Best Places In The World To Retire

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Recently Answered Questions

How are the rules of etiquette or customs different in Mexico?

Ivan Castillo - Secure Title Riviera Maya

The rules of etiquette or customs in Mexico aren’t that much different than in the US because we’re neighboring countries. So from a cultural perspective I consider that how Americans behave would apply here in Mexico, meaning people would like to be spoken to with decency, without bad language, just try to be honest and so on.

I have dealt in the past with certain foreigners who sometimes arrive to Mexico not being aware of how their attitude...

I have dealt in the past with certain foreigners who sometimes arrive to Mexico not being aware of how their attitude should be with Mexicans and sometimes I’ve seen that they can be insulting but those are very isolated events. The people who are rude in Mexico would be the same people who would be rude in the US because they would be acting in the same way.

Relative to the “mañana culture,” if someone invites you for dinner and they say be there at 7 o’clock, you should show up at 7 o’clock, but this hardly ever happens. You can divide the circumstances into two groups. If you’re going to dinner with friends and just to hang out it doesn’t matter if you’re 10 or 15 minutes late; the time would be “seven-ish”, as Americans say. However, if you’re going to be visiting your attorney, your doctor, if you’re conducting business, then you have to be on time.

For example, I always like to be on time because that reflects well on me as a professional and on the company I’m representing. It’s always good to be on time to deliver things that you promised and at the same time you request your customers to be there on time as well because as a professional, if I schedule a meeting at 10 AM with you and I schedule an 11 AM meeting with somebody else and you’re late 15 minutes then that means probably my 11 AM meeting will be late as well. So that’s why it’s important to be very well on time if you’re conducting business.

How's the biking in and around Panama?

Neil Stein - Panama Paraiso

The wonderful biking in Panama is one of the reasons I moved to this country. I like to ride a road bike at least 100 miles each week. That is easy to do here if you have the time and desire. The roads are excellent in most places and often have quite a bit of shade as well.

There are many organized rides and races throughout Panama, including triathlons and the famous "Ocean to Ocean" ride/race which takes place in early April each year....

How's the golf in and around Algarve?

Luis Teixeira da Silva - Algarve Senior Living

Golf course at Parque da Floresta Golf and Leisiure Resort, Algrave, Portugal – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

The golf in and around Algarve is a hole in one! It’s not per chance that the Algarve has been voted the best European Golf Destination several times by the World Travel Association. If my memory serves me right, I think the Algarve has been voted The World’s Best Golf Destination on more than one occasion.

Algarve has over forty golf courses and the quality of the golf courses is superb. Several of the golf courses in the Algarve are amongst...

Algarve has over forty golf courses and the quality of the golf courses is superb. Several of the golf courses in the Algarve are amongst the Top 100 in the world. The quality of the greens and the fairways is fantastic.

There are different levels of difficulty across the golf courses in Algarve from the westernmost Parque da Floresta golf course, which is probably one of the most difficult golf courses in the Algarve, to the golf courses on the Spanish border like Castro Marim, which is one of the easier golf courses to play.

There are certain golfing destinations in the Algarve that have reputations in their own right such as Vilamoura, which has five golf courses within that region or town alone and six if you consider Vila Sol.

The Algarve is a superb golfing destination. Our company, Algarve Senior Living, supports golfing associations, in particular for the senior market and people who sign up for these golfing associations are also able to play golf on a weekly basis at a discounted rate. For people who move here and have golf as a passion, there are many ways to play a huge range of courses and do so reasonably inexpensively. Having played in the US, I can tell that for a similar type of course, with the similar degree of difficulty, and the same quality of course, costs around 1/3 the price in the Algarve compared to the US.

( Golf course at Parque da Floresta Golf and Leisure Resort, Algarve, Portugal, pictured.)

How much does it cost for a gardener in Cayo, Belize, including San Ignacio and Belmopan?

