Tim Leffel: The picture is definitely changing and as other nationalities are discovering the great real estate bargains in some parts, prices are rising. Costa Rica hasn't been a deal for a long time: the coastal areas there only look cheap now if you're comparing them to California or Florida. The interior is not so bad though. Panama's prices are rising rapidly because of a huge influx of business-oriented Venezuelans getting away from Chavez, especially in the capital. Belize is not as far along on the development curve and there are still plenty of bargains, especially once you get off of Ambergris Caye.

Most expatriates living in Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua will tell you that they feel as safe or safer there than they do in the U.S. and it's not like there's still a civil war going on anywhere. Most of the crime is in urban areas, where you aren't likely to live as an expat anyway. I have a house in Mexico and people ask me all the time, "Is it safe?" Well compared to the crime stats in my average U.S. city, it's VERY safe. The best bet for getting the real story is to subscribe to International Living or at least keep an eye on the articles in EscapeArtist.com. If you see a book or e-book written by someone who has moved there and is sharing what they know, it is often worth buying it to save yourself some time in the research process. Most of these countries offer different incentives for retiring there if you can document a steady monthly income, which you will be able to do. Plus the economies are tied to the dollar, so everyday costs will still be the same or far less than you pay at home overall and you can afford domestic help and entertainment that you wouldn't be able to afford at home.

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Memphis, Tenn.: My friend just returned from Belize and loved it. Now I want to travel to Central America. Here are my questions: How would you compare Guatemala and Costa Rica? What have your favorite experiences been in both countries? How do those countries differ from Mexico—including costs? I'm fascinated by the Maya culture. What Maya sites would your recommend? Thank you, Lisa T

Tim Leffel: Guatemala is about a third of the price of Costa Rica, yet in many ways has more going for it. You have the jungles, the volcanoes, and the adventure activities, but then you also have what is perhaps the grandest Maya site anywhere (Tikal) and what many would say is the most attractive Spanish Colonial city in the Americas (Antigua). There are also lots of smaller Maya ruins scattered around if you have the time to explore. Here's an article I wrote about a Family vacation in Guatemala.

The advantages of Costa Rica are an even greater diversity of wildlife, a huge supply of naturalists and professional guides, and beaches. You'll pay more, but everything will run smoothly and on time. They are far ahead on the tourism development scale. That can be a negative too of course: some places can feel like tourism factories.

Costa Rica's costs are in general higher than those in Mexico. Not outrageous, but you don't find yourself saying "What a deal!" very often. On the plus side, it's the cleanest country around and the one that takes the environment the most seriously. You can even drink the water (though I got sick in Costa Rica and didn't in Guatemala—go figure.)

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Palm Desert, Calif.: Greetings Tim, My wife (55) and I (65) are transitioning in June and wish to spend Jan, Feb & maybe March exploring perhaps Ecuador and/or Chile and/or Uruguay with the possible intention of spending longer periods of time in one of these locations in the future. Suggestions/considerations are welcome. Respectfully, Eric & Mindy

Tim Leffel: Spend some time nosing around the expatriate sites and articles for those countries and you may want to look for books about what it's like living abroad there. You probably won't find one on Uruguay, but one of the partners at International Living has a home there, which says a lot. Chile and Uruguay are more European and (dare I say) "cultured" than many other parts of the Americas, so it would be less of a shock to move there. Ecuador is more Andean, but is going to present all kinds of opportunities to live well for less and the slow pace attracts a lot of people.

Your gut is probably going to tell you where you want to end up though. You never know how a place really feels until you spend some time there. Be sure to look up expatriates who have already moved there when you visit. Have lunch or a few glasses of wine and get the straight scoop on the downsides. If you can visit when the weather is at its worst, even better. That will give you the best sense of what can and will go wrong with your new utopia.

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Washington, D.C.: Hi there! My boyfriend and I (both 26 and experienced travelers) are headed to Mexico City and the surrounding areas from May 22-27. We're both comfortable Spanish-speakers, and want to eat our way through as many food carts as possible. Our plan as of now is basically as much of the D.F. as we can fit in, the pyramids, and perhaps a day trip to puebla. Any off the beaten track suggestions for us?

Tim Leffel: Many foodies start salivating at the thought of eating in Mexico City, so I'm sure your taste buds will have a great time. My one recommendation, only slightly off the beaten track, is to go five miles past Teotihuacán to the ruins of Tula, the capital of the Toltecs. It not nearly as crowded as its more famous neighbor, even at peak times. Bone up on Talavera pottery before heading to Puebla so you'll know what to look for in terms of judging quality. And you could always go to a wrestling match at Arena Mexico. Gotta love those costumes...

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Albuquerque, N.M.: I want to go to the Monarch Butterfly migratory site in Mexico, where the butterflies winter from November thru March, as a woman alone. I need information on the safest way to get there, what tour operators to trust, any contact websites etc. & where to stay. I will be planning to go for the next migratory season. Looking forward to your reply. Thanks! Cyd