The Best Regions in the World for Retirement 2025
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can we get spellings on all of these places?
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That's interesting, thanks for sharing that, I've neve heard that before. All the expats I have spoken to and visited are saying they can still afford it so I appreciate you sharing that.
Bel - IL Mexico Correspondent. -
No question but I feel like I want to pack my bags.
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Thank you for all your information
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Looking for a country that is warm and safe with safe water as well. Panama and Costa Rica maybe the choices! Is there others?
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Great Job!
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Hello,
Healthcare is excellent around France and Montpellier has high-quality services and hospitals. You can expect to pay roughly $2300 a year into the French healthcare system which covers 70-100% of your expenses. Many people get top-up insurance for $80-100 a month which will take care of the rest. You can find the France healthcare information on the IL website if you'd like to get a better idea.
France is a very safe country as there's no right to bear arms, among other reasons... Montpellier is quite safe. Hope that's helpful!Tuula, IL France Correspondent
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I love my Mexican Caribbean home and the water is fantastic! I'm a single lady, travel around Mexico solo and have never felt unsafe or had any issues so I'll toss Mexico's hat in the ring if you're a water baby like me. It's wonderful.
Bel - IL Mexico Correspondent. -
For France, the process to bring dogs over is pretty straightforward and you can find rentals that will take you and your dogs. It's a dog... and cat.. loving culture. I've interviewed several expats who brought their dogs over, large and small. There are vets everywhere and you just need to see your vet in the US before moving to France so they can sign off the paperwork and validate the vaccinations. No quarantine period when you arrive.
Tuula, IL France Correspondent
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Ha ha ha me too! I always listen to these as everyone is talking and think "wow your country sounds amazing!" and then I want to go visit so I'm with you!
Bel - IL Mexico Correspondent. -
i own a proprrty in Bocas del Toro Panama, but have concerns for safety there given the incoming administration's threats to take back the canal by force
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jramesch said:
As others have mentioned here - thank you all for chiming in - Panama runs the Panama Canal, not China.As a non-political "autonomous" entity the Canal is not affected by changes in presidents/administrations.
Panamanian enginners, geologists and others were already working at the Canal alongside Americans long before Panama took over running the Canal.
Panama was prepared by the US to run the waterway over a 20-year transition period, as laid out in the Torrijos-Carter treaty. Panama has been running the Canal extremely successfully since Panama officially took over in 1999 (so we're talking over two decades, 25+ years)
I do understand these concerns are coming from comments the type of which are unprecedented by a US president or president-elect.
I may not be able to predict exactly what's in store but we have good reason to expect that on a macro level things won't be changing much.
Some of you may be justifiably concerned because there just isn't a lot of LatAm foreign policy info or past examples to go on. Over the past years particularly with the covid crisis as a major concern, LatAm has not received nearly as much attention from the US government and now we're seeing new focus and interest.
But I agree with the experts who say: Looks like it’s all about 1- pressuring countries like Panama to do even more to try stem the refugee tide and 2- the always popular topic of tariffs and trade. Not any real belief that any US leader could rally enough support to “invade and annex Panama” or "take back the Canal."
With Panama's stellar track record and long history of close ties with the US (and a long list of other countries) I like many others here am still feeling great about my decision to live in this incredibly peaceful country often referred to as the Switzerland of Central America.
(This moniker stems from Panama's commitment - as home of the Panama Canal - to stay neutral. Panama has no military. The country has this year once again rotated into a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for 2025 & 2026. Panama became a sovereign republic with major support from the US over 100 years ago, in 1903. Panama has used the US dollar for over 100 years. The long history of friendship and respect between the US and Panama cannot be overstated.)
Best,
IL Panama Editor Jess Ramesch -
I obviously did not do this correctly, I want to know from Jess, have you seen much trouble with the caravans moving through, have they brought any crime, I see trash all along their route. How does Panama handle that?
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Hello,
I'm not too sure about the answer, but I would check with the American Hospital in Paris. I think they could point you in the right direction. I know many of the nursing homes in France specialize in Alzheimers, but not sure about home care. Best of luck!
Tuula, IL France Correspondent
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Hi MRANADE,
For Panama you can check internationally known sites like Airbnb, Booking, and Trip Advisor.
You can also check local site Compreoalquile.com, most of the listings will of course be in Spanish; if you're fluent then great but if not Google Translate or ChatGPT can help.
One last tip - and thank you for asking this question so I could post this,it's a good question and one we get often: IL's multi-region reports are a fantastic introduction for you to kick off your research. Generally speaking once you are far enough along that you're ready to actually book a visit it's best to research one country or region at a time there's often no one-size-fits-all answer. Different countries (and regions) may have their quirks and differences (and we love addressing these!) You can post specific questions here and IL's correspondents across the globe do their best to respond, and your fellow readers will often have valuable experiences to share as well.
Happy planning!
Best,
IL Panama Editor Jess Ramesch -
For Panama I do often check internationally known sites like Airbnb, Booking, and Trip Advisor (one of the very helpful things on Airbnb is how messages between renters and landlords are automatically translated) but according to your preference you can also check locally popular site Compreoalquile.com - most of the listings will of course be in Spanish; if you're fluent then great but if not Google Translate or ChatGPT can help.
Best,
IL Panama Editor Jess Ramesch -
How are tentals in the Algarve area if Portugal?
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THANKS SO MUCH. This was so informative. I loved seeing the smiles and kind faces of each one discussing their new homelands. This was great. Maybe you can bring monthly one or two of your writers into the newsletter as a video version of their story on where they are living currently. Putting a face with a story is always great. Thanks, Michael White
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