Dear Reader,

“If I’ve learned anything from my years of living abroad, it’s that the best adventures happen when you let go of the map...” says expat Stephen H. who finds himself, today, living in one of International Living’s best-value overseas havens.

“There’s no shortage of things to do,” he says, “and I find myself busier than I ever was in the US—except now, my days are filled with things I actually enjoy.” He gets together with fellow expats, hikes with a group, plays pickleball, and more.

Stephen pays between $2,000 and $2,700 a month, all in—that covers rent, groceries, entertainment, and healthcare.

That figure includes the $855 he spends monthly on his luxury, two-bedroom, two-bathroom condo... and, too, his active social life—he goes out with friends several times a week.

We are living in uncertain times today... and your first inclination may be to just hunker down, see what happens... and hope for the best...

But I’d suggest that doing nothing is likely to come at a cost.

You may well miss opportunities that could save you worry... and funds.

Now is the time to get educated.

Now is the time to explore and understand your options... to get the lay of the land. So—should you decide to take action—you’ll know what to do, where to do it, and how to do it. And you’ll have the contacts you need to make it happen.

Don’t wait. The opportunities won’t. And you don’t want to miss out.

You can take plenty of steps right there at home to begin to put a more international plan for yourself, your family, and your finances into action... and you don’t even need to move overseas to do it (unless you decide to).

Whether you’re considering how you might sidestep the political and economic fallout at home, live better for less, shelter wealth, own real estate for potential profit, retire more comfortably, or simply travel the world in style without spending a fortune… we can help.

This August in Portland, Oregon, we're gathering our experts from all over Europe, Latin America, and Southeast Asia to show you how to do all those things.

Please join us for an event that will point you to the best opportunities the world over... and show you the steps to take smart advantage of them...

This is our ONLY U.S. event of the year, and it’s the easiest, most efficient, most cost-effective way there is to gain a deep understanding of your options and create—with our expert guidance—a roadmap for yourself.

My name is Jennifer Stevens, I’m the Executive Editor of International Living. We’ve been America’s #1 resource on living, investing, and retiring overseas since 1979.

When publications like the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, AARP, or Forbes need an expert opinion about interesting and alternative solutions for stretching retirement dollars, investing overseas, and for living better for less overseas—they call us.

In early April CBS Sunday Morning flew all the way to Portugal to meet with me and our IL experts to explore why it is more Americans are retiring abroad... the benefits an overseas lifestyle provides... and the steps to take to make that kind of move happen.

My point is: Our IL experts really know their stuff. We can help you with great ideas that really do work in the real world... and, just as importantly, share with you the in-depth how-to guidance you need to put those ideas into action.

Creating for yourself a more international life is exciting... it’s fun... it can truly improve the way you experience the world, day-to-day.

But it’s not something you want to do in a half-baked manner.

You want to be sure you know how it all works... who you need to talk to... what you need to watch for... you want to know where the opportunities are so you can grab them... and, too, where the pitfalls are so you can avoid them.

When you join us in Portland August 30-September 1, 2025... we’ll show you all of that.

And we have a special offer on tickets when you register early.

You Could Call It the Great American Plan B

In all sorts of beautiful, welcoming, good-weather communities that dot the globe from Europe to Latin America to Southeast Asia, you can live better than you do today for less than it would cost you to stay home.

Laid-back beach escapes. Quiet mountain getaways. University towns. Even cosmopolitan cities.

In the right communities, you really can live a richer, more engaging life than you do now... but spend as little as $1,900 a month (even for a couple) to do it—housing included.

If you’re concerned about the economic fallout from the administration’s policies... if you’re feeling like the future just seems too uncertain to rely on...

Then this event is custom-made for you.

Because we’re going to show you what your best overseas options are... and how to take advantage of them. Legally. And efficiently.

You could call it “The Great American Plan B.” That is: Take yourself, your wealth, your health, your retirement, (even your business and your family) to someplace safer, saner, and less expensive... and sidestep what’s happening at home.

These days, Americans work more, vacation less, spend more on healthcare, and have shorter lives than people in other high-income economies. Yet you can go to the places we’ll tell you about abroad and live better, healthier, and longer than you do now—for less than it would cost you to stay home.

And you don’t have to go full-time to make a more international life pay for itself.

What If You Could Get Paid to Enjoy
Your Own Place Abroad?

