Best Places In The World To Retire

The best things about living and retiring in Yucatan are the safety, the people, access to good medical care, restaurants, museums, and all kinds of cultural activities. The Yucatan is a unique untouched cultural mecca.  It’s not like the rest of Mexico because there’s so much culture here in Yucatan still. There are many Mayan people here in Yucatan who still eat the same food, wear the same kind of clothes, and have the same sort of rituals and practices that they...

The best things about living and retiring in Yucatan are the safety, the people, access to good medical care, restaurants, museums, and all kinds of cultural activities. The Yucatan is a unique untouched cultural mecca.  It’s not like the rest of Mexico because there’s so much culture here in Yucatan still. There are many Mayan people here in Yucatan who still eat the same food, wear the same kind of clothes, and have the same sort of rituals and practices that they had for many generations. 

 

The worst things about living and retiring in Yucatan would probably include having lots of street dogs, and erratic trash collection at times. But there are lots of street dogs and erratic trash collection in Canada. I could really think of more positive things than negative things.  

 

(Woman in native dress selling pozole in the market, Yucatan, Mexico, pictured.)

In Portugal, we have the national health insurance and the national health system, which is not terribly efficient and it has long waiting lists so it is advisable for people to have private health insurance, which is not expensive.

 

There are some very good private clinics and hospitals here in the major centers of Portugal. I have a health insurance policy for myself, for my wife, and my three children even though they are adults now. It costs me...

In Portugal, we have the national health insurance and the national health system, which is not terribly efficient and it has long waiting lists so it is advisable for people to have private health insurance, which is not expensive.

 

There are some very good private clinics and hospitals here in the major centers of Portugal. I have a health insurance policy for myself, for my wife, and my three children even though they are adults now. It costs me €200 (US $218 or £147) a month and it covers basically everything except dental.

 

(Logo for Pacific Prime, private medical insurance offered in Portugal, pictured.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

The economy in Belize is pretty much free market and import-driven.  Basically, anything goes.

 

Much of the major industries in Belize are controlled to some extent by monopolies. In the past, industries such as soft drinks and beer were more closed, but in the last few years, more and more products have come in and we’ve seen a lot of competition, which is good for the economy.

 

If, as an American, a Canadian, or a...

The economy in Belize is pretty much free market and import-driven.  Basically, anything goes.

 

Much of the major industries in Belize are controlled to some extent by monopolies. In the past, industries such as soft drinks and beer were more closed, but in the last few years, more and more products have come in and we’ve seen a lot of competition, which is good for the economy.

 

If, as an American, a Canadian, or a European you have great ideas, you can do well here. This is a market well acquainted with the United States because of television. People on the ground here know what is available outside the country even though it might not be available here. There are a lot of businesses or business ideas that could be implemented here that would be successful. With the right amount of capital and the right ideas, doing the proper amount of due diligence to ensure that you are dealing with reputable people, there are business opportunities here and it’s pretty much a “hands off” free market.  The government is not going to get involved as much as it would in other countries.  Belize is a great place to do business.

 

(Tour guide services in Belize, pictured.)

There is good bus service in Boquete but they are slow. There is bus service from Boquete to David (the closest largest town to Boquete, about 40 minutes away by car) and from David to Boquete. The rate is about US $2 and they travel every 20 minutes. 

 

In and around Boquete, they have a taxi service that could get you around. They also have the little buses that go around Boquete but there are more taxis. It’s not difficult to get a taxi or a...

There is good bus service in Boquete but they are slow. There is bus service from Boquete to David (the closest largest town to Boquete, about 40 minutes away by car) and from David to Boquete. The rate is about US $2 and they travel every 20 minutes. 

 

In and around Boquete, they have a taxi service that could get you around. They also have the little buses that go around Boquete but there are more taxis. It’s not difficult to get a taxi or a bus and go around town in Boquete.

 

(Bus that serves David to Boquete, pictured.)