

In The Ecuador Trail Blazer’s Kit (Value $186) you’ll get: Ecuador: The Owner’s Manual, Colonial Cuenca: The World’s #1 Retirement Haven, The Ultimate Ecuador Audio Collection and South America’s Last Coastal Frontier. These valuable special bonuses are yours absolutely free when you order The Ecuador Trail Blazer’s Kit today.

Don’t wait…make sure you get the whole package. Order The Ecuador Trail Blazer’s Kit – a $186 value – for just $69. But for this week only, you pay just $55.20. And remember that this offer is only good through midnight Friday, December 18th.

If you want to get serious about living much, much better… for much, much less… and sheltering yourself form the global financial chaos in a world-class natural wonderland… order your The Ecuador Trail Blazer’s Kit now – it could be the best $55.20 you’ll ever spend!

Sincerely,

Dan Prescher,
International Living

P.S. I’m spending my summers in Ecuador from now on. I love my adopted home town of Merida, Mexico, but I have to admit…it gets hot there in the summer. Up in the Ecuadorian highlands, thanks to Ecuador’s location directly on the equator, it truly is spring-like year-around. I can’t think of a better place to kick back and beat the heat than Ecuador. And yes, my copy of Ecuador: The Owner’s Manual is with me, stored safely on my laptop… it has way too much valuable information in it to leave behind. I honestly believe that the latest edition of Ecuador: The Owner’s Manual is one of the most useful and complete country publications we’ve ever produced… and at just $55.20, one of the best values as well. You’ll rarely find so much information for so little money – and that’s not even counting the three valuable bonuses — The Ultimate Ecuador Aud io Collection, South America’s Last Coastal Frontier and Colonial Cuenca: The World’s #1 Retirement Haven – which you’ll receive for free as part of the The Ecuador Trail Blazer’s Kit when you order today.

If you’re like me, your copy of Ecuador: The Owner’s Manual will become a trusted friend and travel companion before you know it. Don’t miss your chance to get your valuable free bonuses as well –order today.

Retire at 44

International Living Postcards—your daily escape
Monday, Dec. 14, 2009

Dear International Living Reader,

When John Curran turned 39, he decided to retire. It wasn’t that he lucked into a big bonus from work. In fact, John was a teacher from Wisconsin. But he and his wife, Sue, wanted a richer experience from life. At a time when most people are less than half-way through their working lives, John began researching retirement options.

Five years later, they had it figured out. They left the work-a-day world behind and paid cash for their dream home. How can a 44-year-old teacher afford to do something like that? It’s simple—John and Sue moved to Ecuador.

See below for their story.

Len Galvin
Managing Editor, IL Postcards

P.S. I gave the wrong price in yesterday’s Postcard when I told you about our new Ecuador Trail-Blazer’s Kit. I said the total for the Ecuador Owner’s Manual…the two special reports…and the expanded audio collection…was $69. In fact, the real price is $55.20. My apologies.

Why One Couple Retired at 44 to the “Valley of Longevity,” Ecuador
By John Curran

I worked my way through nine years of university to earn master’s and bachelor’s degrees in architecture (and a bachelor’s degree in economics). But I never worked in an architectural office.

Instead, after the first Gulf War ended, I was offered a faculty position at United Arab Emirates University to teach information technology and math. A planned two-year stay turned into eight years. The money was good for a teacher, and seldom do you have the opportunity to encounter such a wide array of interesting people. Later, I returned to Dubai and spent seven years teaching in the UAE’s technical college.

It was there I met Sue, who is Canadian. If there’s someone for everyone, then she’s the one for me. Knowing we had a future together, we started researching retirement property, making full use of the Internet, libraries, networking, country visits, and, of course, International Living.

It was a part-time job for us…and in no particular hurry, we passed on properties that didn’t measure up; settle for less, and that’s exactly what you’ll get. In July 2006, after searching for five years, we found a property in Vilcabamba, Ecuador.

In that community, we found everything we wanted, including:

* A low cost of living: We manage quite comfortably on $500 a month.

* A low entry cost: Just five figures bought our mountain-view riverfront property.

* A good climate: Sue’s from Alberta and I’m from Wisconsin and we both lived in the UAE, so we know nasty weather; but in Vilcabamba it’s always pleasant, so there’s no need for heating or air conditioning.

* A healthy environment with lots of water and a year-round growing season: We have coffee and a variety of fruit on the property, and a vegetable garden is in the works.

* Spanish speakers: With my four years of high school Spanish, we had a head start when we moved to Ecuador; but living where most everyone speaks only Spanish, language-learning opportunities are everywhere.

* Internet access: You don’t get the bandwidth like you get in the States, but our access is sufficient for computer types like us.

To top it off, the locals are even friendlier than advertised and it’s such a beautiful, peaceful place. In fact, we were so enthusiastic over the potential to greatly improve our lives by moving here that we decided to “retire” early, at the age of 44.

We lived here for a year before starting construction on an adobe addition to the original rammed-earth home. Waiting let us thoroughly experience our property and evaluate our improvement options. With the additional time to settle in, we were better prepared for our makeover. Our construction crew was small, never more than four. I enjoyed working with the guys and learning local building techniques. I did the plumbing and electrical work and much of the landscaping. Our maestro (lead builder) was eager to learn, too, sacrificing breaks to observe my doings.

Now that the renovation is done and we’re more settled, what’s next? I don’t know, but
that’s the adventure in taking the road less traveled. Some might find life here boring, but to us it’s more like taking the back roads instead of the freeway—a slower journey, but a richer experience.

Editor’s note: John Curran recently made a 30-minute presentation to a group of IL readers, in which he revealed everything he’s learned about Ecuador since he moved there. We recorded the whole thing—and it’s part of the Ecuador Trail-Blazer’s Kit. The Kit also includes the Ecuador Owner’s Manual (worth $69)…the special reports Colonial Cuenca: The World’s #1 Retirement Haven (worth $19) and South America’s Last Coastal Frontier (worth $49)…and The Ultimate Ecuador Audio Collection (worth $49).

Total value: $186. Price of the Ecuador Trail-Blazer’s Kit: $55.20. This is the best Ecuador deal we’ve ever offered…but it only lasts until Friday. Order yours now.

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“I’ve Been Coming to Belize for 39 Years – Here’s Why Prices Are So Low”

International Living Postcards—your daily escape
Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009

Dear International Living Reader,

If you want to live in the Caribbean…but think that it’s way out of your price range…we’ve found just the place: Belize.

In Belize, you can soak up the Caribbean sun and live the relaxing life you’ve always dreamed of for a lot less than you might imagine.

Don Ediger has been coming to Belize for 39 years. He first visited in 1970, as a young archeology student. Since then, he’s been back many times. In today’s Postcard, below, Don explains why the prices in Belize are so low.

Len Galvin
Managing Editor, IL Postcards

P.S. Our big holiday sale is now on in the IL Online Bookstore—you get 20% off everything…including our newest report on Belize.

Belize: Live the Caribbean Dream For Less
By Don Ediger

If you want to live for all or part of the year in a delightful Caribbean climate, you have many countries to choose from. Martinique, for instance, is virtually unrivaled for its gorgeous, tropical coasts. But if you prefer an English-speaking country, Martinique isn’t for you—and neither are the Dominican Republican, Haiti, Honduras, nor many other places in the Caribbean. Sure, there are some English-speaking countries in the area, such as Barbados, the Bahamas, and Antigua—but those can be very pricey.

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So, if you are looking for all three of these criteria—a Caribbean climate, an English-speaking population, and relatively low prices—the choices are few. But, there is one place that has all of these things—Belize.

Belize also offers another huge advantage. If you are 45 years old or over you can avail of the country’s Qualified Retired Persons Program which exempts many retirees from taxes on income, including investment income generated outside Belize.

Belize is also very affordable. Although not the least expensive country in Central America, the cost of living is still substantially lower than the U.S. Real estate prices are also extremely cheap…particularly by Caribbean standards. All along Belize’s Caribbean coast, property beckons with affordable price tags. It’s easy to find your very own Caribbean dream home…without having to break the bank.

And all this in a country with some of the world’s best sailing, fishing, and diving, not to mention opportunities for visiting Mayan ruins, hiking in the jungle, meeting interesting people, or just relaxing by the beach or on your patio. Moreover, Belize is a beautiful, peaceful nation with a year-round tropical climate and easy access to the U.S., Mexico, other Central American countries, and Caribbean islands.

Despite the advantages of Belize, few people outside of Central America or the Caribbean area know much about the country. It’s small—just slightly more than 300,000 residents—and rarely does anything occur in Belize that makes headlines around the world.

But Belize’s low profile can work to your advantage: If the country once known as British Honduras were more in the public eye, property prices would almost certainly be higher, as would the cost of living.

Whether you’re looking for a second home, a place to retire, or simply want to check out a new country that’s filled to the brim with exciting travel opportunities, I recommend you visit Belize as soon as possible.

Editor’s note: If you do visit Belize, leave your watch behind because you won’t need it. And toss away your shoes while you’re at it—a bathing suit is the only wardrobe requirement, and even that’s only a suggestion. Spend your afternoon chasing a fish or two or nursing an ice-cold beer, and call that a good day’s work… A life in Belize is a life anyone could get used to. Take a look.

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Is $1 a Day Too Much for Health Insurance?

International Living Postcards—your daily escape
Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2009

Dear International Living Reader,

The cost of living in Mexico is low. Fuel is cheaper. Food is cheaper. Taxes are less. Travel costs are lower. Health care is cheaper.

The price of health care is low…but the quality is high. Many doctors in Mexico were trained in the U.S. or Europe—and they speak English.

You can get full-coverage health insurance in Mexico for less than $1 per day. If you have a resident visa and are over 60, it costs almost $300 a year to join Mexico’s IMSS. And that includes prescription medications.

But most expats just pay out of pocket because the costs are so low. Glynna Prentice has lived in Mexico for three years—she details some of her out of pocket costs below.

Len Galvin
Managing Editor, IL Postcards

P.S. Our big holiday sale is now on in the IL Online Bookstore—you get 20% off everything…including Mexico: The Owner’s Manual.

Health Care in Mexico—High Quality, Low Cost
By Glynna Prentice

When I decided to move overseas, I made sure I would have access to excellent, affordable health care. After all, I only wanted to downsize my expenses—not lower my quality of life.

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That’s why I picked Mexico. I’d heard that Mexico’s medical professionals and hospitals are first-rate, while the cost is only a fraction of what you’d pay in the U.S. I’ve lived in Mexico nearly three years now, and so far I’ve never been disappointed. My own medical care has been all that I’d hoped. Other expats I’ve spoken with report the same thing.

My first experience with Mexican health care was pretty minor. I cut my thumb while slicing vegetables, and needed stitches. At the clinic I was moved to the head of the line—I saw a doctor right away. The stitches weren’t the dissolvable kind that I was used to in the States, but otherwise the prep and treatment were similar. The other difference was the fee: less than $5. In the U.S. I probably would have had to add a couple of zeroes to that bill.

As I say, a few stitches are pretty minor. But low fees are the rule here rather than the exception. Most specialists, for instance, charge between 350 and 500 pesos ($27 to $38) for a consultation. I pay 400 pesos (about $31) to see an internist. A local gynecologist here in Campeche—whose lab equipment is cutting-edge—charges 350 pesos for a consultation, and 500 to 700 pesos ($38 to $55) for an ultrasound. The gynecologist takes her time with patients, too—no rushing.

Dental work is also cheaper. I lost part of a back tooth some months back, and the dentist said I’d need more than a filling to repair it. He took a mold of the tooth and had his lab create a replacement for the missing section. I returned the next week for a fitting. The entire cost—for both visits, the mold, and the fitting—was less than $100. (In fact, when I asked what I owed for the first visit, he waved his hand and said, “You can pay me after the fitting.”)

I’ve never had to stay overnight in a hospital here in Mexico, but some who have tell me they’ve paid under $100 a night in a first-class hospital. And there are several first-class hospital chains in Mexico, with facilities nationwide. Two prominent Mexico-owned hospital chains are Star Médica and Angeles. Hospitals in top-flight chains like these offer a wide range of specialties, high-tech lab facilities, disease-specific treatment and research centers, and the like. You’re also likely to find English-speaking doctors. Both Star Médica and the Angeles chain are expanding, by the way, with new hospitals that have recently opened or are under construction.

There’s an excellent Star Médica hospital in Mérida, for instance, less than two hours away from me. I’ve always thought it would be my hospital of choice if I needed a major procedure. But now a brand new specialties hospital here in Campeche has just opened. With this new hospital a bare five minutes from my house, I’m starting to think I may never need to go to Mérida for healthcare after all.

And that solution would be both inexpensive and very, very convenient: the kind of winning combination I came to Mexico to find.

Editor’s note: Mexico is the only place in the world where you can enjoy an affordable overseas retirement, live right on the beach for pennies on the dollar, yet remain within minutes of the U.S. by car. Mexico: The Owner’s Manual shows you how…and during IL’s big holiday sale, you get 20% off.

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What’s Your Excuse?

International Living Postcards—your daily escape
Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2009

Dear International Living Reader,

There’s something I have to tell you. It might make for uncomfortable reading. But I feel like we know each other well enough by now that I can be blunt.

If you’re interested in the ideas we explore every day in these Postcards…if you want a new adventure, a fresh start, and you’re wondering if you can find it overseas…and you’re hoping that 2010 could be the year it happens for you…listen up:

You need to get off your behind and do something about it.

