Best Places In The World To Retire

The last statistics of the expat population that I heard from the beach area, from Chuburna Puerto to Telchac Puerto is around 3,200.
 
Relative to the Yucatan Peninsula, if you’re looking at the map, Cancun is at the right side, which is the Atlantic side. The inside of the peninsula, which is the Gulf of Mexico, goes all the way down to the Bay of Campeche through the Gulf of Mexico, back up to Texas before the Florida Panhandle, has Merida and the beaches. Merida has...

The last statistics of the expat population that I heard from the beach area, from Chuburna Puerto to Telchac Puerto is around 3,200.
 
Relative to the Yucatan Peninsula, if you’re looking at the map, Cancun is at the right side, which is the Atlantic side. The inside of the peninsula, which is the Gulf of Mexico, goes all the way down to the Bay of Campeche through the Gulf of Mexico, back up to Texas before the Florida Panhandle, has Merida and the beaches. Merida has just rebranded this area as the “Yucatan Riviera,” which stretches through Chelem, Progreso, Chicxulub, San Benito, and Telchac Puerto.

 

(Yucatan peninsula map, pictured.)

Yes, you can get a good caregiver in Portugal. But the way to do it in Portugal is not to just put an advert and wait for people to knock on your door and expect someone who is brilliant. You have to to have references like any other country in the world. Even in America, if you want a babysitter, you want references. You want someone who knows that person and that’s exactly the same here in Portugal.
 
In Portugal there’s no difficulty in finding in people because...

Yes, you can get a good caregiver in Portugal. But the way to do it in Portugal is not to just put an advert and wait for people to knock on your door and expect someone who is brilliant. You have to to have references like any other country in the world. Even in America, if you want a babysitter, you want references. You want someone who knows that person and that’s exactly the same here in Portugal.
 
In Portugal there’s no difficulty in finding in people because the unemployment rate in Portugal at the moment is 18%. So a lot of people, the unemployed, when they cannot find jobs, they apply for either taking care of children or elder people, so it’s actually quite easy to find that sort of help. You get people who would really take care, bathe the elder people, cook them a proper meal, all of this. But if the elder gets sick or has a stroke or something, they would not be prepared to help them medically. They would have to call 112, which is our version of 911. 
 
You can hire more sophisticated help such as nurses, but then the price increases a lot. You can have an average healthcare worker with no medical experience full-time working for you for €700 to €800 (US $780 to $890) a month. A live- in person would cost around $1,000 a month.  If it’s a person with medical expertise and a degree, it will cost you triple.
 

 

(Portuguese women at work, pictured.)

Horseback riding is certainly one of my all time favorite activities and there are quite a few options for everyone in Panama ranging from the first-time rider to those seeking a true adventure.

 

As some folks have mentioned, there are some riding clubs and equestrian centers in Panama City as well as other regions, no need to repeat what others have already listed.  Here are a few that I have had the opportunity to experience myself:

 

Horseback riding is certainly one of my all time favorite activities and there are quite a few options for everyone in Panama ranging from the first-time rider to those seeking a true adventure.

 

As some folks have mentioned, there are some riding clubs and equestrian centers in Panama City as well as other regions, no need to repeat what others have already listed.  Here are a few that I have had the opportunity to experience myself:

 

I loved living in Placencia. I became a mom in this village. My kids grew up here with absolutely no stress. They got everything they wanted, which is very good. I moved out of Placencia because my kids needed to go to school and the quality of education in Placencia is too low. I found that we needed something more than what the schools in Placencia offer. But if you are going to Placencia for retirement, it’s a great place to be because you will have no stress. The bars,...

I loved living in Placencia. I became a mom in this village. My kids grew up here with absolutely no stress. They got everything they wanted, which is very good. I moved out of Placencia because my kids needed to go to school and the quality of education in Placencia is too low. I found that we needed something more than what the schools in Placencia offer. But if you are going to Placencia for retirement, it’s a great place to be because you will have no stress. The bars, restaurants, and the beaches in Placencia are very nice.
 
