Retired? Doesn’t Mean You Can’t Travel
Posted March 4, 2008 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Ever dreamed of whiling away your golden years in your own little piece of tropical paradise? It’s easier than you think. Here are five locales where your loonies go further than here – and where you never, never have to shiver your way through winter.
Asian spice
Looking for an exotic locale? The ocean-lapped country of Malaysia in Southeast Asia might fit the bill. It offers everything from urban metropolises and sunny beaches to mountain peaks and jungle retreats.
Although Malay is the official language, English is compulsory in schools in this former British colony, so you can usually get around without being a native speaker. “The language issue is probably easier than in France,” jokes Samuel Teo, a representative of Alter Domus, a relocation consultant in Vancouver. On top of that, the country boasts excellent health care-so good in fact that many Canadians and Americans are flocking here as medical tourists for cosmetic surgery and other operations.
Living la Vida
Mexico nabbed first place in a list of desirable retirement locations by International Living, a travel publication based out of Waterford, Ireland. That’s a fact that hasn’t escaped the 900,000 Canadian and American retirees who now call Mexico home. They love the country’s culture and history, as well as its reasonable cost of living.
Exactly how much it will cost you to live depends on where you choose to locate and whether you decide to buy or rent. In general, a couple of thousand dollars a month will support a retired couple in a comfortable lifestyle.
For more on retirement destinations, read the full MoneySense article here.
From the December/January 2008 issue of MoneySense magazine
