There’s something intriguing about Hungary. Take away Budapest, goulash and gypsy violins, and it’s practically unknown to the English-speaking world.

It’s a sight to swoon over. As the plane dips down, there they are—strewn across the South China Sea like glittering emerald necklets. Glimpsing even a fraction of the Philippine’s 7,107 islands gives most visitors a visual knock-out

A new nose in Prague…a facelift in Thailand…a curvier chest in Mexico…cosmetic surgery used to be for the rich-and-famous only. But these days, it’s so affordable overseas, the middle-class masses are picking up their passports to seek a better-looking physique oceans from home.

Missed bills…late-payment charges…high ATM fees… and difficulty getting to your money when you need it. These are some of the pitfalls that await the unprepared expat when moving overseas. But with the right planning, you’ll be able to manage your finances just as efficiently as you did back home—probably better. Here are some of the most important things to consider.

We left San Jose at 9 a.m. By noon, we were sitting at a French restaurant on Costa Rica's southern coast, ordering delicious deep-fried brie in Blackberry sauce for lunch. Just six months ago, it would have taken us all day to make the journey, and we'd barely have made it in time for dinner. But today Costa Rica’s Southern Zone is opening up.

Turquoise waters lap the shores in front of me. Behind me the sun’s light glints off a beautiful lagoon. It’s mid-afternoon and I’m on the rooftop terrace of a beachfront restaurant. I’m told the view at dusk is jaw-dropping, but I think it’s pretty jaw-dropping right now…

This column began with my daughter Kay, sitting at the table in her apartment in California, thousands of miles away from me…yet showing me her new haircut.