Atilla

Firstly, apologies for this going to several boards here but the same issues apply to different countries and the responses will likely be different. Not all residents of these countries may visit all the forums so it's a case of needs must

I have recently retired at 52 after working 33+ years in the UK and 3 years overseas in the UAE. For a LOOOONG time I have fancied the idea of living abroad and often felt that France would be my end point. I like the language, food, country and the people so it had quite a few ticks in boxes. Of late though a few things have changed. Firstly there is the 'inactifs' issue (the need to have private medical cover now if below state retirement age), then there is the position with the Euro and also on the personal front, I now have some different considerations following life in the UAE. The France specific issues are not show-stoppers but need careful consideration I think.

My desire to relocate is not so much on disillusionment with the UK (albeit there is a lot I'm not happy with - but similar issues affect everywhere), more a case of I'm not SURE it offers me what I want out of life now. Previously I thought ALL I wanted was a sunnier clime, good food, wine and good heritage and culture. I'm not sure though of those ingredients alone are enough now. To fulfil them, France would be ideal, albeit I think somewhere south of the Loire would be needed to benefit from better weather. So I considered Aquitane, Languedoc and Provence. All still viable of course. I also considered Spain and Italy, but I'm just not sure there is as much there as I'd like given that I don't think it's just warmer that I'm after.

Much about the UAE I did not enjoy. Stifling heat for 7 months of the year (50+ often and very high humidity), the cost of most things there (except tat, some food and spices), a somewhat restrictive life style and, at times, the squalor in the backstreets which is far removed from the shots of the beach and its promenade (the Corniche) that the brochures and magazines are full of!!! I did however like a few things there, some of which I miss here. The weather during the winter months, the fact that it was sunny a lot, being able to nip to a very well equipped gym and health complex on foot and being able to pop out for a drink or meal at any number of multi-cultural restaurants or bars in a variety of settings (inside/outside/beach etc etc). May all sound a bit odd but thinking about it now I'm not sure that even France offers ALL of those in the same way at least, unless it is for mega bucks near St Tropez, and even then, there is not such a great variety.

This got me contemplating other locations as potential options with a significant determining factor being the viability of it all, thus ruling out, by and large, places like Canada, USA, Australia etc etc as I have no plans to work (albeit I might if the right thing came along but then of course it's a different ball game and visa requirements vary considerably) and retirement visa options are limited or non-existant. Like I say, France, Spain and Italy are still options but I am now more actively considering:

1) Malaysia: Benefits of the MM2H visa, variety of food and cultures, cosmopolitan, good standard of living and lower costs. Cons include: concerns over area stability, yet to research services and availability/standard, more tropical climate, cost of cars etc. Considering Penang.

2) Phillipines: Similar option but more Phillipine from what I gather than the greater diversity of Malaysia.

3) South Africa: Good visa option. Real concerns over high crime/risk and the numbers of SAs who leave (for the same reasons).

4) Thailand: Again OK but it seems less advanced/sophisticated that 1 & 2 above and there are more concerns over stability.

There are also more general considerations which apply to all, some which are easier to deal with dependant on how close the point of relocation is. They include:

a) Stay there for ever or return as old age creeps in

b) Sell up the house here or keep a base either by keeping it and renting out, investing in a smaller foothold or whatever.

c) Ship all the belongings out, put them in storage or sell off?

d) Medical and other services in other countries.


So, sorry for the long rambling posts. I have been and will be reading as many threads as I can here but any pointers with regard to things I may have missed or other things to consider greatly appreciated. At the moment Malaysia is I think in number one spot, probably with France and Italy as a second above the Phillipines etc.

bakedbean

Hi Atila - me again

Thailand and Philippines. I think you can say that every country has it's plus and minus points and you really have to check out each country and see if you like it I guess.

Philippines: I cannot comment as I've never been there. I know it has a very good retirement visa - lifetime visa I believe. We'll see if any Philippine residents contribute to this thread but, if not, take a browse through the Far East sub-forum - there's a LOT of postings about retirement in Philippines and a lot of people clearly love the place.

Thailand: Well we first retired to Phuket, Thailand and stayed 2 and half years. Phuket is just one place and there are those (and Nonthaburi will probably be along in a minute) that will say that it is not typical of Thailand. I can only say about Phuket - great beaches, great food, fairly easy retirement visa (easier than Malaysia) but you do still have to report to Immigration every 90 days too. (We found this to be a bit tiring, and wondered what we would feel about that when we were in our zimmerframes.) I don't wish to be negative, but we personally prefer Penang but..... it's horses for courses. Again... a lot of people love the country.

For the record, before we chose Penang, we considered looking at other places in Thailand - Chiang Mai (which I am told is very civilized) and a bit cooler, and Hua Hin, but we never got to visit these places.

Atilla

Hi, thanks for comments. At the moment Panama and Malaysia are topping the bill. Someone mentioned Ecuador and Sri Lanka as options but I'm not sure about those places, they'll go on a maybe list.

I spent a month in Thailand albeit years ago, never really struck me as a place I'd like to live. Looked at BK, Pattaya, Phuket and Chiang Mi. Odd that you said the visa is easier there though? Or do you just mean the paperwork and getting it. The MM2H programme seems more robust, stable and well thought out.

Phillipines has dropped down the list. I may be wrong be I get the feeling that Malaysia is a little more multi-cultural and perhaps a bit more advanced as place (facilities and infrastructure etc). I hope/plan to come out in a few weeks for a look around. Just deciding which first, Panama or Malaysia.

Do you rent or have you bought a property in Penang, or when you were in Thailand? I'm not sure I'll keep a base in the UK but if I do it will likely be an apartment on a coast somewhere, easier to secure than the rural bungalow I have now. I did consider renting this place out but not sure I want the hassle or the ties. Either way I'll likely rent wherever I go for at least 6 months to be sure I like a place but still wonder about buying long term.

bakedbean

I just meant the paperwork and getting it in Thailand and, if you grease the palms of the right person, the rules may be bent a wee bit.

x524x

You should consider Hong Kong, they have quite a lot of expats from various places. A lot of places accommodate people who speak English. The city is very multi-cultural and lively.

Or you can go to Singapore, the standards of living is pretty good there. I known some Europeans to settle/work in China and they love it, but there would be an language barrier.

bakedbean

Does Hong Kong have a retirement visa?

Last time I looked, Singapore had some kind of long term social visit visa but it was jolly expensive and required medical insurance. So, what happens when you get to 70 and cannot get medical insurance? A bit of a problem - and Singapore quite expensive these days too.