Retirement & Lifestyle
Showing 141–160 of 196 results
-
Belize, Get Started, Overseas Haven Reports, Retirement & Lifestyle
Placencia, Belize | Overseas Haven Report
Belize, Get Started, Overseas Haven Reports, Retirement & LifestylePlacencia, Belize | Overseas Haven Report
If Belize has been on your radar, focusing on Placencia couldn’t come at a better time.
Seventeen miles of beautiful white-sand beaches… dazzling turquoise-blue water teaming with fish… cooling trade winds gently caressing the palm trees… the shore a perfect launch pad to explore this diminutive paradisiacal region of the Caribbean Sea…
You would think this thin finger of land nestled between the rain forest-draped Maya Mountains and the most spectacular barrier reef in the world would be better known… yet this haven remains somewhat of a secret…
A former fishing village turned quiet tourist destination, Placencia is little more than a sand spit that is, at most, only a quarter-mile wide.
Sailing, diving, snorkeling, fishing, and rain forest treks are all within easy reach. Adventure or leisure—whatever you choose—Placencia beckons with something for every level and taste.
Placencia isn’t overdeveloped like other parts of Belize’s coast. As this report demonstrates, while the window of opportunity is still open, the country’s inevitable path of progress is slowly but surely ushering in winds of change.
SKU: OHR-PLACENCIA-BELIZE -
Get Started, Overseas Haven Reports, Retirement & Lifestyle
Porto, Portugal | Overseas Haven Report
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.
SKU: OHR-PORTO-PORTUGAL -
Get Started, Panama Special Reports, Retirement & Lifestyle
Puerto Armuelles, Panama
Puerto Armuelles, located in the province of Chiriquí and the capital of the district of Barú, is a small town is on Panama’s Pacific coast—much closer to Costa Rica (bordering the country, in fact) than to Panama City at the other end of the country (about a seven-hour drive away).
The beach stretches for miles on end… Banana trees blow in the wind and people stroll down the street, stopping to chat with friends…
Many equate life in Puerto, as it’s informally called, as being lost in time.
Everything here is slower, everyone here is friendlier. There are no drive-by shootings, most people are riding bicycles. Some of them are carrying children on the handlebars, others towing a horse. Puerto is what life looks like when you mix a profitable past with an uncertain future. The town has a better infrastructure than many big cities, but its population is smaller and poorer than other places. Thisunique mix of past, present, and future, makes Puerto what it is.SKU: PSR-PUERTO-ARMUELLES -
Get Started, Overseas Haven Reports, Puerto Rico, Retirement & Lifestyle
Puerto Rico | Overseas Haven Report
Get Started, Overseas Haven Reports, Puerto Rico, Retirement & LifestylePuerto Rico | Overseas Haven Report
Our Overseas Haven Report for Puerto Rico is an insiders guide to life on this charming island. If you are ready for a change, but aren’t completely sold on up and leaving the U.S. then Puerto Rico might be just what you are looking for.
As a territory of the U.S., Puerto Rico can be very advantageous for expats, not to mention the enticing tax advantages on offer. If you are doing business, investing, or just looking for a nice Caribbean escape, then we highly recommend trying Puerto Rico on for size.
SKU: OHR-PUERTO-RICO -
Get Started, Mexico, Overseas Haven Reports, Retirement & Lifestyle
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico | Overseas Haven Report
Get Started, Mexico, Overseas Haven Reports, Retirement & LifestylePuerto Vallarta, Mexico | Overseas Haven Report
With Banderas Bay on one side and the Sierra Madre mountains on the other, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, offers postcard-worthy scenery around every corner. Beyond the natural beauty of the area, Puerto Vallarta checks all the boxes as a retirement destination…
International airport with excellent connections to the States and Canada? Check. High-quality, affordable medical care with English-speaking doctors? Check. A vibrant culture highlighted by local festivals and an out-of-this-world culinary scene? Check!
While Puerto Vallarta is a hot spot for cruise ships and spring breakers, it retains its traditional charm. People from here are proud to be pata salada (“salty feet,” the name given to locals), and they take great care of their city. And it’s the friendly, fun-loving locals that really make this such a special place.
Discover Puerto Vallarta with this Overseas Haven Report.
SKU: OHR-PUERTO-VALLARTA-MEXICO -
Get Started, Panama Special Reports, Retirement & Lifestyle
Punta Pacifica, Panama City, Panama
In this Panama Special Report, we bring you the luxurious Punta Pacifica, Panama City’s most exclusive (and expensive) neighborhood.
