9 Top Havens for Expat Retirees
One of the fundamental issues you should consider early on in your retire-overseas planning is this: Do you want to live among the locals or in a more private, perhaps gated setting with fellow expats for your neighbors?
If you choose to relocate to an established expatriate community, you'll have no trouble slipping in to the local social scene and finding English-speakers who share your interests. On the other hand, going that route, you might end up with little real experience of the new culture you're adopting.
This important early decision may not have occurred to you. But I encourage you to consider the question directly, for the answer sets you on one track or another, and they lead very different places.
It can be easier to seek out a place where your neighbors would be fellow North Americans. In these places you might hear more English in restaurants and bars than local lingo, and you will have like-minded compatriots to commiserate with over the trials and tribulations of daily life in a foreign country.
This can make it a terrific first step in a new country. It's a chance to dip your toe in the retire-overseas waters rather than diving in headfirst. You're living overseas and enjoying many of the benefits including great weather and an affordable cost of living, but the surroundings and neighbors are familiar in many ways. You can shop at Walmart or PriceSmart (in some cases), meet up with fellow Americanos for bridge on Thursday evenings and never have to travel far to find English-language conversation.
On the other hand, life overseas would be a very different experience residing in a little fishing village or a small colonial city in the mountains where you're the only foreigner in town. Settling among the locals means you must learn to live like a local. The thought of immersing yourself in another culture can be appealing, exciting and invigorating or terrifying. Be honest with yourself as you consider where you would feel comfortable. There is no right or wrong reply, and there are pluses and minuses either way.
If you decide you like the idea of retiring overseas among like-minded company, here are nine good places to focus your search:
The Americas:
Ambergris Caye, Belize
Estimated expat population: 2,000+
In many ways, Ambergris is more gringo than Belizean. Few locals live and work on the island, and those who do are in the hotel and resort industries. Many businesses on the island are owned and run by the foreigners who have moved there, meaning it's possible on this little island to find imported wines and cheeses and homemade artisan breads. There's no shortage of flip flops or floral shirts either, and Jimmy Buffett, Janis Joplin and the Rolling Stones jam from most speakers.
City Beaches, Panama
Estimated expat population: 2,000+
The most developed, established and fully appointed beach community in Panama is this "city beach" area, which is less than two hours from Panama City. This fast-growing coastal region offers a high quality beach lifestyle with all the amenities and services you could want. Coronado town has developed into a busy commercial center that makes for a turn-key retirement choice. This former weekend retreat is evolving into a full-fledged retirement community with an established population of full-time foreign residents supported by a developed infrastructure, including good medical facilities.
Cuenca, Ecuador
Estimated expat population: 5,000+
Cuenca's large and growing expat community is one of Latin America's most established and integrated with the local community. Thanks to the big and growing expat community based here now, downtown Cuenca boasts a large number of cafes, restaurants, bars and bookshops alongside the traditional butchers, tailors, repair shops, clothing stores and bakeries.
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Estimated expat population: 40,000+
Until the 1950s, Puerto Vallarta was a small fishing village, modestly popular among Mexicans as a beach resort. In 1963, "The Night of the Iguana" was filmed just south of Puerto Vallarta. The film's star, Richard Burton, was involved with Elizabeth Taylor at the time. She followed him on location and the paparazzi followed her. Suddenly Puerto Vallarta was all over the news -- and on the map, as far as Americans were concerned -- and it's remained there since.
At about this time, the Mexican government began to invest heavily in infrastructure making Puerto Vallarta more accessible and attractive as a destination. Luxury hotels began to spring up, and Americans began to flock here. It is also one of Mexico's most cosmopolitan beach resorts. Half the population works in the tourism business, so English is widely understood, which is a boon for those of us who speak little or no Spanish. A whole range of services has sprung up to cater to English-speakers, including everything from gourmet shops and restaurants to clothes design and medical care.
Europe:
Algarve, Portugal
Estimated expat population: 100,000+
Boasting Europe's best beaches, golf courses and some of the friendliest folk, Portugal's Algarve is the chosen retirement destination for more than 100,000 resident expatriates from around the world. You could join the many expats who gather for tennis at the Carvoeiro tennis club. Carvoeiro also has a well-stocked book exchange that allows expatriate residents and visitors alike to trade in books they have read for new titles. Many retired expatriates become involved in local community or charity work, and there is no shortage of opportunities to contribute to society and make a real impact that will also help you integrate faster into local culture. Making friends is easy, both with the locals and the expatriates.
Barcelona, Spain
Estimated expat population: 35,000+
The expat community in Barcelona is huge and thriving, and almost every nationality in the world is represented. Some people are employed by multi-nationals like HP or self-employed with their own small businesses, while others are running local businesses like bars, playgroups and real estate companies. Meeting expats and making friends is easy. A good way to connect with the English-speaking community is through the "Metropolitan Magazine", which lists places and events where expats are likely to meet.
Asia:
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Estimated expat population: 20,000+
Chiang Mai has been luring expats from the West for years. The attraction is twofold--the low cost of living and housing and the weather. The high quality health care and health-related services are other big pluses for foreign retirees in this part of the world. The city boasts modern infrastructure and an abundance of Western amenities.
Dumaguete, Phillipines
Estimated expat population: 5,000+
There are many good reasons to consider retiring in Dumaguete. The city is protected against most of the typhoons that periodically batter many of the Philippines. The weather is tropical and balmy, yet rarely too hot. Dumaguete offers excellent medical care, that has been getting even better since the city was named one of the five top retirement destinations in the Philippines.
George Town, Malaysia
Estimated expat population: 40,000+
George Town is home to a wide range of expat groups, so it's easy to make new friends. For example, the International Women's Association has a very active social life, plus there are groups of expats who share interests in hill-trekking, yoga, tennis, photography, golf, bridge, canasta, singing and bowling. If you're male, enjoy running and want to follow a paper chase that ends with cold beers, this could be just your ticket. George Town is home to many foreign retirees but also to many working expats, which adds to the cosmopolitan buzz.
Kathleen Peddicord is the founder of the Live and Invest Overseas publishing group .
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