Skip to content
  • US and Irish passports-Europe travel

    General
    3
    0 Votes
    3 Posts
    560 Views
    F
    Thank you, Ted!!!
  • Travelers requiring powered mobility chairs or rollators

    General
    2
    0 Votes
    2 Posts
    313 Views
    J
    Hi Ray, I faced this issue when cancer restricted my wife's mobility. On a trip to Hawaii, we found a rental company that had a small powered scooter waiting for us at our hotel. That worked fairly well, as we were in Honolulu and the buses were all equipped for accessibility. On a trip to France, we rented a travel chair in the US and checked it at the airport. I provided the power on that trip. This was less than Ideal, as the travel chairs tend to have small tires - great for the smooth hallways of the Louvre, but tough on gravel walkways at the Versaille Palace. We did find that the French were extremely accommodating; pushing us to the front of the line at passport control, free entry to museums for both my wife and myself, and so on. If your powered chair has the FAA-approved gel-type batteries, it can also be checked on the flight. Your airline and chair/rollator mfg could tell you more about that. The main issue will be where do you want to go? Our experience traveling in the old towns in Europe and in parts of South America is that many places are just not setup for mobility issues. For example, aggregate sites like Expedia, Booking, etc. have filters you can use to search for only accomodations that are wheelchair accessible. I just did a search for hotels in Lisbon, Portugal and once I applied the filter, it did find some nice hotels, but it also eliminated 97% of the ones available in my time frame. So to sum up, a lot depends on your particular needs and choice of destinations, but travel with power chairs or rollators can be dome but definitely requires careful advance planning and research. Hope that helps, and let me know if you have any other questions.
  • Puerto Armuelles

    Panama
    2
    0 Votes
    2 Posts
    391 Views
    J
    Hi Elissa, Just saw your email, sending the below via email and posting here: Conveniently Harry Hunt who was one of the exhibitors at the event divides his time between Boquete and Puerto Armuelles, you might want to contact him and cc his associate Magda Crespo, their info is in the conference booklet but I have pasted it below for convenience. Best of luck with all your Panama plans. HARRY HUNT Own Boquete Tel: +507 720-2506 Email: ownboquete@cwpanama.net Website: www.ownboquete.com MAGDA CRESPO MC Panama Realty Tel: +507 720-3240; Cell: +507 6671-8800 Email: magda@magdacrespo.com Website: www.mcpanamarealty.com Best, IL Panama Editor Jess Ramesch
  • Panama bound

    Panama
    2
    0 Votes
    2 Posts
    391 Views
    J
    Glad you've posted CLAUDETTELC 0 and it would be great if some of the other ILers on this forum are in Panama City to meet up. That said most of the folks on this forum are contemplating a move and may not be there yet. Luckily there are many ways to meet expats in Panama. Networking apps and sites like LinkedIn (website: www.linkedin.com), Instagram (website www.Instagram.com), and Facebook (website: www.facebook.com) are extremely popular in Panama and are great ways to grow your network. You can create a profile for free and search Panama-related groups. You'll find expat groups specifically on Facebook for many areas of Panama, such as El Valle and Coronado. Attending events, by the way, is also a great way to get involved and meet new people. There are many sites where you can find out about fun events, including Facebook (check expat groups in your city or town of interest and/or select the events section from the menu), Playa Community (Coronado region; website: www.playacommunity.com), and Internations (Panama City; website: www.Internations.org). When traveling to specific destinations in Panama, make sure to hit the popular expat hotspots. You’re likely to make friends and glean important information. In Panama City, you might try the Balboa Yacht Club if you're already in the area (it's located not in Balboa but in Amador by the Radisson Hotel Panama Canal and a short drive from the Biomuseum), and in the city-center there are multiple options like The Londoner Pub, owned by fun-loving expat Piers Edgar, or Bdubs by the Waldorf Astoria, or Murphy's Bar on Via Argentina (check their facebook pages to see if they're having live music or other fun events as these are great networking opportunities). International networking platform Internations also holds networking events once a month—a different venue each time (sign up for the website at www.internations.org/panama-city-expats). Best, IL Panama Editor Jess Ramesch
  • Panama bound

