Escape From the Humdrum to the "Oh Wow!"

International Living Postcards--your daily escape

Monday, Oct. 30, 2006
On the outskirts of Panama City, Panama

Late last evening, I checked into the lavish confines of the Five-Star Playa Bonita Resort in the tropical paradise of Panama. But forget about a room with a view--I have what you might call a room with a "Whew!" As in "Whew, if this isn't the original venue for the Garden of Eden, it has to have been the model for it!"

From where I'm now sitting, I can glance out across the veranda at 40-foot palms gently swaying in an easterly breeze. Farther off, cresting waves lap up rhythmically on the sloping shore of a white-sand beach. And across the azure bay, verdant island mountains rise up out of the sea to greet the turquoise sky.

It's the ultimate immersion in the lap of luxury. Which is only fitting--since I am writing to you from International Living's Ultimate Event. Here, for the first time ever, more than 50 of IL's in-country experts from throughout the world have gathered under one roof for four days to help attendees organize every single aspect of a new life overseas--with such precision, that absolutely nothing will be left to chance.

And my job is to be your Roving Reporter, attending private presentations where a single revelation could open the door to the land deal of a lifetime…covering every aspect of this exclusive event top to bottom, from the inside out…and keeping you abreast of breaking news that could make you privy to offshore opportunities available only to conference participants and IL readers. Like you!

Today was Day 1. I had the pleasure of sitting spellbound at nearly 20 fast-paced, fact-filled presentations covering the unparalleled opportunities for savvy readers in 15 different countries across the globe. And now, I have the joy of sharing with you the inside, onsite information from this single-day, worldwide tour de force.

So, let's get started…

What Do You Want to Do? Where Do You Want to Go? We'll Cover Everything.

Day 1 opened with International Living publisher Kathleen Peddicord setting the stage for the all that is to come in the next four days. Concisely, precisely, she explained that IL operates on a simple premise: "We believe the world is alive with opportunities for fun and profit."

To help IL members better determine which opportunities make sense when, Kathleen and her staff came up with the four main modules on offer here at Playa Bonita--each to be covered in exquisite detail during the ensuing days:

1) Day 1: Find Your Dream Home in Paradise. Stake your claim to a second (or, perhaps even a primary) home in the sun. Find your place to dream…to escape from the humdrum and ho-hum to the "Oh wow"! So the next time you stroll down the beach, you won't have to worry about the hassles and headaches when you get back home--because you are home!

2) Day 2: Retire Overseas for Pennies on the Dollar. That's IL's core promise, its grande dame of ideas. Though, of course, as Kathleen explained, "When we talk about 'retiring,' we don't mean conventional retirement. We mean doing something exciting. Setting the world on fire anew in some exotic offshore locale." Tomorrow, we'll learn how.

3) Day 3: Reinvent Yourself Abroad. Starting over…a second chance…one more big bite at the apple--for the young at heart of any age, that's the ultimate dream. In Kathleen's words: "Maybe you spent years and decades doing what you needed to do--now, you can do what you want to do."

4) Day 4: Profit from Offshore Opportunities. IL promises its members "fun and profit"--and on Day 4, the conference will focus on markets, places, and opportunities in real estate and business worldwide. And, we'll also learn how to reduce onerous tax burdens and protect valuable assets.

So, where did we begin at 8.00 this morning on Day 1 of the Ultimate Event? Well, we began in Panama (since we didn't have far to go!). And then, we took a whirlwind, worldwide tour of breathtaking, money-saving, profit-making, life-changing opportunities in Mexico, Nicaragua, Honduras, Belize, Ecuador, Chile, Uruguay, Argentina, France, Spain, Italy, Croatia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

As I said earlier, that's 15 countries, each covered in remarkable detail by some of the world's leading on-the-ground experts who didn't merely relate what they've heard. They revealed what they've seen--with their own two eyes. And what they'll be more than happy to show you, too!

Plus these experts extraordinaire also filled us in on everything from how to garner introductions to top attorneys, realtors, bankers and more (as well as the exact directions to the finest cuisine and romantic getaways)…the Next Big Thing in Lain America (hint: it's a little-known stretch of Caribbean coast)…dozens of business opportunities in Honduras any expat could offer…where to find quiet, cheap coastal property…and much, much more.

