Best Places In The World To Retire

Living in Chapala and Ajijic is like living in the United States about 30 years ago. It is a less regulated society. You have more personal accountability. Mexico is not a very litigious society yet but I’m sure that will change over time.

 

Chapala and Ajijic are still Mexican communities so we still have the traditional comidas in the afternoon to take lunch when you will see families getting together for lunch between 2 to 4 PM. We also have a...

Living in Chapala and Ajijic is like living in the United States about 30 years ago. It is a less regulated society. You have more personal accountability. Mexico is not a very litigious society yet but I’m sure that will change over time.

 

Chapala and Ajijic are still Mexican communities so we still have the traditional comidas in the afternoon to take lunch when you will see families getting together for lunch between 2 to 4 PM. We also have a good-sized expat / foreign community so they hold breakfasts for the gringos. They also go to different places from noon to 1 PM to have lunch. Then, the Mexicans come for lunch from 2 PM to 4 PM. It is a really interesting community because it is a real blend of the cultures but it still is predominantly a Mexican culture, which is why many people like it.

 

The pace of life in the Chapala / Ajijic area is based around family. Families are very important here still and you see them together all the time. It is a very gentile and polite society. People in the street say “Buenos dias” and “Buenos tardes.” They hold the door open and there is a certain amount of respect for elderly people that you can see on the streets.

 

The lifestyle of people here is slow compared to the States and other parts of the world and less hectic.   We have a pretty substantial full time community (approximately 10-12,000 foreigners) but there are also distinct seasons as well.

 

During the Snowbird or winter season, you will experience lots of arts and music festivals like the Northern Lights Festival that is sponsored by Scotiabank from Canada. During the winter, there are a lot of part-timers here so the non-profit organizations hold a lot of galas to raise money for orphanages, student scholarships, medical care, etc. There are a lot of activities from November through April here in Chapala and Ajijic.

 

Then after Easter, things slow down until the Sunbird season. When our rainy season starts here in Chapala and Ajijic around mid-June, it cools everything down and you will see a lot of Texans and Floridians, and people from hot climates in the US like Arizona, coming in order to get out of the heat.

 

Chapala and Ajijic is an interesting community and very cyclical. It’s a little seasonal in the sense of activities and the amount of activities but the most important thing about life here is, depending on where you live, whether it is in Ajijic or in a little pueblo like San Antonio, or in Chapala proper, you will find that each one has their own characteristics. Each one has their own vibe and ambiance. Each geographic area is unique in some way, but overall, living in the area is a very relaxed lifestyle. It is the land of mañana so things do not always happen when people say they will. People just need to get used to it because it is part of the lifestyle here. A lot of people adapt to the lifestyle of Chapala and Ajijic quite well and enjoy it.

 

(Pictured: Poster for expat band, The TallBoys Band from Ajijic, Mexico.)

The answer for me to the best reasons to retire in Belize are very simple: 

It’s so much easier living in a warm country because of the clothes you wear, there are no heating bills, and there is no snow. It’s just very simple. It’s a lot cheaper and a lot easier. That is the main reason we are here.

...

The answer for me to the best reasons to retire in Belize are very simple: 

It’s so much easier living in a warm country because of the clothes you wear, there are no heating bills, and there is no snow. It’s just very simple. It’s a lot cheaper and a lot easier. That is the main reason we are here.

 

The Caribbean Sea is beautiful, of course. Belize is known for the Caribbean, and that is nice. Also, the travel from Belize is very easy. You can go to Cancun, Mexico for a weekend regularly. And you can go to Merida, Mexico the other week for a long weekend. It’s a beautiful city. After that, you can go to Guatemala City and after that you can go to Honduras and then you can try the southern countries such as El Salvador. 

 

Then of course, Belize is an English-speaking country and that is an attraction for a lot of North Americans. Everybody speaks English here.  A lot of families speak Spanish as a first language at home but when they see you, they’ll speak English to you.

 

(Pictured: Laughing Bird Caye. You can even buy an island in Belize!)

If you are a Portuguese resident, you are taxed on your worldwide income. However, if that income is taxed in the other country, then you can get relief under the double tax agreement, with the refund provided by Portugal.

 

As an example, let’s say you’re from the US, you live in Portugal and you are a legal resident of Portugal.  Portugal will tax you on all of the money that you make worldwide, which includes income in the US, in...

If you are a Portuguese resident, you are taxed on your worldwide income. However, if that income is taxed in the other country, then you can get relief under the double tax agreement, with the refund provided by Portugal.