Over the years, I’ve had the pleasure of hearing thousands of first-hand accounts from IL readers who have “just done it.” I’ve met some of you in person. We talk on the phone. You send me many e-mails. Sometimes I even get a letter (remember those?). There’s a single lesson I’ve learned from every one of these conversations: Don’t let anyone tell you what you can’t do.

I’ve talked to readers whose family and friends told them they were too old to start a new adventure. Or that their children were too young. That they didn’t have enough money. That single people can’t do this type of thing. That disabled people shouldn’t travel. That a new business idea wouldn’t work. Or that an old dream should be let die.

Time and again, you tell me, they give you a million reasons to stay at home. But you get on the plane anyway. Sometimes it’s not as easy as you hoped. But it’s never as hard as you feared. And it’s always worth it. Because these thousands of stories that I’ve heard all have happy endings.

Lee Harrison shares one of them with us, below.

Len Galvin
Managing Editor, IL Postcards

P.S. Like I said, the Big Move isn’t always easy. But you can make it far, far easier by drawing on IL’s collective experience. The best way to do this is to join us for one of our annual Ultimate Events. The next one takes place Feb. 24-27, 2010. We officially released places for the Ultimate Event 10 days ago—Thanksgiving weekend. This is usually the worst time of year to promote an event…but it looks like this one could sell out faster than any previous Ultimate Event. Already, 90 of your fellow readers have registered. If you want to join us, you need to let us know soon. Full details here.

Why Go Abroad? Because There’s Still Time for One More Adventure
By Lee Harrison

I could easily fill this e-mail with the reasons why you should not move overseas. I hear them every day when I’m visiting the U.S. Here are a few of the more popular themes:

“I’m too old to enjoy myself abroad now…I wish I had made the move 15 years ago.”

“The country sounds fabulous for the most part, but I don’t speak the language.”

“I love the idea of beaches, sun, and sand. But we don’t even know one person there…”

“If it were simply up to me, I’d go…but my children would never agree to it.”

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Yet when I’m at home in Uruguay or Brazil, I’m constantly amazed at the number of people who—against all logic—are enjoying a fun, adventure-filled life abroad. Like my newest neighbors on the island of Itamaracá in Brazil: Carl and Pat VenderHeide.

They are both 77 years old, and they met on the Internet. Carl is originally from Michigan; Pat from New Hampshire. Both widowed, they decided to get married eight years ago.

Carl and Pat—longtime International Living readers—are adventurous by nature. They felt that living abroad would be a grand escapade in their later years, so they set about making it happen. They considered a number of possible destinations before settling on the sunny state of Jalisco, Mexico, near Lake Chapala. With its spring-like weather year-round, it’s long been popular with U.S. retirees. Their children strongly objected to the move abroad…but Carl and Pat moved anyway.

Photo courtesy of JoAnn Miller.

They settled in a sleepy little Mexican village called San Antonio Tlayacapan, on the shores of Lake Chapala between the towns of Ajijic and Chapala. With its old church, town square, and cobblestone streets, it has all the earmarks of a picture-perfect retirement haven.

And, in fact, Carl and Pat lived happily there for five years. But then they decided to move on. The children heartily approved—believing that the two had come to their senses and decided to return home.

But instead, they moved to Itamaracá; a place they’d read about in the pages of IL. Their children, of course, objected. But the couple came to Brazil anyway.

Itamaracá is not for the faint of heart. It’s a large tropical island with 17,000 Portuguese-speaking Brazilians, 48 British families, about 10 Americans, and a handful of Europeans. Most of the English-speakers are here part time. You won’t find fancy stores, golf courses, malls, or highrise condos.

Yes, it’s a tropical island with year-round perfect weather, fresh seafood, and white-sand beaches…but there are plenty of more-refined places to settle down; places that offer a “cushier” lifestyle for seniors.

So Carl and Pat have every reason not to be here. They’re not young…they don’t speak Portuguese…they don’t have visas or Brazilian driver’s licenses…and their families object. Yet they’re here anyway…in the process of becoming full-time residents.

“We’re here because we’ve still got time for one more adventure,” says Pat.

And that’s the key to enjoying a life abroad: a sense of adventure.

You can make any case you want about cost of living, medical care, or inexpensive beachfront properties. But in the end, it’s your enjoyment of the adventure that will carry you along.

After all, languages can be learned, whether you’re 47 or 77…visas can be obtained one way or another…and driver’s tests can be taken. Families eventually come around and begin to appreciate the experience you’re having, as Carl and Pat’s children have.

I’ve seen it time and again: With a healthy spirit of adventure, all things are possible. Without it, just about any obstacle will be enough to keep you home.

Editor’s note: No matter where you’re interested in starting a new adventure…Belize, Ecuador, Uruguay, Panama, Mexico, Brazil, Costa Rica, France, Italy, Argentina, Malaysia, Thailand, and more…IL’s Ultimate Event has you covered. Registration for the Ultimate Event 2010 is officially open. Get full details and a list of discounts here.

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An Unusual Way to Explore Colonial Mexico

International Living Postcards—your daily escape
Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009

Dear International Living Reader,

Mexico’s “magical villages” are rich in legends and natural beauty. And, the government hopes, a big draw for tourists. That’s why they pick one or two a year to pump money into, improving infrastructure and services (without changing the town’s quaint charm).

These special places can make a perfect second home for North Americans looking for an unusual colonial town—Glynna Prentice gives you a round-up of what’s available, below.

Len Galvin
Managing Editor, IL Postcards

P.S. We haven’t yet released our newest report on Mexico—about this country’s top colonial retreats. But you can get an advance copy (with a 20% discount) here.

My Favorite Pueblos Mágicos—Mexico’s Magical Villages
By Glynna Prentice

I collect pueblos mágicos. I figure that hunting them down is a good way to explore Mexico.

–Recommended By IL–

Why are one million Americans Moving to Mexico?

For some people, Mexico brings images of corruption and bribery… But that’s the Mexico popularized by newspapers and television.

There’s a real side of Mexico that you rarely see… And the reason Americans are moving south of the border in droves.

Here are the full details…

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If you don’t know what pueblos mágicos are, you’re not alone. I didn’t know what they were before I moved to Mexico—though I loved them as soon as I’d seen one.

A pueblo mágico—or “magical village”—is a town that Mexico’s tourism ministry has singled out for its charm. By naming a town a pueblo mágico, the government hopes to promote tourism there and give locals an incentive for maintaining it and keeping it beautiful. It’s usually a win-win: locals have a new source of revenue—tourism—and tourists have a pretty, historic village to visit.

Izamal, outside Mérida, is the first pueblo mágico I ever saw. I’d heard of its egg yolk-yellow buildings and its cathedral’s huge atrium—second in size after St. Peter’s in Rome. But I hadn’t expected how striking and well-maintained it would be. I hadn’t imagined the lively market square with its colorful fruit and vegetable stalls and its rows of bicycle carts waiting to be hired.

And I certainly hadn’t imagined such magnificence in a town that was so, well, small. And sitting in the middle of the Yucatán countryside. The kind of small town where, if you aren’t careful, some corporation will build a factory in the center because the real estate is so cheap.

But because Izamal is a pueblo mágico, the corporate factories are held at bay. The town remains charming. And the real estate is steadily climbing in value. Today there’s a small expat community in Izamal, and it’s an easy day trip (or an evening out) from Mérida.

After Izamal I started looking for pueblos mágicos whenever I traveled around Mexico. I found Coatepec when I visited Xalapa, the capital of Veracruz. Colonial Coatepec is the heart of Veracruz’s coffee-growing industry, and the smell of roasting coffee beans permeates the air. Here you find coffee boutiques with the latest technology housed in centuries-old colonial buildings. This means you can get a top-notch cuppa joe—and drink it amidst historic splendor.

In Comala, in the Pacific coast state of Colima, I checked out real estate. This pueblo mágico is just a few miles from Colima’s state capital. It has flower-filled squares and colonial churches, and it’s where yuppies from the capital go on weekends for a casual night out. They sit in restaurants in Comala’s town squares and listen to music while they dine. Many of the colonial homes here pass from generation to generation, never leaving a family. When they do go on the market they may cost a pretty penny. But they’re often spacious and spectacular, and the living space they offer…priceless.

In fact, pueblos mágicos are good places to look for real estate if you’re content to live in a smaller town. They’re scenic, well-maintained—and likely to stay that way. They attract tourism and investors and often other expats looking for a beautiful, peaceful place to live. Property values in a pueblo mágico are more likely to go up than down.

And some say, of course, that being made a pueblo mágico is just training for World Heritage status—which really puts a town on the international tourism map.

On a trip through Veracruz state I once took a side road and came to the little town of Tlacotalpan. No one had told me about it; I came upon it all unaware.

But I brought the car to a screeching halt, found a parking place, and stayed for the afternoon, awed by its jaw-dropping charm. Picture wide, open plazas filled with palm trees and flowering shrubs…dazzling sunlight, white wrought-iron benches…and a baby-blue Baroque church with white-icing trim. Imagine a buff-and-red colonnaded arcade along the square, and outdoor restaurants and ice cream shops where locals lounge around tables enjoying the view.

I thought that I’d stumbled upon a pueblo mágico—but Tlacotalpan, it turns out, is actually a World Heritage site. It earned its status before the pueblo mágico program was started 2001. But pueblos mágicos have made the leap to World Heritage. San Miguel de Allende, one of the most famous expat havens, was named a World Heritage site last year. It was named a pueblo mágico in 2002. By my count, five more pueblos mágicos, including Izamal, have petitioned UNESCO for World Heritage status.

But even if they never make UNESCO’s list, pueblos mágicos make a nice afternoon’s stop, a weekend escape…or even a scenic place to live.

Editor’s note: A colonial town in Mexico is the real deal if you’re looking for low-cost retirement with mild weather, lots to do, all the products and services you’re used to at home, and a cost of living that can be up to 50% less than what you’re paying now…quality health care included. See our latest research on the top colonial destinations in Mexico here.

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Read This if You Ever Plan to Visit Argentina, Brazil, or Uruguay

International Living Postcards—your daily escape
Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2009

Dear International Living Reader,

The first time I ate in a churrascaria, I didn’t understand anything. Not the waiter, nor the menu. Even the traditional guess-and-point technique long used by world travelers trying to get a meal didn’t work. I just ended up with a huge and growing pile of beef that I didn’t want. I felt like an idiot—how hard can it be to get a meal in a restaurant?

If only I’d talked to Paul Lewis first. His guide to Latin American grill restaurants, below, would have saved me a lot of hassle. If you’re planning to visit Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, or Paraguay, you should print this out and bring it with you.

Len Galvin
Managing Editor, IL Postcards

P.S. I know you have big Thanksgiving plans tomorrow. And I don’t want to intrude on your family celebrations. But if you can, check your e-mail—we’re launching a big Thanksgiving sale with huge discounts on all our Country Reports. If you wait until after the holiday to check your e-mail (when the sale will be over), you’ll miss out on the savings.

A Quick Guide to Parrillas
by Paul Lewis

 

A cheap restaurant with no menu. Few waiters and only one dish to choose from—though you can have as many helpings as you like.

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In Buenos Aires such an eatery is called a parrilla, or grill, but with the added magic words Tenedor Libre (literally “Free Fork”), sometimes abbreviated to just “TL”. This means you can come back for seconds, thirds, or fourths if you wish—all for the same price, which is usually between $10 and $20 a head.

Across the border in Portuguese-speaking Brazil, similar restaurants are known as churrascarias, with the word “rodizio” added to signify there’s no limit to how much you can eat.

What these restaurants are offering, of course, is what these two countries (and Uruguay and Paraguay as well) have most in abundance—asados, or grilled beef, though you will probably find some roast veal and pork as well.

The rich, flat pampas grasslands of central South America are ideal for cattle and have made beef the most plentiful food of choice.

When Charles Darwin, the discoverer of evolution, rode across the pampas in the 1830s, he was amazed by the volume of meat consumed by local cattle hands and speculated that it might account for their reputation for being able to go without food or drink for several days in an emergency.

Not much has changed since then. Argentina is still awash in meat and Argentineans regularly eat grilled steak twice a day.

The technique of ordering in these beef eateries is a little complex if you do not want to be literally overwhelmed by the quantity of meat you are given to eat.

If the parrilla you choose has table service, then you may want to stop your waiter from bringing you all the courses that a local diner would expect. Such a meal would start with roast acuras, or offal, to be followed by a serving of chorizo sausages, and morcillas—black pudding. Then come servings of ribs, flank, entrecote, sirloin, and filet steak, with fried potatoes and vegetables added.

Fortunately, most parrillas or churrascarias are self-service so that having chosen a table, the diner simply goes to the grill and points to the piece of meat desired. Even so, it is sometimes difficult to prevent the cooks from overloading your plate with slices of asado.

In really top-class restaurants, the grilled meats are rolled over to your table on movable charcoal grills and you make your selection from your seat. It is a slow process because the huge iron grills have to be moved to each table in turn. And, of course, you just wave if you want seconds, thirds, or fourths.

Generally, Argentineans and Brazilians like their beef cocido or well-done. But you can ask for a piece that is medium (punto) or even rare (jugoso). Little use is made of mustard, salt, or pepper and you may not even find these on the table. Instead, the locals season their meat with a sauce made of olive oil, pepper, and garlic known as chimichuri.

In Argentina the drink of preference would be local red wine from the country’s wine-growing regions around Mendoza in the foothills of the Andes. In Brazil a good deal of beer is drunk.

 

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Laura Moved to Mexico – She’s Having a Blast

International Living Postcards—your daily escape
Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009

Dear International Living Reader,

Laura Michels, an IL reader who moved to Mexico two months ago, just sent me the note below. She’s studying Spanish and having a great time. Laura lives in a little city near the Pacific coast—you probably haven’t heard of it, but it’s the Mexican city with the best quality of life, according to Mexicans. I think she made a great choice.

