Best Places In The World To Retire

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Recently Answered Questions

What's the closest airport to Chapala and Ajijic, Mexico and what are the flights to and from Chapala and Ajijic, Mexico?

Chris Gruenwald - Biencom Real Estate

Cross Border Xpress bridge, Tijuana airport, Mexico – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

It costs me $800 to fly myself and my two kids up to California and back to Tijuana. From Tijuana, you get off the airplane, and at baggage claim, there is an elevator up to this new bridge they built. You will walk about 300 feet, take another elevator down, and you are already in the US. You just have to declare customs or not, and you’re there. There is a nice modern parking lot and passenger drop-off/pick-up zone there, too.

From our house in...

What are the best reasons to retire to Nicaragua?

Jewel Hoff - Tierra de los Suenos

Children in Nicaragua – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

The best reasons to move to Nicaragua are for your health and sanity and not to end up ever in an old age home.

Moving to Nicaragua was healthier because you don’t worry about your finances, you’re more of a people person than you have ever been, and there are so many ways that you can help people. We have huge volunteer organizations here and to be able to give is very healthy. You donate your time or some money to some homeless kid in the street that lowers your blood pressure. That’s my experience.

When I buy 5 packs of bubblegum (which costs me $1.20) I pass it out to 25 kids and I get 25 smiles. I get 25 smiles for less than 5 quarters. They’re so happy over a piece of gum. You try to make an American 12 year old a piece of gum they won’t look at you.

When you move to Nicaragua, you realize how little you need to survive. You realize you don’t need the 90” flat screen TV. However, with the Internet, I’m not out of touch. Nicaragua has been good to me.

There are just people who are negative; that’s the bottom line. If you don’t know Spanish, it’s a handicap. If you’re not Spanish-speaking at all and you don’t bother going to school to learn or learn on line—there’s many sites where you can learn Spanish—just every day stuff for communication, you won’t be as happy. If you go to the tourist places you have this English everywhere but if you move to the mountains it’s a different lifestyle here.

People are so nice here, even though they’re so poor. Today I saw a woman who had flowers. I stopped my jeep and I said, “Your flowers are so beautiful”.

She said “Yes, a friend gave me a gift. And then said, “Would you like to have them?”

Now, I was dying for those flowers because you can plant them.

Then one of my workers asked, “Why didn’t you take the flowers?”

And I said, “Because it was a gift to her and not to me”. The people are like that. They’ll give, give, give. They’re so poor but they’ll give you what they have. I’ve traveled expensively and these are some of the nicest people in the world. They really are.

Relative to how moving to Nicaragua can keep you out of a nursing home, it costs $6,000 a month in some one star places in the US where you wouldn’t want to step in the door. I saw an old friend pass away in an old-age home and I tell you, it’s no fun. I’d rather be in my bed and be surrounded by my Nicaraguans here. I would rather be where I am where I pay my help a hundred dollars per month per person and establish more of a personal relationship and be better taken care of.

In the US, I had money that wouldn’t have lasted me 3 years. Instead of staying in the US, I bought a farm and I’m building a hotel in Nicaragua. I’m doing things that would be impossible to do in the US.

(Children in Nicaragua, pictured.)

How much does it cost to have a cell phone in Portugal?

Luis Teixeira da Silva - Algarve Senior Living

Vodafone in Portugal – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

Getting a cell phone in Portugal could be free if you are on a contract or a postpaid plan. Otherwise, it could cost anything from zero to € 1,000 (US $ 1,100 or £ 740). An iPhone 6S costs around €800 (US $ 880 or £ 590) at the moment. The latest Samsung would cost you about the same amount, more or less. Cellphone service is cheap. You can get unlimited calls for just €7.50 (US $8.25 or £ 5.50) a month.

Generally,...

Can I receive my Social Security checks or benefits abroad, as an expat, outside the US and if so, how?

Lola Braxton - Services Toby

There are banks in Panama that will accept direct deposit from the US, including B.A.C, Banco General, Banco Nacional of Panama, Banco Uno, Banesco, Banistmo, Banvivienda, BBVA, Cacechi, Caja de Ahorros, Credicorp, Global, MultiCredit, Stanford, and Towerbank. Yes, there is a small fee charged for having your direct deposit account, but its worth it.

