1. Roatan is beautiful. It’s not densely populated (neither are the other islands)…and everywhere you look you’ll see beautiful shades of blue from the ocean and land that is deep green and punctuated with flowers. The water is clear and warm and the beaches are white-sand. The world’s second largest coral reef lies just offshore, making the Bay Islands a favorite with divers, not only for their beauty and abundant facilities, but for their ultra-low cost.

2. It’s affordable and a great place to retire. There are not yet crowds bidding up prices here, although that may soon change. In 2011, Islands Magazine named Roatan the #1 island in the world to retire to and Kiplinger.com listed it as among “8 great places to retire abroad.” With hundreds of thousands of new cruise ship visitors arriving here each year, and countless others taking virtual real estate tours on House Hunters International, anything left of the secret is long gone.

Because it’s a tourist destination, you’ll find a variety of good restaurants offering everything from sushi to Thai to steak houses. And the large expat community is now supporting four modern supermarkets with almost everything you can buy at home, and some that you can’t.

3. Getting residency is easy. You can get a retirement visa, for example, by showing an income of $1,500 per month, and you can own title up to ¾ acre of land in your own name or an unlimited amount through a corporation. Property taxes are a fraction of that in the U.S., and foreign-earned income is not taxed at all.

4. Roatan is easy to get to. Honduras is 2.5 hours by plane south of Houston and is served every day by several major airlines. We have been traveling back and forth to Los Angeles every few weeks for three years and we are glad each time that our home is in Roatan and not Rarotonga.

5. It’s a good time to buy property here. Real estate in Roatan has long been tied to the economies of the U.S., where most of the large community of expats and second home owners come from. Just as now is a great time to bargain-hunt in that market, so it is in Roatan. Sales are just now starting to show momentum after a two-year slump, beginning with the lowest priced properties selling at a discount. As in the U.S., the recovery has some distance to go, but when it’s over, it’s over.

Honduras is not lacking in challenges. When our friends in the “old country” ask us skeptically what we do there, we don’t tell them about the great restaurants, the world-class beaches or that it’s like being on vacation full-time. They would be too jealous. Rather, we say, it’s at first like joining a scavenger hunt. Everything you want is here, you just don’t know exactly where. The diet pomegranate juice you bought last week at the supermarket has disappeared, but it might be at another market. You can ship in things you just can’t find at reasonable rates from Miami or New Orleans. But frankly, getting out and greeting your friends in the stores is part of the fun of this place.

In the end, when choosing a country to retire to you can only go so far with a checklist. You’ve got to go there and ask yourself: “Does this place feel like home?” For us it did. Put Roatan on your list and check it out.

Editor’s Note: Learn more about Honduras and other countries in our daily postcard e-letter. Sign up here for IL’s free daily postcards and we’ll send you a FREE HONDURAS REPORT: Island-living at an affordable price in Honduras.

You can enjoy dinner out for $2.50. A taxi ride in the capital, Quito, costs $2. Get a 60-minute massage for $25. If you’re a retiree, you even get 50% off international airfares.

If you like the outdoors, have dreamed of owning a Spanish colonial home in a colonial city, or want to spend hours strolling on an undeveloped beach, then Ecuador should be on your short list. (I’d argue that Ecuador should be the entire list…with your only decision being which town you want to call home.)

Everywhere enjoys Ecuador’s equatorial sunshine. You simply choose the spectacular mountain, high plains, jungle or coastal setting that suits you. (Don’t forget that a couple can live well here on $800 a month.)

That’s why we expect seats at the Fast Track Ecuador Conference in August to sell extremely quickly when we open registrations next week.

But if you want a chance to register early and guarantee your place, simply sign up for the “First in Line” list. You’ll have plenty of time to find out what’s on the Conference schedule…even contribute to it, if there’s something specific on Ecuador you want covered. Review the details, check your travel plans…and, if you choose, get an advance seat…all before most people are even allowed to register.

This “First in Line” service is free. All you need to do is let us know you’re interested.

Editor’s Note: Learn more about Ecuador and other countries in our daily postcard e-letter. Sign up here for our free daily postcards and we’ll send you a FREE REPORT - Ecuador: Live Like Royalty on Half Your Social Security.

I got to see them up close recently—but I wasn’t there just to admire the sights. These massive waterfalls, combined with the lush subtropical vegetation and varied local fauna, makes this UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site a top-tier photo destination.

After a little research, I decided to schedule a trip. If I could get some good images, I could cover the costs of my journey and make some money by selling the photos to a magazine afterwards.

Both Argentina and Brazil have national parks on their respective sides of the falls and both parks feature well-developed facilities such as visitor centers, tours, trails, restaurants, and lodging. Having a wide selection of options when preparing for a photo trip means I will always find choices to fit my budget. I decided to stay on the Argentinian side—in a hotel near the park’s entrance.

My favorite set of falls along the river has to be the Garganta del Diablo (the Devil’s Throat). This massive, U-shaped cataract can be seen up close and personal from an observation deck. I was able to photograph the waterfall between the gusts of wind and spray that periodically blew across the deck.

I used the “wet” time to set up my next shot and chat with friendly local and foreign visitors. I found myself chatting with a young couple from Spain, David and Toni, and we shared our travel experiences.

I find that my tripod, though cumbersome at times, not only yields tack-sharp images but also attracts attention. Most people are curious about the tripod (“no, I don’t work for National Geographic“), and because of it I have made many friends during my travels.

One of the locals I met was Osni, a bird photographer and guide from Brazil, who happily shared his knowledge about bird species over lunch one day.

Because the best light for photography is usually during breakfast and dinner, when I’m traveling I try to find local foods that are easy to carry in my pack. That way I can sample cuisine even if I can’t always enjoy a sit-down meal. In Argentina my go-to favorites were empanadas (half-moon-shaped pastries filled with meat, chicken or other ingredients) and alfajores (two soft cookies forming a sandwich of dulce de leche).

When I did find time to eat a relaxed meal at a restaurant, I discovered a delicious pasta dish with a local twist; Bife de Chorizo a la Pimienta (pepper-spiced roast beef). Because many Italians emigrated to Argentina, Italian food in the country is fantastic.

During my three-day visit to Iguazú Falls I was able to photograph both the Argentine and Brazilian sides of the border. I also got a wide variety of shots and met lots of interesting people along the way.

Once home, I picked out some of my favorite images from the trip. Next, I sent them out to publications I thought might be interested. After a short wait, I got the result I was looking for. A photography magazine emailed to say they wanted to pay me for my shots.

But this trip was no one-off. In fact, photography has taken me all over the world.

