Something about this video is different and I LIKE IT!!! Please consider doing Country/City Briefings. Best/Wealthiest neighborhoods/ Best neighborhoods and gathering spots for Nomads. Your favorite restaurants/lounges/tea houses. And then... the "insider" information that you gave at the end of this video. Very nice. You know you have a huge following and you can capitalize on this info, where currently we go to your competitors for this sort of thing. I'm guessing only a small percentage of viewers go on to become paying clients, so don't hold back. Why not make revenue off of more eyeballs? Think of your Merry Band of Bond Girls in the office as being our very own Moneypenny.... telling us what we need to know to have a successful "mission."
And BTW, some demographic groups (retirees for instance) would gladly trade the nonstop consumer culture for safety and order. I can remember life in Netherlands when stores were open only during set hours and you planned accordingly. So my guess is many of your viewers might appreciate what Montevideo has to offer. I still practice Siesta, though in Manhattan, I may be alone in this respect. Waking up from a nap to slip into cocktail hour sounds perfect to me! ha! :)
- Yes, I would go. Need to know more about Covid restrictions. Is there hunting? Restrictions on land ownership? More on politics. If I need an AK-47 beside the breakfast table... If I want 24/7, I will travel. I would like to know more about Columbia and Ecuador, Belize and Costa Rica comparisons pls.
Quiet, boring, middle class, safe, nature (beach and country), good climate…. Yes that’s Uruguay “the place to be”. We Uruguayan like it just like that.
As someone who's travelled there, I would preface anybody's opinion, including Andrew's, with "it depends on what you're looking for?" I believe Andrew is more of a cosmopolitan city dweller and therefore is looking at the cities etc and what they have to offer. Absolutely nothing wrong with that. But for me -- I prefer the quiet country life. For instance, I would feel right at home buying a ranch somewhere and just herding cattle for the rest of my life. I travelled to Uruguay in 2008 from Panama (where I was living at the time) with a view to move there instead. After a 6-week visit, I decided to stay in Panama. However, there were a couple of big pluses in Uruguay. IMHO the #1 advantage I found were the women. If you're single and looking for a girlfriend / wife, this is the place for you. Uruguay is one of the better Latin American countries for this pursuit. The women here are both beautiful and well-educated, as Uruguay has free education right up to Ph.D. level. Another plus was street level corruption ... that is, the lack thereof. Unlike Panama where you'll find the police expecting bribes if you just look at them funny, in Uruguay this practice is non-existent. In fact, like Canada/USA, if you try to bribe a police officer in Uruguay, you will find yourself arrested. The two big downsides for me was firstly the time to travel back to Canada - a whopping 14 hours vs. only 5 hours from Panama City - at that time in my life, I needed to be able to get back to Canada in case of a family emergency in less than 6 hours. Secondly, unlike Andrew, who maybe only visited the bigger cities, I often found my limited Spanish tested ... though maybe it's different 13 years on??? In Panama, you will always find someone in any store that speaks English but not in Uruguay! (I can get by in Spanish but I do prefer my native tongue, as I think, does everyone else!) I toured around Uruguay extensively, visiting the entire coast from Chuy to Carmelo and then drove up to Concordia via Paysandu. I then came back down through the interior through towns like Young and Durazno. So yes I saw I lot. And yes ... in some hotels outside PdE and MVD you'll find bilingual staff but not English "bilingual" - they speak Spanish and Portuguese. But as a country lover (rather than a city dweller), I really liked some of the places off the beaten path. My favourite beach town was Punta del Diablo while my favourite interior town was Mercedes. Both had what I was looking for ... small town vibe, both with boating options and, in the case of the former, right on a great kitesurfing beach. I recommend everyone check Uruguay out because "it does depend on what you're looking for."
Back in 2008 there was a lack of English speaking workers in the hospo industry, but now more people do speak English, that's something that has changed since then. Also, Punta del Diablo is now a place for young people, it can get very crowded during summer, however still has that magic, laid back sort of life, I think is a great place to live if you like that sort of life.
I love the way you expressed your point of view, very respectful and very open minded. I hope that you had the chance to visit the hot springs in Paysandú and Salto. By the way, being from Salto it caught my attention that you went to Concordia but you did it via Paysandú, crossing the bridge Paysandú-Colon. You probably didn't know then, that there is another bridge on the Salto Grande dam that connects Salto/Concordia.
@@Black-Circle Then go to those places!!! But for some people, Uruguay is good enough for different reasons, one could be the culture, the race, etc... I´ve heard from French people saying they feel like home. Because even the food is very similar. While other countries could offer you a paradise, but you end up among a totally different culture, where you jump up from the crowd as the foreign one. Just to clarify, I am not saying that in other places they will treat you bad or different... What I am emphasizing is that some people want to be in a place where they can blend in. And Uruguay is ideal for that, specially if you are European.
@@Black-Circle on the contrary, i think u should go to those other places that offer u more, first; and then, if u are not totally happy, you can try Uruguay as a second option to contrast and compare.
@@Black-Circle not at all! I am being very objective basing my comment on your own observation, because u r right. There are hundred of place that have a lot to offer. So those are the places u should go first, because, for example if u want warm weather all year round, Uruguay is not the best place to choose. Or if u are looking for spicy food, Or if u want the hustle and bustle of big cities… u won’t find that in Uruguay.
I am Uruguayan, and even what this guy is saying is true. I feel he is comparing London/New York with Montevideo, even comparing it with Buenos Aires is a stretch. Montevideo has 1 million people, compare that with Buenos Aires that has 17 millions. Ofcourse it will be boring and less cosmopolitan.
@@fbenecchi What Rodrigo is saying, is that Montevideo has only 1 million habitants (a lite more in reality), where Buenos Aires on Argentina has near 3.000.000 habitants on 2010, I suspect now a lote more (i suppose the 3.5 that you have say). That said, what Rodrigo was probably referring to is Greater Buenos Aires, which is ultimately part of Buenos Aires. In the case of Montevideo, even if you include what we could consider as Greater Montevideo (Canelones and San Jose), we do not come close to the numbers for Buenos Aires even if we only focus on Buenos Aires city. Uruguay, especially in Montevideo, you will find what a cosmopolitan is looking for, but certainly on a much smaller scale.
I live in Canada (I am uruguayan too) and I certainly can define cheap and boring we have tons of that here in Ontario, do not believe what this person says he is out of sync with the place here and went to places without knowing anything about the cities, culture or city, During high season Punta del Este has more than 1million visitors each year, mostly very wealthy people, why do you think is that? Who goes to a beach city during low season and tries to find some excitement? 80% of the restaurants and activities won't be open or happen until the season starts. Very surprising for someone with such a professional attitude we suppose to trust. He seats and defines a place based on his lack of understanding of the locations he visited and false expectations with an idea formed by second hand maybe even reading online which at the end wasn't true. I am sure is well travelled and experienced I just think this one was a big miss for him. So do yourself a favor and take a few days for visiting learning about what to do there beforehand.
Montevideo city has 1 500 000 people, Ciudad Autonoma de Buenos Aires (C.A.B.A [ex Capital Federal]) has 3 000 000 people. You confuse the province of Buenos Aires with the Buenos Aires city... Buenos Aires province includes Mar del Plata city, La Plata city , Tandil city, Lujan city, etc and much rural areas.
@@fbenecchi Buenos Aires is not just CABA (the political limits of part of the city). The entire metropolitan area is home for more than 15 million people.
I love Uruguay because of the Uruguayans which is more important than any wealth in this world, nice, good people. Plus the safest country in south America I've travelled to up to now.
There's a lot to be said for quiet & 'boring'. Would have been more interesting if you had gotten the input of locals about your perceptions. My guess is locals know where & when to go for more exciting experiences. A content population with a stable government is the kind of boring I like :)
@@DavidDavid-mm7gb what exactly are you looking for to not be bored? I'd be the same, but for me it's because they're apartments. I'm a country girl, without a piece of dort to play with I'd be miserable
@@DavidDavid-mm7gb Good for you, and good luck with your safety! Because I do not know which one is more dangerous, right now... and as they told you!!! You even need good luck to cross a street and not get struck by a crazy driver!!! ha ha ha!!!
Uruguay is one of my favorite places on earth. Been to over 70 countries on all continents, except Antartica. No people makes it heavily. Grass fed beef is the healthiest diet on earth. The food is amazing. It’s natural. People aren’t all about their phones. They still live human lives. They enjoy each other’s company. They help each other and work together like family. It’s quiet. Never too cold. Everyone is educated. Their government was rooted in the spirit of Thomas Paine and the sentiments of the American revolution; Libertad o Muerte. In a woke backwards world, peace and quiet like Uruguay has is rare.
Perfect comment and I agree with you 100%. . Have been there many times, both living in Montevideo and vacationing in Punta del Este or Piriapolis. Lovely people, great vibe, they know how to enjoy life with family and friends in a low stress environment
On not finding aspirin in a supermarket or convenience store. In Uruguay the only stores that can sell medicine are pharmacies, this is by law. On few large surfaces to make purchases ... this is another clear example of little research, in the capital above all there are several supermarket chains (and I mean real supermarkets, not the mini-markets that we here, out of laziness we erroneously refer as supermarkets). For this and much more, I believe that this video does very little justice to the capital, its cities and the country as everything. In other words, you can see that your stay in Uruguay left you so relaxed that you didn't even feel motivated to make a properly worked video. \.O./
A perfect example of one of the few bad aspects of Uruguay, the idiotic and inept government. Imagine, making a law that says you can't sell aspirin in a supermarket.
@@hollishedrich9126 Not really a bad aspect but more of a convenience issue because it makes sense why a super market wouldn't sell a aspirin as its medicine.
@@hollishedrich9126we do not even take aspirin ever 😂 You can find aspirin in Uruguay but it is not the most common medicine. Also medicine in general is not as common to take as in western northern countries.
I'm a New Yorker who lived in Uruguay for over a decade. There are tons of things to do, but you have to know where to go, and you have to know people. It's not like NYC or Buenos Aires, where you'll find a good time around every corner. You'll need to go with someone who knows the best spots. Uruguayans don't go out until late. If you show up at a restaurant at 8PM, you will be stared at by the staff. I'm also tired of seeing videos of people going to Uruguay and filming in "El Centro." This area of Montevideo is no longer the city center. The city center is more in the Pocitos or Punta Carretas area of Montevideo. If you venture into the Ciudad Vieja or Centro on a weekend, you'll find it a ghost town. Punta Carretas or Pocitos is akin to Palermo in Buenos Aires. Also, when showing Punta del Este, all we see are high rises, and you never show the gorgeous beachfront homes along the coast or the beautiful neighborhoods. I love Montevideo because of its chill vibe. When I got bored or needed an escape, I would hop on a plane to Rio, which takes about 2.5 hours. It's about the same amount of time from NYC to Miami. OR, I would puddle skip over into Buenos Aires for a few days. Finally, you must visit during the right time of year to get the most bang for your buck. FIND A CONNECTED LOCAL WHEN VISITING URUGUAY!!!!!
To me, quiet, laid-back and "boring" sound like great arguments to move to a place. I don't like Switzerland, because it's simply too hectic, too expensive, too compact. I don't like Dubai, because it's trying too hard to be the biggest, best, nicest. While I do hate it when every place is closed all of the time, I do appreciate the slow tempo, laid-back attitudes and affordable prices.
Depending where you come from Uruguay could be expensive to very expensive. Depends where you come from and how much money you have monthly to live. For the region right now, it is excessively expensive, specially for Argentinean. But if you depend on dollars you make abroad, then it is affordable. But you need to consider that if you buy or rent a house down there, appliances are not included (there might be rare exceptions). And when you buy them, they can be more expensive than in the USA (due to lower demand and high taxes to import). The good news is that if you buy things using a credit card issued in another country different than Uruguay, the government right now will not charge you taxes.
Everything is open from Monday to Friday, on Saturdays some things close at 3pm and on Sundays they don't open. However, supermarkets, restaurants, the mall, cinemas,etc are all open. You just can't go shopping on the bid avenues because we don't like to exploit our employees
Everything you described is exactly why it’s my favorite country in Latin America. Being used to the hectic life in the US and seeing how chill everyone is, seeing people enjoying life with their friends and families outside of places where they need to spend money was the reason why it’s at the top of the list of places I want to move. It’s the antithesis of a consumerist society.
