Immigration law, visa, work–study abroad, lifestyle & travel

Where I'm moving in Europe

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 19:22:53 +0100

I’m Moving Back to Europe: Why Romania Comes First

Since I've announced that I'm moving back to Europe, a lot of you have been asking me where I'm going. So, I decided to make this news to give you a little bit of insight into where I'm going to be moving in Europe this year and then where I'll be living next year.

I have been living or traveling abroad for the last 20 plus years now. now been to more than 60 countries. So, I help people move to different countries and that's a little bit of the reasons why I'm leaving the US and going back to Europe.

So, the first place I'm going is Romania. I've given myself a few months to prepare to leave the United States and then when my lease ends, I'll go straight to a conference and then visit my friends and family. So, if you're thinking of moving abroad, it's good to give yourself plenty of time at least 3 months, 6 months up to a year before you actually have your departure date.

Um, in this case, because I've moved abroad so many times, and because I'm an expert in living abroad, I gave myself a shorter window of just about two or three months, but typically I recommend minimum 3 months or more up to at least 12 months, especially if you're moving with a whole house of stuff or if you have to downsize a lot of stuff.

So, another thing, yes, before you leave your home country, go and visit friends and family. Um, you might not see them for another 6 months or so. So, it's always a good idea to go visit them or have them come to you. So, in this case, I'll be making my rounds going to visit my parents, my sister, my nephew, and then my brother and his fiance, and my niece over in California. So, that'll take at least a week or so.

And then I'll come back to Miami and leave around mid November to Romania. And the reason that I'm going to Romania and I am pursuing citizenship from descent. My grandfather had dual citizenship in Hungary and Romania. And uh one of the requirements to qualify for citizenship in both of those countries is to pass a language exam.

Now, Hungarian is probably a bit harder than Romanian, and I've always I've been to Hungary before, but I've always wanted to go to Romania. had a few trips planned before that we had to cancel because my mom was sick and things happened. So, I'm really looking forward to going there and spending quite a bit of time there.

If you've followed me or my podcast for a while, you'll also know that I speak Spanish and I learned that through an immersion program back in 2002 when I was a Rotary Scholar in Costa Rica. And ever since then, after taking five years of Spanish in high school and college, then going to Costa Rica for three months and studying in an immersion program, I learned so much. I learned more in 3 months than I did in 5 years of school.

So, if you've been struggling to learn a language, a really good way to do that is to just go to the country and immerse yourself there and focus on learning the language. Take classes, go to a place where people don't speak much English. And so that's what I'm going to do in Romania.

Now, I know a lot of the population does speak English there, especially in the bigger cities like Bucharest and Kluj. So, I've been looking around for places in more rural areas where I'll be forced to speak Romanian when I'm out and about, especially with all the technology we have, FaceTime, social media. It's really easy to kind of stay in the English zone.

So, I really want to get out of my comfort zone and and learn the language and take classes on a regular basis, if not every day, than a few days per week. So, I've been looking around for language schools in Romania, and I found a couple because I'm going in November.

We're going into winter, which is typically not the busiest tourist time to go to Europe, but that's why I like it. It's not as crowded. It's not as expensive. if it's not as hot. Uh the days are shorter, it's darker. There's some pros and cons, but uh it's also good to go to a place that you're thinking of living during maybe not the best weather or the best climate to see if you like it during the bad times and then you'll probably also like it during the good times, like the warmer weather, more sunshine.

So, I've been looking at Brassoff and CBU. I don't know if I'm saying that right, which are relatively close to the mountains. I once spent a whole winter season in Bulgaria skiing and snowboarding in the morning and then working remotely in the afternoon and the evenings. And so I'm kind of thinking I could do the same thing here in Romania.

Instead of going to Kluj or Bucharest, I can go to one of the smaller towns near the mountains and have a little bit of, you know, nice work life balance. go snowboarding a few days a week and then come back and work from my laptop, uh, running my relocation company and then also taking classes in the in the evening.

So, it's going to be a busy day or maybe we'll have that switched around because of the the time zones. But that's my plan for the next few months.

Now, unfortunately, I have been asking around. I've been emailing language schools and very few of them have any programs that start in November or December. Probably because it's going into the holidays, Christmas, New Year's. So, it looks like my only options at first are either to take private classes in Cebu or Brasaf or to study in Bucharest or Kluj for at least a month or so.

So I'm thinking maybe the first four to six weeks stay in Bucharest or go to Kluj take classes and then in January move to one of the smaller towns to do more of an immersion program where I can be closer to nature and stuff like that and spend at least a couple of months there and then maybe go back into Cluge when it is closer to springtime and the language exam because the language exam that I need to take to pass the test to show that I'm at B1 level Romanian and then qualify for uh getting citizenship are located there.

So also when the snow is melting on the ski slopes, you know, could be a good time to go back into the cities. So I don't have it completely planned out yet, but I personally like to slow travel. So I plan to stay at least for a month in each location. So, you know, maybe a month in Bucharest, a month in Brasav, etc., etc., a month in Cluge, and see where I'm at.

Come like March or April. I will be flying back then to the US because my brother's getting married and then going back to Europe. And here's where things could change.

So, if I really love Romania, I'm happy to stay there. I'm planning to apply for a digital nomad visa after I get there, which u I can apply for about 2 months into my 90-day shenan stay on my passport. So, I'll do that and then I can stay for up to a year, I believe.

So, if I like it, I'll just stay there and we'll see how it goes.

But I also do need to think about my work, my clients, and also my plan from this year, which was to move to the Netherlands. So the main countries that I help people move to are Spain, France, Portugal, Italy, and the Netherlands. We also get a lot of inquiries for for Ireland and the UK and a few other places mostly in Europe, also Latin America, Mexico, Costa Rica.

But um even if I'm not, you know, working and and living in those countries, it's nice to be close there and in the same time zone as my clients once they get there. Maybe be able to meet some of them in person. Um work with our partners there, residency attorneys, things like that.

I could do everything remotely. I've been working remotely since 2008, so quite quite a long time. I did write Digital Nomads for Dummies, but um it'll be nice to be closer to the countries that my clients want to move to and I can pop over and, you know, visit them, pay $50 for a ticket versus being across an ocean away.

So, I could apply for a visa to one of those countries. Um, could be, you know, a digital nomad visa in Portugal, could be a longstay visa in France, could be a digital nomad visa in Spain, but I'm probably going to go with the Daft visa in the Netherlands because I do love the Netherlands. And from there, it's really easy to travel anywhere else.

In the meantime, if my citizenship application is processing, I've heard that can take up to 1 year, 2 years, 3 years at the max. But to still be able to live in Europe while I'm waiting on my passport, then I will need to get a form of a visa or residency. so I could go with the DAFT visa, which is the Dutch American Friendship Treaty, uh start my freelancer relocation business in the Netherlands, and uh meet all my clients that are moving to the Netherlands.

So, that's my plan so far. If you have any um travel tips on Romania, which is one of the European countries I haven't been to yet, then please drop them in the comments. Let me know any questions as well and subscribe to join me on this journey.

Best places to retire in Costa Rica

Sat, 24 Jan 2026 19:01:38 +0100

Costa Rica often ranks as one of the best countries in the world, and for good reason. First of all, it's stunningly beautiful. If you've ever been there and seen the nature and the beaches, it is second to none. One of the most biologically diverse places on the planet. An amazing place to spend your golden years. But it also has a lot of practicalities that make it an excellent place to retire. It has worldclass health care. It has a moderate cost of living. It's also generally safe and it has various different types of visa and residency permit categories that fit exactly for retirees such as the pensionado and inversionista visa which are really accessible with one 2 or $3,000 per month.

On top of that, it also has full property rights for foreigners, very low property taxes, no tax on income that's earned outside of the country, and it also has a really strong expat and international community, and also a really central location right in the middle of Central America. So, you're really close, a few hours flight to North America or South America.

If we haven't met before, I'm the author of Moving Abroad for Dummies. I've spent eight years in Costa Rica and I've been helping people retire there for much longer and in this news I'm going to share with you my top 10 picks for where to retire in Costa Rica plus a wild card.

The 10th place on my list is one of the more overlooked towns within Costa Rica. I rarely hear anyone talking about it, but it has a really nicesized community. It has a low cost of living compared to other parts of the country and it's also really green and lush and fertile and has a pretty good climate. It's also close to the beach and that place is Santa Cedro del Henal.