I love having the travel-rich lifestyle of a photographer and I recently spoke about my experiences at a photography workshop in Phoenix run by the AWAI (American Writers and Artists Inc). At the event, I revealed all my best tips and secrets to the people who had gathered to hear them. Now they are equipped to start their own journey as a paid photographer.

Don’t worry—you haven’t missed your chance to be one of them. You can listen to a recording of what I had to say, here.

Editor’s Note: If you’d like to learn more about ways you can pay for your life or travels overseas, sign up for Fund Your Life Overseas, a free e-letter from International Living. Sign up here and we’ll send you a free report: Fund Your New Life Overseas With These 5 Portable Careers.

Then, word spread among Europeans—mostly from France and Italy—about a place with stunning waterfalls cascading down from lush green mountains, and shady woodlands touching on miles of palm-fringed, white-sand beaches.

Since then the only changes have been for the better. By the time Susan Miller and her husband Stephan discovered Las Terrenas four years ago, there was a distinctly Mediterranean atmosphere.

“It has the sophistication of St. Bart’s or the French Riviera mixed with the friendliness, music and laid back attitude of Dominicans.” says Susan. “And nowadays, it only takes 30 minutes to drive here from the new international airport at El Catey.”

Susan and Stephan had been living in Louisville, Kentucky. “We loved Kentucky but as we approached retirement I knew I couldn’t spend one more cold winter in Louisville. So we decided to find our dream home in the sun with the aim of splitting our time when we retired; six months in Kentucky and six months overseas,” says Susan.

“At first we checked out Panama, but we returned home without committing and then two months later we saw an article in International Living about Las Terrenas so we went to explore,” explains Susan.

Their original plan was to have a look at the area, then move west and investigate the rest of the north coast. But things changed when they arrived in Las Terrenas. “We knew we had found our piece of paradise. We wanted to live near a beach, and the beaches in Las Terrenas are beautiful, but what really grabbed our attention was the immediate friendliness. I had never met such friendly people before. And the fact that we didn’t speak Spanish wasn’t a problem.”

The couple quickly found and bought a villa to the east of town for $170,000. “With two bedrooms it was perfect for us. Just 300 yards from the beach and only a 10-minute walk into the town. It has a lovely yard and a private swimming pool, too. It was important to us that it was close to all amenities as I didn’t want to have to buy a car and I love walking. Plus we wanted to rent it when we weren’t using it, so proximity to the town and the beach is paramount,” says Susan.

She continued: “Daily life here begins with sunrise when I take my dog for a walk on the beach, followed by yoga in the garden and then I trim the flowers, and pick the almonds off the tree. We make sure we get down to the beach before noon to buy some fresh fish from the fishermen, which Stephan will barbecue for us. We often walk into town for happy hour with other expats before coming home for dinner and star gazing beside the pool.”

Editor’s note: The Dominican Republic is where the International Real Estate Investment Forum 2012 is taking place next month. Whether you’re looking for a second home in the sun…or a straight-up profit play…this is the place to find it.

Recommended Reading:

• The World’s Best Real Estate Markets in 2012

• A Caribbean Beach House That Pays for Itself

• Dominican Republic: Sea Views, White Sand, and a Secret Beach

The best thing about being a freelance writer is that you can work from anywhere—so I packed up and moved to Costa Rica. It might seem like a brave move, but it was also a sensible one. The cost of living is low here—so paychecks go a long way. Plus, my family gets to experience another culture.

Talk about a dream job—IL pays me to explore this remarkable country. Take my recent trip to the Lake Arenal region of Costa Rica.

The nearby volcano has been drawing tourists for many years and just like any tourist, I checked out the famous volcano-fed hot springs…hike the national parks with naturalist guides…and stay in hotels with fabulous volcano views.

But as a travel writer, my trip was slightly different (and not just because my expenses were paid). With my travel writing hat on, I needed to approach things from a different perspective. I’m acting as “boots on the ground” for thousands of readers, so I dig deeper when on assignment.

As it turned out, one of the hot springs is tour bus central. I found another which was altogether more Zen-like—not to mention cheaper. The region is famous for its bird-watching and I discovered that one of the best vantage points is actually on a dirt road that runs alongside the national park.

Of course, I was also obliged to check out that perfect sunset spot I’d heard about, just 20 minutes off the main road but unknown to most people.

Getting these details benefits the reader—but it also means I have a much richer travel experience myself.

As I explored the countryside, I enjoyed the perfect weather (75 degrees and sunny with a slight breeze) and vistas of verdant green hills leading down to the brilliant blue lake.

I met artists, B&B owners, real estate agents, fishing guides, and others. Because you have an obvious interest in their way of life, people quickly warm up—expats and locals alike.

In the name of your story, you try local delicacies—the tropical fruit tarts at Café y Macadamia on Arenal’s western shore are to die for. You also sometimes need to get outside your comfort zone. On one hike I found myself on a swaying suspension bridge 150 feet up—but it was well worth the view. And you end up talking to the most interesting-looking people in the room because, well, they’ve got to have something to say.

Immersing yourself in a whole new way of living…that might be the best part of being a travel writer.

I don’t trade positive coverage for freebies but I’ve noticed something magical happens when a front desk clerk or restaurant owner finds out what you do. That lake view room suddenly becomes available, and it’s the same price as the standard. And the bartender makes sure you never see the bottom of your glass.

Not a bad reward for a day’s work.

Editor’s Note: If you’d like to learn more about ways you can pay for your life or travels overseas, sign up for Fund Your Life Overseas, a free e-letter from International Living. Sign up here and we’ll send you a free report: Fund Your New Life Overseas With These 5 Portable Careers.

“We can hear the ocean at night and we love to watch the sunset over the water in the evenings.” It’s easy to get the feeling that you’re a million miles away from the rest of the world in Canoa, on Ecuador’s northern coast.

In the past few years, though, newly-paved roads and a bridge across the bay between neighboring San Vicente and Bahía de Caraquez have opened up this idyllic beach town.

“When we first arrived there was a dirt road to get here and now there’s a four-lane paved highway,” Cynthia says. “We used to have to come across the bay on a little boat and now we drive across a big bridge.”

Cynthia and her husband Ron are part of the growing community of expats enjoying the low costs and laid-back lifestyle of one of the finest stretches of Pacific beach you’ll find anywhere.

“Canoa is not like in the U.S., where all the houses look the same. Everybody creates their own dream here. They have an idea about what they want in a house and what they want their lifestyle to be and they create that,” says Cynthia.

