The general rule is that when the water leaves the filtering and monitoring plant in Puerto Vallarta (which is called “SEAPAL”), it is considered some of the best water in all of Mexico. It’s been internationally recognized as such throughout the years.
However, Puerto Vallarta is more than 100 years old with a lot of underground pipes and delivery systems, some of which date back to the 1940s or further. So most people have...
The general rule is that when the water leaves the filtering and monitoring plant in Puerto Vallarta (which is called “SEAPAL”), it is considered some of the best water in all of Mexico. It’s been internationally recognized as such throughout the years.
However, Puerto Vallarta is more than 100 years old with a lot of underground pipes and delivery systems, some of which date back to the 1940s or further. So most people have filtering systems in their homes. Alternately, some old school residents also keep an ongoing supply of large jugs of purified water on hand in any number of decorative wrought iron or ceramic dispensing systems.
(SEAPAL water company logo, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, pictured.)
Can I see beautiful flowers, plants and trees in or around Boquete, Panama?
Nelson Vega
Boquete is surrounded by beautiful mountains with dense forest and exotic trees and plants. It's year long spring-like weather allows the growth of all kinds of flowers as well. If you want to enjoy flowers and nature at its peak in Boquete, then you should definitely visit The Flowers and Coffee Fair which will take place in just a few weeks, from January 10th to 19th. In April from 11th to 20th then they will have the Orchids Expo.
if you miss...
Boquete is surrounded by beautiful mountains with dense forest and exotic trees and plants. It's year long spring-like weather allows the growth of all kinds of flowers as well. If you want to enjoy flowers and nature at its peak in Boquete, then you should definitely visit The Flowers and Coffee Fair which will take place in just a few weeks, from January 10th to 19th. In April from 11th to 20th then they will have the Orchids Expo.
if you miss out on these two events, there are other private gardens and parks which you can visit all year long. The pictures shows a sections of the Flowers Fair last year.
Dental care in Portugal is all privately provided. The public healthcare system doesn’t contribute to dental care. There are numerous dental clinics here and lots of them have foreign dentists. I know some dentists who come from Denmark, England, Brazil, etc. They also have orthodontists and they are all really good.
To have a filling here in Portugal costs around €60 to €80 (US $65 to $87 or £44 to £58). A root canal costs around €200 (US...
Dental care in Portugal is all privately provided. The public healthcare system doesn’t contribute to dental care. There are numerous dental clinics here and lots of them have foreign dentists. I know some dentists who come from Denmark, England, Brazil, etc. They also have orthodontists and they are all really good.
To have a filling here in Portugal costs around €60 to €80 (US $65 to $87 or £44 to £58). A root canal costs around €200 (US $217 or £145). A ceramic tooth costs around 600 euros (US $650 or £430). I am very happy with the quality of dental care here in Portugal.
(Malo Clinic for dentistry, Lisbon, Portugal, pictured.)
What's the cost to rent an apartment in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua?
Daniel Snider - Snider's Realty Nicaragua
The cost to rent in San Juan Del Sur depends on what kind of place you want to rent. I would categorize it in 3 different ways.
The first category would be low-income rentals. This would probably be a wooden or a small apartment that could cost about US $100 to $250 per month. It would be a basic and humble place, but well maintained. It could probably include furniture.
For a budget of $250 to $500, you could get a...
The cost to rent in San Juan Del Sur depends on what kind of place you want to rent. I would categorize it in 3 different ways.
The first category would be low-income rentals. This would probably be a wooden or a small apartment that could cost about US $100 to $250 per month. It would be a basic and humble place, but well maintained. It could probably include furniture.
For a budget of $250 to $500, you could get a small apartment with one bedroom, a kitchen, and a living room. You might also find a two-bedroom apartment for that price.
Anything that is over $500 would already be luxurious. For that amount, you could get an apartment with a view of the ocean. For $1,000, you could get an apartment right on the beach. It would be a nice 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom apartment in the nicer areas of San Juan del Sur with furniture included and maid service.
What’s the best way to go about renting a house or apartment in Belize?
Rachel Jensen - Grand Baymen
The best way to go about renting a home or apartment in Belize is to visit Belize during low season (May 15-November 15) and stay in a hotel for the first few days. During this season, occupancy is generally lower so more inventory will be available for exploring. A lot of business is done in Belize face-to-face, and many locals are very knowledgeable about what’s going on in their community. Ask your hotel concierge where to begin, pick up a local newspaper, and...
The best way to go about renting a home or apartment in Belize is to visit Belize during low season (May 15-November 15) and stay in a hotel for the first few days. During this season, occupancy is generally lower so more inventory will be available for exploring. A lot of business is done in Belize face-to-face, and many locals are very knowledgeable about what’s going on in their community. Ask your hotel concierge where to begin, pick up a local newspaper, and start the search!
I have not been back to Europe for many years. But when I was there, it was already expensive and I think it is even more expensive now. Many places are expensive. I have also lived in Australia for five months and in New Zealand for two months and both these places have gotten expensive now. I think it also depends on your budget but I love Australia and New Zealand.
For me, the worst places to retire would be any place that is cold; any place where the weather drops below...
I have not been back to Europe for many years. But when I was there, it was already expensive and I think it is even more expensive now. Many places are expensive. I have also lived in Australia for five months and in New Zealand for two months and both these places have gotten expensive now. I think it also depends on your budget but I love Australia and New Zealand.
For me, the worst places to retire would be any place that is cold; any place where the weather drops below 60 degrees Fahrenheit. I got spoiled in Hawaii because I need a warm climate all year round, I need the ocean and I get that here in Panama. So for me, out here in Panama is ideal. Any place that has cold weather, for me, is out of the question, especially being that I have only one long-sleeved shirt to my name and I have no jackets whatsoever.
Writer's forward: Why people in places such as Mexico, Panama, Belize and Nicaragua are willing to work for expats for less than if they were located in the US or Canada is the subject of another article. Suffice it to say that those of us fortunate enough to be from Western industrialized nations have hit the “Where You’re From Jackpot” through no particular virtue of our own. We were just lucky to be born in the US, Canada, etc., and to be able to use US or...
After a year and a half of reading over 4,700 answers and 200 stories posted by the expat experts who contribute to Best Places, I've learned a thing or two.
Below is an article I was asked to write for Next Avenue, a website whose media partners include PBS, Huffington Post, etc., and run by very talented and accomplished public television people and journalists.
This article represents the distilled wisdom of...
Not many little girls who love animals grow up to be animal trainers in films, but as Jet Metier found out about Anne Gordon de Barrigón, that was one of her earlier steps to do what she really wanted to do: swim with dolphins and whales as a way of life. And along the way she married a man from a native Panamanian tribe and opened a B & B on Contadora Island that offers studies for those interested in spiritually connecting with dolphins and whales.