Best Places In The World To Retire

The public schools in Nicaragua are less than desirable.  They don’t teach a second language and they’re graduating students with an 8^th to 10^th grade education.

 

The middle and upper class Nicaraguans and expats send their children to private schools in Nicaragua, which are excellent and accredited in the United States.  There are a dozen private schools in Managua.  Every year these schools publicize how many of their students...

The public schools in Nicaragua are less than desirable.  They don’t teach a second language and they’re graduating students with an 8^th to 10^th grade education.

 

The middle and upper class Nicaraguans and expats send their children to private schools in Nicaragua, which are excellent and accredited in the United States.  There are a dozen private schools in Managua.  Every year these schools publicize how many of their students were accepted to top rated colleges in the US and elsewhere and it’s always interesting to see.  Out of a class of 80 – 100 students, 25 or 30 of them get accepted to first and second tier colleges in the United States.  Some of them go to Spain, some go to Mexico, some go to Chile, but the largest group of the graduates from these schools goes to the top rated colleges in the US, including Harvard, Yale, LSU, UCLA, etc. 

 

Most of the private schools in Nicaragua bring in teachers from the States.  As a result, the middle class and wealthy Nicaraguans who are sending their children to the private schools have their children being taught by North American, English-speaking teachers, so the students learn English from a native English speaker.  All the subjects are taught in English and Spanish.  I have spoken in English with younger Nicaraguans as well as older Nicaraguans who graduated from one of these private schools 25 – 30 years ago, and they speak English without an accent.

 

In Granada, Nicaragua, where I live, there are two bi-lingual schools, both fully accredited.  One is Sacuanjoche International School, which was opened by my wife, Janice and I, which goes through fifth grade.  (We have plans to continue adding a grade every year.)  The other school is Mount Berkeley, which has grades kindergarten though high school.  At Mount Berkeley, their teachers are not international; they’re Nicaraguans who teach English.

 

I don’t know if they have a private bi-lingual elementary or high schools in Leon. They do, however, have a well-known and well-regarded college.

 

I doubt if there are any private bi-lingual high schools in the San Juan del Sur / Tolla / Rivas area.

 

The cost for private grade schools in Nicaragua is about US $200 to $250 per month.

 

The main highways in Portugal are very good and you pay for them because they have tolls. The secondary roads and the country roads are not as good and that’s where you will definitely need a 4 x 4. Generally, you can drive on regularly paved roads around Lisbon. It’s only when you get to the villages that the roads may be unpaved.

 

(The single track dirt road to the lighthouse of Ponta dos Rosais, Portugal, pictured.)

The main highways in Portugal are very good and you pay for them because they have tolls. The secondary roads and the country roads are not as good and that’s where you will definitely need a 4 x 4. Generally, you can drive on regularly paved roads around Lisbon. It’s only when you get to the villages that the roads may be unpaved.

 

(The single track dirt road to the lighthouse of Ponta dos Rosais, Portugal, pictured.)

There is bus service within Coronado, Panama but it is not typically something that the expats in Coronado utilize. The bus service within Coronado itself is more used by local people for going to work.

 

There are buses that go from Coronado to Panama City and vice versa but it is also primarily used by locals. I don’t personally know any expat who uses the bus services here.

 

(American burger joint outside of Panama City,...

There is bus service within Coronado, Panama but it is not typically something that the expats in Coronado utilize. The bus service within Coronado itself is more used by local people for going to work.

 

There are buses that go from Coronado to Panama City and vice versa but it is also primarily used by locals. I don’t personally know any expat who uses the bus services here.

 

(American burger joint outside of Panama City, Panama, pictured.)

I think that, when retiring abroad, you should be most concerned about the culture, the area and the language.  You need to know that every country is different and with its own rules.  For example, in Panama things take more time than in North America and you need to be patient.

 

Also, make certain that you have a realistic budget.  Some people think they can come to Panama and live on $500 per month, but they don't do...

I think that, when retiring abroad, you should be most concerned about the culture, the area and the language.  You need to know that every country is different and with its own rules.  For example, in Panama things take more time than in North America and you need to be patient.

 

Also, make certain that you have a realistic budget.  Some people think they can come to Panama and live on $500 per month, but they don't do enough research and this is no longer true.  Make certain that you know what things really cost.

 

I think you should move to the place you're considering for a couple of months and try it or you will never know.

 

Take Care, wish you the best!!!

Belize is a small country and the market is small so you tend to find a lot more monopolies in this country, which produce fewer choices for consumers.  In general, business in Belize tends to be import-driven. We don’t have a lot of manufacturing in this country so all motor vehicles are imported. The majority of the building construction supplies are imported. We produce a lot of food these days, such as chicken, rice, and fruits, but by and large, the economy is very...

Belize is a small country and the market is small so you tend to find a lot more monopolies in this country, which produce fewer choices for consumers.  In general, business in Belize tends to be import-driven. We don’t have a lot of manufacturing in this country so all motor vehicles are imported. The majority of the building construction supplies are imported. We produce a lot of food these days, such as chicken, rice, and fruits, but by and large, the economy is very much import-driven.

 

Doing business here in Belize tends to be more personal; one on one. You certainly would know your competitors. You perhaps know your customers. There are no huge multi-national companies in this country. No impersonal corporations. Business tends to be done at a lower level, and more at a personal level. 

 

My best advice for anyone contemplating doing business in Belize is to do your due diligence. Ask around and don’t jump into things. It’s very hard to keep secret a negative reputation in this country because it’s so small.  So investigate the market, talk to as many people as possible before you jump into bed with one person. The more you hear, the more you talk about it, you’ll find out if you are dealing with reputable people, or if they have a reputation to be less than honest.

 

(The lodge at Ian Anderson's Caves Branch  Adventure Company, close to popular tourist destinations in Belize, pictured.)