Testimonials
International Living Subscribers Tell Us How Our Publications, Events, and Services Have Helped Them to Explore International Opportunities
Retire in Your Own Idea of Paradise With Help From International Living
"IL has anchored me in the wild spin of what to do when I retire. Anchored me, and yet given me flight at the same time. This is the most exciting experience. The world is full of possibilities, and exploring them hand-in-hand with IL has been exhilarating. Sooner or later I will need to narrow my selections to a short list, and perhaps try short-term rentals in each of the three final candidate sites before I make a decision about purchasing. But the information you provide and the hands-on reporting helps remove the anxiety of becoming an expat. Somehow it doesn’t seem like an irresponsible, unpatriotic idea or a flight of fancy, but rather a very realistic way of getting more out of less. It is said that youth is wasted on the young. A clever phrase we can all relate to, but youth is really a state of mind—and it can survive (or even be rekindled) no matter what age you have attained. Thanks."
—L.H.W., Boston, MA
"Although we had traveled extensively prior to our moving overseas in 1987, it was only then that we realized that we would not return to the States when we retired. Although we have found many delightful spots, there has always been something that stopped us from buying property and settling down—distance from the U.S., cost of living, infrastructure concerns, etc.
"Now we are at the retirement stage AGAIN when we do want to make a choice and settle down at last. We keep asking ourselves how we have missed Central America, in general, and Panama, in particular. In 1989, we traveled extensively throughout South America visiting Peru, Chile, Argentina, Ecuador, Venezuela, and Brazil, however, since our departure from Peru, we have been in Asia and the subcontinent and haven't had much opportunity to get back to that area—let alone the U.S. Well, since we began reading the IL publications, we think we may have found what we have been looking for all this time and "in our own backyard." As much as we love [Thailand], the three-hour flight to Panama will continue to look much more inviting than the 20-plus hours to Asia.
"So, yes, we are looking forward to our first Panama visit and the chance to explore yet another 'retirement haven'...and if, in the end, Panama is not for us, we will continue our search...there are worse things in life than traveling the world in quest of 'Eden'. One of our favorite quotes tells it all: 'The world is a book...those who do not travel read only a page.'"
— Jerry B.
International Living Offers You the Vital Information You Need to Move Overseas
"I am forever grateful for all your information, we really appreciate every word. Thank you so much, I do not know what I would do without IL. I will keep in touch and when we are settled in Chuburna, we will have to meet for dinner some day or, better yet, come on over for dinner and a swim and a margarita. Again, thank you so very much, and many thanks to IL for being really helpful. Muchas gracias."
—Joy R.
"Thank you, I enjoy your publication so much, and look forward to reading my e-mails from you. I just got back from Iraq, loved it there, and reading the letters and info that I would get from y'all would transport me via dreams to different places all over the world. Thank you for helping people dream and realize their dreams!! Because of you, and your great work, I am planning to move to Uruguay with my wife!! We are so thankful to y'all!"
—Glenn T.
Reinvent Yourself and Create a New, Better Life With International Living
"Three years ago, my husband was injured severely in a snowboarding accident. Our lives and the lives of our six children were changed forever by these events. We decided then that we needed to find a new place and a new way to live. Now, with the help of International Living, we are well on our way to that new life. Thank you for everything you do!"
—Neal and Abbie H., Seattle, WA
"When I'm not growing my business, I often sit on our deck and watch huge schools of bonito make the sea boil as they thrash about. I also can see and hear many dolphins from our deck. They love to jump and play together…all the time. It brings a tear to my eyes at times…and I need to pinch myself to believe that I'm here—experiencing such wonder in my new life."
—Penny L., Honduras
Find Inexpensive Real Estate and Property Overseas With International Living
"And to think that I paid less for this piece of property than I did for my car…and this I'll own forever! Our house—a 3,000-square-foot gem with a separate guest house, pool, outdoor living area, etc.—is the perfect place to entertain friends, gather with the family, or get away for some privacy. Really, it's a dream come true."
—Mark F., Nicaragua
"We'd been reading International Living for two years when we finally decided to take the plunge. In April 2004, we bought a small adobe casita on two acres…for $35,000. With a million-dollar view of the Andes and a retiree's price tag, we knew we had found our second home."
—Bob and Glenda R., Ecuador
"Your information was beyond our expectation in content and contacts, covering all aspects of living in Mexico and, of course, Puerto Vallarta. Because of you, we decided to purchase a second home in Choncas Cinas just south of the Zona Romantica. We heartily endorse your publication."
—John and Dianne A., Mexico
"As the result of reading IL over the years, I have purchased a penthouse at the pre-construction phase in Panama City this year. It demonstrates that your magazine has done its job by convincing me to make the purchase and look for a new, exciting place for a vacation home. I visited Panama last year. Panama is a place for my family, especially for our two kids. We are waiting to move into the penthouse next year. Thank you for your good work and services."
—Son T.P.
"I found your information both interesting and informative. It helped focus us on selecting a property that we currently are in the process of buying. Our goal is to put our toes in the real estate market by having someplace that is enjoyable as a vacation home, derive enough rental income to offset the annual carrying costs, and, over time, become more familiar with the market in the area. With this information we will ultimately decide on whether to move to Mexico on a permanent basis or simply vacation there as we have for many years and use the property as a source of income and a capital gain."
—Stuart S.
International Living Can Help You Discover a New Career Overseas
"As an International Living subscriber, I'd spent a couple of years dreaming of a new life somewhere in Latin America. Since my partner had been in the hospitality business, we decided that running our own B&B was our best option. We enjoy our new lives tremendously and have no regrets. The pace is different in my new career. Last year, our occupancy rate was 95%."
