I'm looking for a place to retire. I used to think I wanted to be on a remote beach somewhere, but now that I am actually old enough, I think I'd like a more urban environment, possibly even a big city, if I could get to the beach on, say, an overnight bus ride.

I've been trying staying in different places for a few months, and I've learned that I need high speed internet, easy access to English language books, current movies, cable TV with a fair amount of American programs, air-conditioning, and at least a one-bedroom apartment. I want to be able to buy things easily, not have to travel for two hours to get anythng more than the basics. If it's not at the beach, then I want a pool. I want sunny, fairly hot weather.

And, oh, yes, I want all this on a budget of less than $1000 US a month. I realize I'm not going to find such a place, but where, in your opinion, comes closest.

The place that comes the closest in my mind is Aruba. It is close enough to the items you listed, plus has one of the best beaches in the world.

Michael Kettner
Managing Editor
ExpatriateGlobal.com

We too were looking for such a place, thats why we were looking at Goa. We would be interested to discover where you think is best in the end. We have similar criteria to yourself. We wanted english if poss, nice beaches, safety, but above all cheap cost of living. Will you keep in touch and let us know how your research goes. I think I will look at that Aruba.

We too were looking for such a place, thats why we were looking at Goa. We would be interested to discover where you think is best in the end. We have similar criteria to yourself. We wanted english if poss, nice beaches, safety, but above all cheap cost of living. Will you keep in touch and let us know how your research goes. I think I will look at that Aruba.

I think Aruba is very expensive. When I say I want a low cost place to live, I mean I want to pay less than $250 per month for rent, and I want dinner in a cheap restaurant to cost less than $3.

I've always assumed I would retire in Mexico. I'm not sure why. The advantages would be that it is close to the US so I wouldn't have to travel for 30 hours or something to visit friends and family, it's relatively inexpensive, there is good medical care (at least in Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey, where the good medical schools are), and there are lots of ex-pats there.

Well, Spain and anywhere else in Europe is out of the question, of course. As an American, you have to also consider where you can get a retirement visa or can otherwise manage to stay in the country for a long time. That eliminates a great many places.

I did a little internet research on Aruba and it does look very nice indeed. We went around the Caribbean last year and really liked curacao which I would imagine is very similar (having the dutch influence). Out of all the places we went we really liked Mexico the best. The Mexicans we found were hillareous.We went swimming at the little beach at tulum and had one of those glad to be alive moments! On a previous thread synthia had mentioned Isla Muerjes off cancun. I have found a nice hostel on the internet there and very much fancy a visit for a month.
So in my search for the perfect place to retire so far Mexico looks good, India and I am determined to get to a Pacific island. I havent given up on india despite recent worries about safety. We had kerala suggested as being inexpensive and english speaking and it was one of the places we wanted to go to from Goa.
We are going around the Baltic countries on a princess cruise next month so it will be interesting to see Norway which keeps getting voted as the best place to live in the world but hugely expensive. After that we are going to Toronto for a two weeks to see the Niagara falls and the Rockies. Then in November Hopefully the house is getting rented and off we go in search of that perfect place to retire. Keep the suggestions coming people.

I too am looking for a place to retire soon. I would like to go somewhere warm but not too warm. A place that it is safe and comfortable. I am not sure that I have found it yet, and sometime soon would like to find it. I think I will know it when it happens.

One of the things you have to consider is whether you will be allowed to live there. You're American, aren't you? You need to find out which countries have retirement programs that will allow you to move there.