On Sunday the 28th of February I finished my 8-day combination Central/South Pacific and Central Valley retirement and relocation tour. It was a complete success and my clients and I had the time of our lives.

People really enjoy my tours but this one was really special. There were two couples and five single women. The participants instantly bonded because of their common interest in Costa Rica. By the end of the tour everyone had made new friends and promised to keep in contact with each other. This is was usually happens on my tours.

What my guests really liked was the food, different types of housing, infrastructure, the incredible sunsets and views, options for expats and most of all the ambience of the country.

I really enjoy helping people change their lives by introducing them to this wonderful country. It is really rewarding

Beware of the information and advice on the so-called “hobby web sites.” These include the growing number sites put up by expatriates in Costa Rica to share their experiences. On the surface many of these sites seem helpful but the majority of the people behind them are neophytes who have not lived here long enough to really be qualified to give good advice. Most of these individuals don’t even speak enough Spanish to really get an objective view of the country and culture.

There are even a few video-type blogs portraying people’s experiences who have moved here. While they are entertaining they shouldn’t be considered a true source of information. Unfortunately, the internet has now given every “Tom, Dick and Harry” with amateur computer and video skills a chance to be the star of their own reality show.

Despite the world economic crisis big players continue to invest in Costa Rica.

Plans call for the construction of a $280 million convention and fair center near San José Costa Rica. The proposed construction site will be across from the Hotel Herradura and be about 123,000 square meters in size. The complex will also house two hotels, stores, restaurants and a parking structure. The complex will be the largest of its kind in all of Latin America.

The world economic crisis has really had minimal impact here. Two new highways have been completed and upscale shopping centers like Avenida Escazú , a new stages of Multiplaza and Paseo de las Flores have been either built or expanded in the last couple of years. In addition more and more multinational companies like Amazon.com have set up shop in Costa Rica.

People thinking of living, retiring or investing here should take these recent events into consideration when deciding if Costa Rica is for them. Obviously, the continued growth mentioned above, the country’s stability, year-round spring-like weather, first-class medical care, incredible lifestyle and so much more will continue to make the country tops on then list of expat havens. No wonder more Americans live here per capita than any other country outside of the U.S.

This week I sat in on a private consultation to provide feedback and advice to a couple who wants to retire and buy a home here. They visited with their 32-year-old daughter to check out Costa Rica. Fortunately their daughter knows Costa Rica well. She live here for a couple of years and worked as a teacher.

Her father had an accident a few years ago and became disabled and can no longer work. He received a good disability pension and settlement because of his injury but it really isn’t enough to maintain his lifestyle in the U.S. So, his daughter recommended that he and the wife move to Costa Rica. Since she had lived here previously the information couldn’t have come from a better and more trusted source.

It looks like the couple will make the move in a couple of months.

Recently I had a couple of well-to-do gentleman from Malibu and Newport Beach on a private relocation/retirement tour. They represent a new breed of person with money who wants to leave the madness of United States and move to Costa Rica.

Both of the men are millionaires, live in very exclusive areas and have good incomes. However, they are tired of the upscale life they are leading and want to downsize so they can have more time to enjoy what is important instead of being caught up in the rat race.

One of my clients told me that he was having trouble living on $15,000 per month. I almost choked when I heard this. I gave him a sample budget of what he would have to spend here to maintain his current lifestyle and still meet his financial obligations in the States. Even living in an expensive area like Escazú, my client can live on less than half of what he does now. He was amazed at the numbers.

Most people who move here do not have the income that my client does but can also reduce their expenses significantly and not give up their lifestyle by moving here. In fact, they will probably have a much better lifestyle here and enjoy themselves more.