The International Living Podcast

When it comes to your overseas retirement, you don't want to go in blind. That's why, every January, International Living publishes the world's most in-depth, detailed resource on the subject. Put simply, it ranks the top destinations on the planet to retire to, based on the factors that matter most.How much does it cost to rent a two-bedroom home in a pleasant expat area? What does a bottle of local beer cost? Will you be able to meet other expats?, is the weather good?, will you be able to get quality medical care at a price you can afford?These are just a few of the questions that International Living puts to its team of overseas contributors every year. And that team consists of expats who live overseas, who experience that lifestyle, and who know first-hand exactly what it is that makes the difference between a successful overseas retirement and an unprepared disaster. Make no mistake, International Living's Annual Global Retirement Index is not some throwaway listicle compiled by some bored intern scraping Google results; it's a solid piece of invaluable research compiling countless hours of experience and judgement.If you're enjoying the podcast, we would really appreciate it if you could leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform: https://lovethepodcast.com/internationalliving.Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

In our last podcast of the year, Jim speaks to Lifestyle Editor Seán Keenan about his recent exploratory trip to Costa Rica. He visited some of the most popular areas in the country— and talked to expats in each of them—to share what makes it one of the best places in the world to retire.If you're enjoying the podcast, we would really appreciate it if you could leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform: https://lovethepodcast.com/internationalliving.Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

While the rest of us shiver in the gloom of our northern winter, expats around the world languish in the sunshine of beach resorts, highland retreats, and buzzing cities. International Living Panama Editor, Jessica Ramesch is one of them. Most of the year, she lives by the beach in the year-round sunshine of Coronado, Panama. Every day in Coronado is summer, so where does Jessica choose to go when August comes aroundThe answer may be counterintuitive, but it has its own undeniable logic. South, to Argentina, and the snowfields of wintertime Bariloche. "The thing that Argentina has to offer me that I don't get here in Panama is that cold weather and skiing,” Jessica says.Spending three weeks in the snow, then heading to Argentina's capital city—Buenos Aires—gave Jessica more than enough time to get under the skin of this fascinating South American country, its people, its politics, its economy, and its remarkable beauty.Host, Jim Santos, talks to Jessica Ramesch in this episode of the International Living podcast.If you're enjoying the podcast, we would really appreciate it if you could leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform: https://lovethepodcast.com/internationalliving.Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

“The world keeps turning and it keeps creating opportunity,” says International Real Estate investor, Ronan McMahon. Since 2008, Ronan and his team have been scouring the globe for the best real estate deals on the planet. When they find them, they share them in Real Estate Trend Alert—Ronan's investment advisory service. To be included, the terms are simple: this needs to be an investment that will at least double in value within five years. That's no small task, and Ronan's team of hand-picked experts travel and research extensively to find opportunities that they're willing to put their name to. But there's more to buying an international property than the financial returns. What about weather, beach access, sports facilities, culture? Every buyer has a different list of what they want in their dream home overseas. That's why Ronan and his team have compiled the International Real Estate Index, ranking the best places in the world to buy property, via ten categories from Availability of Bank Finance, to Holding Costs, to Climate.If you're enjoying the podcast, we would really appreciate it if you could leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform: https://lovethepodcast.com/internationalliving.Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

Lifestyle Editor Seán Keenan joins the podcast from Central America, on location as he researches his next feature story for International Living magazine.His first stop is Nicaragua, once a high-profile expat destination, now slightly under the radar. Times change, fashions change, but Seán's travels in this fascinating country bring him from the delightful Spanish Colonial streets and plazas of lakeside Granada to the upscale opulence of the region's premier gated community—Rancho Santana. It's a journey of discovery and contrast as podcast host, Jim Santos, speaks to roving editor, Seán Keenan in this week's episode.If you're enjoying the podcast, we would really appreciate it if you could leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform: https://lovethepodcast.com/internationalliving.Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

A study found that there's one physical exercise that protects from both dementia and Alzheimer's… and it'll give your social life a boost, too.The New England Journal of Medicine published the results of a 21-year study of senior citizens, aged 75 to 85. The researchers discovered that the only physical exercise that provided protection from both dementia and Alzheimer's was… dancing. Whether partnered or solo, frequent dancing provided a 76% risk reduction!IL contributor Ann Kuffner tells Jim about San Miguel de Allende and the dance venues where you can practice your moves.If you're enjoying the podcast, we would really appreciate it if you could leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform: https://lovethepodcast.com/internationalliving.Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

Jim Santos meets Norm and Kathleen Bour, nomadic seniors who spend their time adventuring around the globe on just their social security payments. With a host of tips and tricks for making a roving retirement exciting and affordable, Norm and Kathleen have much to share, particularly when it comes to the country where they spend much of their time—the almost-forgotten Mediterranean nation of Albania.With its dramatic coastline, tall mountains, cosmopolitan cities, and a low cost of living, Albania is already worth adding to your list of must-visits, but a very friendly official policy for U.S. visitors makes it one of the most welcoming places in Europe to explore. A full year's stay, renewable, means that complicated residency paperwork isn't an issue. And as for the $500-a-month rentals…those are just the icing on the cake.If you're enjoying the podcast, we would really appreciate it if you could leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform: https://lovethepodcast.com/internationalliving.Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

This week, podcast host Jim Santos meets Greg Goodmacher, an expat who began his live-overseas adventure over 30 years ago. Originally from New York and later, San Francisco, Greg caught the expat bug straight out of college, when teaching English, and a stint in the Peace Corps, brought him into contact with the many exotic attractions of Southeast Asia. Korea and Thailand appealed to him to different degrees, and a sojourn working in Abu Dhabi added a little variety to his experiences, but it was eventually Japan which captured his heart.Learning the local festival calendar, discovering the mountain terrain, and discovering a passion for winter sports kept Greg busy in the early years of his time in Japan. Meeting the woman who would become his wife also helped establish Japan as an essential part of his life. Add to that a deep love of the local cuisine, and an enthusiasm for onsens—the hot bath ritual—and it became clear that for Greg, Japan is where his heart lies.On the cusp of a move to a new region of Japan—one where he has easy access to winter sports, beaches, and natural hot springs, Greg shares a wealth of detail about living in Japan—from friendly neighbors who will look after your pets while you're away, to explaining just why the real estate in Japan is so affordable. If you're enjoying the podcast, we would really appreciate it if you could leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform: https://lovethepodcast.com/internationalliving.Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

This week, podcast host Jim Santos meets Francisco Huerta, an international athlete who chased his dream of playing soccer at the highest level to Europe.Soccer provided Francisco with a central theme to his expat life, but in between, discovering the heavenly beaches, the ancient ruins, and twisting medieval streets of the Greek island of Rhodes…as well as the practicalities of daily life in Greece, has proven to be a voyage of discovery and personal growth.If you're enjoying the podcast, we would really appreciate it if you could leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform: https://lovethepodcast.com/internationalliving.Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

This week, podcast host Jim Santos, and his wife, Rita, are in Vienna, Austria checking out the city's historical and cultural highlights, as they make their way through Europe in their own version of the Grand Tour.Once again, in this episode, Jim himself takes to the mic. Soaking up the sights and sounds of a European city that has even more historic twists and turns than the usual, Jim navigates through the eclectic streets of Vienna, a long-time crossroads of cultures, with influences from Eastern points mingling with the more familiar nuances of Western Europe. Finding much to feast on beyond the expected schnitzel and sausages, Jim discovers a city rich with international flavor, and deeply carpeted in the glitter and magnificence of generations of power and wealth.Join Jim as he talks us through the sights, sounds and smells of Vienna, from the grand palaces of the Hapsburg empire to the glorious Baroque stylings of the Opera House; to the mirrored surrounds of the Café Savoy, to the crypt of the Austrian royal family, and much more in-between. Where to go, what to see, and how to do it all on Vienna's efficient public transport network…it's all included in the latest episode of the International Living Podcast.   If you're enjoying the podcast, we would really appreciate it if you could leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform: https://lovethepodcast.com/internationalliving.Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

Jim Santos, and his wife, Rita, continue their long-delayed roving retirement plan. As Jim records this episode, he and Rita are in Istanbul, Turkey checking out the city before they head to Vienna and Prague to continue their nine-week romp through Europe.In a change to the usual format, in this episode, Jim himself takes to the mic, giving his impressions of a city that straddles two continents, maintains thousands of years of history, and bridges the Western and Eastern worlds. He shares details of where you should visit, and when. Jim's tips and hacks on how to avoid the worst of the tourist crowds, what to look out for when you book your accommodation, and how to keep yourself safe and sane in this city of 15 million inhabitants, are invaluable preparation for a trip to Turkey's largest city.Join Jim as he talks us through the sights, sounds, and smells of Istanbul, from the subterranean city cisterns to the glorious dome of the Hagia Sophia; across the Bosphorous Strait for lunch in another continent, to fresh pistachios and Turkish Delight at the Grand Bazaar. When to go, what to wear, and which days to avoid…it's all included in the latest episode of the International Living Podcast.   If you're enjoying the podcast, we would really appreciate it if you could leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform: https://lovethepodcast.com/internationalliving.Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