    Panama
    2
    0 Votes
    2 Posts
    301 Views
    J
    Glad you've posted CLAUDETTELC 0 and it would be great if some of the other ILers on this forum are in Panama City to meet up. That said most of the folks on this forum are contemplating a move and may not be there yet. Luckily there are many ways to meet expats in Panama. Networking apps and sites like LinkedIn (website: www.linkedin.com), Instagram (website www.Instagram.com), and Facebook (website: www.facebook.com) are extremely popular in Panama and are great ways to grow your network. You can create a profile for free and search Panama-related groups. You'll find expat groups specifically on Facebook for many areas of Panama, such as El Valle and Coronado. Attending events, by the way, is also a great way to get involved and meet new people. There are many sites where you can find out about fun events, including Facebook (check expat groups in your city or town of interest and/or select the events section from the menu), Playa Community (Coronado region; website: www.playacommunity.com), and Internations (Panama City; website: www.Internations.org). When traveling to specific destinations in Panama, make sure to hit the popular expat hotspots. You’re likely to make friends and glean important information. In Panama City, you might try the Balboa Yacht Club if you're already in the area (it's located not in Balboa but in Amador by the Radisson Hotel Panama Canal and a short drive from the Biomuseum), and in the city-center there are multiple options like The Londoner Pub, owned by fun-loving expat Piers Edgar, or Bdubs by the Waldorf Astoria, or Murphy's Bar on Via Argentina (check their facebook pages to see if they're having live music or other fun events as these are great networking opportunities). International networking platform Internations also holds networking events once a month—a different venue each time (sign up for the website at www.internations.org/panama-city-expats). Best, IL Panama Editor Jess Ramesch
  • Interested in Uruguay

    New Member Introductions
    3
    0 Votes
    3 Posts
    1k Views
    D
    Hi Karen3A, I am David Hammond, International Living's correspondent in Uruguay. I am from Washington State and have been living in Uruguay for 19 years. In my opionion: A few cons: While I find Uruguay more affordable than the U.S., it is one of the more expensive countries in Latin America. And it's also a long flight to the U.S. A few pluses: What I like best about Uruguay is its culture of inclusion. There is a bigger middle class in Uruguay than any other country in Latin America. And its recently been ranked as the country with the least amount of public corruption in the Americas by Transparancy International. Here are a couple of articles I wrote that yiou may find intereesting: This article specifically lays out some of the pros and cons of living in Uruguay: https://internationalliving.com/countries/uruguay/ This article explains some of the pluses attracting expats to Uruguay: https://internationalliving.com/why-uruguay-is-the-perfect-post-election-haven-for-expats/ Best regards, David
  • Ignore what I said about a year

    Panama
    1
    0 Votes
    1 Posts
    219 Views
    No one has replied
  • Looking for PERMANENT residency abroad

    New Member Introductions
    2
    0 Votes
    2 Posts
    585 Views
    T
    First of all, there is no obstacle to getting a second citizenship on the American side.The Supreme Court has ruled several times that Americans cannot be forbidden from acquiring other citizenships. So keep that in mind because if you really like a country, it's always best to become a citizen if you want to stay there. There are many countries where you can live and retire indefinitely. For retirees, countries have visas that allow you to remain indefinitely as long as you have sufficient income from pensions and investments. In Europe, they include Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Cyprus, Germany, and several countries in the Balkans. Popular retirement visas in the Western Hemisphere include Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina, and Ecuador. The key factor for all of these visas is whether you have enough passive income from pension and investments to qualify. The cheapest are in Central America, with Costa Rica and Panama at $1000 a month. Europe is more expensive although Portugal will grant AD7 retirement visa for around $1000 a month income. All the other countries are in the €3000 to €3500 monthly income range. Finally, note that although you often need to renew the visa annually for every two years, this is just a formality to show that you continue to have enough income. Many IL subscribers have lived for years abroad in these countries in this way.
  • Recommendations for Cartagena or Medellin?

