The Intrepid Traveler's Little Black Book

International Living Postcards--your daily escape

Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2005
Paris, France

Dear International Living Reader,

"Intrepid" might be the best word to describe the traveler who sets out to explore the destinations we feature in the November issue of International Living--especially if he travels in search not only of fun, but also with an eye to opportunity for profit.

Specifically this month, we take you to China, Africa, Slovakia, and the coasts of Albania and Montenegro.

Can the foreigner navigate the property market in China? More to the point, outside the biggest cities, can he navigate his way to a hotel room and a restaurant come dinner time? Correspondent Steenie Harvey assures you that, yes, even the independent traveler can make his way through even the remote regions of China…as long as he's open-minded when considering menu choices and doesn't mind being treated as something of a celebrity when he walks down the street. [If you're a member of International Living, click here to read Going it Alone in China's Guangxi Province. If not, click here to road test membership of International Living for a special price of $12.25.]

Our man in Eastern Europe, Jocelyn Carnegie, tells you about his travels, by car, on his own, from Butrint, a city in Albania close to the southern border with Greece (where, Jocelyn reports, he had six meetings with six new Albanian contacts before finding a man who had some concept of the idea of "real estate," as in a market to buy and sell property)…to Montenegro, the small semi-autonomous region to the southwest of Serbia (population 650,000), where the coastline, Jocelyn says, is reminiscent of Southeast Asia in places. Is now the time to think about investing here? Members of International Living can read Jocelyn's full report here [you can upgrade to a fully-loaded membership of International Living--and get instant access to Travels Through the Ionian Riviera (it's Who You Know)--here]

Then, to convince you that, in addition to a visit and maybe a long-distance investment in these far-flung markets right now, you might also (realistically) consider a new life altogether, we feature the story of Ann and David Darrell, who, in February 2004, married five years, sold their home and their businesses in the UK and took off for six months traveling around Europe in search of the right place to begin the next chapter of their lives. Where did they settle to start over? You'd probably never guess: Slovakia. The relocation wasn't without mishap…and, no, not everything went as planned…but Ann and David report they're feeling, finally, well at home. Members of International Living can read Renovating a 300-year-old Château Into a Luxury Hotel here (and many more real-life stories of readers just like you finding a new life overseas in the online archive--if you're not a member, try International Living on for size here.)

Kathleen Peddicord
Publisher, International Living

P.S. X-rays from $10…root canals from $150…a visit to a chiropractor from $10 per hour…cardiac bypass surgery from $5,000…and more. Want to know the cost to be well in Latin America? International Living members will get the full healthcare round-up next month in the December issue.

If you're not a member, you can still get the December issue…and January's landmark Quality of Life Index 2006 issue…and this month's issue with everything I mentioned above, plus more…and access to everything in our online archive…and a comprehensive set of books and reports (for a full list see here)…for only $12.25. To find out how to get all this (and risk absolutely nothing) read more here.