Eoin Bassett

Some IL editors live the dream, others weave it together. Eoin is the Real Estate Executive Editor, working in the Waterford office, Ireland. He’s a seasoned editor and traveler who has written from Mexico, Cuba, Spain and France. After traveling the length and breadth of Turkey and a six-month sojourn in a Swiss village (he still misses the cheese), he returned to his native Ireland to take up a post with IL. When not writing from the road, Eoin makes ale by the gallon and drinks it by the glass, indulges his passion for fly fishing and plays the sax badly. He has brought his practical skills into the classroom to teach journalism, and holds an MA in Journalism and a BA in History and Classical Studies.

Don’t Postpone Finding Freedom Overseas

By Eoin Bassett June 2015

For too many of us, daily life means paying mounting bills, commuting to work, staying there far longer than is healthy, and worrying about…well…everything. It’s what folks call the rat race. The futile grind. It’s stressful, it’s bad for your health, and it feels like it will never end. But freeing yourself from it is easier than you think. In this issue of International Living we hear from expats who have already escaped and taken advantage of low costs overseas to free themselves. They are living in beautiful locations around the world, enjoying lives that are a far cry from their experiences back in the States.

Vietnam: Exotic Part-Time Living in Southeast Asia

By Eoin Bassett February 2015

It’s a tropical night. Families and friends throng the café terraces along the waterfront. Everyone can see the Dragon Bridge. It’s lit a brilliant orange and designed to look like a dragon flying across the Han River. If you turn up at 6 p.m. any evening, you’ll see fireworks pour from its mouth. Cross it and you’ll find neighborhoods where expats rent for as little as $400 a month just a few blocks from miles of sandy beaches. The city of Da Nang is my first experience of Vietnam. I didn’t know quite what to expect, but I really didn’t expect what I found…

Beaches and Great-Value Rentals on the South China Sea

By Eoin Bassett December 2014

Imagine a morning walk that takes you along a winding path shaded by towering pines. Nestled in the woodland around you are homes with pleasant gardens, flower-filled pots and bougainvillea-draped walls. A few minutes is all it takes to reach the low-slung dunes. You pause on top to take in the view: 18 miles of brilliant golden sands fringing the warm tropical waters of the South China Sea. About 10 miles out are the Cham Islands, a biosphere reserve where you can dive on coral reefs and explore the ancient ruins of the Cham civilization.

Echoes of Elegant France in “the Pearl of Asia”

By Eoin Bassett October 2014

It’s not clear what drew Charlie Chaplin to Cambodia. The rumor was a secret honeymoon with a co-star, but whatever the reason for his 1936 visit, we do know what he thought of the capital, Phnom Penh: “Certain avenues are like ‘little sisters’ to the grand Champs Élysées in Paris,” he told the press.

Chiang Mai, Thailand: Southeast Asia’s Best “Bang-for-Your-Buck” Destination

By Eoin Bassett September 2014

"Life here is easy, convenient, and what’s more I can afford to really enjoy it,” says Pennsylvania-native, Paul Matlin. “You meet so many interesting people from all over the world. The health care is great, the food is superb, and the weather is warm.” Founded over 700 years ago, Chiang Mai nestles in the mountains of Northern Thailand, on the banks of the Ping River and the good climate has acted as a major draw for thousands of expats who call the city home.

The Joys of an Authentic Travel Experience

By Eoin Bassett September 2014

We want authenticity when we travel. We want the real thing: to step outside our own lives and connect with other peoples, cultures, and ways of life. We want to learn something about ourselves and our place in the world. We want to taste the food, learn the customs and talk to the people, to lose ourselves, at least for a little while.

Penang Island: Escape to Southeast Asia’s Historic Retirement Haven

By Eoin Bassett July 2014

Legend has it that the English sailors aboard the ship of Captain Francis Light smelled Penang before they saw it—an island jewel scented with nutmeg, cloves and pepper plants. To this day you can easily escape into the lush jungle-clad hills, explore a nutmeg orchard, or walk in the shade of Candle trees in the 70-acre botanic gardens. But the 405-square-mile island has changed a lot since Light and his men arrived to clear and settle it in 1786.

Los Santos, Panama: Low Costs, Pristine Beaches, and Spanish Heritage

Country Insider Websites

By Eoin Bassett

What if you were sitting in the shade of a palm tree looking out at coral white sands on a tropical island? Yesterday, you were learning to paddleboard from a hidden cove, and tomorrow you’ll explore surfing spots farther up the mainland coast. Tonight you’ll choose from French cuisine, Italian pasta, or feast on fresh-caught tuna while watching the game at Smileys bar.

Los Santos, Panama: Low Costs, Pristine Beaches, and Spanish Heritage

By Eoin Bassett May 2014

Scandinavians Aren’t the Only Ones to Fall in Love with Boquete, Panama…

Country Insider Websites

By Eoin Bassett

Standing on a bridge over the Calderas River, watching it bubble and tumble down the valley, it's easy to see why the Swedes and Swiss who arrived in this sheltered spot in the early 20th century felt so immediately at home. Pure mountain air and forest-green hillsides are something you expect of Scandinavia or the Alpine foothills...not tropical little Panama.