During the last 30 years Costa Rica has become Latin America’s premier retirement mecca and to nobody’s surprise a bevy of guidebooks have been written about moving here. All of these publications are beneficial for potential residents while doing their due diligence.
In 1988 Christopher Howard, author and Costa Rican citizen, published the first guidebook for those looking to make the “big move.” What started out as aa 80-page pamphlet slowly evolved into the newly updated 20th edition of “The New Golden Door to Retirement and Living in Costa Rica – the official guide to relocation.”
At 800 pages this most recent edition covers a variety of essential subjects: the country’s people and culture, the most particle places for expats to live, affordable options for medical care, U.S. and local taxes, making and saving money, shortcuts and secrets for learning the Spanish language, obtaining legal residency, importing your belongings, hundreds of activities to stay busy and happy, where to make new friends, real estate and rental tips, a list of indispensable contacts, time-tested advice, retirement tour options and a whole lot more.
Howard together with the country’s most renowned experts in their respective fields, go into depth and virtually leave no stone unturned.
This guide is not just for people who are retirement age but for anyone who wants to relocate here. There is even a section on schools for younger expat’s children.
The Golden Door is a long read but relatively easy to understand and jam-packed with useful information. If you don’t have the patience to read the entire book, you can select topics from the detailed Table of Contents or handy index both of which are roadmaps to the book, listing names, places, and things in alphabetical order and giving the page numbers associated with each topic.
With all of the information, conflicting opinions and videos that are now available about the country, many potential expats end up being more confused after doing their initial research than when they started. This guidebook promises to clear up most of the confusion.
Excerpts of this book will appear in future editions of the Tico Times.
As Peronet Despeignes, of Fortune Magazine stated, “This guide really boils things down, provides all of the nuts and bolts, answers your questions and introduces you to every major facet of life in this beautiful country.”
The New Golden Door is available from Amazon in both digital and soft cover formats as well as from Mr. Howard’s website, www.costaricabooks.com
By Jonathan E. Suárez
