10 Ways Retired Expats Have a Great Time Socializing on a Tight Budget
If you plan to retire abroad on a fixed income, you may wonder about the expense of socializing. Can you afford to go out? Or will you be stuck at home...
Expat-Advice
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Expat-Advice Archives
In Pictures: Six of the Best Mountain Towns in Ecuador
Recent years have seen the small South American country of Ecuador attract many foreigners to its borders. The low cost of living, diverse geography, and ease of immigration are just a few factors that make this equatorial nation appealing.
My Retirement Plan? Pursue My Passions in a Place That Fills Me With Energy
I guess the best way to spin this is to say, “I’m trendy!” That’s my reading of a new Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development report, “Working Better with Age,” which effectively concludes that older workers are now absolutely vital to the global workforce, and that people who might otherwise be settling into life after Read more...: My Retirement Plan? Pursue My Passions in a Place That Fills Me With Energy
What is the Meaning of Pura Vida?
We've had a lot of questions about the meaning and origins of the Costa Rican phrase Pura Vida. Our Costa Rica country correspondents give their thoughts on Pura Vida and what it means to them...
Is My U.S. Health Insurance Valid Abroad?
Readers often write in to International Living to ask whether U.S. health insurance companies cover treatment abroad. For any U.S. resident considering a move abroad, this is an important consideration. The short answer is: probably not. Most U.S. health insurers don’t cover treatment outside the U.S. Neither, of course, does Medicare.
5 Ways to (Easily) Open an Offshore Bank Account
I remember walking into Credit Suisse in downtown Chicago back in 1986 to open my first international account. It was as simple as filling in a one-page form, showing my driver’s license, and giving my opening deposit.
The Reluctant Spouse: What to Do When Your Partner Doesn’t Want to Move Overseas
We first met Laura and Joel (not their real names) a decade ago on the shores of Mexico’s Lake Chapala, where they were vacationing. He was retired and she was happily working as a network television sales executive. He wanted her to quit her job and move to Mexico with him and she was having none of it.
3 Places for a Tropical Beachfront Retirement Outside the Hurricane Zone
Mention the word “tropical” and most people will think of turquoise-blue waters and powder-white beaches. But one downside of a tropical retirement can be the threat of hurricanes. But there are many idyllic retirement havens where savvy retirees can get all the pleasures of life...
Volunteering as an Expat: Making a Meaningful Contribution Overseas
When you move overseas, there are few better ways to integrate into your community than through volunteering. Volunteering is an ideal way to meet new people. You’ll meet the locals and other expats, giving you plenty of chances to expand your circle of friends.
5 Tips for Would-Be Expats in Southeast Asia
For 11 years, my husband Mark and I traveled to all the places we thought we might move to, researched so much that we felt overwhelmed, and read every forum, Facebook page, and blog we could find. Once we decided to move to Penang, Malaysia, we were excited and terrified...