Len Galvin
Managing Editor, IL Postcards

P.S. If you’re interested in Mexico, our latest report is required reading: Mexico—10 Questions Every North American Should Ask.

“I’m Amazed at How Far my American Dollars Go in Colima, Mexico”
By Laura Michels

I recently moved to the small city of Colima in Mexico to study Spanish and live internationally. I’m amazed at how far my American dollars go here.

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I pay for everything in cash. An amount that would have lasted mere days in the United States, covers my expenses for week in Mexico.

Take grocery shopping, for example. I live directly across from a small family-owned grocery store. I can stock up on groceries for $20 a week. Oranges are less than 20 cents apiece, an entire package of tostadas is mine for the equivalent of $1, and fresh avocados cost me only pocket change. A bag of food for my cat costs less than $1.40. Also, the owner of the grocery store makes delicious refried beans which I can take home for pennies.

If I don’t feel like cooking, I can eat out for super cheap if I go to an authentic Mexican restaurant. My friends and I have a favorite taco place where we are frequent customers. We feast on huge plates of mouth watering meat and tortillas for less than $3 each. I can also get lunch at the restaurant right next my house for about $1.50. This homemade meal includes meat, beans, rice, and freshly prepared tortillas.

I didn’t even tell you yet what I pay in rent. I stay in a new house with tile floors, and brand new kitchen appliances. I also have my own bedroom, and my own bathroom. I pay $175 a month for this, and the cost includes all utilities along with wireless Internet. Some of my friends pay even less than this. The money I’m saving leaves me a lot of extra spending money for things like… authentic Mexican food. I’m getting hungry just thinking about it, and at these prices I will continue to be very well fed for some time to come. I think fresh guacamole is in my very near future.

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Mexico is Hated Right Now – That’s Why We Love It

International Living Postcards—your daily escape
Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009

Dear International Living Reader,

Mexico has suffered this year from a serious case of bad press. That’s good news for you if you can see past the headlines.

More than 100 IL readers just went to Mexico to check out this country first-hand. They discovered that the prices—which were always good value—are now even better. As long as most of North America believes that the bad news they hear about Mexico is the only news from Mexico…prices on everything, from real estate to health care to hotels will offer amazing value to anyone who wants it.

Dan Prescher tells you exactly how to get it, below.

Len Galvin
Managing Editor, IL Postcards

P.S. If you’ve ever entertained the thought of living the good life in Mexico, here’s the quickest and easiest way to make it happen.

Believe Me—The Best Time for Mexico is Now
By Dan Prescher

I just spent three days in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, meeting with 150 very sharp folks from around the world, and the consensus is in… the best time for Mexico is now.

Believe me, this wasn’t the easiest Mexico seminar I’ve ever attended. Every time we took a break from our presentations at the beautiful Fiesta Americana hotel, we could see the sun shining down on the incredibly blue water of the Bay of Banderas and the white-sand beach just a few meters away. Resisting the urge to skip a session or presentation and jump in the ocean was a challenge.

But it was worth it. Today I’m lying on that same beach in the shade of a palm tree with nothing to do but wait for my flight back home and think about everything we saw and heard at one of the most productive seminars I’ve ever attended on all the opportunities Mexico offers right now.

Those who are still around the hotel with me seem to agree. One attendee tells me that she was so excited before she came to Puerto Vallarta that she could hardly stand it… and now she’s even more excited, if that’s possible.

Another attendee tells me that he’d been thrown a lifeline at the conference. He says that before coming to the conference, he really couldn’t see a way out of the dilemma of rising taxes and health care costs that waited for him back in the States. Now, he says, he can see light at the end of the tunnel, and it seems to be shining right here in Puerto Vallarta.

The post-conference real estate tours are out and about right now, so I don’t know how many of our attendees will find the bargains they’re looking for and choose to settle right here by the bay. I know the bargains are out there – Mexico is definitely a buyer’s market right now. And I know that many of our attendees made plans even before the seminar was over to explore some of the other promising areas of Mexico we heard about, like Huatulco, Ajijic, San Miguel de Allende, Merida, and so many more.

And their timing is perfect. Thanks to a global economic slow down and seemingly endless negative press coverage in the U.S., Mexico is the best bargain it’s been in a decade.

In a way, I’m glad the U.S. media concentrates only on the bad news from Mexico… if their coverage was fair and balanced, we’d be swamped by people coming down for the incredible weather, low health care costs and taxes, and yes… the safety and security that the vast majority of the country enjoys.

Which would also mean that the real estate deals wouldn’t be nearly as good as they are right now.

If the attendees at our Live & Invest in Mexico conference didn’t know that before hand, they certainly know it now thanks to the insights we got from the many experts and expats we heard from here in Puerto Vallarta. There is nothing like first-hand, on-the-ground information and experience to give you a real sense of what’s available right here in Mexico at this very moment… and we got it in spades at this conference.

Just a few more hours before my flight, so I’m going to soak up as much Puerto Vallarta as I can while I’m here. But I know I’ll be back… since I live and work in Mexico, I’ll be this way again, and I’m anxious to find out how many of our attendees will be fellow expats by then, living the good life south of the border with me.

Because the best time for Mexico is now, and the best way to find out is from the people who are living the life themselves… like the many people we just heard from here at the Live & Invest in Mexico conference. You can hear for yourself exactly what they said, here.

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Special Pre-Conference Discount
TODAY ONLY

Reserve your Fast Track Mexico Package now
and you’ll pay just $149.

That’s $200 off the regular price.

If you couldn’t join us in Puerto Vallarta
for our ONLY Live & Invest in Mexico Seminar
of 2009…don’t worry.

You Can Get All the Advice,
and Real-World Guidance Delivered
at This Insightful Event…
Without Even Leaving
the Comfort of Your Own Home!

Here’s why there will never be
a better time in your lifetime
to start a new, fuller life in Mexico…

Dear International Living Reader,

If you’ve ever entertained the thought of living the good life in Mexico, heed my words: There’s never been an easier…a more lucrative…or a more exciting time to be there.

In fact, there’s never been a better time in your lifetime to start a new life in Mexico.

Despite what you think you might know about this huge and diverse country (keep reading, I’m going to dispel some of the most common myths), there has never been a better time to consider a move here.

That’s because, right now, three critical factors have come together in a way they rarely do.

My name is Dan Prescher. My wife, Suzan Haskins, and I have been living in Mexico for nearly seven years now. And I can say, with confidence: I’ve never seen so much opportunity to grab amazing property deals…to live so well for so little…to enjoy so gracious a lifestyle…

You may know that Mexico earned the #1 spot on International Living’s Global Retirement Index in 2007 and 2008 and came second in 2009.

It’s close to the U.S. and easy to get to… it offers great retiree benefits on everything from medical services to airfares…taxes are low, low, low…and so is the cost of living. You can own a home on the beach for less than $150,000…property taxes are practically non-existent…health care costs are very low and full-coverage health insurance can be had for less than $1 per day…

I’ll give you at least a dozen more reasons why Mexico ranks so high on our list of best retirement havens year after year in a minute here…

But first let me tell you a little more about why right now, in 2009, the timing is so perfect for anybody looking to own a second home… move full-time… or live well here on $2,000 a month or less…

Why is this the best time in your lifetime
to start a new life in Mexico?

Here are three compelling reasons in particular for you to investigate Mexico right now:

The peso to dollar value is at a high—your dollar goes farther than ever. The peso has lost around 30% of its value against the dollar since August of 2008. Your dollar buys more in Mexico today than it has in more than 15 years…since 1994, after an economic crisis in which Mexico’s government cut three zeros off the end of peso denominations to create a “new peso”.

Just from my personal experience: the bottle of wine that cost us $5.80 last year costs us $4.60 today. The bill for our phone and high-speed Internet service was $42 last year and is $33 today. A housekeeper, at 200 pesos per day, cost us $18 last year and $14 today. We’re benefiting from even bigger savings on big-ticket items, of course. We recently bought a headboard for our king-size bed. At 6,400 pesos, it would have cost us $610 last year. But with the exchange rate, we paid just $457 for it.

As you might imagine, some expats who live here are taking advantage of the weakened peso to buy larger goods and appliances they’ve been putting off until now. They’re getting a price break and stimulating the economy at the same time.

The recession has created a buyer’s market for you. With fewer people shopping for second homes, sellers are willing to negotiate more on price and toss in enticing incentives.

And, of course, where the currency exchange really makes a difference is on property prices. Last year, we were considering buying a small home here in Merida to renovate and use for rental income. The Mexican owners wanted us to lock in the price at 520,000 pesos, which converted to about $50,000 then. This was at a time when the dollar was weakening against just about every currency in the world. Concerned that the dollar would continue to slide, we decided not to move forward with the transaction. If we had accepted their terms, though, and if the closing had taken place now, the house would have cost us $40,000. That’s a pretty substantial saving.

I should clarify something here: Overall, real estate in Mexico has held its value. That’s because Mexico is still basically a cash society. (Yes, you can get mortgage financing in Mexico and we can tell you how…but most people don’t. They buy with cash.) Developers, for the most part, have been well capitalized and there hasn’t been a “lending crisis” in Mexico.

Prior to the recession there was a real estate boom here, especially among foreign buyers of vacation homes. Property prices rose during that time, although they were never super inflated as they were in the U.S. Since most properties aren’t leveraged, there is no reason for prices to fall as drastically as we’ve seen in the U.S. and elsewhere…although certain market have seen some big price “corrections.”

But…while in most parts of Mexico prices aren’t falling much, neither are they rising right now. Some owners (particularly those from the U.S.) who overextended themselves are now willing to sell at a discount. In resort communities like Puerto Vallarta and along the Riviera Maya, you’ll find particularly good bargains. And because, thanks to the recession, there are fewer buyers, sellers are throwing in lots of extraordinary incentives…like covering association fees for up to five years, throwing in appliance and furniture packages, offering lucrative lease-back options, etc.

And if you buy a resale home or condo direct from the seller…that’s where the real bargains are, especially if you buy from a Mexican owner and negotiate the price in pesos.

I can’t stress that enough: Now is the time to negotiate on real estate purchases in Mexico. This recession won’t last forever. As Donald Trump said recently on Larry King Live, “This is a good time to buy real estate.” And there’s no better place than Mexico right now…where properties have held their value and the bargaining chip is firmly in the hand of the buyer.

It’s a real estate buyer’s market in Mexico. Don’t miss out on this opportunity…it won’t last long.

I’d also be remiss if I didn’t explain that the global recession isn’t the only reason there are less real estate buyers…especially foreigners…in Mexico today. You can thank the U.S. news media for keeping them away.

The U.S. news media has created a big opportunity for you…

The mainstream media has painted an unfair picture of Mexico. Media coverage of isolated violence and virus outbreaks in Mexico has kept some tourists and potential retirees at home. It’s not a fair picture.

Yes, the drug war is real (in my opinion, the Mexican government is winning) and there are areas of Mexico that should be avoided…mostly at the border with the U.S. But the vast majority of Mexico is untouched by all this. (As for the recent flu outbreak, Mexico has received heaps of international praise about the immediate steps taken throughout the country to stop its spread.)
Truthfully, Suzan and I feel safer walking to and from our midtown home in Merida to parks, restaurants, and evening events than we did in Omaha. Rest assured, college students on Spring break, families with children, European backpackers, single women, elderly couples…they’re all still safely visiting Mexico.

The window of opportunity won’t be open forever. Mexican tourism officials are launching an international public relations campaign to boost Mexico’s image as a tourist destination. Tourists become real estate buyers, especially once they learn all that you’ve just learned about Mexico.

Get here before tourism to Mexico reaches an all-time high and while recession bargains can still be had.

The easiest, most affordable way to find out if
Mexico is right for you

If you’ve followed International Living for any time at all, you know that Suzan and I tried a few other countries ‘on for size.’ We weren’t sure where we’d find our perfect place. We did a lot of research and homework before deciding on Mexico. (We’ve also lived in Ecuador, Panama, and Nicaragua.)

We didn’t have a team of experts all in one place, either, to answer all of our questions when we decided to move to Mexico.

But you will.

You’ll get all the details you need on owning property, retiring, living, working, and starting a new business here…straight from our team of well-connected Mexico insiders in a relaxing beachfront setting.

Announcing: The Fast Track Mexico Package

Including all the 2009 Live & Invest in Mexico Seminar recorded presentations
and all the speaker’s slideshows and handouts

Suzan and I will tell you everything we know about living in Mexico.

We’ll then tell you, step-by-step, how you can live here, too and based on our firsthand experience.

You’ll also hear from expats running businesses in Mexico… buying beachfront property in Vallarta, the Riviera Nayarit and the Riviera Maya… restoring homes in Merida, Campeche, San Miguel de Allende, and more… they’ll show you how you can do the same…

And of course, you’ll listen to our Mexico investment and tax experts, real estate agents, legal advisers, and many of International Living’s editors and staff who are already familiar with moving overseas because they have done it firsthand as well.

Hearing from these on-the-ground experts will help you determine what’s best for you, and if you wish you can start living the good life in Mexico in as little as six months.

