Is the electricity reliable in San Miguel de Allende? Are there blackouts or brownouts in San Miguel de Allende?
Jim Castro - Agave Rentals
Blackouts rarely happen in San Miguel de Allende. I’ve been here for 12 years now and in the last six years, we’ve only had one blackout. In the first six years, we had some blackouts occasionally.
There are some people who have generators at some of the larger homes but to have a generator is pretty uncommon. In the last five or six years there was only one instance of blackout that I can recall and it lasted for only about...
Blackouts rarely happen in San Miguel de Allende. I’ve been here for 12 years now and in the last six years, we’ve only had one blackout. In the first six years, we had some blackouts occasionally.
There are some people who have generators at some of the larger homes but to have a generator is pretty uncommon. In the last five or six years there was only one instance of blackout that I can recall and it lasted for only about five minutes. The city must have done something to prevent blackouts. I don’t know what they did, but it is working.
(Pool with a view of the Parroquia in the central of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, pictured.)
Will Portugal make me pay income tax on money I earn in Portugal?
Luis Rodrigues - Gouveia Pereira, Costa Freitas & Associates, Law Firm, RL
A. Employment or self-employment (for activities within the official list of high added value activities)
Individuals who qualify as non-habitual residents benefit from a special flat tax rate on Portuguese-source employment and business income derived from high added value activities of 20%.
High value added activities include a wide range of scientific, artistic or technical character performed...
A. Employment or self-employment (for activities within the official list of high added value activities)
Individuals who qualify as non-habitual residents benefit from a special flat tax rate on Portuguese-source employment and business income derived from high added value activities of 20%.
High value added activities include a wide range of scientific, artistic or technical character performed in Portugal as per the list of activities published by the Portuguese Government (which includes architects, engineers and similar technicians; fine artists, actors and musicians; auditors; doctors and dentists; professors; psychologists; sole traders, technicians and similar; Investors, directors and managers), for a ten year period.
B. Other types of income
Regarding the other types of income that are received from a Portuguese source (capital investments, dividends, interests, etc.) the tax regime for the non-habitual residents will be the same as for any other Portuguese resident.
(Live band at Stevie Ray’s Blues Jazz Bar in Lagos, Portugal, pictured.)
Is there good fishing in and around San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua?
Eugenio Cortez - Hacienda & Ecolodge Morgan´s Rock
Fishing in San Juan del Sur is great during specific periods of the year. The best dates are between mid-May and mid-Sept, where May, June and July are probably the best months of the year.
In the other months, the high winds can be a factor, which cause some very rough seas. Along the coast, you can catch Jacks, Mackerels, Tunas and Bonitos, Snapper, Groupers and the beautiful Rooster Fish. If you want to venture a little from shore, beginning at 5 miles...
Fishing in San Juan del Sur is great during specific periods of the year. The best dates are between mid-May and mid-Sept, where May, June and July are probably the best months of the year.
In the other months, the high winds can be a factor, which cause some very rough seas. Along the coast, you can catch Jacks, Mackerels, Tunas and Bonitos, Snapper, Groupers and the beautiful Rooster Fish. If you want to venture a little from shore, beginning at 5 miles out you can hit Sails, Mahi´s, Wahoos and Marlin.
For me, Spain would be one of the best places in the world to live. I love Spain. The cost of living in Spain is less expensive than most of Europe, the people are great, very fun and lively, and the climate is terrific. In Spain, there’s so much to see if you’re interested in castles and medieval history, beaches, and beautiful mountains. The food in Spain is also great. Overall, I find the people as one of the biggest draws to Spain.
The second best place in the...
For me, Spain would be one of the best places in the world to live. I love Spain. The cost of living in Spain is less expensive than most of Europe, the people are great, very fun and lively, and the climate is terrific. In Spain, there’s so much to see if you’re interested in castles and medieval history, beaches, and beautiful mountains. The food in Spain is also great. Overall, I find the people as one of the biggest draws to Spain.
The second best place in the world to live is Brazil. Brazil has an absolutely stunning natural beauty. It’s absolutely beautiful. In addition, the people are one of Brazil’s best resources and the cost of living in Brazil is much lower than in the United States.