This week, the International Living Podcast swoops down to the rolling hills of Tuscany, Italy. Host, Jim Santos, talks to International Living Lifestyle Editor, Seán Keenan. Seán joins the podcast fresh from a trip to the heart of the Italian region best known for its olive groves, vineyard-covered hills, centuries-old farmhouses, and art-filled cities.Florence and Pisa, where Seán spent much of his time in Italy, are among the world's most-visited destinations. Florence, famous worldwide for its architecture and the long-lived opulence of the city's Medici founders, has been a fixture of European tourism since the 17th century. Europe's educated elite made the city a stopping-off point on their ‘Grand Tour' to the antiquities of ancient Greece. Tourists are everywhere in the historic center, there to view artworks as infamous as Michelangelo's David, or Bottecelli's Birth of Venus.Pisa, too, groans under the weight of mass tourism. With a globally recognized icon of the modern tourism industry—the Leaning Tower—nestled in the city's northwest corner, the footfall of international visitors is enormous. Most come to take a photo of themselves with the tower, and leave soon afterwards.It's a missed opportunity because, overlooked by the majority of its visitors, Pisa is one of Europe's most attractive, liveable, and pleasant cities. Florence, too, away from the crush of the tourists, is an energetic and attractive civic space, with food, wine, conviviality, and charm that rewards a deeper dive than the tourist trudge from the Duomo to the Pitti Palace.It's this ‘untourist' experience that brought International Living to Tuscany; to search for the overlooked piazzas, cafés, bars, villages, and undiscovered corners of the region, as well as the flavors, customs, and charm that lies under the surface. It's surprising just how easy it is to become an ‘untourist'. And it's infinitely more rewarding than the package tour approach. Tune in for inspiration and ideas on how to make Untourist Tuscany yours.If you're enjoying the podcast, we would really appreciate it if you could leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform: https://lovethepodcast.com/internationalliving.Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

This week, podcast host Jim Santos, and his wife, Rita, set off on their long-delayed roving retirement plan. As Jim records this episode, he and Rita are in Thessaloniki, Greece, after a great week in Athens, and are about to head to Istanbul to continue their nine-week romp through Europe.Since more and more people are opting to spend months at a time abroad instead of choosing one destination to settle down, International Living thought this would be a good opportunity to explore how Jim and Rita reached this decision, and how they prepared for roaming. Also, some of the logistics of planning that international lifestyle Jim talks about on the show. In an interesting tweak to the format, IL's Panama editor, Jessica Ramesch, hosts the show, allowing Jim to be the guest of today's podcast. If you're enjoying the podcast, we would really appreciate it if you could leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform: https://lovethepodcast.com/internationalliving.Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

This week we chat to Suzan Haskins about a subject that comes up often in our mailbag, and at conferences. Understandably so. It's one thing to pack a bag for a vacation—any fool knows how to do that—but it's an altogether different prospect when you're planning on moving abroad for months, years, or decades.Read Suzan's full article in the September issue of the International Living Magazine: "I Want to Move Abroad, But What Do I Do With My Stuff?"Suzan, and her husband, Dan Prescher, are experts on the business of moving overseas. They've lived in multiple countries, and made numerous moves. Sometimes they pack light, other times they take a more elaborate approach to transporting the possessions they can't just throw into a backpack. Bear in mind that Dan's a musician—he's not going anywhere without at least a guitar. That's a logistical challenge in itself, but it's one that Suzan and he have risen to with experience and aplomb.Shipping containers, transporting animals, hold baggage, import/export agents, paperwork, import duties, and U-Haul trucks…Suzan's done it all. Over the years, she's built up a wealth of knowledge, and more importantly, an address book full of contacts. Knowing who to speak to, and who to hire makes all the difference when it comes to big decisions such as whether to bring your own car abroad with you, or if you really need to ship your old bed to your new home. But perhaps more important than any of the logistics, is Suzan's underlying question: Do you really want to bring your old life with you when you start afresh overseas…or just the parts that mean the most to you?Whether you're someone who moves abroad with nothing more than what you can carry on your back, or whether you want to go the whole hog with a shipping container, Suzan Haskins is just the person to explain it all.Join host, Jim Santos, as he meets her in the latest episode of The International Living Podcast.If you're enjoying the podcast, we would really appreciate it if you could leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform: https://lovethepodcast.com/internationalliving.Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

This week, we're talking to International Living contributor, Greyson Ferguson, about his decision to expand his options and life experience with a move to Buenos Aires, the capital city of Argentina. Like many others, the COVID pandemic and travel lockdown prompted Greyson to evaluate his life, take a look around, and make the push to live in a way he truly wanted, rather than settle for what simply fell into his lap. Greyson's first move was to renovate a 1960s camper and set out across the United States in search of adventure and enlightenment.With him came his dogs, and although they were a responsibility, the company and companionship they brought was more than enough to make up for any inconvenience. So much so, that when Greyson decided that it was time to look outside of the United States for the continuation of his adventures, he didn't hesitate to bring them along.Getting the dogs to South America was a story in itself. Stressful at times, and involving a mountain of paperwork, it didn't help that one of Greyson's dogs was an ageing pitbull. Ageing, and gentle, but nevertheless, a breed that's banned from many countries. It narrowed the options a little, but after a stint in Peru, Greyson and the dogs now find themselves in Argentina, enjoying the sophisticated, European-style life of Buenos Aires—sometimes called the "Paris of South America."With stylish cafés, vast outdoor markets, and with a huge range of international cuisine, life in Buenos Aires is as sophisticated as any European city. Using a currency-conversion hack known as the ‘blue dollar' though, makes it much, much more affordable. Living large on $1,000 a month? It's easy when you have blue dollars. In this episode, Greyson explains all.Join host, Jim Santos, as he meets Greyson Ferguson in the latest episode of Bigger Better World.Read Greyson's full article in the March issue of the International Living Magazine: "Blue Dollar" Delivers Bargain Lifestyle in Buenos Aires. If you're enjoying the podcast, we would really appreciate it if you could leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform: https://lovethepodcast.com/internationalliving.Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

This week, we're talking to IL Belize Correspondent, Shane Kenny, and his wife, Heather, about their decision to up sticks from their home in Atlanta and move to the Caribbean nation of Belize.With two sons at high school, and established careers in the States, there were plenty of reasons why Shane and Heather shouldn't have taken the plunge, but fortune favors the brave, and it wasn't long before they turned their dream of owning a beachside hospitality business became a reality. Adventurous? For sure. Hard work? Definitely. And that's before they got hit with a pandemic lockdown in their first year of trading…. Shane and Heather were definitely not the first couple who looked around themselves one day and thought, "Let's give it all up and go run a bar in the Caribbean." But there's a big difference between dreaming it and doing it. Now, after lots of learning-on-the-job and hard work, they've made their Belize dream come true.It didn't happen right away. In fact, their search for the perfect opportunity started in an entirely different Caribbean nation—the Dominican Republic. But in the end, it was the practical details of Belize—no currency fluctuations, a more recognizable legal structure, and above all, the fact that the official language is English—that won out. Combing the coastline in search of the ideal spot, it was almost entirely by luck that they hit upon an abandoned beach club with an almost empty pool…and realized that they'd hit pay dirt."That's kind of the story of how we ended up here and how we ended up with what's now called Placencia Beach Club," explains Shane. "And so what we do is, we are a bar and a restaurant, but we're on the beach, and we have a pool as well, so we call it a beach club because people come not just to eat or drink, but they come kind of spend the day and relax. And so they'll hang out in the pool or on the beach or in the water."Now, with the business ticking along, and all the hassles of relocation behind them, there's time to reflect: "Life is simpler," says Heather. "Not every aspect of life is easier, but it's so much simpler and a lot less stressful from outside influences."Join host, Jim Santos, as he meets Shane and Heather Kenny in the latest episode of Bigger, Better World.Read Heather's full article in the August issue of the International Living Magazine: We Turned an Abandoned Pool into a Booming Beach ClubIf you're enjoying the podcast, we would really appreciate it if you could leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform: https://lovethepodcast.com/internationalliving.Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