After listening to the Fast Track Mexico Package, you’ll have full appreciation for why I say:

If you’re looking for a comfortable (even pampered) lifestyle
for less than half what it would cost you up north…
Mexico makes more sense than any other country

As I mentioned, International Living conducts an annual survey called the Global Retirement Index. In 2007, Mexico won for the first time. It won again in 2008. Here’s why:

Mexico is the closest retirement haven to the U.S. This may not seem like a big deal, but believe me, the convenience of a short plane ride makes all the difference in the world when you want to get back home to family and friends or attend to business matters. Flights to and from Mexico are plentiful and inexpensive and most take less time than a coast-to-coast U.S. flight. From my home in Merida in southern Mexico, I can be in Miami or Houston in about two hours. If you want to, you can easily and safely drive here. (Suzan and I have made the drive several times and look forward to our next Mexico road trip.)

It is easier to get a resident visa in Mexico than in any other country. You might think Panama, Belize, and Costa Rica have easy resident requirement. Well, forget everything you might think you know about obtaining a visa anywhere else. The Mexican government has made it very easy for foreigners to live here. As I mentioned, we lived in Panama and Nicaragua (and Ecuador prior to coming to Mexico in 2002)…and the visa process, hands down, is easier in Mexico. The requirements are less restrictive than any country that I know of.

Mexico has a first-class retiree benefits program. You may know about Panama’s excellent pensionado progam, but to be eligible for it, you have to get a visa. And in Panama, getting a visa can be tough. But see my point above: not only is it easy to get a visa in Mexico, but foreigners who are age 60 or older, with a valid Mexico resident visa are eligible for Mexico’s Personas Adultas Mayores benefits program.

The program offers discounts on a wide range of services, including health-related ones (hospitals, doctors’ visits, lab tests, medical devices, pharmacies, and dental work); cultural activities like theater tickets and entrance fees to museums and archaeological sites; transportation and accommodation, including airline tickets, buses, car rentals and purchase; and at hotels and many stores. Discounts can range from 5% to 50% off the full price of the good or service.

The cost of living in Mexico is low, low, low. With rapidly rising fuel, health care, food, taxes, and travel costs, it’s nice to know there are still places where you can live well without burning through your savings. Mexico is one of those special places. Here, you can enjoy a lifestyle that’s all but unaffordable for most Americans and Canadians. The cost of real estate is far, far lower than it is in the U.S. and Canada. Could you find a beachfront condo in the U.S. for less than $100,000? A home smack on the beach for less than $150,000? You can in Mexico. And you can live very well here on just $2,000 per month or less. Suzan and I do…

Sample monthly budget for a couple living well in Mexico:

These expenses are all variable, of course. You may not use as much electricity or wanthousehold help, for example. If you don’t own a home, you’ll have rental expenses (add $300-$1,000/month for that). If you live in a city, you may not need a car so you can subtract those expenses (though you’ll need to add bus or taxi fees) Homeowners will want to include an annual property tax—but that rarely comes to more than $200 per year).

Think of how much money you can save, simply by moving a few hours south!

You can get full-coverage health insurance in Mexico for less than $1 per day. Hospitals and health care providers in Mexico are of excellent quality. (I know…I live here.) Many doctors were trained in the U.S. or Europe and they speak English. Private health insurance, (through a major global provider) costs one-fourth to one half what you might be paying in the U.S. Doctors’ visits and common medical procedures in Mexico, too, cost about one-fourth of what they do in the U.S., so many expats just pay out of pocket. But get this: if you have a resident visa, you can get health coverage through IMSS (Instituto Nacional de Seguridad Social). There’s no age limit for signing up. This full-coverage health insurance runs from about $100 a year for children and adolescents, up to almost $300 for those over 60—and it includes prescription medications.

Taxes are ridiculously low—need I say more? Taxes are a fact of life, we all know that. And like all countries, Mexico levies a value-added tax on goods and services. But other taxes are practically non-existent. At the beginning of this year, for instance, we paid the annual property taxes on our 5,400-square-foot home in Merida. It was a laughably low $139! The annual tax bill on the beachfront lots we own on the Gulf Coast…$10. Unless you’re working here, you probably won’t pay income taxes. But if you are working…and you’re self employed or working for a Mexican or other foreign corporation…you can legally exempt up to $91,400 in income on your U.S. taxes for 2009…for both you and your spouse! I’ll tell you how to get more details on that in just a minute…but first…

Two more reasons to consider Mexico: full-time household help
and the warm and welcoming Mexican people

As I said, Suzan and I live a better life here in Mexico than we’ve ever lived anywhere else. The quality of our lives has vastly improved since we left the U.S. (A big part of that is the better weather—it makes a big impact on your attitude!)

Another reason we’re so happy here is because, for the first time in our lives, we can afford household help. We both like to cook, but we don’t necessarily like cleaning up afterwards. And we don’t care much for mopping floors or scrubbing toilets either. But for $20 per day (and in some places in Mexico you’ll pay less) you can hire a full-time housekeeper. Same with a gardener and someone to clean your pool. Make no mistake, these are good wages for dignified work…if your experience is like ours, your housekeeper and gardener will be endearingly cheerful and helpful and become like members of your family.

That’s the other extraordinary aspect to life in Mexico: the Mexican people themselves. Sociologists who have studied these things say that Mexicans are among the happiest people on earth. It shows in the generous ways they treat people and in the genteel ways they conduct their business and go about their lives.

Truly, Mexico today is like the U.S. was in the 1950s and 60s…but with today’s modern amenities, of course. You’ll find a strong sense of community and a family-focused life—which makes every day a genuine pleasure.

Plus, Mexico offers an astounding cultural vibrancy that we simply haven’t found anywhere else. And while the pace is civilized and the environment welcoming and friendly, you can enjoy the comforts you’ve grown accustomed to—like Internet access, cable TV, well-stocked grocery stores, and first-run movies. That’s all here, too.

In Mexico, you will have more free time to do the things you enjoy, but I daresay you’ll enjoy your free time even more than ever before.

Your opportunity to triumph over the recession…

I’m certain you’ve experienced the backlash of the rotten global economy. Everyone has. Chances are, your dollars aren’t going as far as they used to. Maybe your investment nest egg has lost some (or a lot) of its value. Maybe you’ve worked hard all your life and haven’t been able to save much at all…and now you’re more worried than ever about how to pay for your retirement…maybe you’re worried that you’ll never be able to retire.

According to a new report by the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Economic and Policy Research, most baby boomers haven’t saved much and will be forced to work longer and/or move to a place where the cost of living is less. According to the experts, “Property taxes, health care and cost of living will force boomers to strongly consider moving to other countries, especially if they plan on living at the same level of comfort as they do now.”

If you’ve been considering a move oversees…whether to retire or live more economically full-time or part-time…or if you’re looking for a laidback, gentler place to live or own a vacation home…you should strongly consider Mexico. Do the research. Get the facts.

We’ll help you do exactly that when you listen to the Fast Track Mexico Package.

Hear from the Mexico experts
who’ve “been there” and “done that”

Doing the research about where to live can be time consuming. (Suzan and I have been at this for eight years now and we still learn something new every day.) Perhaps the best reason for listening to the Fast Track Mexico Package is how much time and money you’ll save…

That’s because we’re going to introduce you to many of the same experts who helped us (and can help you) get established in Mexico:

• Fernanda Olmos Reyes Irigoyen, First American Title Insurance Company. Fernanda lectures extensively on title issues and how to ensure that you have clear title to properties you may purchase anywhere in the world. First American maintains a database of “approved” attorneys throughout Mexico and the rest of the world, and she will introduce you to her approved attorneys in Mexico.

• Morey Glazer, a well-respected financial planner and tax adviser. With Morey’s help, we’ve been able to “sleep well at night” knowing all of our financial issues are sorted. He’s helped us with all of our personal tax planning and retirement planning. Morey will show you how you can manage all of your financial affairs while living in Mexico, too.

• Greg Adams, President and Chief Investment Officer of Sovereign International Asset Management, Inc.Greg will explain how to use your IRA for any investment worldwide, including real estate purchases in Mexico.

• Glynna Prentice, Editor of Mexico Insider. Like Suzan and me, Glynna also lives in Mexico,in Campeche, a World Heritage city on the Gulf Coast. Glynna’s a virtual fountain of information on living and doing business in Mexico.

• Winton Churchill is the co-founder of Barefoot Consultants, an international training and consulting company that can help you put your work skills and experience to work anywhere in the world. He can help you figure out how to use the Internet and earn a living from Mexico or wherever you choose to settle. Winton and his wife, Debi, live in Huatulco—one of Mexico’s most beautiful (and up-and-coming) beach destinations. He’ll tell you why they settled there, what they like about it, the lessons they’ve learned, and how you can follow in their footsteps.

• Ronan McMahon, Executive Director of Pathfinder International is also editor of International Living’s Real Estate Trend Alert and a regular contributor to International Living’s print and online publications. Ronan is our resident real estate investment guru, and he scours the globe to find the most unique and value-oriented real estate opportunities. He’ll tell you what he’s found in Mexico and beyond.

• Margaret Summerfield is Director of Pathfinder International, International Living’s preferred real estate advertiser, and also its chief property scout. She’ll explain how she uncovers the world’s best real estate deals…what she looks for (and what you should be looking for)…and why there has never been a better time to invest in Mexico.

• And of course, Suzan Haskins and myself, Dan Prescher, will be there too. Our presentations will answer many questions you might have about our experiences in Mexico the last eight years…and how Mexico compares and contrasts with other Latin American countries where we’ve lived.

These are just a few of the experts you’ll hear from…with years and years of “on the ground” experience in Mexico, who have “been there” and “done that.”

In the Fast Track Mexico Package, you’ll learn more in a few hours than you would in many years if you were to go about it all by yourself.

Our crew will show you how to save money, avoid pitfalls, and much, much more.

We’ve invited offshore experts, Mexico real estate agents and developers, well-respected authorities in Mexico on taxation, privacy, banking, and international law—and also our own editorial staff and contributors and colleagues worldwide.

These people are running businesses… buying properties… building houses… and enjoying comfortable (and affordable) retirements…

They’ll tell you how to:

• Open a bank account…
• Ship your household goods from home to Mexico…
• Find a bargain dream home…
• Renovate a home…
• Educate your children in Mexico…
• Shop for cars, appliances, and groceries…
• Arrange for broadband Internet and cable TV…
• Qualify for the IMSS government-sponsored full-coverage health insurance…
• Pay your bills…
• Manage your finances…
• Give back to the community…
• Learn Spanish the easy way…
• Open a new business…
• …and much, much more.

Fabulous Puerto Vallarta—where you can enjoy beaches, shopping, outdoor dining, lively entertainment, and more…

Mexico has a tremendous amount to recommend it when it comes to comfortable, easy living—in communities from the Pacific coast to the central highlands to the Yucatan and the Caribbean.

And we’ll introduce you to the best of them in the Fast Track Mexico Package.

Puerto Vallarta proper is a cobblestone fishing village made famous by John Huston’s 1964 film, The Night of the Iguana. In Old Town, the buildings are whitewashed with red-tile roofs and wrought-iron balconies. Charming streets are anchored by tree-shaded plazas, and on the main square, a church topped by an ornate crown. On the malecon, where a seawall and sidewalk run along the shore, whimsical sculptures dot your path. You can rest on a carved iron bench or take a break in one of the many restaurants, cafes, or galleries that offer everything from folk art to fine examples from modern masters.And despite Puerto Vallarta’s popularity as a world-class resort, it costs less to live here than you might imagine.

Although you’ll find chrome and glass high-rise condo towers by famed contemporary designers, you won’t find the high prices you might expect. And you needn’t live in a modern tower to enjoy wonderful views and breezes.

In fact, right now there’s a home on offer in the popular Gaviotas area. It has four bedrooms and three-and-a-half bathrooms. It also has a two-car garage and a game room big enough for a foosball table and a pool table. And outside there’s a gorgeous full-size swimming pool and a covered terrace overlooking a pretty garden. It’s listed for just $186,000.

In the elite Amapas area, just south of downtown, you can own a one-bedroom, one bathroom condo in the hills. It’s fully furnished and nicely decorated. The price? Just $82,800.

Or get a two-bedroom, two-bathroom condo downtown, just one block from the church and two blocks from popular Los Muertos Beach. With a nice ocean view, this, too, is being offered fully furnished, so you could move right in. The price is just $145,000.

You’ll discover much more than just Vallarta

While the main focus of this seminar will be on Vallarta and its immediate surroundings, our Mexico experts will tell you, step-by-step, how you can own real estate, live, retire, and start new businesses in other places in Mexico, too:

Riviera Nayarit: Just north of Puerto Vallarta, along a stunning coastline known as The Riviera Nayarit, the Mexican government is investing $1.5 billion to improve accessibility and develop tourism infrastructure. The section of government responsible for this is called the “National Trust Fund for Tourism Development,” or Fonatur. These are the guys who set their sights on a coconut plantation for their first major project. Only known by a few local fishermen back then, you’ve probably heard of it today: Cancun. Resorts backed by this section of the Mexican government dramatically outperform other beach resorts in terms of visitor numbers, room occupancy, and appreciation in real estate values. The Riviera Nayarit is a gorgeous stretch of coast—a place where you would enjoy life and a real estate opportunity you could profit from.

Merida: This is where Suzan and I live and you can bet we’ll be talking in detail about this charming colonial city in the heart of Mexico’s Mayan world. Merida is known as one of the safest cities in Mexico. And make no mistake, it is a city. You’ll find major hospitals, mega shopping malls and big-name stores like Home Depot, Sam’s, Wal-Mart, Costco, Sear, and more.

But we love Merida for what it doesn’t have: big-city pretentiousness. Like the weather, the people are warm and welcoming. And the cost of living is even lower than many other places in Mexico. In Merida, for instance, you can still find a colonial-style home in need of renovation for $30,000 and up.