However, people are getting a bad impression of Brazil because of the way the press shows crime. The crime in Brazil is not really as bad as people think or say. Brazil is just like Mexico, where you get respected if you mind your own business, do your own thing, and stay out of areas where you shouldn’t be, anyway. I lived in Brazil for over a year and can attest to that based on my experience. I never had one problem at all in Brazil. In fact, I had more problems in New York and Chicago than I had in Brazil.
Jim Hardesty - TropicChoice Properties & Investments, Ltd.
There's a joke among Belizeans that although Mexicans believe that Chetumal is the southernmost city in Mexico, it's actually the northernmost city in Belize.
While there are no shopping malls in Belize, the city of Chetumal, Mexico is an easy day trip from Belize. Chetumal has a large modern, indoor mall, several big box stores, auto parts, office supplies, movie theatres and a wide range of restaurants.
On any given...
There's a joke among Belizeans that although Mexicans believe that Chetumal is the southernmost city in Mexico, it's actually the northernmost city in Belize.
While there are no shopping malls in Belize, the city of Chetumal, Mexico is an easy day trip from Belize. Chetumal has a large modern, indoor mall, several big box stores, auto parts, office supplies, movie theatres and a wide range of restaurants.
On any given weekend, the number of Belizean license plates in the mall parking lot rivals the number of Mexican plates.
There is frequent and inexpensive bus service that runs between Corozal (the city in Belize closest to Mexico) and Chetumal, so it's not necessary to have a car or take it across the border. Taxis in Chetumal are ubiquitous and cheap.
From San Pedro, there is water taxi service direct to Chetumal once a day. The boat arrives in Chetumal about 10 am and departs at 3:00 pm.
As an owner of an online company, internet access is of extreme importance. If you are looking for a premium provider I recommend Panetma, but they are rather expensive. We use Cable and Wireless and it works relatively well. Our only complaint is that the upload speed is poor.
I do recommend that you always keep a mobile phone that can act as a WIFI Hotspot. This makes it capable for my wife and I to work from all over the country. Recently I was working while...
As an owner of an online company, internet access is of extreme importance. If you are looking for a premium provider I recommend Panetma, but they are rather expensive. We use Cable and Wireless and it works relatively well. Our only complaint is that the upload speed is poor.
I do recommend that you always keep a mobile phone that can act as a WIFI Hotspot. This makes it capable for my wife and I to work from all over the country. Recently I was working while enjoying the beach at Santa Clara.
As you meander through the village of Boquete you would have to be blind not to notice the beautiful Latin faces. Handsome men and boys; beautiful women and girls, precious babies coming and going up and down the streets each day. The Indian women in their brightly colored dresses; children in school uniforms; teenagers wearing the fashionable logos and labels they love. Even the poorest people are very clean, (unless they are working or just running errands while working.)
Panamá has the privilege of having some of the best weather in the world, as well as having primary rainforest areas, and the most beautiful nature found anywhere.
The name “Panamá” means “abundance.” Abundance of fish, butterflies and birds. We have one of the most complete collection of all of these in the world. For a visitor who loves bird watching (with over 850 species), or who enjoys nature, this is the place to come.
Blackouts rarely happen in San Miguel de Allende. I’ve been here for 12 years now and in the last six years, we’ve only had one blackout. In the first six years, we had some blackouts occasionally. 
A. Employment or self-employment (for activities within the official list of high added value activities) 
specific periods of the year. The best dates are between mid-May and mid-Sept, where May, June and July are probably the best months of the year. 
For me, Spain would be one of the best places in the world to live. I love Spain. The cost of living in Spain is less expensive than most of Europe, the people are great, very fun and lively, and the climate is terrific. In Spain, there’s so much to see if you’re interested in castles and medieval history, beaches, and beautiful mountains. The food in Spain is also great. Overall, I find the people as one of the biggest draws to Spain.
What does it take to build a house in Panama? 
Panamá has the privilege of having some of the best weather in the world, as well as having primary rainforest areas, and the most beautiful nature found anywhere.
