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I was talking to someone in the States the other day about my life in Ecuador, and he asked a question that an expat hears often: “Don’t you get homesick?”. This is not a trivial question, and one that anyone thinking of moving to another country should consider.
People often ask why I chose Placencia, Belize, to live and work, instead of all the other places in the Caribbean and Central America. When you first start to look at all the options, it can be overwhelming to find the right fit for you, or even to know how to start looking.
With cerulean blue waters, coral-sand beaches, and lush mountain retreats, the Philippines has much to recommend it as a travel and retirement destination. And if you’re in the mood to celebrate, head to the Philippines this January.
Almost as soon as my wife Suzan and I moved to the little craft village in Ecuador’s northern Andes Mountains that we now call home, we learned about potatoes.
How would you like to have a chance to own a 7-acre Scottish island estate? The cost: $75. The estate is located on the Island of Arran, a land of castles and ruins that date back millennia, as well as towering mountains, home to eagles, and wild coastal waters full of seals.
"I really like the people of Belize," says Ginny Ophof, who started visiting Belize after her mother moved to the Cayo District in 1977. "They have innate wisdom and empathy. They are tolerant and calm. Americans are better educated. But there's a lot they can learn from Belizeans." In 2007, Ginny moved to the Cayo, determined to spend quality time with her aging mom, who had just turned 85.
For years, I dreamed about moving overseas to a tropical climate. I was drawn to the Caribbean beaches of Mexico, Panama, and Brazil...but every time I read an article about Belize, something inside me lit up. It reminded me of my childhood in south Florida. I imagined myself swinging idly in a hammock and taking long walks along the shore.
David Diffendal is one of the many expats who came to the tropical peninsula of Placencia, Belize as a vacationer...but quickly recognized the business opportunities and quality of life on offer here...and stayed. "When I visited Placencia in 2014, I saw that there was a wealth of upscale restaurants, activities, and excursions in the village," says David.
There's nothing quite like dining outside on the streets of Madrid, enjoying the sweet-smelling, spring breeze. If its Indian food you crave, take your friends to Lavapies—a trendy, multicultural neighborhood in the heart of the city and the best place in town to get a good Indian.
This morning, I awoke to the spotless Altea seaside, refreshed by an early spring shower. These March mornings are cool, and showers are frequent at this time of year, but the afternoons are sunny and warm enough to peel off the jacket. I took my two dogs for our morning ritual, walking down to the craggy beach just a couple-of-minutes from my home.
At the end of each week, my wife and I take an evening's walk to the top of the town. From our perch overlooking the winding streets below, we watch as the sun sets over the mountains and reflect on how different our life has become.
"This is the place to be if you're going to be in the dive shop business," says Lara Alasia, co-owner of Divers UnderGround in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. "It's a well-known and uber-popular dive destination.
Sign up for our free daily Postcard e-letter and we'll immediately send you a FREE research report on the most desirable -- and cheapest -- retirement havens available to you today.
Each day you'll learn about the best places to retire, travel, buy real estate and enjoy life overseas.
With more than three decades of expertise at our disposal, we strive to find the overseas destinations that are right for you. Look below to find the retirement havens that best fit your needs.
Every so often, events transpire in just such a way that a window of opportunity slides open somewhere in the world. Most people won’t notice. They’ll walk right by. But when you know where to look… and have the foresight to act… you could find yourself living better than ever before, even while you spend less…
Every so often, events transpire in just such a way that a window of opportunity slides open somewhere in the world. Most people won’t notice. They’ll walk right by. But when you know where to look… and have the foresight to act… you could find yourself living better than ever before, even while you spend less…
April 7-9, 2017, San Diego, CA. If you can snap a simple photograph … you could easily turn your next vacation, your own hometown, and even your pet goldfish … into fast, fun, easy cash. No experience necessary. Join Great Escape Publishing in San Diego, CA. this Spring and over three fun, engaging, eye-opening days, Read more...: Affiliate Events
The Caribbean island of Roatan, about 40 miles off the coast of mainland Honduras, is well and truly on the expat radar. But that doesn't mean there aren't real estate bargains to be had. Prices here dropped during the housing crash of 2008 but have since leveled off. Plus, due to the devaluing of their dollar, Canadians, a major percentage of buyers on the island, haven't been buying in recent years.
Of all the countries in Southeast Asia that I have scouted, Vietnam is the most exciting and the most fascinating. Foreign and alluring, exotic and enticing...I would go back in a heartbeat, live there without hesitation. There's so much more to this country than just its past. I was shocked to find pristine white-sand beaches...astonished to find pine forests amid temperate mountains...
Over a decade ago, I first wiggled my toes in the soft white sands of Tulúm, Mexico...felt the warm sunshine on my face as gentle breezes rustled through the palms...and gazed at the gentle turquoise waters. Ever since, this Riviera has held a special place in my heart—so much so that these days I call it home for part of the year.
Standing in the middle of Arequipa's central Plaza de Armas, it's hard not to be impressed. The magnificent, centuries-old Basilica Cathedral stretches the entire length of one side of the plaza. Behind it in the distance rise the snow-covered volcanic cones of Misti, Pichu Pichu, and Chachani.
Each morning, my alarm goes off at 7 a.m. but sometimes I lay in bed for a bit longer. No reason to rush. No one is in much of a hurry here at the tip of Mexico's most western territory, the Baja Peninsula. I like to start my day by taking a mile-long walk around the gated community my husband, Dan, and I live in. The houses are mostly three-bedroom and almost all provide a spectacular view of the famous arch in the Sea of Cortez.
If you've been to Mexico, you've likely gone to explore the country's beautiful beaches... along the Caribbean coast and the up-and-coming Riviera Maya...the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula and Cabo San Lucas on the Pacific side...
Dozens of white-sand beaches...the clear azure Caribbean stretching to the horizon...and warm weather (and water) year-round... Mexico's Riviera Maya is certainly a haven for beach lovers. And this stretch of coast on the Yucatán Peninsula welcomes millions of vacationers seeking to soak up the sun every year.
