Choose Costa Rica, 6th: Travel, Investment, and Living Opportunities for Every Budget [Paperback]

John Howells (Author)

Book Description

Series: Choose Retirement Series | Publication Date: October 1, 2002

Retirement these days is a whole new ball game. Today's baby boomers with higher education levels, bigger bank accounts, and longer, healthier lives ahead of them, are seeking a more active retirement than that of their parents' generation. It can be a time of growth, or adventure, or complete and utter relaxation. Where people spend their retirement years, no matter how they define them, has to be a place that fulfills their desires and meets their changing needs.

Many people use travel as a means to find their ideal retirement community. This book is written to serve not only as a travel guide but also as an indispensable, authoritative overview of the destination from the perspective of relocation.

Choose Costa Rica has many cities, towns, and villages that are ideal for retirees of every stripe. Descriptions of scenic, vibrant places, as well as information about the resources and activities available in these areas, allow readers to make an informed decision about selecting Costa Rica as the ideal location to enjoy an affordable, active, and safe retirement.

This book includes up-to-date information about:
*Real estate
*Recreation
*Medical care
*Business opportunities
*Culture
*Weather statistics

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This book goes the extra mile with deft commentary, interviews, and illustrative anecdotes."
--The Tico Times (Costa Rica) (praise for a previous edition)

From the Back Cover

Retirement can be a time of growth, or adventure, or complete and utter relaxation. Where you spend your retirement years, no matter how you may define them, has to be a place that fulfills your desires and meets your changing needs.Choose Costa Rica, has many cities, towns, and villages that are ideal for retirees of every stripe. Descriptions of scenic, vibrant places, as well as essential information about the resources and activities available in these areas, allow you to make an informed decision about selecting Costa Rica as your ideal location to enjoy an affordable active, and safe retirement.Look inside for up-to-date information about Costa Rica: real estate, recreation, medical care, culture, business opportunities, weather statistics. (5 1/2 x 8 1/2, 288 pages)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Globe Pequot; 6th edition (October 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0762724064
• ISBN-13: 978-0762724062
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,453,750 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good feel for the country, October 24, 2002

By 

kenneth page (San Clemente, CA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Choose Costa Rica, 6th: Travel, Investment, and Living Opportunities for Every Budget (Paperback)

This book not only provides a tremendous amount of valuable information on virtually every aspect of living in Costa Rica, it gives you a true feeling of what it's like to live there. Most other books just provide the information. This one puts it in a perspective that allows you to understand all the nuances of the country and understand truly what living there is like. I especially like the day in the life of the author, where he lists what he does during the day from waking up on.

If you only buy one book, I'd buy this one. The Golden Book is also good, but this is better.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Informative and enteraining read on Costa Rica, October 22, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Choose Costa Rica, 6th: Travel, Investment, and Living Opportunities for Every Budget (Paperback)

Choose Costa Rica is a wonderful guide for anyone who is looking for a safe, affordable, and enjoyable place to spend one's retirement or to start a business. Particularly helpful is the detailed description of the most interesting and hospitable communities throughout the country. Not only does this book provide a wealth of information about such bread and butter matters as laws, prices, weather, and the like, but it also paints an irresistible picture of the country's natural beauty that draws so many travelers and new residents.

Howells obviously knows his way around and he does a great job of sharing his extensive knowledge with his readers and helping them to understand what is so special about the country. I found it useful as a first-time visitor because of its beneath-the-surface treatment of subjects ignored by the hotel and restaurant guidebooks.

The case studies of people who have gone into business there helped me to think through not only the potentialities, but also the risks and potential hazards of following their examples.

I also appreciated the Web link to a site that keeps you abreast of changes in Costa Rica through frequent updates of the information in the book.

Altogether, I highly recommend Choose Costa Rica to anyone who would like to explore the possibilities "the Switzerland of the Americas" offers, either in a new career or after retirement.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good guide book, even if you're not retiring there!, June 8, 2004

By 

S. Brown-hiegel "traveler" (Los Angeles, California USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Choose Costa Rica, 6th: Travel, Investment, and Living Opportunities for Every Budget (Paperback)

This was actually a really help guide while traveling in Costa rica. Like the firtst reviewer, I also appreciated the Web link that keeps you abreast of changes in Costa Rica through frequent updates of the information in the book.

Another Globe Pequot Press book I bought, "Costa Rica: The Last Country The Gods Made," was helpful before I went. It's an essay-photo book on the country's various histories- political, geological, cultural -that would actually be VERY helpful for anyone considering working or retiring there.