Retirees Renewing Interest in Nicaragua's Low Cost of Living

 

SAN JUAN del SUR, Nicaragua—The southern Pacific Coast has seen a growing flood of retirees fleeing the rising cost of living in the US. The current credit crunch has given many retirees a big incentive to travel to Nicaragua to learn more about life in the slow lane.

Two very different communities in San Juan del Sur are benefitting from an influx of new retirees. At Palermo Hotel & Resort, 50 fully-equipped, 2-bedroom villas are perfect for short or long-term stays. Homes are built to California standards of construction and retirees enjoy lush landscaping and poolside dining in a gated community. Both the villas and the pacific-rim restaurant are air-conditioned and have cable television with WiFi internet connection. The villas have all the facilities needed to setup a permanent or temporary office.

Six miles north in Balcones de Majagual, a much different community attracts retirees who build custom homes from native stone and hardwoods. Ocean breezes and waking to the sound of howler monkeys replace air-conditioners. Here snorkeling and surfing are steps away on the best beaches in C. America.

New residents search out the properties’ Marketing Manager, Sharon Vonk, for advice on financial planning to establish a foundation for their new lives where costs for daily maid service are less than $100 per month; however electric bills to pump water to a home may exceed $1,000 per month without effective controls to monitor costs. Retirees in San Juan del Sur require realistic guidance to build a successful budget for managing the costs of local employees, rental homes, solar hot water installations, electric power from wind turbines, organic gardens in the jungle and even raising chickens!

The town of San Juan del Sur offers beachfront dining, discos and shopping – a quick shuttle or water taxi ride from home. Nicaragua has many historical and natural treasures to explore. Granada, a larger and beautifully restored colonial town, is an hour away. Rates for the 2-bedroom homes, which accommodate 4 adults or a family of 5, start at $149 per night in both Palermo Hotel & Resort and Balcones de Majagual. Discounts are available for longer stays and larger groups. Villas de Palermo is easily reached by TACA, Continental or American airlines to Managua followed by a 2-hour transfer by pre-arranged car or by rental car.

 

 

Source: Travel Video TV

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