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Started By
Message
My Dad has Decided to Retire Abroad... Narrowing Down Beach Places
Posted on 10/20/20 at 7:37 am
Posted on 10/20/20 at 7:37 am
He is 67, single, and lived in small town Louisiana his whole life. This Covid Lockdown finally made him want to pull trigger and do it. He is looking for a Caribbean type climate and wants to be on the beach.
My sister and I are going to take the first trip with him to scope somewhere out over Thanksgiving. Ambergris Caye jumps out due to expat population, English speaking, and US currency.
He retired in his early 40's and feels like he hasn't really had a purpose since then. he is thinking about buying a small business wherever he lands to help occupy his time and give him some purpose while there. i thought about golf cart rentals. relatively low barrier of entry and hardly no overhead. he wants something he and maybe one other person can do. he won't be dependent on the income to live so he doesn't really need anything lucrative. technology has changed dramatically since 98 so his tech skills are definitely lacking.
easy access to flights are important in case any issues come up and my grandmother is 98 and in assisted living. so he wants to be able to get back easy.
isla mujeres also comes to mind as a potential spot.
open to any suggestions and TIA
My sister and I are going to take the first trip with him to scope somewhere out over Thanksgiving. Ambergris Caye jumps out due to expat population, English speaking, and US currency.
He retired in his early 40's and feels like he hasn't really had a purpose since then. he is thinking about buying a small business wherever he lands to help occupy his time and give him some purpose while there. i thought about golf cart rentals. relatively low barrier of entry and hardly no overhead. he wants something he and maybe one other person can do. he won't be dependent on the income to live so he doesn't really need anything lucrative. technology has changed dramatically since 98 so his tech skills are definitely lacking.
easy access to flights are important in case any issues come up and my grandmother is 98 and in assisted living. so he wants to be able to get back easy.
isla mujeres also comes to mind as a potential spot.
open to any suggestions and TIA
This post was edited on 10/20/20 at 8:08 am
18
Posted on 10/20/20 at 8:27 am to PerceivedReality
Is he planning on selling everything and moving? Don't take this the wrong way but this just seems like a mid life crisis out of nowhere that he should plan a little better or at least not go all in right away.
There's so much info out there he would need to explore on his own. I don't know about the restrictions to each country/ place but some of them you can't just move to and live forever.
Also, if there are golf carts used there's likely someone renting them already. Its not likely you just jump in and can easily rent them. Given he doesn't have to do it to make money.
I would highly recommend traveling to at least 3-4 different places to get a better feel of your options.
There's so much info out there he would need to explore on his own. I don't know about the restrictions to each country/ place but some of them you can't just move to and live forever.
Also, if there are golf carts used there's likely someone renting them already. Its not likely you just jump in and can easily rent them. Given he doesn't have to do it to make money.
I would highly recommend traveling to at least 3-4 different places to get a better feel of your options.
Posted on 10/20/20 at 8:32 am to PerceivedReality
I have nothing to add except I wish I was your dad. Good luck
Posted on 10/20/20 at 8:39 am to PerceivedReality
Never been to Ambergris but my wife has family that lives/works on Caye Caulker. It's a very "what happens on the island stays on the island," tourist trap, party atmosphere. All the "locals" know each other and ride around on their golf carts.
This would be where it shines though. 5 minute puddle jumper flight back to Belize City drops you off on the tarmac.
quote:
easy access to flights are important in case any issues come up and my grandmother is 98 and in assisted living. so he wants to be able to get back easy.
This would be where it shines though. 5 minute puddle jumper flight back to Belize City drops you off on the tarmac.
This post was edited on 10/20/20 at 8:41 am
Posted on 10/20/20 at 8:43 am to baldona
he has talked about moving away and buying a boat for a few years now. COVID pushed him to the point of finally doing it.
this is going to happen over the next year or two (by the time he finally sells off everything).
the plan is for him to spend at least a month or so in each place.
Ambergris Caye, Isla Mujeres, Sayulita, and Placencia are the 4 we have suggested to him. he's researched this before so he isn't going in blind.
I'm mainly trying to see if anyone here spent any extended amount of time in popular expat destination and get their opinions
this is going to happen over the next year or two (by the time he finally sells off everything).
the plan is for him to spend at least a month or so in each place.
Ambergris Caye, Isla Mujeres, Sayulita, and Placencia are the 4 we have suggested to him. he's researched this before so he isn't going in blind.
I'm mainly trying to see if anyone here spent any extended amount of time in popular expat destination and get their opinions
Posted on 10/20/20 at 8:50 am to PerceivedReality
I’m a huge fan of Eleuthera. Not technically the Caribbean, but close enough.
Disney bought Lighthouse Beach, so there should be plenty of opportunities for side businesses.
Disney bought Lighthouse Beach, so there should be plenty of opportunities for side businesses.
Posted on 10/20/20 at 8:54 am to PerceivedReality
I don’t have much to add, but you’ve mentioned Covid a few times now.
Many countries down that way shut down and continue to have major restrictions, which may stay around and tourism is wrecked for a long time.
Not sure if he’s going to be getting away from that crap the way he expects
Many countries down that way shut down and continue to have major restrictions, which may stay around and tourism is wrecked for a long time.