Just a year ago, Suzan and I finished renovating our own colonial home in Merida, and as I mentioned earlier, it has just about everything we’ve ever wanted in an overseas dream home—a gourmet kitchen, an outdoor entertainment area, a custom-built swimming pool, and more. If we wanted a home of similar quality in the U.S., there’s no doubt we’d have to pay at least twice as much for it. We’ll talk in detail about Merida and its virtues…and tell you all about the purchase and renovation process of our home there when we meet in Vallarta this November.

The Costa Flamingo: This is one of my favorite places in of all of Mexico. If you are looking for an authentic Mexican experience in a clean, peaceful fishing village that boasts no gigantic hotels and no hustle or bustle, then you’ll love the many little beach towns of the Costa Flamingo—only a 30-minute drive from Merida.

On the Costa Flamingo, you can still find beachfront lots 35 feet wide and 400 feet deep priced from $40,000 and up. And in some places, you can find beachfront homes of about 1,700 square feet starting at $65,000. (At this price, these will need renovation, of course.)

Campeche: Campeche is a World Heritage Site, beautiful and well-preserved. Nearby are Mayan ruins and villages, caves, and more to explore. And if you’re into fishing or water sports, the Gulf of Mexico is right there. This is a vibrant, affluent Mexican community although foreign expats are just starting to discover its charms. (Mexico Insider editor Glynna Prentice makes her home here. She’ll tell us all about it when we meet in Vallarta in November!) There is very little crime and people are very friendly. And there are still good deals to be had, particularly compared to U.S. and European prices.

San Miguel de Allende: San Miguel is one of the prettiest towns in all of Mexico. (Suzan and I lived here for several years.) Stepping into San Miguel’s Centro is like stepping back in time. With its high-towered church and its curving, cobbled streets… tidy shops selling carefully embroidered linens and hand-painted plates… homes that belong in the pages of Architectural Digest…and lush courtyard gardens in bloom year-round, this city is like something out of a children’s fairytale book.

Ajijic/Chapala: Suzan and I lived here for a year, too, and it’s still one of our favorite places in all of Mexico. The lakeside area of Ajijic is close enough to Guadalajara, Mexico’s second-largest city, to benefit from excellent health care, world-class cultural activities, shopping, and an international airport. Communication infrastructure is excellent here… and the expat community is close knit as well.

And if you’re interested in living in other parts of Mexico, no worries! We’ll have speakers on hand to discuss Quintana Roo and the Riviera Maya, Manzanillo, Huatulco, Xalapa, and much, much more.

In the Fast Track Mexico Package, you’ll find out how to buy property legally, live, retire, and start new businesses in all the above retirement havens…

…plus a few more we’ve recently discovered.

Get the Fast Track Mexico Package for
the lowest price available

Attendees paid up to $1,195 to be at the ONLY Live and Invest in Mexico Seminar.

Because this Seminar was your only opportunity this year to meet and hear from our full cast of contacts, experts, and editors with expertise in Mexico, we want to give you a chance to listen in to what was discussed behind closed doors…at the lowest price possible.

The Fast Track Mexico Package is priced at only $349. However, when you reserve your copy today you are eligible for a Pre-Conference discount of $200 off the full price.

This means that when you reserve the Fast Track Mexico Package now, before midnight, you’ll only pay $149.

But this conference discount offer is only available today… until midnight. Tomorrow the price goes up.

And to sweeten the deal, we’re throwing in a $100 voucher toward the next Live and Invest in Mexico seminar. Use it to attend next year’s live program (or any future IL event or seminar you may be interested in).

Plus, we’ve created a one-time-only special report that will reveal to you some of our favorite place to buy beach properties in Mexico—for less than the price of a new car.

The special report is called “Mexico Beach Property For as Little as $25,000… If You Know Where To Look” and it’s not offered for sale. It’s exclusively available to Live and Invest in Mexico Seminar attendees…and to you, when you order the Fast Track Mexico Package.

Here are just a few of our “best real estate buys” you’ll discover in this report:

• A 2,300-square-foot beachfront lot with incredible views and where the sea is as warm as bath water…an hour from an international airport. Price? Just $25,000.
• A 16-unit condo complex in stunning Manzanillo. (Remember Bo Derek on the beach in the movie 10? It was shot here.) Two-bedroom, two-bathroom condos in this project are selling for $63,000-$68,000 each.
• A fixer-upper in trendy Puerto Escondido (one of our favorite small beach towns) for just $30,000.
• On the Yucatan coast, a beachfront condominium with a pool… 24-hour security service… modern amenities and sea views for only $65,900…
• A two-bedroom, two-bathroom house on 3,875 square feet of beachfront land for just $62,990…

…and many more opportunities for you to own your own beach property in Mexico for as little as $25,000. And yes, we include contact info so you can act on these properties if you like. But, this low price is only available today.

When we first wrote this report, I was a little hesitant

Why?

Because I love the fact that there are places in Mexico that remain a world apart from the crowded, overdeveloped Mexico you see in tacky brochures.

You know… tourist traps like Cancun… Acapulco… Cabo San Lucas…

In nearly all the places revealed to you in this special report, there are no thumping discos… no tacky amusement parks… and no cheesy tourist traps…

People who want that kind of experience can go to those “super-resorts.”

The Mexico we introduce you to in this report is easygoing, laid-back, and almost entirely undiscovered.

Of course, we’d like things to stay this way, so we’re only going to offer this report to people that are serious enough to make the commitment to learn more about Mexico and about its undiscovered secrets.

This special report is not available on the International Living website… through our partners… or in any other way.

It will not be offered for sale. Ever.

You’ll receive it, though—FREE, and INSTANTLY—when you order the Fast Track Mexico Package.

But, this is a limited time offer only, so don’t delay.

The Fast Track Mexico Package includes:

• Audio recordings of all our Mexico experts’ presentations
• Copies of all hand-outs and slideshows
• Plus a special bonus report, titled: Mexico Beach Property For as Little as $25,000… If You Know Where To Look (This report is only available to conference attendees and to you…when you order the Fast Track Mexico Package.)
• And a $100 voucher toward any of our future conferences anywhere, any time. There is no expiration date on this voucher!
• Plus contact details of all reliable real estate sources, business representatives, fellow expats, and professional legal resources you’ll hear from

Reserve your copy today by completing our secure online form and save $200 on the Fast Track Mexico Package.

RESERVE YOUR FAST TRACK MEXICO PACKAGE HERE

Point is: there won’t be a more affordable time to reserve your copy. This special conference discount is only available today.
I’ll send the information about how to obtain your Fast Track Mexico Package as soon as we’re finished making copies of the recordings, the handouts, the PowerPoint presentations, etc.

If this information… these tips and secrets…
don’t work, you pay nothing

When you listen to the Fast Track Mexico Package,, you can do your best thinking, knowing that many of the most basic decisions and pieces of information have already been gathered—residency and citizenship, real estate, business opportunities, tax questions.

There’s simply no need to figure it out all by yourself—we’ve done all the legwork for you.

Think of how much time, money, and hassles this will save you. Sure, you could go out and try to meet all of these experts on your own, but why bother? In the Fast Track Mexico Package, you can hear from them all at one time.

The Fast Track Mexico Package is the perfect opportunity to explore your options in Mexico.
We guarantee that the information in our Fast Track Mexico Package can help you make your Mexico dreams come true…whatever they are. If you don’t agree, we’ll return every penny you paid.

You have nothing to lose: You can call us at any time in the future–next month…next year…or next decade—and tell us the information didn’t help you. (Or don’t tell us anything. Just ask for your money back.) We’ll give you back your $149. And your $100 voucher, good toward any future event, is still yours to keep.

Please don’t delay. The Fast Track Mexico Package will not be offered at this low, pre-conference price for long.

This is your chance to discover the exciting new opportunities we’ve uncovered in Mexico… and to come away with everything you need to know to make your dream life in Mexico a reality.

To request your copy of the Fast Track Mexico Package, go here now.

Sincerely,

Dan Prescher
For International Living

P.S. Remember, you get $200 off the regular price of the Fast Track Mexico Package, and a $100 voucher toward any of our next events or conferences. But this $149 deal is only available today… until midnight.

We’re NOT going to sell this 2009 Fast Track Mexico Package at this low, pre-conference discounted price for long.

Why not give it a try? We won’t host another Live and Invest in Mexico Seminar again until 2010.

You’ve got nothing to lose. The risk is all ours.

So act now, while you can grab the lowest available price for this package.

It’ll deliver all the real-world information you need on the places, in Mexico, where you can live better. Places where there is less stress… more freedom… and a higher quality of life. Places where you can enjoy these benefits of “the good life” for significantly less than they’d cost you back home.

Grab your conference savings and reserve your Fast Track Mexico Package here now for the low price of $149—you’ll save $200 off the regular price.

RESERVE YOUR FAST TRACK MEXICO PACKAGE HERE

You Owe it to Yourself to Know These 4 Things

International Living Postcards—your daily escape
Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009

Dear International Living Reader,

As a potential expat, one of the most important things you need to consider are the residency benefits of the countries you’re interested in.

Wait a minute…you do know what an expat is, don’t you?

Thing is, if you don’t figure out the basics, you miss out on the good stuff. Like how you can earn $91,400 tax-free. Or how it can cost you just as much to keep several paradise hideaways…as it does to live where you are right now.

Suzan Haskins has moved to a new country more times than anyone else I know. She’s got this stuff nailed down. If you’re new to IL…or you just need a quick refresher…read her instant guide, below, to moving overseas. Don’t worry, she starts with the easy stuff—what’s an expat?

Len Galvin
Managing Editor, IL Postcards

P.S. In two days, we release preferential seating to the Ultimate Event 2010. Plus, the tickets will cost much less than when they go on general release. (That’s in addition to any membership discount you’re entitled to—as a magazine subscriber, for example.) There’s only one way to get these special tickets before anyone else. This is it.

Moving Overseas 101
By Suzan HaskinsMost of the time you don’t know what you don’t know.

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One unusual company owns all the drilling rights.  Now it’s just days from bringing this ocean of oil to market.  Investors who get in now – before the big event – could multiply their money several times over.  For complete details, please go here.

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That’s never truer than when you’re thinking about moving overseas. There’s just no way you can consider and address all the issues you need to understand. And just when you think you have it all figured out, something new pops up out of the blue.

After seven international relocations in four countries, this is something I do know.

If you’re new to this idea of living in a foreign country, you’re sure to have lots of questions. Let’s start with some basics.

What’s an Expat?

The word “expat” is short for expatriate and not ex-patriot. Those are two very different things. An expatriate is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country and culture other than that of their upbringing or legal residence. The word comes from the Latin ex (out of) and patria (country, fatherland). It has nothing to do with patriotism or rejecting one’s home country.

In fact, you needn’t commit to just one country when you become an expat. It’s okay to be fickle and try a few on for size. See what I mean here.

Should I Become a Citizen or Resident?

You don’t give up citizenship at home when you move to and obtain residency in another country. And a resident visa does not make you a citizen of your adopted country. Yes, you can give up citizenship at home and petition to become a citizen in another country, but very few people ever do that. It’s difficult to do and benefits are few.

Most countries extend benefits to residents as well as citizens. I’m thinking specifically of retiree programs offered in Panama, Mexico, and Ecuador, for example. If you have a resident visa in these countries, you’ll be eligible for the same discounts and health care benefits that retired citizens receive.

How to Earn $91,400 Tax-Free

You can’t avoid the taxman by moving overseas. Your personal federal income tax obligations to your home country remain, despite your relocation. If you maintain property at home you’ll still be responsible for property taxes. Unless you are earning an income in your new country, though, it is doubtful you will be liable for income tax in that country.

You’ll want to investigate tax issues as you decide where to relocate. There can be definite tax advantages to living in another country. Like the U.S. foreign-earned-income exclusion which, if you qualify in 2009, allows you and your spouse each to be exempt from income tax on foreign earnings of up to $91,400.

(Be aware: relocating overseas does not release you from legal obligations like child support, alimony, or other decreed financial judgments. Don’t leave home for the wrong reasons.)

What Are You Waiting For?

The world is small and getting smaller. Airplane travel, though painful, has turned long distances into short ones. Today’s technology allows us to instantly communicate with people anywhere in the world. Via the Internet we chat, bank, shop, order movies and music, watch TV, catch up on the news, and see one another in real time at any time. Most of the goods, services, and technology (including top-quality medical care) you are used to at home will be available in your new country. While prices, language, culture, and the weather may be different, it won’t be too difficult to adapt, and most often you’ll be pleasantly surprised by these differences.

As promised, these are just the basics….to get you started. There’s more you need to know, of course, to make an informed decision about moving overseas. And I’m obviously biased, but I think your best resource for information of this type is right in front of you. Keep reading your daily postcards and your International Living Magazine. Surf our website and check out our bookstore for titles that delve deep into some of the topics I’ve mentioned above.

Probably the most useful option available to you right now is to join us for the Ultimate Event. You come with an idea that you’d like to move overseas…you leave with a plan to make it happen that works for you.

Here’s to a happy “expat” experience!

 

 

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Nov. 10, 2009

Dear International Living Reader,

Two days ago I told you about our special report on Belize. But I forgot to mention something important.

You’ll recall our top bargain hunter sniffed out the best places in the country where you can still live the Caribbean dream without spending a fortune. Plus, there are also tax benefits…easy residency options…retiree incentives…and everyone speaks English.

But what I forgot to mention was this: We’ve put together a free 20-minute presentation recorded at our sold-out Live and Invest Overseas Seminar, in which Phil from Florida reveals everything he’s discovered about Belize since he moved there in 2003. He talks about starting a business, the beach lifestyle, the incredible nature, real estate, socializing…in short, Phil answers every Belize question you could have.

