The Best Places in the World to Retire in 2025 Workshop
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What is it like living as a SINGLE WOMAN in your best places? I spent a semester in Rome, Italy a long time ago and remember the papagali (Italian men just "standing on the corner watching all the girls go by") were quite annoying., Of course I am no longer a bella ragazza but a 77 year old. But I still like to shop and even eat out alone and I worry about being harrassed especially in "latin" countries like Costa Rica, Panama, Portugal, France, Mexico and yes Italy. I will be moving alone leaving my family behind, with no men to "protect" me. I guess that makes me a scarlet woman.
Pat, no problem being single in Portugal!! At 63, I started spending winters here by myself. It was great fun, I met a ton of charming, welcoming people, and never felt threatened once. I also did a little online dating here and met some lovely men, no safety concerns like I had dating in the US!
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I live in a CCRC currently. That is a Continuing Care Retirement Community. If you are not aware, that is an independant living community with attached assissted living and rehab and nursing care sections. I had what I thought was a good deal because all maintence and utilities except telephone were included in the monthly fee aa well as a 20% discount on any stay in assissted living or nursing care. Also I liked the feeling of security it gave me. Is anything similar available abroad? I am still independant and relatively healthy.
It's too long a story for an email, but this CCRC has had a bankruptcy and the "life care" contract I signed is not worth the paper it was printed on! My deposit refund and the 20% discount on the medical section are gone. I consider it a fraud, but it is legal. I have an unbreakable lease for a year. Then I could stay here or move to another CCRC here in the States, but I have learned my lesson! I am looking for another option that would make me feel secure - perhaps a gated community?Hi, Pat. So sorry to hear that! There are a couple of retirement communities in Lisbon, that they say are similar to what we have in the US, but frankly, I don't think they will have all the services you describe. But I will tell you that there is a senior residence in my little village that is attached to a child day care. What a great idea! The caretakers take care of both, and the seniors can have as much or as little interaction with the kids as they want. My plan is to hire someone to come into my home when I need the help. It is SO much cheaper here to get even skilled nursing care. And people are so much kinder and more respectful to people our age, it's a beautiful life! Glenda
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Hi, Mary,
Portugal is really terrific for bringing pets. Rabies shot, and international chip, and a health sign off from your vet. No quarantine! I sent my friend a really interesting article the other day about a cruise ship that is offering pet cruises to Europe! No worries of plane travel. Glenda
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I would love to live in a place with constant spring like weather. I don’t like hot humid tropical climates. My initial research suggests the following:
Lake Chapala or Oaxca in Mexico
Boquette Panama
Medellin ColumbiaCould you compare the pros and cons of these places? Could you include things not usually covered byIL, insects, disease, crime etc. Are there other places I should consider?
ThanksHi Ed,
You are correct in that Boquete offers a cooler, springlike climate.
You can read about all these places on the IL website, (www.InternationalLiving.com, search "Boquete" - make sure you spell placenames correctly, otherwise you won't get results).
There are insects in all these places. In Panama I follow regular fumigation guidelines and that keeps my home free from real nuisances like roaches and silverfish. In some parts of the country scorpions are common and you want to shake out items if you're at beach level. In my part of the country we have termite flight season and beetle season (usually May or June-July) they're harmless and it's a non-issue for me.
If you're concerned about diseases read up on vaccinations, health advisories and more: for Panama you can check online sources that offer recommendations specific to the different areas of Panama, including the World Health Organization (website: www.who.int), the CDC (U.S. Centers for Disease Control, website: wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/), or the Canadian Foreign Affairs Office (website: www.voyage.gc.ca).
(And remember, if you do plan to look into any vaccinations or pre-trip treatment courses, it’s best you see your healthcare provider at least four to six weeks before you travel.)
While we recommend places we and many expats feel safe in, no city on earth is 100% free from crime. By reading the profiles we feature of expats actually living in these places you can get a true sense for just how safe they feel there and what safety concerns they are able to leave behind when moving out of the US.
Best,
IL Overseas Editor Jess Ramesch -
I want to visit and maybe live in Portugal where its warm not the north where it's cold and damp. But the housing prices or rent is very high.
Are there places in the warm area yet have cheaper houses or rent.
I love what I have read about the southern part of the country. I lived in Brasil for almost 3 years and learned some Portuguese and I know there are some differences but it is a start.
Thanks, NoraBoa Tarde, Nora!
It's a beautiful life here in the Algarve, on the Southern coast of Portugal. Like you, I wanted to be warm all year round! If you get away from the coast here, you can find some much cheaper areas to rent or buy. For fun from home, check out idealista.pt. You can enter rent or buy and scroll over an interactive map. The price in the whole country will pop up. You will see the prices drop drastically when you get even 30 minutes north of the beach! Good luck! Glenda
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Are there cheaper houses in the southern part of Portugal? inland? That is safe and warm not like the north where it came be damp and cold.
