10 Places to Retire & Move to Overseas
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May 2017
Year after year, you’ve worked hard in your job. Finally, the time has come to hang up your boots, put away your forklift license, store your stethoscope out of sight, fold up your apron and indulge in some hard-earned leisure time. There are a number of exciting retirement-friendly destinations that can provide a haven of relaxation, freedom and comfort for anyone looking to expand their horizons once their work pressures have subsided.
So where does one begin? Do you spin a globe, close your eyes and go where your finger points to? To save you the culture-shock of trying to establish a new life in a remote East-African village or an uninhabited portion of the Libyan Desert, let’s look at ten ideal places to retire overseas.
10 Place to Retire
1. Crete, Greece
It doesn’t get much more beautiful, vibrant and relaxing than this magical Greek Island. From seashores to mountain villages, green landscapes and ancient castles – there truly is something for everyone here. The free-spirited, friendly locals welcome outsiders with open arms, and the cuisine is some of the healthiest in the world. History, food, culture and bewitching scenery come together to create one of the most beautiful islands in Greece. Crete is an understated paradise, and the perfect retirement relocation.
2. Barbados
Barbados boats a stellar climate, crystal-clear swimming bays, an exciting restaurant scene to stimulate any foodie, striking gardens, and a friendly, welcoming population – Barbados is up there with the best. It is not the cheapest destination to live, but if you have a little extra cash to throw around and you’d like to kick back somewhere truly special, Barbados is the place.
3. Taiwan
If you’ve always been a bit of a city slicker, but you’re hungry for a culture shock, perhaps you should try Taiwan, where you’ll find yourself straddling the line between adventure landscape and inner-city skyscraper sophistication. This small island nation is composed of modern cities, traditional Chinese temples, hot springs resorts and dramatic mountainous terrain. It’s beautiful, it’s civilised and it’s a perfect balance of city meets scenery. If you’ve always had a soft spot for Asian culture and you want to retire somewhere stand-out, Taiwan is for you.
4. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
There’s one more colourful destination you can’t overlook in Asia – Kuala Lumpur. A walk down the street in this bustling Malaysian city will present you with a combination of delicious street eats, vibrant parks, towering skyscrapers and friendly locals. It’s busy, and at times in your face, but there is an underlying warmth about Kuala Lumpur that combines traditional culture with inner-city excitement. A perfect place to retire if you like to be around people and activity.
5. Budapest, Hungary
Embarking on your retirement journey doesn’t mean having to put an end to your adventurous side and your urge to explore new and interesting places. Budapest will provide your curious soul with something special and different at every corner. Architecture lovers will enjoy observing an impressive line-up of art nouveau-style buildings from one of the city bridges. Bathe your limbs, tired from years of hard work, in one of the many Bathhouses – a Budapest tradition that claims to rejuvenate the body and leave you feeling refreshed. Finally, you can finish each day with a plate of Hungarian cuisine that has often been called the most sophisticated cuisine in Europe.
6. Paris, France
It would feel like a crime to leave this timeless city off the list. Paris manages to be both grandeur and intimate at the same time. The food, the fashion, the art, the architecture is hard to beat in this iconic city. Can you really say no to a lifestyle that consists of coffee, croissants, friends, food and a lack of urgency to be anywhere? For avid walkers, the layout of the city provides a patchwork of different quarters that each have their own unique vibe and atmosphere, and there is never a shortage of places to explore, cafés to try and scenery to admire. Paris would make for a truly memorable retirement.
7. Whangamata, New Zealand
New Zealand is a delightfully green cocktail of landscape, culture, charming towns and a few large cities to remind you that the rest of the world still exists. However, no matter where in the country you find yourself, it doesn’t get much quieter or more laid-back than the kiwi lifestyle. If you’re hoping to retire somewhere with a consistent climate, great walking spots and a ‘beach life feel’, Whangamata in the North Island is unbeatable. This traditional New Zealand beach town boasts a unique combination of both sea and rainforest, and truly is a holiday or retirement paradise for anyone looking to truly kick-back and relax.
8. Queenstown, New Zealand
If you’re more after charm, character and you relish a good ski season, Queenstown in the South Island offers a combination of scenery, history, heritage and unbeatable ski slopes. The inner city offers a line-up of cosmopolitan restaurants, an impressive arts scene, pubs and clubs to suit all ages and energy levels, and a lakeside strip that provides one of the most beautiful views in New Zealand. By day, Queenstown is a flurry of people from all over the world – eating, walking, admiring and taking photos. By dusk, the tune lowers slightly, and Queenstown turns into a romantic, relaxed haven of food, wine and a gentle lake breeze. There is something truly stand-out about this New Zealand town, and one that would make your retirement a very special one.
9. Cairns, Queensland
If going overseas is not for you, then there are a couple of warm weather gems in Australia. Cairns is a town that was once known as more swampy than suave, but has since developed into something a little more appealing. It’s more shorts and a tee than high tea, but Cairns, located in far north Queensland, Australia is the epitome of relaxation. Known as the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, Cairns boasts an impressive line-up of rainforests, gorges and beaches, quirky cafes, fresh fruit markets, and a climate that barely ever drops lower than 25 degrees. Retirement heaven.
10. Noosa, Queensland
A far cry from the calmness of Cairns, but with its own unique combination of surfer-beach-life meets polished resort town, Noosa in the Sunshine Coast is undoubtedly one of Australia’s top spots for both travel and retirement. The climate is without fault, the beach waters are crystalline and the surrounding rainforest keeps the ecosystem as one of the most diverse in the world. Although bustling with people from all over the world, Noosa embodies a low-key, non-stressful lifestyle, making it a wonderful place to settle down.
So, you’ve ‘spun the globe’, closed your eyes, pointed to a place, and you’re ready to move your life somewhere new and exciting. What’s next? No matter where in the world you decide to relocate to for your retirement, the prospect of moving overseas can be a daunting one. If you’re looking for professional, efficient, trustworthy international relocation services to assist you in this process, John Ryan Removals will ensure your big move is stress free. John Ryan Removals offer a wide range of relocation services to help you with your move, including full container shipping services to and from all continents, shared container services to UK, Europe, USA and New Zealand, and friendly customer-service.
To find out more, contact our friendly team or request a free quote.