7 Best Books About Best Places to Retire and Retiring Abroad

7 Best Books About Best Places to Retire and Retiring Abroad:

      1.       How to Retire Happier (Ron Stack 2014). Mr. Stack is an American author, blogger, coach and Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker.

2.       How to Retire Overseas: Everything you need to know to live well (for less) abroad (Kathleen Peddicord 2011 and re-published in 2018). Kathleen Peddicord is from the USA, but lived long-term in Ireland and Paris. She is the owner of Live and Invest Overseas Group and was previously a partner with International Living Group.

3.       Retirement Without Borders: How to retire abroad – in Mexico, France, Italy, Spain, Costa Rica, Panama and other sunny places (Barry Golson 2008). Mr. Golson is an American who has lived in many countries.

4.       Take the Retirement Road Less Traveled: Could Expatriate Living and Retiring Abroad Be In Your Future? (Dr. E. Lamar Ross 2012). Dr. Ross is an American who trains people on expatriate living.

5.       The Happy Expat: Your Guide to Joyfully Retiring Abroad (Ann Hoffman 2015). Ann Hoffman is an American that has lived in Mexico for 5 years and owns www.enjoylivinginternationally.com.

6.       Retire in Style: 60 Outstanding Places Across the USA and Canada (Warren R. Bland 2005). This book is 15 years old and is probably a bit outdated, but still has good information.

7.       The ABA consumer guide to retiring aboard: Legal, Financial and Tax Issues and Solutions (George Hayduk 2017). This is a guide written for Americans by the American Bar Association.

We hope to add ours to this list soon.

Please comment if I have missed any excellent books on this topic.

Happy Travels,

Kev

P.S. Here are links to my other social media accounts, in case you want to connect that way:

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6 Tips For A Successful Retirement Abroad

6 Tips to Make Retirement Abroad or Snowbird Travel More Successful:

Many people move away after retirement and soon regret it and move back home.

Your Retirestyle abroad will be more successful if:

      1.       Be sure you and your partner or spouse are on the same page.

2.       Don’t do it unless you both have a sense of adventure and are not perfectionists.

3.       Rent an apartment and live in the city for at least a year before considering buying a property there.

4.       Do not look at this decision through rose-coloured glasses – Little annoyances & inconveniences become big problems over time.

5.       Keep busy & make friends in your new location to avoid boredom and to give you a reason to get up each day.

6.       Have a plan for returning to Canada someday (when you are much older and your health deteriorates).

Happy Travels,

Kev

P.S. Here are links to my other social media accounts, in case you want to connect that way:

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Kevin's YouTube (You should check out my YouTube Channel for related travel videos)

Top 9 best third-party rankings & comparisons of retirement destinations

Top 9 best third-party rankings and comparisons of retirement destinations:

These websites provide plenty of useful and critical information to help you decide where to spend time after retirement:

      1.       International Living Best Places to Retire Abroad

2.       Live & Invest Overseas Best Places to Retire

3.       US News World Report Best Places to Retire

4.       Natixis Global Retirement Index

5.       Global Peace Index

6.       Mercer 2019 quality of life comparison

7.       Expatisan cost of living comparison

8.       Numebo quality of life & cost of living comparison

9.       World Health Organization Health System & Pollution comparisons

You can see how each destination you are considering compares to other destinations, sometimes through an index, sometimes by showing how the cost there compares to your home city, and sometimes by literally ranking them.

I tend to think that the sites that rank the best places to retire might not be completely unbiased.

Happy Travels,

Kev

P.S. Here are links to my other social media accounts, in case you want to connect that way:

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Kevin's YouTube (You should check out my YouTube Channel for related travel videos)

Top 9 Factors To Help Choose Your Retirement or Snowbird Destination

Top 9 Important Factors to Consider When Selecting Your Retirement or Snowbird Destination:

      1.      Your savings & income available vs. the cost of living

2.       Taxation

3.       Visa requirements for long term vacations or permanent residents

4.       Lifestyle – Does the destination have enough of the things you enjoy?

5.       Is there a community of expats or retirees?

6.       Language - Can you get by mostly with English?

7.       Safety - crime & corruption

8.       Healthcare & Health Issues (pre-existing conditions and risk of disease)!!!

9.       Location, Location, Location.

a.       How far is it from your Canadian home?

b.       How convenient & fast is it to get there?

c.       It is a good hub for further travel?

d.       How far is it from the beach?

e.       Is there good shopping nearby?

f.        What is the distance to a good hospital?

g.       What is the weather like? Is it too hot? Too rainy?

h.       Is there a risk of natural disasters?

Happy Travels,

Kev

P.S. Here are links to my other social media accounts, in case you want to connect that way:

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Kevin's Facebook

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Kevin's YouTube (You should check out my YouTube Channel for related travel videos)

How long your trips should be after retirement

How long should your trips be after retirement?

