From pioneering as an early-in expat in a place just coming onto the scene to enjoying a soft landing in a well established locale where expats on the ground already have day-to-day life figured out—you have choices today. Lots of them—and they tend to lay out along a continuum, as new spots open up…
In Belize, for example, there’s a newly paved road from San Pedro toward
the bohemian artists’ hamlet of Secret Beach. All of a sudden, Secret Beach is abuzz. Access is easier now, amenities are following, and businesses are setting up. Sure, there will always be those who will wish it was all still a secret, but there are plenty who welcome the opening up of this new locale, too.
You can take that same idea and apply it to a larger arena. From the gleaming boulevards of Paris to the barefoot chic of Koh Phangan, Thailand, there are spots where things are taking off…as well as sleepy, tranquil places where nothing ever seems to change. Figuring out where you’ll be most comfortable on that continuum is one of the joys of a move abroad. You get to choose.
Take Panama, for starters. It’s been welcoming expats for decades, it has a whole range of living options to choose from, and they’re way up the luxury scale. Our Panama Editor Jessica Ramesch plots it out for you: “This is today’s Panama. Warm and tropical. Modern and surprisingly wealthy. In a word, comfortable.”
But if you’re more of a pioneering type, the world is also full of
options for a life where you’re free to forge your own path. Take Paul Beckman, who worked all over the world on IT contracts, but found everything he was looking for in the city of Arequipa, in southern Peru. Right now, it’s pretty undiscovered from an expat point of view, but
Paul’s sitting on a slice of land outside the city where he reckons the path of progress will be rolling some good luck his way soon: “The hotels will be arriving in three or four years…it will be ripe for plunder.”
The wonderful thing about relocating abroad is that, if you get itchy feet, you’re not locked in forever. As IL Riviera Maya Correspondent Don Murray puts it, “There are many places where you can build your new life and pursue your dreams…significant numbers can be found that meet nearly all of your primary needs and wants.”
All you have to do is get out there. In these pages each month, we show you where to go…
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Few things define a man’s Caribbean wardrobe better than a guayabera. They are, in fact, the iconic masculine essential. A longish, four-pocket, pleated shirt designed to be worn outside the trousers, the garment is often embroidered and is extremely comfortable in hot weather. The fabric is traditionally linen (arduously made from flax stems) but is Read more...: In Tekit, a Guayabera Won’t Cost You Your Shirt
Never before have I swum in a sea that I’d describe as hot. Warm, yes. Eye-wateringly frigid, definitely. But the sea off the south coast of Phuket, Thailand, is genuinely hot. It seems odd to surface after a duckdive and feel the 85 F air to be cooler than the water I’m swimming in. Just Read more...: Rawai, Phuket, Thailand
On the Yucatán Ceviche Trail With its roots in Peru, ceviche is also a culinary mainstay along Mexico’s Caribbean shore. The dish is traditionally made with fresh raw seafood cured in lime or lemon juice. Popular as an appetizer or main dish, chefs up and down the Yucatán prepare it in a variety of ways. Read more...: News & Notes From Around the World
On-Location Scouting Trip Photographs From Our Editors and Correspondents Worldwide Mui Ne, Vietnam (right) The backdrop may be dramatic, and the flowers and plants in the foreground would make any gardener proud, but when you’re working on those tricky undulating putts, the scenery takes second place. International Living Southeast Asia Correspondent Wendy Justice captures a Read more...: Images From the Road
“Living in Penang, Malaysia has allowed us to take a break from the rat race,” says Mariana Page, thinking about her old life in Boston. Mariana says that she and her husband, Caleb “Always had the idea, dream, and intention to see what it was like to live elsewhere.” They traveled extensively from their home Read more...: A Family Makes Time for Each Other in Penang
“I did research on several countries in Europe and Latin America,” says Kate Sparks. In April of 2018, she and her husband, Barry McKinney, pulled up stakes, leaving Bucks County, Pennsylvania, for the colorful surrounds of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. “Basically, our choice was based on the following factors: cost of living, weather, culture, Read more...: Flowers and Fiestas in San Miguel de Allende
When I was doing my check-out trip to Medellín in early 2012, Guatapé was one of my first day trips to the countryside. I had lived on the coast of Maine for 27 years before my decision to move overseas, so I was used to having quick access to water. The lake area in Guatapé Read more...: Why Now Is a Good Time to Buy in Guatapé, Colombia
“We Knew We Had to Find Somewhere Warm to Live” Names: Bob Kranz, Nancy Simon From: Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota Living in: Hua Hin, Thailand Having retired nearly 20 years ago, Bob Kranz and Nancy Simon have spent the last 17 years between Thailand, New Zealand, and the States. Add to that cycle touring, Read more...: Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia: Happy Lives in Southeast Asia
Buried deep in the 2019 year-end omnibus federal budget legislation is an obscure new rule that can saddle your children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews with a surprising and excessive tax liability. The SECURE Act This bill was long promoted by the financial industry and enjoyed strong bipartisan support in Congress. The most important improvement for Read more...: How to Defuse the Deferred-Tax-Account Time Bomb
While the choice to move overseas can be freeing in many ways, it is not an abdication of your right to select the elected officials who represent the United States to the world. The ability to vote for leaders who reflect our values is a right that each U.S. citizen can exercise no matter where Read more...: Voting Overseas: Three Simple Steps for U.S. Citizens