Is it Safe to Drive in Costa Rica?
Driving is a great way to see the Costa Rican countryside, you don’t have to lug your baggage on and off a plane or bus, and you go wherever you want at your own pace.
Driving is a great way to see the Costa Rican countryside, you don’t have to lug your baggage on and off a plane or bus, and you go wherever you want at your own pace.
Taking pets overseas is a common concern—after all, why would you leave a family member behind? The rules for bringing feathery friends with you are often more complicated than those for furry friends—mostly due to concerns over avian influenza (bird flu).
With a handful of state-owned banks and around 20 private commercial banks, there’s no lack of options if you’re looking to open a bank account in Costa Rica. All of these banks offer services to foreigners.
At International Living, we always recommend that you rent before you buy. Before you put down money on a house or condo in a new place, plan to rent first to thoroughly check out the area.
If you want to live within walking distance of the city center and Lisbon’s vibrant nightlife, the hilly parish of São Vicente, full of tiled houses, is a good choice. The main street has a charming collection of local butcher shops, cafés, and fishmongers, as well as a couple of supermarkets.
If you come to Portugal as a visitor, you can drive with your U.S. or Canadian driver’s license for up to six months. But if you plan to settle full-time, you will need to apply for a Portuguese license.
No matter what, you will still pay less in Portugal’s main cities than in, say, Paris, London, or even Madrid. Living in New York City will cost you a whopping 96.73% more than living in Lisbon.
Once you have a residence visa, you can bring used household goods into Portugal duty-free. The best way to do so is to hire a shipping company.
Vietnam has long been closed to foreign property investors, but the laws changed in 2015. Now foreigners who are in the country with a visa that is valid for at least three months can own property in Vietnam.
You can get by in English in the more touristy parts of Spain—particularly along the Costa Blanca or Costa del Sol, which are both very popular with tourists and expats from the U.K.