Perhaps a full-time move isn’t what you want—for now, anyway. But you like the idea of having an “escape hatch” should you need one.

You’re hardly alone...

The good news is: It’s a lot more doable than you probably imagine to enjoy a travel-rich life, maybe winter over in the Caribbean... spend a couple months in Paris... slow travel through South America for six weeks, seeing the sights and making new friends... when you know how, all of that is possible, even on a modest budget.

I’ll bet you’d be surprised to discover you could afford a property abroad. That may sound like the prerogative of the wealthy alone—but you’ll find great values overseas—when you know where to go... (and this August, our experts will show you)...

A condo at the beach in Mexico... an historic village home in France... an apartment on Portugal’s Algarve—you could enjoy a few weeks or months a year at your place overseas... and your investment could even pay for itself (and actually help fund your retirement)...

In other words, you could own a home you love in another country and effectively get paid to enjoy it.

What this means is that you could enjoy a more interesting, more international life—spend time abroad in a gorgeous place—and even make money doing it.

Plus, investing like this offers you a way to shelter funds outside the US, outside stocks and bonds, even outside the dollar.

In uncertain times—and I think it’s fair to say we’re living in uncertain times—it makes good sense to diversify.

And this kind of diversification is a hedge that comes not only with profit potential, but with real lifestyle perks, too... you can own a retreat all your own in the sun. And it could more than pay for itself when you’re not there.

You can see how it’s possible when you consider the great values that are out there—when you know where to find them. The US is downright expensive when you compare it to the prices you’ll find in so many other places. Take, for instance...

Dordogne, France...

Take this charming two-bedroom cottage in a pretty, well-maintained village. The 1,345-square- foot home has an eat-in kitchen, a double-height living-dining room opening to the garden, a first-floor bedroom, a bathroom, a second bedroom with independent garden access via stone steps, a mezzanine, and an attic room. The garden encircles the property with numerous fruit trees and some small stone outbuildings for tool and firewood storage. The price tag? $143,500.

The Dordogne takes its name from the impressive Dordogne River, which winds its way past blonde-stone villages nestled cozily next to the region’s signature landmarks—a collection of breathtaking French castles.

If you’re a fan of nature, long gourmet lunches along the river, and spending your afternoons visiting some of France's most beautiful villages, then the Dordogne might be for you.

Or...

Valencia, Spain

This modern four-bedroom villa in Montroi is less than four miles from a local town center and has multiple terraces including a large covered front terrace with remote-controlled awnings.

The lounge and dining area includes a log-burning stove and air conditioning, with access to both the front entrance and a rear terrace. The master bedroom has an en-suite shower and air conditioning. Two guest bedrooms also have air conditioning. Outside, there’s a tiled terrace, a swimming pool and a casita housing pool equipment.

Montroi, close to Spain’s central eastern coast—30-40 minutes from beautiful beaches—is set among rolling hills, vineyards, and orange groves, with a mountain backdrop where you’ll find excellent hiking and mountain biking trails. The area enjoys a classic Mediterranean climate with over 300 sunny days annually and mild winters. And you’re not isolated here, just 25 minutes from the historic town of Valencia.

Or...

Guanacaste, Costa Rica

This charming three-bedroom villa has approximately 1,175 square feet of living space on a 3,825 square foot lot. On the first floor there’s an open-plan kitchen and dining room, and a bedroom, while outside there’s a terrace with kitchen and BBQ area, and a swimming pool. The second bedroom is upstairs. The villa has a private water well and is located 45 minutes from Liberia International Airport. (You can fly directly there from Denver, Houston, Atlanta, New York, Los Angeles, and more!)

Guanacaste in northwestern Costa Rica is known for its stunning Pacific coastline, dry tropical forests, and incredible biodiversity. This region is a paradise for nature lovers and adventure seekers. It’s home to some of Costa Rica’s most spectacular national parks, which showcase an astonishing range of wildlife and volcanic terrain. Guanacaste’s world-class beaches like Tamarindo, Playas del Coco, and Papagayo Peninsula attract surfers, ecotourists, and sun-seekers from around the globe.

I’ve shared these examples just to give you a taste of the kinds of values that are out there. This August in Portland, we’re gathering our experts to help you explore your best options abroad.

When you join us, you save yourself time, energy, and money—and not only get the straight story from folks based on the ground around the world, but you’ll connect with the reliable contacts you need all in one place, at one time.