This week, the Bigger, Better World podcast takes a trip to Europe, talking to International Living contributor Sharyn Nilsen about her recent adventure traversing the continent, from London to Berlin, by bicycle.Sharyn and her husband, Tim, are no beginners when it comes to bike touring. With long-distance trips across Africa, North America, and Australia already on their resume, it was only a matter of time before the varied geography and cultures of Europe called.Full-time travelers, Sharyn and Tim split their time between exploration missions and the more settled and domestic activity of house- and pet-sitting. Bookending their bike journey across Europe with home stays in the UK, the northern hemisphere summer gave them ample time to see the sights,"Perhaps we were lucky, but we had only one rainy day. The summer weather was mostly warm and sunny without being too hot, with cool nights for a restful night's sleep in our tent…. We rolled past rustic-looking windmills, grand old churches with functioning bell towers, and age-old castles in various stages of decay through dappled ancient forests and acres of wheat, barley, and cornfields."Independent, self-sufficient, and not bound to any strict timetable, Sharyn and Tim's adventure allowed them to indulge themselves as they liked. With plenty of breaks, no high-mileage rides, and always a cold beer at their destination, there was no need to race through the journey. "We're not hardcore cyclists," Sharyn states. There's so much to see and do on the stretch between the Netherlands and Germany that it would be a shame to rush it all. On the other hand, there's no difficulty in taking the bikes on a train to cover some distance either. That's all part of the appeal, when there's no set plan and no clocks to punch.Join host, Jim Santos, as he meets Sharyn Nilsen in the latest episode of Bigger, Better World.Read Sharyn's full article in the December issue of the International Living Magazine. If you're enjoying the podcast, we would really appreciate it if you could leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform: https://lovethepodcast.com/internationalliving.Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

This week, we chat with International Living contributor Kevin McGoff about his passion for France and, more specifically, his love of traversing the country via its extensive network of navigable waterways. Whether it's a slow-paced getaway for just Kevin and his wife, Patty, or a more extensive trip with a group of friends, the rivers and canals of France open up a side of the country that's often missed by visitors. A side where things are altogether more languid, where the slow filling and emptying of boat locks dictates the pace of travel, and where a shared glass of wine and conversation with the lock keeper is more important than deadlines or itinerary.Making new friends, learning new skills, exploring an entirely different France than the one the highways bring you to—the boating experience offers a vast range of countryside, scenery, and historical perspective on life in the heart of rural Europe. Meeting experienced boaters, as well as complete novices, Kevin and Patty have racked up a wealth of anecdotes and memories, from watching the fall colors of the Burgundy forests to getting dug out of a mudbank by the French army. ‘I would say the relaxing mode of travel,' says Kevin, explaining what he loves about boating in France. ‘You get into this rhythm where… I liken it to a beach vacation where you have something to do because it's not terribly taxing, but you have to keep alert. So you've got a challenge, if you will, of navigating the boat, navigating the locks…. And being out in the countryside on a nice day at the end of a maybe four or five-hour cruise. There's nothing like it.'Join host, Jim Santos, as he meets Kevin McGoff in the latest episode of Bigger, Better World.Read Kevin's full article in the June issue of the International Living Magazine: No Experience Required: Pilot a Boat on a French Canal.If you're enjoying the podcast, we would really appreciate it if you could leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform: https://lovethepodcast.com/internationalliving.Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

This week we're talking to Rachel Devlin about her recent exploration way off the tourist trail…to the north of Thailand and the city of Lampang—the provincial capital.Though Thailand was never formally colonized by the West, its northern provinces—particularly Lampang—were heavily influenced by British and American immigrants. American Protestant missionaries arrived in the mid-to-late 19th century. At the same time, the British took advantage of the then-booming teak industry.Today, the city of Lampang—a mere 90-minute drive from Chiang Mai—heads the province of the same name. Though it's a sprawling, modern metropolis set against a rural backdrop of rice fields and small mountains, you can still find evidence of these British teak wallahs, or loggers, around Lampang's old town. It's a city of traditional crafts—the local ceramics are a highlight—and ancient ways. Reflecting a clash of cultures that's endured for centuries, the local Buddhist temples are built in a Burmese style, in some spectacular settings. In between visiting those, Rachel got to enjoy the local cuisine, night markets, vigorous hiking, and a 1930s Hollywood/Broadway connection that's controversial to this day.But for Rachel, who's lived in nearby Chiang Mai for years, the simple conveniences of Thai life are always the most enjoyable. Though Lampang's history and culture is impressive, it's also a top spot to just chill. In her own words: “This is a great place to stroll, stop for some $4 rice or noodles from a street cart, get a massage for $6, and take in the lovely old buildings.” Join host, Jim Santos, as he meets Rachel Devlin in the latest episode of Bigger, Better World.Read her full article in the August issue of the International Living Magazine: Temples, Teak Barons, and Mystical Quartz in Thailand. If you're enjoying the podcast, we would really appreciate it if you could leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform: https://lovethepodcast.com/internationalliving.Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

This week, the Bigger, Better World podcast takes a trip to Spain, talking to International Living Spain Editor Sally Pederson about her recent scouting trip to the center of the country and the city of Madrid—Spain's political…and gastronomic capital. Hailing originally from Canada, Sally's been an expat for years, having started her overseas life in Costa Rica before making the move to Spain. She had a list of non-negotiables for her new home: efficient public transport, somewhere with a beach, and a good international airport nearby. For Sally, the city of Barcelona checked all the boxes, and she based herself there. But, as she explains in the podcast, it's so easy, comfortable, and convenient to travel in Europe, that she's not tied to one city. In fact, she sees Barcelona foremost as a base for her extensive travels.“Compared to North America,' Sally says, ‘it's so cheap to travel around Europe, and it's one of the things that I love. So it's very easy and convenient. There are so many trains every day, so many flights every day. So whether internationally, within Europe, or even just within Spain, I can't even tell you how many trains leave Madrid or Barcelona or any major city. There's so many every single day.'And that means she can explore and enjoy everything that Spain has to offer, whether that's in her home city of Barcelona, or farther afield. That's how she came to learn about the city of Madrid and its unbeatable cuisine and dining options. Who wouldn't like to eat at the capital city's oldest restaurant—which has been serving up local dishes since 1725? Or share a range of tapas with friends at a sidewalk café, or indulge in seafood paella with at Casa Labra—one of Ernest Hemingway's favorite joints in the city?In her article for International Living magazine, and in her discussion with podcast host, Jim Santos, Sally explores what it is that makes dining, drinking, and ultimately…living in Spain such a rewarding experience for discerning Europhile expats. She paints an evocative picture of centuries-old restaurants; seasonal, regional fare; delectable tapas; unhurried atmospheres, and a commitment to the art of good living in two Spanish cities that are unrivaled for energy and sophistication. Read Sally's article here.Join host, Jim Santos, as he meets Sally Pederson in the latest episode of Bigger, Better World.If you're enjoying the podcast, we would really appreciate it if you could leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform: https://lovethepodcast.com/internationalliving.Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

International Living France Editor Tuula Rampont discusses her recent scouting trip to the southeast of the country and the city of Lyon—France's gastronomic capital. And while Lyon is certainly “all about the food,” there's a lot more to this captivatingly beautiful town that's proud without being snobby, cultured without being pretentious. You'll discover a surprising bonhomie... a friendliness that defies all the usual stereotypes about French hospitality. The city of Lyon serves up a warm mix of bohemian coolness and modern-inspired art de vivre... the French art of living well. What's more, almost all of central Lyon is easily managed on foot, and it's an urban voyage you won't soon forget. As the gateway city to the French Alps (and onwards to Switzerland and Italy), Lyon is an essential conduit along the north-south transportation axis that cuts through France and extends to other regions around Europe. The main train station, Part Dieu, is among France's best-served rail hubs, and a key reason many expats have chosen to live and retire in the city. They love the ease of living car-free, the friendly locals, and, of course, the food.In her article for International Living magazine, and in her discussion with podcast host, Jim Santos, Tuula explores the many options for expats in the city of Lyon, from the upper reaches of Fourvriere Hill to the Renaissance town squares of the peninsula district. She paints an alluring picture of Roman ruins, shady alleyways, plaza cafés, riverside parks, and exquisite cuisine in an understated city that's not nearly so intimidating as Paris. Read her article here.Join host, Jim Santos, as he meets Tuula Rampont in the latest episode of Bigger, Better World.If you're enjoying the podcast, we would really appreciate it if you could leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform: https://lovethepodcast.com/internationalliving.Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

This week, the Bigger, Better World podcast takes a trip to Panama, talking to International Living Overseas Editor Jessica Ramesch about her recent scouting trip to the westernmost edge of Panama—the province of Chiriquí.Although it's a small country, Panama is a big destination in the world of overseas retirement and relocation. Just three hours' flying time from the U.S., with a dollar economy, year-round warmth, a busy metropolitan city, and two glorious tropical coastlines, the Central American nation is one of the most popular settling points for in-the-know expats.While many of those adventurers concentrate themselves in Panama City, or in the beach towns and resorts close by, there's a growing number of retirees, digital nomads, and work-from-anywhere professionals who explore a little farther, and find exactly what they were looking for in the Chiriquí region.That shouldn't be a surprise. Snuggling right up to the border with Costa Rica, Chiriquí is a mountains-meets-sea region, with enough altitude in the highlands to create its own cool microclimate, sweeping right down to the Pacific Ocean with its wild waves, tropical beaches, and secluded bays. Diversity is the key to the landscape here, with productive farmland up in the high spots giving way to deep jungle and green grasslands at lower levels.It all means that the prospective expat can pick and choose from a range of microclimates, finding the exact match for their personal preference.In her article for International Living magazine, and in her discussion with podcast host, Jim Santos, Jessica explores the many options for expats in the Chiriquí region, from the beaches of Boca Chica and Las Lajas to the city in David, all the way up to Boquete—one of the world's premier expat destinations. She paints a glorious picture of small farms, fishing villages, lush coffee plantations, deserted beaches, and horseback ranchers living a life that looks like something from centuries ago.Join host, Jim Santos, as he meets Jessica Ramesch in the latest episode of Bigger, Better World.If you're enjoying the podcast, we would really appreciate it if you could leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform: https://lovethepodcast.com/internationalliving.Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