I've read all prices have shot up because of expats.See my reply, above.
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Two questions. First, I am a single man, almost 87, who is in excellent health. I think that, more important than where you live is the human relationships you form. That said, finding a female partner in a country where more than half the people voted for a criminal, traitor, and overall despicable person as president is very difficult. I hope to find an educated, more enlightened woman in the expat or native population of the country I move to. What areas are best for cultivating female friendships that may lead to a relationship?
Second, I am a writer and author, and want to continue plying my avocation where I relocate. In what spots would I most likely thrive?Portugal, particularly in the Algarve on the Southern coast, has an active senior dating community. There are many ways to meet people, social clubs, fundraisers for a number of worthy causes, facebook groups.....if you are active and interested in meeting someone, you will have lots of options here in the Algarve! Glenda
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We don't speak any language but English. I've tried to learn, but perhaps we need better tools. I know a few words of Spanish. I have health issues that require a combination of regular and alternative treatments and meds. And we'd like a place with moderate temps that is affordable and maybe within an hour of a beach. Is all that even realistic in any of these destinations? If we visit places first, do you offer help to visit the best areas to live for expats?
Hi Sondra,
There are a number of English-speaking doctors in Panama and in expat communities lots of bilingual help is available. I highly recommend regardless always carrying a description of your meds and relevant conditions in Spanish (or the language of whatever country you are visiting). You can use ChatGPT for good online translation. Google Translate is another option.Yes to moderate temps near a beach. In Panama, the mountain town of Boquete is about 1.5 hours or less from the nearest beach, La Barqueta. The mountain towns of Sorá and El Valle are about 45 minutes from beaches like Coronado and Gorgona.
Best,
IL Panama Editor Jess Ramesch -
As a US expat, is it necessary to have an address in the US for matters of federal/state tax, Social Security, Medicare Advantage coverage, etc.? If so, do the mail screening and forwarding services that provide you the US address, that is not a P.O. Box, an effective and practical solution?
Absolutely a must for me, for all of the reasons you describe! I use Traveling Mailbox. I have an address in Miami, they allow me to request a scan, or trash, or to actually forward my mail here to Portugal. A terrific service. Glenda
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Im wondering about the advantages and disadvantages of buying vs renting property
also, Im not much of an urbanite. I prefer to live within reasonable distance to town, but would prefer living in a quiet riral area, in a small bungalow-type of home. Im having a hard time finding a website to begin a search
thank you in advance
Brucieil_admin said:
The Best Places in the World to Retire in 2025 Workshop
Our Annual Global Retirement Index Explained
If you’re looking for your just-right place overseas, this roundtable discussion is for you. Here at International Living, we’ve been exploring the world’s best options for better living abroad since 1979. Each year, we create a useful tool with our Annual Global Retirement Index—comparing, contrasting, ranking, and rating the 20 top countries for retirement living across seven key categories.
Jennifer Stevens, Executive Editor, together with expats who live in the countries that snag the top five spots in the 2025 Index—Tuula Rampont in France, Bel Woodhouse in Mexico, Glenda Cole in Portugal, Bekah Bottone in Costa Rica, and Jessica Ramesch in Panama—will discuss what life is like in their respective countries and dive into the benefits that make them top contenders. You’ll discover how they compare when it comes to healthcare, cost of living, day-to-day lifestyle, climate, and more, plus take a look at those under-the-radar perks that make these places special.
Our experts will be online answering your questions, below. Please type your questions, and we’ll get you the insights you’re looking for.
Monday, December 2, 2024
12:00 Noon Eastern TimeIdealista.pt for Portugal! You can scroll over their interactive map (kind of like Zillow) and rental or purchase prices will pop up all over the country. It's how I found my quite villa off the main drag but minutes from the beach and 15 minutes from town. Glenda
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As a gay couple, my wife and I would love to live abroad in our retirement. What countries are welcoming and which should we avoid?
My best friends here are a gay couple who actually married in Portugal 14 years ago. They love the life here, and say they have never felt even uncomfortable since they moved here, even all those years ago!
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There are a lot of countries that sound great. The biggest difficulties that I have trouble getting real information about are:
my wife is in memory care because of Alzheimers. Which countries would allow me to bring her? Which countries have affordable care for her, preferably at home with me using aides. I do have enough money for this.
Which countries would be better if you have no car and do not drive.I can't answer the "allow you to bring her" question. I can't believe that they would prevent this in Portugal. They are so welcoming and so understanding of disability. A close friend has a brain tumor here and walks with a cane. He is invited to the front of every line, and people do not avoid speaking to him as they might in the States. Also, home health care is much cheaper here. I am on the board of a hospice charity. We employ two nurses and I was amazed at how affordable in home care is here. Definitely investigate Portugal, I think you would be comfortable here. Glenda
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great counties for a liberated woman?
please talk about heath insurance. I see someone else asked.
thank youPortugal is very liberated. I live near a surfing town where a lot of young people hang out and surf all day. As a single woman here, I never ran into any macho issues, or felt like the car mechanic didn't want to talk to me. As far as health insurance, my private insurance in Portugal went up to $207 per month when I turned 65. Incredibly cheap and terrific quality of care. Better than the US, frankly. You could also, once a resident, get completely free healthcare, but I understand the waits can be long, unless it's an emergency. I have a lot of health issues, so private makes sense for me.
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Is a major medical condition an impediment for gaining residency and, eventually, citizenship in the popular EU countries (ie Italy, Portugal, Spain, Greece and France)?
You need to show passive income (like social security) to get a retirement visa for Portugal. Of all the questions asked, none was about my health. In my six years here, it has never been asked when I renew my visa.
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Southern Portugal wins this one.
I live there, and I can't even find anyone to practice my Portuguese! Glenda -
We don't speak any language but English. I've tried to learn, but perhaps we need better tools. I know a few words of Spanish. I have health issues that require a combination of regular and alternative treatments and meds. And we'd like a place with moderate temps that is affordable and maybe within an hour of a beach. Is all that even realistic in any of these destinations? If we visit places first, do you offer help to visit the best areas to live for expats?
My doctor here in the Algarve on the Southern coast of Portugal is South African. Her English is better than mine! I also have many health issues and I am on many meds. The costs would be staggering in the US, very affordable here. The quality of care is also excellent! And I live 8 minutes from the beach.
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One of my basic concerns would be availability and cost of health insurance for me 73 and my wife 70 years old.
Also the offers of a 2 bedroom & 2 bathroom apartment , house or similar.
Where to find B&B at reasonable prices to rent while scouting the areas. Car rentals too.Portugal offers very affordable health insurance. I am 66, I pay $207 for private health insurance. You can rent a lovely two bedroom apartment in a number of places in Portugal for less than $1,000 a month. To scout, I always recommend getting a home base and stayingin a neighborhood. I have used Air BnB and VRBO and had great luck here in an number of areas. And a great tip for the cheapest car rentals here: carjet.com.
Good luck! Glenda
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Hello! We are considering retiring to either France, Mexico, Panama or Portugal. Visas can be tricky. Do you recommend consulting an immigration attorney first? And would they be attornies in the U.S. or the country we are interested in? And how do we find these attornies? A similar question relates to renting a home or apartment. I read that it is a good idea to have a local attorney review the contract since countries have very different laws related to this process. Any thoughts or information would be greatly appreciated.
While in the US, you need to apply for your residency visa on line if you plan to stay more than 90 days in Portugal. You go through a website: vfsglobal.com. I did it all myself, a lot of pieces, but not difficult. Give yourself 90 days to get it all together before you get on the plane.
As far as real estate, you must have an attorney in Portugal to do the contract. I would just look for a local Portuguese attorney in the area you decide to settle. To do some fun exploring on line for homes to rent or buy, try idealista.pt. I have spent many fun hours on that site. I found my home there.
Good luck! Glenda
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We are big music people. What countries/cities have the best nighlife (as in live music, not "club" music).
Where I live, in the Algarve on the southern coast of Portugal, there is always live music to be found. There's a local jazz place at the marina that has live music year round. There are musical events listed in the weekly expat paper of all genres and in all areas here. Of course, the major cities have live music as well. My boyfriend is a musician and he loves living here.
Glenda
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What about moving? I mean physically. Do you recommend shipping all your furniture, appliances, books, cd's, etc. Or should you just dump all that and start from scratch?
What type of electricity is available in these 5 places?
Is online shopping easy and reasonable abroad? During covid I got used to using Amazon a lot. I know Walmart and other common US stores have an international presence, Can I shop online with them? What about HSN and QVC?I dumped almost everything, and I am shocked that I really haven't missed my "stuff". I had a LOT of it. Here in Portugal, it's so cheap (and fun!) to replace everything, it's not an issue. My Amazon Prime works here with Amazon Spain, I order something pretty much every week (three boxes today) and get free shipping. Wonderful! No Walmart or QVC that i am aware of, but lots of malls and small stores. I am a shopaholic and I love it in Portugal!
Glenda