Is San Miguel de Allende safe? What's the crime rate in general in San Miguel de Allende?
Gilles Vachon - Mon Bistro Canadien Cuisine
The crime rate in San Miguel de Allende is very low. It is the safest place in Mexico. One of the reasons why we moved here is because this is known to be such a safe place.
I have lived in Monterey and in Mexico City and those are safe places, too. If you listen to the news, Mexico seems like it is very dangerous but it’s not so. The area of San Miguel is very safe. I live in a house that is not in a gate guarded area.
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The crime rate in San Miguel de Allende is very low. It is the safest place in Mexico. One of the reasons why we moved here is because this is known to be such a safe place.
I have lived in Monterey and in Mexico City and those are safe places, too. If you listen to the news, Mexico seems like it is very dangerous but it’s not so. The area of San Miguel is very safe. I live in a house that is not in a gate guarded area.
Although all houses in Mexico have bars on the windows, it is not because the place is unsafe. I have never had an issue about safety in the span of time that I have been living here. In 6 years, I never had a problem in Mexico.
(Building with offices and stores, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, pictured.)
How are the roads in Granada, Nicaragua? Do I need a four-wheel drive in Granada, Nicaragua?
Janice Gallagher - Granada Property Services
Granada, Nicaragua is a small city with narrow streets, which, thankfully, are paved. Not to say there are not pot holes or rough areas around town, but you do not need a four wheel drive vehicle.
Granada, Nicaragua is a small city with narrow streets, which, thankfully, are paved. Not to say there are not pot holes or rough areas around town, but you do not need a four wheel drive vehicle.
Yes, its safe to wear jewelry in Panama depending on the type of jewelry and the places you plan to go and the type of transportation you plan on using.
I personally wear white gold when I plan on going to common or lower income places like Los Pueblos because is a crowded place. I would wear gold or diamond jewelry when I plan on moving around in a private vehicle and mainly go from the parking garage into a mall like Multi Plaza or places in Via...
Yes, its safe to wear jewelry in Panama depending on the type of jewelry and the places you plan to go and the type of transportation you plan on using.
I personally wear white gold when I plan on going to common or lower income places like Los Pueblos because is a crowded place. I would wear gold or diamond jewelry when I plan on moving around in a private vehicle and mainly go from the parking garage into a mall like Multi Plaza or places in Via España. Finally, I wear fake jewelry to the beach, because you would normally leave your bag in a chair or on the sand. So the answer is yes you can wear jewelry in Panama, just be smart about how and where you wear your jewelry.
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.)
Surfing in the Algarve is fantastic. Algarve is the second most popular region of Portugal for surfing. The most famous surfing spot can be found north of Lisbon, which is called the silver coast, in the area between Peniche and Nazare. They broke the world record there several times.
The Algarve has a fantastic reputation for surfing on the west coast of the region, between Sagres and Aljezur, and we have a number of famous beaches there such Bordeira and...
Surfing in the Algarve is fantastic. Algarve is the second most popular region of Portugal for surfing. The most famous surfing spot can be found north of Lisbon, which is called the silver coast, in the area between Peniche and Nazare. They broke the world record there several times.
The Algarve has a fantastic reputation for surfing on the west coast of the region, between Sagres and Aljezur, and we have a number of famous beaches there such Bordeira and Carrapateira. We also have other beaches in and around the Sagres area, such as Martinhal and Baleal. They all have long, sandy beaches and very good surf. They have a fantastic swell and very evenly spaced waves. It’s easy to get a ride and get it in without being hammered by the next wave. But the water is cold so you need a wetsuit to go surfing.
There is also some surfing on the southern coast of the Algarve. The further west you go, the better the surf. There are small surfing spots just off the beaches around Lagos and around Praia da Luz. The distance between Lagos and Sagres is only about 25 kilometers so you don’t have to travel far to get to surf.
It’s safe to go into the water in Praia da Luz. The waters there are just like the Mediterranean most days. It is calm with azure colors; nary a wave so it’s very safe.
In the western part of the Algarve, you shouldn’t really go into the waves alone. If you have children, they can certainly play in the shallow water but I wouldn’t be far away because a lot of the beaches in that area are very remote and there are not a lot of people there. They don’t necessarily have protection such as life guards and so on. However, most of the southern beaches do have lifeguards.
The Algarve has probably the largest number of “Blue Flag” beaches in Portugal. “Blue Flag” is the European Union symbol for quality of the beaches, infrastructure and water quality. The beaches in the west coast has big waves whereas there are hardly any waves on the southern shores of the Algarve, so there are surf conditions to love for anybody.
(Swells at the beach at Carrapateira, Algarve, Portugal, pictured.)
Can I use my Medicare outside the US, and if not, what are my alternatives?
Alonso Cornejo - ASA, Inc.
The answer in most cases is no, Medicare will not pay for health care outside the U.S. However, if you’re in the U.S. and during a medical emergency a foreign hospital is closer than the nearest U.S. hospital, Medicare may pay for these expenses.
It is always recommended that individuals who have Medicare and live abroad secure an international policy. These policies will typically provide coverage anywhere in the world, free choice of doctors/hospitals and guarantee the...
The answer in most cases is no, Medicare will not pay for health care outside the U.S. However, if you’re in the U.S. and during a medical emergency a foreign hospital is closer than the nearest U.S. hospital, Medicare may pay for these expenses.
It is always recommended that individuals who have Medicare and live abroad secure an international policy. These policies will typically provide coverage anywhere in the world, free choice of doctors/hospitals and guarantee the renewal of the policy for life. International catastrophic policies for those 65 and older are relatively affordable and cost as little as $90 per month. It is important that retirees secure these policies before age 74; as this is the maximum age one can apply for a new international policy.
Many expats do not like to drive in Mexico, so I constantly answer questions about public transportation.
Tijuana has more expats than anywhere else in Mexico and it is a big city, so understandably, many people wonder about the buses and taxis.
The public transportation in Tijuana is very good and is inexpensive. I am familiar with public transportation in the United States, Europe, and Africa. The quality and prices are better in Tijuana than...
Tuesday Market in Boquete, Panama is a busy place. Vendors, crafts-people, artist, services, produce, coffee makers, cosmetics, oils, soaps, candles, baskets, bread, meats and more fill every free inch of space! Therapy such as chiropractic and massage seem to do a good business in this busy place as well.
The market opens at ten on Tuesday each week and closes at noon. In the early morning, vendors arrive to set up their display tables, have coffee...
Panama's new international beach airport named Scarlett Martinez and located in the general Coronado Panama area received its very first international flight from Toronto Canada this morning! The Sunwing charter flight arrived right on time, packed with happy vacationing Canadians seeking to escape from the northland cold to the warm & sunny Panamanian Pacific Ocean Beaches.
Weekly Sunwing charter flights are scheduled for each...