I don't know why this place is never at the top of any sort of retirement list. But as I mentioned, it has a really nice climate. It has a good location just about an hour from the beach and also a few hours from San Jose. And it's like a slower pace of life, not so touristy as other parts of the country.

I remember my first time I went there was back in 2002. And I'm sure it's changed a lot since then, but I always thought of it as really a hidden gem in the country, but it still has a lot of amenities. It has a pretty good-sized hospital there. And you can actually find real estate in this area for like half the price of somewhere like Tamarindo, which can be, you know, 2 3 4 five times more expensive per square meter.

We're looking at maybe $200 to $500 per square meter in Santa Cro depending on which area you're in and $1,000 to multiple thousands $5,000 $6,000 per square meter for the most luxurious properties in the North Guanoste region which we will get to a little bit later in this news.

You can still find a modest home from around $100,000 to $200,000 in this area and land can be as low as $25 to $50 per square meter outside of town. It's home to hospital Escalante Praida which is one of the largest public hospitals outside of San Jose and there's also plenty of clinics and specialists in town.

Santa Cedro is for you if you're looking for somewhere that's a little bit off the beaten path, a smaller town compared to being in the metropolitan area of the Central Valley and not so hot and dusty and muddy and everything else that comes with living on the beaches of Costa Rica, but still being pretty close so you can drive down there for the day.

Ninth on my list is actually just a short drive from Sanro del Hanaral and this is an area known as the Wales coast which is Dominical and Uvita in the southern zone of Costa Rica. I like this area because it's really quintessential Costa Rica for me. It's so tropical and beautiful. You've got the volcanic black sand beaches, really laid-back atmosphere, and when you're retiring somewhere, that's what you're looking for, right? You're looking for a slower pace of life, not too much stress rushing around, and that to me really exemplifies the feeling that you get when you're in the Dominican Uvita area.

On the downside, because this is kind of a more remote part of Costa Rica, you're farther away from the more populated areas up the central coast of Costa Rica like Hakaco and Hermosa. You're also quite a drive away from San Jose. It it can feel quite remote and so it's not the best place if you want to be, you know, really close to a major hospital, for example.

They also don't have an air strip that I'm aware of, unless a new one has popped up around there. So, you won't find really any Sansa flights to this area. And the infrastructure can be, you know, a bit spotty. It's still areas where if you're buying a house up on a mountain, you won't have a paved road almost for sure, unless you're in a very highly developed gated community.

It can be, you know, really muddy and treacherous to drive around there. And if you're not living in this area full-time, it can also be vulnerable to crime. So, one of my friends has a house in this area with a beautiful ocean view. There have been attempted breakins multiple times, which she has caught on camera, but if you've lived in Costa Rica, you know that that's not, you know, having the security cameras isn't really going to help get your stuff back.

So, it's probably not the most practical place to live in Costa Rica, but it is a very beautiful place. It has a really strong and diverse international community and a lower population density than you're going to find in the central valley or the more populated beach areas, places like Capos, Manuel Antonio, Paco, and Hermosa.

This area is also known for having a lot of eco lodges and boutique hotels mixed with really tight-knit Costa Rican local communities. It's perfect for you if you want to be surrounded by nature and right on the beach and don't mind being farther away from big city amenities.

Next on my list is somewhere that is just northwest of the San Jose area where you can find a lower cost of living, a really nice climate, and more affordable housing, and that is Gracia and San Ramon. I actually have some relocation clients living there pretty happily for the last few years with their dog. So, shout out to them. They know who they are.

And this is a really great entry-level option to living in Costa Rica because you're close to the city of San Jose and all of the amenities, but you still have your basic day-to-day amenities that you'll need over there. You've got a nice mix of locals and foreigners alike.

The center of town in San Ramon can be a lot, you know, more traditional Costa Rican. And then out in the outskirts and in the the hills and the mountains, you can find some eco communities, uh some sustainable communities, and some really interesting places to live.

Of course, you do want to be careful about where you're finding housing in Costa Rica. Make sure that it's somewhere that's secure. There can be a lot of single family homes that are just independent in this area which might have some security concerns, but it is a really nice and more affordable area than some of the more popular places to live places like Eskazoo, Santa Ana, or even in the city center of San Jose.

And you also get a more relaxed lifestyle, less traffic, and you're just about an hour, hour and a half from getting to the major hospitals of San Jose.

This corner of the western central valley is perfect for you if you're looking for a quieter lifestyle, still close to the capital cities. You've got some strong, you know, international expat community, but also still very authentically Costa Rican. You can find homes here from around 150 to $300,000 or more if you're looking for modern builds in gated communities. And while there are public hospitals in this area, you're about an hour to San Jose for specialized care.

Are Americans ruining Portugal ?

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 19:58:52 +0100

Are Americans ruining Portugal? If you go online and read the headlines and especially watch YouTube, you would definitely think that's the case. But is it true? Of course, there have been a lot of Portuguese citizens out in the streets over the past few years protesting things like high housing prices, but who is to blame?

I've been wanting to talk about this for the last few years, but I was afraid to make this news because I didn't want to create a lot of controversy, but what I've noticed a lot lately in phone calls with prospective relocation clients is that people really want to move or retire abroad in Portugal, but they're afraid to because they don't want to be those ugly Americans who are adding to the problem.

So, in this news, I want to dive deeper into the data behind the headlines and clear things up. So, if you've been thinking of moving to Portugal, but you didn't want to because you didn't want to ruin the country, then this news is for you.

Now, before we get started here, I do want to add a disclaimer because I am not an economist. I am not a statistician. I don't work for any government, and I'm not Portuguese. So this is just my perspective as a US citizen who's been helping people move abroad for the past 20 years.

I've been watching the movement of people around the world, expats, digital nomads, immigration, and I've also been to Portugal quite a few times. So this is just my opinion on the topic based on research and data. But make sure to do your own research before making a decision.

All right, so let's start with what's actually happening, which is that the number of US citizens living in Portugal is increasing. There's a lot of numbers out there depending on where you look, but from my research, it shows that since 2017, the number of Americans living in Portugal is going up. It was 3,000 just a few years ago, and now you can find reports of anywhere from 10,000 to 21,000 US citizens living in Portugal.

That number might be even higher because that's counting the people that just have visas or residency permits there. There could definitely be a lot of other slow travelers, roaming retirees, and digital nomads who are also spending a good amount of time in Portugal without being one of these statistics.

But here's what those headlines don't tell you. As of 2024, there are over 1 million foreign residents living in Portugal. And so, US citizens could make up about 10 or 20,000 out of that number. So, that's just about 1% of the foreign resident population. Hardily enough people to be able to ruin the country.

But here's something fascinating that actually happens quite a lot is that uh citizens of the country tend to overestimate the number of foreigners who are living there. So, according to a 2024 report by the European Commission, it says here that 42% of Portuguese people actually overestimate how many foreigners live there, with some thinking that it's almost double what it really is.

So, based on this survey, one in four respondents believe that foreigners make up more than 30% of the population of their country, when in reality, it's closer to 10%.

But what does it mean to actually ruin a country and overrun it with people? Typically, when we see this in headlines or we hear about it in conversation, people are talking about three things. One is gentrification. Two is higher prices, whether that's for housing or living expenses. And three is an impact on culture, typically negative.

Now, I've been traveling the world for more than 20 years. And one of the things that I've personally noticed in different countries is that the countries that do have more migration tend to have just a lot more diversity. So I don't want to say that migration is a bad thing and it's something that's been happening throughout human history. People have always been roaming around the planet the same as all other types of animal species who migrate around the globe and this is going to continue to happen.

So it's really important to look at it for what it is and what the realistic impact is on a country.

So let's look at the gentrification and rising prices piece. And this a lot of times has to do with the housing market. It's no secret that prices have been going up in Portugal and there has been a housing crisis for some time now.

Um, but while there's a lot of focus of headlines on US expats being the cause for these rising prices, the data shows that a lot of the issues, especially in places like Lisbon, come from tourism and short-term rentals.

So, when you look at that 30 million annual arrivals into Portugal, a lot of those people are renting short-term rentals and they're not necessarily all coming from the United States. So out of those 30 million people, only 1 million are coming from the US.

The top countries for tourism in Portugal are actually Spain contributing 25% of the total arrivals. The United Kingdom is second, contributing 12% and then third is France contributing 11.6% of international tourists. Germany, Italy and the US are also large sources of international tourists and over tourism is a whole another topic in and of itself that has a lot of both positive and negative impacts but you know most countries are constantly trying to increase their tourism arrivals and with that comes extra pressure in different ways on the economy.