    General
    2
    0 Votes
    2 Posts
    281 Views
    E
    Hi there, If you're just looking to get a feel for what the country is like, IL's "Escape to Colombia" guide contains a host of information for people looking to visit or retire there. Cartagena is a famously charming city. Here’s a shortlist of must-see attractions you should check out when visiting Cartagena (according to the Escape to Colombia guide): • Bolívar Square • Gold and Archaeological Museum • Castle of San Felipe de Barajas • Palace of the Inquisition • San Pedro Claver Cathedral • Temple of Santo Domingo • Mucura Island Medellín also has plenty to offer in the realm of entertainment and cultural tourism. In July, the city hosts Colombiamoda, where the country's top fashion designers show off their work.
  • Real Estate Extensions for May's Fast Tract Conference

    Costa Rica
    2
    0 Votes
    2 Posts
    346 Views
    B
    I suggest calling the number on this page to find out more info: https://internationalliving.com/events/fast-track-costa-rica-2025/ Register Today! If you have any questions give our customer service team a call on 1-866-381-8446 (toll free from the U.S. or Canada) or +1-443-353-4232 (9 AM-7PM EST) I look forward to seeing you in MAY!
  • Conference in May 2025

    Costa Rica
    2
    0 Votes
    2 Posts
    471 Views
    B
    You can go here! https://internationalliving.com/events/fast-track-costa-rica-2025/ There is also an option to call - Register Today! If you have any questions give our customer service team a call on 1-866-381-8446 (toll free from the U.S. or Canada) or +1-443-353-4232 (9 AM-7PM EST) I can't wait to meet you at the conference in MAY!
  • European Living Book

    General
    2
    0 Votes
    2 Posts
    247 Views
    E
    Hi there, If you're already a member, you should be able to find this book (and others) in your IL library. For now, try using this link to access it directly. If you find yourself looking for a specific book in the future, however, you could try logging into the IL website (or clicking on the "member site" button in the top right of the screen) and using the search button at the top of the page. Also, you can always browse through your IL library by clicking on the "My Library" button (located under the "New For You" header on the member site).
  • Must see/do activities in Panama City, Coronado, n Boquete?

    Panama
    2
    0 Votes
    2 Posts
    497 Views
    G
    Reach out to Magda Crespo for info on the Highlands. She is a treasure when in comes to everything Boquete, David, and Volcan. Here is her contact info: Magda Crespo Insurance & Real Estate Agent Tel 507-720-3240 Cel 507-6671-8800 email magda@magdacrespo.com website : www.magdacrespo.com
  • connecting with American expats in Pau

    France
    3
    0 Votes
    3 Posts
    877 Views
    A
    Merci beaucoup, Tuula! I will try those resources.
  • Applying for Mexico Visa

    Mexico
    2
    0 Votes
    2 Posts
    560 Views
    T
    once you have been given approval for a Mexican Visa whether temporary or permanent, you get a stamp in your passport, and you have 180 days to go to Mexico and have that temporary stamp converted to a permanent resident status. If you don't go to Mexico with him that time, you have to start the application process all over again.
  • Looking to retire (at least part time) abroad.

    New Member Introductions
    3
    0 Votes
    3 Posts
    2k Views
    P
    i am curious about the billage she lives in. I livd in lugano swyz gor 11 years and sm very familiar with maggiori
  • Renting long term in Penang, Malaysia

    Southeast Asia
    6
    1 Votes
    6 Posts
    3k Views
    K
    Hey Mike - that's fantastic! Unfortunately I leave on the 27th for two weeks otherwise I would have happily caught up with you. Straits has changed a lot, for the better in the last year or so too with lots of good restuarants opening. Healy Macs for social events like trivia too on a Monday night is pretty popular. Sorry that I'll miss you - next time.
  • Rachel Rogers Design Your Travel Filled Life

    General
    1
    0 Votes
    1 Posts
    146 Views
    No one has replied
  • 0 Votes
    3 Posts
    414 Views
    D
    Hi Clarksteller, I live in Uruguay. The immigration requirement, here, is a clean FBI report (from the U.S.) or a clean national police report (if from another country). However, sometimes, a Uruguayan immigration attorney can successfully make a case for why a person should be granted immigration status even if their record isn't spotless. It would probably take an experienced immigration attorney in the country where you want to immigrate to learn the details of your partner's case and give you odds of successfully getting an exception
  • IL Magazine - Correspondants: U.K.??

    New Member Introductions
    1
    0 Votes
    1 Posts
    125 Views
    No one has replied