 

As an example, let’s say you’re from the US, you live in Portugal and you are a legal resident of Portugal.  Portugal will tax you on all of the money that you make worldwide, which includes income in the US, in Portugal, and in any other country; it makes no difference. But if you have paid tax on the same income in a foreign country, you can claim a deduction on your Portuguese tax return of the tax that was paid or withheld in the foreign country. You get a tax credit, which will then lower the amount of tax that you pay in Portugal. 

 

In order to be a tax resident of Portugal, you have to be in the country for 183 days within the year or alternatively, you could rent a home, which is considered to be your permanent residence. If you are not a tax resident in Portugal, you are only taxed on the income that you earn in Portugal and not on your other worldwide income.

 

There is a special regime that was set up about 5 years ago, which institutes a special 10-year tax holiday for people who come to retire to Portugal from another country, called the Non-Habitual Resident Regime. If people who qualify receive foreign income in Portugal, they have to declare that income but they do not have to pay tax on that income for 10 years.  This includes both earned income and retirement income. They will only pay taxes on the income that they earn in Portugal. This tax regime has attracted a lot of Northern Europeans to come to Portugal. It has also attracted a lot of French people who were trying to escape the very high taxes that are now being applied to wealthy people in France. 

 

There has been a big takeover bid by the left wing parties who are now the governing parties in Portugal. They may overturn this particular regime in order to fund the increase in pensions of the local people and increase the salaries of the public servants, which were cut under the previous government. Whether they will overturn it or not, I cannot answer, but I can report that Portugal has a habit of introducing really attractive legislation (for example, doing away with inheritance tax) and then when another government comes in, the legislation may get repealed. When this happens after a lot of people have already made arrangements, it can become an absolute nightmare.

 

(The town of Évora, Portugal shown with its medieval walls, drawn in 1501, pictured.)

What do you need to know about traveling with your pets to Panama?  So many suspect that traveling internationally with their pets is an easy thing.  It can be, but you must research your specific situation and know the requirements before your travel date.  I have heard many times that “It’s no problem to bring your dogs with you.  I know someone who did it and said it was a breeze.”  This may be true, but to experience it yourself is...

What do you need to know about traveling with your pets to Panama?  So many suspect that traveling internationally with their pets is an easy thing.  It can be, but you must research your specific situation and know the requirements before your travel date.  I have heard many times that “It’s no problem to bring your dogs with you.  I know someone who did it and said it was a breeze.”  This may be true, but to experience it yourself is certainly another story. 

Here’s the simple process:

Sounds simple enough, right?  Maybe, maybe not.  Keep informed with the regulations and current requirements. (It was easier for me to communicate directly with the embassy.)  Know that things change and you don’t want to be caught off guard with this process.  To avoid any snags, here are some things to keep in mind. 

So, in order for you and your beloved pets to travel safely, do your research.  Know the pet guidelines for your airline carrier.  Establish contact with the various offices before you travel.  And, remember to remain calm.  We traveled with three dogs, so it can be done.  We encountered a few challenges, but the embassy was our biggest help. Expect some stress but remain calm.   It will all be worth it in the end.

The expats in San Juan del Sur are all awful.  Fat gringos are everywhere smoking and drinking from 10 AM.  They are loud and obnoxious and get into brawls with the locals all the time.  San Juan del Sur is swarming with them, complaining about everything Nica (Nicaraguan) and how wonderful their home country is.  It makes you want to tell them to "bugger off back home then!"

 

In fact there are so many expats here that there...

The expats in San Juan del Sur are all awful.  Fat gringos are everywhere smoking and drinking from 10 AM.  They are loud and obnoxious and get into brawls with the locals all the time.  San Juan del Sur is swarming with them, complaining about everything Nica (Nicaraguan) and how wonderful their home country is.  It makes you want to tell them to "bugger off back home then!"

 

In fact there are so many expats here that there isn't any room for any more so you'd better not come.  Have you heard about Panama?  Mexico? Costa Rica?  I hear they are lovely places to retire! I highly recommend that you chose somewhere else.....!!

 

And now the truth....but only if you don't tell anyone!!  San Juan del Sur is an amazing place with a small, vibrant, collegial and engaged expat community.  Interesting characters are everywhere and we are largely well integrated with the local Nicaraguan economy and culture.  There are plenty of expat community events to participate in (Pizza in the Jungle every Wednesday and Friday; Trivia night every Tuesday!) and if you want to be golfing there is that too!!!  Shhhh now.. lets keep this our secret!