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Albania. Not the first place you’d think of for a European vacation. I certainly didn’t…and I bet that most people outside of Europe would be challenged to identify this country on a map. Nestled to the north of Greece, south of Montenegro and Croatia, and across the Adriatic Sea from Italy, the cultural influences of these popular countries are evident.
I recently spent some time in the charming seaside city of Durrës, quite by accident. With the COVID-19 restrictions still lingering into 2022, I was denied entry to Malta traveling from a “dark red” country. Malta has a rotating stoplight chart (green-amber-red-dark red) based on infection numbers and other factors. Therefore, I was required to find a red country...
What if you could actually live “overseas”? Not just overseas, but actually on the water itself ? As the pandemic-exhausted world continues to pivot and reinvent itself, innovative living and working modalities gain traction. Enter Storylines MV Narrative—a residential ship with 547 fully-furnished condos traversing the globe.
Let’s face it, all around the world our wallets are experiencing the pinch of inflation with rising costs for nearly everything. That is indeed the case in Costa Rica where I see my grocery bills up 25%, doubling rental rates, and pain at the pump. Retirement planners emphasize that you need to account for inflation when evaluating your nest egg.
International Living has been reporting on the splendor of Costa Rica for over 40 years. And even after a challenging year like no other, the thousands of expats who call it “home” can share plenty of rationale why Costa Rica remains a winner.
Suburban Santa Ana is nestled in the hills west of Costa Rica’s capital, San Jose. It is conveniently located on the tollway next to the popular upscale suburb of Escazú. Two decades ago Santa Ana was just a small dot on the map in the Central Valley’s mountainous landscape. But now it has grown into a popular...
As with everywhere, regulations and mandates are changing at lightning speed. I commend the Costa Rican government for taking bold steps to try to flatten the curve quickly by declaring a national state of emergency on 16 March. All schools and churches are closed...
Shoulder Season was a term coined by the travel industry in the 1960’s to promote off-peak travel. It specifically targets Europe’s “light heating” season or spring and fall. If you are looking for bargains and less tourists, this is the time to trek to Europe...
These days, the word “magical” is often overused when defining a place or an ambiance, however, Costa Rica’s Monteverde (meaning ‘green mountain’ in Spanish) truly lives up to this description in every way.Monteverde sits on top of the continental divide high on the Tilarán Mountains...
Located on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, on the southernmost point of the Nicoya Peninsula, Montezuma has an off-the-beaten-path feel. Visitors and locals enjoy its quiet beaches, proximity to wildlife, and unique laidback artistic vibe. Though it has a small population--roughly 500 people--Montezuma has a vibrant arts...