Now, the Portugal's Golden Visa program, the real estate category of the Golden Visa program, has also received a lot of blame in this case. It's been really difficult to find exact numbers for this. Uh, but it does look like at least 12,000 real estate golden visas have been issued in Portugal where people could buy their way into residency with a 500,000 euro investment. that program was discontinued a couple years ago.

Um, but US citizens have kind of been wrapped into that as one of the causes for the housing crisis in Portugal. But if you look at the numbers, Golden Visa real estate purchases represented less than 1% of all of the property transactions in Portugal.

And out of those 12 or 14,000 visas that were actually granted, the numbers vary, but it looks like anywhere from between 500 and 800 or 900 of those went to US citizens. Actually, the top countries were China and other country citizens who were receiving those visas.

So while that definitely had an impact and I think that's one of the reasons why the government cancelled that program, it's um not telling the whole story to kind of wrap that into the discussion of you know US citizens overrunning Portugal.

Studies from organizations within Portugal site inflation, booming tourism, and increased housing demand to be the real drivers in higher housing prices, not necessarily golden visas or, you know, US expats who are living in the country.

There's also an argument that, you know, US citizens are overburdening the health care system in Portugal. I wasn't able to find a lot of data on that, but I think, you know, there's there could be something there. But again, we're looking at a really small number of people, you know, a few thousand people of retirement age compared to a population of more than 10 million people.

I don't know if that's going to have a huge impact on the system, but um people from the Portuguese system, from the you know, healthare system, from the government would be able to speak more to that.

So my perspective on this after having traveled to more than 65 countries since I was a teenager is that I think that the the hype on YouTube and the news headlines are are just that. You don't see news headlines so much blaming Spanish tourists for ruining Portugal. It's more like Americans that are moving to Portugal are ruining it.

I tried so hard to get Portuguese people to contribute to this news. And a lot of them were either confused, like they didn't have an opinion on this or they kind of asked me like what was I talking about.

Um, so I actually couldn't get any Portuguese people to like tell me what they really thought of this, but it led me to believe that maybe it's not a big issue from the Portuguese people's perspective. Maybe it's just something that us as Americans are afraid of doing. Like we're we're afraid to we don't want to be responsible for ruining a country.

But also it's um it's a big leap to think that you know you should not follow your dream of living in Portugal because you think that your presence there will have more of a negative impact than a positive impact.

There's a lot of ways to make a positive impact in a country. first by you know being there and spending money um being a part of the community integrating with that society contributing in some way volunteering. You don't have to just take from that country like you being present in a country doesn't have to be detrimental to that country you can bring a lot to the table.

And last time I was in Portugal I spent a lot of time in Madera and they have the nomads giving back organization there and they're doing a lot of really amazing work there and Portuguese people from all over um Portugal, Portuguese digital nomads were going to Madera to join into that international community.

And so I do think when people from different backgrounds come together, it can create something new and um the world would be quite a weird place if we didn't allow any movement of people across borders.

I've also never personally experienced this type of anger or discrimination in my travels. Uh there's a lot of fear from US citizens of, you know, not wanting to impose on other countries. And I think it's really good to be respectful of these countries and cultures.

But in a lot of uh scenarios, you know, anywhere I've been in the world, whether it was Fiji or Thailand or Latin America or Europe or Australia, like I've always felt welcome there. I've always felt that people were interested about learning where I was coming from. Um they met me in a place that was either neutral or positive and welcoming.

And I can't remember an instance where I really felt like I was unwelcome other than one time I was in Prague with my mom and we were buying gelato and this woman must have been having a really bad day because she just looked very angry and then we bought the gelato and she threw coins at me like she threw my change at me. I think I was probably like 24 years old or 25 years old.

So, aside from like a few little things like that, and no, I haven't found myself in the middle of riots in Spain over tourism or or things like that, um, I would be surprised if many people felt unwelcome when they went to a country.

And you know, maybe that's just anecdotal, but I just I talk to thousands of people every year who are moving abroad or traveling abroad, and I've never heard anyone say that they, you know, experienced what you see on the headlines in person.

So, are Americans ruining Portugal? I think no. But I think that the answer is complicated when you look at it on a macro scale.

The truth of the matter is that the world is becoming a smaller place because of technology, because of more affordable transportation and there's not one country's government or um citizens that can stop that. So I think it's really important as a global community that we look at these issues uh that we're honest about them that we you know try to create policies that are going to keep this world a livable place and you know respect the people respect the culture respect the environment there.

But I do think it's a huge stretch to blame you know a few thousand people living in a country for the you know fiscal and economic policies of a foreign government. It just there's so many other factors that play here.

Portugal is a really attractive place. It has great weather. It has a beautiful culture. It has amazing food. It has beaches. It It has so many things to do, so much history. I mean, the secret is out. Portugal is a great place.

It's one of the more affordable countries in Europe. And so, it's going to continue to be a destination for foreigners, for digital nomads, and uh for expats and immigrants alike.

How much is healthcare in Costa Rica ?

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 10:19:44 +0100

Experience top-quality healthcare in Costa Rica

I'm in front of SEMA Hospital in Costa Rica, which is the main private hospital in the country. And I am here today to pay out of pocket for medical care. So, I thought I would walk you through the process of why I'm here, how I made an appointment, how much it cost for all of the procedures, and what the outcome is since we're here in Costa Rica.

I've spent eight years living in Costa Rica. And since then, I've been traveling around the world, helping people move to other countries through my relocation company.

So, why am I here? What is wrong with my health right now? Well, I've made two appointments, one for today and one for tomorrow, to get two opinions, as you do, with different specialists that I'm hoping can give me some answers as to what I've been experiencing.

Well, it all started about a year ago now after a period of really heavy travel, where I started experiencing some strange numbness in my left leg. You know, when you Google things, it usually looks a lot worse than it is. Just Google and ChatGPT doesn't always give you the right answer, but from what I could tell, it might be something with a disc in my back. It could be a lot of different things. I don't really want to speculate, but I guess we'll find out today, hopefully.

It wasn't happening frequently enough that I felt like I needed to go to the doctor. I thought, okay, maybe I've been sitting at my desk for too long. Maybe I've been sitting on planes too often. So, I thought with a combination of physical therapy, yoga, stretching, Pilates, I got a standing desk, I got a treadmill to go under my desk, I thought with all of those things that I could heal whatever the issue was.

But over time, it would kind of come and go. And then recently, in about the last few weeks or the last month, it's gotten a lot worse where it's even affecting my left foot. I'm feeling numbness on the pad of my foot, which is super scary.

I didn't have time in the US before this trip. So, I went to the SEMA Hospital website. I contacted all of the neurologists and spine surgeons, anyone like that. Some people were full or it didn't show any availability. So, I just sent them an email or oftentimes a text message on WhatsApp, and I was able to get in for two appointments back to back.

So, I'm going to go to the first one now and see what their opinion is and what kind of tests I'll have, how much it will cost, and then I'll go to the next one tomorrow.

And it's kind of interesting because my mom is also here getting dental work done. And I also went in and got a checkup yesterday. So, I'll also show you later in this video what that dental office looks like and how much it costs to get cleaning, x-rays, consultation. And they do incredible x-rays, these panoramic 3D x-rays that cost like $800 or $1,000 to get in the US. So, you've got to see that. It's super cool.

Founded more than 25 years ago, SEMA Hospital is the best private hospital in the region, offering comprehensive medical care with more than 60 specialties. They also have a lifestyle center, which is a preventative medicine area offering checkups, lab tests, imaging diagnostics, specialized exams, and more.

Okay, just finished in the doctor's office and it cost 70,000 colón, so about $140 for the appointment. He said I have meralgia paresthetica, which is one of the things that came up in my Google search. But he said that it's not serious. It's just uncomfortable and annoying, but it's not like a grave danger that I could be paralyzed or something like that.

So, he said it's from a compressed nerve in my hip, likely from airplane seats and having the seat belt on too tight or the position I was sitting in, and that it can just go away with time as long as I avoid compressing the nerve more.

So, in this case, I didn't have to get any kind of tests or other treatments, and I don't have to come back. He said there's medicines and things that you can take, but it's not recommended because those have side effects.

