Americans don’t like Europe? Codswallop!
Some IL colleagues say Europe is too expensive. That Americans aren’t interested. That our readers’ insatiable desire is for cheap beachfront.
Steenie Harvey
Spain in crisis—buy on the costas for $36,000
A spacious 800-square-foot apartment in one of Andalusia’s most elegant cities could be yours for $112,000. Feverish ramblings? Not if you’re looking in Jerez de la Frontera’s San Telmo neighborhood.
Lesbos and Chios: Enchanted gateways to Greek Island tradition
Wooded valleys plunge to the infinite sapphire of the sea. Byzantine monasteries lie hidden in the folds of the hills. Winding through the olive groves, pathways lead to stone-built villages contentedly trapped in another time.
No argument, Bucharest is booming
Five years ago, you could buy an 800-square-foot apartment in some parts of Bucharest for less than $12,500. By the end of 2006, buyers struggled to find anything much in Romania’s capital for less than $100,000.
Enjoy a luxurious lifestyle and an ocean view on a shoestring budget in Thailand
In Thailand you can live like a prince on very little. Just about everything is inexpensive. Four pineapples for $1...teeth-cleaning for $7...an hour’s foot massage for $6, getting a blouse washed after a mishap with a green chicken curry will set you back 25 cents. “Treats” can be afforded daily. At the markets, huge bunches of exotic blooms cost less than a couple of dollars. Even orchids are only 30 cents a stem.
The undiscovered treasures of Central Portugal’s Silver Coast
Central Portugal is one of Europe’s sleeping beauties. Why it gets ignored is puzzling. Hemming a rugged coastline of cliffs, coves, and whitewashed windmills, the Atlantic beaches of the Beira and Estremadura provinces resemble broad golden ribbons. Slumbering inland are historic castle towns, abbeys, and pilgrim shrines. Small villages come surrounded by terraced olive groves, citrus orchards, and vineyards.
Is this the new Tuscany? Istria—the jewel of the Adriatic
Croatia is often dubbed “the Mediterranean as it used to be” or “the new Tuscany.” But are the accolades justified?
Fabulous cuisine and wine…and five other reasons why you should visit the Rhône-Alpes
"I can resist anything but temptation," said Oscar Wilde. Eyeing the menu in Grenoble's La P'tite Ferme restaurant, I know how he felt.
Tallinn (Estonia) vs. Riga (Latvia) vs. Vilnius (Lithuania)
Having explored Lithuania this May, I've now experienced all three Baltic countries, so it's easier to get a handle on what unites them-and what separates them.
Splendor and squalor…boredom and bliss—the highs and lows of Panama
Affordability is just one reason why Panama is being called the world’s premier retirement destination. Its proximity to the U.S. allows for regular visits...its Caribbean and Pacific waters are warm enough for swimming year round...the special benefits package for foreign pensionados can’t be bettered.