JamesB

In my opinion, nothing beats the boots-on-the-ground approach. Moving to a foreign country is a significant and costly decision, so I recommend visiting the place yourself. Remember, visiting as a tourist is very different from living there. Go to the supermarket and check the prices of the products you consume. Hire a driver to take you around different neighborhoods and towns to find where you would feel comfortable living. Then, check out local real estate sites for prices in those areas. You may even want to visit a few rental properties (always rent first in a new country) to see them in person. Talk to locals to get an idea of the costs of utilities like electricity, gas, phone, and internet. Visit both public and private hospitals to understand the quality and cost of medical care. Explore the available transportation options and determine which suits you best, then check their prices. Get quotes for health insurance and any other necessary insurance, such as home or car insurance. This will give you a more realistic picture of the cost of living.

I haven't personally used either site, but I'm interested in using them in the future. Based on your experience, which site do you think is better, Dayuse or Hotelsbyday?

While this might give a rough idea of the cost of living in another country, in my experience, it is not a reliable source. Many of the figures are either misleading or outright incorrect.

Bump

He is really cute.

I would say yes: https://rent.men/ElVengador

Asian gang, Eastern European gang, and now Colombian gang. This is getting more interesting by the day.

He has two reviews on the same day from two accounts that were created either that day or the day before. 🚩🚩🚩

If you click the provider's phone number while logged in, that should be enough for approval. Alternatively, you can send a message to the Webmaster with a screenshot of some of your conversation with the provider, and they will publish your review.

I'm the same way. I do all my browsing while logged out. I only log in if I want to send a message to a provider, communicate with another client, or leave a review.

Really? Your argument is that “I sound flaky”? Have a great day.

Of course, it only benefits the provider. There's no difference between an appointment made with a provider who requires a deposit and one with a provider who doesn't. Unless you truly believe that a provider who might flake on you will change their behavior just because you paid a deposit.

I’m not sure exactly what you find not to be true in my statement, but regardless, as long as the vast majority of providers don't ask for a deposit, I choose not to pay one.

My issue with deposits is that they only benefit the provider, offering no protection to the client. Deposits place all the risk on the client, creating an undesirable unilateral condition.

Working for me. I’m using Chrome.

A local Italian restaurant I used to frequent began charging a 4% fee for credit card transactions. Since I typically carry very little cash and don't like the inconvenience of having to use cash to pay a restaurant bill, I decided to stop going there. Apparently, I wasn't the only one who felt this way, as I learned that a few months later, they stopped charging the fee.

As I mentioned in another thread, I believe the tipping culture in the US is getting out of hand. Nowadays, a tip is expected for almost everything. The other day, I went to a self-serve counter that sells snacks and soft drinks. I grabbed some chips and a Coke, and when I got to the self-checkout, there was an option for tipping. Who am I tipping, myself? I've also been to a couple of places where the tip was already included in the bill, and there was a tip line. I understand that Orlando sees many international visitors who might not be aware of the local tipping culture, but it feels like they’re hoping people won't notice and will add a full tip on top. I'm not saying this is definitely the case, but it certainly feels that way to me. In those situations, I choose not to leave any additional tip. The way I see it, the establishment has already decided on and set the expected tip amount. Even if it's lower than what I usually tip, that’s all they get.

I'm curious, what makes you think "the reviews are obvious fakes"? I'm not arguing; I just want to understand and learn. By the way, he just got another one.

Have you tried the new Rmass website? What are your thoughts on it? https://beta.rentmasseur.com/

I'm very interested as well. He has four reviews that seem legitimate in a very short time. His ad doesn't include a phone number, so there's no way to verify that.

I don't have experience living in Vietnam, but I've been living part-time in Panama for the last 16 years. During this time, I've seen many expats, particularly from the USA and Canada, come and go. They usually stay for 1-2 years before returning home. There are various reasons for this, and here are the most common ones from my perspective: While it is true that you can live in Panama for about $1,500 a month, this is not comparable to Western standards. Many expats move here thinking it will be like living in Florida for a fraction of the price, but they quickly realize this is not the case. For reasons I have never understood, most expats from the USA and Canada are unable or unwilling to learn the language. This leads to feelings of isolation and frustration when dealing with everyday issues. Healthcare is another major reason. If you are over 60, it is almost impossible to get health insurance. If you are younger, you can get coverage, but not for any pre-existing conditions. While you can pay out of pocket for most healthcare needs, a major health issue will likely require returning home, trust me on this one. Additionally, adapting to the local culture can be challenging. Many expats expect things to work the same way and within the same timeframe as they do back home. This is not the case, and adjusting to the new culture requires time and understanding. Of course, there are other reasons as well, but in my opinion, these account for about 80-90% of the cases.

I agree completely. He's a really nice guy, even better looking in person, and very willing to go the extra mile.

Wait, what? Are you sure about that? I never understood it to have anything to do with drugs.

I have firsthand knowledge of a provider that will give 50% off your next appointment in exchange for a 5 star review.

Exactly my experience as well.