Jonathan Lohr - Ceiba Realty Ltd.

Esperanza, Cayo, Belize, home – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

Normally, you can get a gardener / all around handyman in the Cayo / San Ignacio area in Belize for US $15 to $20 for a day. He will work on your lawn, trim the trees and shrubs, take out the garbage, and be a handyman. Normally, a gardener works 8 hours a day; from 7 AM to 4 PM or 8 AM to 5 PM, with an hour off for lunch.

If you want someone who is a skilled gardener in San Ignacio, it’s going to be more expensive because they will probably need their own vehicle...

What are the things I'll be most happily surprised by when moving or retiring abroad?

John Ohe - Hola Expat Tax Services

Expats in Antigua, Guatemala – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

There are so many things to be happily surprised by when retiring abroad. It really is subject to the individual person.

When you consider moving abroad, you're likely going to pick a place that you feel matches your personality. There's an interesting Facebook thing going around where you can answer a few questions and based on the personality questions you answered, the Facebook quiz picks the country that most closely fits your personality...

There are so many things to be happily surprised by when retiring abroad. It really is subject to the individual person.

You can choose the country, the city, the kind of town, whether it's "hustle-and-bustle", the beach, or quiet mountain living. When you do the research to move abroad, you're picking a place that you think is going to make you happy.

In my case, I moved to Antigua, Guatemala. It's a nice mix. There's a bunch of expats here and lots of great restaurants. The weather is always between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. I've got children with asthma, so the weather and avoidance of cold weather was really an important criterion for me.

You get to choose the kind of speed, climate, activity level, and type of people in the community. This is the number one advantage that I can think of being an expat.

The second happy surprise is that, in most places in the world outside of the US, you're going to have a much more affordable lifestyle. This is a big concern, not only for retirees, but also for younger people who are building businesses and want a longer runway on the money that they have at their disposal to put towards their business while they're saving on living costs. The cost of living differential between the US and wherever you may be living is an important factor.

Third is the change of pace. There may be a language and cultural difference. When you move abroad, you're exposed to things that are different, which are intellectually and emotionally stimulating.

(Expats in Antigua, Guatemala, pictured.)

How's the nightlife and entertainment in and around San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua?

Estefanía Calvet

I enjoy my visits to San Juan del Sur. I start by spending the afternoon at the beach with a cold drink, waiting for the sunset, next to El Timón (one of the best restaurants in the area). Around 7:00 PM you can have a great dinner at the same restaurant with live music, nice people and relax. At 10:00 PM, go to Henry's Iguana, where you can dance and enjoy the night. The party ends around 3:00 AM. You can walk back to your hotel, and don't worry; no one will try...

Recently Posted Expat Stories

Israel Meets Lebanon

Flag Pins for Israel and Lebanon – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

"Come sit next to me", said Sheyla. I followed her, wondering if it would calm my anxiety. Immediately I knew that we were going to be good friends. Our families were in countries far away, and this tropical land, its language and people was all we had. I was 12, did not speak any Spanish, but I knew this experience would change me forever.

Before arriving to Venezuela, I had studied in Jewish schools, and for the first time I was surrounded by students from all over the world. I...

Boquete, Panamá, Today

Hi Friends

My name is Lissy and I want to share with you my trip to Boquete today. I went to Big Daddy’s Grill and had the best shrimp taco ever, and the day was nice; we have a great coffee!!! Ufff the margarita is the besttttt.

Today was very quiet for a Friday night, a little rain but nothing to worry about; I just remember why people love Boquete so much!!! Peaceful place with the nature...

Surfing in Panamá

Regions of Panama: Punta Chame

Panamá has always been a country with warm and friendly people who welcome all nationalities. It has also been a place of transit since the 15th century, when visitors came with gold from Perú to Spain. Later, with the construction of the Panamá Canal (considered one of the Eight Wonders of the World), workers from all the world wanted to be part of this great mega-project.

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