Home to some of Panama’s wealthy elite, Punta Pacifica is a signal of class even beyond the country’s borders. But don’t let that scare you away, this neighborhood can present enormous opportunities as a lifestyle or investment option, if you’re willing to overlook the price tag.
SKU: PSR-PUNTA-PACIFICA -
Get Started, Panama Special Reports, Retirement & Lifestyle
Raising Kids In Panama: An A To Z Guide For Expat Parents On The Isthmus…
Get Started, Panama Special Reports, Retirement & LifestyleRaising Kids In Panama: An A To Z Guide For Expat Parents On The Isthmus…
In this Panama Special Report we welcome families to life in Panama. This is an A to Z guide to raising kids on the isthmus, from school to social opportunities, and much more.
SKU: PSR-RAISING-KIDS -
Get Started, Honduras, Overseas Haven Reports, Retirement & Lifestyle
Roatán, Honduras | Overseas Haven Report
Get Started, Honduras, Overseas Haven Reports, Retirement & LifestyleRoatán, Honduras | Overseas Haven Report
This Overseas Haven Report features the Caribbean island of Roatan, one of the Bay Islands just off the coast of Honduras.
It’s a small island but it packs a punch when it comes to things to do, especially if your main interests are water related. (The island was recently ranked “Best Dive Site” by Scuba Diving Magazine.) The blend of nations that has formed this island’s population makes for an easy transition to overseas retirement.
SKU: OHR-ROATAN-HONDURAS -
Get Started, Panama Special Reports, Retirement & Lifestyle
San Francisco, Panama City, Panama
In this Panama Special Report, we bring you one of the most modern and progressive neighborhoods in all of Panama City; San Fransisco.
San Francisco is Panama’s best option for living a quiet, residential, urban lifestyle.
If you want an urban experience in Panama City, but without the nuisances of persistent tourists, rowdy club-goers, nonstop casinos, solicitous women of the night, or any of the other seedier aspects of living in the city center, then San Francisco is the place to be.
SKU: PSR-SAN-FRANSISCO -
Get Started, Mexico, Overseas Haven Reports, Retirement & Lifestyle
San Miguel de Allende, Mexico | Overseas Haven Report
Get Started, Mexico, Overseas Haven Reports, Retirement & LifestyleSan Miguel de Allende, Mexico | Overseas Haven Report
In this Overseas Haven Report, we feature San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.
San Miguel de Allende has the small-town friendliness and hominess that most expats crave, set in a remarkably beautiful and sociable colonial town. Centrally located in Mexico, San Miguel is a good base for exploration of the country in all four directions.
SKU: OHR-SAN-MIGUEL-DEL-ALLENDE-MEXICO -
Get Started, Panama Special Reports, Retirement & Lifestyle
Santa Catalina, Panama
In this Panama Special Report, we introduce you to Santa Catalina, Panama, on Veraguas province’s Pacific coast. What first brought outsiders here some 40 years ago is the same thing that draws them today: the surf.
Santa Catalina is off the beaten path, and as a result, disconnected from the realities of day-to-day life. It’s home to a small but diverse expat population who’ve brought with them vestiges of their home cultures. This is especially true when it comes to gastronomy: From authentic Italian pizza and gelato to Panamanian ceviche to Argentinian empanadas, the dining options in Santa Catalina run the gamut.
Santa Catalina’s proximity to Coiba National Park is another major reason people journey here. In the not-too-distant past, Isla Coiba was a penal colony synonymous with death. Today, the island and its surrounding waters are world-famous for the abundance of life they support—nature-lovers and adventurists won’t be disappointed. It’s not easy to get to, but whether you go to surf, scuba dive, or simply unwind, Santa Catalina is worth the trip.
SKU: PSR-SANTA-CATALINA -
Get Started, Panama Special Reports, Retirement & Lifestyle
Santa Fe, Panama
Veraguas is known as The Land of Columbus and Urracá. Urracá being the legendary Ngöbe-Buglé chieftain who bravely fought and defeated the Spanish conquistadores for nine years circa 1520s.
In 1630, Santa Fe was named as the capital of the province of Veraguas until 1890, when it was eventually replaced by the city of Santiago.
The average annual temperature in Santa Fe is nearly 76°F (24.4°C). Its cooler climate makes for a garden enthusiast’s dream and gives way to an economy which is primarily built on agriculture.