This guy clearly didn’t do his homework or have a good guide! I’ve been living in UY 8 years and love it. “Everything is closed” hahaha do some research before u wander around a city aimlessly.
LOL. Fair enough, that's the description of Uruguay by a Nomad Capitalist. Although your nomadic habits seem to be only from city to city. Thanks for the video and the analysis, but you just have missed the entire essence of the country and its people. I.e., the reason you will find mom&pop stores closed on Sundays is that Sundays are considered to be FAMILY days. Uruguayans will always make you feel welcome, but it's a country where you must relax and enjoy the sunsets and time with new friends.
I was in Uruguay a few years ago. I think it would be a nice place to live and base yourself. Quiet and boring is fine with me, plus its a quick hop and a skip to party in Buenos Aires, the ski resorts in Bariloche or the beach in Rio de Janeiro.
@@Black-Circle And from my understanding, if you want to acquire Uruguayan citizenship it will only take you 3 years and the residency requirement is that you stay in the country of a minimum of 6 months plus 1 day every year. Of course, it'll take another year to get citizenship after you apply but this is quite an appealing route if you are looking for a good second citizenship. (Most other countries require you to be in the country for 9+ months every year; but Uruguay doesn't seem to have that same restriction.) And then, if you want to go for an EU-Schengen Area passport after that, you can acquire a Portugal or Spain citizenship after only living there for 2 years as a citizen of a Latin American country (as opposed to the usual 7 years for Portugal or 10 years for Spain)!!!
Uruguay has beautiful beaches, and it is a quiet country to a certain extent, it is not boring at all, you just have to know the country well to know how it works
Good stuff, but as someone who’s spent decent time in Argentina, you should’ve known there is no medicine in the supermarket 😅. All of that is strictly at las farmacias
Very superficial chat on Uruguay. You only talked from a tourist point of view, not for business opportunities and political environment etc. Uruguay is the top country in South America for democracy, and that means immigrants get treated better within the legal structure. And it’s safer than most other countries.
Superficiality goes hand in hand with a person who’s entire personality is based around “maintaining wealth” and dodging taxes. This guy/channel is skewed toward a perspective of wealth and luxury at the expense of depth and actual respect for deeper cultural currents.
@@Five2nd I think it's a bit unfair to say that. In the end, optimizing taxes if you feel like the societal contract in your society isn't fair to you anymore is a very legitimate thing. And he compares Uruguay to countries like UAE etc. where you've got 0 taxes and huge cities. But yeah it's very depended on your person. The fact that you can get citizenship in like 3y is quite nice - so you can go there learn about the country and culture, get the passport and move on.
Andrew, yes, Uruguay may seem boring, but once inside there are several exciting things to see and do, jut not "cosmopolitan". This is a great place to find a great wife and safely raise a family. Many of us are descendants of europeans, one or maybe two generations back, so several of us have dual citizenship. So when we want to go back to Europe, we just pick a passport and go, same with the US, Canada, Australia or New Zealand. Safest country in the region, low corruption. Several of us speak at least two languages, and work for international corporations. If you had a guide, sorry, but it wasn't a good one. If you didn't, contact a local next time you are around. The beef is free-range and grass fed, one of the best in the world, again, lousy or non-existing guide. Our wines go directly to top places, we can't compete with price, just quality. Coffee, we don't make it here. That's for tropical countries. And yes, there is a lot of money here, it's just that people invest it in international markets, sit back and enjoy life in the slow, safe lane. Take care!
@@Biker65Sure Mr Ding Ling, you'll find a decent intelligent well educated Woman, desperate to marry a foreigner with your admirable interests! Bet you have Spanish included in your educational backpack! 😂
you forgot to tell them how expensive it is compared to the US for low quality items, 38 dollar levis for over 120 dollars., a 150 dollar guitar for 360 dollars, woman are not good looking in Uruguay and the bars are scummy just a few things they dont mention, one guy wrote here that he likes clean safe places, well, safe maybe but clean? really? clean? NO! i live in a rich naighborhood in montevideo and theres trash all over the place sidewalks all broken dog shit everywhere so please, if your going to tell the story be honest about it
This is a very misinformed video. Obtaining citizenship IS straight forward and can be done in the 3 years that UY requires. No set income or $$ investments required. There are high quality hotels (Sheratons, Enjoy/Conrad Hiltons, etc) and many great airbnbs and non-chain hotels. Montevideo and Punta del Este are the most $$ but there are dozens of beautiful beach towns that are very affordable. UY is more European, similar to Argentina, and many businesses still observe siesta (meaning they close for up to 2 hours during the day) and culturally dinner is 8-9 so restaurants are either closed or have a limited menu until 8pm. However MVD has things open with similar hours at you’d find in the USA or UK. I could go on but basically much of what he says is either culturally tone deaf and/or just plain inaccurate.
hello!. It is not that there are generally no people, you went out to visit the city on a Sunday, I explain you, there are 2 facts to take into account. 1 weekends the average Montevidean leaves the city to rest, leaves on a Friday afternoon and returns On a Sunday night, 2 the people of Montevideo who stay in Montevideo, you will not see them until the afternoon since in Uruguay Sundays are to spend with the family, for this reason the premises of the city are closed and what is wrong are some bars, restaurants, etc.
I’m surprised you didn’t elaborate more on the topic of pandemic response, lockdowns, mandates, personal freedoms, etc. I would take quiet and boring and free over fun and exciting and muzzled.
He never seems to mention mandares vaxxes freedoms...disapointing im very keen on uruguay and paraguay but cant get up to date info on these important points.
Uruguay has 3.5 million people. Switzerland almost 9 million. Wrong comparison. Decades ago, both countries were compared because they had a high life standard, not because of anything else. Buenos Aires and its surroundings is 15 million people. Montevideo 1.5, worse comparison. Of course, you will not find the hustle and bustle of Buenos Aires in Montevideo. Small stores with a couple of employees, close on Saturday by lunch, because there are lots of laws that protect the workers, considering they have the right to spend weekends with their families. On the other hand, shopping malls, restaurants and supermarkets have many more employees, so they take turns to manage to stay open. This guy totally missed the most important points. Uruguay is an economically and political stable country, open to investments and new people who want to live there. Getting residency is very simple. But it is not a cheap country to live in for the same reason is stable. It is ideal for expats (medical care is affordable and universal), for people who are willing to open new businesses there or those who work online and get their earning from abroad. It offers a peaceful, and relaxed life style. Those who prefer the hustle and bustle of a busy city can go to Argentina, even though right now it is not politically or economically stable! That is probably the main reason why Argentineans are moving to Uruguay lately. Still many people who work in Bs As but want peaceful weekends buy a house in Colonia del Sacramento in Uruguay which is an hour away by ferry
Any decent city in the West or Asia with 150k population will have decent life, open shops, open coffee shops, and more.. So a city of 1.5mil being this lame, doesn't matter what you compare it to.
@@dontrushtohate as i said, restaurants, shopping malls and supermarkets are open. The stores that close are those with very few employees that work from Monday to Saturday morning. Besides there are laws that protect employees not to be taken advantage of working excessive hours.
Uruguay means "no tornadoes, no earthquakes, no monsoons, no snow, no desert, no jungle, no alligators, no pronouns, no fentanil, no volcanoes"... fair enough for me... let me be bored then.
Andrew, you seem to miss the boat with a preset viewpoint/"goggles". Most people do NOT live all year round in Punta del Este. Punta is beautiful and really crowded in the summer. I also would liken moving to Uruguay to live in Punta is like having the mentality of moving to to USA and wanting to live in Miami/NY/LA on a budget! That's just not realistic. Also, not going to find convenient grocers in downtown Punta (downtown anywhere else). Again, you just approached it from a very skewed perspective and confused expectations. Yes, Uruguay has always been the Latin America country that is relaxed, laid back and effectively after all the dictators, sort of just stayed STABLE. The population growth has been comparatively slow/low. The political unrest since fall of the Chile/Argentina/etc dictators has been minimal. Again Punta is slow in winter....cause few live there. A lot of your observations are true but clearly skewed by your persistent American goggles. Oh, and finally....as the smallest South Am country, smaller than some of your USA cities, how impressive a "National Park" are you looking for?!?!? Give it a break, you got the Amazon right next door.
The fact that he thinks Uruguay should be like the US shows his complete ignorance. He said "everything is closed" from 4-8pm without clarifying that he was talking about restaurants. They're closed because nobody (except him) wants to eat during that time. His ignorance came through again when he expected to buy aspirin in a supermarket. HE'S NOT IN THE US. Finally, his comment about the Uruguayan passport is the most accepted worldwide does not apply to non-native citizens. A foreigner who obtains Uruguayan citizenship and then a passport cannot use that passport any differently than their native passport, It will be clearly stamped with their birth nationality.
@@eddiecohen4179 the frente amplio and blancos both supported law to give nacionalidad to every ciudadano legal. 35,000 people's passports weren't working as you correctly said, but it's fortunately fixed. of course was always a technicality of uruguay constitution and naturalized citizens still can never be president for example but no longer 2nd class citizens and no longer anyway to distinguish their passport
@@lesliewu3208 Sorry, but you're mistaken. A foreigner who gains Uruguayan citizenship is given a Uruguayan passport that blatantly states their nation of birth, and does not provide any travel advantages over their original passport of birth.
lol sorry but youtube is not allowing me to post the stories from la diaria, el pais e el observador of this issue. just both blancos e fa support equal treatment now
Nomad Capitalist: I respect your opinion about Uruguay; but I’ll like to clarify a couple things, if I may. Uruguay’s Spanish is very similar to Argentinian Spanish, which is a very particular Spanish that has Italian & Spaniard influences. In the Departmento (province) of Rivera which boarder’s Brasil, they speak a mixture called Portunol .. Also from December to March is the high season, you’ll see many more people. The rest of the year, there are places where people go for night life.. but one of attractions for many people is the tranquility.. there many public parks as well.. other than that, Uruguay is known for its beaches & farms, horses, soccer, mate 🧉 & organic meat.. food variety it’s a problem, specially if you don’t eat meat..
Yep it’s a nice beautiful small country. I visited and was impressed. Just a one hour easy flight from Buenos Aires Argentina to Montevideo. I am more impressed with their healthcare and the real estate boom there.
Uruguay is my preferred destination - climate and social structure. Unfortunately the burden of learning fluent Spanish and the limited profession recognition is a lot of work to gain citizenship.
This is incorrect. The law states that, if presented correctly, you should have a response on your professional degree revalidation in 120 days. If this does not happen on time, the degree is automatically accepted. What May happen is that you are required to take some of the particular legal classes related to your field since you will need to know the applicable law in the country related to your field. Usually 2/3 courses of a whole degree that in Uruguay may take 5 to 6 years to get. Besides, citizenship process and degree revalidation are not at all related. I am sorry but I think you were incorrectly advised.
@@marialauracanepa5674 I have been told by several people the medical licence application and all correspondence needs to be in perfect local dialect Spanish. This makes for a recommendation of using a local interpreter for people even fluent speakers of their own native Spanish tongue. And even once the Government recognises your training every story I have been told or read says that the local healthcare services are not ready employers of expats compared to locally trained clinicians, regardless of experience. Maybe things have changed in the last several years but in 2018/19 I spent a long time researching and honestly even government sources were discouraging of attempting the move.
@@M.-.D I don't know much about your situation, but a few months ago (4 or 5), a young doctor from Venezuela moved to Uruguay (he makes videos and shares his experiences in the country) and he already took a test and became officially a doctor in Uruguay (he mentioned that part of the test was about the legalities Maria Laura Canepa told you). I don't know about jobs, you can try to open your own clinic and direct your services to expats... they might feel more comfortable with someone who speaks their own language. The only barrier I can see is if you don't speak any Spanish... to understand enough to pass your test. And don't worry about the slang in the country. In school you only need academic Spanish. And you learn the slang living there. That is what happens even to immigrants from other Spanish speaking countries. Good luck! Besides, let me tell you that doctors in Uruguay study a lot of subjects in English. I know for a fact because I used to translate some medical sources to a friend who was studying to become a specialist in his field.