This week, Jim's talking to writer Mary Charlebois about her experience living in the tiny southern European nation of Malta. Malta may be small, but it's worthy of your attention. This sun-soaked country, just to the south of Sicily, sits in the deep blue waters of the Mediterranean and enjoys warm, dry summers and mild winters. The country is officially bilingual, with English as an official language, so there's no need to pore over textbooks or depend on Google Translate. The Maltese golden visa is considered one of the world's best offerings of its kind, and the country itself has a long history of settlement, with some of the world's finest neoclassical, baroque, and medieval architecture in daily use.What many people don't realize about Malta, is that it's not just one island. In fact, it's an archipelago of around 20 islands, of which three are inhabited—Malta, Gozo, and Comino. Regular ferries connect the islands with each other, and with Sicily and the Italian mainland. Although the three inhabited islands are close, they're very different in character.In her article for International Living magazine, and in her discussion with podcast host, Jim Santos, Mary Charlebois explains some of the differences, and what brought her and her fiancé, Kevin, to settle on tiny, agrarian Gozo. She paints a glorious picture of small farms, fishing villages, sidewalk cafés and community living that cannot fail to tempt you. If you're enjoying the podcast, we would really appreciate it if you could leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform: https://lovethepodcast.com/internationalliving.Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

This week, the Bigger, Better World podcast takes a trip to Spain, talking to writer Maria DiCicco about her experience buying a property in Zaragoza. House-buying can be stressful, even in your home country. Transferring large sums of your hard-earned money, dealing with real estate agents, lawyers, vendors, and all the complicated processes and procedures that go with buying a new home make for a challenging time. Now, imagine all that, but you don't know the language or the procedures in the country you're buying in and…due to a pandemic, you can't even visit it in person!None of that stopped Maria and her husband from purchasing the historic property of their dreams in the ancient Spanish city of Zaragoza. Determination, desire, and a dollop of patience paid off for them, and now they have their happy place in the sun. A place to make memories for themselves and their young daughter, a place, perhaps, to settle down and retire to one day.In her article for International Living magazine, and in her discussion with podcast host, Jim Santos, Maria explains how she found her dream home overseas, the process for buying it, how much it cost, and how she overcame all the obstacles in her way to become a homeowner in Spain. Join host, Jim Santos, as he meets Maria DiCicco in the latest episode of Bigger, Better World.If you're enjoying the podcast, we would really appreciate it if you could leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform: https://lovethepodcast.com/internationalliving.Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

This week, Jim Santos talks to International Living Go Overseas Mentor about her article in the July 2023 issue of International Living magazine ‘Use my Expertise to Move Overseas with Confidence'. In her article, and in her discussion with podcast host, Jim Santos, Kristin explans how she developed her unique expertise... and how it can help you settle into a new, better life overseas. Kristin's Ready to Relocate program will open to new members in a few weeks... so if you're already an International Living subscriber, or if you've signed up for our Daily Postcards, keep your eyes on your inbox for updates. Kristin talks to Jim about her travel-rich upbringing, her determination to find a life that allowed her to carry on exploring the world through her adult life, and how she hopes to help others enjoy a better life living, working, or retiring overseas.Learn about culture shock, reverse culture shock, what to look for, what to avoid, and how to start living the overseas life that's calling to you. As Kristin says in the podcast: ‘life is made up of moments, and when you travel, you just get so many more and different, various and richer moments than you could have imagined.'Join host, Jim Santos, as he meets Kristin Wilson—expat, writer, vlogger and International Living Go Overseas Mentor, in the latest episode of Bigger, Better World.If you're enjoying the podcast, we would really appreciate it if you could leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform: https://lovethepodcast.com/internationalliving.Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

This week, Jim Santos talks to International Living Mexico Correspondent Bel Woodhouse about her article in the March 2023 issue of International Living magazine ‘Escape to Bacalar—Mexico's Lakeside Oasis'. Mexico's Riviera Maya—the stretch of coastline and tropical forest from Cancún in the north to the border with Belize to the south—is, for many, their first experience of Mexico. It's a heavenly part of the world, with the wavelets of the Caribbean Sea lapping against fine sand beaches which are almost unbelievable in their whiteness. Truly, it's like walking on icing sugar.Inland, the land is hedged by dense, low forest, in which the ancient Maya people constructed pyramids and temple complexes which are still a mystery to this day. Freshwater cave lakes—cenotes—punctuate the landscape, many of which are open to the public for swimming. Spanish Colonial towns and cities add a historic flavor to the experienceIt's a superb place for a vacation, whether your interests lie in cocktails on the beach and late-night dancing, eco-tourism, luxury wellness resorts, local color, or a combination of all the above.But where do you go when you want a vacation from the vacationers? Bel Woodhouse, who lives on the island of Cozumel, just off the coast from Playa del Carmen, knows the secret spots and hidden getaways. In this episode of Bigger, Better World, she talks us through the details and directions for a slice of Old Mexico hidden in plain sight just south of the main tourism locations. And it sounds tempting indeed.Join host, Jim Santos, as he meets Bel Woodhouse—expat, writer, videographer and International Living correspondent.If you're enjoying the podcast, we would really appreciate it if you could leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform: https://lovethepodcast.com/internationalliving.Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

This week, Jim Santos talks to expat Tricia Pimental about her article in the June 2023 issue of International Living magazine ‘Sweet on Sweden, an Inside Look at Scandinavian Life'. Tricia was the Portugal correspondent for IL for several years, having lived in the country for eight years, before she and her husband, Keith, decided to broaden their horizons with a move to Sweden.Why would two Americans leave beautiful Portugal, and head for the rural interior of a Scandinavian country? Well, adventure is one part of it, beauty is another, and, perhaps surprisingly, affordability.“The peace, the tranquility, the green,” says Tricia, when asked to describe what it is that attracted her to Sweden. “We got our log cabin ready-made. One of those, the cute one is a 1906 farmhouse, and the other is a home that was built in 1992. We have space, and we have a forest that is part of our property. We're across from a lake, a beautiful, picturesque lake. And I would say it's the sense of nature and tranquility and space.”What came as a surprise was the price. Tricia and Keith purchased a  four-bedroom home, with three bathrooms, a sauna, and a second house—a log cabin—on the property…for $89,000. Skiing, hiking, driving to the Arctic Circle to meet the indigenous Sami people, enjoying the local cuisine and culture—Sweden has turned out to be a revelation to Tricia and Keith, who had no real idea of what they might find there, or how to make an expat life work in a country with no established tradition of U.S. retirees moving there. How to prepare for winter, and how to adapt to summer nights where the sun hardly even sets; how to make friends and contacts, and how to live a life that fits your dreams…Tricia has learned a lot from her experiences in Sweden, and shares the lessons she's learned with podcast host, Jim Santos.Join Jim as he meets Tricia Pimental—ex-pat, writer, and International Living contributor, in the latest episode of Bigger, Better World.If you're enjoying the podcast, we would really appreciate it if you could leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform: https://lovethepodcast.com/internationalliving.Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

