10 years ago Robert Ross sold everything he owned packed up a suitcase, 6 surfboards and his dog and moved to a small surf town called Montañita, Ecuador where he built and operates a large Hotel and Real Estate business @montanitaestates, ME Hotel & Villas - Montañita Estates. Do you want to follow your passion and walk away from your 9-5 corporate job but curious how other people afford to their lives traveling and living in exotic locations? Before, leaving the United States, Robert lived in Los Angeles, worked in financial services and used every vacation for 12 years traveling to exotic surf destinations in Central, South America and Asia scouting the world for the ideal place to live on a beauitful beach and leave his corporate life behind. Today, he focuses his energy on spending every minute of the day on exactly what he wants to do, time with his family, Surfing, Kiting and growing the ME Hotel. A long the way Robert has spent countless hours meeting and talking to others who have traded in their corporate lifestyle to take control of their future enjoying the life of the nomadic traveler and business abroad. Robert seeks to share his experiences and that of others that are doing business while traveling and living abroad on this podcast.
On this Podcast Robert Ross is interviewed by BR Magazine, Ecuador's #1 Online and Printed Magazine for Real Estate based out of Guayaquil. Robert provides an update trends in Montanita, Olon, Manta and Santa Marianita for the Real Estate, Vacation Rental and Hotel industries. Robert includes details on Social Media Strategies, trends with Credit Cards, Channels such as Booking.com, Airbnb and Expedia/Hotels.com. Robert covers in detail the state of the Montanita and Olon markets and compares it to Manta before, during and after the Pandemic. Robert starts the podcast off with a visual tour of the ME Hotel & Villas - Montanita Estates so if you haven't been to visit this is your chance to see the Hotel and Development presented to you on youtube.
Can a $40,000 OceanView Property in Paradise be expensive? $30,000, $20,000? Yes, absolutely. On this Podcast Robert Ross who has lived and travel in a exotic destinations around the world, compares destinations such as Ecuador, Costa Rica, Panama and Nicaragua and talks about the characteristics of properties in exotic locations that can make what seemingly is a cheap property very expensive and what seems like a high price actually a great value. Robert also compares the different investment opportunities up and down Ecuador to Montanita and Olon including the North Coast of Ecuador San Clemente, San Jacinto, Canoa, and Puerto Cayo.
Have you thought about a vacation in the Galapagos? Maybe a Surf Trip? Or after a visit maybe you thought about investing? I've lived in Ecuador 10 years and visited the Galapagos a number of times. Today, you can hear my thoughts on the best way to vacation there, how much it costs and how to do it? Whats a surf trip like to the Galapagos like and how to do it? And lastly information about investing in the Galapagos and why you should steer clear.
Have you thought about leaving your job and escaping to a warm sunny beach but not sure which country to choose? Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, Nicaragua, Mexico, whats the difference?On this episode I got to catch up with an old friend Hagit Gold. I met Hagit 6 years ago when she stopped in Montanita, Ecuador for an extended stay and she has since settled in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica where she has opened a hostel in the jungle just steps from the beach. She also just recently had her first child in Costa Rica. Hagit and I cover a number of different topics including: The difference between the east coast of Costa Rica and Ecuador for price, housing, food, social, real estate, health care, school for young children and more. We also talk in length about the difference between the east coast of Costa Rica (Puerto Viejo) and the west coast of Costa Rica (Tamarindo, Santa Teresa)
In this Interview I get to catch up with Ariel Pellegrino, owner of a giant bar and club in Montanita, Ecuador, Poco Loco. Ariel left Israel in his mid 20s in search of paradise in Latin America. After exploring Mexico, Panama, Nicaragua and Costa Rica he ventured into Ecuador and Montañita and found what he felt like was his new home and built from scratch an enormous business. In this episode Ariel tells us how he picked Montanita over Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Mexico, how he started from scratch, how he built his successful business in paradise, how much he invested, what it costs to start a bar and a few keys to success. This is the full interview of our most popular episode, "$30,000 to build a beach bar in Paradise". Please excuse the questionable audio it was one of my first interviews.
On this Podcast Robert Ross catches up with Raul Cabrera, the most travelled Ecuadorian and Professional Documentarian. Raul through his media company and brand Nomad-A talks about how he turned a passion and dream for travel in the 90s in Guayaquil, Ecuador into a lifelong career as a documentarian pursuing exotic destinations around the world. Raul spent 10 years traveling on shoestring budgets to the most remote destinations in the world (over 92 countries) which ultimately led to meetings with the Pope, Documenting the President of Ecuador and Television Shows back in Ecuador. I was lucky to enough to catch him grounded during the Pandemic to talk about his career, advice for aspiring travelers and documentarians and thoughts on travel destinations.
