What would my neighbors be like in San Miguel de Allende?
Eric Chazaro - Keller Williams Allende
One of the reasons why San Miguel de Allende has become popular is because we have mixed neighborhoods. The neighborhoods here are neighborhoods where a typical Mexican family would live and the expat community would just blend in. Americans usually come to San Miguel, purchase a house, renovate it to the highest standards and top of the line facilities and they would live right next to a Mexican family so they would become part of the community.
Of...
One of the reasons why San Miguel de Allende has become popular is because we have mixed neighborhoods. The neighborhoods here are neighborhoods where a typical Mexican family would live and the expat community would just blend in. Americans usually come to San Miguel, purchase a house, renovate it to the highest standards and top of the line facilities and they would live right next to a Mexican family so they would become part of the community.
Of course, there are also gated communities in San Miguel but even in these gated communities you would find a good mix of Americans, Canadians, and Mexicans (perhaps from Mexico City, Queretaro, or Monterey) who would have second homes in San Miguel. In general, San Miguel de Allende has become a very special place because the expat community here and the Mexican community mix really well.
(Christmas celebration at Rancho Labradores, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, pictured.)
What are the best things to do in and around Panama?
Lourdes Townshend
If you are first time visitor to Panamá, you might like to visit the canal, which offers a variety of interesting things including a 4 floor museum with videos on the premises. Visitors to the center can see all the locks function, and ships from all over the world, as well as a good quality restaurant. The fee for entrance is $10 / adult. This might take about 4 hours of your time. The best time to arrive is early morning....
If you are first time visitor to Panamá, you might like to visit the canal, which offers a variety of interesting things including a 4 floor museum with videos on the premises. Visitors to the center can see all the locks function, and ships from all over the world, as well as a good quality restaurant. The fee for entrance is $10 / adult. This might take about 4 hours of your time. The best time to arrive is early morning. The reason is that usually later in the day, between 1 pm and 3 pm, there are no ships crossing the canal, other than yachts and other small boats. There are many tour operators, or people at the hotels will coordinate this tour for you.
In addition, the most important other things to see and do in Panama are:
Panamá Viejo Ruins (located by the Pacific Ocean; entrance is $6) which were burned by pirates in the 15th century. There's a visitor center with an excellent souvenir store.
The Casco Viejo, by the Panamá Bay, including the "Bóvedas", a place that used to be a fort against pirates. This is a beautiful place to take pictures, with the bay and Panama City in the back. Casco Viejo has many old and historic buildings and the National Theater. Here, you will find the Presidential Palace, in which you can make reservations in advance with ID and you´ll have a complete one hour tour of the inside for free. For your convenience, there is a tourist bus (2 floors) that goes from one place to another, the price is $39 / person.
Another very popular place is Ft. Amador, also called the "Causeway", at the entrance of the Panama Canal in the Pacific Ocean.
Also there is the "Aquabus", that will take you for a city ride, as well as inside the bay (as a boat), for $39 / person.
Of course, there are many other picturesque places along the country, beaches, mountains, country coffee farms, resorts, hotels and casinos. There are excellent native (indigenous) places and tours, like the Emberá community and San Blas. El Valle de Antón has a great public market and good weather. You could also see Bocas del Toro, Isla Grande, Taboga Island, and the first hemisphere train between Panama City and Colón (round trip is $60 + / person and takes around 90 minutes), partial and complete canal transits.
Some of these places are many hours from Panamá City, but you can also go by local airplane. It all depends on the time you plan to stay, and if you want adventure or a relaxed visit. There are hotels by the canal with beautiful views, very modern hotels in the city, as well as at the beaches or in the mountains, but also very modest hotels from which to chose.
What are the things I'll be most happily surprised by when moving or retiring abroad?
By Edgington
Sad to say, but for us the biggest surprise was how friendly, open and caring people are in both the countries that we've been expats in. Panama has some of the friendliest and most helpful people in the world, and Colombians are, if anything, even more so. If you're considering becoming an expat, give up the existential fear of other people, other cultures, and you'll feel a lot better, and fit in much faster. There are a lot of unfounded, stereotypical horror stories about hostile...
Sad to say, but for us the biggest surprise was how friendly, open and caring people are in both the countries that we've been expats in. Panama has some of the friendliest and most helpful people in the world, and Colombians are, if anything, even more so. If you're considering becoming an expat, give up the existential fear of other people, other cultures, and you'll feel a lot better, and fit in much faster. There are a lot of unfounded, stereotypical horror stories about hostile native people, and gringo bashing episodes, but the vast majority of them are fabrications, Sure, there are criminals and malcontents everywhere, but in our experience, the rest of the population, in Panama and again in Colombia more than make up for the bad actors.
One more thing: If you show a real effort to learn the local language, people tend to be even more friendly and helpful. Go for it.
Juan Carlos Espinosa - Hacienda Puerta del Cielo Ecolodge & Spa
In order to start a business in Nicaragua, there is a lot of bureaucracy, just like there is anywhere. If you stick to it and you put the time into it, you can do anything. You just have to provide the bureaucrats with the information they want.
I’ve started businesses in Nicaragua and I’ve started businesses in the US. There are some differences because the business I started in Nicaragua is a hotel, so I had to follow a...