Let me just hit some of the highlights for you. We'll go into more depth later in the week. And since Day 1 concentrated on helping you find your dream home in paradise, I'll focus on three of the six countries covered in Latin America--where the sun never sets on your hopes and dreams…

Panama--The Boom Heard 'Round the World!

When IL's in-county expert Brandon Clogston talks about Panama, it's quickly obvious that he's fallen in love with the land and its people. Surprising…since he's the first to admit that for months after his initial arrival his primary focus was on hastening his departure.

But then, he slowed down, looked around, and suddenly realized that Panama is not only "where it's at." It's where it is very likely going to be for years--if not decades--to come. Which is why it was recently named International Living's "#1 Retirement Haven" for a record-setting fifth year in a row!

Here are just a few of the reasons Brandon urged you to take advantage of all that Panama has to offer right now:

* Panama is the Crossroads of the Americas. With Dell's call center now located in Panama, and several submarine fiber optic networks converging along the Canal, it is one of the world's leading technology and communications hubs. It is easily accessible from the rest of the world, and with $11.5 billion worth of trade a year, its Colon Free Trade Zone is second only to Hong Kong.

* Panama has economic and political stability. The U.S. dollar is Panama's currency. It has less than 2% inflation and its GNP grew by 6.4% in 2005. And it has been a vibrant and viable democracy for nearly 20 years.

* Panama is a citadel of financial opportunity. Panama City is headquarters to 80 international banks from 30 countries. Its Financial Stability Law provides equal protection for native and foreign investors. And its pensionado, forestry, and person of means visas makes it easy to acquire residency.

* Panama provides for an easy transition to expat life. After nearly 80 years of U.S. canal ownership, Panamanians are accustomed to U.S. citizens and their way of life. One in six Panamanians is bilingual. And Panama has excellent Internet, cable, satellite, DSL, and wireless service.

Plus, on top of all that, as Reuter's News Service reported, "Panama is luring U.S. and European retiree baby-boomers dreaming of a millionaire lifestyle on the cheap." How cheap?

Well, how about a two-bedroom condo for as little as $500 a month? A live-in maid for just $100 a month? Health insurance for two for just $75 a month? And total utilities for just $174 a month?

The fact is, in Panama, the monthly budget for a family of four comes to under $1,651 a month. Which may help explain why every year more and more Americans, just like Brandon Clogston, are falling in love with the land and its people.

The World's Best-kept Retirement Secret

MSNBC calls Nicaragua "The world's best-kept retirement secret."

The Wall Street Journal calls it "The best deal in Central America for lifestyle and real estate."

But International Living's in-country expert Joseph Rosko has known that for more than a year. And he's got the facts, figures--and personal experiences--to back it up to the hilt.

You see, Joe resides in the charming little town of Granada, Nicaragua, the second oldest city in the Americas, the jewel of Nicaragua's colonial crown. Surrounded by museums, 16th-century architectural gems, superb restaurants, and first-class entertainment, he lives in a two-bedroom flat with a living room, dining room, eat-in kitchen, and in-door swimming pool.

For all of that, he pays the grand total of $500 a month. Oh yeah, and that includes his maid, who comes in six hours a day, five days a week.

Lest you think Joe just found an exceptional deal, think again. The fact is, the average two-bedroom home in Nicaragua rents for just $500 to $800 a month. If your maid is not included, expect to pay no more than $60 a month. Utilities may get as high as $175 a month. And if you enjoy dining out and going to the movies three or four times a month, you might add in another $60 to $70--total.

All told, Nicaragua has the lowest cost of living in all of Central America (20% to 60% lower than in the United States). It also has the some of the lowest property taxes. And (according to a United Nations study) it has a lower crime rate than the U.S., the UK, or Germany.

As for health care…well, brace yourself! A visit to the doctor's office comes in at $30. And, believe it or not, the doctor will come to you for just $15 more. A CAT scan is $100…an x-ray is $17…and a night in the hospital costs just $98.

Better yet, Joe suggests that if you want to come to stay in peaceful, placid--low-cost--Nicaragua, you needn't spend a fortune to spend a lifetime here. A house in his hometown of Granada can be yours for as little as $40,000. And even along the exquisite coastline in what is now known as Nicaragua's "Pacific Riviera," you can buy an ocean-view condo for under $90,000.

So, if you still think of Nicaragua as anything other than "the best deal in Central America for lifestyle and real estate," you better think again. And maybe turn those thoughts into actions. Because with opportunities like Joseph Rosko outlined at today's Ultimate Event, what MSNBC calls "the world's best-kept retirement secret" won't remain secret for much longer.

