Capricorn1
12/17/2019 15:22 EST
Hi Folks,
My wife and I are moving to Ecuador in the spring and would like some suggestions on location(s). We are retired. We will be visiting there in March to stay for a month or two and have the following questions...
(1) Where should we center our initial stay to maximize (optimize) our city searches for relocation?
(2) My wife has bad knees and can't walk very well. We won't have a car.
Are there cities that are easy to get around to for grocery shopping, churches,hospitals etc that are a simple bus or cab ride from your apartment?
(3) We would like to stay at an altitude no higher than 5,000 feet. We would like a recommendation on such cities with apartments no more that $1,000/month furnished. Your suggestions welcome keeping Items 1 and 2 in mind.
Thanks for your help.
John W.
Dallas,TX
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28204km
12/17/2019 17:42 EST
Truth is if the wife has bad knees don't even think about moving to Ecuador. Most sidewalks are in terrible shape with big holes and uneven cracks. Even people with good knees have tripped and fell on sidewalks ending up in the hospital. Most places that have more than a ground floor don't have any elevators either. When you are in crowded areas people are pushing and shoving so it would be hard for her to keep her balance. Ecuador is not a place for any handicapped people to be.
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desertcogo
12/18/2019 05:25 EST
I can attest that what you say is true.
The sidewalks here are nothing like the United States. Everyone needs to pay attention when walking here because of cracks and holes in the sidewalks but also dips and rises that could cause you to fall. I'm retired but my wife still works and she takes the bus to and from work each day. She has been pushed to the ground because of people pushing and shoving to get on or off the bus.
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kmarch
12/18/2019 07:59 EST
"Cities that are easy to get around for grocery shopping, churches, hospitals etc that are a simple bus or cab ride from your apartment below 5,000 ft." where you can live without much walking . . . .
You are limited to a city with plentiful cheap public transportation - like the coastal cities of Guayaquil, Manta, Salinas, or inland Loja (6,750 feet).
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kmarch
12/18/2019 07:59 EST
"Cities that are easy to get around for grocery shopping, churches, hospitals etc that are a simple bus or cab ride from your apartment below 5,000 ft." where you can live without much walking . . . .
You are limited to a city with plentiful cheap public transportation - like the coastal cities of Guayaquil, Manta, Salinas, or inland Loja (6,750 feet).
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Capricorn1
12/19/2019 10:04 EST
Hi There KMarch,
Thanks for your reply,
In the cities mentioned (Salinas, Manta etc), are there apartments available in about $1000/mo range? Is there a good website for apartmenta rental in these cities?
John W.
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kmarch
12/19/2019 11:22 EST
John - You shouldn't have any problem finding even short term rentals with a $1,000/month budget. That's a lot of $$ in Ecuador.
I would start with AirBnB website or VRBO - Vacation Rentals by owner.
Salinas should be the easiest to find an apartment because it is touristy.
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Capricorn1
12/19/2019 12:29 EST
Hi kmarch,
Thanks again,
How about a website for long duration apartment rentals (12 month,24 month) as we are about to retire there
John W.
Dallas,Texas
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kmarch
12/19/2019 14:40 EST
John -
I'm afraid you'll be stuck shopping for an apartment online city by city.
There is no good general website for all of Ecuador.
There is no MLS type listing service and many 'realtors' have their own stable of properties for sale or for rent that other
'realtors' will not be aware of.
Sometimes it's even a good idea to walk around a desired neighborhood looking for a sign in the window.
I know this is not the easy answer you were hoping for - - but as they say, "T.I.E." - - This is Ecuador. :)
Join all the FB groups in the cities or towns you are interested in. Word of mouth is sometimes a great source also.
Good luck to you both,
Ken March
[email protected]
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Explorer88
12/29/2019 18:13 EST
Mobility problems and avoidance of altitude does not bode well for an Ecuadorian residence.
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