Best Places In The World To Retire
Recently Answered Questions
What are the best places in Mexico to live and retire?
Merida Yucatan is one of the richest provincial cities in Mexico, and is an excellent option for settling down to live, due to its excellent infrastructure, amenities and major air connections to the United States and Mexico City.
Currently, its estimated 14,000 to 20,000 foreigners live full or part time in Yucatan.
Som eproperties in the Historic Center of Merida are sold for over USD $25,000 and their value may increase by eight or ten times, even more if they are...
Merida Yucatan is one of the richest provincial cities in Mexico, and is an excellent option for settling down to live, due to its excellent infrastructure, amenities and major air connections to the United States and Mexico City.
Currently, its estimated 14,000 to 20,000 foreigners live full or part time in Yucatan.
Som eproperties in the Historic Center of Merida are sold for over USD $25,000 and their value may increase by eight or ten times, even more if they are restored homes.
In recent years, Merida has seen its streets explode with art and culture. Something is always happening in Merida, such as concerts, festivities, parades and celebrations, which are a common sight in this vibrant city. You can also join groups engaged in rescuing dogs and cats, and help to make Merida a more attractive destination. Foreign expatriates also meet in reading workshops, such as the Merida English Language Library; as well as in art workshops, travel groups, wine-tasting groups, biking groups, dancing and language classes. There is no better way to learn Spanish than enrolling in a language school, and there are a large number of these institutions in Merida.
Merida residents flock to the port cities of Celestun, Sisal or Telchac to stroll along its beaches and take a dip in the emerald green waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Undiscovered beachfront fishing villages are always bustling with food and craft vendors, local residents and beach-goers, and the waters just off the coast are calm, clean and good for swimming.
Grab a seat at one of the many palapas (thatched-roof restaurants) that extend the length of the beachfront for an excellent spot to sample some of Yucatan’s distinct regional cuisine. Seafood dishes are popular and include sopa de mariscos (seafood soup), pescado tikin-xic (grouper seasoned with achiote).
Progreso is also a popular cruise ship destination, and the city is famous for its pier that extends an impressive four miles into the Gulf of Mexico. Cruise ship passengers arriving in Progreso are often bused the length of the pier before embarking on Progreso excursions, many heading inland to visit the city of Merida or tour the Mayan ruins at Uxmal and Chichén Itza.
Come and visit us and decide for yourself.
(Pictured above: Alfonso Galindo with daughter Zara at Izamal, Yucatan. Pictured below: Alfonso Galindo at Puerto Morelos, Yucatan Peninsula.)
In Nicaragua, do I have to worry about malaria, yellow fever and other diseases we don't generally have in North America?
What's the crime rate against Americans and other expats in Corozal?
There have been a couple of incidents of crime recently in Corozal that put a lot of people off. There is some petty theft, but there's always going to be petty theft anywhere you go.What I see in the area is Belizean on Belizean crime. Generally, it is two Belizeans getting in an argument, particularly when alcohol is involved. One of them pulls out a machete and whacks the other guy with it or they come to blows.
As far as violent crime, it's almost...
There have been a couple of incidents of crime recently in Corozal that put a lot of people off. There is some petty theft, but there's always going to be petty theft anywhere you go.What I see in the area is Belizean on Belizean crime. Generally, it is two Belizeans getting in an argument, particularly when alcohol is involved. One of them pulls out a machete and whacks the other guy with it or they come to blows.
As far as violent crime, it's almost non-existent in the Corozal district. Any violent crime against expats, regardless where they're from, is very low.
My recommendation is to not isolate yourself from the community, but to integrate and get to know people. Belizeans are very friendly in general. They want to help and love the fact that expats are there investing money and giving people jobs.
Corozal is not a huge tourist area so there aren't a lot of opportunities to earn income. What you have are residents of the area, as opposed to tourists. The more development that goes on when gringos build houses, improve property, and do these sorts of things, then there are more jobs for the local Belizeans. Even if you hire a US contractor, all his labor is going to be Belizean labor. This is a nice economic benefit for the locals that they're happy about.
Once you get to know people, they begin to want to help you and look out for you. If you ask the locals, "What would you do in this situation?" They're going to tell you what they would do. It may not be exactly what you would do if you were in the US, Canada, or wherever you might have come from. However, if you're getting along in the Belizean lifestyle, then you need to listen to what the locals have to tell you and take that into consideration when you make a decision; whether it's somebody they recommended as a mechanic or someone who knows how to do electrical work.
You can also ask other expats. In many cases, we have learned our lessons the hard way and want to help our fellows who come down to Corozal by smoothing the way a little bit.
I'm much more concerned about crime in Dallas, Texas than here in Corozal, Belize. It doesn't seem to matter where you live or how nice the area is. There's going to be crime, whether it's somebody breaking into your car or breaking into your house. We are armed in Dallas, Texas and there's a reason for that. It's not legal to be armed everywhere, but in Texas it is. We do have firearms and keep them in the house for personal protection.
We do not have any weapons in Belize. If ever we do, it will be for sporting purposes. We don't ever feel threatened and even leave our houses unlocked a lot of the time. We've got great neighbors who look out for things. We also own a pack of dogs that are well taken care of and they run all over the property. Between the dogs, the neighbors, and just the fact that we're integrated into the local community, we don't feel like crime is a threat to us here in Corozal.
Are there English-speaking doctors in Portugal?
I often say that you feel safer if you can be sick in your own language. There are excellent hospitals and excellent doctors in Portugal, all of whom speak English. The nurses also speak English. You are very well cared for.
I often say that you feel safer if you can be sick in your own language. There are excellent hospitals and excellent doctors in Portugal, all of whom speak English. The nurses also speak English. You are very well cared for. Are the doctors in Panama good?
What are the worst reasons to retire overseas?
The worst reason that I can think of for retiring overseas is that you’re unhappy where you are. I have seen very few examples, if any at all, of somebody being fundamentally being unhappy where they are, and coming to a different country, and miraculously becoming happy. It’s very hard to chase happiness from that regard.
The worst reason that I can think of for retiring overseas is that you’re unhappy where you are. I have seen very few examples, if any at all, of somebody being fundamentally being unhappy where they are, and coming to a different country, and miraculously becoming happy. It’s very hard to chase happiness from that regard. Recently Posted Expat Stories
Getting in Trouble in Panama
One of the ways I make my living is on the Panama Expat circuit as an advisor or guest speaker. One of my favorite lines is, “If you want to get in trouble, you have to work at it in Panama.” In my almost 19 years here, I have been robbed twice. Each was basically my fault since I didn't follow my own advice.

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