How are the roads in Chapala and Ajijic, Mexico? Do I need a four-wheel drive in Chapala and Ajijic, Mexico?
Percy Pinklebutt - Percy Pinklebutt Enteprises
You don’t need a four-wheel drive in Chapala and Ajijic, even though, being a small town, there are a few potholes and dents in some of the roads but in general the roads are not in bad condition.
The road to Guadalajara (the closest big city, about an hour away by car) can be nasty, especially in the rainy season but new cameras enforcing speed restrictions make the drive safer and the local governments are always working on maintenance in an...
You don’t need a four-wheel drive in Chapala and Ajijic, even though, being a small town, there are a few potholes and dents in some of the roads but in general the roads are not in bad condition.
The road to Guadalajara (the closest big city, about an hour away by car) can be nasty, especially in the rainy season but new cameras enforcing speed restrictions make the drive safer and the local governments are always working on maintenance in an effort to keep the roads in decent repair.
Some roads in Chapala and Ajijic are better than others. Ajijic has some cobblestone streets which add to its charm. You can really pick and choose. There are modern paved subdivisions here as well, but you do not need a four-wheel drive.
Don’t go abroad thinking that you are going to escape your problems, because you will have the same problems overseas as you have at home. You still have to worry about taxes, paying the rent, paying the bills, etc., so going abroad really does not make you escape the day-to-day of things.
Moving abroad and thinking that everything is going to be paradise is a fantasy. It is not true. You could still meet people you don’t like. It is just...
Don’t go abroad thinking that you are going to escape your problems, because you will have the same problems overseas as you have at home. You still have to worry about taxes, paying the rent, paying the bills, etc., so going abroad really does not make you escape the day-to-day of things.
Moving abroad and thinking that everything is going to be paradise is a fantasy. It is not true. You could still meet people you don’t like. It is just the same stuff, but in a different place.
What are the best and worst things about living and retiring in Algarve?
Luis Teixeira da Silva - Algarve Senior Living
I’ve lived in several locations that would be considered ideal retirement locations such as Florida and I have little doubt that the Algarve is the best, if not one of the best locations in the world. Here are some of the reasons:
The weather is superb. The Algarve has than 3,000 hours and 300 days of sunlight. The Algarve has more sunlight and more sunny days than California. The weather is very similar to Southern California—San Diego, Santa...
I’ve lived in several locations that would be considered ideal retirement locations such as Florida and I have little doubt that the Algarve is the best, if not one of the best locations in the world. Here are some of the reasons:
The weather is superb. The Algarve has than 3,000 hours and 300 days of sunlight. The Algarve has more sunlight and more sunny days than California. The weather is very similar to Southern California—San Diego, Santa Barbara—that kind of area. The Algarve also receives very little rainfall. It doesn’t get very hot, and it doesn’t get very cold. Whatever heat we get in the summer is moderated by the Atlantic, which keeps things moderate.
The cost of living is very reasonable, if not low—certainly low in European standards.
The healthcare is good. We have a great public healthcare system, and one in which, under certain circumstances, expats can participate.
The Algarve is very safe.
Most people in the Algarve speak English.
There’s a huge range of activities to do in the Algarve even in the winter, whether it be sporting, wellness, or cultural.
There is an existing expat population in the Algarve so it’s quite easy to integrate and you’ll probably easily find someone of your nationality. And if you don’t like your own nationality you’ll find someone with somebody else’s nationality. So there are plenty of options there.
Generally speaking, people just like living here. They like the Portuguese people and the way that they are; the friendly nature of the local folk.
Portugal is probably the most tax efficient country in Europe at the moment. It has no income tax on pensions for most pensioners. It has no inheritance tax. It has no wealth tax. So there are a number of advantages from a taxation perspective that draws many people to Portugal and to the Algarve in specific.
Here are some of the not so good things:
Portugal is a fairly bureaucratic country, so as a retiree even though the system is being simplified, initially come prepared for a little bit of bureaucracy. It will take a little bit of time to get things organized. Dealing with public bodies is not easy at all. I’m someone who lives most of my time outside Portugal and therefore when I’m here I always feel a little bit frustrated by having to deal with public sector bodies that take too long and many times they don’t give you the right answer at the first go, so you have to be very careful about the advice that you take from them and double check it. It helps to have someone on the ground to help you along if you’re moving to the country just to make sure you avoid any mistakes and make sure that the transition goes smoothly.
Getting Internet connectivity may be a bit of an issue. Once it’s working, it’s great. But it just takes a little bit of time to get things set up and organized.
If you are thinking of building, planning, or constructing something, there may be challenges. If you have a passion to buy a piece of land and build a house, take great care because it’s a fairly long process and you need to make sure that planning is in place that you are authorized and build and develop what you want. And it’s something to be handled very, very carefully.
Another challenge here in the Algarve for some people is that there are certain items that are not competitively priced, for example, electronics, motor vehicles, and fuel. So shop around. This is not necessary a negative point. In every country there are expensive or less expensive things. When you move and retire to the Algarve, make sure that you shop around because by doing so you can cut your cost of living tremendously.
Can I get a good caregiver in Nicaragua and what is the cost of a good caregiver in Nicaragua?
