No comments about Costa Rica.

No comments about Costa Rica: Tradicion de paz entre dos oceanos.

5 comments about Living and Investing in the New Cuba 2nd edition.

1. "The Midwest Book Review" August 6, 1999 By James A. Cox Editor-in-Chief

   Living and Investing in the New Cuba is a superb guide to living, making money and creating the good life in Cuba. A wide variety of interesting subjects are covered and many questions are answered about what the future holds for Cuba.




2. "Travel Tips and News Newsletter" by Jens Jurgen July/August 1999

   The first edition of "Living and Investing in the New Cuba" is an interesting new book by Christopher Howard. In it the author describes Cuba's colorful history, its flora and fauna, customs, foods, health care, transportation, learning Cuban-style Spanish, Cuba's amazing people and much more. There is not too much about the many disadvantages of living under the current oppresive regime. However, many people anticipate a change soon.

   The investment portion of Howard's book (published in Costa Rica) is written for a worldwide audience. Europeans as well as Canadians can already invest in Cuba (Americans can't legally as of now but there will be lots of opportunities in the future). As with lesser known travel and investment opportunities, one should do a lot of homework in advance. Don't wait until the U.S. Teasury eases or drops its regulations prohibiting Americans from trading with Cuba. This handy guide provides a two-page list of possible start-up business in Cuba to pique your imagination. BUY and READ Christopher Howard's book now to get a head start.




3. This book is merely a tourist guide, and a bad one. The author makes asumptions like in the future things will change, and things are bound to get better, hardly an investment guide. I have been to Cuba over 30 times, and everyone knows that it is almost impossible to buy property, the few condos that were available to the public were highly overpriced, over $350,000. and any other kind of transaction either rent or sale of housing is illegal and banned.

   The author talks about the excellent health care system, but forgets to mention that medicines and first class services are only accesible to tourists, and none of them compare to the services in the US; if you ever go to regular hospitals, you have to bring your own sheets, syringes swabs and have to look for the prescribed drugs in the black market, since public hospitals cannot afford them.

   The author talks about the affordability of the country, and that's a lie, since everything is available through the black market, everything is overpriced, restaurants and bars of average quality are overpriced,take the Tocororo restaurant where your bill might go as high as $50.00 per person without wine and the restaurant is of average quality compared to those in the US or Mexico, drinks are expensive in the clubs, take the one in the hotel Comodoro where one beer costs 8.00 dollars and one mojito costs 10.00

   The author talks about some cracks having appeared in the political system due to a poor economy, but it still has a stable government. There was famine for Gods sake in 1994, those are not cracks and the governments stability is due to repression of its own people, sure as a foreigner you are treated nicely and courteously, but the repression of the beautiful Cuban people is a fact hard to overlook.

   When the author talks about the people he says that they prefer the urban lifestyle, about 70% live in cities. That's because there is no access to dollars in the country, and therefore no access to black market goods like milk, beef or cheese, and farmers risk being jailed by going to the city to struggle to make a living and get some dollars for their families, that's why we see the prostitution of the "Guajiras".

   In another chapter the author writes about "Finding Companionship" and the fame of Cuban women's "Derires" maybe he tried to say derrière. Pathetic. He also states that these women tend to be more devoted to the North American males than to Cuban males since they find them (Cubans) too macho, I'd like to see Mr Howard's credentials in order to make that statement that seems derogatory from all sides.

   When he talks about investments his ignorance shines, making business in Cuba is one of the hardest things to do given the bureocracy, sure he gives a list of good bussines ideas, what he doesn't tell you or he doesn't know is that most of these ideas are forbidden by the Cuban government. Cuba's government wants you doing business directed to exportations or tourist services, he doesn't want you meddling with the local consumer, and if you invest in tourism they only want you to invest in big projects with them as an equal partner, they don't want you setting up a small restaurant or bar or cafe, the government wants you there only if you mean big business, and that means anything over a million dollars, otherwise visit as a tourist.

   I don't mean to criticize Cuba, I mean to criticize a book that seems like a ... leaflet. Cuba even with all its shortcomings is still to me one of the greatest destinations in the world, and I wouldn't give it up for any of the other great resort projects of the world, its charm and style are unique as well as its people, but this book will only confuse and deceive and form an opinion in its readers of a country that has nothing to do with what is described inside its pages, investment wise and living wise. Really it has nothing to do with it.




