Sir James Goldsmith still looms large in the Costalegre region of Mexico, between Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo. His legacy touches all the high-end resorts in the area and some are connected to his different offspring, including Las Alamandas and Hacienda San Antonio in Colima.

Cuixmala was a great Goldsmith mansion in a nature reserve that was once only available as a private rental. Now it is an intimate retreat open to individual guests—but still requires some deep pockets for the air of exclusivity.

Cuixmala’s magic lies in its pristine natural setting. On an early morning lagoon tour in an electric boat you can spot Roseate spoonbills, blue herons and dozens of other birds and butterflies. Coatimundi, wild boars and endangered jaguars are said to roam the land far from Goldsmith’s luxurious tile-domed palace. The beach is somewhat secondary, given the attractions on land. Caleta Blanca, Cuixmala’s secluded beach club with palm-shaded hammocks, cushioned lounges, and clear, calm water is a 15-minute drive north, and there’s a smaller beach on the property. But the most enjoyable activity (other than hours of blissful relaxation) is a horseback ride or Jeep tour through the property.

Lodging choices range from casitas with a view to the main house with private pool and butlers, at the tune of 10 grand a night. Naturally, you can fly in with your own plane and land on a private airstrip.

See our full detailed review of Cuixmala in Mexico.

In a move designed to lure more Americans to Costa Rica, the country is designating certain areas with good medical facilities to be “retirement clusters.” The country wants to better compete with Panama and Mexico, both destinations that have lured lots of retirees with the combination of lower costs and good hospitals.

The Tico Times reported the story back in February (see a reprint here), so I’m late to the party on this, but it has interesting ramifications for the future. Anecdotal evidence says foreign investment in Costa Rica has declined during this recession, especially in areas where the property bubble had spread south. This government program aims to spread out that investment to more areas. The zones include Lake Arenal, Miramar, Cartago, and Rincon de la Vieja in Guanacaste. According to this story on Mathaba, getting residency should become easier.

The concept is simple, and includes slashing red tape to the minimum by providing one-stop residence permits at the Migration Directorate, so that foreigners, especially the well-heeled, can come to live in the country. Tax exemptions on real estate and vehicles are on offer, and a promotional campaign aimed at older adults abroad will be run by the Costa Rican Institute of Tourism (ICT).

Time will tell whether the plans turn to reality and whether there is longevity in the mix. Costa Rica was the first country to launch big incentives for foreign retirees, but the country has become less attractive over time as those incentives were removed and real estate prices kept rising. If this program actually works, it could turn things around.

Don’t pull a House Hunters International move though and just fly down for a weekend to buy a house. Spend some time in a Costa Rica rental first and do your homework. Keep in mind too that the U.S. dollar is at its lowest exchange rate in two years in Costa Rica, which may limit your bargaining power for anything sold by a local company. Take your time.

Get info here on luxury travel in Costa Rica.

Last year I interviewed one of our business partners, Jamie Schectman, about renting a house in the Bariloche region of Patagonia. Jamie and his wife are American, but for the past few years they’ve been watching some of the world’s most incredible sunrises and sunsets over the Andes Mountains from their home beside the lake.

A new business opportunity is calling them from the bottom of the Earth to the top and they are making plans to return to Alaska. They are putting their amazing property up for sale and if my life situation were different I’d be tempted to buy it myself. Listed at $379,000 it includes land, three separate homes, and priceless views.

“Located in the exclusive Llao Llao neighborhood, outside of Bariloche, Patagonia, Argentina, this impressive property includes three houses. All enjoy their own amazing vistas of Lake Nahuel Huapi, Victoria Island, the Andean Crest and Chile, as well as individual privacy, private parking, and fenced landscaping with native trees and wildflowers.”

The two additional houses generated $21,000 of income last year through Bariloche Vacation Rentals. If you didn’t live there full time you could rent out the main house as well.

See the full scoop, with lots of photos, at this Patagonia View investment property page. There’s clear title, minimal closing costs, rental permits in place, and few hassles to purchasing here. To see what life has been like in this spot for the couple, see the Living in Patagonia blog.

Most of the luxury hotels we feature are full-service affairs since, as we’ve said many times, it’s the staff attention that really separates a great hotel from an average one. There are times, however, when you want something that falls somewhere between a villa rental and a straight hotel. You want a kitchen and plenty of space, but a staff that’s there to serve you drinks and clean up each day. And maybe you don’t want to stay there for a whole week.

In laid-back Belize, these condo hotels work quite well, so we’ve featured two of them. A while back we posted a review of Chabil Mar Villas, a place I visited myself by just walking down the beach from Turtle Inn. It’s got the most dramatic beachfront, the largest rooms, and the most in-room amenities in Placencia. For a family, this is really a more sensible choice than Robert’s Grove or Turtle Inn.

We just added another place that fits that description: Phoenix Resort in Ambergris Caye. This place “has many of the same top-notch amenities that other Ambergis Caye resorts do, with the additional convenience of being within short walking distance to San Pedro’s restaurants, stores and nightclubs.” And of course more room, with a full living room and kitchen.

These two hotels will probably never end up on any glossy magazine’s “Hot List” or fill a wall with awards, but if your idea of pampering is a full-size fridge and a concierge equivalent to give you the scoop on everything in town, they’re great vacation spots.

See other reviews of the best hotels in Belize.

Michael Brown is half of the partnership of Mead Brown, a boutique vacation rental firm serving Costa Rica. The company offers private villas and homes plus premium condominiums for those who expect excellent value, personal service and supremely comfortable accommodations. Co-founders Mark Mead and Michael Brown once enjoyed successful careers in the U.S. working with the likes of princes, presidents, celebrities and sports stars. We asked Michael about the appeal of Costa Rica and what makes Mead Brown the go-to company for travel in this popular destination.

Tell us where your Costa Rican rental villas are located and how your clients get there from North America.
Mead Brown villas are located in Los Sueños Golf Resort and Marina, Manuel Antonio, and the lively beach town of Jaco. Guests fly into Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) in San Jose and then transfer by private Mercedes van or helicopter.

What are the draws of this region and the developments where you have properties available?
People are attracted to Costa Rica specifically for the adventure; for the flora and fauna. Because Costa Rica is such a relatively narrow bridge of land connecting North and South America, the country has a remarkable abundance of nature. Costa Rica boasts more than 1,000 species of butterflies and 1,300 types of orchids. Sixty-five world-record fish have been caught here. Beaches, rainforests, and the championship, par-72 golf course designed by Ted Robinson, Jr. in Los Sueños are all draws.

(Punto de Vista in Manuel Antonio)

What makes these rental properties ideal for a vacation or honeymoon?
For the price of a hotel room, one can have a spacious 1-, 2- or 3-bedroom condo with the amenities of a hotel and the space found in a private home, including a fully-equipped kitchen, plus washer and dryer! All Mead Brown vacation rentals include daily housekeeping and wireless Internet. Some even have room service from a close-by hotel. Spend less, and get a greater value at every price point.

Continued – Full Mead Brown interview here