For Cynthia and Ron, the dream started after a trip to the Galápagos Islands. “We hadn’t planned on visiting the mainland but we liked the people so much that we decided to change our itinerary,” she remembers.

Buying property for a vacation home wasn’t part of their plan, either. But after falling in love with the town’s laid-back atmosphere and being blown away by the low cost of living, they started to consider the possibilities.

When they came across a beachfront property offered at a bargain price, they decided the opportunity was too good to pass up. Once the planning was complete and work began on their home overlooking the Pacific, they were overcome with excitement. They moved in before the construction was even finished.

Now, in addition to the one-bedroom house Cynthia and Ron live in, the property features a two-bedroom guest house, an outdoor kitchen and dining area, a garage/office, and a bamboo yoga hut with a grass roof.

“We could never have afforded to build a home right on the beach in the United States,” says Cynthia. “Now we’ve about four acres and this year we have papayas growing in the front yard.” They also have banana trees, coconut trees, a variety of tropical flowers, and two happy dogs with ample room to roam and play.

“We buy the rest of our produce fresh from the market, where a sack of veggies costs just $5. The flavor is superior to anything you can find in the U.S. I think it comes from being picked ripe instead of picked green and then shipped,” she says.

“And if you know where to go, the selection of fresh meats can be just as rich as the fruits and vegetables that come to town fresh from the countryside. We get our meat from Manta, from a guy who raises his own cattle, and I get my chickens from a woman who raises her own chickens. I can’t get chicken that nice back in the U.S.”

It isn’t just groceries that are low cost in Canoa…

Editor’s note: In the current issue of International Living magazine, this Ecuador article goes on to give costs for what you might expect to pay in Canoa for things like restaurants, maid service, hotels and more. You can get instant access to this article when you subscribe to IL magazine with this link.

Recommended Reading:

• Ecuador’s Coastal Secret

• Salinas, Ecuador: Rent From $450 a Month

• Beach Property Bargains in Ecuador

Ever since settling in the Toledo district of the country in 2005, Chris and his wife Sue have been surrounded by a tropical wonderland of flowers, trees and animals. Life is simpler in Belize. Unobtrusive government, healthy food, a friendly, laid-back population, and a cheap standard of living make life easier all-around, says Chris.

“A traffic jam here is just three cars in a line. And we have the sea in front of us and forest behind. We found a stunning climate and world-class fishing. Belize was laid-back, easy, and come-and-go-as-you-please. This country is one of the few unspoiled places in the world,” he says.

Life-long sport anglers, Chris and Sue first visited in 1999 on a fishing vacation. Even though they hadn’t been looking for real estate they bought some beachfront land. Building on a remote beach only accessible by sea was tough. But their efforts paid off and they had a 2,300-square-foot main house for themselves, a staff house, and two guest cabanas.

Since moving to Belize, their eating habits are better, partly because they have time to thoughtfully consider what they put into their bodies.

“We eat fish and lobster and conch. I catch snappers off our dock whenever we need them. We grow herbs, tomatoes, melons, cucumbers, papayas, coconuts, and bananas. And we have chickens and ducks for meat and eggs and to supplement the local market. Our oranges are wonderful, so we have no shortage of fresh OJ,” says Chris.

“We are in a secluded place, but not isolated,” Chris explains. “We suspect we have shown some that living off the grid is in fact, pretty easy, and that our lifestyle encompasses most of the good things in life.”

Their next project is a 15-acre farm in the country’s interior, where they intend to build a sustainable home for themselves.

Editor’s note: Right now and for the next 24 hours you can get 30% off our top country resources…including Belize: The Owner’s Manual. Find out more here.

A worrying new bill just passed the Senate on March 14, 2012.

It’s called the “Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act.” (MAP-21).

And it could give the I.R.S. the power to take your passport and prevent you from traveling outside the U.S. if they claim you owe money on your taxes…

The I.R.S. wouldn’t have to prove you owe the tax. Simply alleging you owe would be grounds enough to revoke your passport.

This stealth provision was stuck into a bill intended to reauthorize funds for federal highway and transportation programs.

Giving the I.R.S. this power opens the door to even more restrictions on your liberty and freedom to travel.

Should we stand by and give the I.R.S. this power? Cast your vote here now and let us know where you stand!

Once out of bed, I slipped into my swimsuit, cover-up and flip-flops and checked out of my room at a hotel I was staying in at the mouth of the Rio Dulce in Livingston, Guatemala.

I met Chris and Hugo at a little cafe—they would be my boat captain and guide. We sat out on the veranda overlooking the Bay of Honduras and savored a leisurely breakfast of cheese omelets, black beans and freshly squeezed juices.

Then, we boarded a canopied Mexican skiff—our transportation for the day.

We boated up the Rio Dulce alongside fishermen in wooden dugout canoes…past thatched-roof huts displaying colorful flags of freshly washed laundry on clotheslines…and through majestic limestone canyons topped with lush vegetation.

Lily pads covered the water at one point and we slowed to absorb the serenity of the scene. Pretty young Guatemalan girls in wooden canoes paddled up to the side of the skiff to offer us their handicrafts. I purchased a coconut shell purse for my young granddaughter and took a snapshot of the girls to give her a glimpse of another culture.

From there we continued into Lake Izabal, where we watched as a flock of black-bellied whistling ducks take flight as they hooted their cheerful namesake tune.

We passed San Felipe – a Spanish fort built around 1604 under the order of King Philip II of Spain in an effort reduce pirate activity along the waterway. Lake Izabal is the largest lake in Guatemala. It was a key route for transporting goods during the colonial era but today, it’s used as a hurricane-safe waterway. As a result, it’s dotted with rare, treasured vessels from all over the world.

The first part of my work day ended with a visit to Finca El Paraiso—translation, “Paradise.” We tied the skiff to a dock and climbed onboard a tractor which took us on an entertaining, if bumpy, ride to a hot waterfall.

Surrounded by lush tropical vegetation, the thermally-heated water cascades over rocks into a cool river creating springs both hot and cold. I slipped off my cover-up, left my flip-flops on a rock and plunged in the cooler waters. The water temperature increased gradually until I reached the falls. Then, I stood under a powerful hot shower.

On the short hike back to the tractor I was joined by several Guatemalan children selling fresh banana bread baked with fruit harvested from trees in the surrounding rainforest.

We rounded off the day with a lunch of carne asana, refried beans and corn tortillas washed down with a bottle of Guatemalan pale ale back in our boat.

I realize it does not seem like work, but as a travel writer, boating…hiking…swimming…tractor rides…cultural exchanges…lunches in open air restaurants overlooking the water—it’s all just part of my work day.