4. If the book didn't read like a high school term paper I would have given it five stars. The information contained in the book is very insightful. I just had a hard time with the poor grammer and spelling. I'm no english professor, but this was really bad. I felt like I was reading something written by a fifteen year old. Not only did the editor not run a spell check he didn't even proof read it.

   If you can get past the poor writing style this book will be well worth your money if you are thinking of moving to Cuba. It is obvious though that the author was not a business major. So don't expect too much about investing in Cuba.




5. The author is definitely ahead of his time. This guide will come in handy as soon as things open up in Cuba. It will give anyone interested in living or investing there a head start. It's only a question of time before the embargo ends and the moment comes for people to take advantage of all of the "golden" opportunities Cuba will have to offer. This book or an updated version in the same format will be exactly what one needs to make the move and succeed. Bravo! Bravo!

No comments about Costa Rica: A Geographical Interpretation in Historical Perspective (Dellplain Latin American Studies).

No comments about Golden Door to Retirement & Living in Costa Rica: Costa Rica the Golden Door to Retirement and Living.

3 comments about Footprint Costa Rica Handbook.

1. (Planeta.com Journal) - This guide distinguishes itself with beautiful photos and a healthy respect for the needs of the ecotourist. Well-researched and well-written, the book is highly recommended. Independent travellers will find practical advice and tips for all budgets, organized tours will find good local information to get the best from their stay.



2. Without a doubt, "Footprint" is the best mass-market ecotourist guide available for Costa Rica. Another superior book that will also interest ecotourists, conservationists, amateur naturalists and history buffs, who wish to learn more about this irresistible country is, "Costa Rica: The Last Country The Gods Made."



3. In preparing for a four-week trip to Costa Rica I bought three travel guides: Moon Handbook, Lonely Planet and Footprint. Of these, I found Footprint to be the least useful and did not bring it along to Costa Rica. Unlike the other two guides, I found its descriptions of places to stay, eat, and visit to be too brief to get much of a sense of what the places were really like.

4 comments about The Life of Costa Rica.

1. Holding claim to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, I was disappointed that this book did not have more Costa Rican beach shots. I did enjoy the unique perspective of covering the culture from a human standpoint, but I would have enjoyed a little more diversity.



2. If you want a touristic brochure you may want to order something else. But if you want to see the "Life of Costa Rica" and enjoy the natural and human side of this unique country, you'll like it. Going through this book is like telling a great photographer to get the essence of her country and translate it for you in a way you'll enjoy and will want to see again and again. Saying that Costa Rica is just beaches and parrots is like saying that the U.S. is just hot dogs and football. If you want to see what Costa Rica means to a costarican, things you enjoyed or missed while being here, or the things you'll want to see the next time you come, this book is a great start.



3. Costa Rica is a beautiful and complex country with an outlook that is unique in the Americas. It is hopeful, proud, respectful of its natural beauty - and complex and contradictory. I've traveled to Costa Rica several times and I was completely impressed with how the pictures captured Tico life. I think a more powerful testimony, however, was provided by my friend, a Costa Rican living in America for over a decade: When I showed him the book, it brought him to tears with homesickness.

   Few books tell better stories or capture more with pictures.




4. I've been to Costa Rica for seven times in the last five years, and of all the beautiful images unique to Costa Rica, many which are portrayed in this lovely book, why select such an ugly photo for it's cover? The colors of the flag are red white and blue I understand, but I don't want it on my coffee table because of the cover....Ug! It turns me off.

2 comments about Costa Rica '99: The Complete Guide With Beaches, Wildlife, Cloud Forests, Volcanoes and Trips to Panama (Fodor's Gold Guides).

1. Good if your looking for nice hotels although one big inaccuracy. Hotel La Mariposa in Manuel Antonio is not nearly as wonderful as they described it, much nicer hotels are available. Good background info on the country.



2. Hi, I am working at ILISA Spanish Language Institute in San Jose, Costa Rica and I just want to say that this book helps our students a lot by giving them helpful inside information and thus by getting to know all the ins and outs about this fantastic country. Thanks!

No comments about Frommer's Budget Travel Guide: Costa Rica, Guatemala & Belize on $35 a Day (Frommer's $-a-Day Guides).

No comments about Lonely Planet Costa Rica (Lonely Planet Costa Rica (Spanish)).