First, I would point out, the photo in the post of KW is a city bus, not a colectivo.
I also like the ADO buses and use them often. On the longer distance trips, I use ADO Platino which has almost fully reclining seat with leg rest, like a recliner at home. Also two bathrooms, a personal seat back entertainment screen with a wide choice of music and videos plus a coffee bar in back.
It should also be noted that retirees of...
First, I would point out, the photo in the post of KW is a city bus, not a colectivo.
I also like the ADO buses and use them often. On the longer distance trips, I use ADO Platino which has almost fully reclining seat with leg rest, like a recliner at home. Also two bathrooms, a personal seat back entertainment screen with a wide choice of music and videos plus a coffee bar in back.
It should also be noted that retirees of a certain age residing in Mexico are entitled to a senior discount INAPAM card, giving 50 percent discount on the buses.
Can I use my Medicare outside the US, and if not, what are my alternatives?
Craig Morrissey - Hospital Nacional
Retiring overseas, keeping Medicare Part A and then returning to the US to use it if you need hospitalization is a contingency plan that is used by some expatriates. However you should be aware that there are some emergency cases, such as a heart attack or stroke, when this will not be possible because of time constraints. It is worth noting also that Medicare does not have international benefits, so it can only be used in the US and US territories.
Retiring overseas, keeping Medicare Part A and then returning to the US to use it if you need hospitalization is a contingency plan that is used by some expatriates. However you should be aware that there are some emergency cases, such as a heart attack or stroke, when this will not be possible because of time constraints. It is worth noting also that Medicare does not have international benefits, so it can only be used in the US and US territories.
How’s the kayaking in Belize and the rafting in Belize?
Therese Jonch - Programme for Belize
Both kayaking and rafting are very popular activities in Belize. In the western part of Belize, you can go kayaking, which is a really fun experience. There's canoeing as well, which is popular. Canoeing is definitely one of the most popular activities at our property at the Hill Bank Field Station, which is located on the Rio Bravo. There's a lagoon that borders the Hill Bank Field Station.
In Belize, you can go kayaking on the river and in the ocean as...
Both kayaking and rafting are very popular activities in Belize. In the western part of Belize, you can go kayaking, which is a really fun experience. There's canoeing as well, which is popular. Canoeing is definitely one of the most popular activities at our property at the Hill Bank Field Station, which is located on the Rio Bravo. There's a lagoon that borders the Hill Bank Field Station.
In Belize, you can go kayaking on the river and in the ocean as well. It just really depends your preference and where you're staying but you can definitely go for hours and hours kayaking in Belize. Kayaking is one of the most popular activities there.
There are a couple resorts in San Pedro (on Ambergris Caye) that offer kayaking. And the resorts that are located out in the other atolls such as Glover's Reef offer kayaking as well. These are all within the barrier reef. Kayaking is not recommended outside the barrier reef because it gets too deep and it is much calmer inside the barrier reef.
There are a lot of mangrove areas where you can go canoeing or kayaking around Belize, too. Belize is a kayaker’s paradise.
How much does it cost for a housekeeper or maid in Boquete, Panama?
Lissy Lezcano - Lissy Lezcano Attorney & Mediator
The law in Panama establishes the minimum salary for the “Domestic Service” at $200 per month; also there are obligations with social security.
In Panama workers have other benefits like:
Paid vacations 1 month of salary for every 11 months of work.
Decimo tercer mes “Thirteen Month”, this benefit is paid in April, August and December. The amount is the salary divided by three. For example, $200 / 3 =...
The law in Panama establishes the minimum salary for the “Domestic Service” at $200 per month; also there are obligations with social security.
In Panama workers have other benefits like:
Paid vacations 1 month of salary for every 11 months of work.
Decimo tercer mes “Thirteen Month”, this benefit is paid in April, August and December. The amount is the salary divided by three. For example, $200 / 3 = $66.66.
Please always have a work contract in writing, and when you pay for the services draft a receipt of payment and keep it in your files. Doing this is very important to avoid any problem with the Ministry of Labor.
The word "cheap" does not give justice to Nicaragua because "cheap" is often correlated to bad quality or a bad experience. Nicaragua has the most attractive prices in the region but that is tied with a great quality experience and great people, excellent food and drinks, and wonderful nights. You can do everything in Nicaragua. You wouldn’t imagine how much less you need to spend to be in paradise.
If you are in Managua,...
The word "cheap" does not give justice to Nicaragua because "cheap" is often correlated to bad quality or a bad experience. Nicaragua has the most attractive prices in the region but that is tied with a great quality experience and great people, excellent food and drinks, and wonderful nights. You can do everything in Nicaragua. You wouldn’t imagine how much less you need to spend to be in paradise.
If you are in Managua, where I live, and you go to a fancy place to have the best meat you can have, you pay US $25 for that, which would consist of a big export quality steak. Lobster is also $25 in a fancy place. If you just want to hang out friends, beer costs $3 per bottle in a nice environment. If you want to go to the beach, you can rent a house for $150 per night and you can take 5 friends with you and split the bill. Most of our tourists come to places where you would pay less, for example, in hostels. They don’t like going fancy so they even pay less than you would expect.
The economy in Portugal is treading water at the moment. It is not in very good shape. Certain sectors of the economy are doing better than others; particularly tourism. Portugal had one of the best tourist seasons ever. Real estate is also doing extremely well. Property in Lisbon is like the new El Dorado for some property investors and we have had inquiries from American investors about buying property in Lisbon because of the price ratio compared to places like Madrid, Barcelona,...
The economy in Portugal is treading water at the moment. It is not in very good shape. Certain sectors of the economy are doing better than others; particularly tourism. Portugal had one of the best tourist seasons ever. Real estate is also doing extremely well. Property in Lisbon is like the new El Dorado for some property investors and we have had inquiries from American investors about buying property in Lisbon because of the price ratio compared to places like Madrid, Barcelona, Paris, and London. Real estate prices in Portugal are very competitive. The property experts recon that the market here is still quite undervalued relative to other centers.
Generally, tourism is one of the main drivers of the economy in Portugal. Other industries such as cork, wine production, and footwear are also some of the drivers of the economy here but they are becoming less competitive. A big drawback here in Portugal is that the labor laws are still very socialist and even communist-oriented so it’s not easy to fire somebody. It is quite a complicated process and it is expensive. This is one of the biggest drawbacks of the Portuguese economy. There is a lack of international competitiveness because of draconian labor laws.
After we bought our property in Belize we were getting excited about building something where we could go and hang out
Initially it started as a cabin with enough room for us and the occasional visitors/family.
We began researching costs and wanted to pay cash for everything. After looking around the country at different types of construction, we realized our budget was not going to let us build a U.S. style home.
One of the first things to catch my eye when we arrived in Panama was the indigenous Indian women's brightly colored dresses. They make them and many are sold at the side of the Pan-American Highway under thatched roof huts. From infant to adult sizes the colored dresses float in the wind at the small vendor's places. On the women everyday you find yourself counting the different colors you see as you walk around town or pass the villages long the highways. Blue, green,...
It was literally with a splash (more on that below) that Jet Metier interviewed one of Best Places in the World to Retire’s earliest contributors, Renate Jope, about her life in Panama, intending to talk about one subject, and then finding herself veering headlong into another: Renate’s experience canoe racing through the Panama Canal. What follows is the instant message (IM) interview.
Jet Metier: Good morning Renate! How was the race?