Best Places In The World To Retire

In Los Cabos and La Paz, it is required to get a building permit and a licensed engineer to supervise the construction of anything. However, there are building inspections along the process that are not that well-done, so you really want to have a known and reputable builder or inspector watching when you build a home here. 
 
There are two types that dominate Los Cabos and La Paz constructions: block construction, which is basically a post and beam construction with blocks...

In Los Cabos and La Paz, it is required to get a building permit and a licensed engineer to supervise the construction of anything. However, there are building inspections along the process that are not that well-done, so you really want to have a known and reputable builder or inspector watching when you build a home here. 
 
There are two types that dominate Los Cabos and La Paz constructions: block construction, which is basically a post and beam construction with blocks as the pillar, the roof usually a structure of a reinforced concrete with Styrofoam insulation which makes the roof lighter; and the other is the W panel which has a couple of different styles, but is basically a Styrofoam sheet laced with a steel bridge so that the bridge protrudes in either side of the Styrofoam by 1- 1 ½ inches. In this case the whole structure is erected, and then they pass over it with 1 ½ inch of concrete on the inside and outside.  The W panel is a very strong building technique, and it’s easier and less expensive.

 

 
Any construction done here in Los Cabos requires having an inspector, whether it’s a builder friend or some architect you hire. I would recommend having a third-party inspector just to make sure the house is properly constructed. 

 

(Concrete home made with Styrofoam insulation, Baja California Sur, Mexico pictured. )

Ambergris Caye had some bad statistics on crime rate lately because Ambergris Caye is only a small island of about 20,000 people and the whole population of Belize is only about 325,000 people. For every murder that happens in Belize City, which is drug related, that is a big percentage of 325,000 people as opposed to 30 million people, which is the population of Canada. So our statistics in Belize in general and Ambergris Caye in particular are slightly skewed because of our small...

Ambergris Caye had some bad statistics on crime rate lately because Ambergris Caye is only a small island of about 20,000 people and the whole population of Belize is only about 325,000 people. For every murder that happens in Belize City, which is drug related, that is a big percentage of 325,000 people as opposed to 30 million people, which is the population of Canada. So our statistics in Belize in general and Ambergris Caye in particular are slightly skewed because of our small population. 
 
Living on San Pedro in Ambergris Caye, or on Caye Caulker, you are practically safe as long as you are not a stupid tourist, who is walking around drunk with $100 bills sticking out of your pocket. Everybody needs to use a little common sense anywhere we go.
 
In comparison to Prince Edward Island in Canada, where I used to live, living in Ambergris Caye is safer but it also depends on what activities you are involved in. If you are involved in dealing drugs or if you are a 60-year old guy who has a 21-year old girlfriend and that girlfriend also who has a boyfriend, then you could get yourself into trouble.  
 
We sold some properties recently to a 63-year old American lady who has a 28-year old boyfriend with “six-pack abs”. It is open season and people have a laissez-faire attitude down here. We have a lot of same sex couples that live together and nobody cares. Life here in Ambergris Caye is laid back.

 

(Friendly bartenders that drink with you on Ambergris Caye, Belize, pictured.)

The healthcare in Portugal was a sensitive issue for us for many years because until we joined the European Union we were an undeveloped country. We came from the two world wars then we went through a dictatorship then there was a revolution and the Communists took over and that made our country even poorer. As a result, Portugal’s medical facilities were not top of the line 30 years ago. But then we joined the European Union and as we joined the European Union, there are certain...

The healthcare in Portugal was a sensitive issue for us for many years because until we joined the European Union we were an undeveloped country. We came from the two world wars then we went through a dictatorship then there was a revolution and the Communists took over and that made our country even poorer. As a result, Portugal’s medical facilities were not top of the line 30 years ago. But then we joined the European Union and as we joined the European Union, there are certain rules with which we had to comply, and the quality of our medical systems was one of them. At that moment, there were two or three really famous Portuguese businessmen who invested heavily in medical facilities and systems, so today, and for the past 10 years, we are at the same level as any other civilized European country. So we have very good medical facilities at the moment.  We are on par with France, Great Britain, etc.
 
There was a trend 10 years ago when there was a big boom in the construction of private hospitals.  In the last 10 years, the Social Democratic Party took over, and one of their measures was to develop the public medical system, so they built all these new hospitals and clinics. I come from a middle-high class family and I use the public medical system. I compared the public and private system because I have private medical insurance and I have a public hospital near by and I use both. I didn’t used to go to the public system because of it having bad reputation in the old days. But the other day, I had a problem with my son and I took him to the public hospital and I was impressed because I got better service than at the private hospital. I don’t know if it was a coincidence but the hospital was brand new with a very quick reply. I went in and out in an hour and sometimes that doesn’t happen in hospitals around the world. So I am very, very impressed with our public medical system at the moment.  

 

(View of Hospital São José from Castelo de São Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal, pictured.)

One of the best things to do in the city of Granada, Nicaragua are the activities of the volcano Mombacho Canopy Natural Reserve.You feel that you are flying as a bird in nature; is the perfect combination for this feeling.

Also at night you can walk along Calle La Calzada and enjoy the nightlife in Granada and the variety of menus offered by restaurants there.  And you can also see the colonial architecture that dominates the city of Granada.

One of the best things to do in the city of Granada, Nicaragua are the activities of the volcano Mombacho Canopy Natural Reserve.You feel that you are flying as a bird in nature; is the perfect combination for this feeling.

Also at night you can walk along Calle La Calzada and enjoy the nightlife in Granada and the variety of menus offered by restaurants there.  And you can also see the colonial architecture that dominates the city of Granada.

Marbella is pretty much a central area, with access to several neighborhoods around it, like Paitilla, Punta Paitilla, San Francisco, Obarrio, Punta Pacífica, Ave. Balboa or "Cinta Costera", Cangrejo, and Bella Vista.

 

Panamá is a very small city, and walking is a good option if you like to exercise. Heat and rain could be an obstacle if you are not used to it.

 

But definitely, a car is needed, either taxi or your own...

Marbella is pretty much a central area, with access to several neighborhoods around it, like Paitilla, Punta Paitilla, San Francisco, Obarrio, Punta Pacífica, Ave. Balboa or "Cinta Costera", Cangrejo, and Bella Vista.

 

Panamá is a very small city, and walking is a good option if you like to exercise. Heat and rain could be an obstacle if you are not used to it.

 

But definitely, a car is needed, either taxi or your own private car, unless you only plan to move around just in the central area of Marbella.  The closest hotels there are Hotel Four Point Sheraton Marbella at the World Center Tower, and the Riu.  There are also many other 5 stars hotels like Marriott, El Ejecutivo (Executive), Bristol, Courtyard (at Multiplaza Mall), among many, many others not far away.

 

Another option is to take the public metro bus, which has new buses, but only runs on certain main streets, and usually only locals use them.  Next year Panamá will have the only metro in Central America, which will be fantastic for public transportation within the city.  Again, it will be only travel through the main streets like Vía España, but visitors will enjoy good transportation, at an excellent price to go to malls, the airport and other sites.

 

The last option would be to rent a car.  it is a little difficult for foreigners to drive in Panamá City, because it doesn´t have good directions and there can be extreme traffic jams, especially at peak hours until all mega-projects are finished.  (When finished, these projects will bring a great look and comfort to the city.)  If you are a very patient person, you are a good candidate to drive here.