Your 10 best places to retire will be those ten places which best meet your own unique circumstances and choices. It may not be any of those featured in the latest popular choices articles which are often clickbait with ulterior motives!
As you work through your retirement plan you need to carefully consider and define all the priorities and factors which make up your ideal retirement and the factors that influence your choice of the best places to retire.
More...
It's then up to you to find that unique place that fits your vision .... your own best place.
What's really important to you?
With this defined your final decision will be based on balancing what's really important for you at that point in time.
Priorities which may include:
- Near the sea (where I live now), or in the mountains (my choice);
- Near your family, or way off in some more remote exotic location;
- In a place with year around hot, sunny weather (like we experienced in Cebu in the Philippines), or one with a milder climate (like we had in Cuenca in Ecuador);
- Vibrant city life, or the peace and tranquility of a small town (like we are now living in Vagos in Portugal) or the countryside.
What is important is your situation at a point in time. Looking back if I loved hot, humid, year-long weather then the Philippines would have been a great choice. But for me the hot, humid weather was too relentless and added to that is their voracious mosquitoes! If I made a choice only based the city I would choose Cuenca in Ecuador with it's mild weather and location near the mountains. However it is not convenient for our family living in the UK and Dubai.
So for us our compromise was Portugal.
From the above it is clear that your mixture of these factors, together with many others, will go into defining your best place to retire.
There are many surveys done selecting "their" 10 best places to retire.
Surveys on the 10 Best Places
While these results are interesting, they will not be of much use to you unless they are based on a rating system which is the same as yours.
The other problem that I have seen with these best places to retire surveys is that in most recommended countries there are some really great areas but also some pretty horrible ones. So your choice is not only the country, but where in the country. And then not only in the country and in a city but where in the city.
Also in some countries there are often downsides regarding property rights, or rights of residents, or taxation. A further problem is that many of these countries have unstable ruling regimes that can implode ... and the "best" location can become the worst!
However it is interesting to look at these recommended places through your own eyes and see whether they open up new options for you.
Do your Own Research
One publication which I can recommend is International Living and another is Sovereign Man
International Living does some really interesting country surveys. Their objective, in depth on the ground articles, often alter one's narrow preconceived perceptions, and are certainly well worth reading. For more comprehensive and expensive analysis Sovereign Man is my recommended resource.
With air travel extended to all the corners of the world, the world has become smaller and smaller and more and more places have become accessible. Opening up many interesting retirement options in countries in Central and South America, Asia, Europe and even Africa.
Over the last few years, in looking for my own 10 best places to retire, I have travelled the world as a minimalistic nomad. Living in the Philippines and travelling to most of the recommended "best" places to get my own perspective.
For now my choice has been made but who knows "never say never and never say for ever"! Maybe the search itch will return and I will start searching again?
Retire Offshore: There are many challenging, exciting places to go and things to see
Retiring to Canada: The leading retirement destination has a lot to offer
Retire to New Zealand: The best Southern hemisphere retirement destination
Retire in Europe: The variety of countries, culture, and history – there's something for everyone
Retire in Spain: An exotic and vibrant Mediterranean choice
Retire in Ireland: A cosmopolitan and social destination
Best State to Retire: A practical guide for finding your best state
Tax Friendly Places to Retire: Why pay more tax than you have to?
The Best Cities to Retire: Retirees offer a lot to these cities
The Best Retirement Locations: The ultimate in luxury and lifestyle
Return to Successful Retirement Planning Home Page
Ever since I came here as a young child in 1956, Gibsons has been a good place to retire. In those days, it was pretty remote. My parents didn’t even know … Read More
A great small town; the Montomgery county seat and home to Wabash College, a liberal arts college established in 1832. Lots of interesting folks, close … Read More Here
Gascony in SW France is a wonderful, relatively undiscovered part of France. It boarders Spain and the Pyranees Mountains. Home of Armagnac and Fois Gras. … Read More Here