For the overseas-minded, now may be the perfect time to act on your dreams of reinventing your life in a new country. Where have you been waiting to go, and what do you want to do once you get there? How do you take the first steps towards setting up life in a new place?

This special report is designed to bring you the answers to these questions. It’s Part II of your 2021 Retire Overseas Index, the end-of-year bumper issue that selected, ranked, and sorted our top picks for retirement this year. Unlike Part I, which focused solely on the destinations and their rankings, Part II is all about the practical considerations of making any international move a success (as well as the less serious and fun considerations—the things that pertain to actually enjoying life in a new country).

The contents of this report are sorted into three main categories: “Know Before You Go,” featuring hard-won insights from Live and Invest Overseas’ top contributors; “But How Do I…,” bringing you answers to the top “how to” questions; and “The Best of the Rest,” where we present our shortlists for specific lifestyle choices that you may want to pursue.

Sit back in a comfortable chair, settle in, and let this report—Part II of your 2021 Retire Overseas Index—be your guide to finally making your dream of retiring overseas a reality…

Bogotá is one of those cities that isn’t going to click with everyone.

This is a place for people who want the hustle and bustle of a major city with amazing dining options, culture, and something always going on.

You can enjoy the comfortable climate of San Francisco combined with the city lifestyle of New York, but at a fraction of the cost.

Some streets are gritty with vibrant graffiti while others are tree-lined

and polished. Dramatic green mountains line the northern part of the city.

Neighborhoods, like Chapinero, have a Brooklyn vibe where creativity booms

and buildings hide secret hipster cafés, art galleries, and cocktail bars that

you wouldn’t know about unless a local filled you in.

While Bogotá is one of the most expensive cities in Colombia, its culture

and food scenes can’t be beat. This is a destination for people looking to

experience a booming gastronomic scene, live theater, art, fashion, and film

festivals.

The largest city in Colombia is definitely one of its best-kept secrets.

Budapest has had many names over the years: The Heart of Europe… The Pearl of the Danube… The Capital of Spas and Thermal Baths… Monikers aside, it holds a special place in the hearts of those that know it.

It’s a historical marvel, with iconic buildings and landmarks spanning several centuries scattered around the city. On either side of the Danube River that splits the city in two are Buda and Pest: Buda is aristocratic with its mansions and rolling hills; Pest is the working person’s side, where most of the day-to-day action takes place.

Both contribute to what is arguably one of the most eclectic, loveliest capitals on the Continent. The best part is that you can take it all its charm on foot in this supremely walkable city. Learn more about what’s on offer in Budapest in this Overseas Haven Report.

In this Overseas Haven Report, we pit the world’s favorite retire-overseas havens against each other, examining their pros and cons first at the country level, then zooming in on one specific destination in each place and comparing it to its counterpart in another.

No place is perfect, everywhere has its pluses and minuses… but by going through the comparisons, you’ll come away with a stronger sense of which haven is the best choice for you.

County Clare is a region of Ireland found in the mid-west, bordered on one side by dramatic cliffs that look out over the Atlantic Ocean. It’s famous for spectacular views, picturesque scenery, and outdoor recreation opportunities: golf, walking trails, caves, water sports, fishing, foraging, and more…

Some of the best beaches in Ireland are found in County Clare as well, particularly in West Clare. Lahinch is Ireland’s premier surfing town… While a small town, Liscanner is a fishing village only a couple miles away, offering great pubs and beaches as well.

County Clare is all about remote beauty and peaceful living, with lively villages, seaside towns, some bizarrely acting local folks, and hopelessly poetic notions. Discover Ireland’s County Clare in this Overseas Haven Report.

In today’s world, there’s more flexibility than ever before when it comes to making a retire-overseas agenda. The key is picking a place that suits your circumstances and your vision for your new life. In this Overseas Haven Report, we take you through your top options for part-time overseas retirement.

Santa Fe is sweet and simple small town that sits in Panama’s highlands, some four hours away from Panama City by car. The cool mountain setting and lifestyle on offer are comparable to Boquete… at a fraction of the cost. In fact, Santa Fe offers the opportunity for a drastically lower cost of living than most anywhere, at about US$800 a month for a couple.

Life in Santa Fe is best spent out-of-doors, with a huge number of recreation options on offer, from hiking, biking, and river-wading to tubing, horse-back riding, and fishing. Read more about this unassuming, unsung town in the Santa Fe Overseas Haven Report.