Best Places In The World To Retire

Water here in the state of Quintana Roo (includes Cancun, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and here in Akumal)is safe to drink because Quintana Roo has a high tourism rate and therefore has a lot of hotels around.  Water around Quintana Roo must be purified the same way water is purified in the United States to make it drinkable.  This is mandated by the government of state of Quintana Roo, that any of the qualified hotels, restaurants or even housing developments need to...

Water here in the state of Quintana Roo (includes Cancun, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and here in Akumal)is safe to drink because Quintana Roo has a high tourism rate and therefore has a lot of hotels around.  Water around Quintana Roo must be purified the same way water is purified in the United States to make it drinkable.  This is mandated by the government of state of Quintana Roo, that any of the qualified hotels, restaurants or even housing developments need to have within their own system some type of water purification system. 

 

You cannot just drink from any tap in Quintana Roo. The reason for this is because in the Quintana Roo area, the water is very salty. I would recommend having a water purification system here in Quintana Roo so you can drink the water from the tap, which is cheaper than getting bottled water. 

 

If you just built a house here in Tao Mexico (a planned gate-guarded community in Akumal, also in Quintana Roo), on the other hand, the developer takes care of the water purification system, so you don’t have to have your own purified water system within your house. However, you can install one. A lot of the residents of Tao Mexico have installed a water purification system in their tap so they can drink tap water freely. 

 

If someone bought a property in some other place in Quintana Roo, they would have to put in their own system to have drinking water out of the tap.

 

(Relaxing with a drink at Tao Inspired Living, Akumal, Mexico, pictured.)

Belizeans are still very much attached to the whole British connection. When I was in Belize, Prince Harry came to visit. That was the talk then. Everybody wanted to go down and meet him and dance with him and drink with him.  As for the hospital, there are lots of students from Britain. The money in Belize still has the Queen’s face on it.

The rules of etiquette and customs in Belize are really not that much different than in the US, at least the parts of the US...

Belizeans are still very much attached to the whole British connection. When I was in Belize, Prince Harry came to visit. That was the talk then. Everybody wanted to go down and meet him and dance with him and drink with him.  As for the hospital, there are lots of students from Britain. The money in Belize still has the Queen’s face on it.

The rules of etiquette and customs in Belize are really not that much different than in the US, at least the parts of the US that I have been to. There’s a bit of classism in some places depending on who you’re dealing with. People fall into their hierarchy like the laborer or the maid and then a general blue collar worker.  Then you also have your affluent people who are in a different class. This is more of a Belizean thing than an expat thing but it’s an interesting way to deal with people.

 

I didn’t fall into that because I’m just not like that, so at a dinner party I made the mistake of inviting a maid to sit at the table and eat with the rest of us. The wife of the person informed me later that the invitation I extended to the maid was a bad gesture.

 

“Servants eat after we eat.”

For an American standpoint, it would seem that the class structure is a little rigid. It has to do with class and it is not a racial thing.

 

(A photograph of a a nurse wearing the uniform of British Honduras ( Belize), pictured.)

For me personally, I was surprised by how friendly people are and how much help and suggestions they give. I constantly encountered someone who would say, “Oh, try this,” or to go to a particular store if I’m looking for a particular item. I was surprised at how friendly they were because I think they have also experienced or at least they have an idea of how relocating is, and they just want you to feel comfortable.

 

I was also surprised...

For me personally, I was surprised by how friendly people are and how much help and suggestions they give. I constantly encountered someone who would say, “Oh, try this,” or to go to a particular store if I’m looking for a particular item. I was surprised at how friendly they were because I think they have also experienced or at least they have an idea of how relocating is, and they just want you to feel comfortable.

 

I was also surprised at the different pace of life. What is important changes sometimes when you move abroad. Having the latest in fashion is no longer the most important thing for me anymore, whereas before I left London, that was the most important thing. I love being able to go to the beach at the drop of a hat and being able to organize a barbecue next weekend because it is going to be sunny without having to worry about these other things.

