Best Places In The World To Retire

How's the golf in and around Yucatan: Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen, Cancun, Merida, etc?

Paulina Almeida - Tao Real Estate

Golf course at Tao Inspired Living, Akumal, Mexico – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

The state of Quintana Roo (includes Cancun, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and here in Akumal has amazing golf courses. Bahia Principe comes with a golf residence, so we are surrounded by a golf course called Robert Trent Jones II, named after the golfer who designed the golf course. The views from the golf course are amazing, like green, lush grass that blends in with the jungle. Golfing is an amazing sport for people who come around Quintana Roo.

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Where are the best beaches in Belize?

Macarena Rose - Rainforerst Realty

best beaches Phoenix Resort on Ambergris Caye Belize – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

There are areas of San Pedro, Ambergris Caye (photo on the right) and certain areas of Hopkins and Placencia that have beautiful beaches. Those are the three predominant places that have beautiful beaches.

San Pedro has hotels and businesses, and so their beach areas are not necessarily the ones where people lay out in the sun, but they do play in the water. If you get a little bit to the north or to the south, the beaches become more private,...

There are areas of San Pedro, Ambergris Caye (photo on the right) and certain areas of Hopkins and Placencia that have beautiful beaches. Those are the three predominant places that have beautiful beaches.

San Pedro has hotels and businesses, and so their beach areas are not necessarily the ones where people lay out in the sun, but they do play in the water. If you get a little bit to the north or to the south, the beaches become more private, and there are some other resorts that have more of an intimate, Caribbean beach feel. They are just beautiful and have beautiful white sand.

If you are in Placencia, there are certain areas where the beach is prettier. I like the southern part of the peninsula, since there are a lot of nice beach areas there. There is certain resorts that have their own beaches and they keep them very nice. A lot of the beaches have some marsh grass, so to swim in them is not so nice. But if you go out to the pier and you jump into the water, it is absolutely gorgeous. Beaches are nice if you are in a resort area and you have a house. People who live there and the resorts, rake the beach every morning because then, the bugs won’t bite you, and it keeps the beaches nice and clean.

best beaches Almond Beach Hopkins Stann Creek Belize – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

Hopkins has beautiful beaches also (photo on the left). There are different areas of Hopkins that have the best beaches.

I cannot really say that there are any bad beach in Belize because you have the Caribbean Sea, which is just the most beautiful thing to look out at and see, because of the different hues of blue. Sometimes when you look at the Caribbean Sea, you will see five to six different shades of blue, so it is just breathtaking.

We have the barrier reef in San Pedro that runs the whole length of the country. It is the second largest barrier reef in the whole world. Everyone thinks of Australia’s barrier reef, but Belize has the second largest, and yet we are a small country. It is a big feature in our area. Our reef is very alive. That is why we have such great fishing.

What's the food like in the markets in Boquete, Panama?

Debbie Fishell - Expat Freedom

Boquete local farmers' market – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

I live about an hour and a half from Boquete, but I make the drive to the Tuesday Farmer's Market once or twice each month for the amazing produce and other goodies. One of my favorite vendors is Eric, aka 2 Guys and a Cooler, who prepares gourmet meals that are frozen and $6-8 for each serving for 2. Things like Chicken Cordon Bleu and various casseroles. I like to get a few for the nights I don't feel like cooking or I'm too busy. There are few restaurants in my little town of...

What are the best reasons to retire to Portugal?

Ana Ferraz

One of the best reasons to retire in Portugal is the safety. Where I live here in Portugal, I can go to the café or to the supermarket around the corner and I don’t have to lock my front door. The neighbors know each other and if anything happens, everybody watches for each other. In contrast, in England, everybody keeps to themselves. They don’t trust anybody because of the crime. We don’t have that here in Portugal because you know your neighbors. In England, you...

One of the best reasons to retire in Portugal is the safety. Where I live here in Portugal, I can go to the café or to the supermarket around the corner and I don’t have to lock my front door. The neighbors know each other and if anything happens, everybody watches for each other. In contrast, in England, everybody keeps to themselves. They don’t trust anybody because of the crime. We don’t have that here in Portugal because you know your neighbors. In England, you can live on the same street and not know your neighbor next door.

Another good reason to retire in Portugal is the lower cost of living. My daughter lives in England but she comes here four times a year and she is constantly amazed by the prices here in Portugal. It’s very cheap.

The quality and taste of food in Portugal is another factor for retiring here. Food here has a flavor. We have very good cuisine. The fish is unbelievable. Meat is very good as well. You only need to You just haves to know where to buy your food. Once you know that, you will have food that is very tasty.

Healthcare in Portugal is good. I would recommend the private health system here in Portugal because of the good quality and fast service. Relative to the US, healthcare I Portugal is extremely inexpensive and it’s possible to get insurance for a couple in good health, without pre-existing conditions for around €60 to €100 (US $65 or £44 to US $109 or £73) a month. If you have insurance and you go to see a doctor, it would cost €30 to €40 (US $33 or £22 to $44 or £29).

