Medic Mike Posted October 30, 2013 Posted October 30, 2013 Author, Retirement and Real Estate Expert, Kathleen Peddicord Compares Cities Based on 12 Categories, Including Climate, Cost of Living, Health Care, Safety. Live and Invest Overseas, a well-known overseas investment, real estate and retirement resource for hundreds of thousands in the United States and around the world today announced the release of its first “Retire Overseas Index.” Where is the best place to retire? Since there is no one way to answer that question, Kathleen Peddicord, author and publisher of Live and Invest Overseas, and her team have identified 21 of the world’s best places to enjoy retirement based on 12 categories. These include: climate, cost of living, English spoken, entertainment, environmental conditions, existing expat community, health care, infrastructure, real estate, residency options, safety and taxes. “There is no one way to determine the best place to retire for every person,” said Peddicord. “That’s why we wanted to come up with an index that rated the top destinations around the world that are each special for their own reasons. Not everyone wants to retire to the beach. Some want the amenities offered in big cities, while others want the tranquility of a mountain retreat.” The index is designed to let individuals make their own decision about the best place to retire based on their personal preferences, lifestyle and needs. The 12 categories represent the most important criteria that retirees must consider when shopping the globe for the best place to live out their retirement. The list doesn’t just name a country, but narrows it down to particular cities, noting that people don’t retire to Belize or France, just as they don’t retire to the United States; they retire to a particular city. “Deciding on a country is just the first step, from there retirees need to decide where to set down roots. The 21 locations on the list each represent the best the world has to offer from city to beach to mountains, old world and new world, east and west,” continued Peddicord. Below is a listing of the 21 locations within the retirement index that were rated on each of the 12 categories:• Abruzzo, Italy• Ambergris Caye, Belize• Boquete, Panama• Cayo, Belize• Cebu, Philippines• Chiang Mai, Thailand• Copper Coast, Ireland• Costa de Oro, Uruguay• Cuenca, Ecuador• Georgetown, Malaysia• Granada, Nicaragua• Hoi An, Vietnam• Hua Hin, Thailand• Istria, Croatia• Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia• Languedoc, France• La Serena, Chile• Medellin, Colombia• Mendoza, Argentina• Panama City Beaches, Panama• Puerto Vallarta, Mexico Based on its 12 category grades, Live and Invest Overseas then give each destination an overall, final grade. Four destinations received “A’s” overall:• Cuenca, Ecuador• Georgetown, Malaysia• Medellin, Colombia• Panama City Beaches, Panama World’s Most Affordable Places to Retire Well (that is, places where you could retire comfortably on a budget of $1,250 per month or even less):• Cebu, Philippines• Chiang Mai, Thailand• Cuenca, Ecuador• Granada, Nicaragua• Hoi An, Vietnam• Medellin, Colombia (outside El Poblado) World’s Best Climate:• Cuenca, Ecuador• Medellin, ColombiaWorld’s Most Expat-Friendly Places to Retire:• Ambergris Caye, Belize• Boquete, Panama• Cuenca, Ecuador• Georgetown, Malaysia• Hua Hin, Thailand• Panama City Beaches World’s Best Health Care:• Cebu, Philippines• Chiang Mai, Thailand• Cuenca, Ecuador• Georgetown, Malaysia• Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia• Languedoc, France• Medellin, Colombia• Panama City BeachesWorld’s Best Foreign Residency Programs (and their respective minimum monthly income requirements):• Belize, $2,000• Colombia, $966 (at current exchange rates)• Ecuador, $800• Nicaragua, $600 (plus $150 per dependent)• Panama, $1,000 (plus $250 per dependent)• Uruguay, $500 (this is the minimum according to the law; note that, in practice, expats will have to show closer to $1,000 per month in income as a couple) About Live and Invest OverseasEstablished in 2008, Live and Invest Overseas is the vision of Publisher Kathleen Peddicord and her husband Lief Simon. Kathleen Peddicord has covered the live and invest overseas beat for more than 25 years and is considered the world’s foremost authority on overseas retirement. She has traveled to more than 50 countries, invested in real estate in 21, established businesses in 7, renovated historic properties in 6, and educated her children in 4. Kathleen has moved children, staff, enterprises, household goods, and pets across three continents, from the East Coast of the United States to Waterford, Ireland...then to Paris, France...and, most recently, to Panama City, where she, Lief and their young son currently make their home and base their Live and Invest Overseas business. Kathleen was Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the International Living group for 23 years. She moved on from that role in 2007. www.LiveAndInvestOverseas.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJReyes Posted October 30, 2013 Posted October 30, 2013 (edited) Kathleen Peddicord's recommendations are suspect because her business is to promote real estate projects abroad. Much of what she writes is "fluff" indicating that the writer did not necessarily visit the destination. This is quite common in the travel writing industry. I am also preparing photographs and write-ups about retirement facilities in the Philippines. The photo gallery includes my picture at the facility as visual proof of my visit. Edited October 30, 2013 by JJReyes 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnMyWay Posted October 31, 2013 Posted October 31, 2013 Kathleen Peddicord's recommendations are suspect because her business is to promote real estate projects abroad. Much of what she writes is "fluff" indicating that the writer did not necessarily visit the destination. This is quite common in the travel writing industry. I am also preparing photographs and write-ups about retirement facilities in the Philippines. The photo gallery includes my picture at the facility as visual proof of my visit. Yes, I have seen her stories and always doubted the content. How many Cebu residents here on the forum think that the $1250 per month (or less) is realistic? I know it can be done but???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJReyes Posted October 31, 2013 Posted October 31, 2013 JJReyes, on 30 Oct 2013 - 06:58 AM, said: Kathleen Peddicord's recommendations are suspect because her business is to promote real estate projects abroad. Much of what she writes is "fluff" indicating that the writer did not necessarily visit the destination. This is quite common in the travel writing industry. I am also preparing photographs and write-ups about retirement facilities in the Philippines. The photo gallery includes my picture at the facility as visual proof of my visit. Yes, I have seen her stories and always doubted the content. How many Cebu residents here on the forum think that the $1250 per month (or less) is realistic? I know it can be done but???? We visited a museum that the guidebooks claimed the entrance was free on Wednesday. It wasn't true. So I asked. It turns out one guide said it was free on Wednesday and everyone copied without checking the accuracy. The museum policy was to grant free admission if anyone asked. Everyone else who didn't know about the mistaken information paid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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