As I said, this is a free recording. But today is the last day you can get it. See my full write-up below for details.

Sincerely,

Martina Dunphy
Executive Director, International Living

No Shirt, No Shoes,
No Problem…

This laid-back Caribbean country has a stable, democratic government, offers easy residency, inexpensive properties, no taxes…
and English is the official language.

Dear International Living Reader,

Leave your watch behind because you won’t need it. And toss away your shoes while you’re at it–a bathing suit is the only wardrobe requirement, and even that’s only a suggestion. Spend your afternoon chasing a fish or two or nursing an ice-cold beer, and call that a good day’s work…

There’s a little country in the Caribbean…a new country, in fact, having just gained its independence in 1981. Only about 300,000 people live here…in the entire country!

It’s a place where palm trees sway in rhythm with the gentle waves of clear warm waters caressing soft white sands.

People greet you with a smile and a cheerful “Good Day.” They’re genuinely happy. And why wouldn’t they be? They live in paradise.

They enjoy fresh fruit for breakfast, fresh fish for lunch, and celebrate the end of every blissful day watching the sun set over the Caribbean.

Worries are few. The cost of living is low…less than half what you’d spend in the rest of the Caribbean or the U.S. Property prices, too, are extraordinarily low. In parts of this paradise…virtually unknown to foreigners…you can buy a beach home for as little as $35,000. Even on its most popular ‘upscale’ island, where bargains are hard to come by, a brand-new condo can be had for little more than $100,000.

What’s more, taxes are practically non-existent: 0% income tax on foreign-derived income, 0% capital gains tax, 0% inheritance tax, 0% corporation tax.

All this, plus it’s ridiculously easy to get residency.

Best of all, in addition to being one of the world’s last true tax havens, English is the official language.

Yet amazingly, this country and its benefits remain relatively unknown except to a savvy few.

If You’re Dreaming of Retiring to the Caribbean but Think You Can’t Afford it…Think Belize

The Last Affordable Caribbean Haven

Over the years, the world has started to take notice of little Belize. Celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio, movie director Francis Ford Coppola, and singer-songwriter Jerry Jeff Walker have quietly purchased homes there. Many more…like Tiger Woods, Harrison Ford, Nicolas Cage, and Robert DeNiro…regularly vacation on its private islands and exclusive resort hotels.

Madonna fell so in love with the Belizean island of Ambergris Caye and its little town of San Pedro that she wrote a song about it, which she still sings in concert: “Last night I dreamt of San Pedro, tropical island breeze, all of nature wild and free. This is where I long to be, la Isla Bonita…”

But even though celebrities have found Belize, it remains off the typical tourist radar. In fact, celebrities enjoy it for just that reason: there aren’t hordes of tourists around and they can vacation in peace. And that tranquility (and relative obscurity) is exactly what’s kept the country’s charm rating high and its prices low.

We’ve Had Our Eye On Belize

My name is Martina Dunphy and I’m International Living’s Executive Director.

At International Living, we’ve had our eye on Belize from the beginning…from even before it earned its independence from Great Britain in 1981. In the early years, divers and fishermen were just about the only tourists who visited this little country, which hugs the Caribbean Sea just south of Mexico.

You may remember it from grammar school as British Honduras – and luckily, Belize has retained its English influence. The stable government is based on the British parliamentary system with a legal system modeled on the common law of England. Everyone speaks English and all contracts are written in that language.

Over the years more than a few International Living readers have been living the good life in Belize. Like Jane, from Illinois. She and her husband, a former environmental science professor, were first attracted to Belize by the rainforests and by the high quality of Caribbean water off the coast. (Their grandkids love to snorkel. ) They retired to Belize a few years ago and moved into a two-bedroom home they bought in Santa Rita, near Corozal…for $48,000!

And there’s Bill and Jenny, who bought a parcel of beachfront on the Bay of Corozal, near the town of Copper Bank. They worked together to build Cerros Beach Resort, now up and running with four cabanas for guests, and a full-service restaurant and bar.

“There are no time clocks or wristwatches, no commutes, stress or worries,” Bill says. “We have the opportunity to see animals in their natural habitats, to sit and listen to the birds and the wind blowing, to watch a beautiful sunset…we take full advantage of it all.”

Ann Kuffner first visited Belize in 1999 with her husband, Mike. From that point on, she says, they were hooked. They invested in property in the little town of San Pedro on Ambergris Caye, where Mike, a contractor, designed and built a home. They haven’t looked back. Now living happily on the island full-time, Ann and Mike keep busy (as busy as they want, anyhow) with several successful business ventures.

“I’m content with my day-to-day life in Belize” says Ann. “I can swim every day or walk the beach with my dogs. We have a full, active social life, and I’m developing skills in new and interesting professional areas. We have made many friends here in San Pedro.”

There’s Much More to Belize Than Ambergris Caye…The Country’s Most Popular Tourist Destination

There are many little islands off the coast (at least 200, say tourism officials) and miles of Caribbean coastline that remain undiscovered by most travelers.

And that’s where the real estate bargains are…

We sent veteran writer (and bulldog bargain real estate hunter) Don Ediger to Belize to sniff out some of the places in the country where you can still live the Caribbean dream without spending a fortune…where you can have a champagne lifestyle on a Belikin budget. (Belikin is Belize’s mighty tasty beer…a cold one will set you back just a buck or two, depending on the hoity-toity-ness, or lack thereof, of the establishment.)

Don has compiled his findings in a special Belize insider intelligence report—more than 45 comprehensively detailed pages titled Belize: Live the Caribbean Dream…for Less.

If you’re interested in finding your place in the Caribbean sun…but you’d rather not pay typical Caribbean prices…you need to read this report.

As Don writes, “Belize is a country with some of the world’s best sailing, fishing, and diving, not to

mention opportunities for visiting Mayan ruins, hiking in the jungle, meeting interesting people, or just relaxing by the beach or on your patio. Moreover, Belize is a beautiful, peaceful nation with a year-around tropical climate and easy access to the U.S., Mexico, other Central American countries, and Caribbean islands.”

But Don digs deep. Not one to just scratch the surface, he gives you every little detail…all the nuances, tips, insider secrets, and every little tidbit that normally slips between the cracks…everything you need to know if you’re considering relocating to Belize.

All This, And One of the World’s Best Retirement Programs, Too!

For instance, you may have heard of Belize’s Qualified Retired Person Program (QRP). (Despite the name, you needn’t be retired.) If you’re at least 45 years old and have a monthly income of at least $2,000 from a pension or annuity (including Social Security) generated outside of Belize, you can qualify. This allows you to bring all your personal goods to Belize tax-free, and pay no Belizean taxes on any foreign-earned income.

Don explains exactly what you need to do to qualify. This is the very latest information from the Belize government. It’s verified and up to date. (That’s important, as much of what you’ll find in an Internet search can be dangerously outdated.)

What’s more, Don tells you how you can become a permanent resident of Belize, which offers you even more advantages, including the ability to work and earn an income there.

I can’t tell you everything that Don has turned up about Belize…as I mentioned, his report is more than 45 pages!

Here’s Some of What You’ll Discover in
Your Belize Insider Intelligence Report

- Location, location, location. You’ll learn about the top spots in Belize for expats…some of which you may have never heard of, including a quiet, tidy town on the ocean (but with all the amenities you need) where you can live…more than comfortably…on less than $2,000 per month.

- Contacts, contact, contacts. From expat organizations in Belize to those people who can help you streamline your move… Don names names and gives contact info, so you’ll have both business and social circles in Belize before you ever leave home.

- How much you can expect to pay for things like telephone, Internet, cable TV, and household help…including a gardener. (Remember, in the tropics, one plant can quickly turn into a jungle…you’ll be happy to have affordable help in your garden!)

- An example of how some expats use a little chicanery (and the black market) to save even more on living expenses.

- Detailed information about real estate in Belize. What the buying process is like…where to go and who to talk to in order to find the best bargains… Like a two-bedroom house for $135,000 and a spacious condo (with a pool) for $149,000 — on popular Ambergris Caye!

As Don says, though, although it’s where most expats want to be, increasing numbers are looking beyond Ambergris Caye for Belize’s true bargains. He found a two-bedroom house on the outskirts of a beach town that’s just now gaining the attention of expats…for just $49,000!

On the southern coast just minutes from the beach, there’s an octagonal house in move-in condition for just $35,000!

And go inland to get even more bang for your buck. In hilly verdant San Ignacio town, Don’s located a three-bedroom home with a tropical veranda overlooking a lush garden filled with fruit trees. Price? Just $49,000!

I’m not making this up. Don gives you the contact info so you can follow up on these (and many more like them) yourself.

Reserve Your Belize Insider Intelligence Report Now…

Belize: Live the Caribbean Dream…for Less is the best resource available to help you get to know the Caribbean paradise that is Belize. From finding a property…to obtaining residency. You’ll learn how to invest, travel, live, retire, and start a new business in Belize. With this report as your guide, you’ll save time, money, and hours of frustration…

Keep in mind…this special insider intelligence report is the result of years of travel by Don Ediger and months of follow-up research and consultations with expats in Belize, immigration attorneys, offshore banking experts, real estate agents, and developers. If you were to try to get this information yourself, it would take years and thousands of dollars to compile. I can guarantee you won’t find anything like it on the Internet or in a bookshop.

In fact, I will guarantee it…more about that in a minute.

Try it out, explore everything Belize has to offer… and certainly, make use of the information when you’re in Belize in search of your dream home or investment. With all the pointed information and contact details in this report, you’ll be glad you did.

…AND A SPECIAL BONUS REPORT:
What most people don’t know about Belize but should…

There’s something else you may not know: Belize is one of the best banking and tax havens in the world. Many financial advisors, in fact, believe that Belize is a far better option than better-known tax and private banking havens like Switzerland, Austria, Panama, and the Cayman Islands.

This is something that should be important to you no matter your financial status.

You see, in 1992, Belize officially adopted its International Business Companies Act, the Trusts Act, and the Offshore Banking Act, and became a premier jurisdiction for asset protection trusts. It’s also one of the few trust jurisdictions in the world that offers protection from court action initiated by creditors that might challenge your transfer of property into a trust.

And don’t worry that Belize will cave in to pressure from the IRS…the country has consistently defended its asset protection laws in international courts. In one recent landmark case, “Securities and Exchange Commission v. Fund International,” the Supreme Court of Belize upheld the Trusts Act, and the SEC was stymied in its attempt to acquire confidential trust documents in Belize.

According to financial consultants around the world, this decision sends a clear signal that Belize can be relied on to provide financial services in an environment that is both confidential and capable of protecting assets at a high level.

These are complicated issues, certainly. Obviously, you know it’s in your best interest to protect your hard-earned assets. (If you’ve ever experienced any type of legal action…including divorce…you know what I’m getting at.)

But you may not understand why, especially if you have only limited assets, it makes so much sense to establish an offshore trust, bank account, or company…

We can help. When you reserve our special Belize: Live the Caribbean Dream…for Less report, we’ll also send you a special report we’ve created to help you understand the offshore asset protection options offered in Belize.

Called Belize: Haven for Privacy and Profits (value $29.97) it’s yours FREE with your copy of Belize: Live the Caribbean Dream…for Less.

This report alone can save you hundreds of thousands of dollars in the coming years. Global financial advisors believe the window of opportunity will soon close (for U.S. citizens, especially) to move financial assets into offshore vehicles.

Now is the time to act… Our special report, Belize: Haven for Privacy and Profits, tells you how. (Yes, you’ll not only get all the information you need to understand these issues, you’ll also get our rolodex of expert contacts who can help you open bank accounts, create trusts, IBCs and more.)

…If you’ve ever wanted to know everything there is to know about Belize…in order to make an informed decision about moving or investing there…act now.

Not Available Anywhere Else

These special reports, created by Belize expert, Don Ediger and the editors of International Living, are not available in bookstores, resource libraries, or anywhere else on the Internet. They are available in an online downloadable form only. That’s how we can keep the information as up-to-date and reliable as possible. It also allows us to get this information in your hands as quickly as possible.

Travel to Belize to obtain all this information yourself and you’d expect to pay $2,000 or more. (The time and efforts of attorneys and other experts who worked to compile this information is worth that much alone.) But when you act now and reserve your copy of Belize: Live the Caribbean Dream…for Less you’ll pay just $49. And you’ll also receive our special free bonus report about offshore asset protection options, Belize: Haven for Privacy and Profits.

And the best part is that we publish these reports electronically…so they are much more useful, colorful, and interactive than ever before. Plus you’ll have access to them as soon as your order has processed.

Discover Belize Risk-Free

In Belize, there’s a mantra that everyone lives by. It’s an attitude, really, and a direct result of living a no-stress lifestyle. The sun comes up, you play in the water all day…or just sit next to it with your feet up and a cold drink in your hand. And then the sun goes down. The next day you do it all again.

“No shirt, no shoes, no problem.”

I’m so confident that Belize: Live the Caribbean Dream…for Less special report will help you realize your dream life in Belize that I’ll offer you this guarantee: If, for any reason, you’re not completely happy with this report, just let us know. You have our 90-day no-hassle money back guarantee…

We’ll refund your $49, no questions asked…and you can keep your copy of Belize: Haven for Privacy and Profits.

You have nothing to lose…and so much to gain!