Being between two big ones, especially in terms of tourism, such as Brazil and Argentina, Uruguay can go unnoticed by a number of European and American tourists. Like its neighbors, it has a nightlife, a gastronomic scene, a landscape of mountains and beaches that are attractive to those who know them. Suitcase magazine, a travel specialist, made a list of five reasons why Uruguay is a destination that should be among the first places in the lists of countries to travel to.
Excuse me as a uruguayan current resident of Montevideo I must say sir you havent take a step onto Uruguay just yet please i encourge you to come back and i will personally show you everything you havent done
I have lived in the jungle in Costa Rica for the 7 years of my retirement, and I love it. This would not have appealed to me when I was working as a younger man, but it is perfect now. So many of these place to live decisions depend on your stage in life. We are financially comfortable so that when we want more excitement, we just travel somewhere. A few years ago we got into Home Exchange and that has worked wonderfully.
My impression after the video is that not having those consumer conveniences could really be a pain in the ass. However it's a country that offers great tax benefits and easy second residence. So no it's not perfect but it can be very beneficial for people who are not that wealthy yet but want the tax savings and a global lifestyle. The way I see it not having access to the consumer conveniences is the price to pay. Also if the trifecta is your thing and your other bases are more exciting and fast paced places, perhaps u could use a break in Uruguay while taking advantage of the tax incentives
Uruguay was a strong contender for me when I was looking for options. Once I visited Medellin, Colombia and the surrounding areas, I knew I had found a new home. It has a chill vibe but has all of the First World conveniences and products. Some of the smaller pueblos outside of Medellin are also very nice. I know Andrew chose to have a home in Bogota', but I think 8 out of 10 people would prefer Medellin. Don't make any final decisions without scouting multiple options in Latin America.
@@guilhermesalesferreiradaco2934 I am not sure we have the same thought, but I would not like it if I was out in the city to buy some things and all of the stores were closed
@@danspencer4235 neither would I but the fact that u can easily move there while paying no taxes for the next decade really makes it seem like a small inconvenience for a great benefit
I spent 3 months in Uruguay back in 2015...Have some amigos that are musicians in Montevideo...They showed me there Uruguay from food to live music and it was awesome...It's a very laid back vibe...I exercised daily on the waterfront in Playa Honda, went to some kick ass jam sessions at En el Martes On Fire ate some kick ass Asado and Chivito sandwiches...and while yes I went to Punta del Este my amigos hooked me up with there favorite places on the coast like...Cabo Polonio and Punta del Diablo...The women I.M.H.O. where beautiful as well...Good Vibes and Good People!
I think your paragraph on Uruguay was more insightful and interesting than this whole video, I think he should have stopped talking after mentioning the tax incentives and stable government.
Great information! Uruguay is a place I've always been, and continue to be, quite curious about. Don't say I'll relocate there but I'm definitely going to stop in and have a look. A variety of perspectives is very valuable. I agree with some of the other commenters. Quiet and/or boring is not always necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes that's exactly what I want.
@Aubrey Winchester Thanks! As I say, a variety of perspectives is what we should strive for. Andrew gave his based on his experience and you gave yours based on your own. It's not a thing where anyone is right or wrong, it's just opinions and they're all valid. And all that stuff you said about Uruguay... heard it all before and that's why I want to go! Haven't heard anything yet about the country that turns me off.
For retirement I think is a good option. But there is no the Latin American vibe over here. Not at all. It is like a piece of Europe within a third world economy. 😆
@@CX-ns4ft I'm just giving the heads up to RobH, that's all. One thing is researching online, another thing is a lifetime here and knowing many expats who regretted their decision of coming here. As example, one family of expats, friends of mine are still stuck here until they can sell they property. I won't give any details or opinions if not requested. Just be careful. U don't want to end up in a "luxury" suite inside the Titanic... Best to u all.
I take Montevideo over Washington, DC where I live any time. It's more efficiently ran. The Spanish word for avocado used in Uy is palta, and is derived from Quechua used mostly in the Andean region...you are very misinformed and sound like the estereotypical arrogant American many dislike in other parts of the world.
I must say many of the things you said are spot on. I live in Punta Del Este for 15 years now, and i love it, but the downside is as you said, food is not great, it is somewhat expensive, and it is quiet all year round except in the summer season. On the upside it is very safe place, little to no crime, low taxes, and while the hotels are not great renting apartments is better, most new buildings have tons of services and everything a hotel provides but better. Also on some local news, a new big finance building will be built in the peninsula and it is fully sold, also a tax free zone was approved and lots of international companies are already coming in the near future. Lots of argentine immigration, so i expect Punta del este to become lively all year round and become a little Miami in the next 10 years. Things like food have been improving, and will continue to improve, i notice more people living year-round since covid, a lot of construction activity. Montevideo on the other hand is really not good, quite ugly imo, lived there 4 years and hated it.
You can't call Montevideo ugly, from your words you know nothing but expensive lifestyle coming from the fumes on your head. I suggest you find some other place to live other than taking advantage of the financials and complaint about it here, what you don't pay for the rest of the population do. Even when you contribute with nothing but a raised nose and bad comments to whoever wants to listen.
I’m Canadian, I love Uruguay! Yes laid back, that a bonus! Maybe not the best deal, but that will keep the rif raf somewhere else! Great people! The wine, you didn’t spend much time investigating the wines, Uruguay produces some great wines, small in volume but it’s a small country! If you didn’t have a bottle or two of the tannat then that’s your loss! Visiting vineyards around the country is really a lot of fun….
Unlike other channels this guy knows what he's taking about. He's actually been there and experienced it. The middleclass thing really got me. I just want normal down to Earth people.
Your description of Uruguay is very accurate. I’ve been there several times, and I agree with you 100%. If you want a peaceful life, it’s not a bad country
Andrew knows a lot about a lot of things but little, it would seem, about the Spanish language. The language spoken in Uruguay cannot simply be dismissed as weird. It is basically and Argentinian-style Spanish. Everybody's way of speaking is weird to somebody.
It deppends. If you encounter people from the North, like wealthy ranchers or specially their daughters who've come to study in Montevideo then you'll find there's indeed a lot of similarities with Brazilian Portuguese from Rio Grande.
I live in Sao Paulo and have spent a fair amount of time on long weekends, etc. in Montevideo with my wife and kids. I think Andrew's characterizations of price, value, food, product / service availability, etc. are really quite accurate. The meat (beef) is excellent and the higher end Uruguayan wines are fantastic, though expensive. For some unknown reason, the coffee seems truly horrible on average. As Andrew says, Montevideo is fairly boring, quiet, and one gets the feeling that Uruguayan people don't venture much outside their homes and workplaces. One get's the feeling that they don't have the same joie de vivre that many South Americans have.
@@sebastianrutkowski7316 ... I was never able to figure out the answer to those questions either. The few young people we saw were just hanging out at the shopping mall.
It is fairly accurate. But I must say I have never ever travelled into Montevideo and not felt the hussle and bustle. Id like to point out that although most shops shut at a period during the day, they are open till very late at night. Midnight and beyond depending. I love Uruguay's sedate honest pace and style. I love the actual culture. I miss it terribly. Good take on it though. Thank yoy
I'm from Uruguay, and let me tell you that this is pretty accurate.. It's so sad the lack of variety in many aspects like shops, cuisine (mostly beef), and how boring it is at times. Entertainment? Venues are small (remember we're a lil' country) so many big artists will never come here. With that aside, the economy isn't the worse, BUT.. cost of food and rent is REALLY high compared to the average wage. If you're really planning to live here, I'll recomend you to test at least for 4-6 months, and try to get a job. You feel how hard it is. Now, the biggest "BUT" Once you're settled, it's hard to think of some other country to replace it. People is nice, temperature is not too hot, not to cold, say 0°C to 40°C with 4 seasons. It's relatively safe (can't compare with New Zealand tho) Ok, I'll leave it there 😂
I was in Montevideo for a week. I had fun! Though most hotel sfaff were senior citizens for some reason! Lots of parties whenever ships come in from all over the world! Kinda similar to Santa Marta but a much bigger city!
Hahaha you booked an elder's hotel! During the pandemic, due to lack of tourism, some hotels offered special monthly rates for older people that did not want to live in residential homes due to the risk of being infected. Some still live there...
Weekends are to spend time with friends and family, we don’t like to work those days. I think there’s a misconception in the whole video between being boring and being peaceful. 🇺🇾
Some notes about your experience. On weekends most people spend their time outside Montevideo. That's why most bussiness are closed from Saturdays at 13.00 until Monday morning in Montevideo. If you really need to go and buy something supermarkets and Shopping Malls are the exceptions to that. Shopping malls never close. It's quite strange that about "business being closed on tuesdays o thursdays". Maybe that happened in Punta del Este off-season, not in Montevideo. You won't get a good glimpse of what Punta del Este is until you go there during the summer. Supermarkets are not allowed to sell any type of medicine, and most bussiness still close earlier since the pandemic. Even though there are many Pharmacies that work 24/7, there's a system of "Pharmacy Shifts", where some pharmacies take turns to be open during the whole night. The amount of people depends heavily on the climate, Uruguayans won't go much outside during some hours if the climate is not summer-like. If you want to see some movement during the night there are specific neighbourhoods, the same happens during day time.
If you could do a video or atleast a 2 min short of what countries have had the more reasonable reactions to the pandemic situation and/or vax requirements I would appreciate it. Thanks again. Loved your book and your content on yt. Keep it up✌
Hi! The pandemic has disrupted normal life throughout the country. A large number of tourists, cruise ships, etc. gave another joy to the city. But living in Montevideo has its advantages: lots of nature nearby, a very rich and varied cultural life, and a very active nightlife (which starts very late as in Buenos Aires). The schedules for the moment are restricted, as well as the big concerts. But when everything is back to normal you won't be able to say that life in Montevideo is boring. I hope you will be able to come back then and have a different experience and the real spirit of the country, you can have a lot of fun!
@@chrisf247 I am not sure I have quite caught your meaning, but we have plenty of public natural parks all over the country, beaches are free , the city has many big parks, you even have a place near the airport with many lakes where you can do free sports, In north, international thermal places surrounded by nature, "estancias", farms, law rise mountains but very quiet. The sea wolf island is the second in the world, you can see whales along the shore, We have one of the richest varieties of bird species, so experts from all over the world come to study them. And you have only a bit more than three million people living in the country, so you can free access to all the natural places. People from abroad appreciate that a lot. And in summer Punta del Este hosts most of the largest sports and cultural events in the world, big parties, and international music festivals.
@@Mrnddm I would say we do not have low mountains... we just have a few hills. People usually relate the word mountain with climbing and skiing.. and that is not possible in Uruguay... we don't even have snow...
@@lauruguayitausa You can climb hills, in fact a lot is done in Uruguay and it is not boring at all to do so. We don't have snow and what? It does not mean that this is bad, Brazil is 90% green and there is nothing wrong with it, if you are looking for snow go to Chile or Argentina
@@Willingtomb Imagino que sos uruguayo, y deberias releer mi comentario. Fue para aclararle que no hay montañas ni nieve, no como algo negativo, sino como un hecho. Cuando la gente de países como USA piensa en montañas, inmediatamente lo asocia con nieve y skii... en invierno. De ahi mi aclaración. Porque seria desagradabe si alguno por despistado o mal informado, llega al país con indumentaria para esquiar, para darse cuenta que no hay montañas ni nieve. Yo no hable de que fuera malo, ni nada por el estilo. Esa creo fue tu interpretación.
Having been to Uruguay pre-COVID, I wonder how the siesta hours have changed post-COVID? Most businesses closed between 1:00 P.M. and 3:00 P.M. Offices would close for the day at 4:30 P.M., retail by 8:00 P.M. Bars, taverns, night clubs and supper restaurants, would open at 8:00 P.M., become crowded by 11:00 P.M. and close between 4-5:00 A.M. In Montevideo and Punta de Este, by 10:00 P.M., there were people everywhere. By your video, it looks like something has changed. Uruguayan Spanish is a combination of Spanish, German and Italian.
Yeah, it seems like he just went to the center of the city on a Sunday at 3pm and decided that it was like that all year around. When in reality there is a lot of movement and restaurants, clubs, etc. I got back home at 4am last night and people was just leaving clubs and restaurants, it was full of people now that 75% of the population is vaccinated
Not enough research just like passing by with little or no effort at all. Sometimes this kind of things happen when you don't do your homework. Glad to hear you did get to live the city/country in a better (real) way.