As far as the wait, I only had to wait 15 minutes because there was another patient ahead of me. And he was apologizing, but I felt like the appointment was really thorough. He took his time. It wasn't rushed like that feeling that you get often in the US.

And then he said I can always message them on WhatsApp or email if I have any other questions. So, now I'm going to go back to the hotel and think about if I want to come back tomorrow for another opinion or if I'm good with this one. So, we'll see.

The next day, I met up with my mom for breakfast, which comes included with your package stay when getting dental care here in Costa Rica.

Welcome back to Costa Rica. I'm standing in front of the Dr. Muñoz Cavallini dental office here in the center of San Jose. I've been here twice now with my mom, and I can say that there's a lot of happy customers around here saving tens of thousands of dollars on their dental procedures.

So, I don't have the exact price list, but I'll link to the website if you want to check it out if you've been looking to get dental care at a more affordable cost and also have a good time, hang out here at the Sky Café, stay in some of the nice hotels and apartments.

This is not sponsored, but it's a place that I've become very fond of, having come here with my mom and also having gotten my own dental consultation during this visit. I didn't want to be left out, so I paid $250 for a dental cleaning, these panoramic x-rays that are insane, like the level of detail that you can see, and also a consultation by one of the dentists here.

Perfectly A-OK on my report, but you never know, so I got a preventative checkup here.

Dr. Marco's International Dental Clinic was founded in 1968. And it's really a place that feels like family.

I'm here with Dr. Marco. He's going to show me x-rays of my teeth.

What I was talking about, this is a dental CT scan. And here you'll see different images of your oral cavity. So, as you see, I'm moving the inspection window around the 2D image. This is the panoramic we just saw.

Now, as I move my inspection window, I'm going to place it in tooth number 30, and I'm going to show you how the other images work. This is a longitudinal view. We're looking at a side view. And if I magnify it, then we can check the condition of the tooth and other important structures.

This is the cross-sectional view. If you see this diagram here, I'm looking at you from back to front. That's the back of your head. And when I see you from the back of your head, based on this location, if we magnify it, we can see the tooth from side to side.

So, we're able to see things on the back and on the sides that we wouldn't be able to see with other images.

Your teeth look fine. I'm very happy to report that to you. Your teeth are healthy, and we want them to stay healthy.

This is your opportunity to look at your own skeleton and be alive at the same time. It is a very weird feeling, to be honest. I feel like I'm looking at a museum, like a mummy of myself, but I'm alive.

This is the 3D image we were just mentioning. This is an image of your skull. It's not the complete skull, only the area that applies to us. We use this to look at important anatomical landmarks and to help plan treatments.

One of the advantages we have here is that all of this equipment, the digital panoramic and the CT, is here in our own office. You don't have to go anywhere else, and these are included in the cost.

People come here for dental implants, full mouth reconstructions, cosmetics, and general dental care. This type of imaging is critical and mandatory for implant placement.

And we also get to have fun because we host a patient dinner every Wednesday night. We're going to the country club with a group of patients, and we're going to have fun.

So, if you need dental work in Costa Rica, come to Dr. Marco. Not sponsored.

Hi guys. So, as it turns out, it looks like I'm going to miss my second doctor's appointment here in Costa Rica because it's rush hour. I've been in this bank too long, and the last three Ubers I chose cancelled on me. It also looks like there are three or four accidents on the way to the hospital.

So, it's probably going to take me like 30 or 45 minutes to get there instead of 15 minutes. So, I'm just going to go ahead and skip this appointment. But that's okay. I can just get another appointment in the US and then compare what the diagnosis is there to what they told me here.

My mom was really impressed with the neurologist that I went to see yesterday. So, I'm really curious about what the doctors in the US will say about my condition.

Either way, I hope that this news gave you a lot of good information about how much it costs to pay out of pocket for medical care in Costa Rica.

Best places for Digital Nomads to live in 2026

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 10:53:38 +0100

Where to work remotely: 10 Countries that are perfect for Digital Nomads

What if you could pack up your laptop and move anywhere? Working remotely abroad is easier than ever with plenty of countries competing for digital nomad dollars. I'm the author of Digital Nomads for Dummies. So, in this news, I'm going to share with you the top 10 best places for digital nomads.

10th on my list is Japan, which is one of my favorite countries in the world for so many reasons. You have some of the friendliest people on Earth, beautiful nature and landscapes, amazing food, and endless culture. And it's also a great place for digital nomads. Japan is super safe. It's one of those places that I personally feel comfortable walking around as a solo female traveler. And it's also a place that if you left your laptop in a cafe or a restaurant, it would probably be there when you get back. Or it might even be in the lost and found.

I once lost an umbrella on a Japanese metro and it was like the whole entire security team mobilized to help me find my umbrella. That's just the way things go there.

But Japan also has a lot to offer if you're going to be working online. First of all, they launched a new digital nomad visa a couple years ago, which actually doubles the amount of time that you could stay there with your passport. It used to be 90 days, but if you get this visa, you can stay for up to 180 days.

You could spend a lifetime in Japan and still find things to do. From hiking and skiing in the northern island of Hokkaido to exploring the streets of Tokyo, lounging on the beaches of Okinawa, or finding your inner zen at one of the country's more than 100,000 temples and shrines. I once spent 3 months in Japan during cherry blossom season.

Now, although Japan is an amazing place, no country is perfect, and every country has its pros and cons. Some of the downsides to living in Japan are first and foremost the location. If you're going to be working in North American time zones or in Europe, you could be working all night long.

I remember one of my friends at a co-l livingiving space in Tokyo. He worked California hours and he used to have to go upstairs to the co-working space at midnight, work the night shift. So, make sure to keep that in mind if you're going to be going there for 3 months or 6 months.

Also, the language barrier can be tough. I think you can get around with speaking English, but um it's not spoken very much there. So, Japan can be a hard culture to adapt to long term if you don't speak the language.

Also, the Wi-Fi there, although Tokyo has this very like futuristic techsavvy vibe, the Wi-Fi is not the fastest. So, internet speeds in Japan are ranked about 64th out of 103 countries in the world according to speedtest.net. So, it can also be tough to find if you're going out to cafes, Starbucks, places like that to find fast and free Wi-Fi. You often need to pay for it or you have to have an account and sign up to be able to use it.

Now, Japan is also not the cheapest place in the world and also not the cheapest place on this list in this news today. I have a lot of places that are a lot easier on your pocketbook coming up, but currently the the price for nomads living in Japan is around $32 to $3,500 per month according to Nomad List.

But if you're a high earnner who wants to immerse yourself in culture, design, food, and nature, then Japan could be a place for you. If you go, check out the co-live Fukuoka conference every October, which is made for anyone interested in exploring innovative ways of living and working while incorporating Japanese values.

If a luxury lifestyle surrounded by shopping malls, highrises, and plenty of people speaking English appeals to you, consider the United Arab Emirates. The UAE's remote work visa is one of the easiest, quickest, fastest to get in the world. According to some Redditors that I saw online, they got their visas in as little as 24 to 36 hours.

So, if you look on the website, it says 1 to 2 weeks, but in a day or so, you could be working in somewhere like Dubai or Abu Dhabi. So, this area of the world has a lot to offer as far as location, innovation, networking. There are a lot of foreign residents especially in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai. So if you're looking to go somewhere for networking, if you want to be around other entrepreneurs and also a lot of Europeans who are going there for optimal tax purposes, then this country could be for you.

To qualify for the UAE's remote work visa, you need to earn at least 3500 per month through a company outside of the UAE. This country also ranks in the top four for fastest internet speeds in the world, just after Singapore, Hong Kong, and Chile. It also has warm to hot weather year round if you're looking to escape winter. And Dubai boasts the world's busiest airport with more than 2,000 flights daily.

While the UAE has a lot to offer for remote workers from around the world, it also has some downsides. The weather can get really hot, especially in the summer. So, you'll find that this is more of a seasonal place when it's winter in the northern hemisphere. And it also comes with a price. According to Nomad List, the current cost of living in the UAE is between 3,800 and 4,500 per month. But if you're looking for a lot of sun, networking, and a luxury lifestyle, the UAE could be for you.

I saw a shooting in Ecuador

Sun, 11 Jan 2026 09:17:06 +0100

Traveling in Ecuador during unrest: My personal experience

Ecuador is a very special country located in the center of the planet on the equator where the northern and southern hemispheres meet. It is a paradise where you can experience all of the climates and seasons in one day. But it's also a country that's experiencing a period of political and social strife.

