IL Magazine: Discover the World's Best Retirement Haven for 2021 + 24 more
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Mention Portugal and you may think of the Age of Discovery or an endless coastline of craggy Atlantic beaches. Most people think, “Romantic, but probably beyond my budget.” Not so. Start in Lisbon to begin your love affair with Portugal—because that's exactly what it will be. On arrival, you'll find convenient transportation...
Back in 2011, Sally Rice’s life was much different from today. Then, she was 55 years old, single, and living a chaotic lifestyle in Los Angeles. She’d spent 23 years as a costume designer in the movie industry, which sounds glamorous, but as she says, “Working 17 to 20 hours is stressful, and leaves little time for anything else”...
When people come to visit me in Costa Rica I’ll often jokingly say, “Be careful, you’ve been bitten by the bug and the symptoms will keep growing on you.” By the “bug,” of course, I mean the desire to be in Costa Rica as much as possible once you’ve set foot here once. Take David Harris, for example. David was born and bred in California...
The Eje Cafetero—called the Coffee Triangle by English speakers—is one of Colombia’s best-kept secrets. When I traveled through the region, locals told me this mountainous region is increasingly popular as a retirement destination…for Colombians seeking an escape from the big city...
I first came to the laidback fishing town of Zihuatanejo (pronounced “zee-watt-an-a-hoe”) eight years ago, to visit an old friend. At the time, I didn’t even know its exact location, until I looked it up. I guess you may not know it either: it’s on Mexico’s Pacific Coast, about 150 miles northwest of Acapulco...
There’s barely been a better time to look at the beachside real estate market in beautiful Belize. Prices have been dropping for the past year or two, making more homes affordable no matter what your budget, whether you intend to rent or buy. And while many prefer to rent (at least at first), another great benefit of Belize is that it allows foreigners to own land and property outright—even beachfront...
Cracks in the walls of 500-year-old churches are filled with blooming flowers. Maya ladies in colorful national dress stroll about, and travelers from all over the world take time to breathe in the tranquility of this place.I’m in Antigua, Guatemala. It’s a tiny colonial town, and a UNESCO World Heritage site.Walking the cobblestone streets...
If you remember your middle school geography you’ll know that Quito is the capital of Ecuador. It’s also a city rich with history, culture, and amazing features all around. Situated high in the Andes Mountains the weather is cool, the scenery sublime, and the people as friendly as they come. Quito though tends to be overlooked by visitors in favor of Ecuador’s big ticket tourist attractions like the Galapagos, the Amazon Basin, and the Otavalo Craft Market.
I’ve lived in Nicaragua for seven years, and I can tell you that this is one of the most beautiful, affordable, and exciting countries in Central America. You can leave your stressful life behind and relax in the tranquility of a liquid gold touched sunset, listen to a gentle forest rain, or watch from your patio as thousands of fireflies make it look as though the stars have descended from the sky. And if you like excitement and adventure, Nicaragua will not disappoint.
For years, I dreamed of moving abroad to live more simply, with less stress and a less expensive lifestyle. Somewhere I could enjoy my retirement (although not quite yet) and not worry about crunching numbers. My journey to Costa Rica started in 2011, on a scuba-diving trip to Guanacaste, north of San José. I knew Read more...: A Happy Heart on a Budget of $1,300 a Month