Having purchased a new condo in the Vallarta area, I was astounded at how difficult it was to fully furnish a condo. There are only a few options for furniture in the area, and most are overpriced due to Vallarta being a seasonal area. Add to that you need a vehicle, need to know how to drive in Mexico, where to go, what materials to avoid when buying furniture, who to trust, how to handle the...
Buy your furniture in Puerto Vallarta online!
Having purchased a new condo in the Vallarta area, I was astounded at how difficult it was to fully furnish a condo. There are only a few options for furniture in the area, and most are overpriced due to Vallarta being a seasonal area. Add to that you need a vehicle, need to know how to drive in Mexico, where to go, what materials to avoid when buying furniture, who to trust, how to handle the deliveries. You get the idea...
Most folks do not have a budget for an interior designer or they would prefer to spend their money on furniture, not for a service. Regardless, they still want stylish and comfortable furniture.
The solution? Buy furniture online. From sectionals, sofa beds, wall beds to outdoor furniture, dining room furniture, and more! A good online supplier will have gone to the the manufacturers throughout Mexico and inspected their items, checked the quality of their manufacturing, warranties and service. They will use companies that honor warranties if there is a problem. And they will even take care of the logistics of getting items shipped to your home in Mexico. So why go through all the hassle and expense of in person shopping when you can do all your shopping from your home in the US and Canada?
And, what makes it even more helpful - a good online store will also share tips on everything home related - where to buy the best sheets in Mexico, who to call if you need your marble floors waxed, how to set up a Mexican bank account and more.
How's the economy in Cayo, Belize, including San Ignacio and Belmopan?
Penny James - Better in Belize Eco Village
While unemployment is part and parcel of Belize, there is a buoyancy in Cayo in large measure due to the level of commerce here.
There are 5 banks located in San Ignacio, including Canada’s ScotiaBank. The commercial landscape is varied and includes real estate companies, hardware stores, banks, ATM machines, pharmacies, grocery stores, bakeries, dentists, doctors, tour companies, schools, restaurants, cafés, bars, mechanics, beauty salons, clothing...
While unemployment is part and parcel of Belize, there is a buoyancy in Cayo in large measure due to the level of commerce here.
There are 5 banks located in San Ignacio, including Canada’s ScotiaBank. The commercial landscape is varied and includes real estate companies, hardware stores, banks, ATM machines, pharmacies, grocery stores, bakeries, dentists, doctors, tour companies, schools, restaurants, cafés, bars, mechanics, beauty salons, clothing stores, appliance stores, gas stations, hotels, stadiums, furniture stores, etc. If Saturday market is any barometer, Cayo is faring much better than other districts.
(Pictured: Downtown San Ignacio, Cayo District, Belize.)
I haven’t really thought about retirement so I haven’t really thought about the worst reasons for it. Sometimes people can change countries to run away from more personal problems than the actual problems that are associated with the country they’re from. And people think that by moving countries, they will be able to escape their problems. That doesn’t work because I don’t think the person really changes, just the location.
(Runners on...
I haven’t really thought about retirement so I haven’t really thought about the worst reasons for it. Sometimes people can change countries to run away from more personal problems than the actual problems that are associated with the country they’re from. And people think that by moving countries, they will be able to escape their problems. That doesn’t work because I don’t think the person really changes, just the location.
(Runners on a the park path along the river in Parque Nacional Chagres, Panama, pictured.)
How much does food cost in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua?
Daniel Snider - Snider's Realty Nicaragua
The food in the markets in San Juan del Sur is very affordable, which it has to be for the common Nicaraguan. The cost of produce is much cheaper than it is in the US and so is the cost of meat, chicken or sausages. We buy roasted chicken just like you would in a lot of major supermarkets in the US. Out here roasted chicken costs about US $5 for a whole rotisserie chicken.
A dozen eggs is about $2.50, a loaf of bread is about $2 to $3, a dozen bananas is...
The food in the markets in San Juan del Sur is very affordable, which it has to be for the common Nicaraguan. The cost of produce is much cheaper than it is in the US and so is the cost of meat, chicken or sausages. We buy roasted chicken just like you would in a lot of major supermarkets in the US. Out here roasted chicken costs about US $5 for a whole rotisserie chicken.
A dozen eggs is about $2.50, a loaf of bread is about $2 to $3, a dozen bananas is about $.60.