The length of your trips is a matter of personal taste, financial means and obligations back in Canada.

Some people go on short trips, and others go on long trips or leave permanently until their health deteriorates.

1.   1 week at a time

-     Typical cruises & all-inclusive vacations.

2.   1 week to 1 month
-     Road trips & travel by rail / train.
-     Multi-country trips (European or Asia tour).

3.   1 to 6 months
-    “Snowbirds” go somewhere warm in Winter.
-     Apartment or condo rental (ex. Airbnb or VRBO) or long-term hotel stay.

4.   Permanent Relocation (Retire Abroad)
-     Many options and possibilities - many pros and cons (see my other blog posts).
-     Can allow you to stretch your savings, pension and travel dollars.

Generally, the longer trips and trips where you "do it yourself" are much more cost effective per day and also more relaxing.

You can rent an apartment for a month for the same cost as a hotel room for a week. 

If you have a kitchen in your long-term rental condo or apartment, you can shop at a grocery store or market rather than spending more money at restaurants everyday. 

Happy Travels,

Kev

P.S. Here are links to my other social media accounts, in case you want to connect that way:

Kevin's Instagram

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Kevin's YouTube (You should check out my YouTube Channel for related travel videos)

15 ways that older travellers (50+) are different and special

15 ways that older travellers (50+) are different and special:

1   

           1.  They can do what they want when they want.

     2.  They can stay at adults-only resorts.

     3.  They have less energy, so they want a slower pace and less thrilling or strenuous activities.

     4.  They generally wake up earlier and go to bed earlier.

     5.  They have more health concerns, so they need to be sure medication & healthcare are available and limited mobility needs are met. As a result, they also need better travel health insurance.

     6.  They are either retired or have earned more vacation time at work, so they can take extended vacations (1 month or more).

     7.  They can travel anytime and with short notice (including low season & last-minute deals).

     8.  They have more savings and disposable income, so can spend more money on luxury. Thus, they want higher quality food, drinks, accommodations and entertainment.       

     9.  They like to feel special and stretch their savings, so they may be influenced by seniors’ discounts or special promotions and events. 

     10. They enjoy gourmet meals.  They also enjoy premium spirits (alcoholic beverages like aged whiskey, craft beer, award winning Vodka, Tequila, and Gin, and fine wine).

     11. They travel with less luggage.  

     12. They expect a higher level of service and assistance.

     13. They desire social interaction and often want to make new friends. Similarly, they sometimes travel with existing friends to keep the trip interesting and to feel more secure. 

     14. They want to learn new languages, cultures, and history.

     15. They enjoy arts and cultural entertainment such as theatre, art galleries, and museums.

Another sometimes unfair generalization is that older travellers rely less on technology to research and book their trips and are less likely to book everything themselves.  The travel industry may need to be creative to find ways to reach this audience. 

Travel agents, tour operators, tourism bureaus, hotels, resorts, cruise lines, and airlines should take heed and give older travellers what they want. More and more of us will be travelling more as we get close to retirement. 

If you are over 50, please comment to share other ways that your travel has changed from when you were younger. 

Happy Travels,

Kev

P.S. Here are links to my other social media accounts, in case you want to connect that way:

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Kevin's YouTube (You should check out my YouTube Channel for related travel videos)

8 Benefits of Travel for Retirees

Retirees claim that travel makes them:

1. Eat healthier
2. Stay active & walk more
3. Lose weight
4. Look younger 
5. Feel younger
6. Feel better
7. Feel happier
8. Stay mentally sharp

Sounds pretty good to me. 

Happy Travels,

Kev


P.S. Here are links to my other social media accounts, in case you want to connect that way:
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Kevin's YouTube (You should check out my YouTube Channel for related travel videos)

5 scientifically proven health benefits of foreign travel

5 scientifically proven* health benefits of foreign travel:

1. increasing happiness,
2. reducing your stress,
3. reducing the risk of depression,
4. reducing the chance of a heart attack, and
5. enhancing your creativity.

* Based on a 2017 article by Larry Alton for NBC News.

So, once this Covid-19 virus gets under control and runs its course, let's all travel to improve our health while recharging our batteries, enjoying ourselves, and making priceless memories. 

We’re going to need it.

Happy Travels,

Kev

P.S. Here are links to my other social media accounts, in case you want to connect that way:
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Kevin's Facebook
Kevin's Pinterest
Kevin's YouTube (You should check out my YouTube Channel for related travel videos)

Do older travellers travel differently?

We like to think that we are forever young, but as we age, our travel style (which ultimately becomes our retirestyle) and preferences change. 

I know when I was younger, I had no fear and I did not care about comfort or my meals. I just wanted to cram in as much fun and excitement I could for as cheap as possible. 