Regards,

Martina Dunphy
Executive Director, International Living

P.S. If you’re one of the first to order our brand-new Belize reports, we’ll also send you this fast-reply bonus: Florida Expat Reveals the Caribbean’s Best-Kept Secret. This is a 20-minute presentation we recorded at our sold-out Live and Invest Overseas Seminar, in which Phil from Florida reveals everything he’s discovered about Belize since he moved there in 2003. He talks about business, lifestyle, nature, real estate, socializing…in short, Phil answers every Belize question you could have. If you order by Tuesday, November 10, you get Belize: Live the Caribbean Dream…For Less PLUS Belize: Haven for Privacy and Profits PLUS Florida Expat Reveals the Caribbean’s Best-Kept Secret…all for $49.

ORDER NOW

International Living Postcards—your daily escape

Dear International Living Reader,

Wedged between Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, Belize has no strategic importance to anyone. Maybe that’s why it has such a peaceful history. The pirates of the Caribbean thought so—when they needed a base in the 1600s, quiet, little Belize was their first choice. The 200 islands scattered off the coast made perfect hideaways. Later, when the Spanish tried to settle the mainland, it was a disaster. The pirates didn’t like the idea of someone else telling them what to do.

Today, Belize retains that fiercely independent streak. It’s one of the best banking and tax havens in the world. They don’t believe in taxes—no capital gains tax, no inheritance tax, no corporation tax. If you join the special retiree program, you don’t pay tax on foreign-earned income. A special Belizean retiree is loosely defined—you can be in your 40s or 50s and still working, and get all the program’s benefits.

Whether you chose to be a retiree or not, the lifestyle here will tempt even the most committed workaholic to relax. This is picture postcard Caribbean. Divers and snorkelers explore its 176-mile barrier reef. (The largest living reef in the world.) Sport fishermen are equally happy. They reel in snapper, grouper, barracuda, bonito, tuna, kingfish, sailfish, and marlin.

You’ll be blissfully free from commuter crush, 24-hour news, and workaday stress. This is a land of few cars, abundant fresh food from the sea and the trees, and great natural beauty. Belize is undeveloped and sparsely populated. You’ll have lots of room (on the beaches, in the jungle, in the rainforests) to stretch out. There is no rush. Where would you rush to? Yes, there are fiber-optic phone cables, computers, and cell phones, but these things are conveniences, not obsessions.

Everyone who visits English-speaking Belize talks about the friendly people. Of course, lots of countries have friendly locals. But in Belize you can quickly and easily make friends with them—because you already speak the language. You can buy a home on a Caribbean island for less than $100,000…and a house near the beach on mainland Belize for $35,000.

For a country where not much happens, there sure is a lot of opportunity in Belize. That’s why we’ve created a brand new report called Belize: Live the Caribbean Dream…For Less. If you’re interested in a place in the Caribbean sun…but you don’t want to pay typical Caribbean prices…you need to read this report.

Meantime, stay tuned to these postcards. We’ll reveal some Belize secrets over the next few days…

Len Galvin

Managing Editor, IL Postcards

The Special Program That Attracts Everyone to Belize

International Living Postcards—your daily escape
Monday, Nov. 9, 2009

Dear International Living Reader,

Leonardo DiCaprio and Francis Ford Coppola own property in Belize. Tiger Woods, Harrison Ford, and Robert DeNiro take vacations there. Of course, you’ve heard of these big celebrities. Maybe you already know about their Caribbean hideaways in Belize.

But you probably haven’t heard of Jane and Pat. They sold their house in Illinois and bought a home in Belize for $48,000. Because the cost of living is so low, they saved enough to trade up. So, they bought a bigger place—one with lots of room for the grandkids.

Bill and Jenny bought a parcel of beachfront on the Bay of Corozal. They built a home and a few cabanas for paying guests. They may run a business, but this is still Belize. “There are no time clocks or wristwatches, no commutes, stress or worries,” Bill says.

What makes Belize so attractive…to millionaire celebrities and doting grandparents alike…is a program of special benefits that almost anyone can use. Importantly, this isn’t a complicated government program. It’s run by the Tourist Board. So, it’s easy to use and quick to load up on benefits. You’ll be especially interested if you’re a sailor, pilot, or over 45.

Ronan McMahon lays it out, below.

Len Galvin
Managing Editor, IL Postcards

P.S. Our brand new report on this country is called Belize: Live the Caribbean Dream…For Less. It’s a collection of our best audio recordings, expat tips, expert advice, tax and banking haven reports, profit alerts, and insider secrets on Belize. Whether you want to live, invest, vacation, retire, or simply relax in Belize…this report has you covered.

Special Retiree Benefits in Belize
By Ronan McMahon

Little Belize is my # 1 Caribbean buy because the best real estate values are here. This is a country rich in natural beauty—with tropical reefs and lush jungle. The quirky people are welcoming and warm. Visit and you run the risk of not wanting to return home. In fact, they even have a government program to incentivize you to spend more time here. They’ll welcome you as a permanent resident with a pathway to citizenship and a Belize passport. It’s called the Qualified Retired Person (QRP) program.

Some of my developer contacts in Belize have started to use this program to help market their real estate. With good cause: This program is a major driver of demand for property. Here’s how it works.

To participate in this program you need to be 45 years or older with an income of $2,000 per month (and deposit $24,000 in a Belize bank). Fulfill these criteria and you could be a permanent resident of Belize before next March.

Belize’s warm welcome doesn’t stop there. As a QRP you will pay no tax on income earned outside Belize or on money brought into the country. You can import $15,000 worth of household goods tax-free. You can bring in a vehicle tax-free…not just once but every five years. With this program you have permanent residency…but you can still take advantage of all the offshore banking advantages of Belize while living there.

Little Belize is flexible. You can start the process long before spending a lot of time here. All you need to do is spend one month per year in Belize to maintain your status. That’s a requirement you will look forward to fulfilling. Contacts on the ground tell me that this minimum time requirement isn’t being enforced by the Belize Tourist Board (which administers the program). Rules or enforcement isn’t Belize’s thing. Want to bring the entire family? Belize has no problem with that.

The best part of the program is that you can use the $24,000 you lodge in a Belize bank to buy real estate. Once you lodge the cash, Belize doesn’t care where the money goes from there. That’s a big help when, for example, less than $100,000 buys you a condo three blocks from the beach on Ambergris. This condo comes with access to a beach club, and fitness and country club facilities. Finance is available. Last year Islands magazine selected Ambergris as one of the 10 best islands to live on, describing it as “an affordable paradise in the Caribbean.”

Throughout history kings and merchant princes always had an escape route. If things moved against them in their home country, off they went. Their plans were laid long in advance. Their research done and contacts made. The little guy who had no contacts and resources was left behind. Belize’s QRP program might just be the escape route us little guys have been dreaming of for centuries.

I strongly urge you to check out little Belize for yourself. See her natural treasures, real estate values. Get planning today. Belize’s people and natural beauty mean that retiring baby boomers will want to come. The QRP program means that they can come. I expect real estate prices will rise.

Remember, the QRP program even holds a pathway to citizenship and a Belize passport. You can do this by converting from QRP to regular permanent residency.

Editor’s note: Our brand new report on this country (called Belize: Live the Caribbean Dream…For Less) tells you everything you need to know about the attractive QRP Program. If you’re interested in a place in the Caribbean sun…but you don’t want to pay typical Caribbean prices…you need to read this report.

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Ecuador’s Northern Andes: The World’s Best-value Destination

International Living Postcards—your daily escape
Monday, Nov. 2, 2009

Dear International Living Reader,

Ecuador’s Northern Andres is where you’ll find one of the world’s best-value places—and in your November issue of the IL Magazine Suzan Haskins explores lifestyle and property options here.

Suzan and her husband Dan recently spent two months in Cotacachi…in the condo they bought a year ago for $46,000. They love this little town.

While they were there, their friend, who is a musician, visited. Cotacachi is a musical city with music classes and frequent musical events…and a place where you’ll always hear musical groups rehearsing behind closed doors.

He loved it here…and when he learned that he could rent a furnished apartment in Cotacachi starting at about $130 a month, and that most expats report total living expenses of $500 to $600 a month, he was snared—hook, line, and sinker.

“It would cost me less to live here for a couple of months next summer than it would to stay home and pay my air-conditioning bills,” he calculated. “I could take a three-month vacation for the cost of most weeklong vacations.”

He’s right. The cost of living in Cotacachi is among the lowest in Latin America. And just because it’s small doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do. The Andes Mountains are perfect for hiking, trout fishing, and bird watching; and there are natural hot springs nearby for a warm, soothing soak. You can take Spanish, music, art, or cooking classes; and there are plenty of opportunities for volunteer work.

But if you are looking for more activity, you’ll find it in the market town of Otavalo, about 20 minutes away, or in the much-larger city of Ibarra, a 30-minute drive to the north. Otavalo is a Quichua indigenous town famous for its music and crafts.

Imbabura province, where Cotacachi, Otavalo, and Ibarra are located, is prosperous compared with other regions of Ecuador. The towns are clean and orderly, and city governments have invested in infrastructure improvements to keep tourists (and residents) happy. Read more about this low-cost region of Ecuador in your November issue.

* Also in your issue this month, we profile American James Tipton. Ten years ago, James fell in love with a Mexican lady and they moved to Lake Chapala. Now he’s active in the community here. James is an associate editor of a large-circulation monthly print magazine serving expatriates in the Lake Chapala area and this year he has also published two collections of poetry.

James and Martha’s monthly cost of living is $1,800 and that allows them a comfortable lifestyle. Plus, he feels fit and healthy due to his regular walks down by the lake.

“Back in the States when I was 50, I felt like I was 65. Here in Chapala, at age 67, I feel like I’m 50…and getting younger,” James says. Read his story on page 10 of your November issue.

* On page 26, Steenie Harvey delves into the back streets of Barcelona. “On a first visit, sure, get to know ‘gaudy Gaudi’ and enjoy the big-ticket sights of this beautiful city,” Steenie advises. “But spare some time to delve into less-trodden neighborhoods.”

Beyond the stylish designer bars with $12 cocktails, there’s another Barcelona—one that’s been airbrushed from the tourism brochures. One with local “ramblas,” where boys play soccer, old ladies walk dogs, and friends sit on benches socializing.

Here, activists commandeer derelict spaces and transform them into community gardens. Locals run café-bars—the kind where posters of soccer players hang above the snack counter, the TV is on permanently, and workmen puff Fortuna cigarettes over beers and bocadillos. Oh, and someone is always cursing or kicking the slot machine.

Where to find it? Steenie reveals all in your November issue.

* Also in your issue this month, we explore the world’s most scenic drives; find out why English-speaking Malta is worth your attention right now; learn about Costa Rica’s next two up-and-coming hotspots; take a cruise for free; discover the best places to go fishing in Latin America; read why office space can make a perfect home in Montevideo; and find out where you can get a Tom Cruise smile for a fraction of what he paid (probably).

Read all this and much more in your November issue of International Living Magazine.

Laura Sheridan
Managing Editor, International Living Magazine

P.S. The IL Magazine is now 25% bigger—so we can squeeze in more articles and photos every month. Nowhere else can you find more globetrotting ideas on travel and retirement…real estate and investment—any one of which could help you start a new life in paradise. To celebrate, we’re giving away free copies of The World’s Best book when you try International Living Magazine.

For the next five days only, you can use this link to get your complimentary copy of The World’s Best…plus instant access to the November issue (and every article I mentioned above)…plus instant access to every article in every issue we’ve published during the past 100 months in our members-only archive. You better hurry—we only have 500 copies of The World’s Best to give away.

Meet Will Raap, owner/partner in the ‘green’ communities of the Tierra Verde developments on Costa Rica’s Gold Coast. What makes Raap’s communities ‘green’ appears to be the special status acquired by the partnership in securing official cooperation from the Costa Rican government with supplemental funding and planned infrastructure, like roads. We would have to ask him point-blank if having friends in the Debt-for-Nature program is good for business. Clearly trading in Green is good for Will Raap.
http://www.gardeners.com/Meet-Will-Raap/7146,default,pg.html

I wasn’t bothered too much at first by Will Raap as I made my way through his biography and company listings, expecting the usual hyperbole of praises garnered on outstanding citizens; graduate of UCDavis and UCBerkeley who moved to Burlington VT and started an online business –Gardener’s Supply in 1983– and parlayed his successes into environmental politics. From there he organized the purchase of Vermont farmlands in an act of community-spirited preservation which launched him to regional and national fame as a speaker and role-model.

But then, a number of troubling situations appeared as I looked closer. Raap is definitively on-board with Global Warming and Carbon offset trading (which is a multi-faceted ‘credit’ system) and his close partnership with 37-yr-old Matthew Hayden of Hayden Communications International aroused my attention to the gamier side of the Green mountain boys. It occurred to me to check if their mouths were where the money is.

Matthew Hayden,  primary partner in Tierra Verde,  is the owner/founder of HCI, described as “a leading full service investor relations firm exclusively for China based, publicly listed companies”. HCI lists its offices in New York and China http://reuters.com/article/PressRelease/idUS25111+27-Mar-2009+PR… but maintains corporate representation throughout California. Its difficult to tell just how deep HCI goes in the financial and information industries or just how diversified Mr. Hayden is in the numerous business entities he directs. Hayden, on his own behalf, claims an affinity for the beach life, personally signing on to Tierra Verde’s many advertized charms. http://www.tierraverdeuvita.com/news (catch the video on the homepage). A sampling of HCI’s activity and clients is listed below. (By the way, one of the creepy uses of “HCI” is to designate Human-Computer Interface, DARPA darling)
http://www.armcometals.com/news/news_press100808.php , Armco Metals, PRC
http://newsblaze.com/story/2009032504030500028.pnw/topstory.html, China Green Agriculture, Inc., PRC
http://www.bphx.com/en/Pages/default.aspx  , Blue Phoenix Solutions, Inc., Israel
http://blog.chinasecurities.com/category/posts-matt-hayden/
http://www.haydenir.com/newsletters/spring2008newsletter.htm, HCI’s own bulletin
http://www.haydenir.com/

Raap’s company, Gardener’s Supply, with a viewable inventory online looks like a veritable import-export clearinghouse for Chinese merchandise. Some environmentalists that I know would object –the Buy Local types. On the “recalled” products page, I found something truly objectionable –a Flame Weeder. Yes, a mini-flame-throwing weed incinerator that attaches to disposable propane canisters –recalled not for being ungreen, but for a faulty attachment coupling that leaks gas and puts the user at risk for flash-over burns. http://www.gardeners.com/Flame-Weeder-Recall/5210,default,pg.html . For a moment, I enjoyed the joke. This product comes from the UK.