In Uruguay, excitement and enjoyment are found in the simplicity of things, and you gotta know where and what to look for in order to find it. Pd: if you're gonna live somewhere, the "only choice" is the capital Montevideo. Punta del Este is reserved as a turist destination for summer,it is quite dead (and still expensive) the rest of the year.
I totally disagree. I would not live in MVD is someone paid me. Punta is a great place to live all year round. I love it. Plenty of people now year round.
Yes I loved Uruguay 🇺🇾🇺🇸, it's expensive, probably the most expensive in south America. But it's worth it. I loved Punta Del Este Beach ⛱️. Great people and very beautiful country
Well, his impression are the same as anybody visiting a foreign country, while trying to continue in the same lifestyle, instead of enjoying local things.... Lately I have seen many americans and europeans a bit irritated because things here don't go like in their home.
I'm from Uruguay and you're right, it is boring, not much happening. I'm from Punta del Este, and it is so boring during winter, is cold and quite depressing with all the empty buildings. Unless you like the beach that's all that it is to do, during summer there are a few more things to do but not that much. I left Uruguay because because of the lack of entertainment, I love galleries, museums, cafes and good restaurants, you won't get that in Uruguay. On the other hand, I do think it is a great place for retirement, have a house in a beach town with a pool, get the recliner or relax beside the fire place in winter, just enjoy nature and fresh air.
What you say is true, but not that much anymore. Punta del Este is experiencing a huge change after Covid and is becoming a nice small city with a lot of services and things to do all year round.
Thanks for your perspective! May I ask where did you move to? I'm asking because I'm considering moving to Punta del Este and would like your opinion as someone who already lived there
Maybe it's covid and they were having some rules? I'm not from Uruguay but it seems like judging a country on a short visit without living there a while isn't fair.
Consumer culture hasn't gotten us long term sustainability, only growing inequality...glad Uruguay is better in that regard. FYI different countries have different cultures and ways. How interesting that you run away from the USA and you complain as to why Uruguay isn't the same. Your point of view needs to be better informed because it's mediocre at best. I will stop now and not be subscribing.
Parts of Italy are a lot like what you are describing in Uruguay...so is Romania. To be honest Uruguay is on my must see list, I haven't been there yet.
Andrew there are lot of high quality hotels in Uruguay, you need to know what to search for. Fasano Las Piedras, Bahia Vik, etc. and with the restaurants same: la huella, lo de tere, la burngogne. You need a better tour guy next time
I think you've been traveling in South American long enough not to be surprised by how few shops are actually open on weekends (particularly Sundays, of course). I guess Colombia is a bit more flexible, but even there you get a feel of the weekend virus. :-v Santa Marta, in what seems to be your favorite South American country, is really quiet on a Sunday with most commerce closed too. Between us, though, if you haven't been to Santa Marta yet, I honestly wouldn't bother.
I lived in Uruguay as a foreigner for over 6 years. Just a few observations on your commentary. One of the central reasons you don’t see great value for money is Uruguay’s over excessive consumer and import taxation. This is is necessary because a large proportion of Uruguayans work for the state with pensions thereafter. Many of these roles are quite frankly unnecessary, creating one piece of stamped paper from another. The slow state bureaucracy does exist, just as with many other Latin American countries, but it does function - and for the best part without a corruption element. I don’t subscribe to your view Uruguay is boring. It’s laid back but it really depends on what your looking for. MVD feels more like a town than a city. You are likely to bump into friends whilst walking in it. I personally have always liked the size and access. Lastly, on to the food. When I arrived there were limited choices. Food options were limited to Italian / Spanish influences. In fact we were the first to bring Indian cuisine to the country, supplying embassy staff deprived of spices. That has changed a lot these days. The choices, whilst not quite London or New York, has become more cosmopolitan in nature. So has the prices. You really need a local to tell you where to go as some places are hidden in the backstreets of the city.
Uruguay is a very unique place exactly because of how calm it can be, but there are certantly some more cosmopolitan areas, you just have to know where to look. great video.
Uruguay is basically Argentina's Canada (with various tax benefits designed for people from Argentina and beaches). We all talk about it like Americans talk about Canada. So clean! I'm moving there if this place (Argentina) doesn't shape up! (PS Argentina is not shaping up). Every once in a while a whole bunch of gringos become obsessed with the place for some reason (Travel and Leisure magazine spreads of Jose Ignacio maybe), and they all threaten to move there. I have residency in Uruguay, but the country locked us all out during the virus wave 1, including passport holders. You needed a special permission to come and go from your own country, sort of like Canada and Australia. So yeah, Uruguay, its a little like the CUNA countries Andrew hates as far as rules and paperwork. And Uruguayans are organized and pretty low on the corruption scale so you will be doing the paperwork and following the rules. Unlike some other locales which seem worse but where small gratuities fix everything.
I am Uruguayan/Canadian Citizen and can say apart from the sizes and economy they are very similar countries more than Argentina. Look at the numbers, average age, public servants and more they are all the same.
Not interesting, but not dangerous crime, not near a war zone, unlike the best value for your buck, laid-back home-family oriented lifestyle and Uruguayan teams in the continental football tournaments. I'm in love
Beautiful country and the people are very laid back. It is very quiet even in Montevideo. That being said there is a vibrant music & nightlife in the city if you start your nights a 9-10PM. The city runs a European time schedule, so expect late lunches, dinners & very late nightlife. I spent a couple of months in the government district at a Spanish language school. The school was teaching classes in English-Spanish, French-Spanish and Portuguese-Spanish. During that time I met people from all over the world including some that were in the process of moving to the country. There was even an Indian couple that were moving from Dubai. The quietness of the country didn't bother me. The weather was a different story. I was there in the fall and the cold was already starting. That was pass for me at that point. I prefer the quietness of a remote beach somewhere over being stuck in four walls for months on end 😏
It seems that you visit Uruguay during a weekend when wether is nice Everyone it’s going to the beach resorts, lots of people has houses outside Montevideo Going to downtown during the weekend is a bad move Downtown is for during the week
Maybe he forgot to mention that being a stable country with a good business environment, the country offers a series of tax and economic benefits that make it an attractive option for expats when buying property.. Also, some of the tax benefits that Uruguay offers are one of the lowest corporate tax rates in Latin America, the exemption from capital gains taxes for investments in fixed assets or tax reductions for companies that hire local labor. .
Love to see my house (my literal home) in this video hahah Montevideo is a quiet city, very expensive but with an excellent health system, Punta del Este is horribly expensive, best places ro relocate are Ciudad de la Costa, just at the outsides of Montevideo, much cheaper prices overall and the capital its just half an hour away, beasides..the beaches are spectacular there
You said it. Uruguay has reputation. Thats it. We used to do things right but in the past 20 years Uruguay has declined to a point thaht it is unrecognizable to what it was. The Switzerland of America, sure, 100 years ago. Now we are fast going the way of Argentina.
Ok, tell me in what ways you are declining? The crime? I don't care for legalized marijuana and I suspect people will regret that in the future. But I would like to hear from you about the the worsening situation.
Would you travel to Uruguay? Let us know in the comment below!
Nah, probably not.
Something about this video is different and I LIKE IT!!! Please consider doing Country/City Briefings. Best/Wealthiest neighborhoods/ Best neighborhoods and gathering spots for Nomads. Your favorite restaurants/lounges/tea houses. And then... the "insider" information that you gave at the end of this video. Very nice. You know you have a huge following and you can capitalize on this info, where currently we go to your competitors for this sort of thing. I'm guessing only a small percentage of viewers go on to become paying clients, so don't hold back. Why not make revenue off of more eyeballs? Think of your Merry Band of Bond Girls in the office as being our very own Moneypenny.... telling us what we need to know to have a successful "mission."
And BTW, some demographic groups (retirees for instance) would gladly trade the nonstop consumer culture for safety and order. I can remember life in Netherlands when stores were open only during set hours and you planned accordingly. So my guess is many of your viewers might appreciate what Montevideo has to offer. I still practice Siesta, though in Manhattan, I may be alone in this respect. Waking up from a nap to slip into cocktail hour sounds perfect to me! ha! :)
Only if you´re vaccinated you can enter Uruquay. On top of that you also need to test.
- Yes, I would go. Need to know more about Covid restrictions. Is there hunting? Restrictions on land ownership? More on politics. If I need an AK-47 beside the breakfast table...
If I want 24/7, I will travel.
I would like to know more about Columbia and Ecuador, Belize and Costa Rica comparisons pls.
Quiet, boring, middle class, safe, nature (beach and country), good climate…. Yes that’s Uruguay “the place to be”. We Uruguayan like it just like that.
NOT good climate.
See you soon- sounds amazing
I would like to visit and stay for a while, if I could make it. I'd like to visit Argentina, too.
Your comment reminds me of the Chinese curse, may you live in interesting times.
@@anitapodsudek8041 what is wrong with it ?
As someone who's travelled there, I would preface anybody's opinion, including Andrew's, with "it depends on what you're looking for?" I believe Andrew is more of a cosmopolitan city dweller and therefore is looking at the cities etc and what they have to offer. Absolutely nothing wrong with that. But for me -- I prefer the quiet country life. For instance, I would feel right at home buying a ranch somewhere and just herding cattle for the rest of my life.
I travelled to Uruguay in 2008 from Panama (where I was living at the time) with a view to move there instead. After a 6-week visit, I decided to stay in Panama. However, there were a couple of big pluses in Uruguay. IMHO the #1 advantage I found were the women. If you're single and looking for a girlfriend / wife, this is the place for you. Uruguay is one of the better Latin American countries for this pursuit. The women here are both beautiful and well-educated, as Uruguay has free education right up to Ph.D. level. Another plus was street level corruption ... that is, the lack thereof. Unlike Panama where you'll find the police expecting bribes if you just look at them funny, in Uruguay this practice is non-existent. In fact, like Canada/USA, if you try to bribe a police officer in Uruguay, you will find yourself arrested.
The two big downsides for me was firstly the time to travel back to Canada - a whopping 14 hours vs. only 5 hours from Panama City - at that time in my life, I needed to be able to get back to Canada in case of a family emergency in less than 6 hours. Secondly, unlike Andrew, who maybe only visited the bigger cities, I often found my limited Spanish tested ... though maybe it's different 13 years on??? In Panama, you will always find someone in any store that speaks English but not in Uruguay! (I can get by in Spanish but I do prefer my native tongue, as I think, does everyone else!)
I toured around Uruguay extensively, visiting the entire coast from Chuy to Carmelo and then drove up to Concordia via Paysandu. I then came back down through the interior through towns like Young and Durazno. So yes I saw I lot. And yes ... in some hotels outside PdE and MVD you'll find bilingual staff but not English "bilingual" - they speak Spanish and Portuguese.
But as a country lover (rather than a city dweller), I really liked some of the places off the beaten path. My favourite beach town was Punta del Diablo while my favourite interior town was Mercedes. Both had what I was looking for ... small town vibe, both with boating options and, in the case of the former, right on a great kitesurfing beach. I recommend everyone check Uruguay out because "it does depend on what you're looking for."
Back in 2008 there was a lack of English speaking workers in the hospo industry, but now more people do speak English, that's something that has changed since then.
Also, Punta del Diablo is now a place for young people, it can get very crowded during summer, however still has that magic, laid back sort of life, I think is a great place to live if you like that sort of life.
I love the way you expressed your point of view, very respectful and very open minded. I hope that you had the chance to visit the hot springs in Paysandú and Salto. By the way, being from Salto it caught my attention that you went to Concordia but you did it via Paysandú, crossing the bridge Paysandú-Colon. You probably didn't know then, that there is another bridge on the Salto Grande dam that connects Salto/Concordia.
@@Black-Circle Then go to those places!!! But for some people, Uruguay is good enough for different reasons, one could be the culture, the race, etc... I´ve heard from French people saying they feel like home. Because even the food is very similar. While other countries could offer you a paradise, but you end up among a totally different culture, where you jump up from the crowd as the foreign one. Just to clarify, I am not saying that in other places they will treat you bad or different... What I am emphasizing is that some people want to be in a place where they can blend in. And Uruguay is ideal for that, specially if you are European.
