There is no perfect place for retirement that could please everyone as each has his own desires and needs. What one might call as the “best” may not be the best for you or for others; but, certainly, there could be something so ideal or suited to most people’s standards of what the best places for retirement should be.
The following countries are considered as among the top tourist destinations and the most loved retirement havens by expatriates—Italy, Morocco, Greece, Japan, Mexico, France and Austria. These are the undeniably the best places to retire, as proven by the high number of tourists and retirees who frequent them, regardless of the cost of living and its distance from United States and other factors. Their natural beauty, rich culture and the warmth of their people are enough to invite foreigners to settle here for good and to call it their home.
Italy is the most strategic and the most accessible of the all the countries. There are ten big airlines that bring many tourists from New York to Rome alone. There are also several steamships that run between New York, Genoa and Naples. As a way of promoting Italy as one of the best places to retire, the government offers very affordable means of transportation; one of which is the popular student ship that travels from New York, Holland or France.
But above all, tourist love to come back to Italy and eventually permanently live here because of its very romantic and scenic destinations, making it one of the loveliest and the best places to retire. Famous places for retirement and travels in Italy include Venice that is known for its grand canals and breathtaking medieval atmosphere; Rome, the “Eternal City”; Florence, Italy’s center for arts, literature, culture and history; and Naples that is known for its word-class harbors. The list goes on; almost every corner of Italy is worth visiting and beautiful enough to be included in the best places to retire.
Next is Morocco. This Moorish country is also very accessible and is endowed with scenic places, picturesque towns and cities, word-class port facilities and excellent climate. Because of these qualities, many foreigners opt to retire in Morocco. In fact, most of Morocco is inhabited not by native Moroccans but by many foreigners ranging from English to Americans, French, Austrians, Spanish, Asians and many others.
Another best tourist destination and best place for retirement is Greece. Retirees who are looking for great comfort, Greece is recommended as one of the best places to retire. Streets in Rhodes are still in cobblestones, letting you feel the grandeur of the ancient Greece. Furthermore, you can luxuriously enjoy internationally known beaches or resorts in Rhodes and Corfu for just about $500 a month. This is surprisingly cheap for a glorious country such as Greece.
On the Eastern part of the globe, there’s Japan waiting for you to enjoy the beauty of its famous cities Tokyo, Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, and Shikoku. Amidst Japan’s extensive development in the past years, some prefectures in Japan like the Kochi has still preserved its enchanting natural beauty. It provides expatriates relaxing and worry-free retreat, either temporarily or permanently. Residents of Kochi attribute its wonderful atmosphere and prosperous life to the grand Otakasaka Temple, now the Kochi Temple, built in 1603. From the top of the temple, you can see thick foliage of the castle grounds and a dramatic view of the entire city.
In Latin America, Mexico tops the list of the best places to retire. It is a land of many contrasting qualities and features such as its deserts, lush forests, snow-capped mountains and tropical lowlands. While many towns and cities in Mexico enjoy the amenities of highly developed countries, some still lack traces of modernity. Mexicans themselves are product of Christian and Indian traditions. But it is this sharp contrasting attributes of Mexico that makes it unique and inviting to a lot of tourists and retirees who want the best places to retire.
The largest country in Western Europe, France, also belongs to the list of the best places to retire. France is undoubtedly beautiful and very romantic—with its various world-known landmarks including the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Away from the city, you can enjoy the natural sceneries. The valley at the foot of Mount Blanc, the highest mountain in Western Europe, is one of the most favorite places to visit in France. It offers a majestic view of the Alps and the lush forests and fields near the mountain.
Last but not the least of the best places to retire is Austria. This place is famous for its “Christmas” atmosphere for it has comfortably cold climate. Tourists from places with warm climate would definitely enjoy the weather here and consider living here for good. But aside from this, Austria is endowed with natural beauty that is quite enticing and thus, many tourists come to visit and live in this country.