Retired Abroad, I Lost 25 Pounds Without Trying

“I picked Costa Rica because of its proximity to the USA, which makes it easy to return quickly for a family or medical emergency... Within one year of arriving, I lost 25 pounds without purposely trying. I felt better, too. I attribute that to daily walking and the fresher food options here." – Terry Y. Living better for less in Costa Rica

In Uncertain Times... It’s Important to Take Action, While You Can

I’m sure I’m not alone in feeling that things at home today are... unsteady.

The future just feels uncertain—economically, politically, socially. And it can be hard to shake the sense that you should do something... but what?

That’s where our International Living experts shine.

Because they can help you chart a safe, sound way to go abroad—with yourself and your finances—that suits your budget, your interests, your preferences, and your timeline...

This fall, over three highly focused, interactive days—we’d like to get you together with those experts in person so they can help you pinpoint the communities that would suit you best and hand you a roadmap for getting there in the way that makes the most sense for you...

This is NOT the time to sit back and wait to see what happens, to simply hope for the best.

It IS the time to get yourself educated about what your best options are, and to put a plan in place.

Can you really afford not to?

In the face of the recent tariff turmoil, extreme market volatility, and jarring policy shifts, there’s a lot of fretting... but fretting won’t help you shore up your future.

You need an action plan. And that’s what we’ll give you in August in Portland.

We can’t predict what’s going to happen, but we can help you create a roadmap for yourself designed to put you in a strong defensive position so that no matter what comes to pass, you’re more protected... and in a stronger position to weather the uncertainties and come out ahead.

Whether you’re interested in upgrading your retirement, investing for potential profit, diversifying your portfolio outside the US, outside stocks and bonds, even outside the dollar—or a combination of all those things... our experts will guide you...

You really DO have good options abroad today... in all sorts of places...

The Caribbean: “It’s Like I Live in a Postcard”

Maybe you’d choose a getaway in the Caribbean.

In one spot we recommend there, the turquoise waters lap up on sugar-fine sand and palm trees line the coast.

The ocean water is so warm and clear you can see schools of colorful little fish darting about at your feet.

Off the coast, it’s a sport-fisher’s paradise: sailfish, dorado, snapper.

Here you can dive, snorkel, sail, lounge on the beach. The weather is sunny year-round with average highs in the 80s and lows in the upper 60s F.

Most people assume a “Caribbean lifestyle” would be expensive. And in some places, it is.

But not here.

In this corner of the tropics, a full brunch for two with fresh-baked croissants and seasonal, organic, farm-to-table goodies costs around $10. You could splurge on a filet mignon dinner with Chilean wine and spend $40 for two, taking home the leftovers.

One expat there we know who loves her new, laid-back life at the beach explained:

“Honestly, it’s like I live in a postcard... I live in an amazing, brand-new condo. It has two bedrooms and three bathrooms. I have two Jacuzzis and a beautiful rooftop pool. It came fully furnished, everything included. I even have access to a first-class gym.

“My total monthly expenses run about $2,000—and that includes my rent. Food is really cheap, and I enjoy cooking at home. I go out to restaurants with friends maybe once per week.”

Of course, not everybody dreams of a Caribbean getaway. Maybe you’d prefer an Old World European escape.

Slow Down, Know Your Neighbors

“We love where we live. We enjoy a mild climate, gorgeous countryside for walking and biking, a welcoming and friendly local population, and of course amazing French food and drink... our slower pace of life has been the biggest positive change for me. It’s been wonderful to leave the rat race, and we’ve adapted to the French countryside pace of life where things move more slowly, we get to know our neighbors, and life is both smaller and larger at the same time. ” – Joe M. living well in Verteuil-sur-Charente, France

You Could Slow Down in Gracious,
Old World Europe

Europe is much more doable than most people think. You CAN retire to places like Portugal, France, Italy, and beyond...

Take Spain, for instance, with its Moorish fortresses and flamenco dancers... art-filled cities... hill towns ringed by olive groves and vineyards...

...whitewashed villages with blue paint on the shutters to mimic the blue of the Mediterranean below...

In Spain, your dollars can buy you a truly enviable lifestyle today. A couple can live comfortably for a modest $2,825 a month, all in, housing and a weekly housekeeper included.

And the relaxed lifestyle is hard to beat. Spaniards are warm and engaging. They believe in savoring life—taking time for long meals, picnics in the park.