Lifestyle Editor Sean Keenan joins the podcast from Bilbao, Spain, on-location as he researches his next feature story for International Living magazine about an off-the-beaten-path area of Europe that's ripe for the picking.Green Spain... Just 100 miles north of Portugal, the stretch of coast between the Basque city of Bilbao in the east, and the Belle Epoque resort of Ribadesella in the west, is a breath-taking area of lush woodland, high mountain peaks, genteel fishing villages, hidden sea coves, and sophisticated international cities.It's a region that escapes the ferocious heat of Spain's interior, occupying a microclimate that's a breath of fresh air for travelers and expats who are more interested in comfortable temperatures than tropical heat. It's the perfect place for anyone who craves mild temperatures and four defined seasons. Count on summers that kick off in late April, peak in August, and then cool down to a misty, picturesque Fall in late September. Summer heat rarely peaks above 85 F, while crisp winter mornings see frost in the lowlands, but rarely dip below freezing for long.In terms of cuisine, Green Spain considers itself to be the epicenter of the best cooking in the country, with a tradition of excellent cool-water seafood from local fishing ports as well as the best dairy and produce from the deep, fertile soil of the region. Hearty bean-based dishes represent the mountain portion of Green Spain, and the preferred local beverage—alcoholic cider—is another of the region's specialties that adds a distinct sense of place to the dining experience.Tiny mountain villages nestled into remote valleys, thriving seaports, sophisticated cities, rolling farmland, craggy peaks, a vast and wild coastline…Green Spain is rich with variety. Despite its relatively small size, the region probably offers more to the prospective expat than the rest of Spain combined. And yet, it's overlooked. That's partly because it's been overshadowed by its close neighbor, Portugal. And while Portugal has much to offer, lately, it's been getting almost too popular. Accommodation scarcity in Portugal is driving prices skyward, particularly in sought-after destinations like the Algarve, Lisbon, or Porto.Green Spain, though, offers almost exactly the same expat experience as Portugal, along with a landscape that's more dramatic, a cost of living that is arguably lower, and property prices that need to be seen to be believed. A four-bedroom apartment in one of the hippest neighborhoods of central Bilbao for less than $160,000? You bet!With bustling oceanside cities such as Santander, Bilbao, and Gijon; vast stretches of spectacular coastline; dramatic mountain scenery, and a near-undiscovered selection of precious historic villages, it can't be long before Green Spain starts to generate a buzz among prospective expats. Be among the first of them by tuning in to Sean's report in this week's episode of Bigger Better World.If you're enjoying the podcast, we would really appreciate it if you could leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform: https://lovethepodcast.com/internationalliving.Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

Suzan Haskins recently spent time in an area of Mexico that, she affirms, has been misrepresented by mainstream media for decades. Baja California, which includes cities such as Ensenada, Rosarito, and Tijuana, is, as far as she's concerned, a place where you can live a California lifestyle at half the price. The region is usually thought of as dangerous, lawless, poor and chaotic. That's the way it's usually portrayed on the news, at any rate. What Suzan found when she went there to explore was something completely different. “The average rent for a one-bedroom home in San Diego these days is more than $2,900,” Suzan writes in the May 2023 issue of International Living magazine. “The price to buy a single-family home hovers near $1 million. And that's not anywhere close to the beach. But in Playas de Tijuana, seven miles from the border crossing, you can find one- and two-bedroom apartments renting near the beach for as little as $500 to $1,000 a month. Tijuana is a city like any other, with green parks and upscale shopping malls, schools, churches, and a cornucopia of hospitals, clinics, dentists, and pharmacies... many conveniently located right at the border crossing.” Join podcast host, Jim Santos, as he meets Suzan Haskins and learns all about this overlooked section of northern Mexico. A place where cruise ships dock, the margaritas are cold, and the cost of living is so much more affordable that thousands of astute Americans choose to commute from Mexico to their jobs in San Diego. Upscale communities, empty beaches, and even vineyards and wineries…the real Baja California is nothing like the shock media portrays it. Settle in and enjoy Suzan's report on the most convenient and closest expat destination on International Living's beat. If you're enjoying the podcast, we would really appreciate it if you could leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform. We love hearing feedback from our listeners! Thanks again for your support: https://lovethepodcast.com/internationalliving.Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

Keith Hockton brings us a tale of mystery (and maybe foul play?) in the lush hills of upland Malaysia. But the real story isn't about who may or may not have had a hand in the disappearance of a silk magnate back in the 1950s. The real story is the unspoiled rainforests, the exotic flora and fauna, and the unexpected gentle beauty of colonial Britain's homespun R&R resorts."If you can imagine the upper crust British regime that ruled Malaya at that time," says Keith Hockton, "they couldn't really let their hair down, they couldn't really be themselves. But with the hill stations, that was an area that they could go to where they could be completely themselves…. They could actually feel like they were actually back in the United Kingdom."To this day, the Cameron Highlands in Malaysia are like a step back in time to an imaginary England—a place of perfectly mown lawns, gin and tonic on the veranda, and smouldering glances over croquet. Nowadays, though, there are fine dining, golf, and modern accommodation options to suit every traveler, along with excellent hiking, wildlife spotting, and much easier access. Learn all about this cool highland slice of Olde England deep in the heart of Southeast Asia as host, Jim Santos, speaks to Asia expert Keith Hockton for Bigger, Better World.Read his full article in the May 2023 issue of International Living Magazine.If you're enjoying the podcast, we would really appreciate it if you could leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform. We love hearing feedback from our listeners! Thanks again for your support: https://lovethepodcast.com/internationalliving.Listen to There's Always Tea here: https://bit.ly/theresalwaystea. Keith and his co-host, Nikki Jordan, discuss topics they know and love—from historical facts to ethereal ideologies and everything in between!Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTubeMusic: Royalty Free Music From timtaj.com.

Bekah Bottone brings us a much-appreciated update on how her adopted hometown—Tamarindo in Costa Rica—has evolved in recent years. The Pacific coast surf town first came to prominence in Bruce Brown's 1994 surf movie, The Endless Summer II. At the time, Tamarindo was little more than a village, some great waves, and an airstrip where ground crew had to shoo the cows away so that planes could land.These days, things are different. With much better logistics, development for tourism, and a steady influx of digital nomads, expat retirees, and seasonal visitors, Tamarindo has grown up. This isn't a sob story about lost rural magic and the evils of tourism. For residents like Bekah, it's a positive change. When Bekah first spent time in Tamarindo, there were no pharmacies, no medical care, and even the smallest mishap could become a major emergency. Now, with modernization, the town is a much more rewarding place to live. (Soon, they'll even have their first traffic light!)A truly integrated Costa Rica expat (she gave birth to twins in the country, and has a wealth of experience of real-life challenges and rewards in the central American paradise), Bekah knows the highs and lows, and how to turn it all into a more fulfilling, happier, healthier life. Tune in as she shares her story with Jim Santos in this week's episode of Bigger Better World.  Read her full article in the May 2023 issue of International Living Magazine.If you're enjoying the podcast, we would really appreciate it if you could leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform. We love hearing feedback from our listeners! Thanks again for your support: https://lovethepodcast.com/internationalliving.If you haven't become an International Living member yet—you can do it today with a special discount offer for podcast listeners. You'll receive our monthly magazine plus a bundle of special extras, including our 2023 Global Retirement Index. Subscribe here: https://intliving.com/podcast.Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTubeMusic: Royalty Free Music From timtaj.com.

Karen Lefebvre followed her childhood dream and moved to the idyllic island of Syros, Greece.  A chance discovery way back in the 1980s led her parents to an unexpected family stay on the island. Now, prompted by a pandemic, a breakup, wanderlust, and an urge to return to the simple Mediterranean life she experienced as a teen, Karen finds herself harvesting olives, pressing oil, and happily renovating a new home on the very same island that stole her heart all those decades ago.“I wake up and I do some exercises on the balcony, get my sunshine, my morning sunshine, and then I do some yoga, have my breakfast, and then I will go into town and gather whatever I need or pay whatever bills I need to…. Then I'll head down for a swim at about anywhere between 2 p.m. to 4 .pm. And I'll spend an hour or so down there swimming and chatting with my friends, come back up, have something to eat, and then in the evening, I'll get back to doing some work or go to some kind of performance, meet some friends, have some friends over. Yeah, that's a pretty typical day for me.”Karen's life on Syros is a long way removed from the typical stressful worker's life she had back in Austin, Texas. But as the saying goes, ‘Leap, and a net shall appear'. Read her full article in the May 2023 issue of International Living Magazine.If you're enjoying the podcast, we would really appreciate it if you could leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform. We love hearing feedback from our listeners! Thanks again for your support: https://lovethepodcast.com/internationalliving.If you haven't become an International Living member yet—you can do it today with a special discount offer for podcast listeners. You'll receive our monthly magazine plus a bundle of special extras, including our 2023 Global Retirement Index. Subscribe here: https://intliving.com/podcast.Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTubeMusic: Royalty Free Music From timtaj.com.

Podcast host, Jim Santos, meets expat Glenda Cole, who quit the stress of a high-powered career in corporate America for a new home, new country, and new life in International Living's top-rated retirement destination—Portugal. Glenda describes herself as a typical type-A personality, but her drive to succeed almost killed her. A serious health scare brought it all home to her—she was living to work, not working to live. Having a job that was so pressing that she couldn't even get a bathroom break, spending her life accumulating money and possessions that she had no time to enjoy…it all took its toll.When the doctor told her she had to change her life, Glenda grabbed hold of that idea. With the same meticulous approach that made her such a success at work, she started researching retirement destinations overseas. Spreadsheets, schedules, itineraries…it was all very business-like. But no matter how organized you are, sometimes the heart overrules the head. When she got to Portugal, Glenda's five-year plan fell apart. Instead, she decided to let her emotions win out, and followed her gut. Now, more fulfilled than ever, Portugal has proven to be exactly what she needed. Glenda shares her true success story with Jim Santos in this week's episode of Bigger Better World.  Read her full article in the May 2023 issue of International Living Magazine. If you're enjoying the podcast, we would really appreciate it if you could leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform. We love hearing feedback from our listeners! Thanks again for your support: https://lovethepodcast.com/internationalliving.If you haven't become an International Living member yet—you can do it today with a special discount offer for podcast listeners. You'll receive our monthly magazine plus a bundle of special extras, including our 2023 Global Retirement Index. Subscribe here: https://intliving.com/podcast.Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTubeMusic: Royalty Free Music From timtaj.com.