Its easier than ever to obtain Permanent or Temporary Residency in Ecuador. This week we go through all the different types of residency visas, requirements and costs with Marcos Chiluisa from EcuaAssist, Ecuador's #1 law first for Expat Residency and a specialist in Real Estate law as well.
The first time I heard my friend in New York City had a Shaman in Manhattan and was taking Ayahuasca I was shocked. Then I read more about ceremonies popping up in Silicon Valley for executives and technology companies and gatherings in South Miami amongst friends. As I'm learning more about the demand in the USA for plant medicine I've started to receive a number of friends and guests who visit Montanita, Ecuador in order to try Ayahuasca or other plant medicines such as San Pedro. On this episode I sit down with Roey Klein, owner of the Vikara Retreat Center, a local expert, to learn more about Ayahuasca, Plant Medicine and Transformational Retreats. We talk about:What is Vikara Retreat Center and its history?What is Plant Medicine? Starts minute 10:33The difference between Ayahuasca, San Pedro and PeyoteWhat is an Ayahuasca Retreat and a ceremony like?What is a Shaman and what are they like here in Ecuador?Ayahuasca Tourism dangers and bad experiencesRobert Ross https://www.montanitaestates.com/, robert@montanitaestates.com, Instagram: @montanitaestates @robertxross1 @nomadbusinesspodcast Youtube: Nomad Business & Lifestyle Podcast, ME Hotel & Villas - Montanita EstatesRoey Klein, https://www.vikaralifestyle.com/, Instagram @vikaralifestyle
Have you ever taken a vacation in a beautiful paradise and wondered if you could just stay forever rather than go back to work on Monday? Keith Keller of Mineral Surfboards and La Buena Vida Hotel did just that. In 2004 Keith Keller turned a 30 day surf vacation in the Galapagos into an investment in his dreams when after a short stop in Mainland Ecuador he invested in a piece of land in paradise called Ayampe. Today, Keith and his beautiful family have a thriving hotel business, and is Ecuador's #1 Surf Board Shaper and Manufacturer. In this interview we talk about: How Keith made the leap to buy land in EC from NYC where he was living?Ecuador 15 years ago and how it differed from Costa Rica, culture, price, lifestyle? What it was like starting a hotel in Ecuador, and a later a surfboard factory?What raising children is like in Ecuador? Surfing in Ecuador and assimilating with the localsDreams and aspirations for his new ventures El Nido Hotel & Mineral Surfboards.Robert Ross https://www.montanitaestates.com/, robert@montanitaestates.com, Instagram: @montanitaestates @robertxross1 @nomadbusinesspodcast Youtube: Nomad Business & Lifestyle Podcast, ME Hotel & Villas - Montanita EstatesKeith Keller http://mineralsurfboards.com/, mineralsurfecuador@gmail.com, Instagram @mineralsurfboards.
How much does it really cost to start that tiki bar you've been dreaming about in an exotic beach location? 6 years ago I first met Ariel Pellegrino when he was a young traveler who just moved to Montañita, Ecuador and was riding through town on his new dirt bike. In this episode, I got to catch up with Ariel, and we talk through what it really costs to launch a successful Bar/Restaurant and Night Club in an exotic beach destination like Montañita. Ariel started with virtually nothing, and used a $15,000 investment, a bit of experience and a lot of grit to grow Poco Loco into a club that today hosts 1500 people on any given night. The goal of this podcast is to give our listeners an example and real numbers of the true costs to start their bar or club in paradise. This excerpt from the full length interview includes: How much of an initial investment should you plan for a bar or club in paradise? How much is rent, hourly labor a chef for a bar in paradise? Should you worry about business permits, liquor licenses in your developing world destination? How do you get them and how much do they cost? Strategies for owning, buying, partnering to start your beach bar or club? A typical day and challenges when starting a bar or club in your exotic beach paradise. Robert Ross http://www.montanitaestates.com/, robert@montanitaestates.com, Instagram: @montanitaestates @robertxross1 Ariel Pellegrino, Poco Loco Montañita, Instagram @pocolocomontanita
Since Robert Ross moved to Montañita, Ecuador in 2011 and started his Hotel, Vacation Rentals and Real Estate business the effect of the US Dollarization of the Economy of Ecuador has been significant. On this podcast Robert uses his Economics background to describe the effect of Ecuador's fiscal policy and the US Dollar on the Hotel, Tourism and Real Estate industries. This podcast is an excerpt from a May 2020 panel Robert participated in with EcuaAssist, Ecuador's premier Law First for Expats. The podcast covers: The effect of the US Dollar on Ecuadors Hotel and Real Estate industry as well as Tourism. Overview of how the US dollar affects the demand for tourism from different South American Countries the USA and Europe. A quick discussion of taxes and Permitting comparing Ecuador to the USA. The effect of the Pandemic on the Hotel industry in Ecuador and plans during and after the Pandemic. Robert Ross http://www.montanitaestates.com/, robert@montanitaestates.com, Instagram: @montanitaestates @robertxross1 EcauAssist https://www.ecuaassist.com/, 1-844-532-3282, info@ecuaassist.com