@@Black-Circle on the contrary, i think u should go to those other places that offer u more, first; and then, if u are not totally happy, you can try Uruguay as a second option to contrast and compare.
@@Black-Circle not at all! I am being very objective basing my comment on your own observation, because u r right. There are hundred of place that have a lot to offer. So those are the places u should go first, because, for example if u want warm weather all year round, Uruguay is not the best place to choose. Or if u are looking for spicy food, Or if u want the hustle and bustle of big cities… u won’t find that in Uruguay.
Uruguay is probably some of the most underrated countries in the world. It's a terrific country. Love to Uruguay!
Whats good about uruguay?
@@aldogerardus4157 Yeah Debora, please elaborate on what's so good about it because I'm very curious.
Totally agree!
hey, im from there, hi
@@aldogerardus4157 for starters, no lefties/commies in government! 👌🏻
My wife and I spent our honeymoon in Uruguay, in the middle of nowhere. It was amazing. been back many times since.
Me alegro que hayan tenido una buen experiencia
Thanks for sharing you exp. Could you share how it felt in regards to safety/crime? Is it family friendly?
I am Uruguayan, and even what this guy is saying is true. I feel he is comparing London/New York with Montevideo, even comparing it with Buenos Aires is a stretch. Montevideo has 1 million people, compare that with Buenos Aires that has 17 millions. Ofcourse it will be boring and less cosmopolitan.
The city of buenos has 3.5 milliom not 1
@@fbenecchi What Rodrigo is saying, is that Montevideo has only 1 million habitants (a lite more in reality), where Buenos Aires on Argentina has near 3.000.000 habitants on 2010, I suspect now a lote more (i suppose the 3.5 that you have say). That said, what Rodrigo was probably referring to is Greater Buenos Aires, which is ultimately part of Buenos Aires.
In the case of Montevideo, even if you include what we could consider as Greater Montevideo (Canelones and San Jose), we do not come close to the numbers for Buenos Aires even if we only focus on Buenos Aires city.
Uruguay, especially in Montevideo, you will find what a cosmopolitan is looking for, but certainly on a much smaller scale.
I live in Canada (I am uruguayan too) and I certainly can define cheap and boring we have tons of that here in Ontario, do not believe what this person says he is out of sync with the place here and went to places without knowing anything about the cities, culture or city, During high season Punta del Este has more than 1million visitors each year, mostly very wealthy people, why do you think is that? Who goes to a beach city during low season and tries to find some excitement? 80% of the restaurants and activities won't be open or happen until the season starts. Very surprising for someone with such a professional attitude we suppose to trust. He seats and defines a place based on his lack of understanding of the locations he visited and false expectations with an idea formed by second hand maybe even reading online which at the end wasn't true. I am sure is well travelled and experienced I just think this one was a big miss for him. So do yourself a favor and take a few days for visiting learning about what to do there beforehand.
Montevideo city has 1 500 000 people, Ciudad Autonoma de Buenos Aires (C.A.B.A [ex Capital Federal]) has 3 000 000 people. You confuse the province of Buenos Aires with the Buenos Aires city... Buenos Aires province includes Mar del Plata city, La Plata city , Tandil city, Lujan city, etc and much rural areas.
@@fbenecchi Buenos Aires is not just CABA (the political limits of part of the city). The entire metropolitan area is home for more than 15 million people.
I love Uruguay because of the Uruguayans which is more important than any wealth in this world, nice, good people. Plus the safest country in south America I've travelled to up to now.
Really? I thought Costa Rica was the safest..
@@pinetworkminer8377 no
@@pinetworkminer8377 Costa Rica has had a bad spike in crime over the last few decades, if I’m not mistaken.
@@pinetworkminer8377 Twenty years ago I think that was true.
@@danspencer4235 20 years ago, Uruguay was one of the safest countries in the world!!!
I expect you would find Antarctica boring given the restaurants and shops are really lacking.
Good point... lol
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
I'll bet "Nomad" it will give 10 points to West Village in Manhattan and the gay district in San Francisco...
👏🤣🤣
There's a lot to be said for quiet & 'boring'. Would have been more interesting if you had gotten the input of locals about your perceptions. My guess is locals know where & when to go for more exciting experiences. A content population with a stable government is the kind of boring I like :)
Euch! I have apartments in both Rio and Buenos Aires. Bores the hell out of me.
@@DavidDavid-mm7gb what exactly are you looking for to not be bored?
I'd be the same, but for me it's because they're apartments. I'm a country girl, without a piece of dort to play with I'd be miserable
@@DavidDavid-mm7gb good luck with the crime rate in either of those countries! The traffic mess, forget about it!
@@marceloquiroga1904 You dont wanna have a car in those countries, it´s real life Grand Theft Auto
@@DavidDavid-mm7gb Good for you, and good luck with your safety! Because I do not know which one is more dangerous, right now... and as they told you!!! You even need good luck to cross a street and not get struck by a crazy driver!!! ha ha ha!!!
Uruguay is one of my favorite places on earth. Been to over 70 countries on all continents, except Antartica. No people makes it heavily. Grass fed beef is the healthiest diet on earth. The food is amazing. It’s natural. People aren’t all about their phones. They still live human lives. They enjoy each other’s company. They help each other and work together like family. It’s quiet. Never too cold. Everyone is educated. Their government was rooted in the spirit of Thomas Paine and the sentiments of the American revolution; Libertad o Muerte. In a woke backwards world, peace and quiet like Uruguay has is rare.
beautifully said
Perfect comment and I agree with you 100%. . Have been there many times, both living in Montevideo and vacationing in Punta del Este or Piriapolis. Lovely people, great vibe, they know how to enjoy life with family and friends in a low stress environment
Sounds like a great place to be just left the hell alone.
@Aubrey Winchester It's not boring, it's quiet, why don't people see the difference?
And smoke all the pot you want (legal and very widely used). Not my kinda place, but to each his/her own.
On not finding aspirin in a supermarket or convenience store. In Uruguay the only stores that can sell medicine are pharmacies, this is by law.
On few large surfaces to make purchases ... this is another clear example of little research, in the capital above all there are several supermarket chains (and I mean real supermarkets, not the mini-markets that we here, out of laziness we erroneously refer as supermarkets).
For this and much more, I believe that this video does very little justice to the capital, its cities and the country as everything.
In other words, you can see that your stay in Uruguay left you so relaxed that you didn't even feel motivated to make a properly worked video.
\.O./
A perfect example of one of the few bad aspects of Uruguay, the idiotic and inept government. Imagine, making a law that says you can't sell aspirin in a supermarket.
@@hollishedrich9126 Not really a bad aspect but more of a convenience issue because it makes sense why a super market wouldn't sell a aspirin as its medicine.
@@hollishedrich9126we do not even take aspirin ever 😂
You can find aspirin in Uruguay but it is not the most common medicine. Also medicine in general is not as common to take as in western northern countries.
The point remains, you can't get one of the most common headache relievers in the world in a grocery store. Seems like good research to me.
@@ppumpkin3282 😂
I'm a New Yorker who lived in Uruguay for over a decade. There are tons of things to do, but you have to know where to go, and you have to know people. It's not like NYC or Buenos Aires, where you'll find a good time around every corner. You'll need to go with someone who knows the best spots. Uruguayans don't go out until late. If you show up at a restaurant at 8PM, you will be stared at by the staff.
I'm also tired of seeing videos of people going to Uruguay and filming in "El Centro." This area of Montevideo is no longer the city center. The city center is more in the Pocitos or Punta Carretas area of Montevideo. If you venture into the Ciudad Vieja or Centro on a weekend, you'll find it a ghost town. Punta Carretas or Pocitos is akin to Palermo in Buenos Aires. Also, when showing Punta del Este, all we see are high rises, and you never show the gorgeous beachfront homes along the coast or the beautiful neighborhoods.
I love Montevideo because of its chill vibe. When I got bored or needed an escape, I would hop on a plane to Rio, which takes about 2.5 hours. It's about the same amount of time from NYC to Miami. OR, I would puddle skip over into Buenos Aires for a few days.
Finally, you must visit during the right time of year to get the most bang for your buck.
FIND A CONNECTED LOCAL WHEN VISITING URUGUAY!!!!!
To me, quiet, laid-back and "boring" sound like great arguments to move to a place. I don't like Switzerland, because it's simply too hectic, too expensive, too compact. I don't like Dubai, because it's trying too hard to be the biggest, best, nicest. While I do hate it when every place is closed all of the time, I do appreciate the slow tempo, laid-back attitudes and affordable prices.
Depending where you come from Uruguay could be expensive to very expensive. Depends where you come from and how much money you have monthly to live. For the region right now, it is excessively expensive, specially for Argentinean. But if you depend on dollars you make abroad, then it is affordable. But you need to consider that if you buy or rent a house down there, appliances are not included (there might be rare exceptions). And when you buy them, they can be more expensive than in the USA (due to lower demand and high taxes to import). The good news is that if you buy things using a credit card issued in another country different than Uruguay, the government right now will not charge you taxes.
Everything is open from Monday to Friday, on Saturdays some things close at 3pm and on Sundays they don't open. However, supermarkets, restaurants, the mall, cinemas,etc are all open. You just can't go shopping on the bid avenues because we don't like to exploit our employees
Bro Uruguay is small too
@@supermonk3y07 .... I never claimed it wasn't!
@@lauruguayitausabut if you say Switzerland is too small then you will Think Uruguay is too small too
Everything you described is exactly why it’s my favorite country in Latin America. Being used to the hectic life in the US and seeing how chill everyone is, seeing people enjoying life with their friends and families outside of places where they need to spend money was the reason why it’s at the top of the list of places I want to move. It’s the antithesis of a consumerist society.
This guy clearly didn’t do his homework or have a good guide! I’ve been living in UY 8 years and love it. “Everything is closed” hahaha do some research before u wander around a city aimlessly.
Nice😎
LOL. Fair enough, that's the description of Uruguay by a Nomad Capitalist. Although your nomadic habits seem to be only from city to city. Thanks for the video and the analysis, but you just have missed the entire essence of the country and its people. I.e., the reason you will find mom&pop stores closed on Sundays is that Sundays are considered to be FAMILY days.
Uruguayans will always make you feel welcome, but it's a country where you must relax and enjoy the sunsets and time with new friends.
Uruguay is so relaxed, they don't need aspirin there:)
I do not know anyone that takes aspirin here 😂
I was in Uruguay a few years ago. I think it would be a nice place to live and base yourself. Quiet and boring is fine with me, plus its a quick hop and a skip to party in Buenos Aires, the ski resorts in Bariloche or the beach in Rio de Janeiro.
That's exactly it! You want snow? Argentina or Chile, beaches, head over to Brazil, ancient ruins? Peru or Bolivia. All a hop and a skip away.
@@Black-Circle 70 days or near 100 I think
@@Black-Circle And from my understanding, if you want to acquire Uruguayan citizenship it will only take you 3 years and the residency requirement is that you stay in the country of a minimum of 6 months plus 1 day every year. Of course, it'll take another year to get citizenship after you apply but this is quite an appealing route if you are looking for a good second citizenship. (Most other countries require you to be in the country for 9+ months every year; but Uruguay doesn't seem to have that same restriction.) And then, if you want to go for an EU-Schengen Area passport after that, you can acquire a Portugal or Spain citizenship after only living there for 2 years as a citizen of a Latin American country (as opposed to the usual 7 years for Portugal or 10 years for Spain)!!!
Uruguay has beautiful beaches, and it is a quiet country to a certain extent, it is not boring at all, you just have to know the country well to know how it works
@@owenbreward4974 so after being an Uruguayan Citizen for 2 years, you can obtain a Spanish passport? Do you need to live in Spain at all?
Good stuff, but as someone who’s spent decent time in Argentina, you should’ve known there is no medicine in the supermarket 😅. All of that is strictly at las farmacias
How much for a regular steak with a salad though?
@@Ro33West In Montevideo probably like 10usd
Very superficial chat on Uruguay. You only talked from a tourist point of view, not for business opportunities and political environment etc. Uruguay is the top country in South America for democracy, and that means immigrants get treated better within the legal structure. And it’s safer than most other countries.