They put a high value on friends and family and relationships.

One expat in Spain says:

“Our house is surrounded by olive groves and orange trees. We wake to the sound of crowing cockerels and braying donkeys. We eat fresh produce grown within sight of our home and drink sparkling local cava (Spanish sparkling wine) at $2 a bottle.

“We swim in the sea and hike in the hills. We feel healthy, invigorated, and youthful. The sunshine helps, of course, but there’s more to it than that: People are happy, life is a pleasure.”

A University Town with Cool, Spring-Like Weather Year-Round

You’ve got great options overseas today...more options than ever before...

In all sorts of safe, good-weather, welcoming corners where you can improve your day-to-day life, feel healthier, be happier, and spend less.

If you’d like to stay closer to home, an historic university town we like in Latin America is a good-value spot to consider. (In fact, it was just recognized as having the best quality of life in all of South America.)

Here a single person, living simply, could do so comfortably on about $1,000 a month, housing included. A couple who rents a high-end condo, eats out frequently (enjoying good wine with their meals), and owns a car would require around $2,500 to fund that sort of life, housing included.

It could be a good choice if you like the idea of spring-like weather year-round and want lots to do—symphony concerts… art and history museums… archeological attractions… galleries…

In this highland escape, a sweater is nice in the evenings—lows are in the 50s, highs in the 70s.

The young student population keeps things lively, and it’s beautiful—with historic colonial homes and cobblestone streets.

You can walk along a grassy riverbank that curves through the town or hike in the hills.

One expat living there says,

“When I tell my U.S. friends that my bills (without rent) are under $300 and rents start at around $500 for a modern two-bedroom, two-bathroom condo with river or mountain views or $650 for a penthouse or four-bedroom house, they laugh in disbelief.

“I wouldn’t have believed it either. But now I’m living it. I have carved out an upper-middle-class life in Cuenca on a monthly budget of around $1,800, complete with a maid and gardener, and I still have money left over each month.”

Overseas, You Can Gain the Luxury of Time

In this era of opportunity overseas, you have a chance to reinvent yourself—and do those things you always meant to do but never found the time for.

Because when you slash your cost of living, you can gain the luxury of time.

Time to do what you like and spend with people whose company you enjoy.

In other words: You could afford to fire your boss, ditch the commute, give away your suits, and do what you want to do.

Right now, you have an opportunity to break away from the grind—even with kids in tow—and try out a new life someplace where you could slow down, play first, and work second.

Amanda and Frank have done that. They moved their kids to the beach in Mexico. And Amanda says she wouldn’t have it any other way:

“Our children can go outside and we won’t see them for two or three hours... [They] are outside and not indoors stuck on an iPad...

“My biggest driver is freedom—non-restrictive living, having sunshine, and being around energized, positive people. We don’t have any regrets.”

So there’s plenty of lifestyle upside to be found today in the right places overseas.

But it’s not just the lifestyle benefits you could gain...

We’ll Help You Jump-Start Your Overseas Plan

Our IL’s Ultimate Go Overseas Bootcamp is our ONLY US-based event of 2025—and the easiest, most efficient, most effective way there is to jump-start your overseas plan.

This program is designed to set you up with a practical, personalized roadmap to take you from where you are now to the right place (or places) for you, whatever your priorities may be.

We’ll have on hand more experts than we’ve ever gathered under one roof before to share their recommendations and insights about places as far flung as Portugal and Mexico... Thailand and Italy... Panama and Greece...

We’re inviting more exhibitors than ever before to introduce you to resources and solutions that can smooth your path overseas. You’ll meet our own country correspondents, lots of expats already “living the life,” plus experts in real estate, health insurance, retirement planning, investing outside the dollar, taxes, and more.

We’re making space for more members like you to attend than ever before—which ensures you’re in lively, thoughtful, like-minded company—and that makes for great networking (and new friends). Our experts will discuss the techniques and solutions available to you overseas to help you—

• diversify your portfolio,
• save on your taxes,
• better protect your privacy,
• live better for less day-to-day,
• and give you increased flexibility in the way you travel, invest, and retire.

We’ll talk about second passports, foreign residence, investment opportunities you can’t access from the States, using your 401K to invest in overseas real estate, estate planning with foreign real estate, funding your life overseas, and more.

Put Your Dollars to Smart Use NOW...

