Local Travel Excursions offers relocation tours and conferences in Central America. Plan your relocation well. Use the experience and knowledge of the experts. Our relocation tours & conferences provide you with accurate information in an enjoyable atmosphere.
2. Table of Contents
Local Travel Excursions
4. Why Relocation Tours
5. The Relocation Process
6. Invest In Your Relocation
7. Why Our Relocation Tour
8. Save Money, Time & Stress
9. First Hand Experiences
10. What Should I Really Expect
11. Visa Programs
12. Group Participation
13. Meet Professionals
14. Meet Locals
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Meet Expats
Experience The Culture
Not In The Books
Invaluable Aspects
Don’t Forget
Bring The Kids
Leave At Home
Add On Tours
Add On Options
Follow Up
Keep In Touch
Leave A Comment
3. Local Travel Excursions, LLC
Karen Walter, Owner
www.LocalTravelExcursions.com
15+ years experience
Operating tours
Training
Event planning
Avid Traveler
Caribbean
Europe
Central & North America
4. Why A Relocation Tour?
• Meet locals
• Meet expats
• Honest feedback
• Meet professionals
• Group participation
• First hand experiences
• Experience the culture
• Save money, time & stress
5. The Relocation Process
The Typical Process
Conduct internet research
Get conflicting information
Get misleading information
Get outdated information
Overspend on visiting on own
Waste time scouting out places
Decide on your wrong location
Make the move
Learn of better suited places
Move again!
Worst case…decide to leave
Typical Results
Waste money
Waste time
Feel isolated
Become unhappy
Trust the wrong people
Overspend on housing
6. Invest In Your Relocation
A relocation tour is an inve$tment. Treat it as such.
Know your tour operator. Are they experienced?
Is your Tour Director interested in your experience?
What transportation is used?
What hotels will be used?
What happens when plans don’t go as planned?
When will you know who you’re traveling with?
ALL great questions. Know before you go!
7. Why Our Relocation Tour?
To identify where you can save costs.
To gain first-hand experience of various cities & towns.
To speak directly with expats who have made the move.
To visit relocation destinations that may fit your lifestyle.
To learn about challenges and solutions to life in Central America.
To experience first-hand the pros & cons of life in Central America.
To connect with others contemplating the same move as you.
To receive accurate information about current procedures and laws.
To gain current information in which to base your relocation decision.
To connect with trusted professionals that can assist you with your move.
8. Save Money, Time & Stress
Let Local Travel Excursions organize your experience.
Save money by utilizing group discounts and insider
professional knowledge.
The time you save on researching hotel rates, selecting
good restaurants, mapping out routes and finding all
of your places of interests will be significant.
Take the stress out of traveling! Enjoy the ride, the
sights and everything that has been planned for you.
9. First Hand Experiences
Our tours will allow you to experience the country first
hand. Shop in the stores. Check out the pharmacies.
Browse the open markets. Talk to locals and those
who have “made the move.”
How will you be received as a foreigner?
Experience the possible challenges. What will be
difficult to deal with…see for yourself.
This you can’t get from a book!
10. What Should I Really Expect?
Can I afford to buy a home?
Will my prescriptions be
available?
Will I be able to find my
specialty groceries?
How expensive will new
furniture be?
Is there assistance for my
banking needs?
Plenty of time to ask questions
as well as explore for yourself!
11. Some Popular Visa Programs Offer :
50% off entertainment (movies, theater, concerts &
sporting events, etc.)
30% off bus, boat, and train fares
25% off airline tickets
30 to 50% off hotel stays
15% off hospital bills
10% off prescription medicines*
20% off medical consultations*
15% off dental and eye exams*
20% off professional and technical services
50% off closing costs for home loans
Restaurant discounts
Importation exemptions
* Unless insurance applies
12. Group Participation
Exploring the unknown is always
better with others. We’re in it together.
Meet others who are considering the same move.
Compare notes with others on your trip.
Establish long-lasting connections.
13. Meet Professionals
We organize meetings with attorneys, realtors,
doctors, business owners and more.
Ask them your questions.
What a great opportunity!
14. Meet Locals
Who knows best about a community?
Those who live there!
Is it safe?
Who’s reputable?
Where are the best deals?
How do locals feel about expats?
What is there to do in the community?
15. Meet Expats
“OK…What’s it really like?” The expats will tell you.
They love to share their stories. They want to help
others learn about their new home. The good
& the bad. They sugar-coat nothing!
Learn from others.
What worked?
What would they do differently? Most say this is the
most valuable aspect of the tour. (We agree.)
17. Not In The Books
Some things you can’t get from books or web
research. You need to experience it!
Warm smiles
Traveling the roads
How you’ll be treated
The real meaning of “mañana”
Panamanian customer service
Communicating with your “skills”
What you’ll really have to live without
18. Invaluable Aspects
Sights you’ll see.
Friends you’ll make.
Cost-saving tips you’ll receive.
Professional connections that you can contact.
19. Don’t Forget
Your sense of adventure!
Come prepared. Bring your questions!
Think safety. Pack your “common sense.”
We will suggest some reading material for you.
Know your relocation budget to be well prepared.
Items that you’ll need from our Suggested Items list.
Most importantly, your excitement!
20. Bring the Kids
More families are relocating with their children.
What a great way to help them adjust to an international
move. When they are part of the exploration, they are
likely to have better adjustments.
Let us know if your young ones
will be accompanying you.
We will make some special
arrangements to help them
enjoy their experience.
21. Leave at Home
Closed minds
Pre-conceived ideas
Unrealistic expectations
Remember, you are in a foreign country with new and
different ways of doing things. Go with the flow.
22. Add On Tours
Take the opportunity to add on one or two leisure
excursions before or after your tour. Catch some R&R
at the beach, try some rafting or hiking or brave a
canopy/zip line day trip. We’ll offer recommendations
& help you get them scheduled.
Or, simply investigate your favorite town in more
depth.
23. Some Add-On Options
Diving
Hiking
Rafting
Fishing
Coffee Tour
Shopping
Bird Watching
Zipline/Canopy
Whale Watching
Museum Tours
Turtle Watching
“Foodie” Tours
Horseback riding
Self-Guided City Tours
Sailing
Island Tours
24. Follow Up
Feel free to reach out to any of the
professionals you met with.
Keep in touch with your tour buddies.
Revisit your initial research data & compare it with
your experiences. Weigh all the pros & cons.
Let us know how we did. Were your questions
answered? Do you know what to expect if you decide
to move? We strive to provide you great service. And,
we’re always looking to improve.