Moving to El Salvador

I am considering moving to El Salvador next year, and i am looking for any helpful hints, tips, etc. Im going to need a cell phone internet, etc and i need to now how much money i should bring for about 4 months also i am a photographer so i an looking for great photo opprotunites also. Any help is appreciated, thank you

I know a great place you can rent if you need a good apartment in San Salvador. Most U.S. cell phones will work over there, all you need to do is change the chip on the back of the phone. If your interested in the apartment e mail me at platosymas@yahoo.com.Internet is $50/month and thats broadband.Prices of food is the same as here and clothing and shoes probably cost more. Gas prices are about 25% more than here, so its not cheap unless you leave outside the city which is quite dangerous. It doesn't make much sense but thats how it is over there.You can save money by shopping at markets in the street,buying food at small cafeteria and things of that nature but I would not suggest it since its not healthy at all. Hope this helps and be safe. God bless.
Elias

greg wrote:

I am considering moving to El Salvador next year, and i am looking for any helpful hints, tips, etc. Im going to need a cell phone internet, etc and i need to now how much money i should bring for about 4 months also i am a photographer so i an looking for great photo opprotunites also. Any help is appreciated, thank you

I was traveling in El Salvador two weeks ago. I found that the clothing, etc, at the shopping mall in San Salvador about half price or than what we pay on the East Coast. I did volunteer work at Kings Castle near Lake Coatepeque. It is very beautiful in El Salvador, but is one of the most unsafe countries, besides South Africa, that I have ever done volunteer work. Gangs are prevalent in the area. As there are no gun laws, many El Salvadorians carry guns for protection or machetti. The bus system is privately own by individuals, and quite often the buses are robbed two and three times sometimes in a day. The public transportation is not safe. Indeed, be careful.

I'm sorry I can not give you any help, but I know ES is a very beautiful country and would love to live there someday. Good luck, you will be sure to find many beautiful things to photograph..and don't forget the pupusas!

I actually grew up there and lived there until i my mid teens.
Some of the prev comments are not entirely true,
There is a strong national police force (I have friends that are in the "force" in ES), an incredible contrast from "the days" I grew up in when you couldnt trust the govt. At any rate is safer now, though not 100% thanks to big operatives to "Cleanse" ES of these "rejects" that have returned to ES to bring a gangster lifestyle that salvadorans have never experienced.
I will add that Im dissapointed in the "dollarization" of ES, this has created an influx of higher poverty levels, as prices have gone through the roof, thus creating a more unstable economy and place to visit....bad for tourism. La Libertad (popular beach )still a great place to catch some surf and have some great mariscos (seafood). Last time I was there was in 04. God bless and enjoy.

P.S You can eat at most outside eateries, Id stay away from the water, and street vendors...my wife (from US) found out the hard way.:)

you will have fun, but after 45 years and returning for the second time. as a natural citizen let me say: be polite, friendly, always greet people with a smile and a salutation for the time of day. avoid confrontations with the police, since they do not need probable cause to arrest you or search you. do not go out after 7pm unless you are well accompanied and have a short and direct destination. avoid down town (the city), do not get caught on the outskirts or in mountain regions late at night. many middle class homes look for extra cash, maybe they will rent you a nice room with hot water. have fun

I plan on moving there the end of summer and I have done some research and I have family over there that has lived there their entire life so there is crime and things like that but also take a look outside your window or farther out throughout America and you can find the same thing if not worse. We now seem to go for little kids and decide to kill our children instead of protect them, so yes there is crime but you also live in a crime filled country that has no boundries. And too CCN:

"Guns: El Salvador has strict laws requiring a locally obtained license to possess or carry a firearm in the country. The Embassy strongly advises persons without a Salvadoran firearms license not to bring guns into the country or use a firearm while in El Salvador. During a three-month period in 2006, three U.S. citizens were arrested in separate incidents for firearms violations. In each instance, the individuals complied with airline procedures, declared the firearm on a Customs form upon arrival at El Salvador's Comalapa International Airport, and were allowed to depart the airport without hindrance. However, when the individuals returned to the airport and declared the weapons to airline employees, they were arrested by Salvadoran police, not for violating aviation regulations but for having carried an unlicensed firearm while in El Salvador. The Embassy cannot intervene in the judicial process when a U.S. citizen is charged with a firearms violation. Conviction for possessing an unlicensed firearm can carry a prison sentence of three-to-five years."

I think you will find lots of beautiful things to photograph, I was born there and move to the U.S. in my teens and when I went back as an adult I decided I was going back as a tourist, I hired a person my cousin recommended to be my guide mostly because he grew up there and knew the country very well. I went to many places that were so incredible and breath taken, most definately don't travel at night by yourself and wear many expensive items, if you take public transportation don't wear clothing with loose pockets, that is an easy way for anyone to take your wallet. There is a lot to do in the city, the beaches are beautiful and peaceful, La costa del sol. Drink bottle water and try to stay away from eating the food from street vendors, it does look delicious and cheap but not healthy.

It is expensive now that the currency is in dollars. You may find a cheap place to rent.

For lots of info about the country read Tim's El Salvador blog at http://luterano.blogspot.com

Does anyone out there know of any good organizations to volunteer with in El Salvador? Say in various community service/construction areas?

Well, I see there are many people that don't know the real problematic about my country El Salvador. The public transport is really dangerous, but at all pending where you get pass your time. The Zona Real, behind to the Hotel Real Intercontinental is a good option. If you need a cheap hotel near you have Hotel Miramonte.
But tell me, there are a country without thieves or criminals? More information... theblues_jrr@hotmail.com

im going to ES for 10 days, how much money should i take?