In order to start a business in Nicaragua, there is a lot of bureaucracy, just like there is anywhere. If you stick to it and you put the time into it, you can do anything. You just have to provide the bureaucrats with the information they want.
I’ve started businesses in Nicaragua and I’ve started businesses in the US. There are some differences because the business I started in Nicaragua is a hotel, so I had to follow a law specifically with regard to tourism, which took a little bit longer than opening another type of business.
I don’t think it’s that difficult to open a business in Nicaragua. I am not aware of any differences in starting a business in Nicaragua between being a Nicaraguan citizen and a foreigner. I believe that the same laws apply to everybody. If you’re a legal resident living in Nicaragua, you can start a business. It’s not a problem.
David Berger - Tradewinds Hospitality at Orchid Bay
The Internet in Belize is better than ever. When it is good, it’s good but it is not 100% reliable and things could go wrong.
A lot of the Internet setup here in Belize are radio so it is wireless from point to point. Sometimes the power goes out in certain places where we don’t know and that makes the Internet connection go down. However, the Internet connection here in Belize is getting better and we are getting more and more connected. It is...
The Internet in Belize is better than ever. When it is good, it’s good but it is not 100% reliable and things could go wrong.
A lot of the Internet setup here in Belize are radio so it is wireless from point to point. Sometimes the power goes out in certain places where we don’t know and that makes the Internet connection go down. However, the Internet connection here in Belize is getting better and we are getting more and more connected. It is pretty much the same throughout the country because everything is wireless. Even San Pedro (on Ambergris Caye) and Caye Caulker also struggle with reliable Internet.
There are a few different companies that offer Internet service here. We pay around US $50 a month for internet service here. We get unlimited usage with around 5 megabytes of speed when it is working well. Ambergris Caye is trying to run cables under the sea so they can have Fiber Optic Internet but it hasn’t been completed yet.
How much do healthcare and medical services cost in Portugal?
Duncan MacGregor - Duncan MacGregor Accounting
In Portugal, we have the national health insurance and the national health system, which is not terribly efficient and it has long waiting lists so it is advisable for people to have private health insurance, which is not expensive.
There are some very good private clinics and hospitals here in the major centers of Portugal. I have a health insurance policy for myself, for my wife, and my three children even though they are adults now. It costs me...
In Portugal, we have the national health insurance and the national health system, which is not terribly efficient and it has long waiting lists so it is advisable for people to have private health insurance, which is not expensive.
There are some very good private clinics and hospitals here in the major centers of Portugal. I have a health insurance policy for myself, for my wife, and my three children even though they are adults now. It costs me €200 (US $218 or £147) a month and it covers basically everything except dental.
(Logo for Pacific Prime, private medical insurance offered in Portugal, pictured.)
I live lakeside in Chapala. In all of Mexico, it’s the most picturesque, comfortable and enlightening place any Mexico-seeking expat could ever hope to find. It’s also quite common (living in paradise) you get drawn into like-minded social media groups.
I try to steer clear of “comment” sections. But a recent conversation erupting on a Ajijic chat site was just too juicy to swipe past. On the surface, it was about a seemly humdrum matter: poop...
Baseball has always been the main traditional sport in Panamá. Boys practice it from the time they are very little, with whatever they have on hand, and wherever they find a place. Little and major leagues compete locally, nationally and internationally.
Lately, leagues in Panamá have gone more and more international, with exceptional scoring and winning important games, to the point that Panamá is now positioned as a leader in the region.
One of the reasons why San Miguel de Allende has become popular is because we have mixed neighborhoods. The neighborhoods here are neighborhoods where a typical Mexican family would live and the expat community would just blend in. Americans usually come to San Miguel, purchase a house, renovate it to the highest standards and top of the line facilities and they would live right next to a Mexican family so they would become part of the community. 
If you are first time visitor to Panamá, you might like to visit the canal, which offers a variety of interesting things including a 4 floor museum with videos on the premises. Visitors to the center can see all the locks function, and ships from all over the world, as well as a good quality restaurant. The fee for entrance is $10 / adult. This might take about 4 hours of your time. The best time to arrive is early morning....
Sad to say, but for us the biggest surprise was how friendly, open and caring people are in both the countries that we've been expats in. Panama has some of the friendliest and most helpful people in the world, and Colombians are, if anything, even more so. If you're considering becoming an expat, give up the existential fear of other people, other cultures, and you'll feel a lot better, and fit in much faster. There are a lot of unfounded, stereotypical horror stories about hostile...
there is a lot of bureaucracy, just like there is anywhere. If you stick to it and you put the time into it, you can do anything. You just have to provide the bureaucrats with the information they want. 
The Internet in Belize is better than ever. When it is good, it’s good but it is not 100% reliable and things could go wrong. 
In Portugal, we have the national health insurance and the national health system, which is not terribly efficient and it has long waiting lists so it is advisable for people to have private health insurance, which is not expensive. 
I live lakeside in Chapala. In all of Mexico, it’s the most picturesque, comfortable and enlightening place any Mexico-seeking expat could ever hope to find. It’s also quite common (living in paradise) you get drawn into like-minded social media groups. 
What does it take to build a house in Panama? 