Honduras--"The Little Land that Could"…Soon!

The entire nation of Honduras is only 70,308 square miles--with just 6.4 million people languidly peppering its lush terrain. At some points, the total distance from its majestic rainforest mountains to its pristine white-sand beaches is only a matter of a few hundred yards.

Yet within the picturesque confines of this tropical paradise lies a compact cornucopia of unequalled opportunity. And no one knows that better than IL's in-country experts Ron and Janine Goben. As Janine says, "Honduras is a country for dreamers…where the sound of the waves lapping up on the shore is just hypnotic enough to spirit away the dissonance of the 21st Century."

Some examples?

* Health care in Honduras is of the highest possible standards, with many of the doctors trained in the U.S. Yet the cost of a visit to the doctor ranges from a low of $5 to a high of $25…a private hospital room costs just $30 to $40 a day…and major surgery can be performed for about $1,000.

* If you retire in Honduras, you won't be taxed on your U.S. social security or pension payments. Nor will you be taxed on any income you earn outside the country. And, if you earn money within the country on a government-approved tourism project, you'll pay no income taxes on profits for 10 full years.

* Day to day living expenses in Honduras could be paid out of the average American's pocket change. Depending upon your tastes, rental of a two-bedroom home can be as low as $400 to $500 a month…a live-in maid costs $60 to $80 a month…and utilities can be as little as $20 a month.

* A half-acre beachfront lot costs $55,000…and chunks of land resplendent with waterfalls and boulder pools will run you less than $5,000 per acre.

But, it's not just the cost of life--it's the quality of life--that makes Honduras so attractive, according to Ron and Janine:

"The country's landscape is varied--the coast meets a backdrop of high-country mountains and cloud forests that slope down into verdant valleys where pristine rivers wind their way to the sea. On the central plateau, vast expanses of fertile farmland are plowed and plied for coffee, tobacco, wheat, fruits, and vegetables.

"And, the Bay Islands, formed by the tops of an underwater mountain range, provide unequaled Caribbean beauty as dense tropical foliage spills out onto white-sand beaches to meet blue tropical waters."

If all of that sounds appealing, savvy investors, retirees, and second-chance-seekers are urged to visit soon. Because on places like the Bay Islands, land prices have already begun to double in just a matter of months. And as more and more developers discover Honduras' unparalleled appeal, the little land that could take off at any moment, may soon become the little land that did.

That's All For Now…

That's it for Day 1. I wish we had time to cover the presentations for all 15 of the countries IL's team of experts shared with us today. But, it's been "a long day's journey into night"--and well worth every minute it took to get here, I might add.

Tomorrow, we'll learn How to Retire Overseas for Pennies on the Dollar. But, it's nearly midnight in Panama now, so I'll take one more look out the spacious windows of my room with a "Whew!" and then retire for the night.

Onward and upward!

Your Roving Reporter,

Carter L. Clews
On-the-scene Conference Reporter, International Living

[Don't miss out. Get your free IL Postcards subscription today.]

P.S. The keynote speaker at the Ultimate Event is satirist P.J. O'Rourke, who spoke to us today on "How to Be a Foreigner." As O'Rourke's readers will know, he enjoys being a tourist in destinations most war correspondents try to avoid. On a taxi ride through Beirut in the 80s, staring down the barrel of a small gun for the sixth time in 30 minutes, O'Rourke finally had the thought "what the hell am I doing here?" As many newly-minted expats pointed out today, that's a common reaction during the first few months of any expat's new life in an exotic location (albeit not quite as exotic as P.J. O'Rourke prefers). Their advice? Stick with it. It'll pass. Then, what are you doing there? Having the time of your life.

Editor's note: Kick start your new life in paradise with the most groundbreaking ideas covered at the Ultimate Event. Find out, from the comfort of your own home, how you can start enjoying a fun and profitable dream life overseas as soon as possible. Your own dream home on the beach for less than $100,000? Check. Retire to paradise on $19 a day? Check. Take advantage of four distinguished offshore experts (including Kathleen Peddicord)? Check. A way to fund this new life, no matter your skill set? Check and double-check. During these live reports from our Ultimate Event this week (and for this week only), you can get the Ultimate Retirement for Today's American. It covers everything.