What are the best and worst things about living and retiring in El Valle de Anton?

Vannessa Solano

El Valle de Anton is a valley surrounded by mountains. It was actually the crater of a volcano in the past. The volcano is now extinct and since it died, people live in it now. El Valle is a small town and it is very rural. You will not see huge buildings there. What you will see are small houses such as bungalows or cabins. There are about two or three good restaurants and hotels there.

Just like any other small town, El Valle does not have a hospital. They have clinic where you can go to see a doctor but if you really need to go to a hospital, the closest you can go to is Coronado (1 hour away from El Valle by car). If you want a relaxed place to live in, El Valle is the place to go but if you want some nightlife and to go partying, then you will find El Valle to be a little bit boring because there are no clubs or bars there.

A lot of different activities are available in El Valle. Many people are involved in ecotourism there. You can also go hiking, horseback riding, or you can go to the river. The environment in El Valle is very tranquil because you are close to nature everywhere you go there. Many expats live in El Valle because of the weather. Expats like it because the climate is cool; it is not hot at all.

I cannot think of worst things about living in El Valle because every time I went there, it was always a nice experience. The only negative thing I can remember is that you have to be very careful when you buy at the open-air market because some of the vendors are very honest but some can scam you big time. For example, a watermelon would normally cost you about US $1.50 and no more than that but some of them will sell it for $3 to $4. Therefore, you have to know at least the price range of what you are buying to be able to tell if you are being overcharged. Again, this is the only thing that I can think of that may be a bit negative about El Valle. For the most part, I really love El Valle. It is a very nice place. If you like living in the country, you will love El Valle because it is very relaxed and there is no traffic or pollution.

What are the best things to do in and around Cayo, Belize, including San Ignacio and Belmopan?

John Acott

mountain bike riding, Belize – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

I have a very good social life here in San Ignacio. We get together in different houses and parties. One of the good things about living here is that there is a mixture of locals and expats at most parties.

I have croqu

et in my garden, so I tend to play croquet a lot. I haven’t gone out doing the tourist things too m

uch. I go downtown to eat quite a bit. There are nice restaurants downtown. Probably the best...

Recently Posted Expat Stories

My Two Getaways in Chiriqui Panama

I don't spend all of my time in Boquete, even though it is a very easy place to live with lots of good places to eat and the nice weather and cool temperatures there are times I need a little beach. Just two hours southwest of my home in the mountains is Limones, a little beach town that is home to Hooked on Panama, a gringo fishing resort that is finally getting the recognition it deserves and a few local fishermen and a few cowboys, and a couple of rice farmers. Having been born on Cape...

Barro Colorado, a Worldwide Research Center in Panamá

Barro Colorado… bird watching and scientific research center.

The 1,560 hectare (3,854 acres; a little over 6 square miles) island of Barro Colorado is situated in the man-made Gatun Lake, in the middle of the Panama Canal. This island is the primary site of the Smithsonian Institute for the study of tropical forests. The Smithsonian also has additional land adjacent, which, together with Barro Colorado island totals...

La Rosa de Los Vientos Pedasi front outside view – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

Robert and Isabelle Shahverdians found the place that eventually became La Rosa de Los Vientos in Pedasi, Panama after they had traveled Costa Rica and found it wanting. They then moved around Panama, to see if there was something better.

In the environs of Pedasi, they found a place where the road had few inhabitants and came to a bit of land that faced the Pacific, around a small bay lapped by quiet waves. It was there that they made their spot at the end of...

Best Places In The World To Retire

Recently Answered Questions

What's the closest airport to Chapala and Ajijic, Mexico and what are the flights to and from Chapala and Ajijic, Mexico?

What are the best reasons to retire to Nicaragua?

How much does it cost to have a cell phone in Portugal?

Can I receive my Social Security checks or benefits abroad, as an expat, outside the US and if so, how?

What are the best and worst things about living and retiring in El Valle de Anton?

What are the best things to do in and around Cayo, Belize, including San Ignacio and Belmopan?

Recently Posted Expat Stories

My Two Getaways in Chiriqui Panama

Barro Colorado, a Worldwide Research Center in Panamá

A Visit To La Rosa De Los Vientos in Panama; a Place Apart From The Hubbub World

Best Places In The World To Retire