This is my job—I get paid for these experiences. Nothing is more fulfilling to me than seeking out new places, cultures and adventures, and sharing those experiences with others. And I even get paid to do it. Travel writing is the perfect job—even when I have to work on a Sunday.

Editor’s Note: If you’d like to learn more about ways you can pay for your life or travels overseas, sign up for Fund Your Life Overseas, a free e-letter from International Living. Sign up here and we’ll send you a free report: Fund Your New Life Overseas With These 5 Portable Careers.

Recommended Reading:

• How Our Travel Blog Helps Fund our Adventures Overseas

• Getting Paid to Travel Around Ireland

• One Crazy Adventure in Guatemala

First settled by Germans in the 19^th century, the Lake District in Chile has a strong Germanic influence. Here you’ll find Swiss- and Bavarian-style chalets on the green hillsides or along the lake, and even the food—including lots of home-baked breads and pastries—has a Germanic touch to it.

Frutillar itself lies along the shores of Lake Llanquihue, a large fresh-water lake from which you can see the perfect peak of snow-capped Volcán Osorno. Frutillar is known for its opera house, a large, modern wood building right on the lakeshore, and especially for the music festival that is held here every January/February. During the December to February high season, accommodation can be hard to find in Frutillar. But the other 10 months of the year the town is tranquil.

For full-time living, you’ll pay around $600 a month for a 1,500- to 2,000-square-foot house.

In this video you’ll see:

• Frutillar’s lakeshore area, with the opera house in the distance, and views of Lake Llanquihue
• A typical Germanic-style house that has been converted to a small hotel
• Typical teatime (“onces”) fare in the Lake Region

Editor’s Note: Learn more about Chile and other countries in our daily postcard e-letter. Sign up here for our free daily postcards and we’ll send you a FREE REPORT - Chile: Safe, Stable and Spectacular First World Living.

But I didn’t feel so lucky. I never had time to enjoy the countries I visited, not to mention the one I lived in. Work was tough. I was always so stressed and tired.

I remember the exact moment I decided to make a change. I was standing on the balcony of my office one evening, looking at people milling about on the street below. They looked so free, those people. They were strolling arm-in-arm down the avenue…laughing…sitting in cafes…drinking wine—all of them truly enjoying their lives. I thought, I have to find a way to become one of those people.

Writing had always been a passion of mine and it dawned on me that if I could write a legal brief, I could use my talent with words in other ways—ways that would both provide an income and give me the lifestyle I dreamed of.

Checking out the sights of Paris

So, I began investigating freelance writing opportunities. Within a year, I quit my job and started writing articles for a company that needed reviews of different sites around Paris. What an incredible pleasure it was to finally be able to soak up Paris. Better still, I was visiting museums and restaurants—and getting paid for it.

Later, I realized I could get even more lucrative assignments. I started writing marketing copy for local American-owned businesses. I wrote content for websites, press releases and newsletters. Most assignments took only a few hours, but they pulled in a couple hundred dollars each. I had become a copywriter.

But the aspect I cherish most about my new career is that it gives me time and money to travel to other parts of France. One particular trip stands out in my mind.

Back when I was practicing law, I spotted the website of a beautiful 18th-century B&B in the Loire Valley—but I had never found the time to visit it. So, after quitting my job, my husband and I planned a long weekend there.

After a 90-minute drive from Paris, we were in the countryside; surrounded by grand chateaux and rustic restaurants. We spent our days driving from castle to castle, dazzled by the splendid architecture and landscape.

One day, as we were headed to the next chateau on our list, we spotted a series of small hand-made signs that read: “Fresh Goat Cheese Ahead.” We decided to follow them.

We eventually found ourselves on a muddy unpaved road that led to a modest farm. The farmer greeted us as we pulled up.

“You’re here for goat cheese?” he asked. “I just made some a few hours ago. Entrez-vous. Meet the goats.”

We spent the next 20 minutes hand-feeding the goats grass while the farmer sliced off hunks of fresh milky goat cheese for us to taste. Heaven. We bought three fat rounds for about $6 that day, and gloated about how it would have cost three times as much back in New York.

We took our cheese, along with some wine, baguettes and sausage bought at a nearby town, and headed to the grounds of a magnificent hunting lodge. But instead of doing the tour, we spread out a blanket on the grass near a large pond next to a weeping willow. We laid out our wine, cheese, bread and sausage—and feasted.

Bellies full, warmed by the sun, we dozed off in this incredible setting, feeling like the luckiest, wealthiest people in the world.

This trip characterizes everything I wanted from my life when I stepped away from the rat race. Even though I don’t earn quite as much as I did as a lawyer, I work only a fraction of the hours. And what I have discovered, is that you don’t need stacks of money to enjoy life in France—just a willingness to step away from the beaten path.

Editor’s Note: If you’d like to learn more about ways you can pay for your life or travels overseas, sign up for Fund Your Life Overseas, a free e-letter from International Living. Sign up here and we’ll send you a free report: Fund Your New Life Overseas With These 5 Portable Careers.

Recommended Reading:

• Why I Love To Write About Buenos Aires, Argentina

• Getting Paid to Vacation in France—the Easy Way

• A Life Less Ordinary as a Travel Writer

Rainelda Mata-Kelly is one of the most qualified legal experts I’ve ever met in Panama, and today she shares her insights with us on doing Panama right. It’s Rainelda Mata-Kelly on this edition of Finding Your Overseas Paradise.

Editor’s Note: Learn more about Panama and other countries in our daily postcard e-letter. Sign up for IL’s free daily postcards here and we’ll send you a FREE REPORT — Panama: First World Convenience at Third World Prices.

Listen to more Podcasts from International Living here.

It may have been the tango that hooked me; the dark underground dance floors with bodies deftly moving around each other. Older gentlemen in a traditional, close embrace, and young Porteños pushing the style to a new level with spins, kicks and slides.

It could have been the history—around every corner, in every gracefully aged building and along the cobblestone streets the city’s past rises to meet you. San Telmo and La Boca are where the immigrant Italians built their tenements, painted in surprisingly bright colors with paint stolen from the shipyards where they worked.

Then there’s the cemetery at Recoleta, where poets lie alongside dictators in a labyrinth of a graveyard and the elegant thoroughfare of Avenida de Mayo running through the center of Buenos Aires—it’s reminiscent of the boulevards of Paris or Barcelona for its collection of Art Nouveau and Neo-Classical buildings.

A day trip just outside the city is like escaping into another world—one where gauchos tend cattle and stunning polo horses graze.