Not sure if he’s going to be getting away from that crap the way he expects
Posted on 10/20/20 at 9:00 am to PerceivedReality
If he would be interested in a smaller community, Rincon, PR would be near the top of my list. The people are great, town is awesome, good beaches, etc. Plus US phones work, USD, english speaking, US territory etc
Posted on 10/20/20 at 9:01 am to PerceivedReality
Isla Mujeres is going to give him the best flight options. Cancun ha a very busy airport with many direct flights.
Posted on 10/20/20 at 9:02 am to PerceivedReality
My suggestion is for him to do several extended visits in different places if he’s only ever lived in small town LA.....because if he wants the beach/boat lifestyle, he may be more comfortable in south FL. No language barrier, quality health care, easier access to 98 y o mother....
He could buy a live aboard boat and go up and down the gulf coast and Atlantic coast via the Intracoastal waterway. How are his boat-handling skills?
I’d be trying to convince him to do 3-4 month rentals in a series of places, rather than plopping down in a new spot for several years. He has itchy feet and should look around, not just trade one small town for another (albeit beachfront) small town.
Meanwhile, he needs meaningful volunteer work. Surrogate grandparent, food pantry staffer, dog walker at the animal shelter, or other sort of legit stuff that will make him feel as though he’s making a contribution,
He could buy a live aboard boat and go up and down the gulf coast and Atlantic coast via the Intracoastal waterway. How are his boat-handling skills?
I’d be trying to convince him to do 3-4 month rentals in a series of places, rather than plopping down in a new spot for several years. He has itchy feet and should look around, not just trade one small town for another (albeit beachfront) small town.
Meanwhile, he needs meaningful volunteer work. Surrogate grandparent, food pantry staffer, dog walker at the animal shelter, or other sort of legit stuff that will make him feel as though he’s making a contribution,
Posted on 10/20/20 at 9:10 am to hungryone
quote:
My suggestion is for him to do several extended visits in different places if he’s only ever lived in small town LA
agreed on that. he has travelled a decent amount. all over the US, caribbean, and a few trips to europe, so has an idea of whats out there, its just been a while.
quote:
He could buy a live aboard boat and go up and down the gulf coast and Atlantic coast via the Intracoastal waterway. How are his boat-handling skills
he does want a place he would be able to use it.
he has been to florida to look at some catamarans recently. he is looking at 50-60' models. in the past he had a 70' sportfisher so he isn't a novice around a bigger vessel. granted he will not have a captain, but he has researched the new cats pretty extensively, and said the safety/navigation features are really good and have tons of redundant backups if something fails. he's also really mechanically inclined do that doesn't worry me a ton.
quote:
not just trade one small town for another (albeit beachfront) small town
ambergris caye has 15K people, so i feel like that's a decent amount and he would have the luxuries of a city there as well
This post was edited on 10/20/20 at 9:22 am
Posted on 10/20/20 at 10:19 am to PerceivedReality
quote:
Sayulita
Going in December for the first time.
I'm pumped.
Not to highjack, but have you been? Any suggestions?
Posted on 10/20/20 at 10:47 am to PerceivedReality
I might consider Panama. There's a big expat community, a nonstop flight to MSY, Panama City is modern, and they use USD as currency. The only potential drawback is that the "beach" and "island" parts of Panama are not always that close to PTY airport.
Posted on 10/20/20 at 11:01 am to PerceivedReality
quote:How is his health? Health care services would be a major consideration of mine for a new location.
He is 67,
Posted on 10/20/20 at 11:17 am to nctiger71
Danang, Vietnam.
Beautiful coast, great food and if he's feeling a bit frisky -- his lady needs can be accommodated.
Beautiful coast, great food and if he's feeling a bit frisky -- his lady needs can be accommodated.
Posted on 10/21/20 at 8:57 am to PerceivedReality
I would say Spain
very very affordable, beautiful, its Europe so some of the mexican or carribean headaches are avoided, and multiple flights will run daily back to the States
very very affordable, beautiful, its Europe so some of the mexican or carribean headaches are avoided, and multiple flights will run daily back to the States
Posted on 10/21/20 at 9:13 am to PerceivedReality
I met the owner of this blog when my wife and I were in Mexico this past September. He retired after 25 years of being a deputy sheriff in Florida and he and his wife moved to Mexico.
They sold everything they had except for what would fit into a few suitcases. They purchased a condo upon arrival and they currently live on 1/3 of the income they had when they were in Florida. He says their life is great.
He started this blog to help others make the move to Mexico and he has had over 4 million views to the blog.
This post is particularly interesting where he outlines what their monthly expenses are: LINK
They sold everything they had except for what would fit into a few suitcases. They purchased a condo upon arrival and they currently live on 1/3 of the income they had when they were in Florida. He says their life is great.
He started this blog to help others make the move to Mexico and he has had over 4 million views to the blog.
This post is particularly interesting where he outlines what their monthly expenses are: LINK
This post was edited on 10/21/20 at 9:14 am
Posted on 10/21/20 at 4:22 pm to PerceivedReality
Caye Caulker
Posted on 10/21/20 at 5:08 pm to baldona
quote:
Don't take this the wrong way but this just seems like a mid life crisis out of nowhere
Don’t take this the wrong way, but you’re a tool.
Posted on 10/21/20 at 5:13 pm to PerceivedReality
Your dad is an a-hole for doing what I wish I could. 
I’d go somewhere that the dollar really goes a long way.
I’d go somewhere that the dollar really goes a long way.
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