I'm not an expert about what's going on in Ecuador right now, but I do know that it's a dangerous place where anything can happen at any time. In the short week that I've been here, I've experienced a shooting where somebody died. I've narrowly escaped political protests and roadblocks. And just a couple days ago, I heard about two more shootings, 10 or 15 minute walk down the beach here.

So, it's been a very emotional and difficult week. And I actually wasn't going to make a news about it at all because locals, friends, family members, everyone has warned me not to make a news about it, but I really felt like I wanted to speak out. And I'm not going to include any names or identifying features of any of the places that I've been, but I'll just tell you what happened and also how it's affected my perspective of travel, especially as a solo female traveler, and also some ways that you can stay safe when you are traveling.

So, what happened? Well, I was just in Costa Rica last week dealing with a banking situation and then I came to Ecuador for a music event where I was going to be playing. And I also decided to make it a tour to kind of go around Ecuador, play in different venues, and also to make a news about the best places to live in Ecuador because it's always been a place that's very beautiful, very affordable, low cost of living, good healthcare.

And so I thought I would film in popular places like Quanka and Keo and Montanita and other places to make a news for you. I did start but I decided not to make that news because I really don't think that it's the safest place to voluntarily move and live and retire right now.

At first, I didn't think that way because I went to Quanka first, which is a really beautiful, fairly safe, as far as I know, town in the mountains here in Ecuador. It has a really nice climate. It's very laid-back, very tranquil, and that was my first impression of Ecuador. Everything went well there. I was there for two or three days, and then I flew to Keito for a music performance, and that's where things went south.

I was at a bar with some friends and really didn't feel very safe. Like, it felt like the energy was off. I didn't have a good intuitive feeling about being there. Yeah. This was a couple hours after I got to the airport and suddenly there was a shooting at the entrance of the venue where a security guard was shot multiple times and unfortunately didn't survive.

This was obviously terrifying. I've actually talked about my sister's experience narrowly escaping gun violence in the United States. So, it's not something that is specific to Ecuador. The world's a very dangerous place right now. And even the week that I left the US for Costa Rica and to come here was the week of the Charlie Kirk shooting, which was also the same day as a school shooting, which was the same week as another school shooting.

So, you know, the US, Latin America, many countries around the world are experiencing tough times right now. I don't know comparatively how it is compared to before because it seems like with the news and internet and social media, we hear a lot about things that maybe weren't as much in the news before. And also being here in Ecuador, there's a lot of things that happen that don't get out into the news.

So yeah, it's a really tough time in general, I think, for humanity and planet Earth. But that's a story for another day. I just wanted to focus on what happened here and what are the lessons that I've learned from this.

I think I'm still a little bit in shock from what happened in the shooting. And again, I don't want to get into too many details that could identify the place, but from what I've read online about shootings in other places around Ecuador, a lot of it has been drug-related, cartel related, as well as in Mexico.

Actually, this week I read in the news that two singers, artists from Colombia were killed in Mexico City in a neighborhood that I've been to before and I've walked around before. Apparently, they were on their way to the gym and never came back. So, you know, it's just scary times.

This was the first time that I've been in such close proximity to gun violence, that I've seen a person get shot with a gun and on the ground and you know they eventually died. I feel I haven't really been around guns much in my life. You know, never been to a firing range or anything like that.

And I think the severity of the situation, like the power that is in a weapon, is just very unnerving and it could have been so much worse. So, of course I feel for the victim's family and that has been on my mind a lot, especially how I walked in and said hello to him and walked through, but I feel like I didn't really see him. He let us in through the door and I was like, “Hola, gracias.”

But I feel bad that I didn't really see him, and then he was dead a few minutes later. So, it's really scary to think about how if this would have happened 5 or 10 minutes earlier then I would have been standing right there. And I don't know if the gunman was watching my friends and I as we walked in through the door. I don't know how close he was. I don't know if he saw us. I don't know why he decided to do this. I don't know why he killed this person.

All I know is that I was very close to that. And I'm very grateful that he decided to leave without causing more harm to the people, the innocent people that were there, bystanders.

And since this happened, since I've read more stories about things that have happened in Ecuador, I see that other people haven't been so lucky. So, I do feel like it was a really close call. And I'm really grateful that nothing happened to me or my friends, but I also feel horrible for this man and his family and all the other people who've been affected by violence in Ecuador and also all around the world.

I know what it's like to have a family member that's suffering from PTSD from other situations. And yeah, I don't know yet. It's only been a few days, so I don't know exactly how I'll be affected by this in the long term, but it really helped to go home, go back to the Airbnb, talk with my friends, and we just stayed up all night talking.

Then I went straight to the airport, changed my flight. I was going to stay in Keito for a couple days, but I just decided to leave and go to a different corner of the country on the beach. My family was like, “Why didn't you leave the country?” And I don't know, it felt like I didn't want to make that decision in the moment out of fear.

I wanted to go somewhere else that I thought was safe and sleep and rest and think about what happened and then decide what I wanted to do.

What happened to my money in Costa Rica ?

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 03:39:02 +0100

Recovering Frozen Money in Costa Rica: A Banking Nightmare Explained

Buenos Diaz from Costa Rica. So, we are here trying to recover thousands of dollars that have been stuck in a bank account for over a year now. This is my third try to get it out.

The problem that we have right now is that I am unable to check the bank account balance of my new bank account in Costa Rica to see if the frozen money was sent to the new bank account. So, that is our plan for today. We're going to go to the two banks where I have accounts open, Bank Costa Rica and Bank, and we're going to find out if there's any money in them and if I can get it out.

So, let's head to the Bank Costa Rica first and see if I can get my accounts reopened, get a new debit card, two new debit cards, and also get access to my online banking. And then we'll go to another bank, which is my backup account, and see if we can get that one open.

You know that I succeeded at opening accounts here in Costa Rica, which was a nightmare. Once I got back to the United States, those accounts got closed again for various reasons that I'm not really sure about. But something because one was inactive for too long before they reopened it, so they closed it again.

Then I sent my lawyer back. He got me new account numbers. So, during all this process, my debit card stopped working and my online banking stopped working. So, you know, never a dull moment in Costa Rica. Things are not easy here. So, I'm prepared for a slightly challenging day. How challenging? We're gonna find out. So, let's go. But hopefully, we have a good end to the story today.

All right, we made it. Multi Plaza. Let's see what happens.

Okay, it has been three hours, and I've left the Bank of Costa Rica, and I have good news and I have bad news. The good news is, drum roll please, the money was in my account.

So, the 6 million guaranteed colon were in my colon account, and another part of the balance was in my dollars account. So, I have received the money that has been promised to me from Desipine with my new account numbers. And after 3 hours of sitting in the bank, I was able to reactivate those two accounts, and I have been able to successfully transfer that money to my US account.

I'm using Wise to receive the money because they charge the lowest incoming transfer fees. I've been using them since 2012. I was one of the very first customers on Wise, so I highly recommend them.

It was very impactful to see how slow the banking transactions still are here. For example, the executive had to go to the manager for approval for an international wire transfer, and he was eating lunch. So, that's why it took extra long.

But something that I can do in just a few taps of the app in a few seconds on the Wise app here could take easily an hour or an hour and a half and cost $90. Yes, they charged $90 in wire fees and SWIFT fees, which I didn't even know there was such a thing as a SWIFT fee to send.

Even Bank of America might charge like $15 to $30. So, I've never seen a $90 outgoing wire transfer fee, plus all the hoops you have to jump through, filling out paperwork by hand.

That is done. But the bad news is that my dollar debit card won't be here until Thursday morning, and I leave on Thursday. So, I'm having it sent to a branch closer to me in the center of San Jose because this one doesn't open until 11:00.

And hopefully, I can get it before I leave because there's still a chance that more of the money gets released sometime in the next few months or the next year. So, I want to make sure that my accounts remain active here.

So, in order to keep those accounts active, you do have to use the cards once in a while. You have to keep a minimum balance in the account, or they will go inactive again, which we don't want.

My plan is to go back to La Fis Bank, which I tried to open an account with the last time I was here, but I didn't finish the opening of the account because it had to get approved with the central bank. So, I'm going to go down the street to Santa Ana and see if I can finish opening that account.

Because if I can get that account opened, and if DesiFi gives us more money in the future of the like 54% that's still stuck, then I can receive it to La Fis, and then I can send it to myself online with their international wire transfer option.

