13 min read
For many years, it was mostly retirees who had the flexibility to move abroad of their own volition, without a job on the ground—they could stretch their savings and live out their...
International Living
13 min read
4 min read
I'm often asked about the “best” countries for people looking to retire abroad. There's no easy answer to that question, since countries have different qualities, and individuals have different needs from the...
5 min read
In 1994, Edward Thompson (ET to his friends) boarded a plane in Houston and landed in Bangkok, Thailand. He'd been recruited by a large hospitality and food service company called "The Minor...
6 min read
Greetings from Costa Rica! We’re thrilled to introduce ourselves as the 2024 winners of International Living’s Test-Drive Your Dream Life Overseas competition!In July, we found out that IL would fund us for...
13 min read
Tallinn, Estonia, was the first stop of our 30-day Baltic adventure. The taxi moved slowly through Old Town Tallinn’s narrow, twisting, cobblestone streets. We were astonished as we passed by medieval buildings,...
10 min read
It’s no secret that Portugal has become one of the most desirable, affordable, and safest places to live in Europe. With its historic, cobbled villages, idyllic coastline, welcoming locals, and moderate climate,...
5 min read
I first came to Bali at the age of nineteen, exploring Southeast Asia before beginning my appointment with the Royal Hong Kong Police. Bali captivated me then, as it does now. That...
6 min read
Greece is synonymous with its beautiful islands, and many believe that summer island-hopping is the ultimate way to experience the country. While Greece does offer incredible beaches, the cooler months reveal a...
3 min read
In another blow to European golden visas via residential property investment, Greece proposes to end that option as of January 1.Like Portugal and Spain, Greece is shifting its focus to company investors,...
11 min read
What causes someone to move away from the country where they were born to a new and unfamiliar place?That was the question that prompted me to write my first book in 2019,...
8 min read
Political refugees, they rush to the safety and security of America. They don’t leave America—right?You might be surprised. Among the more than 700,000 Americans who receive their Social Security benefits abroad, you’ll...
15 min read
Short of clenching a dagger between your teeth and creeping through the Honduran jungle with a band of cigar-chewing Sandinista rebels, the 7 a.m. Sansa flight from San José to Managua is...
8 min read
Could I live here?I ask myself that question everywhere I land in the world. As I’m driving or walking, I’m paying attention to the feel of a place.So far, I would gladly...
20 min read
My friend Maria is a vigilessa, a municipal police officer in Rome. Her daily beat often revolves around the Trevi Fountain or the Piazza di Spagna, two of the city’s most popular...
8 min read
This is a timed test.You have one minute to come up with your answer.The scenario: For whatever reasons—political, social, economic, fiscal—you realize you have no other option but to get out of...
3 min read
Politics is always a tricky subject... until it becomes personal.That's a lesson I (re)learned at our annual IL Bootcamp in Las Vegas at the end of October.From dozens of consultations with members...
5 min read
Master Sergeant Eric Haynes (retired) has a classic American story. Born in Moberly, Missouri in 1966, he joined the Air Force right out of high school and began what would be three-plus...
7 min read
A former teacher and Episcopal priest, Jeffrey Clawson has worked for social justice all his life. And today’s divisive political climate in the US alarms him."If you are happy and enjoying life,...
7 min read
The America she knew and loved seemed to be slipping away.This was the sentiment plaguing Maureen Steinberg as the 2016 US Presidential election carved a corrosive swathe through the nation.An ambitious real...
6 min read
If things get chaotic after the election, will you make an escape? And if so, where will you go?If you’re considering a move, let me introduce you to Uruguay—a country with postcard-perfect...