Offering many of the same attractions as Boquete, with fewer visitors, you can hike, birdwatch, tube down the river, and more…
Located in Veraguas, this is the only Panamanian province that reaches both the Caribbean and the Pacific Coast.
Santa Fe is about four hours (driving by car) from Panama City—including one hour up a winding mountain road from Santiago. The road is narrow; lacking any yellow or white division lines as well as a shoulder or guardrails.
It is set at 430 meters above sea level, not quite qualifying it as a cloud forest, but has that same mountainous, orchid, mossy terrain…
SKU: PSR-SANTA-FE -
Get Started, Overseas Haven Reports, Retirement & Lifestyle
Santa Fe, Panama | Overseas Haven Report
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.
SKU: OHR-SANTA-FE -
Get Started, Overseas Haven Reports, Retirement & Lifestyle, Spain
Santander, Spain | Overseas Haven Report
Get Started, Overseas Haven Reports, Retirement & Lifestyle, SpainSantander, Spain | Overseas Haven Report
Our Overseas Haven Report on Santander, Spain features a destination of simplicity, cleanliness, friendly people, and a real look at Spanish living.
With its magnificent view over the Bay of Santander, it’s not surprising that Santander, a small but bustling and interesting city on Spain’s Atlantic Coast, is justly proud of being a member of the “Most Beautiful Bays in the World Club.”
Located on the Costa Verde—or Green Coast, so-called thanks to its lush greenery—Santander is built on a series of hills overlooking the Bay of Biscay. It is largely a modern city that was rebuilt in 1941 following a huge fire. Almost all of the Old Town was destroyed, but what emerged was a handsome city built along an accessible and beautiful seafront with several white-sand beaches. That modernity is really summed up by the moving sidewalks that climb between the residential areas.
This used to be the haunt of Spanish royalty, and much of the architecture reflects the glamour and richesse that that long relationship endowed with the Royal Palace and courtiers’ homes all along the seafront, a ritzy casino, and very well-manicured parks and beaches.
This is not a hot location; in fact, it has a damp, mild, and Atlantic climate, with fairly constant average winter temperatures between 46ºF to 53ºF, while the summers rarely go above 86ºF. On the plus side, it is rare for snow to fall, but it does rain—expect some every month and the most (up to 7 inches) in November.
If you like the outdoors, sports, and a four-season, temperate climate, you will enjoy Santander and the beautiful scenery surrounding the city and its immediate environment. There is enough to keep culture vultures happy, but if you tire of what’s on offer, it’s a short journey to Bilbao or even Madrid for a weekend to top up on the latest exhibitions and shows.
SKU: OHR-SANTANDER-SPAIN -
Chile, Get Started, Overseas Haven Reports, Retirement & Lifestyle
Santiago De Chile | Overseas Haven Report
Chile, Get Started, Overseas Haven Reports, Retirement & LifestyleSantiago De Chile | Overseas Haven Report
If you’re looking to relocate abroad, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a city that provides more than Santiago de Chile. In this country, crime, corruption, and poverty are low, the government is stable, and the economy is the strongest in the region. Capital city Santiago is sophisticated, international, and cosmopolitan, offering First World living at a reasonable price. Its streets are clean, the water is potable, the internet is fast, the health care is great, public transit is easily accessible and efficient, and the city is safe.
Plus, Chile has four seasons and features incredibly diverse geography: the majestic Andes, the Atacama Desert, a stunning coastline, sparkling lakes, fertile farmland, and hardwood forests… all of it incredibly accessible. Santiago is only about one hour from the mountains, the beach, and the wine valleys—you can ski and surf in the same day!
Business, investment, and employment opportunities abound, and obtaining a visa, residency, or starting your own company can be done with ease. It’s hard to imagine a lifestyle that you can’t find in Chile… and no other capital city is as livable, enjoyable, and bursting with opportunities as Santiago.
SKU: OHR-SANTIAGO-DE-CHILE -
Get Started, Overseas Haven Reports, Retirement & Lifestyle
Santiago De Los Caballeros, Dominican Republic | Overseas Haven Report
Get Started, Overseas Haven Reports, Retirement & LifestyleSantiago De Los Caballeros, Dominican Republic | Overseas Haven Report
Santiago de los Caballeros (“James of the Knights” in English) is the second largest city in the Dominican Republic. With a population of nearly 1 million people, Santiago is located in the northwest of the country around 100 miles north of the capital, Santo Domingo.