Then, I got older and had kids and it was all about experiencing the fun and excitement of travel through their eyes and doing what they wanted to do even if it was not exactly fun for us parents. Think about going to the kiddie land amusement rides, watching a Barney live show, or waiting in line to get an autograph from Mickey Mouse at Disney. 

We spent a lot of time in the hotel room watching TV and went to bed early. Much of the day was spent feeding and amusing the kids and always worrying and watching them closely to ensure they don't hurt themselves, drown, or get abducted. We always had a big baby bag or backpack with all of the things the kids could possibly need during the day. 

Business travel was nice because cost was not as much of a consideration, so I could stay at a nicer hotel in a nicer area (close to the action) and I could eat at more expensive restaurants eating gourmet food. However, there was not much time to be a tourist and it was tough to be away from the family (especially the kids) for more than a few days and it quickly lost its appeal and became just part of work. 

Once the kids got older and became teenagers, we could do things together that we all enjoyed. I really cherish those trips.

Now, my kids are adults. The game has changed. Here are some ways that I think travel will change in the future for me and Tina:

1. We have more money saved up and are less concerned about cost of travel, accomodations, and meals. We can step it up and enjoy more luxury and comfort than before. Tina and I particularly look forward to eating more expensive, gourmet meals and restaurants we don't have at home and sometimes prepared by world-famous chefs. Senior citizens even get discounts at certain attractions and restaurants.

2. The kids don't have to come on trips with us anymore. They can take care of themselves while we are away and they will eventually have homes and kids of their own. Thus, we can do what we want. We can now stay at adults only resorts, which are generally more peaceful without kids running around.  Without the kids, it is more affordable and practical to eat at an expensive restaurant. Tina can now spend hours in a museum or art gallery. Places like Nashville, Las Vegas and Cancun are completely different without kids. I can definitely indulge in a bit more alcohol than before. We could even travel with friends, which would be a new experience. 

3. We don't have as much energy as before and sometimes we have unexplainable aches and pains in our feet, legs or back, so we will likely take things slower and do less walking and thrill rides than before. Some attractions and activities in all-inclusive resorts or on cruises seem more tailored to older travellers and we will explore and experience more of those. 

4. Healthcare & health insurance is going to become more important as we age.  Long flights can even lead to blood clots, so we may have to wear compression socks to reduce the risk. We also shouldn't over-indulge on food and we need to watch what we eat because of high blood pressure and other risks. We also have to reduce our sun exposure and be careful of walking too much at high altitudes. I remember reading somewhere that there are morgues on cruise ships because a senior citizen dies on almost every cruise due to the heat, exertion and overeating. 

5. We can go on longer trips. We don't have to limit ourselves to a 7-night cruise or all-inclusive vacation. We can drive across North America even if it takes a month. We can take extended repositioning or river cruises. We can rent an apartment in Hawaii or Mexico for months at a time and it won't cost much more than a 1-week vacation at an all-inclusive resort.

What did I miss?

How has travel changed for you as you aged?

Happy travels, 

Kev

P.S. Here are links to my other social media accounts, in case you want to connect that way:
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Kevin's YouTube (You should check out my YouTube Channel for related travel videos)

Ultimate Packing checklist (print & use)

ULTIMATE PACKING CHECKLIST FOR SHORTER TRIPS

__ Laptop & Power Cord

__ Cell phone & Power Cord (also get travel / roaming voice and data plan if possible)
__ Camera & Power Cord
__ International Power Adapter (if needed)
__ GPS (if needed)
__ Walkie-Talkies (very useful to save on use of cell phones, especially if you have kids)
__ Airline Itinerary/confirmation/e-Ticket
__ Passports
__ Driver’s License (or International Driver’s License)
__ Credit Cards
__ Foreign Currency and/or Traveller's Cheques
__ Medical Card
__ Health Insurance Card
__ Medications (prescriptions, vitamins, anti-nausea, pain & fever, allergy)
__ Neck pillow
__ Sunglasses
__ Hat
__ Sunscreen
__ Insect Repellent
__ Shorts
__ Swimsuit
__ T-shirts
__ Nice shirts
__ Suit & Tie or Dress for formal dinners
__ Jeans
__ Belt
__ Underwear
__ Socks (dress socks and sports socks)
__ Runners
__ Dress shoes
__ Sandals
__ Toiletry bag and toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, comb/brush, razor, shaving cream, perfume/cologne, makeup)
__ Snacks for the airport/airplane

Print this list off and use it as a checklist so that you don't forget anything important on your  next trip.

Happy travels,

Kev

P.S. Here are links to my other social media accounts, in case you want to connect that way:
Kevin's Instagram
Kevin's LinkedIn
Kevin's Facebook
Kevin's Pinterest
Kevin's YouTube (You should check out my YouTube Channel for related travel videos)