How This Family Swapped London Stress for a $2K a Month Life in Paradise

How This Family Swapped London Stress for a $2K/Month Life in Paradise
A young family reinvents their life in Panama, where idyllic sunsets, fireflies, and a close-knit community come standard. |©Cassandra Turner

"It's an unbelievable way to live.

We’re smack bang in the middle of the jungle, right in a nature reserve. The turtles nest on the beach. At night, the monkeys howl. We’ve had hundreds of fireflies flying around our bedroom."

Trading in the noise, stress, and expense of a work-a-day life in London, Cassandra and Wayne Turner have embraced a commute that involves gentle strolls on unspoiled Caribbean beaches.

Their days now revolve around mornings spent sipping smoothies, long lunches with friends, snorkeling or paddling in turquoise waters… and a business that foots the bill.

Turning ‘Someday’ Into ‘Now’

Lush jungle surrounds Casa de Mono, the family’s boutique B&B on Isla Colón.
Lush jungle surrounds Casa de Mono, the family’s boutique B&B on Isla Colón.|©Cassandra Turner

It had always been Cassandra’s "someday" dream to own a boutique B&B on a tropical island—one that intensified when she found out she was going to be a mom.

"In London we were tired, overworked, and said, ‘Let’s just take a year off.’ And then I found out I was pregnant. I knew we needed to make a drastic lifestyle change.

"I thought, ‘I want something super chill. I want to be with my kid all the time. I want to do the raising.’ And care and everything back home was just so expensive."

She was also drawn to the idea of raising her child in a slower, more connected way while building values and independence. "The goal was that when we were ready to have a family, we could have our kid (or kids) with us so that they could watch us work, build some kind of work ethic, and learn through helping us."

One day in 2021, Cassandra’s brother, who was visiting the islands of Bocas del Toro, called to say: "This might be the place." When her maternity leave started, Cassandra and Wayne took a chance, packed their belongings in a container, and left London to experience it for themselves.

"I landed at the airport in Bocas Town and thought, ‘I’m never leaving. I love it here."

Two years later, Cassandra is living her dream at 35. Together with her "co-owners" Wayne (38), her mom Eve (59), and their daughter Luna (3), the family is blending a slower tropical life with the business they’d always dreamed of: Casa de Mono, a six-room boutique hotel that grossed more than $160,000 last year.

Paradise On a Budget

Barefoot luxury on a budget: thrifted finds, mosquito net canopies, and high-quality linens.
Barefoot luxury on a budget: thrifted finds, mosquito net canopies, and high-quality linens.|©Cassandra Turner

Cassandra and Wayne had already checked out the Philippines, Bali, and even some spots in Europe, but none seemed quite right. The cost, difficulties around buying as a foreigner… there was always an issue. In Panama, however, they discovered an affordable cost of living, plenty of opportunities, and a regulation-friendly environment that encouraged foreign business and investment.

After a year-long, budget-minded search around the islands of Bocas del Toro, Cassandra and her mother found a guesthouse steps from the beach on the main island of Isla Colón… listed for $365,000.

Constructed from a rare Panamanian hardwood, with good bones but an outdated design, they knew they could transform it into the mid-market luxury retreat they had always envisioned. And they saw great potential in the three-floor villa and the separate caretaker apartment on the property.

"We didn’t have lots of money," Cassandra explains, "and it’s a challenge to make a place look expensive, especially as there are few shops on the island."

Playing to their strengths and embracing creativity became instrumental in their success: With Cassandra’s fashion and design background, her mom’s carpentry skills, and Wayne’s construction know-how, they transformed the dated and uninspired hotel into a chic British-colonial-style guest house.

They focused on guest comfort by investing in things like high-quality beds and linens. "The things we didn’t skimp on are the things that people notice," Cassandra says.

Adding little touches was important, too: umbrellas for those rainy tropical afternoons, water bottles to take with you for the day, beers in the fridge…

Other things were thrifted, handcrafted, or repurposed—like the canopies over the beds, which were handmade from mosquito nets.

The final effect: an eco-friendly, one-of-a-kind experience.

With strong earnings right from the jump (helped by glowing reviews and Cassandra’s sales experience) the hotel has brought in enough to cover nearly half of what they paid for the property. Put another way, they’ve got a high-earning project for less than the cost of a studio apartment in London.

Add the increased value after just two years of business—Cassandra estimates they could sell for $600,000 to $700,000 today—and the potential is clear. Bocas is the Caribbean’s ultimate hidden investor opportunity… largely untouched by chain resorts, slower paced, and still authentic.

A $70K Home

Though they’d planned to live at Casa de Mono, the family quickly realized living onsite wasn’t ideal with a toddler and guests coming and going. So, together with Cassandra’s mother and brother, the couple bought 1.25 acres of land close to one of the island’s most pristine beaches, Playa Bluff.

They each invested $56,000 to cover the cost of the property, lawyer fees, and closing costs. Cassandra and Wayne then spent $70,000 to build a two-bedroom home that feels like it’s part of nature, with low walls and large screen windows, so they can watch fireflies and sunrises right from their bedroom.

(Cassandra’s mom has already built a larger home on the land for $100,000.)

Their cost of living is minimal. They collect rainwater to cut down on expenses and pay, on average, just $30 a month in electricity. All told, they spend about $2,000 a month to live comfortably as a family of three, while eating well and living as they like.

"The community is raising my kid," says Cassandra, who feels spoiled for choice with international and even Montessori-style schools close by. Bocas, she says, is attracting young families with unique approaches to learning and small-town living. "The teachers are people we know—everyone knows everyone here, and in a good way," she adds.

In times of crisis, the neighbors are there. When Luna was recently in the hospital for a two-day stay, people dropped off food and supplies without being asked. "Where does that still happen in the world?" Cassandra wonders. (Luna is fine, Cassandra happily reports, and loved being fussed over and watching movies for two days straight.)

A Family Business… And Plenty of Family Time

The hammock porch at Casa de Mono is made for slowing down.
The hammock porch at Casa de Mono is made for slowing down.|©Cassandra Turner

Running Casa de Mono is a family affair. Cassandra handles bookings, marketing, design, and communications. Her husband Wayne handles repairs and maintenance. Mom Eve leads the garden and day-to-day management.

Other work is on rotating shifts. "One week is my mom’s, one is mine, one is Wayne’s, and then we have one off. But even on our "working weeks," we’re not there all day. You can get stuff done in the morning, then go for a swim and just enjoy the day."

The family gets to spend a lot of time together, exploring Bocas and catching up with friends. That’s the beauty of this unspoiled archipelago: the next adventure awaits… always. Whether it be island hopping, snorkeling, surfing… or just slowing down to enjoy the sight of a sloth, howler monkey, or exotic bird.

Now that they’re training a local employee, they have even more freedom—so much so that Cassandra has launched a side business in photography, shooting other local venues, weddings, and travelers.

Wayne is training to become a certified arborist and completing a tree climbing course so he can start offering related tours and activities. He also has time to indulge lots of hobbies, including spearfishing and snorkeling.

If you have an idea for a business, Cassandra recommends Bocas because it’s less developed than other Caribbean destinations. "If you have even just a little bit of money and work ethic, you could literally do anything. Start a cleaning company, anything to do with cars (car servicing, car alignment, etc.)… just think of something you enjoy doing, and it’ll make money."

Cassandra also advises: If you want things at a fast pace… or to live a life similar to the one you have now… Bocas is not for you. The roads can be a bit more potholed and occasionally storms knock out the power. Deliveries take time. Shopping is minimal and imported items cost more. But for Cassandra, that’s exactly the point.

"You’ve got to want the rustic-ness."

Four Paths to Profit With an Overseas B&B

Owning a beachy boutique hotel can be a great way to fund the dream lifestyle you want… or it can be the money pit of your nightmares. Here are Cassandra’s time-tested tips for success:

1. Prioritize comfort and convenience over décor:

Rooms in Casa de Mono come with a large water jug, coffee and tea (and a coffeemaker), fridge, and hammock. And while conscious of the aesthetics, Cassandra splurged on comfy beds and linens, not design trends.

2. Don’t just listen to feedback… act on it:

No resting on their laurels—the Casa de Mono crew takes feedback seriously. For example, when one guest suggested USB charging cables, they realized what a strong idea it was and installed them into the walls by the bed. On checkout, they always ask for suggestions.

3. Know your market… and your town:

While there are five-star resorts in Bocas with $500-a-night price tags and $80 surf shacks with graffiti on the walls, Cassandra and co. saw a gap in mid-market luxury offerings. With chic rooms ranging from $100 to $250 a night (with seasonal variations), Casa de Mono now fills that gap. And while two-person rooms were plentiful, options for four to six were limited. Now, their renovated six-person unit is their most booked (and most profitable) room.

4. Embrace sustainability—it pays!

Using refillable toiletry bottles, cutting down on plastics, and repurposing linens are helping keep costs down while also protecting the local environment and appealing to eco-minded guests who choose Bocas del Toro.

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