****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
*Becoming an Expat: Ecuador* talks about the requirements for becoming a legal resident of Ecuador, describes regions of the country that a person might want to consider, explores ways a non-retired person might find work or start a business, points out obscure laws that would be useful to know, and much more.Here’s a basic list of what she covers in the book:-- Overall picture of the country, history, culture, safety, economy, environment, climate, etc.-- The basic facts on immigration options, paperwork required, etc.-- A complete overview of all the regions of the country, what it is like there, which areas are most expat-friendly, etc.-- A full overview of the cost of living in Ecuador, from housing to transportation to medical care and more-- Logistics of moving to Ecuador including mail, banking, moving with pets, required documents, international moving companies, electronics and applications you might wish to bring/have with you in Ecuador, etc.-- The process of finding a home to rent or buy, paperwork to expect and how to set everything up-- How to buy a car in Ecuador, and what to expect for insurance, etc.-- Considerations when moving with children, including lists of schools, safety concerns, and some great ideas for acclimating the kids to Ecuador-- Options for creating a business in Ecuador, including important legal and cultural considerations-- Other options for finding work/creating an income while in Ecuador-- Tax considerations for expats in Ecuador-- Ideas for free lodging-- Considerations for retirees, including healthcare options and taking opportunities for learning fun new skills, finding activities, staying active, learning Spanish, and more-- A special section on seasonal expats and the logistics of living away from home for months at a time, including property management and travel insurance-- A description of the culture shock you will go through when you move-- A list of slang words and useful phrases that will be good to know in Ecuador-- A big list of tips and advice from other expats to Ecuador-- Packing tips for moving your household items to EcuadorOf course, when you are ready to make the leap I strongly urge you to double-check the current facts since laws and policies can change at any time. Shannon wrote this book in the latter half of 2014.Shannon writes in a very conversational tone with an edge of humor. If you’ve listened to her "Becoming an Expat" podcast, you’ll soon recognize her personal style shining through in her writing. Despite the occasional typo or malapropism, Shannon has a way with words and is very fun to read.There is a good reason that *Becoming an Expat: Ecuador* has all 4- and 5-star reviews here on Amazon, except for the two so far who left two-star reviews, saying:1. "I don't know why I bought it ... I am not becoming an expat...I am going on a vacation there." Seriously? That's a reflection of the reviewer's ignorance and/or oversight of the word "expat" which is prominently displayed on the cover of the book, not the content of the book... and2. "Next time, please check that the pages are printed correctly. Half my book has left pages that have large blank spaces from top to bottom, vertically." Hm, that sounds like a printer error, not a problem with the content of the book. (Shannon then showed great customer service by replying right away and offering to make it right by sending another copy to the customer.)Overall I found *Becoming an Expat: Ecuador* to be extremely honest, comprehensive and informative. It will answer many of the questions people may have about what it would be like to move to Ecuador. I would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone considering a move to anywhere in Ecuador!
