Customer Reviews

Moon Living Abroad in Guatemala

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I was hoping, when I bought this book, to find it full of specific information and very real inside secrets and advice. Instead, I found the book to contain very little that you can't get from a couple of travel guides. I say this as someone who has not only thought about moving to Guatemala but who also went there in 2009 to check it out. I did more research and brought home far more specific info from my 10 day trip than this book contains. The author goes to great pain to avoid prices. How can you write a book advising people about moving to a foreign country without sharing extensive information about prices and the cost of living??? The other really serious failing of the book is that it has nothng related to "budget" living options. Guatemala is a very poor and subsequently very cheap place to visit and live. This book makes the assumption that the reader is moving to Guatemala to enjoy a private pool, luxury home and house servants. Some of us think it would be nice to live simply and economically. If you are such a person I am afraid I have to say don't buy this book unless it's used and cheap. If on the other hand, if your motives for moving to one of the most amazing countries in our hemisphere is to live the life of The Ugly American....buy it! Buy "Lonely Planet" & "Rough Guide" for Guatemala instead to get a much better idea of both the country and the local economy/cost of living.

We relied extensively on this book in planning our move to Guatemala a year ago. It's packed with details on the country's history, culture, food, housing, security situation, etc., and also explains how to get done the "paperwork" you'll need in a country known for its often complicated bureaucratic procedures. It really helped us orient ourselves to Guatemala and figure out our options for living here. Since settling in here, we've also used the book as a handy travel guide. Argueta's done an admirable job of providing a comprehensive overview of places to go, things to do, and recommendations for accommodations and restaurants while you're exploring this gorgeous country and its widely varied geography.