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The Secrets of Safe Fun-Filled and Low-Cost Southeast Asia

Several years ago I began exploring the retirement havens of Southeast Asia. Up until then, my beat was Latin America and Europe. I thought I had a good handle on the world’s best destinations for an overseas retirement. But Southeast Asia opened up a whole new world…

It’s certainly the best region in the world for a part-time, adventuresome, and comfortable roving retirement. You’ll find furnished short-term rentals for $300 a month. Living costs are crazy low, flights all over the place are often just the price of a meal out, and there’s so much to take in…

It’s without doubt the safest region I have ever traveled. And I definitely found the most outstanding bang-for-buck destinations of my travels to date. Shimmering cities where the ultra-modern meets the downright ancient…sun-kissed beaches…jungle-clad temples…chaos, color, and a spirituality and hospitality unique to the peoples of Southeast Asia.

When my Southeast Asia adventure was over, I was a changed man. The world and its opportunities felt bigger and better than ever.

Now it’s your turn…

In your issue this month we bring you a taste of what Southeast Asia has to offer. Discover the easiest retirement haven in the region, where people speak English, the healthcare is world class, and expats are finding serious bang for their buck.

The vestiges of French colonial rule are evident in the artsy river-side town of Kampot, Cambodia, and that’s where Scott Dalton has found his shangrila (it’s also my pick if I were to live in Cambodia).

If you like the idea of island life with home comforts, excellent hospitals, outstanding beaches, and an international dining scene, IL Thailand Correspondent, Michael Cullen, reveals where you can rent for just $525 a month or buy a two-bedroom villa for $83,000

IL Vietnam Correspondent Wendy Justice takes you around her old stomping grounds in Nha Trang, Vietnam, and roving Southeast Asia Correspondent, Kirsten Raccuia, reveals how to make the most of a long weekend in Laos’ temple town.

Eoin Bassett, International Executive Editor

Download Your February Issue Here

A Day Trip to Panama’s “Other Side”

A Day Trip to Panama’s “Other Side”

By Jessica Ramesch February 2018

In the former "Canal Zone" of Panama City, an antique train roars to life. On the red, black, and gold locomotive, elegant type spells out Ciudad de Diablo and the year, 1863. This is Panama's famous transisthmian train, expertly refurbished by the Panama...

Read more: A Day Trip to Panama’s “Other Side”
Oaxaca: Mystery in Mexico’s Deep South

Oaxaca: Mystery in Mexico’s Deep South

By Donald Murray February 2018

Zapotec and Mixtec women in brightly embroidered dresses amble along narrow alleys in Oaxaca city’s old quarter. I’m here to see what this southern Mexican city offers, get immersed, and meet expats. I spent several hours in two indoor markets...

Read more: Oaxaca: Mystery in Mexico’s Deep South
China’s Beer Capital,  A “Free” Car in Panama, and More

China’s Beer Capital, A “Free” Car in Panama, and More

By International Living February 2018

“If you like beer, you will like the city of Qingdao in northeastern China,” writes IL Correspondent, Steve LePoidevin. “At one point in history, Tsingtao beer accounted for over 90% of China’s exports to the rest of the world, and there’s a logical...

Read more: China’s Beer Capital, A “Free” Car in Panama, and More
Movement in Commodities, Rise of Dollar Stores, and More

Movement in Commodities, Rise of Dollar Stores, and More

By Matt Badiali February 2018

The Baltic Dry Index (BDI), which is a benchmark of shipping rates around the world, recently hit a four-year high. The BDI tracks shipping of grains, oil seeds, coal and iron ore. These are fundamental components of the global economy—food...

Read more: Movement in Commodities, Rise of Dollar Stores, and More
“Winter’s Warmer in Playa, and We  Save Money”

“Winter’s Warmer in Playa, and We Save Money”

By Jason Holland February 2018

The only ice we like is in our drinks," says Kristina Denstedt, 57. "Winter in Canada is actually when the weather is most pleasant here on the Riviera Maya. Daytime temps are in the low and mid-80s F and there's little humidity."...