The weather is great in Portugal. During December, we have sunshine and the temperature is 20 degrees Celsius (68 Fahrenheit). That is winter, so it’s great. We are not on the Mediterranean but we are by the Atlantic Ocean so we have mild temperatures. We don’t get snow or frost. In the winter, the temperature goes down to about 10 to 20 degrees Celsius (50 to 68 Fahrenheit).

The lifestyle here in Portugal is very nice as well. People are very friendly. There are a lot of outdoor activities so you don’t spend too much time at home. You can definitely keep yourself busy by going to the beach, golfing, horseback riding, playing water sports, etc.

So to me, those are the best reasons to retire in Portugal; the safety, everything being cheaper here, the food, healthcare, great weather, and the wine. What else do you want in life?

How's the standard of living in Granada, Nicaragua?

John-Marc Gallagher - GPS Real Estate

The standard of living in Granada, Nicaragua Granada, Nicaragua bedroom of luxurious home – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

Granada, Nicaragua bedroom of luxurious home – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

is subjective. It’s completely different for the native Nicaraguan, who makes $600 to $1,000 a month, as compared to the standard of living for the expat.

Even discussing the standard of living for the typical expat in Granada, Nicaragua is all over the board because there are expats who are living solely on Social Security, all the way to expats who are multi-millionaires who have homes in three...

The standard of living in Granada, Nicaragua Granada, Nicaragua bedroom of luxurious home – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

is subjective. It’s completely different for the native Nicaraguan, who makes $600 to $1,000 a month, as compared to the standard of living for the expat.

Even discussing the standard of living for the typical expat in Granada, Nicaragua is all over the board because there are expats who are living solely on Social Security, all the way to expats who are multi-millionaires who have homes in three different locations of the world and where their home in Granada is just one of their homes, and they spend a couple months here, a couple months, for example, in Ecuador, some time in Spain, etc.

Discussing the standard of living in Granada, Nicaragua is not like discussing the standard of living in the United States, for example, in Miami. In Granada, there is no average per se because of the interesting diversity of the people living here.

Relative to what you could buy in and what standard of living you would be able to attain in Granada as opposed to the United States, your money stretches a lot farther here in Granada, as a Third World country. In Granada, your basic supplies or basic “basket” (what they call in Spanish, your “canasta”) defines what it costs to live at the sustenance level. This includes things like eggs, milk, cheese, butter, rice and beans. The basic basket is much less expensive in Granada than in the US. But even above that, the cost for items such as rent, movies, dinners, all are much more affordable in Granada than in North America.

Here are some examples. The cost to build a luxury house in the US is about US $150 per square foot. You can build the same luxury house in Granada for $55 - $60 per square foot. You go out to dinner and a movie in the US for $125 and here in Granada, the same would cost you $40 - $60.

The cost for medical attention is much, much Metropolitan Hospital in Managua, Nicargua, arial shot – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

Metropolitan Hospital in Managua, Nicargua, arial shot – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

less in Granada as compared with the US. Let’s consider, for example, elective cosmetic surgery, because its something your insurance wouldn’t pay for. In the US, it may cost you $2,500 to have your eyelids done. Here, it will cost you $450. A colonoscopy in the US would cost you $1,800 to $3,500. If your insurance covers it, it may cost $2,500, so with a deductible, you may pay $500 out of pocket. In Nicaragua, a colonoscopy is $350 total, without insurance. Here in Nicaragua I just pay for items like colonoscopies in cash (no insurance) for the same amount I would have to pay with insurance in the US. Then, I get to keep whatever my monthly insurance cost in the US would be—many, many thousands of dollars per year.

In Granada, we live very well. If you’re living on $3,000 a month in Granada, you can afford to have a maid and a gardener / driver. You would pay each of them $200 per month. So, if you want to go out at night and you don’t want to have to drive, you can have your driver take you. And, you can have a maid all day for 5 – 6 days a week who also cooks your meals for you.

Even though you may not need as much money to live in Granada as compared with the US, your standard of living is higher in Granada. You can afford the help, either because you need it, or you just want to have a more relaxed lifestyle.

What should I be most concerned about regarding retiring abroad?

Allen Rosen - Chiriqui Coastal Real Estate

The number 1 challenge you will encounter if you retire overseas is ...... you. That's right, you. You will arrive in your new country. You will find things you like and you will find things you don't like. Maybe things that drive you crazy. You can pull your hair out at these things.Or you can spend all day complaining to other expats. Or you can pack your bags and go back to your old county. Or .... you can decide to adapt to your new country and its different customs and habits.

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Recently Answered Questions

How's the golf in and around Yucatan: Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen, Cancun, Merida, etc?

Where are the best beaches in Belize?

What's the food like in the markets in Boquete, Panama?

What are the best reasons to retire to Portugal?

How's the standard of living in Granada, Nicaragua?

What should I be most concerned about regarding retiring abroad?

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Best Places In The World To Retire