So, we're so close, guys. We really are. I feel like a huge hurdle has been overcome today to actually get a big portion of the money and, you know, send it to my account in the US. So, I'm just going to be watching and waiting for that money to hit my US account, and then I think I'll feel extra relieved.

Let's continue on to Santa Ana, see if I can officially open that other account, and then have a bit more flexibility and a plan B in case this account goes inactive again or something happens.

All right, let's go.

Okay, just leaving Vancola Pis, and success. We have a debit card in dollars and colones. They're not going to be active for 24 hours, but that was actually a pretty easy experience.

I was maybe only in there for an hour. Had to fund each account with $50, so $50 US and $50 equivalent in colon. And actually ended up having to use my US debit card because even though I just had all this money in my Costa Rican accounts, I took most of the money out of the colon account, and I didn't have the debit card for the dollars account.

So, I had to pay like a $10 ATM fee to withdraw the money from my Bank of America debit card, which is ironic.

I can log into my internet banking tonight, and then I'll be able to do international wire transfers with this account. So, the good news is that if I get more money from Desipin, they can send it to this account instead of the BCR account, and then I can just transfer it to myself online with their international wire feature.

So, it's really important when you're opening bank accounts in different countries to understand what type of accounts are available and what the benefits are of those accounts and what the features are of those accounts. Because you could end up having to wait in line for an hour or so to send a wire transfer by hand from one bank to the US for $90, or you can do it online with another bank.

So, I'm really glad that I got this account open, and now I feel like it was a surprisingly productive day. I got everything done that I wanted to.

Wait I'm at a different bank.

Yep. And the reason that I'm at this other bank is because when I got home last night and went to log into my internet banking, it didn't work. No, the password didn't work.

So, I came all the way to the bank today before it closed at 5:00 p.m., and I found out that I had to put a space in my username between the name and the number. You need to put a space there. So, it actually did work.

So, I got it working, but then it had to send me an SMS code to my old Costa Rican number. So, I ran across the street to the Fresh Market. I got a new Costa Rican cell phone number. I called from the bank, activated it, and waited until it was active, and then was able to log in to the online banking and receive the code to my phone.

Where are Americans moving abroad in 2026 ?

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 03:10:50 +0100

Thinking of moving abroad? These are the Top 10 countries Americans choose

If you're a U.S. citizen thinking about moving abroad right now, you're not alone. I'm the author of Moving Abroad for Dummies, and I've been helping people move abroad for the last 20 years. So, let's jump right in and count down the top 10 places that real people are moving to.

Kicking off this list is the majority of people that I talk to—and these are people who are undecided on where they want to move. I know this isn't technically a place, but I really wanted to share this with you because everyone I talk to is almost embarrassed that they haven't picked a country to move to yet by the time they talk to me. They feel like they're all alone and think they’re the only ones who struggle with making this decision.

So, I want you to know that you're not alone. Probably 80–90% of the people I talk to are undecided in at least some way about where they want to move abroad. Typically, you might have one or two regions in mind. For example, maybe you're looking at different countries in Europe, or maybe you're considering a few countries in Latin America. We also see people who are torn between different continents.

We have someone right now who's interested in moving to Portugal, but her heart is also pulling her toward Thailand and Malaysia in Southeast Asia. My job, along with our team, is to help you choose the right destination for you—one that makes sense on paper but also feels good in your heart. So, if you've been researching 100 countries and feel like you're back at square one, don’t worry—you’re not alone. Chances are, you’re interested in one of the next nine countries on this list.

Number 9: The United Kingdom

Despite the often gray weather and high costs compared to many other European countries, a lot of Americans are drawn to the UK. I think this is largely due to the familiarity and historical ties between the U.S. and the UK. Many U.S. citizens have family members or extended relatives from this region. I know from my own DNA test that I’m at least 25% Scottish and Irish.

Many people want to follow their ancestry to the UK and feel a sense of familiarity with a culture that speaks the same language and is culturally aligned. We get a lot of requests for moving to the UK, including Scotland.

The challenge for U.S. citizens is that residency options are limited. With a U.S. passport, you can stay up to 180 days per calendar year as a tourist. This is great for exploratory trips, but when it comes to moving long-term, the UK is one of the stricter countries.

They don’t offer a digital nomad visa or a retirement visa. Most investor visa options have been canceled, except for a specific innovator visa if you qualify. The main options are a work permit or a study permit. If you're retired or working remotely without an in-person job, the UK may not be the best fit. However, if you secure a job offer from a UK company, that is a valid path—just plan ahead, as job searches can take time.

Number 8: Italy

Italy is a country that never goes out of style, but it’s also known for its frustrating bureaucracy. According to the Expat Insider Index, expats don’t always love living there, but it remains a romantic destination.

The Italian lifestyle is incredibly appealing, especially for retirees and remote workers. It can be challenging to live there on a work visa due to lower salaries and bureaucracy, but if you’re looking to enjoy la dolce vita—sipping wine in Tuscany, sitting at cafés, and people-watching—it’s an incredible place.

Italy offers a wide variety of living options: coastal areas like Positano and Sicily, mountain regions like the Dolomites, cosmopolitan cities like Rome, or charming towns like Verona and Bologna. No matter where you live, you’re never too far from another destination.

Italy offers several visa options, including an elective residence (retirement) visa with moderate income requirements, a digital nomad visa, a freelancer visa (which is competitive), study permits, and one of the few remaining investor visas in Europe. Investment options range from €250,000 to €1 million depending on the type.

Italy is actively encouraging foreign residents, especially in areas needing population growth, which is why you see incentives to buy and renovate properties. For lifestyle, food, wine, and culture, Italy remains the eighth most popular destination among my clients.

Number 7: Mexico

Mexico is a fantastic option if you want to stay close to the U.S. while lowering your cost of living. It’s easy to travel back and forth for family visits or medical care. While Canada gets a lot of attention, Mexico is actually requested far more often by my clients.

Mexico offers flexible residency options, lower living costs, and better weather. Clients typically choose temporary or permanent residence permits and settle in places like Puerto Vallarta, Oaxaca, San Miguel de Allende, and Lake Chapala.

Compared to years ago, fewer people want the most tourist-heavy beach destinations. Many now seek a more authentic lifestyle. With a pension of $1,000–$2,000 per month, Mexico can offer a very comfortable life and a strong international community.

Number 6: Costa Rica

Costa Rica is just a 3–5 hour flight from many U.S. cities and offers incredible biodiversity, excellent healthcare, and a relaxed Pura Vida lifestyle. It has long been a top retirement destination and remains popular due to its flexible visa options.

Costa Rica offers pensionado, investor, digital nomad, and other residency paths. It also has a generous tourist visa and incentives for bringing household goods or vehicles.

With over 30 microclimates, you can choose between tropical beaches or temperate mountain regions. While the cost of living can vary, many people live comfortably under $2,000 per month if they’re mindful.

Number 5: The Netherlands

The Netherlands has surged in popularity, especially after the 2024 elections. It’s safe, highly developed, and has a large English-speaking population. The Dutch American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) offers a clear residency path for U.S. entrepreneurs.

High taxes are balanced by strong social services like universal healthcare. The country offers excellent transportation, walkability, and convenience. Housing can be competitive, so financial preparation is essential.

The downsides include limited visa options for retirees and challenging weather, but for those who value stability and infrastructure, the Netherlands is an excellent choice.

Number 4: Ireland

Ireland appeals to those seeking an English-speaking country with beautiful landscapes and strong infrastructure. While residency options are limited, the Stamp 0 permit allows retirees to live there and may lead to long-term residency.

Housing shortages have driven up rental prices, especially in Dublin, but smaller towns can be more affordable. Ireland remains a strong option for workers and retirees alike.

Number 3: Portugal

About 15% of my clients move to Portugal. It’s especially popular among retirees, digital nomads, and those with passive income. Portugal offers D7 and D8 visas and remains one of the most welcoming European countries for foreigners.

With great weather, beautiful coastlines, and a strong international community, Portugal continues to attract people despite rising housing costs. Planning ahead is essential due to long processing times.

Number 2: France

France offers an exceptional quality of life, incredible food, culture, and healthcare. Its long-stay visa works for retirees, passive income earners, and remote workers. It’s centrally located and offers endless lifestyle choices—from beaches to mountains to vibrant cities.