The US dollar has been strong—and still is, relatively speaking. It’s long been the world’s reserve currency—the currency businesses use in transactions across borders, the currency investors and central banks use to pay for imports and pay down debt.

But volatility and unpredictability in the markets may be spooking investors... and the dollar could lose its shine.

Now’s the time to put your greenbacks to good use, and—at the same time—take the opportunity to diversify out of the dollar. With a more global stance, you’re better protected from the unexpected at home.

This August, we’ll show you how to make that happen.

Real Estate Is an Effective
Hedge in an Uncertain World

In the right spots on the planet, the real estate values are excellent, the prospects for appreciation are strong, and there is serious money to be made from rentals, too.

In the U.S., real estate prices shot up, and they’ve yet to settle down much. But overseas right now, you can still buy at low cost in markets set to take off.

The trick, of course, is to know where those markets are.

And our experts are ready to show you. They’re bringing with them a strong track record of success... and a long history of real-world experience “kicking the tires” on markets all across the globe.

Owning property overseas in the right way (and in the right places) can be a strong hedge in an uncertain world.

If you’re like most folks, your retirement account is likely to be almost 100% allocated to US and dollar-denominated assets. That’s a bet that the US will continue unchallenged for our lifetime and beyond.

But if there’s a big problem at home, your portfolio is going to take a pounding, maybe with no chance of recovery. Having a strong stable of foreign real estate in your portfolio can help insulate you against market changes.

Plus, inflation is eating away at your savings and retirement nest egg.

Real estate is a hedge against that force... a physical asset that has inherent value. The land and building materials put into real estate have tangible worth. Values of homes tend to rise with inflation. And importantly, you can collect yields in the form of rental income, which also tends to go up as inflation bites.

So you can see why the right piece of real estate can offer you serious benefit in an uncertain world.

Let me show you how it can work...

CASE STUDY:
You Can Set Yourself Up to Pocket Big Gains

Consider Tulum, for instance, as a case study.

This town is on Mexico’s Riviera Maya—that’s the stretch of coast south of Cancun. My colleague Ronan McMahon, our International Living real estate expert and founder of Real Estate Trend Alert, recommended this as a market for investment, and the members of his research service who followed his guidance are positioned to pocket healthy gains.

Tourists, snowbirds, digital nomads, and work-from-anywhere professionals have been flocking to Tulum in ever-increasing numbers, drawn by powder-soft white-sand beaches and warm azure waters.

Today you have chic beach clubs and a busy dining and entertainment scene, the town and beach are bustling, and millions of people visit the imposing Mayan ruins overlooking the Caribbean or indulge themselves in cenote-swims nestled in the verdant jungle of the biosphere.

But when Ronan first visited in 2004, as he tells it, there was almost nothing in Tulum. Back then it was a sleepy coastal village.

Yet, he kept close tabs on what was happening there on that coast... waiting for the right moment to act... because you don’t want to be too early (or too late).

From Coconut Plantation to 32 Million Tourists

In the late 1960s, Cancun was a coconut plantation. In 1974 its airport opened. In 2023 Cancun Airport’s four terminals saw 32 million passengers. It’s the gateway to the Riviera Maya today.

About 50 minutes south of Cancun, the fishing village of Playa del Carmen has become a sophisticated beachside city with over 200,000 residents and millions of visitors… it has large malls, an international dining scene, box stores, and a very international community. In a city so new everyone is from somewhere else. English is spoken everywhere.

This has happened so fast, it’s mind blowing. In 2007, Playa del Carmen was reportedly the world’s fastest-growing city… today that title might well go to Tulum.

And Tulum is the end of the line for this Path of Progress. To the south is the Sian Ka’an Biosphere—over a thousand square miles of UNESCO-protected natural beauty. To the north are the stunning beachfront archaeological ruins.

Ronan told me he was there recently, and he saw visible progress in the government’s program to turn the area’s national park into a major new attraction. When completed, this will help strengthen Tulum’s already broad tourism appeal and cement its international reputation as a natural paradise.

Infrastructure upgrades are set to improve access to Tulum’s iconic Beach Road, known for its 5-star eco-chic resorts, high-end restaurants and bars, and designer boutiques.

The new Mayan train is now up and running as of December 2024. Tulum’s airport opened for flights from the US the year prior, in December 2023. All of this highlights Tulum’s incredible long-term potential.