Santiago is now becoming the location of choice for many expats seeking city living without the hustle and bustle of the capital. It has excellent shopping, a vibrant cultural and social scene, great restaurants, the best education, and arguably the best health care facilities in the whole country. Employment, if required, is fairly easy to find, and the transport links are excellent. The international airport right on the edge of the city offers several flights to and from a wide range of North American cities. What’s more, it’s only an hour’s drive from the fabulous north coast beaches and, due to new road construction, that will be even quicker in the near future. Not only can you be on the beach in an hour, you can also be in the middle of the highest mountain range in the Caribbean within the same time by driving south instead of north, meaning a fabulous abundance of adventure activities.
If you’re looking for the best of all worlds—Caribbean beaches, stunning mountain scenery, and all within a stone’s throw of a genteel Dominican city with all of the essentials for the expatriate—look no further than Santiago. It simply ticks all the boxes.
SKU: OHR-SANTIAGO-DLC-DR -
Get Started, Panama Special Reports, Retirement & Lifestyle
Santiago, Panama
In this Panama Special Report, we bring you the city of Santiago, located in the middle of the country, roughly halfway between Panama City and the Costa Rican border.
Santiago lies squarely in a major path of progress for the country, and the development is not only visible, it’s palpable. Even just stopping in town for a quick lunch, you’ll immediately feel the energy and upward momentum of this little city.
SKU: PSR-SANTIAGO -
Get Started, Overseas Haven Reports, Retirement & Lifestyle, Spain
Cádiz And The Costa De La Luz, Spain | Overseas Haven Report
Get Started, Overseas Haven Reports, Retirement & Lifestyle, SpainCádiz And The Costa De La Luz, Spain | Overseas Haven Report
The Costa de la Luz, or the Coast of Light, is an area of southwestern Spain that stretches from Spain’s border with Portugal down to Tarifa, the southernmost point in Europe. Part of Andalucía, the region is famous for the very thing it’s named for: dazzling, always abundant sunshine.
The Costa de la Luz’s centerpiece is Cádiz. One of the oldest cities in Western Europe, you can feel the history and cultural influence of the many civilizations that impacted it over time. But there’s more to the Costa de la Luz than just Cádiz… Along the coast, there’s everything from well-appointed beachfront towns to ancient hilltop villages that can be seen for miles because of their brilliant white-washed buildings.
Across these towns, you find pockets of expats that love the region for its low cost of living, beautiful beaches and pristine nature, and authentic culture. Discover Cádiz and the Costa de la Luz in this Overseas Haven
SKU: OHR-CADIZ-SPAIN -
Cypruss, Get Started, Overseas Haven Reports, Retirement & Lifestyle
Cyprus | Overseas Haven Report
At the far eastern edge of the Mediterranean… blessed with year-round warm weather, clear blue waters, and over 400 miles of coastline…. Where English is so commonly spoken, you’d never have to learn the local language (in fact, the locals even speak it amongst themselves)… The food is light and fresh, fish and salad served with every meal, and the coffee is strong and aromatic…
The flowers that blossom across the valleys of the island give way to the mountains where you can ski in winter… The summer here is the longest in Europe, with over 300 days of sunshine… And, to top it off, life (and real estate) is as affordable as it gets in Europe—enjoy a healthy meal and a cold glass of wine for just 10 euros a person, for example…
This is Cyprus, the southeasternmost corner piece of the European Union, where you could live a luxury lifestyle on the beach for as little as US$1,000 euros a month. Discover Cyprus in this Overseas Haven Report.
SKU: OHR-PAPHOS-CYPRUS -
Asia-Pacific, Get Started, Overseas Haven Reports, Retirement & Lifestyle, Thailand
Koh Samui, Thailand | Overseas Haven Report
Asia-Pacific, Get Started, Overseas Haven Reports, Retirement & Lifestyle, ThailandKoh Samui, Thailand | Overseas Haven Report
Koh Samui, Thailand’s second-largest island, is a cartoonishly tropical paradise. White sand beaches with coconut trees? Check. Mountains, jungles, and waterfalls? Check. Monkeys, mosquitos, and tree snakes? Triple check.
A little over 70,000 people inhabit Samui, with about 8,000 being expats from the U.K., Western Europe, Australasia, and other countries. Unlike other parts of Thailand, the average age of expats in Samui is much lower than in other tourism hubs like Pattaya or Phuket.
People who want to live an active lifestyle but at a slower pace should consider spending some time in Samui. With sun, sand, seafood, and boatloads of Thai charm, it’s a top overseas retirement choice. Discover Koh Samui in this Overseas Haven Report.
SKU: OHR-KOH-THAILAND