Taxes and inheritance laws require planning, and learning French is crucial for integration, but France remains one of the most satisfying destinations for long-term living.

Number 1: Spain

Spain is the top choice this year. It offers both a non-lucrative visa and a digital nomad visa, great weather, excellent transportation, and a clear path to citizenship.

From Malaga to Valencia, Madrid to San Sebastián, Spain offers incredible diversity. While concerns about tourism and housing exist, many of my clients are thriving there and love the lifestyle.

I'm not moving abroad - Here's why

Sun, 04 Jan 2026 02:35:21 +0100

I’m not moving abroad after all—Here’s the real reason

So, I'm supposed to be moving to Europe today, but after giving it a lot of thought, I've decided to push my move date back a bit. And if you've ever moved abroad before, or if you've been thinking about moving abroad, chances are that you've changed your move date quite a few times. As a relocation consultant, I see it all the time. It's completely normal. Uh, so in this news, I'm going to share with you a few of the reasons why I've decided to change my move date and what you can expect as far as when I'll get to Europe and how you can follow the journey.

So, if we're meeting for the first time, I'm the author of Moving Abroad for Dummies, and I've been living abroad for the better part of the last 20 years. In case you missed the news where I talked about my decision to move to Europe, I wanted to do that by November 1st or like the first week of November of this year. And I gave myself a few months to do it. But in that time, a lot of extra responsibilities and travel have come up. Specifically, travel that have made it so that by the time I got back from a lot of different trips, I had about two weeks to pack everything and move. And then two more trips came up, one conference, and then also my niece's birthday. So, I really wanted to be there for that, which would have given me literally a week to pack everything and move.

So, when you're setting your move date, I like to do it this way. I like to ask my clients, what is your best case scenario, optimal move date? If you could just snap your fingers and move tomorrow, how soon realistically would you want that to be? So, we've got your best case scenario move date. Then, we have your like more realistic move date of like, okay, we're going to shoot for the moon but land in the stars, right? Like, this is the average move date. And then we have the worst case scenario move date, which is like if something unexpected comes up, if there's some type of delays, like what's the latest that you still want to be in the United States before you're upset that you're not abroad yet?

So, we definitely want to hit either the optimal move date or the like average move date. Uh we want to go for the best case scenario. And in some cases, people might come to me and say, "Hey, I want to move in the next 2 years." and all of a sudden they're moving within 6 months or 8 months because we did it a lot faster. So, a lot of things can happen there. In this case, my ideal move date was November, but now I have decided to move it back to January. Actually, I wanted to just move it to December, but my landlord, they have like a rule in this building that the minimum lease term has to be at least 6 months. And so, they made an exception for me to be able to extend for three more months. So, it is what it is. I'm paying an extra month of rent here. I'm going to be here in January when I really don't need to be here. But I'm going to make the best of it and, you know, take this time to enjoy the Miami weather. It's really nice in the winter and uh take a little bit more time with packing.

Another consideration was around the paperwork for getting my citizenship in Romania. So, there's a lot of different documents that I have to get from the US side to be able to bring those over to Romania and I have all of the documents now, but some of them need to be opposed. So, because I was traveling so much, I didn't have time to do that. And now that I'm back and I have a couple of months to be able to get those oppos, you know, just go without feeling so rushed.

So, if you're going to be getting a visa in another country, then typically you want to be able to start that process about 6 months in advance. It really depends on the country you're going to and if you need to go to a consular appointment before your move or if it's something that you can do after you get there. So, it depends on which visa category that you're going in. But, you know, you want to give yourself more time rather than less time. So, I've had clients that, you know, came to me and started the process of relocating and just went straight into that visa process and collecting their documents. And I've had a few other people that, you know, weren't sure on their timelines, weren't sure on their destination. It took a couple of months to be able to come to a decision there and then that adds an extra month or so to the process of then getting the documents, making the consular appointment, etc. So some countries can be really fast and some can be a lot slower when it comes to the availability of those consular appointments and also how fast they process the application.

So uh make sure that you look into that with a lawyer. I work in any country in the world pretty much, but we, you know, specialize in some of the more popular destinations like Spain, France, Portugal, Italy, Mexico, Costa Rica. Um, but have helped people move to all different places.

Another thing to think about when you're planning your move, and this is something that had a big impact on me, is what's going on in your personal life as you're planning for this move. So, if you're moving by yourself, maybe you have some things to think about with regards to work or family. If you're moving as a family or as a couple, you need to think about that other person and what they're going through or or what your kids need as far as if they're going to be enrolling in school and like when's when's the school year starting, when's the school year ending. If you're moving with pets, I have a lot of people that have elderly pets as well, and making sure that they can travel with them in comfort is really important or in some cases maybe waiting until they pass away so that they don't have to go through the stress of moving to another country. So, there's a lot of uh external factors that can play a part in the timeline that you make when you move abroad.

For me, in the past year, my business has been busier than ever, especially, I think, due to the changes in the US administration that had a big impact on it. I've been doing relocations full-time since 2011, and this is definitely our busiest year yet. So, it's kind of become, you know, I've always really loved my job and loved, you know, what I do. But I have noticed that, you know, even though I'm a relocation consultant, I've been last in line as my client. So, I need to be more of a relocation client for myself, but I've been putting all of my relocation clients, my team that has grown a lot in the past year. I've been putting them first. I've been investing a lot of time in my business and it's been definitely adjustment an adjustment from other years when I didn't have as many people working for me or I didn't have as many relocation clients at the same time. So, I want to make sure that everybody gets the proper amount of attention and time and care and thought and strategy put into their relocations. And I found myself thinking like, oh, okay. So, I need to actually block off time in my calendar or on the weekends when I'm going to be planning my own relocation. Uh, which is kind of funny. So, it's kind of like that put your oxygen mask on first type of thing.

Now, when it comes to changing your relocation date, I think there's a window there, margin of error, where it's okay, but you've got to be really cognizant of if you're changing your date for a valid reason or if it's just something that you keep putting off, keep putting off because of a general reason like life is really busy or you're not clear on what steps to take next or you're not sure if you have enough money. There's all these very nebulous aspects of an international move that can be really overwhelming to do on your own and for the first time. So, be honest with yourself about why your timeline is the way it is and what is the longest that you want to wait, what is the soonest that you want to move.

Because I've also worked with a lot of people that some people have been telling me they've been thinking about moving for 30 years, 40 years, their whole life, and they haven't done it yet. And other people have been actively in the process for months or years and they haven't really made progress. Like they've been gathering a lot of information but not really knowing what to do with it. So, if you wish you moved last year or the year before or you're thinking like, "Yeah, I want to move in 5 years just because that seems realistic financially." I think it's really important to have a plan and a conviction about why you want to move. So, just ask yourself like what are the reasons that you want to move? In a perfect world, when would that be? And then hold yourself accountable. You know, look at what are the barriers, what are the blocks between where you are now and where you want to be and how are you going to overcome those on your timeline, whether it's 12 months or 18 months or 3 months or or 3 years.

There can be a lot of valid reasons waiting for a health report. We just had a client that decided to start the process now because she was waiting for the green light from her doctor that things were in good shape with her health and that she wouldn't have to stay in the US for treatment. So, you know, YOLO, she's ready to go and live this next chapter of her life abroad. Um, I've also had clients that were waiting until their kids graduated from high school because they didn't want to take them out of school. And likewise, I have people that want to move before their kids start school because they don't want to pull them out of school in the middle of the year or have them start kindergarten somewhere and then move before first grade.

So think about why you want to move, what's holding you back from moving, and then try to make a plan around uh what that is. So you can work backwards from your move date and make sure that you have everything ready so that you hit your target. And then if you're off by a few months or so and that margin of error, that's okay. But what we don't want is for you not to move at all because of it's never the right time to move, right? There's never a perfect time to move abroad. There's always going to be things that come up. There's always going to be travel, conferences, work is really busy, family needs something. I mean, if I leave here on February 1st, my brother is getting married in March. So, technically, you know, maybe I should wait till after the wedding to move abroad. But I don't want to let myself fall into that trap because if I wait then I have to extend another three months and then it's May and then I'm six months behind schedule.

So even if I have to fly back here 6 weeks after my move, I'm setting this, you know, this target move date in stone and really want to stick to it. What you can expect next is that I'll be documenting my own relocation plan here on the channel step by step of moving over to Europe in the next 3 months. So, you can join me on this journey and then we'll see what happens when I get to my destination of Romania, which is a country that I've never been to before. And I'm also hoping to document some of the adventures of my clients along the way as well.