Podcast host, Jim Santos, learns all about the surprising sophistication and liveability of Mexico City's residential districts, as he talks to IL's Latin America Correspondent Jason Holland in this week's episode of Bigger Better World. Jason is not a typical expat, in that he and his wife moved out of the U.S. while they were still of working age, not retirees. In fact, when they first shipped out to their first expat home in Costa Rica, the couple were expecting their first child. Since then, their family has grown, and they've had the pleasure of educating their two children in an international, culturally rewarding manner that's been rich with life experience, language, and novelty.Though Jason and his family now live in the colonial hill town of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, they're not done with travel and adventure just yet. In fact, ever the explorers, the whole family took part in a mini-relocation to the country's capital: Mexico City. When they settled in, they found a sophisticated, leafy, liveable city that's far removed from the common perception. Most people, when asked what they know about Mexico City, will struggle to come up with more than ‘It's big'. Well, it certainly is big. Huge, even. But when you break it down into neighborhoods, it turns out that it's a delightful assemblage of standalone districts, each a little different, and numerous enough to be assured that one of them will be just right for you.Whether it's the antique stores of Juarez, the urban parks of Hippodromo, or the upscale modernity of Polanco, Mexico City is a hive of activity, antiquity, prehistory, and urban charm. Jason knows it intimately, and shares his insights in this week's episode of Bigger Better World.  Read Jason's full article in the January 2022 issue of International Living Magazine: Beer, Parks, Galleries: Mexico City's Neighborhoods. If you're enjoying the podcast, we would really appreciate it if you could leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform. We love hearing feedback from our listeners! Thanks again for your support: https://lovethepodcast.com/internationalliving.If you haven't become an International Living member yet—you can do it today with a special discount offer for podcast listeners. You'll receive our monthly magazine plus a bundle of special extras, including our 2023 Global Retirement Index. Subscribe here: https://intliving.com/podcast.Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTubeMusic: Royalty Free Music From timtaj.com.

If you've ever seriously contemplated a move overseas—really considered it, not just daydreaming—then you'll know all about negative thinking. For every picture in your mind of palm-fringed beaches and waking up to the sound of birdsong…there's another slew of ‘rational' reasons why it could never happen. Responsibilities, obligations, the stupefying momentum of routine… Most people never get beyond telling themselves that they'll make the move ‘When the time is right'…JP and Mandy Caldcleugh, though, aren't ‘most people'. A series of personal events convinced them that life was too short to waste waiting for ‘the perfect time' to follow their dream. It turned out that the perfect time was ‘now'. JP and Mandy chose to reset their lives and move from the Northwest U.S. to the Caribbean shores of Bocas del Toro in Panama to operate a boutique hotel—Casa Acuario. Their story is told in the April 2023 issue of International Living magazine in a profile by Jessica Ramesch entitled ‘We Swapped Wine Making in Oregon for a Caribbean B&B'.Taking over a small hotel, so close to the water of the Caribbean that they can hear it from their bedroom, JP and Mandy arrived in Panama during a pandemic, and before they even arrived at their new business, they had their first customer. With no background in hospitality, the couple had to learn as they went. And with minimal Spanish, a slew of renovations to make, and more business than they ever expected…there was a lot to learn. Fortune favors the bold, though, and Casa Acuario has been thriving from day one. Podcast host, Jim Santos, learns all about living on the Caribbean islands of Bocas del Toro, as he talks to JP and Mandy Cauldcleugh in this week's episode of Bigger Better World. If you're enjoying the podcast, we would really appreciate it if you could leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform. We love hearing feedback from our listeners! Thanks again for your support: https://lovethepodcast.com/internationalliving.If you haven't become an International Living member yet—you can do it today with a special discount offer for podcast listeners. You'll receive our monthly magazine plus a bundle of special extras, including our 2023 Global Retirement Index. Subscribe here: https://intliving.com/podcast.Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTubeMusic: Royalty Free Music From timtaj.com.

It's pretty quiet on the islands of Greece in March, making it a good time to rent a scooter, get out on the quiet roads, and see what there is to see. That's exactly what International Living Lifestyle Editor Seán Keenan did in March of this year. March is a lovely time to be in the southern Mediterranean. Winter is retreating, in another few weeks the tourist flights will begin to arrive, and the hospitality industry will be at full tilt until October. But before that happens, there's a window of opportunity to catch the full beauty of the islands, as well as a chance to sample what year-round life is like in destinations which change their character entirely from one end of the year to the other.Many of the smaller islands in Greece—Mykonos, Syros, Santorini, Lesbos—spend the winter months in a state of near-coma. Without the driving economic force of tourism, the population reduces, amenities close for the season, and all but the most essential services are put on pause. But that doesn't mean that you need to abandon your dreams of a year-round Greek island life. On Rhodes—way over on Greece's eastern extreme—and on Corfu, at the country's western edge, you'll find hubs of population and activity that continue to thrive all year.  Podcast host, Jim Santos, learns all about off-season living on the islands of Rhodes and Corfu, as he talks to International Living Lifestyle Editor Seán Keenan in this week's episode of Bigger Better World. If you're enjoying the podcast, we would really appreciate it if you could leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform. We love hearing feedback from our listeners! Thanks again for your support: https://lovethepodcast.com/internationalliving.If you haven't become an International Living member yet—you can do it today with a special discount offer for podcast listeners. You'll receive our monthly magazine plus a bundle of special extras, including our 2023 Global Retirement Index. Subscribe here: https://intliving.com/podcast.Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTubeMusic: Royalty Free Music From timtaj.com.

Back in the early days of the Spanish conquest of Latin America, a problem arose. How would Catholic priests, tasked with converting the locals to Christianity, celebrate mass without the necessary wine for the service?The short-term answer was to ship wine over from Spain, but that was hardly practical. The long-term solution (although it wasn't popular with Spanish wine exporters!) was to plant vineyards in the newly-discovered lands.Where did they plant these vineyards? Believe it or not, on the high ground of Mexico, grapevines flourished, and a wine industry which now spans centuries, was created.Over the years, those Mexican winemakers have learned a trick or two, and it shouldn't be a surprise to learn that wineries around the colonial highland city of San Miguel de Allende have become so good at it, that their wines are winning the sort of awards more usually gathered by growers in France, Italy, California or Spain.International Living contributor Ann Kuffner lives in San Miguel de Allende. (For some years, she was our correspondent in the small Caribbean nation of Belize). A wine lover from an early age, she's found an undiscovered trove of fine wines in the highlands around her adopted city. It goes perfectly with the cultured, sophisticated urban lifestyle of San Miguel de Allende. Podcast host, Jim Santos, learns all about a side of Mexico most tourists never see, or even imagine, as he talks to Ann Kuffner in this week's episode of Bigger Better World.Read Ann's full article in the February 2022 issue of International Living Magazine here: The Sun-Kissed Wines of San Miguel de Allende. If you haven't become an International Living member yet—you can do it today with a special discount offer for podcast listeners. You'll receive our monthly magazine plus a bundle of special extras, including our 2023 Global Retirement Index. Subscribe here: https://intliving.com/podcast.If you're enjoying the podcast, we would really appreciate it if you could leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform. We love hearing feedback from our listeners! Thanks again for your support: https://lovethepodcast.com/internationalliving. Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTubeMusic: Royalty Free Music From timtaj.com.

Read Janet's full article in the January 2023 issue of International Living Magazine here: My Three Weeks Learning Italian in Siena.“I'm too old to learn a new language!” is a phrase we hear a lot at International Living. But it's based on a misconception. Most of us believe that children have some innate language-learning ability that somehow disappears as we get older. But is that really true? Isn't it just that we get busier? Or find other things to take up our time? When you think about it, there are lots of reasons why learning a language when we're older makes sense. We know what a sentence is. We know what verbs do. We have a much better grasp of our own grammar…which makes it easier to learn it in a different language. Janet Buell didn't swallow the old line about it being difficult. Instead, she enrolled in a full-immersion Italian class in the picturesque Tuscan city of Siena.Once there, she found that it wasn't just a new language she was learning—it was a whole new way of life. A life devoted to excellent food, wine, conviviality, tradition, and beauty. Diving headfirst into Italian life, with a team of dedicated teachers who were delighted to show her the ins and outs of life in an ancient Italian city, Janet soon found that learning a language has come a long, long way from reciting verb constructions in a dusty high school classroom.Host, Jim Santos, gets the inside track on the nicest way to pick up the lingo, in the latest episode of International Living's Bigger Better World podcast.…If you haven't become an International Living member yet—you can do it today with a special discount offer for podcast listeners. You'll receive our monthly magazine plus a bundle of special extras, including our 2023 Global Retirement Index. Subscribe here: https://intliving.com/podcast.Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTubeMusic: Royalty Free Music From timtaj.com.