If you want to know what it's is like to do business and raise a family in a foreign country, Garrett Parker is the perfect example. Garrett is an international entrepreneur, developer and real estate agent living in Manta, Ecuador. Over the last 10 years Garrett Parker, President of Ecuadorian Coastal Properties, has been involved in hundreds of commercial and residential real estate transactions in Ecuador. A long the way he has found time to get married to his beautiful wife Mariuxi with whom he has two two small children. Garrett also is an avid surfer traveling the whole country with locals and visiting surfers exploring every part of the coast in search of perfect waves. In my recent full interview with Garrett we cover: The full spectrum of Real Estate questions including, the cost of condos and lots in Ecuador, cost of building a home in Ecuador, and different commercial investment opportunities Garrett has worked on in Ecuador and continues to pursue Differences between the Ecuadorian Real Estate market and buying process vs. the USA. The details of starting and growing a successful real estate career in a foreign country. How did Garrett end up in Ecuador and what it was like to assimilate? Where is Manta, Ecuador and whats it like? Having a family and raising kids in Ecuador. The school system in Ecuador for young children. What a typical day is like for a surfer and entrepreneur in Ecuador. What is next for Garrett and ECP especially after the Pandemic. This interview is a rare opportunity to talk in detail to someone who has deep experience leaving the USA to pursue a dream of living on an exotic beach, starting and growing a business and becoming a father a family man. I hope you enjoy the interview. Robert Ross http://www.montanitaestates.com/, robert@montanitaestates.com, Instagram: @montanitaestates @robertxross1 Garrett Parker http://www.ecuadoriancoastalproperties.com/, garrett@ecuadoriancoastalproperties.com, Instagram: @Ecuadorian_Coastal_Properties
Not many people are willing quit their job, sell everything they own, and move to an exotic beach in a foreign country, but those that do have to manage the added complexity of education once they have children. Garrett Parker of Ecuadorian Coastal Properties, Keith Keller of Mineral Surfboards and Buena Vida Hostel, and Robert Ross from the ME Hotel & Villas - Montañita Estates have unique experience educating young children living in Coastal Ecuador in both rural Montanita and Ayampe or the city of Manta. This podcast includes excerpts from recent interviews with Garrett and Keith and covers: Comparison of education in Ecuador to education system in the USA. How much does private school in coastal Ecuador cost? Review of private schools in Manta, Ecuador. School for young kids in a small rural surf town in Montanita and Ayampe, Ecuador. The age that it was good to have your kids in a small rural surf town. How the education for young children have evolved in these towns. Robert Ross https://www.montanitaestates.com/, robert@montanitaestates.com, Instagram: @montanitaestates @robertxross1. Garrett Parker http://www.ecuadoriancoastalproperties.com/, garrett@ecuadoriancoastalproperties.com, Instagram: @Ecuadorian_Coastal_Properties. Keith Keller http://mineralsurfboards.com/, mineralsurfecuador@gmail.com, Instagram @mineralsurfboards.
Over the last 10 years Garrett Parker, President of Ecuadorian Coastal Properties, has been involved in hundreds of commercial and residential real estate transactions in Ecuador. Garrett Parker is an international entrepreneur, developer and real estate agent living in Manta, Ecuador and in this excerpt from a recent interview we cover in great detail: The cost of Condos and Lots in Ecuador. We dig deep into the cost of building a home in Ecuador. Different commercial investment opportunities Garrett has worked on in Ecuador and continues to pursue. Differences between the Ecuadorian Real Estate Market and Buying Process vs the USA. Horror stories of buying properties in Ecuador. The changes in the market due to the Pandemic and new opportunities. This is a deep dive into a subject that only experience in the market can provide and Garrett Parker is the best person in all of Ecuador to provide this insight. Robert Ross www.montanitaestates.com, robert@montanitaestates.com, Instagram: @montanitaestates @robertxross1 Garrett Parker http://www.ecuadoriancoastalproperties.com/, garrett@ecuadoriancoastalproperties.com, Instagram: @Ecuadorian_Coastal_Properties
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