“Cheap” alone is not a worthy objective. We don’t look for it here at International Living—and nor should you. Just because you can buy a coffee for a dime or stay in a hotel for $20 a night—that’s not reason enough to go. Plenty of “cheap” corners tenant this world—many, quite frankly, just plain undesirable.
What we chase—and what you should be after, too—is good value. Places where few pennies buy big rewards…where that ten-cent coffee is the best coffee you’ve ever tasted, or that twenty-buck room comes with a personal butler.
We’re looking for the sorts of destinations where you could take $100 out of an ATM on Monday, eat out every day, rent a sailboat for a morning, meet friends for drinks, pay your utility bill…and still have change leftover on Friday.
Take Chiang Mai, Thailand, for instance. A couple can enjoy a good life there on $1,500 a month—or less. Or consider Normandy’s “flower coast.” The wealthy flock there to swank Deauville. But just next door, Trouville offers cobbled streets, little shops selling sea-salt caramels and calvados (apple brandy), a sandy beach…and lower price tags. Then there’s Icarai, Brazil, where real estate expert Ronan McMahon says he’s spotted the best raw beachfront he’s seen in a long time. The supply is limited, the price is right, and it’s set to be “discovered.” in other words, good value.
My point is: you don’t have to spend big to live large. We’ve chased value from southeast Asia to Europe to South America, and this month we show you where to find it. Read these articles and the rest of the articles below in your issue this month.
When the Spanish conquistador Pedro de Valdivia founded Santiago in 1541, he chose the site for the favorable climate, fertile soil, plentiful water, and ease of defense. While the weather still tops the list for many expats today, it’s only one of the many advantages that Santiago offers.
Rounding a bend in the road, you catch your first glimpse of the bay of Honduras. The stunning silhouette of Guatemala’s mountains to the south provides the perfect backdrop as the light scatters off the sparkling Caribbean water. The skies are a cloudless blue and a series of houses painted different colors, here white, there yellow, another green—and all with neatly-groomed yards—greets you along the coast road into the town of Punta Gorda.
Now this is why I live in Colombia: sunrise over the mountains and a view of puffy white clouds hovering over the valley. To get from my home in Líbano to Manizales— located in the Central Andes region—I can take the easy route, which passes through the Magdalena Valley, or go over the mountain and around a few volcanos… For my latest trip, I choose the mountain passage and a 5-a.m. departure. The road twists and turns through isolated farmlands, until it enters the Los Nevados National Natural Park, well worth dawdling through.
"Life here is easy, convenient, and what’s more I can afford to really enjoy it,” says Pennsylvania-native, Paul Matlin. “You meet so many interesting people from all over the world. The health care is great, the food is superb, and the weather is warm.” Founded over 700 years ago, Chiang Mai nestles in the mountains of Northern Thailand, on the banks of the Ping River and the good climate has acted as a major draw for thousands of expats who call the city home.
Natchi and her husband own the biggest guesthouse in town and business is booming. Wind energy is a big deal in this part of Brazil. When I stayed in their place—midweek during off-season—the place was packed to the rafters with 45 wind-energy workers. This is Icaraí (pronounced ick-areye), the closest town to the nearby wind farms. But sheltered in lush vegetation and right on the empty beach…this certainly doesn’t feel like a frontier energy town. It’s a tropical paradise.
I believe we all have a bit of the “collector” gene inside of us. We gather things throughout our lives…things capable of reminding us of a good time or a pleasant memory. It’s a way of capturing the moment to be relived at some point in the future. My Dad had the “collector” gene for sure. He collected mugs, decals, spoons, coins, stamps, Emmett Kelly paintings, Boy Scout council strip patches (CSP’s), Hummel figurines…and the list goes on.
Japan is an antique collector’s paradise. From unusual wedding gifts to snazzy souvenirs, the antique shops and local markets in central Tokyo have it all—and they are surprisingly affordable. Most of what’s sold is in excellent condition, even in the flea markets. Here are some items to look out for and where to hunt for them.
There are thousands of foreigners dotted about Guatemala quietly doing their thing. Lorenzo Gottschamer is one of them. “I was only supposed to be here for three days,” says Lorenzo. “Yet I’m still here over 30 years later.” Originally from Redwood River, California, the 68-year-old Lorenzo first decided to make the move overseas after an accident ended his career as a professional firefighter.
"My husband Fred and I haven’t felt as vital as this in years. It’s like we’re young again and just starting out. It’s a fabulous feeling. We wake up every morning to happy conversation and laughter, the guests in our Nicaraguan hostel all having breakfast together,” says Carla Batty. Back home in Queensland, Australia, Carla and Fred had a life of relaxed dinners with friends, easy jobs they enjoyed, and the odd night out.
Like so many from the U.S., when I daydream about traveling through Europe, I always imagine myself on a train: speeding quietly through the countryside, over the mountain passes, past charming, ancient towns, or along the shores of a massive glacial lake. Other forms of transportation—with their two-hour pre-flight check-ins, their bumpy, uncomfortable buses, and their too-close-for-comfort seating arrangements—always feel like a hassle.