Fresh produce is very cheap, too. Fresh produce would probably be 20% to 40% cheaper than it is in the US since most of these are locally grown. Common fresh produce here in San Juan Del Sur are mostly citrus fruits like oranges, lime, and lemon. Tropical fruits like the Maracuya (Passion Fruit), Star Fruit, Dragon Fruit are also widely available here. Star Fruit costs about $2 per dozen.
Are there American-trained doctors in the Panama City, Panama area of San Francisco?
Chris Frochaux - Chris Frochaux - SERVMOR REALTY
Most doctors in Panama receive a medical degree from the School of Medicine at the University of Panama, but receive their training at US hospitals. San Francisco, Panama City is home to the country's state-of-the-art medical facility: the Punta Pacifica Hospital, affiliated to Johns Hopkins International, where all doctors are fluent English speakers. Panama is fast becoming the destination of choice for a growing number of "medical tourists" seeking top-quality medical...
Most doctors in Panama receive a medical degree from the School of Medicine at the University of Panama, but receive their training at US hospitals. San Francisco, Panama City is home to the country's state-of-the-art medical facility: the Punta Pacifica Hospital, affiliated to Johns Hopkins International, where all doctors are fluent English speakers. Panama is fast becoming the destination of choice for a growing number of "medical tourists" seeking top-quality medical attention at affordable prices.
If you are moving your things to Portugal, it is best not to bring your electrical appliances because we have a different voltage here in Portugal than in the US. We use 220 voltage here, which is the same as in England.
You don’t really have to bring a lot of your stuff here because you can purchase everything here in the Lisbon area. You can find nice furniture, wonderful linen, wonderful china, etc. so you don’t need anything else. The same is true for the whole...
If you are moving your things to Portugal, it is best not to bring your electrical appliances because we have a different voltage here in Portugal than in the US. We use 220 voltage here, which is the same as in England.
You don’t really have to bring a lot of your stuff here because you can purchase everything here in the Lisbon area. You can find nice furniture, wonderful linen, wonderful china, etc. so you don’t need anything else. The same is true for the whole country of Portugal.
It costs pretty much the same in Portugal as in England to buy things. England is a bigger country so it has a lot more variety and a lot more competition. Here in Portugal, the Swedish have opened up a new chain for us called IKEA. They are here now and everybody shops in IKEA. The prices are pretty much competitive here.
If you want to buy some Portuguese furniture, you will find it a bit more expensive but it is because it is of higher quality and of good craftsmanship. When I moved back here from England, I didn’t bring my stuff over. I sold them in England and just bought everything new here in Portugal.
It was the middle of the Christmas High Season, when house rental prices are the highest and house rental vacancies are the lowest. (The euphemistic term for this is “Landlord’s Market.”)
My wife, Jet, our two dogs and I we were in Chetumal, about as far south as you can go and still be in Mexico.
I was at a lecture a few years ago where the speaker casually mentioned that most members of the audience were in the final third of their lives. As I looked around, I saw a lot of “old people,” so it seemed like he was right.
When Bente and Jorgen (Arne's sister and her husband) arrived from Denmark we took a short tour of Panama City, it was a wonderful tour in a nice, clean, large van with and an English speaking Panamanian. Traffic and tall buildings are both a wonder and an assault on the senses at the same time. Beauty and poverty live side by side. Old, very old buildings look as if they are disintegrating as they sit in the shadows of elegant hotels and sky scrapers....
Buy your furniture in Puerto Vallarta online! 
While unemployment is part and parcel of Belize, there is a buoyancy in Cayo in large measure due to the level of commerce here. 
I haven’t really thought about retirement so I haven’t really thought about the worst reasons for it. Sometimes people can change countries to run away from more personal problems than the actual problems that are associated with the country they’re from. And people think that by moving countries, they will be able to escape their problems. That doesn’t work because I don’t think the person really changes, just the location. 
The food in the markets in San Juan del Sur is very affordable, which it has to be for the common Nicaraguan. The cost of produce is much cheaper than it is in the US and so is the cost of meat, chicken or sausages. We buy roasted chicken just like you would in a lot of major supermarkets in the US. Out here roasted chicken costs about US $5 for a whole rotisserie chicken. 
If you are moving your things to Portugal, it is best not to bring your electrical appliances because we have a different voltage here in Portugal than in the US. We use 220 voltage here, which is the same as in England.
Here was our situation: 
(We thank the wonderful people and our good friends at 