You could say we start with secrets…those things unknown or unseen by most folks, and often kept hidden on purpose.
Each issue of International Living is planned with an urge to reveal secrets. What are the best beach towns for retirement in Central America? How much of a profit can you bank renting out your home in Tulúm, Mexico? What are the best places to get a second passport or open an offshore bank account? Can you get your Social Security benefits overseas? (On that last one, yes, you can in all but North Korea and a handful of other places you don’t want to retire to anyway.)
In your latest issue we reveal some fantastic secrets of affordable travel. For instance, Bob Patrick reveals how he’s been traveling the world without paying a cent for accommodation. It cost Bob less than $7,000 to spend two-and-a-half years enjoying life in Ecuador.
About 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador you’ll find the Galápagos Islands. This volcanic archipelago is unique and notoriously expensive to visit…unless you know what Connie Pombo knows. Discover how she explored these famous islands without the hefty price tag.
The most livable and enjoyable small cities in the world are often anchored by a university or two. They have something special, something you won’t find anywhere else. We reveal the secret of exactly what that is, and where you’ll find the five best for retirement in the world.
The Caribbean is known for laidback islands, white-sand beaches and high-priced real estate. IL Editor, Ann Kuffner, has a secret well worth sharing—an idyllic Caribbean island close to the U.S. where prices are at bargain levels.
Bali is a popular destination for expats and the island gets millions of visitors each year. But most never make it to the black-sand beaches of the north where expat Mike Henry reveals you’ll find monthly expenses—not including rent—of just $500.
Those are just some of the secrets we share with you this month.
—Eoin Bassett, Editorial Director
I ’m now enjoying the glorious summer on Spain’s Mediterranean coast. Every morning, I start the day with a cup of coffee on the terrace overlooking Málaga Bay. I have a car to explore the area. Everything I need is close by: the grocery stores, vegetable market, shopping, and, of course, the world-class beaches of the Costa del Sol. And the best part about this? I don’t pay a cent for any of it.
You gaze out from your veranda each morning onto a sea often as smooth as glass, shimmering as sunrays dance upon its surface. As far as the eye can see, north and south, are miles of gorgeous beaches, peppered with inviting, thatched-roof palapas at the end of docks. Red, yellow, and other brightly colored kayaks sit above the surf line, ready for the next joy ride.
The narrow lane spills onto a magnificent square. A group of young musicians fills the twilight with melodies. All around you are stunning buildings dating back centuries. And yet the people relaxing here and walking through these ancient streets are very much 21st century: students with books and laptops in hand. Folks from all over are enjoying evening drinks or dining on café terraces. Talk is of the art expo the town is putting on…an upcoming concert…or the latest news or trends…
The news out of Brazil is bad. Really bad. I’m excited. I’m excited because, while the media’s stories imply that the whole nation is a mess, I know that’s not the case. But most people don’t know that. And for you that opens a window of opportunity. You see, Brazil’s media is centered in, and dominated by, Rio and São Paolo. What reaches us as “Brazil news” is essentially just Rio/São Paolo news. And yes, there are troubles in Brazil’s economy, no question. But I’ve been focusing my attention south of Fortaleza in the northeast, and I’ve come across some great opportunities.
If you were to make your way far below the icy North Pole to the seabed at a certain spot, you would find an unusual titanium flag. It’s Russian, and it was stuck there in 2007 by the crew of two mini-submarines as a symbolic land-grab that rivals anything in history. Though it’s not a “New World” that Russia and other Arctic countries are seeking. It’s new oil. And now, with the scramble for Arctic oil heating up, the abundant black gold buried beneath the ice could constitute a fantastic investment opportunity.
When it comes to taking your life and assets offshore, few tools are more valuable than a second passport. I have one, and it makes my life easier in many ways. For example, I am able to enter Brazil and several other countries on my second passport (South African) visa-free, since Brazil requires visas for U.S. passport holders. And when I go to certain countries—ones that aren’t big fans of the U.S.—using my second passport helps me avoid attention.
It wasn’t until Tina Frewer suffered a serious health issue that she discovered how good the medical care was in Mérida, a city of nearly one million people on the western side of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. After receiving excellent care at Star Médica, one of two top-rated hospitals in Mérida, and attention from the area’s top specialists, Tina was inspired. Why not help medical tourists who come to Mexico for low-cost, high-quality surgeries and dental care navigate the city and the system? As a patient advocate/medical tourism concierge, Tina now connects expat patients with doctors and healthcare facilities through her business, HealthItinerary.
We enjoy the beach when we have time,” says Joseph Ader of his new life on Mexico’s Riviera Maya. “I love what I do. And I love the climate here. It’s very similar to Florida, which is one of the biggest producers of fish for food and the hobby trade. That’s one of the reasons it’s such a good business here.” As a kid growing up in Pennsylvania, Joseph helped his grandmother with her tropical fish aquariums, not realizing he was setting himself up for his future career.
When my husband Mark said, “Let’s go to the Galápagos for your birthday,” I couldn’t help but laugh. The Galápagos Islands, after all, are one of the ecological treasures of the world—and have a price tag to match. Or so I thought. But when we used my 58th birthday as an excuse for a five-day, four-night trip there I found out otherwise. The bill? $1,037 for the two of us, including airfare.
“I always wanted to live right on the beach, but not in a condo,” says Duane, originally from Tampa, Florida. “I wanted a home, and space around me to roam. For years I scoured Florida’s coasts, looking for an affordable property. But everything was out of reach.” Then, three years ago, he and his wife Judy found what they were looking for—on a good-value Caribbean island. Today they’re living their dream on the sand, and it costs them, on average, a mere $1,300 a month to live comfortably, right on the water.