On the loftier side, Will Raap steps out big as the chairman of NGO, The Earth Partners. This is the group that involves itself deeply in the affairs of Costa Rica. One of the Partners, Brinkman and Associates, is in progress converting ‘underutilized’ farmland into teak hardwood plantations. Teak, native to South Asia, is a high-value lumber with natural resistance to weathering making it desirable for flooring and outdoor furniture. The family Raap has developed a teak furniture enterprise to add to the other business ventures in hand. Mrs. Raap comes from Costa Rican coffee-plantation gentility, another huge agricultural growth industry that’s gone green with Fair Trade and niche-market sales, similar to other debt-for-nature nations in the neo-colonial Americas.

The Earth Partners (TEP) “was formed to advance the best forest, wetland, grassland and rangeland EcoSystem Restoration projects in the world”, or more bluntly put, eugenics for Mother Earth. Brinkman is proud to announce that monoculturing teak has replaced the local mismanagement of growing corn and beans. Brinkman operates under the business name of BARCA, S.A. and “its plantations are acknowledged to be some of the best in the world”. The Nature Conservancy is “helping to assemble key land parcels for biofuel production projects” involving TEP and POET, the leading US ethanol producer. TEP’s website explains that “possibilities also exist that these lands being restored for biofuel production may generate multiple entrepreneurial revenue streams (e.g. carbon credits, water credits, wetland credits, biodiversity credits, hunting rights leases, flood damage reduction credits..)” and this is how Green plays on. http://www.theearthpartners.com/ and
http://www.reforestteak.com/Our-Partners-and-Associated-Projects_ep_45-1.html

Meanwhile, back at the beach, where the ’second home’ market is very hot, the 500 acres of Pueblo Verde has something to offer the low-key buyer who prefers a more ‘integrated’ feel than the other sister developments of Tierra Verde. “The area closest to the highway and parallel to the entrance [lot #1]..we are reserving for 2 or 3 families from the area. Our policy at Pueblo Verde is ‘don’t gate, integrate’. In our valley, the imbalance of wealth is making it hard for locals to own land. We want to be good neighbors. The residents on this property will be available for help in the project and offer a form of community security which is ‘built in’, low profile but highly effective.” http://www.puebloverde.org/Pueblo_Verde_Blog.html, (under “Homesites”)

Don’t Tell the Jet Set About This Town in Uruguay

International Living Postcards—your daily escape
Friday, Oct. 30, 2009

Dear International Living Reader,

Punta del Este is the top destination in Uruguay. Rock stars and billionaire fashion moguls vacation there. Pop starlets keep a summer home where they can avoid the North American winter. That’s why the real estate is more expensive…the restaurants charge more…and even the marinas have higher rates…than the rest of the country.

All things considered, Punta is probably good value. But it’s still the most expensive destination in Uruguay.

Instead, look 30 minutes along the coast. If golden beaches, yachts, and great views are something you’re looking for in a second home…Ronan McMahon has found somewhere to suit any budget, below.

Len Galvin
Managing Editor, IL Postcards

P.S. Before I let Ronan wow you with the amazing real estate deals he’s found in Uruguay, a quick housekeeping note: Today is the last day to sign up for the Ultimate Uruguay Discovery Kit. If you’d like to retire soon and spend less than you are right now, but keep every First World convenience you’re used to…you need to take a look at this before the offer closes later today.

Forget Punta—Look to Uruguay’s First Seashore Resort
By Ronan McMahon

A condo recently sold here for $7.1 million. This is Punta del Este, Uruguay—South America’s premier seaside resort. Second home to the jet set. The rich and famous are attracted from Argentina, Brazil and Europe. With good cause.

The beaches are stunning, dining and shopping world class, casinos and yachts give a French Riviera type feel. Perfect if you have a seven figure sum sitting around.

If you aren’t part of the rock star set, fear not.

Piriapolis is just a 30 minute drive away and an hour from Montivideo’s international airport. The real estate prices here come without the sticker shock you’ll experience in Punta. The feel: Less bling…more local. Local without sacrificing quality.

Here Uruguay lives up to it’s billing: A First World European Lifestyle… without the price.

Piriapolis is Uruguay’s first seashore resort, founded in 1893. It has long been popular for its sandy beaches, calm waters, and attractive seafront.

Yet Piriapolis is small. Unlike Punta del Este, it has a small-town, neighborly feel. Everyone knows everyone. A nicer place to live year-round. Locals are joined by people from all over Uruguay to enjoy the fine seafood restaurants, casinos, cafes, and local museums.

Activities here however aren’t limited to the beach, museums and dining. You’ll have plenty to do. Piriapolis is a boater’s paradise with a large marina. Rates are affordable. Sailing enthusiasts frequently enjoy the one-hour sail to Punta del Este, or the day’s voyage to Buenos Aires. Golfers will enjoy Club de Lago 30 minutes away. Plenty of water not only adds to the challenge but provides a natural habitat for herons and a host of other wild life.

It’s in Piriapolis you will find Sugar Loaf Ocean Club and Spa. This will be Uruguay’s first high-end gated community targeted at the North American market. (Owners get free membership at Club de Lago.) Sugar Loaf is surrounded by rolling hills, farms, and pastureland. Downtown Piriapolis is five minutes away. Sugar Loaf sits high on a hill in front of Uruguay’s famous Sugar Loaf Mountain. The property has great views of Piriapolis and the deep blue sea beyond.

Residents will enjoy a modern business center and all the bells and whistles to support remote working. Leisure amenities like the Enchanted Rock Spa will offer a variety of soothing massages, aromatherapy, yoga or meditation. Amenities will also include a gymnasium, Jacuzzi, stables, tennis courts and sparkling infinity-view pool.

Perfect if you are looking for Uruguay’s lifestyle but with the added conveniences of a high-end resort community. As many rich Argentineans become priced out of the market in Punta they are coming here. Little Uruguay is safe, stable and secure. More foreigners are coming as Uruguay increasingly becomes viewed as a safe haven in times of uncertainty. The government is welcoming to foreigners who want to spend part or all of their time here. I expect prices in Piriapolis to continue to rise.

Piriapolis should be on your radar. If you want the conveniences of living in a high-end gated community you need to check out Sugar Loaf Ocean Club and Spa. Lots here start at $69,000.

If you’d like to know more, including details on interest free financing, contact developer David James for an information pack.

Editor’s note: FINAL NOTICE… If you haven’t seen our special report on Uruguay—this is your very last chance to learn how you can crank up your First World lifestyle while slashing your budget.

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To help you make clear decisions, you should know that David James is a client of Pathfinder. To learn what that could mean for you, read this disclosure policy.

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Old Colonials Looking for New Owners

International Living Postcards—your daily escape
Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009

Dear International Living Reader,

There’s a certain charm to an old colonial building that needs to be rescued. If you’re looking for a renovation project…or a restored colonial home…there’s really only one town you should visit.

This is the best persevered colonial town in South America (and a UNESCO World Heritage Site). Since the Portuguese first settled here in the 17th century, this town bounced back and forth between Portugal and Spain for a hundred years. Through wars, treaties, and invasions, it remained unscathed. Today you can see (and buy) homes dating back to the original Portuguese settlers.

But in a colonial town so rich in history, property must be expensive, right? Not if Lee Harrison is your guide. See his report below.

Len Galvin
Managing Editor, IL Postcards

P.S. All this week—the Discover Uruguay Week—while we let you in on every secret we know about starting a new life in Uruguay, you can get the Uruguay Discovery Kit. But once the clock strikes midnight on Friday, you won’t be able to get the Uruguay Discovery Kit anywhere at any price.

Uruguayan Colonial Living at a Bargain Price
By Lee Harrison

Colonia is one of Uruguay’s real treasures. In fact, I would rank Colonia at the top of Uruguay’s list for a year-round, quality lifestyle at an affordable price. Located on the banks of Rio de la Plata (just across from Buenos Aires), it’s a friendly riverside town that draws people from the world over.

What’s always attracted me (and most visitors) to Colonia has been its historic center, known as Barrio Histórico. Founded by the Portuguese in the 1680s, Colonia’s Barrio Histórico is one of the best examples of restored and preserved Portuguese colonial architecture that you’ll ever see.

Antique, period homes surround the central plaza, with interiors that are still graced with rustic stone floors and heavy grey-stone walls. The rooms are small and sometimes cell-like, as was the style of that time. In many cases, you can see where the Portuguese used one style of stonework on the house—up to a level of about seven feet—and then the Spanish used another style, many years later, order to make the houses taller.

Unlike most resort areas of Uruguay, Colonia “never closes”. Even in the dead of winter—in July—you’ll see good number of visitors strolling its cobblestoned streets, enjoying the high-end restaurants, classy boutiques, sidewalk cafes and shady parks. It’s a good place to operate a rental property, a tourism-related business, or a B&B.

Colonia is a place where you’ll still see antique cars along the streets, going back to the 1930s…as you will in much of Uruguay’s interior. And I was surprised to find that most of them have current license plates, and are used by people as their primary vehicle, rather than a Sunday showpiece.

I try to get here at least once per year, and find the four-hour drive from my home in Punta del Este to be well worth it. I liked Colonia since the first time I saw it.

But while researching the Uruguay Discovery Kit, I found something this time that I haven’t seen in years: A property in Barrio Histórico selling for around $100,000…in a neighborhood where prices can run up to five times that much for a colonial-period home. Prices here have gone up about 300% since 2004.

This was an 1,100-square-foot house which has never been remodeled from its original structure and finishings. It has three bedrooms, two baths and is located close to the center of Barrio Histórico. But although it’s in the historical center, it’s not a true colonial-period home. It’s too new…but it’s an affordable foot in the door to this UNESCO World Heritage Site. The asking price is $105,000.

An even-better opportunity in Barrio Histórico is a 1,500-square-foot gem located right next to the yacht basin. It has two bedrooms, a single bath and a large, lazy front porch covered with bougainvillea, for the asking price of $150,000. This one costs a bit more than the first, but I like the location better, in the heart of Barrio Histórico.

I found these properties exciting, having watched prices climb rapidly over the last few years. This year may indeed be the last chance to get that second home in this historic setting without spending a fortune.

Editor’s note: This niche in Colonia is just one of the new discoveries that Lee made this year while preparing the latest edition of the Uruguay Owner’s Manual. All this week, when you buy the brand new edition of the Uruguay Owner’s Manual, you also get three free bonuses: the special reports Top Lifestyle Picks in Uruguay (worth $19) and Uruguay’s Best Kept Real Estate Secret Revealed (worth $49)…and the Ultimate Uruguay Audio Collection (worth $49).

Total value: $186. Your price: $69. This is the best Uruguay deal we’ve ever offered…but it only lasts until Friday. Order yours now.

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Don’t Choose

International Living Postcards—your daily escape
Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009

Dear International Living Reader,

Once you decide you’d like to try a new life overseas—that’s the easy part.

The hard part is picking where you want to spend your time.

You could run away to the beach in Brazil. Immerse yourself in one of Mexico’s charming pueblos magicos. Savor the sweet life on a Mediterranean coast. Make your own wine in Argentina. Write a novel in France. Sail a yacht to Malta. Live it up in one of Ecuador’s colonial cities…

It’s a tough decision—one we believe no-one should have to make. Don’t choose one paradise. Choose them all.

I know what you’re thinking: Who can afford a life like that? Chances are, you can afford a life like this right now. Suzan Haskins has it all figured out, below.

Len Galvin
Managing Editor, IL Postcards

P.S. Tomorrow is the last day you can claim $150 toward your airfare to Mexico. Get the full details here.

The Cuba Story No-one’s Talking About

International Living Postcards—your daily escape
Monday, Oct. 19, 2009

Dear International Living Reader,

“Hemingway’s favored hangout, La Bodeguita del Medio, in Habana Vieja, is popular with tourists but it’s overpriced and unfriendly. The mojitos at the cheaper alternatives are just as good, and the experience more genuine.”

This was the verdict of the last IL correspondent who was in Cuba, back when that country was exotic, fun, and exciting.

It’s still all those things. But now it’s fat with opportunity, too.

U.S. restrictions toward Cuba are easing—you’ve heard a lot about this, I’m sure. Recent comments from the Castro brothers about the U.S. have been more positive than at any other time during the 47-year economic embargo. But what no-one’s talking about is that a free-market Cuba could be profitable for North Americans—hugely profitable for those who get there first and know what to look for.

That’s why we sent Suzan Haskins to one of the last places Americans can’t go. To see what she found, keep reading…

Len Galvin
Managing Editor, IL Postcards

P.S. Later today you’ll get an offer to subscribe to the International Living magazine for just $17. If you’re new to IL, our print publication is the world’s premiere magazine on traveling, living, retiring, and investing overseas…and as long as I’ve worked here, $17 is the lowest the subscription price has ever been. This is a great deal.