Legacy Archives

Ranked one of the best places in the world to retire in International Living’s annual Global Retirement Index, there is only one place in the world where you can enjoy an affordable overseas retirement, live right on the beach at affordable prices, yet remain within minutes of the U.S. by car… With its moon-lit fiestas, languid white-sand beaches, ancient colonial towns set in the rugged Sierras, and Mayan pyramids rising from the misty Yucatan jungle, it’s no wonder so many people are starting new lives in Mexico. And armed with your Escape to Mexico Manual, you will be ready to start your new life south of the border.

Maximizing your Social Security benefits… that’s just one piece of it. You can maximize your lifestyle too. In some places, you really can enjoy a Rolls Royce quality of life on a run-down Chevy budget. The kind of high-end living that might set you back $10,000 or $15,000 a month in a big city at home could be one-tenth that in the right places overseas.

If your Panama plans call for clear blue waters and long stretches of sandy beach, you’ll be happy to know that there are plenty of places to choose from. After all, most of Panama consists of coastal areas. Plus, unlike in some other countries, Panama allows foreigners to own beach property outright, rather than requiring them to own via trusts or foundations. Cruising the Panama Coast – Panama: Dream It, Find It, Live It, details our favorite coastal locales, lifestyle and real estate options.

Miles-deep canyons with clear fresh water rushing over car-sized boulders, and green-velvet mountainsides where women in native garb tend small herds of cows and goats. Welcome to Ecuador’s mountains. From the northern city of Ibarra and the artisan villages of Otavalo and Cotacachi through the popular weekender town of Baños to the glorious southern colonial city of Cuenca, if mountain living is your preference you’ll love it here. In Perfect-Weather Paradises: Living in Ecuador’s Mountain Towns – Ecuador: Dream it, Find it, Live it, we’ll take a look at some of our favorite towns in Ecuador’s highlands.

Panama City is a bustling, vibrant, and exciting metropolis. If you’re looking for inexpensive cosmopolitan living—but with the conveniences you’d expect in New York, Chicago, Miami, or any other major First-World city—you need to take a serious look at Panama City. In this special report, we’ll tell you all about lifestyle alternatives and real estate prices, and give you our insider tips on saving time and money in Panama City.

Ecuador’s Southern Coast really does offer something for everyone—from miles of rugged cliffs and beautiful sandy beaches to sleepy fishing villages, to thriving metropolitan areas. We’ve put together Southern Coastal Ecuador Land of Sun, Sand, Surf…and Opportunity—Ecuador: Dream It, Find It, Live It to give you a taste of what life is like in our favorite coastal locations… and help you narrow the field of choices—if one or two of these places especially appeal to you, put them on your "short list" to visit. We’ll provide a full dossier of each of the cities and towns that make the most sense for foreign retirees, investors, families with children, and singles. Once you get a better idea of what each locale has to offer, we expect you’ll be planning your own exploratory trip. And we’ll help with that, too—with names and contact information for local English-speaking resources who can help you decide if Southern Coastal Ecuador is, indeed, for you.

In some places, you really can enjoy a Rolls Royce quality of life on a run-down Chevy budget. The kind of high-end living that might set you back $10,000 or $15,000 a month in a big city at home could be one-tenth that in the right place overseas. In this special report, our experts show you how you can retire earlier, better, and happier overseas on your Social Security.

For many, Mexico's Caribbean Coast has a touch of magic. Those fine white-sand beaches, the incredible neon-turquoise waters, that clear blue sky and bright sun… What if you want the best of resort living…but you don’t want a stuffy resort? What if you want to "get away from it all"? With so many well-known destinations, are there still undiscovered stretches along this magic Caribbean Coast? Yes, there are. In fact, on the Caribbean Coast there's something for every taste. We at International Living have followed the fortunes of this coast for years and in Secret Caribbean Escapes - Mexico: Dream it, Find it, Live it we've selected four regions that, to our minds, just spell "Caribbean escape."

If your idea of the perfect Panama includes lush tropical scenery without the heat of the lowlands, head to the highlands to see the other side of Panama. You’ll meet plenty of expats who, like you, left the postcard-perfect beaches behind in search of cooler climes. Though Panama is best known for its city and beaches, the mountain areas do not disappoint and offer a wide variety of activities, property, and lifestyles.

Malaysia is a country like no other, and once you have spent a little bit of time exploring its cities, its hill stations, its national parks, and some of its stunning islands, you'll want more. Popular expat enclaves include Kuala Lumpur, the heart and capital of Malaysia; Malacca City, Malaysia's historic city; George Town, Penang's bohemian capital, and Kota Kinabalu, where you can explore the mighty Mount Kinabalu, one of the Southeast Asia's UNESCO-listed mountains and the highest in Malaysia.