I love to write about Buenos Aires. It’s a way of sharing the magic of this place, and it’s comforting to know that my writing had the potential to both encourage others to visit, and to give armchair travelers something to dream about. Plus, my fee goes a long way in pesos.

When you’re a travel writer, the chance to experience some of the world’s treasures is unparalleled. If you arrive with your heart and eyes open, you will write about your chosen destination in a way that editors find hard to turn down.

I feel incredibly lucky not only to have spent time in magical cities like Buenos Aires, but to be paid to share those experiences with readers all over the world. There’s nothing I would rather do.

Editor’s Note: If you’d like to learn more about ways you can pay for your life or travels overseas, sign up for Fund Your Life Overseas, a free e-letter from International Living. Sign up here and we’ll send you a free report: Fund Your New Life Overseas With These 5 Portable Careers.

As I sat drinking my morning chai at a lakefront breakfast joint, I wondered where all the Westerners were hiding. I had seen only a handful since I arrived, and they all seemed to be just passing through. Then it dawned on me—sitting there, across the lake perched high on a lush green ridge next to a magnificent white Buddhist stupa, sat an ornate Newari-style guesthouse.

I had heard that it was owned by an expat from England who made Nepal her home after visiting the country for 20 consecutive years.

“Perfect,” I thought.

Now all I had to do was figure out how to get there. The most common route was apparently to hire a canoe and paddle across the lake, but with my deadline approaching, I needed a faster route. I would need to rent a moped.

Driving through the Nepalese uplands involves skirting past steep drops on at least one side for the duration of most journeys, but this trip was made that bit more precarious as the monsoons were rolling in.

Mud flicked up into my face as the small bike whined and stuttered, but I was making good progress. On my way, I spotted a Nepalese lady making the journey by foot. I offered her a lift, and she gratefully jumped onboard.

It was a tough journey, but a rewarding one. Back in the U.S., this just wasn’t the type of thing I could have ever pictured myself doing. I got into the business with no writing experience and terrible spelling.

Getting my first by-line was tricky and I had started off by sending entire articles to editors. I had no idea I could save myself a whole lot of work and still win commissions by simply sending article pitches. But when I saw my name in print for the first time, it was worth it. Once I got that first step on the ladder, work has flowed in more regularly.

Now, here I was being paid to go on crazy adventures in far-flung Nepal.

We made it safely to the guesthouse and after a pleasant chat with the owner, myself and my new companion jumped back onboard. I slipped and slid my way back down over loose gravel and running mud, but we made it without injuring either ourselves or the bike.

After running over the notes I took, I was able to write up my story in a couple of hours. I got it sent in ahead of deadline, and payment came soon afterward. It’s not your everyday job, but the life of a travel writer is a thrilling one.

Editor’s Note: If you’d like to learn more about ways you can pay for your life or travels overseas, sign up for Fund Your Life Overseas, a free e-letter from International Living. Sign up here and we’ll send you a free report: Fund Your New Life Overseas With These 5 Portable Careers.

It was here in 1513 that Vasco Núñez de Balboa, Spanish conquistador and explorer, crossed the isthmus of Panama and became the first European to “discover” the eastern part of the Pacific Ocean. And it’s difficult terrain.

The Panamanian side of the Darién is dominated by deep valleys, rivers and a 6,000-foot-high mountain peak. It’s also home to a huge swathe of verdant rainforest—among the most extensive in the country.

You won’t find much else here. Starbucks hasn’t made it, and there’s no Home Depot. This is frontier country. But you will find an open door to immediate residency in Panama, along with a chance for profitable investing.

Get Residency in Panama and Make a Profit

I’m talking about teak. There are two elements to this: Thanks to Panama Law #24, if you invest in this tropical hardwood in the Darién, you’ll get an immediate forestry visa and the right to live in Panama.

To avail yourself of the reforestation investor program (inversionista forestal), you must invest a minimum of $80,000. But—along with residency—there are profits to be made if you’re patient.

The forestry visa is ideal if you want to live in Panama but don’t qualify for a retiree visa, or if you want to avoid the lengthy process needed for an investor’s visa. There are no age limits on a reforestation residency visa, but applicants must be 18 years old. Dependents can be included as an applicant’s spouse and children under 18.

After five years of permanent resident status, you can apply to become a naturalized citizen and receive a passport. You don’t need to live in Panama while your visa application is pending, although periodic visits to the immigration office are required.

Under the forestry visa all wood harvested is exempt from all export, capital gains and real estate taxes for 25 years. And all direct and indirect investments in the project are 100% deductible from your Panama income tax.

Editor’s note: The investment and the visa are separate. You make the reforestation investment through one organization…then you hire an attorney to manage the visa application. At the recent Fast-Track Panama Conference, we had teak experts and visa experts on hand to discuss the pros and cons of Law #24. As usual, we recorded the conference—and you can listen to every Panama idea that was presented (not just teak and visas). Find out more about the recordings here.

It’s easy to grow heirloom vegetables or rare orchids, should you desire. The local guitar mater sells handcrafted Spanish guitars called mejoranas for under $100, and you can still get breakfast for less than $3. It’s one of the friendliest towns in Panama, and one of my favorite locations for scenic drives, hiking, or snapping photos of hummingbirds, toucans, rare blossoms and more.

One expat couple I met tried to retire here, but got so excited about the beautiful landscapes, they ended up opening a boutique inn called Casa Mariposa.

In fact, the small but growing expat community here seems to agree: this is a great place to live overall. It’s more than the cost of living or the excellent healthcare available in the city of Santiago, just an hour away. The rural, rugged mountains… the mild sunny days and cool evenings…the welcoming locals and their slow, quiet paced lives…all add to the unique allure.

Enjoy this video I took from my most recent visit to Santa Fe.

Editor’s Note: Learn more about Panama and other countries in our daily postcard e-letter. Sign up here for our free daily postcards and we’ll send you a FREE REPORT — Panama: First World Convenience at Third World Prices.

But some sun-block would be welcome. Early December and the afternoon temperature is nudging 70 F. Sunbathers are on Isla Plana’s beach, and children are building sand-castles. I can even see swimmers.

A blue sky, blue-water scene is unremarkable in the tropics. But this is Europe. I’m in southern Spain, on Murcia’s Costa Cálida—the “warm coast.” Whoever thought up the name wasn’t exaggerating. Summer temperatures soar above 90 F, and there’s an annual dose of at least 320 days of sunshine.

Some of Spain’s finest beaches…pink flamingos and therapeutic mud baths…steeped-in-tradition towns…all reasons to put Murcia in your “European escapes” notebook. But these are not the only ones.

On the coast, spacious furnished rentals are $508 to $635 monthly. Many quality apartments with sea views are under $127,000.

In small towns inland, prices are often half that. Within a short drive of beaches, some two-bedroom terraced houses that have never been occupied cost less than $64,000. Spain’s property crash has left the market down by around 40% from its heyday—sometimes more.

With banks offloading repossessions and developers slashing prices, almost every “for sale” property throughout the country is negotiable.

But fire-sale prices won’t last forever. Although relatively unknown at present, Murcia looks a good bet for the near future. For one thing, a new international airport at Corvera opens this summer. Although there’s currently a tiny local airport for budget carriers, flights aren’t frequent. My best option was to drive from Alicante airport, over the regional border in Valencia.

Another compelling reason is that Murcia has been chosen as the site for Europe’s first Paramount theme park. Last December, final planning permissions were given—all systems are now go for the 2015 opening. The park will be near the new airport, but many coastal locations are within a 30-minute drive.

It’s estimated both projects will boost Murcia’s visitor numbers by 5 million annually. With around 20,000 employees needed for the two sites, demand for accommodation will increase. Property values are at such rock-bottom levels, it’s hard to see how they can’t rise.

Between Andalusia and Valencia, Murcia is a secret region known only to the Spanish. Foreign vacationers go farther south to the Costa del Sol or north to the Costa Blanca.

So much of Mediterranean Spain is forested with concrete. But except for La Manga’s high-rise tower blocks, that’s not the case in Murcia. Along its 150 miles of mostly unspoiled Mediterranean coastline sit a handful of seaside towns, but they aren’t over-built.

Homes are mostly low-rise. Large swathes of coast offer up sandy beaches, hidden coves, peculiar rock formations and fishing villages…

Editor’s note: In the current issue of International Living magazine, Steenie’s full article goes on to reveal her favorite locations in this secret region…property prices and contacts…and more on rentals. You can get instant access to her article when you subscribe to IL with this link.

Perched in the hills above the Côte d’Azur in France, Grasse has been the world’s perfume capital since the 17th century. The countryside around this Provencal town is where the jasmine and roses that go into the country’s famed luxury fragrances are grown and harvested.

Its medieval core of skinny alleys and sunny squares celebrates all things flowery and fragrant. Shops overflow with lavender products, herbes de Provence and Savon de Marseille soap in myriad colors and scents.

Even the food is fragrant. I’d sampled lavender honey ice-cream before, but violet ice-cream was new. So was fougassette, a brioche-style pastry scented with orange blossoms.

I only intended on a quick look, but two hours somehow disappeared inside the International Perfume Museum. There’s a stunning collection of perfume-related objects spanning three millennia, greenhouses dedicated to the aromatic arts, and a viewing screen showing perfume featured in movies. (The 2006 movie, Perfume: The Story of a Murderer was partly shot in Grasse.)

Yet Grasse once reeked of unlovely things. In medieval times, it was a center for leather tannery. All changed when Catherine de Medici arrived at the French court from Italy and introduced the fashion of perfumed gloves. Seizing on the new craze, Grasse exchanged its stinking tanneries for scented glove manufacture. In the surrounding fields, a new flower industry cultivated blooms such as gardenia and tuberoses for their essences.

Before her appointment with Madame Guillotine, the extravagant Marie Antoinette had 18 pairs of gloves scented with carnation, violet or hyacinth delivered every week. The Perfume Museum’s most treasured piece is her traveling case with compartments for lotions and potions.

If anything, things got even more fragrant after the French Revolution. To mark the aristocracy’s demise, a Parfum de Guillotine was created for the masses. Napoleon Bonaparte was rather more high maintenance, splashing his way through eight quarts of violet cologne each month.

Offering free guided tours, Fragonard is one of the town’s three major perfumeries. It’s as well I’m not seeking employment as a nez (nose), because my chances are zero. Professional perfumers need to identify thousands of nuances. For a nez, alcohol, spicy food and smoking are absolutely forbidden.

There’s no hard sell during the sniffing session, and I was fascinated by explanations of the head, heart and base notes of various perfumes.

All real parfums contain 25% concentrated essence, “the soul of the flower.” An eau de parfum uses a maximum of 15% essence, and eau de toilette a mere 10%. As Fragonard only has Paris and Provence outlets, finding its products is difficult in North America, On Ebay, a one ounce vial of Belle de Nuit parfum resells for around $113. At Fragonard’s Grasse outlet, it’s €37 ($48).

You don’t have to be a fragrance enthusiast to realize that France’s scented south could provide opportunities for nosing out some serious profit.

Editor’s Note: If you’d like to learn more about ways you can pay for your life or travels overseas, including import-export, sign up for Fund Your Life Overseas, a free e-letter from International Living. Sign up here and we’ll send you a free report: Fund Your New Life Overseas With These 5 Portable Careers.

They live in Ingleside Heights in San Francisco in a lovely three-bedroom, two-bathroom home of roughly 2,000 square feet. The house in Tahiti was 2,800 square feet of beachfront opulence. It came with two maids, a cook, and a gardener, a 130-foot infinity swimming pool, and a one-year-old convertible Jeep Cherokee.

But what shocked us was the price—it was free!

House swapping or home exchanges have been around for a while. Nowadays there are several websites offering the service, where you meet like-minded people and agree to swap your home for theirs, sometimes even your car.

There is a small fee to access home-exchange services—the average is $9.95 a month—but your savings on a typical exchange can add up to thousands of dollars.

For me, though, savings aren’t the only reason to consider an exchange. What I really like about the idea is the comfort of staying in a home rather than an impersonal hotel, and experiencing an area as a local and not a tourist.

Of course, I had my concerns and lots of questions for our friends. It turned out that the couple taking our friends’ home in Ingleside Heights was in San Francisco on business. It just so happened that the husband’s company was near Ingleside Heights. They hated hotels and wanted the comfort of their own home. As they were staying for a month, a home exchange was a great option.

I wondered if it was safe. Now, after several swaps of my own, I know it is. The exchange company we’ve used happily has been in business for 19 years. After tens of thousands of exchanges, it has never had a report of theft, vandalism, or of someone getting to their exchange home and finding a vacant lot.

Don’t be worried about having a stranger in your house, either. Think of home exchanges as “Internet dating” for your home. Before you actually go on a date with someone you meet on the Internet, you exchange emails, maybe talk on the phone a few times, and swap some recent photographs. By the time you agree to meet, the person isn’t really a stranger. You wouldn’t go on a date if you didn’t feel a connection, and it’s the same for a home exchange.

Our first exchange was with a couple from Cambridge, England. Trish is a doctor and Rick, her husband, is retired. We wanted to stay in Cambridge for three weeks over Christmas and they were keen to come to Sydney, Australia, where we lived at the time.

But when it came to swapping, they were delayed in Europe. However, because they had agreed to swap, they were happy for us to take their house in Cambridge and do a non-simultaneous exchange. They gave us their house and would take ours whenever we took our next vacation.

It was easy to work out the details, and they were lovely. When the time came we met them in Cambridge and had dinner. When dinner ended they handed their house and car keys over to us, wished us luck, and off they went. Clearly they had done this before.

The house was amazing, and as it was December they had even put up a Christmas tree for us and left a bottle of champagne in the fridge. Two years later we’re still friends.

Editor’s note: In the current issue of International Living magazine, Keith reveals his favorite home swap tips and resources…and some current opportunities like another Tahiti beach house…and a six-bedroom villa in Italy. When you subscribe to the magazine now you can get instant access to the full home swap article.

Minutes back from the white-sand fringed coast of this stunning Caribbean island, you can buy early-in. (With an interest-free financing option.)

This is an easy and affordable place to get to. Regular flights are available from across the U.S. and Canada. Early morning scheduled flights from the big carriers mean that you can leave home and be on the beach by lunch time. It’s a comfortable trip.

The deal here is for land—lots in a master planned resort community.

Close by, another lot (more than one acre) with oceanfront and a golf course to the rear lists for $1.7 million.

But this off-market deal is a way for you to buy a lot…a gentle stroll from the beach and restaurants…but still part of this master planned community…with financing that can be spread out over: A down payment, monthly interest-free payments of $1,000 and a balloon payment.

Some lots have already sold. Mostly to well-connected insiders. One of the world’s biggest sports stars visited recently to collect the key to his new home.

I am familiar with the work of the developer. I’ve been following him now for several years and he has over delivered with each project. You see, he’s not just a developer. He’s also one of the world’s biggest resort and tour operator owners. He keeps his resorts full with vacations he sells and vacationers who fly in on his own charters.

This resort is 1,500 acres and has more than a mile of Caribbean beachfront. The plan is to turn this into a self-contained Caribbean beach town: A new luxury hotel, a school, a 200+ slip marina, a hospital, cafes, golf courses, beach clubs, condos, villas and townhouses.

The first nine of the golf course is to open soon. The roads and infrastructure to areas where lots and condos will be sold are already in place.

Rather than write up the full details of this opportunity in a report, including some important background to the deal, I’m instead taking part in a Teleconference with Dan Prescher.

It happens Saturday, May 5. You are invited to listen in. It’s free. Here’s what you need.

Editor’s Note: Ronan McMahon is the director of Pathfinder, IL’s preferred real estate advertiser.

But there was one thing we did on our very first visit to Panama that we have made a point of doing again every time we go back—spend an afternoon on Plaza Bolivar in Casco Viejo; Panama City’s “Old Town.”

Casco Viejo is an UNESCO World Heritage site and is filled with block after block of Spanish and French Colonial architecture. These ornate buildings date back to the 16th century and although they are in various states of renovation or ruin, this somehow adds to the attraction of the place.

The district is home to a number of open plazas ringed by museums, restaurants and cafes, but Plaza Bolivar is our favorite. The center of the plaza is anchored by a monument to Simon Bolivar, the “Liberator of Latin America.” Behind the monument, the bell tower of Iglesia San Francisco de Asis rises above the other buildings.

Our first stop is always the Casa Blanca restaurant. The array of food available is incredible, but we have our favorites—dedos de pescado (fish fingers, fresh from the seafood market on the edge of the neighborhood), succulent filet mignon and tasty fried plantains.

After stopping for an espresso at nearby Segafredo Zanetti, we while away the afternoon on one of the plaza’s benches, watching the local school children play, smelling the salty ocean air, stealing a glimpse of the sparkling Pacific Ocean down one of the brick-paved side streets and dreaming of the day we can call this place home.

I like the idea of writing, and of keeping a record of the places I visit so I went to an AWAI travel writing workshop—and this was exactly the type of trip they said editors love to hear about.

So, using all of my new-found knowledge, I decided to write an article about Panama for International Living magazine. Next, I proofread it a few dozen times, slotted in some suitable photographs, took a deep breath and clicked “send.”

They published my article and sent me a check! The bylines (and checks) have kept coming. Today I can proudly tell my friends that I’m a professional, published travel writer.

Editor’s Note: If you’d like to learn more about ways you can pay for your life or travels overseas, sign up for Fund Your Life Overseas, a free e-letter from International Living. Sign up here and we’ll send you a free report: Fund Your New Life Overseas With These 5 Portable Careers.

Recommended Reading:

• How Our Travel Blog Helps Fund our Adventures Overseas

• A Life Less Ordinary as a Travel Writer

In fact, Costa Rica is one of more than a dozen markets we’ll run the rule over this June 7-9 for our International Real Estate Investment Forum.

And the discounts will be substantial—a savings of $48,000, just on the three deals I outline below.

For example, along Costa Rica’s Southern Zone, bright thick green jungle canopy rolls down to a coast of sandy beaches and rocky points. It’s truly stunning. While prices in other parts of the country soared…prices here stayed low. It was difficult to get to but a new smoothly-paved coastal highway has changed that.

One project stands out as best in class. It’s got the best views to the Pacific Coast and the turquoise waters beyond. The breezes are fresh. The beaches a short drive away. Located only a few minutes from a little town, you have restaurants and cafés almost on your doorstep. There are no fancy community amenities like a clubhouse bar and restaurant. That’s what the village and the beach is for.

Attendees at our International Real Estate Investment Forum can buy an ocean view lot for $60,000 (that lists for $75,000). That’s a savings of $15,000…plus you can buy with a manageable down payment and monthly interest-free payments of $905.08.

Did You Know Costa Rica Has a Caribbean Coast?

The drive from San José (Costa Rica’s capital) to the Caribbean coast is through some of the most inspiring scenery you’ll ever see. The coastline is the stuff of postcards. The sand is white and the water is clear. Back from the coast, you have the Talamanca Mountains.

You get magnificent views of the Caribbean and the surrounding mountains and valleys. The breeze is fresh and the wildlife abundant—70% of the coast is protected. Yet you are only two hours from San José with its international airport and direct connections to the U.S.

The best real estate buy in this area is in an established gated community in the mountains overlooking this coast.