Darrell Bushnell
I haven’t seen a lot of people who have caregivers here in Nicaragua, but we are discussing it more, at least here in Granada. For less than US $300 per month, you can have somebody live with you and assist you. Fully trained nurses would be around $400 to $500 per month. They can care for you to the extent of their knowledge, similar to how it is in the US, where they can only care up to a certain point and then they refer back to the doctor.
I haven’t seen a lot of people who have caregivers here in Nicaragua, but we are discussing it more, at least here in Granada. For less than US $300 per month, you can have somebody live with you and assist you. Fully trained nurses would be around $400 to $500 per month. They can care for you to the extent of their knowledge, similar to how it is in the US, where they can only care up to a certain point and then they refer back to the doctor.
Can I still vote in US elections if I live in Belize?
Jaseth Bassaragh - The Alpha & Omega Group
Yes, you can still vote in US elections even if you are in another country. I believe a couple of years ago, the US government made a provision for that. Wherever you live in the world, if you are a US citizen, you still are allowed to vote.
I would not go so far as to say that you would be denied the right to vote because you are a second passport holder, but I believe that at some point, the US government would ask you to choose, especially if it is going to affect them from...
Yes, you can still vote in US elections even if you are in another country. I believe a couple of years ago, the US government made a provision for that. Wherever you live in the world, if you are a US citizen, you still are allowed to vote.
I would not go so far as to say that you would be denied the right to vote because you are a second passport holder, but I believe that at some point, the US government would ask you to choose, especially if it is going to affect them from a tax perspective.
(House in Corozal, Belize with a home made sign urging others to vote their elected officials out, pictured.)
Joseph Ennis - Spanish Panama (Spanish language school)
Having traveled to every country in Latin American I would certainly say that Panama is on or near the top of the list in terms of safety. (But take precautions anyway!)
There are a few tough neighborhoods that may be better avoided for the average tourist such as Chorrillo (completely), areas of Colon, and parts of Casco Viejo at night. But these are places where one is unlikely to go as they are outside the typical.expat route. As a...
Having traveled to every country in Latin American I would certainly say that Panama is on or near the top of the list in terms of safety. (But take precautions anyway!)
There are a few tough neighborhoods that may be better avoided for the average tourist such as Chorrillo (completely), areas of Colon, and parts of Casco Viejo at night. But these are places where one is unlikely to go as they are outside the typical.expat route. As a traveler, as in most places in the world, it is best not to make yourself a target by wearing expensive jewelry.
Try to fit in a bit and observe the locals. Even if you haven't learned Spanish yet it is a good idea to walk with a local newspaper- that way, locals (and potential thieves) see you as a local. This is a trick you can use anywhere in the world.
An interesting point about Panama City; this is one of the few places I have noticed where locals and police will often tell a tourist not to walk in certain areas. I have also seen policemen on bikes following tourists when they notice that they are near areas where there may be thieves.
As in many places in the world it isn't a good idea to take a taxi when there is another passenger present.
Be careful when leaving a bar after drinking as this is another situation that thieves look out for.
Also, do not be the flashy American. Remember that the minimum wage in Panama is $375 a month. It is never a good idea to show a large amount of cash in public or even when buying things at a store. What may be small change to you is not necessarily perceived that way by locals.
One simple thing that women especially should be careful of is leaving a handbag or laptop (or anything) unattended, when, for example, going to a bathroom in a restaurant or coffee shop. I have also talked to women who lost their bag even while sitting down at a table and leaving their bag out of sight (like on the floor).
I know that these kinds of things happen everywhere, and all in all, I still believe that Panama is safer than the majority of American cities.
My new Mayan friend had a beautific smile. Most likely in her 50s, I met her as she and her family were making and selling sandwiches from the very small porch in front of her home with the half wall she used as a built-in shelf. On the street was a solitary plastic table covered by a plastic tablecloth, with two plastic chairs.
The street of my friend’s house was perpendicular to the main street bordering the hacienda in which we had rented a place to stay. ...
The video was taken on our street in Medellin Colombia, and it will charm you with its subject matter, and inherent message. Here are five lessons on what we’ve learned as short time expats, thanks to...
This is our second Christmas in Boquete. Our first Christmas was just three weeks after we arrived in Panama. We are now enjoying our second Christmas with some of the many new friends we
have made this year in Boquete.
Arne and I spent the first Christmas with our landlord and his friends.
We have been to a couple of small holiday events.
Parties are all over the place, festive decorations are
You don’t need a four-wheel drive in Chapala and Ajijic, even though, being a small town, there are a few potholes and dents in some of the roads but in general the roads are not in bad condition. 
I’ve lived in several locations that would be considered ideal retirement locations such as Florida and I have little doubt that the Algarve is the best, if not one of the best locations in the world. Here are some of the reasons: 
Yes, you can still vote in US elections even if you are in another country. I believe a couple of years ago, the US government made a provision for that. Wherever you live in the world, if you are a US citizen, you still are allowed to vote.
My new Mayan friend had a beautific smile. Most likely in her 50s, I met her as she and her family were making and selling sandwiches from the very small porch in front of her home with the half wall she used as a built-in shelf. On the street was a solitary plastic table covered by a plastic tablecloth, with two plastic chairs.