Hi Bart, are you referring to IL's guide on housesitting for luxury homes? If so, you can find it at this link. It looks like we're having some technical issues with the introduction section of that link right now, but if you click on the other sections on the left (such as "What is House and Pet Sitting?") you should be able to access them as long as you're logged into your IL account.
If you were looking for something else, please let me know, and I'll try to help you access it.
Hi Lloyd! Thanks for reaching out to the IL Community Site. IL has numerous resources you can use to help familiarize yourself with retirement destinations overseas. If you're looking for somewhere relatively close to the US, I'd recommend you check out some of our resources on Belize. You can find a quick overview of the country at this link
Hi there, sorry you had some trouble finding the Dream Retirement Project—I realize the website can be confusing at times. You should be able to access it at this link. Let me know if you have any more trouble accessing it.
Hi Elisabeth, thanks for reaching out! You might be interested in one of IL's most recent projects--the Hidden Places initiative. We're making an effort to identify under-the-radar retirement destinations where you can settle down for cheap and avoid the crowds of expats who tend to drive prices up.
If you're interested in these hidden places, you might want to check out the recording of our most recent community workshop, where one of our frequent contributors discusses what life is like in some of Costa Rica's underrated destinations. Here's a link to the recording of that workshop: https://internationalliving.com/community/category/workshops-20/383/
@83DONV-0 Hi there,
I'd like to help you find this article--can you give me any more information about it? Do you know roughly when this article was published, or when you might have read it?
@KENNETHHTC Hi Kenneth, the recording should appear at the top of your screen, between the post title and the description. Use the play button (circled in red in this image) to start the video.
@RAINE1949 Hi Raine,
Sorry you've had trouble accessing the Global Retirement Index. It looks like our community site is having some trouble displaying images right now, but I'll do what I can to help you. Try using this link—it should take you directly to the Global Retirement Index.
Hi there,
If you're just looking to get a feel for what the country is like, IL's "Escape to Colombia" guide contains a host of information for people looking to visit or retire there.
Cartagena is a famously charming city. Here’s a shortlist of must-see attractions you should check out when visiting Cartagena (according to the Escape to Colombia guide):
• Bolívar Square
• Gold and Archaeological Museum
• Castle of San Felipe de Barajas
• Palace of the Inquisition
• San Pedro Claver Cathedral
• Temple of Santo Domingo
• Mucura Island
Medellín also has plenty to offer in the realm of entertainment and cultural tourism. In July, the city hosts Colombiamoda, where the country's top fashion designers show off their work.
Hi there,
If you're already a member, you should be able to find this book (and others) in your IL library. For now, try using this link to access it directly.
If you find yourself looking for a specific book in the future, however, you could try logging into the IL website (or clicking on the "member site" button in the top right of the screen) and using the search button at the top of the page. Also, you can always browse through your IL library by clicking on the "My Library" button (located under the "New For You" header on the member site).
Hi Jakawick,
Sorry you didn't get the Global Retirement Index in your email. You should also be able to access it through the International Living website. After signing in, you should see a screen that looks something like the image below. Once you're on this page, look for the "GLOBAL RETIREMENT INDEX 2025" button near the top of the screen (in the red box in this image). Let me know if this works for you.
Hi there—I don't believe that Jeff Opdyke has ever written on this topic. However, I forwarded your question to Ted Baumann, our banking correspondent, and he recommended using Weber Vrijhof Hoffman and partners in Zurich for your gold storage needs. However, he also noted that he prefers to recommend New Zealand Volt, as the transaction costs are lower in New Zealand (compared to those in Switzerland) and the quality of the service is identical.
@JIM-MARSEE Hi Jim, if you're still interested in contacting Bart, you should join us for our community workshop on Thursday, November 21 at 10:00am Eastern time. Bart will mostly be discussing the article that he wrote for IL's November issue, but there will be a Q&A at the end where you'd be able to ask questions directly.
Hi there! I can’t speak from personal experience, but IL published a report in 2023 called “Hidden Land of Luxury” which has a few pages on Bali. Here’s what the report had to say about living there:
The cost of living in Bali is much more affordable than living in the U.S. This is probably why Bali is such a desirable destination for many expats. A budget-minded couple can live comfortably on as little as $1,100 a month or less. Up that to $2,100 a month and you’ll be living very well.
As for what life is like in Bali, this report also details one couple's experience in the town of Sanur. Here's an excerpt from that section:
Choosing Sanur was easy. “The beach path, the calm waters of the ocean, the ability
to sit and enjoy a meal with our feet in the sand, it was an easy decision,” Stephen explains.
And after his many surgeries, Sanur was the place he would visit with Kim to recuperate.
The tranquil surroundings have a special place in their hearts, Sanur is their “happy place.”
On Stephen’s last birthday, they could sit by the beach and watch as a group of
Balinese children were training for their soccer team. It’s being able to sit and relax like this,
enjoying local life, that makes it all worthwhile they say.
If you’re interested in reading more about visas and residence in Bali, you can find this report here. Bear in mind that it's an older report, and prices may have changed since it was published in 2023.
Hi Diana! There are a plethora of places around the world that might satisfy these requirements. If you haven’t already, you might be interested in reading Ronan McMahon's article on luxury golf courses around the world, from our October issue. If you aren’t sure where you might like to go, IL’s Market Watch series is always a great resource for learning about new and exciting retirement destinations.
Hi there! Uruguay doesn’t require any vaccines for tourists, although the US Government recommends a list of vaccines for all travelers. That list can be found here, on the CDC website: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/uruguay
Immigrating to Uruguay is a more complex process. The Uruguayan government requires all immigrants to obtain a vaccine certificate, a process which is usually facilitated by an immigration consultant. You can find more information on the Uruguayan immigration process in IL’s escape to Uruguay guide: https://members.internationalliving.com/il_product/escape-to-uruguay-everything-you-need-to-know-to-retire-better-invest-well-and-enjoy-the-good-life-for-less-2/
Thanks for reaching out to the IL community! Up in the highlands of Ecuador (in and around Cuenca and Cotocachi, for instance) expats report that they feel quite safe. I would recommend looking at expat Facebook groups for more up-to-date information about what’s going on.
Hi there! I don't believe that IL has ever published such a list, but there are multiple resources online that may be helpful. Yale's Environmental Performance Index (EPI) ranks countries based on the quality of their drinking water. Their website can be found here: https://epi.yale.edu/epi-results/2020/component/h2o
Hi there! Sorry this went unanswered for so long—I realize you’re already in Portugal by now, but I hope this thread can help other people who are in the same boat. Regarding the transportation of household goods to Portugal:
Once you have a residence visa, you can bring used household goods into Portugal duty-free. “Used” means items that have been in your possession for at least six months; mixing new items in may slow down processing in customs on arrival and incur charges. The shipment must arrive within 12 months of your visa being issued and within four months of the issuance of your shipping documents to avoid fees.
If you're looking for some more detailed information on moving to Portugal, our "Escape to Portugal Guide" should have all the answers you need. IL members can find it here: https://members.internationalliving.com/escape-to-portugal-everything-you-need-to-know-to-retire-better-invest-well-and-enjoy-the-good-life-for-less/