Superficiality goes hand in hand with a person who’s entire personality is based around “maintaining wealth” and dodging taxes. This guy/channel is skewed toward a perspective of wealth and luxury at the expense of depth and actual respect for deeper cultural currents.
Whole heartedly agree. Breezed over quality and safety of this place.
@@Five2nd Yeah, what can you expect from a narcisist dude like this that don't want to contribute to a society and only focuse on avoiding taxes.
Agreed but then again, who would take advice from this bleached gringo anyway??
@@Five2nd I think it's a bit unfair to say that. In the end, optimizing taxes if you feel like the societal contract in your society isn't fair to you anymore is a very legitimate thing.
And he compares Uruguay to countries like UAE etc. where you've got 0 taxes and huge cities. But yeah it's very depended on your person.
The fact that you can get citizenship in like 3y is quite nice - so you can go there learn about the country and culture, get the passport and move on.
Andrew, yes, Uruguay may seem boring, but once inside there are several exciting things to see and do, jut not "cosmopolitan". This is a great place to find a great wife and safely raise a family. Many of us are descendants of europeans, one or maybe two generations back, so several of us have dual citizenship. So when we want to go back to Europe, we just pick a passport and go, same with the US, Canada, Australia or New Zealand. Safest country in the region, low corruption. Several of us speak at least two languages, and work for international corporations. If you had a guide, sorry, but it wasn't a good one. If you didn't, contact a local next time you are around. The beef is free-range and grass fed, one of the best in the world, again, lousy or non-existing guide. Our wines go directly to top places, we can't compete with price, just quality. Coffee, we don't make it here. That's for tropical countries. And yes, there is a lot of money here, it's just that people invest it in international markets, sit back and enjoy life in the slow, safe lane. Take care!
Very well said.
Sounds lovely.
I was wondering about finding a good wife there.
@@Biker65Sure Mr Ding Ling, you'll find a decent intelligent well educated Woman, desperate to marry a foreigner with your admirable interests! Bet you have Spanish included in your educational backpack! 😂
you forgot to tell them how expensive it is compared to the US for low quality items, 38 dollar levis for over 120 dollars., a 150 dollar guitar for 360 dollars, woman are not good looking in Uruguay and the bars are scummy just a few things they dont mention, one guy wrote here that he likes clean safe places, well, safe maybe but clean? really? clean? NO! i live in a rich naighborhood in montevideo and theres trash all over the place sidewalks all broken dog shit everywhere so please, if your going to tell the story be honest about it
This is a very misinformed video. Obtaining citizenship IS straight forward and can be done in the 3 years that UY requires. No set income or $$ investments required. There are high quality hotels (Sheratons, Enjoy/Conrad Hiltons, etc) and many great airbnbs and non-chain hotels. Montevideo and Punta del Este are the most $$ but there are dozens of beautiful beach towns that are very affordable. UY is more European, similar to Argentina, and many businesses still observe siesta (meaning they close for up to 2 hours during the day) and culturally dinner is 8-9 so restaurants are either closed or have a limited menu until 8pm. However MVD has things open with similar hours at you’d find in the USA or UK. I could go on but basically much of what he says is either culturally tone deaf and/or just plain inaccurate.
Thank you alot!! All my friends and relatives are also to brain dead to realize these truths even though they think they are well traveled haha.
hello!. It is not that there are generally no people, you went out
to visit the city on a Sunday, I explain you, there are 2 facts to take into account. 1 weekends the average Montevidean leaves the city to rest, leaves on a Friday afternoon and returns On a Sunday night, 2 the people of Montevideo who stay in Montevideo, you will not see them until the afternoon since in Uruguay Sundays are to spend with the family, for this reason the premises of the city are closed and what is wrong are some bars, restaurants, etc.
I’m surprised you didn’t elaborate more on the topic of pandemic response, lockdowns, mandates, personal freedoms, etc. I would take quiet and boring and free over fun and exciting and muzzled.
In the beginning there weren't mandates. But being tied to the globalists they showed up later.
He never seems to mention mandares vaxxes freedoms...disapointing im very keen on uruguay and paraguay but cant get up to date info on these important points.
@@DavidDavid-mm7gb what is the current and expected position there?
Uruguay has the highest vaccination rate and freedom of movement in S. A. and many parts if the world.
@@marceloquiroga1904 Probably not Pfizer or Moderna?
Uruguay has 3.5 million people. Switzerland almost 9 million. Wrong comparison.
Decades ago, both countries were compared because they had a high life standard, not because of anything else.
Buenos Aires and its surroundings is 15 million people. Montevideo 1.5, worse comparison. Of course, you will not find the hustle and bustle of Buenos Aires in Montevideo.
Small stores with a couple of employees, close on Saturday by lunch, because there are lots of laws that protect the workers, considering they have the right to spend weekends with their families. On the other hand, shopping malls, restaurants and supermarkets have many more employees, so they take turns to manage to stay open.
This guy totally missed the most important points. Uruguay is an economically and political stable country, open to investments and new people who want to live there. Getting residency is very simple. But it is not a cheap country to live in for the same reason is stable. It is ideal for expats (medical care is affordable and universal), for people who are willing to open new businesses there or those who work online and get their earning from abroad. It offers a peaceful, and relaxed life style. Those who prefer the hustle and bustle of a busy city can go to Argentina, even though right now it is not politically or economically stable! That is probably the main reason why Argentineans are moving to Uruguay lately.
Still many people who work in Bs As but want peaceful weekends buy a house in Colonia del Sacramento in Uruguay which is an hour away by ferry
Any decent city in the West or Asia with 150k population will have decent life, open shops, open coffee shops, and more.. So a city of 1.5mil being this lame, doesn't matter what you compare it to.
@@dontrushtohate as i said, restaurants, shopping malls and supermarkets are open. The stores that close are those with very few employees that work from Monday to Saturday morning. Besides there are laws that protect employees not to be taken advantage of working excessive hours.
Uruguay means "no tornadoes, no earthquakes, no monsoons, no snow, no desert, no jungle, no alligators, no pronouns, no fentanil, no volcanoes"... fair enough for me... let me be bored then.
Andrew, you seem to miss the boat with a preset viewpoint/"goggles". Most people do NOT live all year round in Punta del Este. Punta is beautiful and really crowded in the summer. I also would liken moving to Uruguay to live in Punta is like having the mentality of moving to to USA and wanting to live in Miami/NY/LA on a budget! That's just not realistic. Also, not going to find convenient grocers in downtown Punta (downtown anywhere else). Again, you just approached it from a very skewed perspective and confused expectations. Yes, Uruguay has always been the Latin America country that is relaxed, laid back and effectively after all the dictators, sort of just stayed STABLE. The population growth has been comparatively slow/low. The political unrest since fall of the Chile/Argentina/etc dictators has been minimal. Again Punta is slow in winter....cause few live there. A lot of your observations are true but clearly skewed by your persistent American goggles. Oh, and finally....as the smallest South Am country, smaller than some of your USA cities, how impressive a "National Park" are you looking for?!?!? Give it a break, you got the Amazon right next door.
The fact that he thinks Uruguay should be like the US shows his complete ignorance.
He said "everything is closed" from 4-8pm without clarifying that he was talking about restaurants. They're closed because nobody (except him) wants to eat during that time.
His ignorance came through again when he expected to buy aspirin in a supermarket. HE'S NOT IN THE US.
Finally, his comment about the Uruguayan passport is the most accepted worldwide does not apply to non-native citizens. A foreigner who obtains Uruguayan citizenship and then a passport cannot use that passport any differently than their native passport, It will be clearly stamped with their birth nationality.
fortunately the government passed a law that changed this
@@lesliewu3208 Changed what?
@@eddiecohen4179 the frente amplio and blancos both supported law to give nacionalidad to every ciudadano legal. 35,000 people's passports weren't working as you correctly said, but it's fortunately fixed. of course was always a technicality of uruguay constitution and naturalized citizens still can never be president for example but no longer 2nd class citizens and no longer anyway to distinguish their passport
@@lesliewu3208 Sorry, but you're mistaken.
A foreigner who gains Uruguayan citizenship is given a Uruguayan passport that blatantly states their nation of birth, and does not provide any travel advantages over their original passport of birth.
lol sorry but youtube is not allowing me to post the stories from la diaria, el pais e el observador of this issue. just both blancos e fa support equal treatment now
Nomad Capitalist: I respect your opinion about Uruguay; but I’ll like to clarify a couple things, if I may. Uruguay’s Spanish is very similar to Argentinian Spanish, which is a very particular Spanish that has Italian & Spaniard influences. In the Departmento (province) of Rivera which boarder’s Brasil, they speak a mixture called Portunol .. Also from December to March is the high season, you’ll see many more people. The rest of the year, there are places where people go for night life.. but one of attractions for many people is the tranquility.. there many public parks as well.. other than that, Uruguay is known for its beaches & farms, horses, soccer, mate 🧉 & organic meat.. food variety it’s a problem, specially if you don’t eat meat..
Any good salads to go with the steaks though?
If course lots of salad.. also it is customary to barbecue vegetables..
Sounds like heaven to me.
@@Ro33Westask for "carrot"! Fantastic and 100% vegetarian vegan.. 🤡🍻
Yep it’s a nice beautiful small country. I visited and was impressed. Just a one hour easy flight from Buenos Aires Argentina to Montevideo. I am more impressed with their healthcare and the real estate boom there.
not small ..three or four european countries can get fit inside urugay
Uruguay is my preferred destination - climate and social structure. Unfortunately the burden of learning fluent Spanish and the limited profession recognition is a lot of work to gain citizenship.
Can you go more into details about profession recognition for citizen ship?
@@vibrationalpositivity as a medical doctor it is not easy to get professional recognition in Uruguay.
This is incorrect. The law states that, if presented correctly, you should have a response on your professional degree revalidation in 120 days. If this does not happen on time, the degree is automatically accepted. What May happen is that you are required to take some of the particular legal classes related to your field since you will need to know the applicable law in the country related to your field. Usually 2/3 courses of a whole degree that in Uruguay may take 5 to 6 years to get.
Besides, citizenship process and degree revalidation are not at all related.
I am sorry but I think you were incorrectly advised.
@@marialauracanepa5674 I have been told by several people the medical licence application and all correspondence needs to be in perfect local dialect Spanish. This makes for a recommendation of using a local interpreter for people even fluent speakers of their own native Spanish tongue. And even once the Government recognises your training every story I have been told or read says that the local healthcare services are not ready employers of expats compared to locally trained clinicians, regardless of experience.
Maybe things have changed in the last several years but in 2018/19 I spent a long time researching and honestly even government sources were discouraging of attempting the move.
@@M.-.D I don't know much about your situation, but a few months ago (4 or 5), a young doctor from Venezuela moved to Uruguay (he makes videos and shares his experiences in the country) and he already took a test and became officially a doctor in Uruguay (he mentioned that part of the test was about the legalities Maria Laura Canepa told you). I don't know about jobs, you can try to open your own clinic and direct your services to expats... they might feel more comfortable with someone who speaks their own language. The only barrier I can see is if you don't speak any Spanish... to understand enough to pass your test. And don't worry about the slang in the country. In school you only need academic Spanish. And you learn the slang living there. That is what happens even to immigrants from other Spanish speaking countries. Good luck! Besides, let me tell you that doctors in Uruguay study a lot of subjects in English. I know for a fact because I used to translate some medical sources to a friend who was studying to become a specialist in his field.
Being between two big ones, especially in terms of tourism, such as Brazil and Argentina, Uruguay can go unnoticed by a number of European and American tourists.
Like its neighbors, it has a nightlife, a gastronomic scene, a landscape of mountains and beaches that are attractive to those who know them. Suitcase magazine, a travel specialist, made a list of five reasons why Uruguay is a destination that should be among the first places in the lists of countries to travel to.
Excuse me as a uruguayan current resident of Montevideo I must say sir you havent take a step onto Uruguay just yet please i encourge you to come back and i will personally show you everything you havent done
I have lived in the jungle in Costa Rica for the 7 years of my retirement, and I love it. This would not have appealed to me when I was working as a younger man, but it is perfect now. So many of these place to live decisions depend on your stage in life.