It’s located less than two hours east of San José. And it’s only 30 minutes from the beautiful Caribbean beaches. The 1,300-foot elevation allows for fresh ocean breezes. The site is diverse, with virgin rainforest, five rivers, two waterfalls, and gently rolling hills. The wildlife is abundant, with hundreds of bird and animal species.

Attendees at our International Real Estate Investment Forum can buy a lot for $56,000 (that’s priced at $70,000). That’s a savings of $14,000…plus when you make a 30% down payment, you can finance the balance interest-free over three years.

Costa Rica’s Lake Country

Arenal is where you’ll find Costa Rica’s stunning lake country.

Tucked in the hills between the country’s two major international airports of San Jose and Liberia, this is a place for hiking, horseback-riding, bird-watching, swimming, fishing and boating.

With temperatures in the high 70s almost year-round, the weather is perfect for an active lifestyle.

Right on the shores of Lake Arenal and minutes from the town center, you’ll find an established gated community. Incredible views stretch across the lake and to the volcano. Hundreds of fruit trees and an organic garden have been planted. The neighboring yacht club, which is part of the community, is where you will find the marina and boat storage facilities with 24-hour security and club house. From here you can rent a boat or seadoo, or take guided lake, fishing and volcano tours.

A lot of just under half an acre lists for $64,000. Attendees at the International Real Estate Investment Forum can buy this lot for $45,000. That’s a savings of $19,000.

These are a small example of the deals and special terms available to attendees.

Editor’s Note: Ronan McMahon is a director of Pathfinder, IL’s preferred real estate advertiser.

But this little country is far more diverse than most U.S. cities. (Happier, too, I’d say, judging from the infectious smiles.) And most of its population is not just bi-lingual, but tri-lingual.

English is the official language of the country, formerly known as the colony of British Honduras. In 1980 it won its independence from Great Britain and has appeared on maps as Belize (or Belice in the Spanish language) ever since.

Spanish is another language you’ll often hear, thanks to the country’s borders with Mexico and Guatemala. Most Belizeans speak both English and Spanish.

Some Belizeans speak Mayan. The Maya were the original inhabitants of this part of the world, and they’re still here in large numbers. (If you think Belize is just a Caribbean diving and snorkeling destination, think again. The traditional Maya communities and ancient archaeological sites that have been uncovered in its dense, lush jungles should be on the “must-see” lists of any travelers to Belize.

Many shopkeepers, especially in Belize City and Corozal are of Chinese descent (with a sprinkling of Taiwanese and Korean, too). Some are descendants of the 480 Chinese immigrants that were brought to British Honduras in 1865 as indentured laborers on the ship “The Light of the Ages”. They went to work in the timber camps, but a year later, about 100 of them deserted. Another group came just before the outbreak of World War II. Controlling much of the economy, they’ve become dominant players in the grocery, restaurant, fast food, and lottery trades.

More than 10,000 conservative Prussian Mennonites live near an inland town called Spanish Lookout in the Cayo district, where farms and grazing land stretch for miles. Known for their cheese-making and carpentry skills, they speak German. You can outfit your Belizean home with furniture made by these fine craftsmen or even commission them to make a complete exquisite cabin for you out of Belizean hardwoods that virtually last forever. (A decent-sized cabin will cost less than $30,000.)

You’ll Find a Vibrant Culture in Belize

There’s one more language spoken in Belize—it’s the most common of all. While Belizean children are taught English at school, out and about, everyone speaks Kriol. It’s heavily influenced by the Garifuna people, descendants of African slaves, who escaped captivity in the Western Indies and settled in Belizean coastal villages like Dangriga and Seine Bight in the early 1830s. They have a strong, vibrant culture and language all their own.

This melting pot of cultures is what makes Belize unique in Central America…in the world, if truth be told. Nowhere else can you find such diversity, such tolerance, and yes… cheesy as it sounds… such love for people of so many different ethnic and economic backgrounds. Belizeans may be the friendliest people on the planet. And I’m guessing they got that way because they learned early on that we all have to live together and the best way to do that is happily.

What it all boils down to is this: no matter what language you speak, chances are good you’ll find someone to talk to in Belize. Even better odds are that they’ll have a great big happy smile on their face.

Editor’s Note: Learn more about Belize and other countries in IL’s free daily postcards. Sign up here and we’ll also send you a free report: Belize: The Top English Speaking Retirement Haven in the Caribbean. This special guide covers covers real estate, retirement and more in Belize.

Bob explores an opportunity in Panama’s Darien province and reveals the ideal visa if you want to live in Panama but don’t qualify as a retiree, or you want to avoid the process needed for an investor’s visa. And after five years of permanent resident status, you can get a passport. Bob explains all.

Also in your May issue, IL Editor, Suzan Haskins, experiences Latin America’s best quality of life. “Sipping a cappuccino at a small table in a shady plaza outside my hotel, I’m reminded of days and evenings spent in similar sidewalk cafés in Europe. Stately 19th century neo-classical and baroque-style buildings with wrought-iron balconies line the square. As in European cities or neighborhoods of Manhattan or Chicago, whatever I need or want can be had within these 10 square blocks…” Find out where this is…

Part of a growing expat community, Cynthia Kelley and her husband Ron were blown away by the low cost of living in Canoa, Ecuador…a sack of veggies costs $5, a full lunch just $3, and two full-time employees just $800 a month…

Besides which, they could never have built their home right on the beach in the U.S….they didn’t have the money. But that’s a different story on Ecuador’s north coast… Now they watch the sun set over the ocean every evening from their terrace, and listen to the waves every night. Read their full story.

At first Keith Hockton had questions about swapping his home with a stranger. Now—with 10 years’ experience of home exchange—he reveals the answers. Not only can you save on vacations, but you can even trade up. “Take the three-bedroom house on the island of Tahiti. It’s right on the beach, surrounded by a tropical garden. Another is a family in Italy who want to swap their six-bedroom villa in the ancient hill town of Amelia, 62 miles north of Rome, for a place in the U.S.” Read more.

The walled garden is substantial. A tunnel brings you from the stables to the servants’ quarters…the main entrance hall flows into the stately baronial hall…there’s a carved timber staircase…decorative plasterwork …this is the Italianate mansion of Slevoir, on the shores of Lough Derg…and today it’s on sale for a steal, writes IL Real Estate Guru, Ronan McMahon, here in your May issue.

Slevoir isn’t the only bargain mansion in Ireland. The Irish real estate bubble burst and there are deals to be done…discover a way to cash in huge on the Irish crisis here.

Read all these articles and more in the May edition of International Living magazine. If you’re not a subscriber, you can become one here and get instant access to this issue.