Kindred Spirits and Understated Luxury in Cotignac, France

Kindred Spirits and Understated Luxury in Cotignac, France

By |
August 9, 2022

Even though I’ve been living in Toulon, on France’s southern coast, for 12 years—and love everything about it here—there are times when I crave an English-speaking expat hit. With this in mind, I reached out to a friend, Susana, with the idea of visiting her in the village of Cotignac, where expats are as plentiful as the rosé vineyards that surround this corner...

A Tranquil New Life for $800 a Month in Panama

A Tranquil New Life for $800 a Month in Panama

By |
August 8, 2022

“While living in Colorado,” Beth Cushman says, “I had to work multiple jobs in order to survive and save money for my retirement. Now, in Panama, I am able to do my main accounting job remotely, while still having time to enjoy my new life. My monthly budget is about $800, including food, transportation within Panama, entertainment, yard maintenance, and insurances.”

A Mystical Village and a Hiking Adventure in Greece

A Mystical Village and a Hiking Adventure in Greece

By |
August 6, 2022

It all began, 18 years go, with a photo… hanging on the wall of Captain Jim (a retired Greek Navy Commodore) and Lucy’s lovely home on the Greek island of Syros. I was transfixed by this mysterious black and white photo of the mountain village of Syrrako. The picture shows a deep rugged mountain gorge enveloped and shrouded in heavy cloud cover...

$400 Property Tax and Other Stealth Savings in Costa Rica

$400 Property Tax and Other Stealth Savings in Costa Rica

By |
August 5, 2022

Chris Day positively bounces with energy and enthusiasm as she describes her expat life on the shores of Lake Arenal in Costa Rica. Physically, she's just bursting with passion for the place, and for the very idea of relocation overseas. If you ever thought that retirement means slowing down, lazing around on the porch, and generally just waiting for life...

Renting in Thailand’s “Rose of the North” for $537 a Month

Renting in Thailand’s “Rose of the North” for $537 a Month

By |
August 3, 2022

Chiang Mai is a northern city in Thailand known as the “Rose of the North.” With golden temples to explore, international restaurants, and festivals to celebrate on a regular basis, Chiang Mai is popular with tourists and expats. Although it has a warm to hot climate, Chiang Mai does have a cool season, and temperatures can dip into the 60s during the winter.

We Built Our Dream Home in Ecuador’s Sacred Valley

We Built Our Dream Home in Ecuador’s Sacred Valley

By |
August 2, 2022

In early 2016, Dek and Val Klein found and fell in love with a 32-acre plot of land outside of the Ecuadorian highland village of Vilcabamba, in the predominantly indigenous neighborhood of Mollepamba. They immediately saw potential for building their dream home at the top of the mountain—something that Dek had envisioned for 40 years but couldn’t afford...