Read Noreen's full article in the February issue of International Living: How to See the World for Free as a Travel Writer.With no background in writing (her previous career was in nursing), Noreen Kompanik homed in on what it was that she really wanted to do with her life. And it wasn't nursing.Nowadays, she spends up to 70% of her year traveling the world, and getting paid to write about it. In fact, she joins the Bigger Better World podcast from the Dominican Republic, just one stop out of many she'll take around the planet this year. Very few travel writers make as big a success of their career as Noreen has, and the tricks, secrets, and demands of the industry can be difficult to learn from scratch. Noreen, though, is packed with tips and tactics, and shares a wealth of valuable advice for how to break into travel writing—possibly the most envied career there is.Want to know how to travel the world and get paid to write about it? Join Jim Santos and Noreen Kompanik in this episode of the Bigger Better World podcast. (And maybe grab a pen—you might want to take notes!) If you haven't become an International Living member yet—you can do it today with a special discount offer for podcast listeners. You'll receive our monthly magazine plus a bundle of special extras, including our 2023 Global Retirement Index. Subscribe here: https://intliving.com/podcast.Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTubeMusic: Royalty Free Music From timtaj.com.

What's it like to travel the world as a minority? Todd and Damon took to the world together when they decided that a roving retirement fit their inbuilt need for travel and adventure. Together, they lived in 28 different countries over the course of three years, before finally settling down in Mexico's premier expat city—the colonial highland showpiece of San Miguel de Allende.In this week's episode, podcast host Jim Santos delves deeper into Todd and Damon's experience of cultures around the world. As a gay couple, did they encounter prejudice? As a Black man, did Damon feel any sense of discrimination in the countries he and Todd spent time in? Which locations were more tolerant, which were more traditional, and where did they feel most accepted?If you haven't become an International Living member yet—you can do it today with a special discount offer for podcast listeners. You'll receive our monthly magazine plus a bundle of special extras, including our 2023 Global Retirement Index. Subscribe here: https://intliving.com/podcast.Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTubeMusic: Royalty Free Music From timtaj.com.

In this week's podcast, host, Jim Santos speaks to expats Todd Hilton and Damon Morris. Todd and Damon took to the world together when they decided that a roving retirement fit their inbuilt need for travel and adventure. Together, they lived in 28 different countries over the course of three years, before finally settling down in Mexico's premier expat city—the colonial highland showpiece of San Miguel de Allende.Armed with a sheaf of notes they'd taken from an International Living conference, and an ambitious desire to see and experience more of the world, they quit their jobs, sold their home, let go of their old lives, and set off. Friends thought they were crazy. Family members cried. Colleagues figured they'd soon be back…(If life abroad appeals to you, join us this fall to find your own perfect place. Our Ultimate Go Overseas Bootcamp is our ONLY US-based event of 2023. Reserve your discounted seat now.)Nowadays, those friends and family wish they were living a life like Todd and Damon's. And when they're asked if they have any regrets, their only wish is that they'd made the decision sooner.Settle in and listen to Todd and Damon's inspiring story of discovery, adventure, and happiness, as Jim Santos hosts the latest episode of International Living's Bigger, Better World podcast.If you haven't become a member yet—you can do it today with a special discount offer for podcast listeners. You'll receive our monthly magazine plus a bundle of special extras, including our 2023 Global Retirement Index. Subscribe here: https://intliving.com/podcast.Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTubeMusic: Royalty Free Music From timtaj.com.

Sarah Firisen first came to our attention at International Living when she got in touch about her very enviable life on the southern Caribbean island of Grenada. Soft-sand beaches, crystal-clear waters for snorkeling, and curry goat-filled rotis…we had to know more! When she wrote a two-page article for the March 2022 issue of International Living magazine, we were simply smitten with her descriptions of an island which combines all the palm-fringed, turquoise water fantasies of the region…with a traditional and community-focused way of life that is a million miles from the generic, touristy version of the Caribbean found in the more northerly islands.Sensitive and insightful, evocative and inspiring, Sarah's article portrays an island nation that may not enjoy the same wealth or development as some of its neighbors, but which makes up for all that with benefits—friendliness, acceptance, wonderful weather, a distinctive culture—that are more valuable than any GDP score. We had to invite her onto the podcast for a more detailed look into life on Grenada. Can it truly be that perfect?Settle in and listen to Sarah's inspiring story, as Jim Santos hosts the latest episode of International Living's Bigger Better World podcast.Read Sarah's story in the March 2022 issue of International Living magazine: Living Off the Radar in the Southern Caribbean. If you haven't become a member yet—you can do it today with a special discount offer for podcast listeners. You'll receive our monthly magazine plus a bundle of special extras, including our 2023 Global Retirement Index. Subscribe here: https://intliving.com/podcast.Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTubeMusic: Royalty Free Music From timtaj.com.

In this week's podcast, host, Jim Santos speaks to expat Donna Stiteler. For many years, Donna served as International Living's Ecuador Correspondent from the city of Cuenca, Ecuador. Cuenca, a highland city built in a steep-sided valley deep in the Andes mountains, is an established expat location. In fact, many would claim that it's the world's premier expat city. Due to its elevation and latitude, Cuenca enjoys a dependable, spring-like climate where the temperatures peak at around 75 F, and dip to cool evenings in the low 60s F…every day of the year. The city center is bisected by the clean waters of the Tomebamba river, but such is the nature of the lush, mountain hinterland, there are another four rivers flowing through the metropolitan region.With quiet trams providing excellent public transport, taxis which will whisk you across the city for $3, and a major bus station connecting Cuenca to the rest of Ecuador and beyond, there's really no need to own a car in the city. That's just one of many savings which combine to create a lifestyle that Donna claims reduced her stress and worries to a point where it saved her life. Living more of her life outdoors, eating more healthily, no longer slaving her life away to make ends meet…Donna has found a life in Cuenca that she couldn't have possibly imagined, or afforded, back in the States.Settle in and listen to Donna's inspiring story, as Jim Santos hosts the latest episode of International Living's Bigger Better World podcast.Read Donna's cover story in the February issue of International Living magazine: Expat-Friendly Cuenca Grows Up: Easy Living in Ecuador's Affordable Retirement Haven. If you haven't become a member yet—you can do it today with a special discount offer for podcast listeners. You'll receive our monthly magazine plus a bundle of special extras, including our 2023 Global Retirement Index. Subscribe here: https://intliving.com/podcast.Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTubeMusic: Royalty Free Music From timtaj.com.

In this week's podcast, host, Jim Santos speaks to expats Kirsten and Mark Raccuia, whose journey to an overseas life started at an International Living conference back in 2012. At the time, they were convinced that they wanted to move to Costa Rica. As it turned out, the conference whetted their appetite for an entirely different location—Malaysia!Kirsten and Mark are born travelers, though, and after a few happy years living on Malaysia's island paradise, Penang, they felt the urge to explore some more. This time, it was a change of continent, culture, and language, but the laidback, happy expat life remained the same. They moved to Mexico in January 2022.Compared to Penang, Mexico is huge. The Raccuias didn't have any particular spot in mind, but one thing they knew was that they wanted to live by the beach. And they wanted to be warm all year round. In Mexico…that doesn't narrow the field much. So, they dug a little deeper, and got stuck into some serious on-the-ground research.Caribbean or Pacific? Old-World Colonial or Modern International? Dry and dramatic or green and lush? In the end, it came down to a battle between Puerto Vallarta on Mexico's Pacific coast, and Playa del Carmen on the Caribbean Riviera Maya.Both spots have their fans, their attractions, and their advantages. Which would the Raccuias choose? And why?Find out in the latest episode of International Living's Bigger Better World podcast.Read Kirsten's article in the November issue of International Living magazine: Beach Towns Battle: Puerto Vallarta vs. Playa del Carmen.  If you haven't become a member yet—you can do it today with a special discount offer for podcast listeners. You'll receive our monthly magazine plus a bundle of special extras, including our 2023 Global Retirement Index. Subscribe here: https://intliving.com/podcast.Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTubeMusic: Royalty Free Music From timtaj.com.