—Murray F., Mexico
"I find all the IL folks I've met to be very interesting, dynamic people and each one of you has a different aspect of “sparkle.” I'm also a student of the AWAI travel writing course and am thoroughly interested in combining it all with the import-export business that is also offered—don't want to spread myself too thin here, but it sounds like a fantastic combination to travel and write about my various shopping expeditions while having the perks of the travel writer…but to also invest in overseas real estate is an immediate goal of mine.... I'm SO grateful for IL…it seems like my affiliation with this group is changing my ENTIRE life for the EXCELLENT!!!!!!
—Kari D.
International Living’s Events Provide Facts, Contacts, Fun, and More
"I question how long it would have taken me to learn—on my own—even a fraction of what you've presented. Thank you so much."
—S. Lee T., Hot Springs, AR
"Exceeded my expectations. The availability of so many obviously capable people in such a variety of specialties is truly unusual. Very valuable time investment."
—Charles D.
"Much the same way that we view each new beach with a critical eye, a great share of my professional life has been spent staging and enhancing entertainment and business events, much like the IL events. Of the hundreds that I have been associated with, including many for America's largest corporations, I truly must say that International Living is a class act. Bravo!"
—Terrie L., Delafield, WI
"It was clear to me after meeting IL that they are committed to providing the most accurate information available to them at the time. This is certainly a group of very well-informed global thinkers. You should be very proud of the continued growth and the success of your organization."
—Ann F.
"I cannot say enough about the quality of presenters you brought to the conference. Our experience with every one of them has been nothing but positive. Through the conference we were hooked up with people who really care about us as people, not just a quick sale. The reason I joined IL was to meet contacts in an area of the world I thought I might like a second home who had integrity and cared about us as people and you have far exceeded my expectations!!!"
—Chuck and Teri O., Iowa City, IA
“The 2008 Live and Invest in Mexico seminar was my first one of your seminars, but not my first time in Mexico. On the third and final day of the seminar, I awoke eager to attend the last fantastic day of information gathering and networking at the Hyatt. I felt a bit odd, thinking maybe I was just tired from all the activity. I soon realized that I was having a lot more difficulty functioning…I was so shaky that I could not stand for long, and if I moved about, everything went spinning. Two ladies I had spoken to earlier in the conference took notice of me during the break, and asked me if I was OK. I told them how badly I felt, and they immediately got Dan Prescher, who came to my aid with a suggestion of calling a doctor. I must admit I was a little reticent about this, but I took his advice, the ladies helped to my room, and within 20 minutes of the concierge calling for a doctor, one was knocking at my hotel room door! Amazing! This would never have happened in the U.S., of that I’m absolutely sure.
“The physician was polite, professional, and spoke English well, as my Spanish is practically nonexistent so far. After a thorough checkup, he proclaimed that I had an inner ear problem, and with a huge smile on his face he stated, ‘I’ll give you a shot, and in 20 minutes you’ll feel much better!’ That is what he did, and he was right. He wrote a prescription for more of the medicine to take every six hours until my ear problem improved. The bill, you ask? $50, including the shot. Also, he gave me his cell phone number, telling me to call him any time day or night if I needed anything at all. Wow! I was even able to attend the wonderful poolside cocktail party that evening! Dan and Suzan have been writing about the great medical care in Mexico, but I have to say, after experiencing it firsthand, they are so right on. Thanks to IL and their great staff for an incredible conference in Mexico. It surpassed my expectations and is only the first of many I hope to attend.”
—Trish S., Scottsdale, AZ
Get Valuable Information on All Aspects of Overseas Living and Investing on International Living’s Website
"You have the best, easy to understand, comprehensive information I have found. I had spent dozens of hours doing research, but when I found your site, it took me a couple of hours and I knew generally what I needed to go for this move. There's more great things I could say, but I’m sure you've heard it all."
—Sharon H.
"A friend and colleague of mine sent me this article on the Mexican government by Suzan Haskins asking whether I felt it accurately reflected Mexican laws regarding foreign investment in land. It does, of course, but what makes it 'different' is that, in over 20 years of reading in this field (from news items to the investor reports published by the big rating companies), I had not read anything as seamless and flawless as this piece."
—José Manuel Pallí, President, World Wide Title
Subscribing to International Living Magazine Is “an Extraordinary Gift” to Yourself
"I just received my first full-color edition of the new International Living magazine. And I want to thank you very, very much for such an extraordinary gift. Only a few of the many magazines I subscribe to can be described as ones savored page by page, cover to cover. And International Living magazine has easily joined that most-favored status of my magazines right out of the box. Again, many, many thanks for a superb magazine!"
—Erik J.
"The amount of research you put into this [publication] each and every month blows my mind. Keep up the good work!"
—Jeff L.
"I love this newsletter. I have been to 23 countries and five continents in my short 37 years of life. My wife is from Panama and we are considering retiring overseas, most likely in a Spanish-speaking country, but not sure yet, there are so many beautiful places. Again, thank you for the work you put into this newsletter."
—Wally C.
"The worst thing I've done recently was subscribe to IL. Please take that as an utmost compliment. I made the mistake of looking at your site too soon and I was hooked. For a couple of years I've been thinking of retiring in the Caribbean, but it will be at least five years before I can actually move. By then all the wonderful opportunities that I read about each day in IL will be beyond my reach and I'll find myself stuck in California. It just kills me to see what's there now and know that the prices are skyrocketing each day and there's nothing I can presently do about it. That's what I mean about subscribing to IL being the worst thing I've done. I am so glad that I did, though. If it doesn't happen for me, I've had, and will continue to have, many happy days reading and dreaming through IL."
—Cecie B.