My typical day in Placencia was not like everyone else’s because I was still working to attract tourists and retirees. It would be hard for me to live in Placencia without a job because it is too relaxed. You can swim in the sea, walk your dog, talk to the neighbors, run to a club, go to a bar, drink rum, etc.
 
In the winter, days are shorter so we wake up early and go to bed early. Many people who are retired at 3 PM you go to a bar, at 4 PM go back home, then have a nice dinner, and by 8 or 9 PM, they will be asleep. Placencia is an extremely relaxed place, so if you are a person who likes that then you will like Placencia.  But if you need a little more excitement, then Placencia might not be the place for you. I say the same thing to my clients. I try to find out what they like.
 
A funny example was when one my clients, a gentleman, said he wanted to feel the sea, and he had a green thumb. As soon as he told me that, I told him that a better place for him would be Corozal or San Ignacio because in Placencia, you are going to have a stroke over trying to grow tomatoes or any plants because it is very salty in Placencia and the soil is purely sand. Placencia is just a little above sea level. If you take a shovel and start digging, it wouldn’t take long for you to see water.
 
What it's like to live in Placencia really depends on what a person does. If you are a painter, go to Placencia. If you like to relax and meet a lot of expats, go to Placencia. Shopping is still dicey. You just have to drive 3 hours to get to Belize City or you can go to Mexico but if you feel you need these types of businesses around you, well, they do not exist in Placencia. Placencia is composed of a lot of houses, bars, and restaurants. That, and the beautiful scenery and lifestyle is what we have to offer to tourists and residents. If you are going to live in Placencia long term as a resident (as opposed to just being a tourist), you won't go on a tour every day.
 

There are English-speaking churches in Nicaragua, and in fact, my family and I attend one. It’s the International Christian Fellowship, which is also the place of the International Christian Academy, an English-based school that my children attend. 
 
Other than ICF, I know there are three other English-speaking churches in Nicaragua. I am not familiar with the Catholic churches but the embassy website recommends specific English-speaking churches, both Catholic and...

There are English-speaking churches in Nicaragua, and in fact, my family and I attend one. It’s the International Christian Fellowship, which is also the place of the International Christian Academy, an English-based school that my children attend. 
 
Other than ICF, I know there are three other English-speaking churches in Nicaragua. I am not familiar with the Catholic churches but the embassy website recommends specific English-speaking churches, both Catholic and Christian.

Yes, Americans who live abroad are still required to file a U.S. tax return, even if there's no tax due.  In fact, filing an annual U.S. tax return is actually MORE important once you live abroad.  Here's why:

 

You may be familiar with the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (the "FEIE")--that's the rule that allows Americans living abroad to make up to about $100,000 from working without paying any U.S. income tax.  Some people think that...

Yes, Americans who live abroad are still required to file a U.S. tax return, even if there's no tax due.  In fact, filing an annual U.S. tax return is actually MORE important once you live abroad.  Here's why:

 

You may be familiar with the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (the "FEIE")--that's the rule that allows Americans living abroad to make up to about $100,000 from working without paying any U.S. income tax.  Some people think that it's not important to file a return if their income is below the FEIE cap.  

 

However, the FEIE can ONLY be claimed on a filed tax return.  So, if  you were to fail to file a U.S. tax return and the IRS were to audit you, you would lose the ability to claim the FEIE.  You couldn't tell the IRS at that point that your income was below the FEIE cap each year.  You'd have to pay U.S. tax on amounts that you would have been able to earn tax-free if you'd only filed a return.  So, failing to file a return could cause you to lose the golden opportunity provided by the FEIE.

 

For Americans who are behind on U.S. tax returns, the IRS has several amnesty programs that will allow you to catch up easily without having to pay any penalties.  Talk to an experienced tax attorney to determine which amnesty program is right for you.

 

(Pictured: hotel Bora Bora)