In this week's podcast, host, Jim Santos speaks to International Living France Correspondent Tuula Rampont, who transplanted her life from Southern California to Southern France back in 2010. For Tuula, France came as a surprise. In fact, she originally thought that she wanted to move to Italy. Lazy stereotypes of French people as snooty, arrogant, and cold put her off the idea of even visiting the country. As it turns out, when she did finally visit, she realized just how wrong her preconceptions were—France was wonderful, the people were charming, and she couldn't wait to move there.Making up for lost time, Tuula now lives and works in Toulon, a port city on France's Mediterranean coast, where the temperatures rarely drop below 60 F, even in the depths of winter, and where fine food, wine, and culture are an everyday routine. What's more, she spends her free time exploring everything this privileged corner of Europe has to offer.The village of Cotignac, a remarkably well-heeled hill-town in the foothills of the Provence Alps, is her most prized discovery. Loved by expats, discreet celebrities, and foodies, Cotignac brings the best aspects of the French Riviera into a quiet, affordable package—one which hasn't yet hit the mainstream. Learn all about this undiscovered French gem in the latest episode of International Living's Bigger Better World podcast.Learn more about Jen and her family in the July issue of IL magazine: Kindred Spirits and Understated Luxury in Cotignac, FranceIf you haven't become a member yet—you can do it today with a special discount offer for podcast listeners. You'll receive our monthly magazine plus a bundle of special extras, including our 2023 Global Retirement Index. Subscribe here: https://intliving.com/podcast.Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTubeMusic: Royalty Free Music From timtaj.com.

Sometimes, events make decisions easier. For Jen Wittman, the lockdowns, election cycle, and social upheaval she experienced in 2020 were enough to convince her that it was time to leave her home in California and search for greener pastures overseas.She'd lived overseas already, so it wasn't a complete leap into the dark. This time, though, she and her husband had another person to think about—their 12-year-old son. How would he cope with live overseas? What about his education, his friends, learning a new language?She needn't have worried. Partly due to putting the groundwork in, and equally down to the friendly, welcoming nature of the people—locals and expats—in Portugal, life for Jen and her family has been more than they could possibly have hoped for. It's relaxed, it's sunny, the food, wine, healthcare, and schools are excellent, and the Wittmans love Portugal so much they're applying to become citizens. Find out why they love it so much in the latest episode of International Living's Bigger Better World podcast.Learn more about Jen and her family in the October issue of IL magazine: International Living – New Beginnings and a Slower Family Life in Lisbon. If you haven't become a member yet—you can do it today with a special discount offer for podcast listeners. You'll receive our monthly magazine plus a bundle of special extras, including our 2023 Global Retirement Index. Subscribe here: https://intliving.com/podcast.Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTubeMusic: Royalty Free Music From timtaj.com.

In this week's podcast, host, Jim Santos speaks to Chip Stites, International Living's Italy Correspondent, who makes his home in the small town of Rieti, Italy. From harvesting olives in a 2,000-year-old grove to singing with the crowds at a basketball match in the town where Kobe Bryant learned to play, Chip Stites has immersed himself deeply in the culture and country of central Italy. It wasn't a snap decision. He and his wife, Shonna, spent years scouting out their ideal retirement location, from the beaches of Costa Rica and Mexico to the city streets of Portugal and Spain. With a list of non-negotiables between them, it wasn't until they arrived in Italy that they realized they'd found their perfect home. Whether it's the respect for their elders, the reverence for good food and wine, or the relaxed enjoyment of a life well-lived, something about the Italians they met in Rieti made Chip and Shonna fall in love; with the place, with the people, and with each other all over again. Who could ask for more? Podcast host Jim Santos delves to the bottom of Chip's story, and finds out just what it is about Italy that makes it so special. Learn more about Chip and what led him to Italy in the October issue of IL magazine: Why Our Retirement Journey Led Us to Italy. Settle in, press play, and find out as we welcome you to the latest episode of International Living's Bigger Better World podcast.If you haven't become a member yet—you can do it today with a special discount offer for podcast listeners. You'll receive our monthly magazine plus a bundle of special extras, including our 2023 Global Retirement Index. Subscribe here: https://intliving.com/podcast.Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTubeMusic: Royalty Free Music From timtaj.com.

In this week's podcast, host, Jim Santos speaks to Janice Deerwester, an adventurous and unstoppable single woman in her 70s, who recently moved to Fontainbleu, near Paris, France. Navigating everything from restaurant etiquette (service in France is a lot more relaxed than in the U.S., it seems) to exploring on the excellent public transport, Janice recounts her adventures in her popular vlog, Janice in France. When you take life with such a positive attitude, every day is an adventure. Recalling her first steps on starting her new life overseas, from finding a place to live to making sure her beloved pets were settled in, Janice takes us through the early days, and what she fell in love with immediately about living in France. From old-fashioned manners to bureaucratic red tape, the French way of life is not what she was used to back in the U.S., but it suits her just fine.Settle in, press play, and find out as we welcome you to the latest episode of International Living's Bigger Better World podcast.If you haven't become a member yet—you can do it today with a special discount offer for podcast listeners. You'll receive our monthly magazine plus a bundle of special extras, including our 2023 Global Retirement Index. Subscribe here: https://intliving.com/podcast.Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTubeMusic: Royalty Free Music From timtaj.com.

In this week's podcast, International Living Mexico Correspondent Wendy Justice meets host, Jim Santos, as she explains just why she moved to the highland town of Querétaro in Mexico. A long-time expat, until recently Wendy made her home on the other side of the globe, in Vietnam. Now, in Mexico, what similarities, and indeed, what differences does she find in her new home? Some things are universal, others are quite the opposite. When an experienced traveler and expat brings fresh eyes to a new location, you can be sure they'll have a lot to report.From climate to cuisine, the mid-sized city (1.3 million residents) provides Wendy with everything she could hope for in a retirement destination. A compact, historical centro is the postcard-pretty focus of the city, but in the surrounding zonas, practical details like large supermarkets, malls, modern housing, and prosperous industry take over. Add an international airport with excellent connections to the U.S., and it soon becomes clear why this is an up-and-coming destination for clued-in expats. You can read Wendy's article in the May 2022 issue of International Living Magazine: Mexico's Pink City: Tidy, Upscale Living on $1,600 a Month. Settle in, press play, and find out as we welcome you to the latest episode of International Living's Bigger Better World podcast.If you haven't become a member yet—you can do it today with a special discount offer for podcast listeners. You'll receive our monthly magazine plus a bundle of special extras, including our 2023 Global Retirement Index. Subscribe here: https://intliving.com/podcast.Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTubeMusic: Royalty Free Music From timtaj.com.

This week, the podcast features International Living Malaysia Correspondent Keith Hockton.Malaysia, even by Keith's estimation, is a surprising destination for most North American expats and potential expats. It's just not on the radar as obviously as somewhere like Costa Rica, Mexico, or Panama. For Keith, that's a tragic oversight, and he's determined to make potential expats aware of just how perfect a destination Malaysia can be. A frequent speaker at International Living conferences, Keith lives on the tropical island of Penang, in the city of George Town. There, he pays exceptionally low rates for exceptionally luxurious beachfront accommodation, enjoys year-round warm weather, and lives in a community where English is an official language, where there are thousands of expats to socialize with, and where the local cuisine is considered some of the best in all of Asia. Keith goes into detail about the beach, mountain, jungle, and city living options on Penang, the history and culture of the island, and the eclectic social life you can expect if you visit. Settle in, press play, and find out as we welcome you to the latest episode of International Living's Bigger Better World podcast.If you haven't become a member yet—you can do it today with a special discount offer for podcast listeners. You'll receive our monthly magazine plus a bundle of special extras, including our 2023 Global Retirement Index. Subscribe here: https://intliving.com/podcast.Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTubeMusic: Royalty Free Music From timtaj.com.

This week, the podcast features Global Intelligence Letter Editor Jeff D. Opdyke.An early adopter of the digital nomad lifestyle, Jeff began working remotely long before the COVID pandemic boosted working-from-home into the mainstream. And having that head-start gave him opportunities for travel and expat living—combined with a steady job—that the rest of the world is slowly beginning to become aware of. In a nutshell—why continue with commuting to the city, getting stuck in traffic, or working from an office-building cubicle when you could be doing your day job from a tropical beach town, a mountain retreat, a cute European village…or anywhere you please? Being a digital nomad lets you choose your location, rather than letting your work choose it for you. And with that comes additional benefits. For example, you could halve your living expenses by moving to a location with a lower cost of living, while still earning a First-World wage. And that's an instant upgrade on your lifestyle. There is a catch, though. Not every country in the world is happy to allow expats to simply waltz in, set up their laptop, and stay as long as they like. In fact, some countries don't like that idea at all.  On the other hand, there are other, more enlightened countries, where roaming Westerners with portable incomes are seen as a valuable resource. In this episode of Bigger Better World, Jeff D. Opdyke talks us through the ins and outs of taking your work with you…around the globe. Settle in, press play, and find out as we welcome you to the latest episode of International Living's Bigger Better World podcast.If you haven't become a member yet—you can do it today with a special discount offer for podcast listeners. You'll receive our monthly magazine plus a bundle of special extras, including our 2023 Global Retirement Index. Subscribe here: https://intliving.com/podcast.Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube