The Best Places in the World to Retire in 2025 Workshop
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Most private doctors speak English here in Costa Rica and I find there are a lot of alternative treatments available in this country.
The Central Valley and Arenal area has moderate teperatures, in my opinion, kind of like an eternal spring. Living in Atenas and Grecia in the Central Valley, you can get to a beach in about an hour. You are also close to the best healthcare in the country in these areas.
If you decide you are interested in Costa Rica, the conference in May 2025 is the best place to start and get a feel for the country.
Bekah Bottone, IL Costa Rica Correspondent
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what was the book?
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In Costa Rica, there are lots of concerts these days, so many more than in the past. I don't consider it a huge music scene, however, there are more options than in the past.
Maybe you can check out these places:
https://www.bandsintown.com/c/San-Jose-Costa-Rica?came_from=335&livestreams=true&genre_filter=Christian%2FGospel&genre_filter=R%26B%2FSoul
https://www.songkick.com/metro-areas/56440-costa-rica-heredia
https://www.songkick.com/venues/80783-estadio-nacionalI just saw a few I would love to go to! Thanks for getting me thinking about this.
Bekah Bottone, IL Costa Rica Correspondent
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Hello,
Here's mine for France: france@internationalliving.com -
Hi T,
if you visit and find you like Panama City, Panama, it could be the place for you. It's where you'll find a larger concentration of educated people in all kinds of fields from STEM to literature and pretty much every other field imaginable. It's also a very comfortable place to live with excellent entertainment, shopping, hospitals, etc etc. As a writer I am able to write from anywhere here with the generally excellent internet/cell connectivity. You'll find my big feature article on Panama City in this month's issue of IL Magazine.
Best,
IL Panama Editor Jess Ramesch -
More and more we're seeing expats say it's best to have a U.S. (residential, not commercial) address if you maintain accounts (brokerage, bank) in the States. If you're not already signed up for and reading the free Field Notes newsletter you may want to sign up, they're very informative:
https://globalintelligenceletter.com/subscribe-3/Best,
IL Overseas Editor Jess Ramesch -
Hi Brucie,
You can read a vast number of accounts from expats who rent and expats who've bought in IL Magazine and on the IL website - there are good arguments for each and you can live well no matter which route you choose.
I'd say at least half of the areas we cover are not urban.
Best,
IL Overseas Editor Jess Ramesch -
Hi, Jonathan. In Portugal, you will need to spend four months on a long stay visa that you apply for while still in the USA. Once you are a resident, you must stay in the country for about eight months a year. Of course, I would confirm with a lawyer.
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Hi L, we still see lots of happy expats in Colombia, particularly Medellín, you'll find lots of info on the IL website (www.InternationalLiving.com, search "Colombia").
Best,
IL Overseas Editor Jess Ramesch -
Hi. In Portugal, there are a couple of health insurance companies that do accept people at age 75. It requires some research ahead of time, but they are out there.
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Hi, Wendy. I actually prefer to have my social security payments go into my Charles Schwab international account in the USA. Then I wire transfer what I need to Portugal each month or so.
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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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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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Hi 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 -
Boa 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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See my reply, above.