10 places to retire in luxury under $3,000/month

Fri, 02 Jan 2026 17:45:29 +0100

If you've ever dreamed of retiring abroad in luxury, think coastal villas, tax perks, and five-star living, then this news is for you. I'm going to be sharing with you 10 of the most luxurious retirement destinations in the world. All that have either a retirement visa, a golden visa, or an investor visa. So, yes, you can actually live there. Let's get started.

First on my list is somewhere you might not expect. Think about retiring to a tiny island where you know all of your neighbors because there are only 500 full-time residents there. This is a place where billionaires go for complete privacy. There's no noise and no paparazzi. And that place is the island of Sarkc, one of the British crown dependencies. What makes this place so unique is that there's no income tax, no value added tax, and no cars. Just horses, bicycles, tractors, and multi-million dollar seaviews. Until 2008, Sarkc was on a feudal system where you could only lease and not own land. But residency is now possible through long-term leasing or property purchase. It's about as off-grid luxury as you can get in Europe. So, if you'd like living in a medieval fantasy island for ultra private retirees while still being close to Europe, Sarkc could be for you. On the downside, it is quite remote with limited health care options and basic infrastructure. So, you may need to go to Gernzie for most services. It's also not for those who crave a lot of action, nightlife, and conveniences because it's such a quiet island. But if that's what you're looking for, it could be for you.

Over in Africa, the tropical island nation of Mauritius lures you in with its luxury villas, golf resorts, and financial incentives. Here you have the premium visa, which is a one-year renewable visa, or the retirement residence permit for ages 50 and up. There are a lot of luxury perks here. Think gated oceanfront estates, international health care, and tax advantages. There's no capital gains or inheritance tax. It also has a strong expat community and it's ranked as one of the safest and most developed countries in Africa.

If you're looking to retire somewhere with your yacht, sailboat, or just to relax on a beachfront estate and pay little to no taxes, the Caribbean could be for you. It's a place where you can enjoy year-round sunshine except perhaps during the hurricane season, and many of the islands here offer a different type of retirement visa or investor visa. You have the Barbados retiree program, Bahamas economic residency and citizenship by investment, and Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, and the Cayman Islands to name a few. Many islands in the Caribbean are English-speaking. They rely on tourism and they also have very attractive tax schemes.

We can also include BISE here since it's on the Caribbean and they offer a great retiree program where you can even bring in a personal plane tax-free. On the downside, infrastructure can be unreliable on the smaller islands and logistics can be complicated there, and import costs are high. Health care is also limited outside of the capital city. So, if you're on a very remote, luxurious island, keep that in mind.

If you're looking for an island lifestyle with crystal clear waters, beachfront villas, and high-end amenities over in Europe, then consider Cyprus. Cyprus offers permanent residency through real estate investment around €300,000 and up. It is a popular EU access point for retirees and investors from around the world, but especially parts of the Middle East and Asia. What I love about Cyprus is the safety and the ease of life there. Of course, it is stunningly beautiful with white sand, especially in the Parlimny area. You've got that crystal clear blue water, pure relaxation, luxury, incredible food. If you really like Greek food or Turkish food, Middle Eastern food, you can find this really blend of different cuisines, Mediterranean of course as well. And it's also very highly developed. So they have very good paved roads, high-speed internet, high-speed data on your cell phone, and also a very good network of sidewalks, walking paths, and a lot of luxury hotels, resorts, and of course, real estate. There are also a lot of outdoor restaurants, patios, and it has such a tranquil vibe. It almost reminds me of the Hawaii of Europe in a way. Of course, Cyprus does have a situation currently being split into the Greek side and the Turkish side, but the situation seems manageable despite the political tension and legal uncertainty, including over some real estate. Also, the EU citizenship program was suspended due to corruption concerns, but the residency option is still available.

Speaking of privacy and security, whether you're moving to a remote island or staying where you are, your personal data is probably much more exposed than you realize. If you Google yourself, you'll find that your name, address, phone number, even your relatives’ information is just out there on dozens of websites. The scary thing is data brokers collect and sell your personal information to marketers, scammers, even identity thieves without your permission. The good news is that today's sponsor, Incogn. They go out and remove your data from hundreds of data broker and people search websites and they keep removing it as this type of information tends to continue resurfacing. I mean just look at how many sites I found my information on. Nearly 400. So if privacy is important to you, then take action to protect it.

France is a timeless option to retire in luxury. From the streets of Paris to Provence and the rugged beauty of Corsica, you can apply for a long-stay visa here as a retiree or investor. There's also the talent passport and business residency for high net worth individuals. I could definitely see myself retiring on the French Riviera someday or maybe in the countryside. It is the epitome of somewhere that offers amazing cuisine, culture, art, and natural beauty from the coastline into the Alps. Just make sure you have a good accountant because France is known for having high taxes and also a pretty strict inheritance tax. Some people do think twice about moving to France because of the tax situation, also because of the complex bureaucracy and the language barrier. But if you live in France for 10 years, you can apply for citizenship there if you do manage to master the language. But if you're looking to eliminate some of that tax burden, then you could also opt to reside in Monaco just next door.

Over in Southeast Asia, Malaysia's My Second Home Visa gives you long-term residency if you meet the income or asset requirements. Here, you can get access to luxurious high-rises, tropical beaches, and top medical care, all for a fraction of the cost compared to living in the West. Malaysia is a global retirement hotspot for a reason. However, it is quite hot and humid year-round with major time zone differences from the US. So, if you aim to continue working, it might not be the best place for you. The MM2 program has also become more restrictive in recent years due to higher financial thresholds, but that shouldn't be an option if you're looking to retire in luxury.

If living in Latin America is more your style, then you could retire abroad in Costa Rica with the Rentista or Pensionado program with as little as $1,000 to $2,500 per month in income. But don't let those low income requirements fool you, because there is plenty of luxury in Costa Rica. From high-end eco lodges to ocean view estates and luxury hotels such as the Four Seasons, Costa Rica has it all on top of a thriving expat community. It's a paradise known for its pura vida lifestyle. So, if you're looking for an ocean view villa or a beach life where you can just step out onto the sand and go for your walk every day, then Costa Rica could be for you. On the downside, Costa Rica has been experiencing some security concerns in recent years. So, if you're only planning to live there for part of the year, you'll definitely want to make sure that your home is secure and possibly invest in private security or caretakers for the home. If you want to live in some of the most stunning areas of the country as well, especially up in the Guanacaste region or down in the Osa Peninsula, then you are quite far from the cities and medical care. So, you'll want to be able to be somewhere where you can take a private flight or a helicopter to get somewhere quickly if needed.

If you're interested in basing yourself in Europe in an English-speaking country, then consider Ireland. Think country manors, coastal cottages, and historic charm with modern luxury. Ireland is known for having a bit of a housing crisis at the moment, but if you have enough of a budget, there are plenty of real estate opportunities available. It's also one of the few EU countries that has a dedicated retirement visa under the Stamp Zero program, which has even possibly become a path to citizenship. On the downside, Ireland is known for having rainy, overcast weather year-round, and the investor visa recently closed a couple years ago, so options are more limited to live here now. And you also need to fly to go anywhere off the island.

For privacy, precision, and pristine landscapes, Switzerland is an iconic choice. High-net-worth individuals can obtain residency here through lump-sum taxation in certain counties or through a business or investment visa. In Switzerland, you can experience highly developed cities with luxury accommodations and dining. You can explore nature with crystal-clear lakes, skiing, and some of the best health care in the world. On the downside, it is one of the most expensive countries in the world where groceries, restaurants, and real estate can be shockingly pricey. Also, Switzerland's residency by investment visa is one of the most expensive in the world. But if you have the money, it is an optimal place to be.

Coming in at number one is Luxembourg. A tiny but mighty nation known for its financial sector. It offers a high level of safety, wealth, and also access to the Schengen zone. Luxembourg is home to more millionaires per capita than almost anywhere else. You can apply for residency through investment, real estate, or as a self-sufficient retiree. It's quiet luxury at its finest. On the downside, there has been talk of Luxembourg canceling its Golden Visa program. So, if you're thinking of moving to this country, act fast. It's also not known for being the most exciting destination in the world. Think banking meets bureaucracy, but if you're looking for a high level of luxury living in a quiet, safe, and developed country, then Luxembourg could be for you.