Read more: “Winter’s Warmer in Playa, and We Save Money”
A Fun-Filled Retirement  in Puerto Vallarta

A Fun-Filled Retirement in Puerto Vallarta

By Jason Holland February 2018

Doug and I have both traveled, but Puerto Vallarta swept us off our feet. Not just the town, but the people we've met," says Cindy Corty, 63. "My biggest trepidation when moving somewhere is making friends....

Read more: A Fun-Filled Retirement in Puerto Vallarta
Rent From $525 a Month or Buy From $83,000 on Koh Samui, Thailand

Rent From $525 a Month or Buy From $83,000 on Koh Samui, Thailand

By Michael Cullen February 2018

The view is of miles of blue ocean, the sunlight playing across its gentle ripples. Below me is a verdant valley that stretches all the way to the crescent of sand marking one of the island’s most popular beaches, Chaweng...

Read more: Rent From $525 a Month or Buy From $83,000 on Koh Samui, Thailand
“Our Perfect Home in Dog-Friendly Medellin”

“Our Perfect Home in Dog-Friendly Medellin”

Profiles
By Nancy Kiernan February 2018

When David and Carole Wallis thought about retiring in the U.S. on David’s police department pension, they figured they could afford to have either health insurance or food, but not both. This reality led them to consider retiring overseas...

Read more: “Our Perfect Home in Dog-Friendly Medellin”
A Move to Le Marche Didn’t Mean Leaving Pets Behind

A Move to Le Marche Didn’t Mean Leaving Pets Behind

Profiles
By Valerie Fortney Schneider February 2018

When Lisa and Tony Castrignano boarded their flight in Boston this past September to start a new life in Italy, they also had their two dogs and two cats in tow. "We never considered leaving our pets in the States," says Lisa. The couple...

Read more: A Move to Le Marche Didn’t Mean Leaving Pets Behind
Research Was the Key in Bringing Our Pets to Cuenca

Research Was the Key in Bringing Our Pets to Cuenca

Profiles
By Donna Stiteler February 2018

People always ask why we moved five dogs to Ecuador. Especially when four was the limit. I'll admit, bringing five dogs made us feel more as though we were smuggling contraband than moving our furry friends. But leaving them behind was not an option. After all, they're family...

Read more: Research Was the Key in Bringing Our Pets to Cuenca
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Editor’s Choice From This Month’s Issue

  • Is Malaysia the Easiest Retirement Haven in Asia?: Part One
  • Restore Your Sense of Adventure as an Expat
  • “The 16 Tips We Use to Travel the World on $70 a Day”

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Table of Contents

  • A Day Trip to Panama’s “Other Side”
  • Oaxaca: Mystery in Mexico’s Deep South
  • China’s Beer Capital, A “Free” Car in Panama, and More
  • Movement in Commodities, Rise of Dollar Stores, and More
  • “Winter’s Warmer in Playa, and We Save Money”
  • A Fun-Filled Retirement in Puerto Vallarta
  • Rent From $525 a Month or Buy From $83,000 on Koh Samui, Thailand
  • “Our Perfect Home in Dog-Friendly Medellin”
  • A Move to Le Marche Didn’t Mean Leaving Pets Behind
  • Research Was the Key in Bringing Our Pets to Cuenca
  • “How I Discovered Kampot”—A Riverfront Retirement in Cambodia
  • “The 16 Tips We Use to Travel the World on $70 a Day”
  • Nha Trang: “The World’s Most Beautiful Bay,” from $920 a Month
  • Montevideo—Safe, Stable, European-Style Living With a South American Twist
  • Is Malaysia the Easiest Retirement Haven in Asia?: Part One
  • Is Malaysia the Easiest Retirement Haven in Asia?: Part Two
  • A Crisis Investment You Don’t Want to Make—It’s A Greek Tragedy
  • Online Privacy Is Dead… Well, Almost
  • Turning Pictures Into Cash in Guatemala’s Colonial Heart
  • How to Spend a Long Weekend in Laos’ Temple Town
  • Your Perfect Retirement Starts in Atlanta
  • Homes in Hidden France
  • Restore Your Sense of Adventure as an Expat
  • Download Your February Issue PDF Here

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