We are financially comfortable so that when we want more excitement, we just travel somewhere. A few years ago we got into Home Exchange and that has worked wonderfully.
My impression after the video is that not having those consumer conveniences could really be a pain in the ass. However it's a country that offers great tax benefits and easy second residence. So no it's not perfect but it can be very beneficial for people who are not that wealthy yet but want the tax savings and a global lifestyle. The way I see it not having access to the consumer conveniences is the price to pay. Also if the trifecta is your thing and your other bases are more exciting and fast paced places, perhaps u could use a break in Uruguay while taking advantage of the tax incentives
Uruguay was a strong contender for me when I was looking for options. Once I visited Medellin, Colombia and the surrounding areas, I knew I had found a new home. It has a chill vibe but has all of the First World conveniences and products. Some of the smaller pueblos outside of Medellin are also very nice. I know Andrew chose to have a home in Bogota', but I think 8 out of 10 people would prefer Medellin. Don't make any final decisions without scouting multiple options in Latin America.
You can find anything in the supermarkets even American brands
@@alidarotondaro6821 it's not about what, it's about when
@@guilhermesalesferreiradaco2934 I am not sure we have the same thought, but I would not like it if I was out in the city to buy some things and all of the stores were closed
@@danspencer4235 neither would I but the fact that u can easily move there while paying no taxes for the next decade really makes it seem like a small inconvenience for a great benefit
I spent 3 months in Uruguay back in 2015...Have some amigos that are musicians in Montevideo...They showed me there Uruguay from food to live music and it was awesome...It's a very laid back vibe...I exercised daily on the waterfront in Playa Honda, went to some kick ass jam sessions at En el Martes On Fire ate some kick ass Asado and Chivito sandwiches...and while yes I went to Punta del Este my amigos hooked me up with there favorite places on the coast like...Cabo Polonio and Punta del Diablo...The women I.M.H.O. where beautiful as well...Good Vibes and Good People!
I think your paragraph on Uruguay was more insightful and interesting than this whole video, I think he should have stopped talking after mentioning the tax incentives and stable government.
@@neoamerican3392 Agreed!!! and, if you aren't a meat eater....this isn't your place.
It’s hard to like Uruguay when he’s coming from Kardasianland.
If you went to martes on fire you really did experience Montevideo cheers
@@neoamerican3392 HA HA HA!!! I do agree with u 100% 😂😂😂 U made me laugh!!!
Great information! Uruguay is a place I've always been, and continue to be, quite curious about. Don't say I'll relocate there but I'm definitely going to stop in and have a look. A variety of perspectives is very valuable.
I agree with some of the other commenters. Quiet and/or boring is not always necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes that's exactly what I want.
Cuando vengas serás bienvenido, espero que te guste mi país
@Aubrey Winchester Thanks!
As I say, a variety of perspectives is what we should strive for. Andrew gave his based on his experience and you gave yours based on your own.
It's not a thing where anyone is right or wrong, it's just opinions and they're all valid.
And all that stuff you said about Uruguay... heard it all before and that's why I want to go! Haven't heard anything yet about the country that turns me off.
Uruguay is a lovely country and their sweaters are divine, but their people are just wonderful.
I've been researching Uruguay A LOT over the past year and, overall, it would be my choice as a retirement destination in LatAm. I can't wait to go!
For retirement I think is a good option. But there is no the Latin American vibe over here. Not at all. It is like a piece of Europe within a third world economy. 😆
Check out my playlists about Uruguay! 💙
Don't do it. Great mistake. You better don't find out the hard way... Best rewards.
@@lurkerj7050 what do you mean?😄
@@CX-ns4ft I'm just giving the heads up to RobH, that's all. One thing is researching online, another thing is a lifetime here and knowing many expats who regretted their decision of coming here. As example, one family of expats, friends of mine are still stuck here until they can sell they property. I won't give any details or opinions if not requested. Just be careful. U don't want to end up in a "luxury" suite inside the Titanic... Best to u all.
I take Montevideo over Washington, DC where I live any time. It's more efficiently ran. The Spanish word for avocado used in Uy is palta, and is derived from Quechua used mostly in the Andean region...you are very misinformed and sound like the estereotypical arrogant American many dislike in other parts of the world.
Good subways in Montevideo are there?
I must say many of the things you said are spot on. I live in Punta Del Este for 15 years now, and i love it, but the downside is as you said, food is not great, it is somewhat expensive, and it is quiet all year round except in the summer season. On the upside it is very safe place, little to no crime, low taxes, and while the hotels are not great renting apartments is better, most new buildings have tons of services and everything a hotel provides but better.
Also on some local news, a new big finance building will be built in the peninsula and it is fully sold, also a tax free zone was approved and lots of international companies are already coming in the near future. Lots of argentine immigration, so i expect Punta del este to become lively all year round and become a little Miami in the next 10 years. Things like food have been improving, and will continue to improve, i notice more people living year-round since covid, a lot of construction activity.
Montevideo on the other hand is really not good, quite ugly imo, lived there 4 years and hated it.
You can't call Montevideo ugly, from your words you know nothing but expensive lifestyle coming from the fumes on your head. I suggest you find some other place to live other than taking advantage of the financials and complaint about it here, what you don't pay for the rest of the population do. Even when you contribute with nothing but a raised nose and bad comments to whoever wants to listen.
Montevideo it's rules by a left party gov. They don't Even clean they streets.
I’m Canadian, I love Uruguay! Yes laid back, that a bonus! Maybe not the best deal, but that will keep the rif raf somewhere else! Great people! The wine, you didn’t spend much time investigating the wines, Uruguay produces some great wines, small in volume but it’s a small country! If you didn’t have a bottle or two of the tannat then that’s your loss! Visiting vineyards around the country is really a lot of fun….
How much is a steak in a restaurant? Average
Bourdain said the beef 🥩 was great so I would go with that.
Not a "Consumer Culture" ?? THANK the GODS !!!!
Unlike other channels this guy knows what he's taking about.
He's actually been there and experienced it.
The middleclass thing really got me. I just want normal down to Earth people.
I am Uruguayan and I laughed loud, a lot xD.
Most precise analysis.
Your description of Uruguay is very accurate. I’ve been there several times, and I agree with you 100%. If you want a peaceful life, it’s not a bad country
Thanks for sharing!
Andrew knows a lot about a lot of things but little, it would seem, about the Spanish language. The language spoken in Uruguay cannot simply be dismissed as weird. It is basically and Argentinian-style Spanish. Everybody's way of speaking is weird to somebody.
No sería del todo estilo argentino, es mejor llamarlo estilo rioplatense
I wonder how much he pays for his steak though
It is not called Argentine-style, it is rioplatense (from Buenos Aires to the "big" cities of Uruguay, like Montevideo or Punta del Este)
It deppends. If you encounter people from the North, like wealthy ranchers or specially their daughters who've come to study in Montevideo then you'll find there's indeed a lot of similarities with Brazilian Portuguese from Rio Grande.
I live in Sao Paulo and have spent a fair amount of time on long weekends, etc. in Montevideo with my wife and kids. I think Andrew's characterizations of price, value, food, product / service availability, etc. are really quite accurate. The meat (beef) is excellent and the higher end Uruguayan wines are fantastic, though expensive. For some unknown reason, the coffee seems truly horrible on average. As Andrew says, Montevideo is fairly boring, quiet, and one gets the feeling that Uruguayan people don't venture much outside their homes and workplaces. One get's the feeling that they don't have the same joie de vivre that many South Americans have.
stop boasting. no,seriously,what is it
that people from Montevideo do on weekends? no partying on beaches?
youth is family oriented,too? or what?
All the coffees ha e suger mixed in when grounded
@@sebastianrutkowski7316 ... I was never able to figure out the answer to those questions either. The few young people we saw were just hanging out at the shopping mall.
@@Diego-pc4rc ... ahhhhh, thank you, that would explain it very well!
@@jmcbogue
thx 4 the answer. be well.
It is fairly accurate. But I must say I have never ever travelled into Montevideo and not felt the hussle and bustle. Id like to point out that although most shops shut at a period during the day, they are open till very late at night. Midnight and beyond depending.
I love Uruguay's sedate honest pace and style. I love the actual culture.
I miss it terribly.
Good take on it though. Thank yoy
Not good evaluation. With all respect, the information given it’s poor.
I'm from Uruguay, and let me tell you that this is pretty accurate.. It's so sad the lack of variety in many aspects like shops, cuisine (mostly beef), and how boring it is at times. Entertainment? Venues are small (remember we're a lil' country) so many big artists will never come here.
With that aside, the economy isn't the worse, BUT.. cost of food and rent is REALLY high compared to the average wage.
If you're really planning to live here, I'll recomend you to test at least for 4-6 months, and try to get a job. You feel how hard it is.
Now, the biggest "BUT"
Once you're settled, it's hard to think of some other country to replace it. People is nice, temperature is not too hot, not to cold, say 0°C to 40°C with 4 seasons. It's relatively safe (can't compare with New Zealand tho)
Ok, I'll leave it there 😂
All true.
Do not come here looking for a job. unless maybe you are in the software business....maybe.
This type of analysis was so helpful. Would love to see this for Paraguay, Argentina, etc.
Type in Paraguay Mike here on UA-cam 👍🏾
the video is very bad, I live in Uruguay and much of what he says is not true or misinforms about certain things
@@Willingtomb can u tell how Uruguay is I am planning to move there ?? Is it safe are the people friendly ?
The fact that this guy doesn't like it makes me really want to go there!
I was in Montevideo for a week. I had fun! Though most hotel sfaff were senior citizens for some reason! Lots of parties whenever ships come in from all over the world! Kinda similar to Santa Marta but a much bigger city!
Hahaha you booked an elder's hotel! During the pandemic, due to lack of tourism, some hotels offered special monthly rates for older people that did not want to live in residential homes due to the risk of being infected. Some still live there...
Weekends are to spend time with friends and family, we don’t like to work those days.
I think there’s a misconception in the whole video between being boring and being peaceful. 🇺🇾
I totally agree!!!
And they have legal cannabis. That’s a key factor to me. A gov that doesn’t lock you up for a plant is more worthy of my time and money.
Ohhhh I see now... They are just like Canada and becoming very expensive....
Some notes about your experience. On weekends most people spend their time outside Montevideo. That's why most bussiness are closed from Saturdays at 13.00 until Monday morning in Montevideo. If you really need to go and buy something supermarkets and Shopping Malls are the exceptions to that. Shopping malls never close. It's quite strange that about "business being closed on tuesdays o thursdays". Maybe that happened in Punta del Este off-season, not in Montevideo. You won't get a good glimpse of what Punta del Este is until you go there during the summer. Supermarkets are not allowed to sell any type of medicine, and most bussiness still close earlier since the pandemic. Even though there are many Pharmacies that work 24/7, there's a system of "Pharmacy Shifts", where some pharmacies take turns to be open during the whole night. The amount of people depends heavily on the climate, Uruguayans won't go much outside during some hours if the climate is not summer-like. If you want to see some movement during the night there are specific neighbourhoods, the same happens during day time.
Too hot, too cold yadda yadda yadda lol
If you could do a video or atleast a 2 min short of what countries have had the more reasonable reactions to the pandemic situation and/or vax requirements I would appreciate it. Thanks again. Loved your book and your content on yt. Keep it up✌
Absolutely
Gosh, this guy is duller than Montevideo, and I live here
LOL
well said
Hi! The pandemic has disrupted normal life throughout the country. A large number of tourists, cruise ships, etc. gave another joy to the city. But living in Montevideo has its advantages: lots of nature nearby, a very rich and varied cultural life, and a very active nightlife (which starts very late as in Buenos Aires). The schedules for the moment are restricted, as well as the big concerts. But when everything is back to normal you won't be able to say that life in Montevideo is boring. I hope you will be able to come back then and have a different experience and the real spirit of the country, you can have a lot of fun!
How do you visit nature if there are no public lands though?
@@chrisf247 I am not sure I have quite caught your meaning, but we have plenty of public natural parks all over the country, beaches are free , the city has many big parks, you even have a place near the airport with many lakes where you can do free sports, In north, international thermal places surrounded by nature, "estancias", farms, law rise mountains but very quiet. The sea wolf island is the second in the world, you can see whales along the shore, We have one of the richest varieties of bird species, so experts from all over the world come to study them. And you have only a bit more than three million people living in the country, so you can free access to all the natural places. People from abroad appreciate that a lot. And in summer Punta del Este hosts most of the largest sports and cultural events in the world, big parties, and international music festivals.