 

It is nice to live in a country where family is the first priority. It is very easy to make friends and spend time with them. You might go out once or twice a week maybe in the UK, but here in Panama, there is something going on every night and you can always attend it if you want to. All these things and many others made me happy when I moved here to Panama.

Nicaragua has the least issue of illegal drug trafficking of any Central American country and probably even any South American country. The Nicaraguan government is extremely pro-family and anti-drugs, so we do not have any of the gangs that are known in Honduras, Mexico, El Salvador, or Guatemala. As expats, we haven’t seen much illegal drug trafficking here in Nicaragua. Since Nicaragua is a poor country, a lot of people just cannot afford to do drugs.

Nicaragua has the least issue of illegal drug trafficking of any Central American country and probably even any South American country. The Nicaraguan government is extremely pro-family and anti-drugs, so we do not have any of the gangs that are known in Honduras, Mexico, El Salvador, or Guatemala. As expats, we haven’t seen much illegal drug trafficking here in Nicaragua. Since Nicaragua is a poor country, a lot of people just cannot afford to do drugs.

Yes, there is diving, scuba and snorkeling in Portugal.

 

We have this little Portuguese island about an hour flight from the mainland called Azores that was selected last year by National Geographic as being among the top five richest sea wildlife areas to dive in the world. 

 

On the mainland of Portugal, there’s a wonderful place called Sesimbra about 40 to 50 minutes southeast of Lisbon.  Sesimbra is a protected...

Yes, there is diving, scuba and snorkeling in Portugal.

 

We have this little Portuguese island about an hour flight from the mainland called Azores that was selected last year by National Geographic as being among the top five richest sea wildlife areas to dive in the world. 

 

On the mainland of Portugal, there’s a wonderful place called Sesimbra about 40 to 50 minutes southeast of Lisbon.  Sesimbra is a protected land that is surrounded by really beautiful green mountains. No building or construction is allowed over there and fishing is allowed only 4 or 5 miles off the coast. So that means the area in between the land and about give miles to sea is the perfect diving place for snorkeling, diving, and everything else.

 

We also have diving schools here in Cascais and Estoril in the Lisbon area, but the waters are a bit darker than in Sesimbra.  The reason for that is because under the ocean when there are rocks the sea becomes darker and when there’s sand the sea becomes lighter. There’s a huge sandbank in Sesimbra, so therefore, the water is much more clear.

 

I’m 37 years old and I’ve lived always in front of the sea and I’ve been surfing since I was 10 or 11 years old. When I was young, I never felt the need to use a wetsuit, but as the years have been passing, I started to feel the water getting colder. Of course it’s not the water getting colder, it’s just me getting older. So in the winter, I use a 4/3-millimeter wetsuit for surfing or snorkeling or for when I go spear fishing. I use a 4/3-millimeter in winter and a 2/2-millimeter in the summer.  

 

(Diving off Sesimbra, Portugal, pictured.)

Should you rent a home or apartment before buying to see if you like Panama?  For sure.

 

When we travel to a new country to explore, our experiences are usually positive as we are primarily enjoying the sites, cultural activities, etc.  But, most would agree that living in a place is far different from visiting.  Panama, like any other country, is most likely different than what you are accustomed to in many ways.  The best way to...

Should you rent a home or apartment before buying to see if you like Panama?  For sure.

 

When we travel to a new country to explore, our experiences are usually positive as we are primarily enjoying the sites, cultural activities, etc.  But, most would agree that living in a place is far different from visiting.  Panama, like any other country, is most likely different than what you are accustomed to in many ways.  The best way to determine if your new neighborhood is good for you, is to spend as much time there as possible before you lock yourself into a decision that you may regret. 

 

One beautiful aspect of Panama is the variety that is available.  Different climates allow for cool mountain breezes, dry gentle winds, and everything in between.  How will you spend your time?  Are your amenities available?  Does the action of city life excite you and can you afford it?  Is a quaint family-orientated neighborhood more your style?  All is available and you don’t have to settle on one area right away.  Experience as much as you can before you choose to call one place home. Spend time familiarizing yourself with the real estate market.  With this approach you are more apt to make a sound decision.