My assets in Mexico are fairly safe. I feel secure. Your money is secure with the larger Mexican banks and backed up by the Mexican government. If I owned any property in Mexico, I would feel fairly secure about it, too. Since I've been here, most property values have gone up quite a bit.
I've heard a few rumors in the last few months about the Mexican government deciding one day that they don't like foreigners in their country and just going...
My assets in Mexico are fairly safe. I feel secure. Your money is secure with the larger Mexican banks and backed up by the Mexican government. If I owned any property in Mexico, I would feel fairly secure about it, too. Since I've been here, most property values have gone up quite a bit.
I've heard a few rumors in the last few months about the Mexican government deciding one day that they don't like foreigners in their country and just going ahead to take properties owned by foreigners. However, I'm not worried that this will happen. There are over a million foreigners living in Mexico so I cannot see how the Mexican government can just suddenly change their foreign acceptance policies.
(The entrance to Tom Leonard's hotel, Hotel Perico, Lake Chapala, Mexico, pictured.)
How’s the kayaking, rafting, or canoeing in Portugal?
Juan Matias - BLUE Boutique Hostel & SUITES
We have three or four beautiful rivers that cross Portugal. Further south from Lisbon we have the Guadiana River, where I have rafted. Up north we have Mondego River and further north close to Porto we have Douro River, which is where the Porto Wine comes from. And this area Douro; the Douro River and the cliffs surrounding the Douro River, is where they plant the grapes to produce the world famous Porto Wine or “Port Wine” as you call it in America. We do not have the...
We have three or four beautiful rivers that cross Portugal. Further south from Lisbon we have the Guadiana River, where I have rafted. Up north we have Mondego River and further north close to Porto we have Douro River, which is where the Porto Wine comes from. And this area Douro; the Douro River and the cliffs surrounding the Douro River, is where they plant the grapes to produce the world famous Porto Wine or “Port Wine” as you call it in America. We do not have the very extreme classes of river rafting but we do have some mild intermediate class areas. People raft here in Portugal in the winter and spring. You can go in summer but the rivers are very low and it becomes a bit boring for people looking for some excitement.
We have sea kayaking in Portugal. I provide an excursion for my clients that is basically just a beautiful tour around our coastline around Cascais (near Lisbon) in a kayak. There are two levels of sea kayaking. You have the sea kayaking just to wonder around and you have the surf sea kayaking, which is on waves, which is for another level of expertise. You have to have a lot of experience to do that. But for the first timer, you have to do the traditional sea kayak and you’re only allowed to go when the sea is really, really calm. Portugal is close by the Atlantic Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean is quite rough. So 80% throughout the year we have waves in Portugal. The only two months of the year with light waves are July and August. You can go out throughout the year but then you have to go to protected bays, of which there are many throughout the country. The Algarve is the perfect place to do this because the Algarve gets the Mediterranean Sea so it doesn’t get as rough as it gets on the west coast, which faces the Atlantic. The southern coast is much more calmer than it is in the west coast.
(Sea kayaking provided by Blue Hostel and Suites, Cascais, Portugal, pictured.)
Are gays, lesbians and others in the LGBT community accepted in Nicaragua?
Esmerelda Vargas - Schuvar Tours
Gays and lesbians are accepted, but in Nicaragua there are not a lot of open places where you would see members of the LGBT. In the big cities, I know there are places that cater to the LGBT, but in general, if you are a member of the LGBT, other people will not look down on you. It is not bad, but there is not a lot of LGBT communities here, so you don’t see them.
(Poster of Miss Gay Nicaragua 2012, pictured.)
Gays and lesbians are accepted, but in Nicaragua there are not a lot of open places where you would see members of the LGBT. In the big cities, I know there are places that cater to the LGBT, but in general, if you are a member of the LGBT, other people will not look down on you. It is not bad, but there is not a lot of LGBT communities here, so you don’t see them.
How does the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion work?
David Smith - Farmland Assets
I am not an accountant, but know from personal experience that, as Americans, if your income comes from a place other than the United States, we can use the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion in order to exclude income on our income tax up to a certain level. For me, for example, I live in Nicaragua and I don’t generate income from the United States, so I don’t have to pay income tax on the excluded amount.