@@Mrnddm I would say we do not have low mountains... we just have a few hills. People usually relate the word mountain with climbing and skiing.. and that is not possible in Uruguay... we don't even have snow...
@@lauruguayitausa You can climb hills, in fact a lot is done in Uruguay and it is not boring at all to do so. We don't have snow and what? It does not mean that this is bad, Brazil is 90% green and there is nothing wrong with it, if you are looking for snow go to Chile or Argentina
@@Willingtomb Imagino que sos uruguayo, y deberias releer mi comentario. Fue para aclararle que no hay montañas ni nieve, no como algo negativo, sino como un hecho. Cuando la gente de países como USA piensa en montañas, inmediatamente lo asocia con nieve y skii... en invierno. De ahi mi aclaración. Porque seria desagradabe si alguno por despistado o mal informado, llega al país con indumentaria para esquiar, para darse cuenta que no hay montañas ni nieve. Yo no hable de que fuera malo, ni nada por el estilo. Esa creo fue tu interpretación.
I had a job interview by some guys in Montevideo. They were so impressed I could name their country lol.
Having been to Uruguay pre-COVID, I wonder how the siesta hours have changed post-COVID? Most businesses closed between 1:00 P.M. and 3:00 P.M. Offices would close for the day at 4:30 P.M., retail by 8:00 P.M. Bars, taverns, night clubs and supper restaurants, would open at 8:00 P.M., become crowded by 11:00 P.M. and close between 4-5:00 A.M. In Montevideo and Punta de Este, by 10:00 P.M., there were people everywhere. By your video, it looks like something has changed. Uruguayan Spanish is a combination of Spanish, German and Italian.
Yeah, it seems like he just went to the center of the city on a Sunday at 3pm and decided that it was like that all year around. When in reality there is a lot of movement and restaurants, clubs, etc. I got back home at 4am last night and people was just leaving clubs and restaurants, it was full of people now that 75% of the population is vaccinated
Not enough research just like passing by with little or no effort at all. Sometimes this kind of things happen when you don't do your homework. Glad to hear you did get to live the city/country in a better (real) way.
Your insight is closer to reality than Andrew's. So, nothing has changed since your time here
I suspect afternoons in most hot countries are quiet and not like us and a
My parents are both from Uruguay, I’m planning to add citizenship there, I’m a US/UK dual citizen already.
I'm going to a CVS pharmacy where I should find what I need for my headache after watching this video, I'll go to the market when I need groceries.
And go to the street market when you need good quality fresh fruits and vegetables for a reasonable price.
@@sutash9043 Farmer's Market here I come.
lol yes, he went to the groceries store to get aspirin and got upset, is like looking to buy fresh produce at the butcher's...
In Uruguay, excitement and enjoyment are found in the simplicity of things, and you gotta know where and what to look for in order to find it.
Pd: if you're gonna live somewhere, the "only choice" is the capital Montevideo. Punta del Este is reserved as a turist destination for summer,it is quite dead (and still expensive) the rest of the year.
I totally disagree. I would not live in MVD is someone paid me. Punta is a great place to live all year round. I love it. Plenty of people now year round.
Yes I loved Uruguay 🇺🇾🇺🇸, it's expensive, probably the most expensive in south America. But it's worth it. I loved Punta Del Este Beach ⛱️. Great people and very beautiful country
How much is a burger? And a steak with sides? At the cheaper restaurant!! Thanks
Punta del Este is the tourist center of the country, but the rest of the country is cheaper than this city
@@Willingtomb Yes but it's like the "Miami beach" of Uruguay! I loved it! Excellent 👍 country brother 🇺🇾🇺🇸 I would love to come back
@@Ro33West About $10 a plate 🍽️
Well, his impression are the same as anybody visiting a foreign country, while trying to continue in the same lifestyle, instead of enjoying local things....
Lately I have seen many americans and europeans a bit irritated because things here don't go like in their home.
I'm from Uruguay and you're right, it is boring, not much happening. I'm from Punta del Este, and it is so boring during winter, is cold and quite depressing with all the empty buildings. Unless you like the beach that's all that it is to do, during summer there are a few more things to do but not that much.
I left Uruguay because because of the lack of entertainment, I love galleries, museums, cafes and good restaurants, you won't get that in Uruguay.
On the other hand, I do think it is a great place for retirement, have a house in a beach town with a pool, get the recliner or relax beside the fire place in winter, just enjoy nature and fresh air.
What you say is true, but not that much anymore. Punta del Este is experiencing a huge change after Covid and is becoming a nice small city with a lot of services and things to do all year round.
@@lilialbi1784 hopefully that trend is here to stay, it'll be nice to see it as all year around city !
Montevideo is full of restaurants, cafes and museums...idk what you are talking about
@@Fan_Girl-xd8wy well I guess it depends on the person, we all have different view points.
Thanks for your perspective! May I ask where did you move to? I'm asking because I'm considering moving to Punta del Este and would like your opinion as someone who already lived there
I'll take nice and boring, please.
Maybe it's covid and they were having some rules? I'm not from Uruguay but it seems like judging a country on a short visit without living there a while isn't fair.
im a simple uruguayan, i see Uruguay on the title, i click
Literal 😂
Love your channel. I hope you make it to Paraguay someday to share your thoughts on that country.
Yes, would love to see his take on Paraguay.
Thank you for "damning it with faint praise". The fewer of our fellow North Americans that go there, the better for it.
Consumer culture hasn't gotten us long term sustainability, only growing inequality...glad Uruguay is better in that regard. FYI different countries have different cultures and ways. How interesting that you run away from the USA and you complain as to why Uruguay isn't the same. Your point of view needs to be better informed because it's mediocre at best. I will stop now and not be subscribing.
Glad you reviewed it this way. Keep Uruguay a hidden gem, and people with your attitude away.
exacto
The Carrasco casino hotel in Carrasco outside of Montevideo and the Conrad in Punta del leste are the 2 bets hotels in Uruguay
Parts of Italy are a lot like what you are describing in Uruguay...so is Romania. To be honest Uruguay is on my must see list, I haven't been there yet.
Andrew there are lot of high quality hotels in Uruguay, you need to know what to search for. Fasano Las Piedras, Bahia Vik, etc. and with the restaurants same: la huella, lo de tere, la burngogne. You need a better tour guy next time
I think you've been traveling in South American long enough not to be surprised by how few shops are actually open on weekends (particularly Sundays, of course). I guess Colombia is a bit more flexible, but even there you get a feel of the weekend virus. :-v Santa Marta, in what seems to be your favorite South American country, is really quiet on a Sunday with most commerce closed too. Between us, though, if you haven't been to Santa Marta yet, I honestly wouldn't bother.
Santa Marta, a country???
@@lauruguayitausa I didn't say that, learn how to read.
I lived in Uruguay as a foreigner for over 6 years. Just a few observations on your commentary. One of the central reasons you don’t see great value for money is Uruguay’s over excessive consumer and import taxation. This is is necessary because a large proportion of Uruguayans work for the state with pensions thereafter. Many of these roles are quite frankly unnecessary, creating one piece of stamped paper from another. The slow state bureaucracy does exist, just as with many other Latin American countries, but it does function - and for the best part without a corruption element. I don’t subscribe to your view Uruguay is boring. It’s laid back but it really depends on what your looking for. MVD feels more like a town than a city. You are likely to bump into friends whilst walking in it. I personally have always liked the size and access. Lastly, on to the food. When I arrived there were limited choices. Food options were limited to Italian / Spanish influences. In fact we were the first to bring Indian cuisine to the country, supplying embassy staff deprived of spices. That has changed a lot these days. The choices, whilst not quite London or New York, has become more cosmopolitan in nature. So has the prices. You really need a local to tell you where to go as some places are hidden in the backstreets of the city.
Next time stay in punta carretas, pocitos, or carrasco! Plenty of luxury hotels and shops.
Uruguay is a very unique place exactly because of how calm it can be, but there are certantly some more cosmopolitan areas, you just have to know where to look. great video.
There are only 3 million people here, so its quiet, fortunately.
Uruguay is a country for their people we don't care about going above for turists,we respect our culture and history. You don't like it stay out .
Uruguay is basically Argentina's Canada (with various tax benefits designed for people from Argentina and beaches). We all talk about it like Americans talk about Canada. So clean! I'm moving there if this place (Argentina) doesn't shape up! (PS Argentina is not shaping up). Every once in a while a whole bunch of gringos become obsessed with the place for some reason (Travel and Leisure magazine spreads of Jose Ignacio maybe), and they all threaten to move there. I have residency in Uruguay, but the country locked us all out during the virus wave 1, including passport holders. You needed a special permission to come and go from your own country, sort of like Canada and Australia. So yeah, Uruguay, its a little like the CUNA countries Andrew hates as far as rules and paperwork. And Uruguayans are organized and pretty low on the corruption scale so you will be doing the paperwork and following the rules. Unlike some other locales which seem worse but where small gratuities fix everything.
I am Uruguayan/Canadian Citizen and can say apart from the sizes and economy they are very similar countries more than Argentina. Look at the numbers, average age, public servants and more they are all the same.
Yikes!!!! Sounds expensive
Not interesting, but not dangerous crime, not near a war zone, unlike the best value for your buck, laid-back home-family oriented lifestyle and Uruguayan teams in the continental football tournaments. I'm in love
Also... it's not boring at all. He just went to visit on a Sunday afternoon during a pandemic. Most people leave town on the weekends,
Thanks for your honest opinions, everyone’s experience can be different but I love that you are straight and honest! Love your live research 🧐
Not enough crime or war torn action for me. Show me the dangerous areas Mr.H.
Beautiful country and the people are very laid back. It is very quiet even in Montevideo. That being said there is a vibrant music & nightlife in the city if you start your nights a 9-10PM. The city runs a European time schedule, so expect late lunches, dinners & very late nightlife.
I spent a couple of months in the government district at a Spanish language school. The school was teaching classes in English-Spanish, French-Spanish and Portuguese-Spanish. During that time I met people from all over the world including some that were in the process of moving to the country. There was even an Indian couple that were moving from Dubai.
The quietness of the country didn't bother me. The weather was a different story. I was there in the fall and the cold was already starting. That was pass for me at that point. I prefer the quietness of a remote beach somewhere over being stuck in four walls for months on end 😏
Please do more of these videos about different countries you visit!
I loved this video about Uruguay, it seems fairly accurate and pretty insightful.
It's not.
It seems that you visit Uruguay during a weekend when wether is nice
Everyone it’s going to the beach resorts, lots of people has houses outside Montevideo
Going to downtown during the weekend is a bad move
Downtown is for during the week
You forgot one thing... no traffic jams. You can cross the city in half an hour. After living in Sao Paulo that's priceless to me.
And in a bike y 3/4 hour
Sold
this sounds perfect.
Maybe he forgot to mention that being a stable country with a good business environment, the country offers a series of tax and economic benefits that make it an attractive option for expats when buying property..
Also, some of the tax benefits that Uruguay offers are one of the lowest corporate tax rates in Latin America, the exemption from capital gains taxes for investments in fixed assets or tax reductions for companies that hire local labor. .
Love to see my house (my literal home) in this video hahah Montevideo is a quiet city, very expensive but with an excellent health system, Punta del Este is horribly expensive, best places ro relocate are Ciudad de la Costa, just at the outsides of Montevideo, much cheaper prices overall and the capital its just half an hour away, beasides..the beaches are spectacular there
The malls are open until 9 pm, and you can buy pretty much anything there.
You said it. Uruguay has reputation. Thats it. We used to do things right but in the past 20 years Uruguay has declined to a point thaht it is unrecognizable to what it was. The Switzerland of America, sure, 100 years ago. Now we are fast going the way of Argentina.
Ok, tell me in what ways you are declining? The crime? I don't care for legalized marijuana and I suspect people will regret that in the future. But I would like to hear from you about the the worsening situation.
Well that is sad.
@Uruguayanflyers Thanks. The new government has given me some reason for optimism. I hope it works out well for them.