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.

Have you dreamed of moving overseas but thought that having children makes the idea a non-starter? Too much of a hassle to make the move with a toddler in each arm… Impossible to endure a 14-hour flight with an infant or, even worse, a teenager… Too complicated to set up a new home and enroll the kids in some strange new foreign school…

Living abroad, especially with children, is an adventure. Even the struggles can be fun and rewarding. Your life will change for the better… Your kids will grow in ways that you never could’ve imagined. They’ll have a much better understanding of the world and the people in it, as will you.

In this report, we look at the ABC’s of raising children abroad successfully from the perspective of a father who, along with his wife, lived abroad for over a decade, raising three girls along the way. Explore how they transformed their day-to-day challenges into positives, and learn how you can, too, with kids who’ll speak new languages, have amazing geography skills, and be in top demand with universities that will put a premium on their unique experiences when applying to college.

When a region and a wine share the same name, you can imagine the passion involved in the product…

The history of this fabulous city—the second-most prominent in Portugal—is closer to that of an ensemble of small villages, its landscape formed by generations of seafaring and trade.

Some of the oldest parts of the city are being totally revamped, so it’s common to see infrastructure works underway as you walk the streets these days…

Although shrouded in resident fog that contrasts with the colorful people that live here, the gloom adds a sense of charm and mystery while simultaneously illuminating the city… it adds personality and creates harmony among the many villages that compose it.

With a broad mix of cultures and styles that can be seen from one street to another, it’s no surprise people have a strong sense of belonging to this special little piece of coastline.

Globally known for its exquisite port wine and surrounded by the enchanting Douro Valley (with a population of roughly 240,000 in the metropolitan area), this is Porto, Portugal.

A “smart city” is a city that’s smartly run. The city’s movers and shakers work together, think collectively, and use technology to make the city a better place for its residents, with sustainable (and often cost-cutting) innovations…

Smart cities are all about technology working behind the scenes to improve your lifestyle… you don’t even know it’s there, but it makes urban living easier, cleaner, healthier, more efficient, and generally more pleasant…

These cities have transportation that serve residents instead of hinder them. They have local planning laws, for example, that stipulate that tall buildings (businesses and apartment blocks) must be located on a bus route, so development is organized and contained to key “urban corridors of growth.” Transport and real estate work collectively rather than reactively.

Tavira is a charming small town in the eastern Algarve. Unlike other parts of the region, it’s held on to its authenticity, both in terms of its culture and its cost of living. It features great beaches, an architecturally stunning town center, an active and beautifully embellished riverfront promenade, diverse dining options, proximity to an important national park, and a welcoming expat community…

Find out more about Tavira with this Overseas Haven Report.

Travel hacking is the practice of using credit cards and loyalty programs to amass points, which can then be redeemed for things like free flights, hotel stays, and more.

There are all kinds of credit cards that are tied to airlines and hotel companies, including the Big 3 airlines (United, American, Delta) and brands like Marriott and Hilton. They partner with banks like Chase, American Express, Citi, and Capital One.

Both the banks and the airlines and hotel chains are competing for your business. One way to entice you to sign up for a credit card or a loyalty program is to offer a substantial sign-up bonus.

Once those points are in your account, you’re able to cash them in by booking flights, hotel stays, rental cars, cruises, or whatever else you want to do with your travel funds.

Traveling for free and making use of those perks along the way is a great feeling. It’s one way to affordably fund a lifestyle of perpetual travel. Discover how to get started at travel hacking with this Overseas Haven Report.