As Americans we do, however, still...
I am not an accountant, but know from personal experience that, as Americans, if your income comes from a place other than the United States, we can use the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion in order to exclude income on our income tax up to a certain level. For me, for example, I live in Nicaragua and I don’t generate income from the United States, so I don’t have to pay income tax on the excluded amount.
As Americans we do, however, still have to file our income tax, regardless of how much money we make.
The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion is only for active income. If you’re living outside the US and generate income from buying and selling stocks, for example, you’re going to still pay income tax on that part.
My understanding is that, for some states such as California, you can file as a non-resident and be eligible for an exclusion from state income taxes as well. Some states allow the exclusion, and some states don’t, so you need to check the law in your particular state.
What's the best way to get around in the Panama City, Panama area of San Francisco?
Lourdes Townshend
The San Francisco area of Panama City, Panama has changed a lot in the past years, but it´s one the best neighborhood in which to live. Nice, modern, not as noisy as others, and very charming.
If you are able, walking is the best way to get around on a non-rainy day. If you want to avoid the sun and don´t have a car, you may want to take a small yellow taxi, which are around all day. Just be aware that not all of them...
The San Francisco area of Panama City, Panama has changed a lot in the past years, but it´s one the best neighborhood in which to live. Nice, modern, not as noisy as others, and very charming.
If you are able, walking is the best way to get around on a non-rainy day. If you want to avoid the sun and don´t have a car, you may want to take a small yellow taxi, which are around all day. Just be aware that not all of them stop, or will take you, even though they´re empty; traffic authorities are working on that. Ask a local how much the fare should be before you take the taxi. Another good way get around is via the metro-bus, which are new and nice buses..cost is $0.25 but you need to have a pass card purchased in advance. You may go all the way to Albrook Mall in this bus from San Francisco for the same price. Sometimes the bus is full, and you don´t find a seat, though.
If you are a visitor, you may like to go to Multiplaza Mall and take one private bus that takes you between malls, which I believe free of charge. You may ask the employees at your hotel. Get a map, for better orientation on the city. If you prefer, hotels also have taxis available for you. And if you are brave enough, and want to rent a car... take a pill of patience and get good directions, because sometimes driving can be frustrating...as Panama doesn´t have (yet) a good street directions, although traffic authorities are working on that, and construction works are everywhere, making the traffic a nightmare sometimes. This will be the case until they're finished in 2014, and the city will be one of the nicest places to visit, not to mention that the metro will be finished middle of 2013, and it´s going to be a delightful trip across the city, at a very low price.
Are gays, lesbians and others in the LGBT community accepted in Belize?
Tamrah Lozano
Belize is very different from the US, where gay couples can legally marry in some states. In Belize, homosexuality is illegal. However, there are some small LGBT communities in Belize, but their presence is kept unremarkable in order to avoid any discomfort.
Belize is very different from the US, where gay couples can legally marry in some states. In Belize, homosexuality is illegal. However, there are some small LGBT communities in Belize, but their presence is kept unremarkable in order to avoid any discomfort.
My family and I moved to Central American in 2000 with the idea of blue skies and sunshine. Never heard of culture shock, never imagined or dreamed there would be a problem adjusting to our surroundings because everything we had read said that we would LOVE it!!! Much to our dismay, all that we had read was not exactly accurate. While my husband was in an office that had to speak English and my boys were immersed in football where they didn't care what language was spoken, my...
After a year and a half of reading over 4,700 answers and 200 stories posted by the expat experts who contribute to Best Places, I've learned a thing or two.
Below is an article I was asked to write for Next Avenue, a website whose media partners include PBS, Huffington Post, etc., and run by very talented and accomplished public television people and journalists.
This article represents the distilled wisdom of...
She was walking hand in hand with her husband that cold winter's day. I was so impressed to see such an old couple holding hands. When I asked her how long have they been married, she offered me a toothless smile and said, "67 years, Señor."
Her gentle words touched me in a very special way on that cold winter's day, so I offered to help the both of them with FREE dental treatment and dentures in my clinic.