Jason Holland

Jason Holland

As a “military brat” Jason Holland, IL’s Roving Latin America Editor, had the benefit of growing up in Germany and Spain, before returning to Florida for college and a career as a writer. But life abroad beckoned, so in 2012 he, his wife, four-year-old son, and two dogs made their way to Costa Rica, splitting their time between the mountains of the Central Valley and the Pacific coast. Nearly five years later, they moved to Mexico, first to the white-sand beaches of the Riviera Maya and now they’re enjoying the colonial splendor of the UNESCO World Heritage town, San Miguel de Allende. From this home-base Jason travels across Latin America learning about the expat experience in places like Roatan, Panama, Belize, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, and beyond. In all that time, he’s never visited a beach bar he didn’t like. Follow Jason on Google

Restore a Colonial Home in Mérida for Under $200,000 All In

Restore a Colonial Home in Mérida for Under $200,000 All In

Colonial Living
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You sit in your courtyard at a sturdy hardwood table, enjoying the first cup of coffee of the day. The sounds of the city waking up are muffled by thick stone walls, as the tinkling fountain next to you provides a soothing soundtrack. A small pool to the side is the perfect antidote to hot days. You’re surrounded by heliconia, ginger, and bougainvillea vines. As you head inside through a tall, arched doorway for a second cup, your eyes pass over the intricately patterned tile floors, the vaulted ceilings with heavy timber beams standing out against the bright-white ceiling, and the dark wood doorframes perfectly complementing the yellow walls.

“I Love My Work…and My Less Stressful Life in Belize”

“I Love My Work…and My Less Stressful Life in Belize”

Belize Insider Articles
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Dick Walton, 53, and his wife, Dawn, 47, have always loved to travel. And they knew for a long time that they wanted to retire to English-speaking Belize...the tiny Central American country on the Caribbean Sea. But when Dawn had an aneurysm in 2009, the couple pushed up that timetable to escape the stress and fast pace of life in their hometown of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Mérida: The Yucatán’s Colonial Gem

Mérida: The Yucatán’s Colonial Gem

Living the Good Life
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I ’m enjoying a cappuccino at a sidewalk café. The tree providing shade is a century old, the church across the way much older. The neighborhood is historic, with restored buildings lining narrow streets for a dozen blocks in any direction. I’m in Mérida, Mexico, in the downtown centro of centuries-old colonial homes, churches, and grand buildings. It’s the third-largest Spanish colonial district in the world, after Havana and Mexico City.

Chic, Trendy, Easy-Going Tulúm

Chic, Trendy, Easy-Going Tulúm

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Time has slowed. I’m squinting from the midday sun. The low roar of gentle waves lapping the white-sand shores all along the three mile-long bay mixes with the calls of seabirds. On the horizon, breakers foam over the reef, contrasting with the vivid turquoise sea. It’s hypnotic…a nearly out-of-body experience. Tulúm, a community of around 30,000 people on the south end of Mexico’s Riviera Maya, tends to have that effect on people. It’s the type of place where vacationers fall in love and the next time they return it’s for good.

Great Healthcare Inspires a Business in Mérida

Great Healthcare Inspires a Business in Mérida

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It wasn’t until Tina Frewer suffered a serious health issue that she discovered how good the medical care was in Mérida, a city of nearly one million people on the western side of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. After receiving excellent care at Star Médica, one of two top-rated hospitals in Mérida, and attention from the area’s top specialists, Tina was inspired. Why not help medical tourists who come to Mexico for low-cost, high-quality surgeries and dental care navigate the city and the system? As a patient advocate/medical tourism concierge, Tina now connects expat patients with doctors and healthcare facilities through her business, HealthItinerary.

A “Fishy Business” on the Riviera Maya

A “Fishy Business” on the Riviera Maya

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We enjoy the beach when we have time,” says Joseph Ader of his new life on Mexico’s Riviera Maya. “I love what I do. And I love the climate here. It’s very similar to Florida, which is one of the biggest producers of fish for food and the hobby trade. That’s one of the reasons it’s such a good business here.” As a kid growing up in Pennsylvania, Joseph helped his grandmother with her tropical fish aquariums, not realizing he was setting himself up for his future career.

The Retiree Program That Can Save You Thousands

The Retiree Program That Can Save You Thousands

Belize Insider Articles
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Toward the southern end of Belize, you’ll find a 17-mile-long peninsula that has become a center of expat activity and tourism in recent years. Developments and homes can be found up and down its length, as can beautiful beaches and views of the blue Caribbean. But Placencia Village, the walkable community at the peninsula’s far southern tip, is where Paul Petit and his wife Gail decided to settle.

A Country Life With Easy Beach Access on Costa Rica’s Central Pacific Coast

A Country Life With Easy Beach Access on Costa Rica’s Central Pacific Coast

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Lance and Mary Miller spend their time doing things they want to do…for the first time in their lives. Sometimes that’s something as simple as enjoying coffee and fresh-baked coffee cake and cookies on their porch with friends. They can afford everything they need to live a comfortable retirement. And when they want it, the beach is just down the road. “We came to Costa Rica with the attitude that it’s an adventure. It’s fun! We want to be part of the community. We always knew we wanted to retire overseas. We did a lot of research, and Costa Rica kept coming up,” says Mary, 60.