It was inevitable that as Tulum grew and vacationers came that plenty of them would decide it was too beautiful and the weather too warm to leave.

An ever-growing number of retirees calls the area home. You’ll find mobile professionals, young digital nomads, folks coming to work in tourism… families come for extended breaks over the holidays…

What is “Just the Right Time” to Jump in?

And lots of new properties are under construction—some of them truly extraordinary. But, because of that protected biosphere, developable land here is limited. Demand is growing, though... and that means prices will be going up.

They’re already going up.

Back in October 2021, a special-in price for Real Estate Trend Alert members allowed folks to buy luxury 2-bed condos for $198,600 in a high-end community under construction, called Samsara—where delivery began in 2024.

I recently checked what 2-bed places are going for nearby—in communities that are not as nice. The price is $296,562 in nearby IIK for a 2-bedroom condo. It’s $361,646 for a 2-bedroom condo in the Icht community. And in the Amira District, the price is $334,058 for a 2-bedroom—and that’s pre-construction pricing. These are nice communities. But none (even at these higher prices) has the unique attributes being built into Samsara.

Point is: Ronan recommended people get into Samsara back in 2021... and now, four years later, “comparable” properties are already listing for between $97,000 and $163,000 more...

That’s why it’s important to watch the Path of Progress and time your entry. That’s what Ronan helps people do—and he’ll talk about how he does it and show you where he has his eye next when he joins us in Portland in August.

The demand in Tulum is there already, and that means an enthusiastic pool of potential renters who can provide owners income.

And those owners, then, will be well placed to have a property they can enjoy when the urge strikes them... and, when they’re not there, could have renters effectively paying them to own their vacation home overseas.

A Step Toward a More International Life
Is a Step Toward Freedom

The benefits of life abroad in any of the good-value escapes you’ll hear about in August are not merely financial.

You can gain a real sense of community and belonging when you go abroad today.

It may seems counter-intuitive, I realize. Here you’re going someplace new—where you might not even speak the language well—and I’m telling you you’ll fit in. Maybe better than you do at home.

But that’s something expats say over and over...

Consider Karen, an expat in Greece. She puts it this way:

“My life is far from solitary. The community in Syros has embraced me—Greeks and expats alike. I participate in Greek dance lessons, volunteer teaching art classes to local kids, attend a weekly Sunday swim and potluck with a group of expats, and can be found at various cultural and social events around the island if the mood strikes. I have a full, enjoyable life here.

“If you dream of living in your ‘happy place,’ at a slower pace, where your money can go further and a medical event won’t bankrupt you, I would heartily recommend taking that first step toward freedom.”

In places like Costa Rica, Spain, Panama, Portugal, and beyond—the cultures value friendship and hospitality. They are extremely family-friendly and community minded.

Expats regularly share stories about their neighbors leaving bags of vegetables from the garden on their front stoop. Or how they’re included in celebrations and special events.

But beyond that, what you’ll find today in the places we like is a well-established community of expats, too. And these folks have paved the way ahead of you.

They’ve figured stuff out. This one knows a taxi driver. That one organizes volunteers at the school. This guy over there needs a fourth for golf. That woman runs a once-a-month lunch group…

So it’s easier than ever today to plug into a community of fellow expats, too, who will help you settle in, become integrated, and feel comfortable.

These folks become like your family.

These are the people who will celebrate your birthday with you. They’ll watch your dog. They’ll organize pot-luck dinner parties and go dancing with you.

It’s Never Been Easier to Be an Expat

Plus—and this is critical—it’s never in history been easier to be an expat than it is today.

Nearly half a century ago, when we launched International Living, going abroad demanded a certain amount of gumption.

You took a leap of faith.

I’m sure you remember: expensive long-distance calls... thick, heavy guidebooks (that were often out-of-date)... maps you could never quite fold up again properly (and, let’s face it, you still got lost)... traveler’s checks!

Plus, most travel guidance was for tourists—not expats, and certainly not retirees. So people just had to put their boots on the ground and figure it out.

Which was expensive—that was before the days of cheap airfare. So you’d go, and you’d stay. And you’d keep in contact with the folks back home by red-and-blue edged tissue-paper airmail letters.

In other words, there were some high barriers back then.

But today, it has never been easier to go abroad.

The internet has changed everything. Today you can have your feet buried in the sand on a beach in Belize and be helping your grandson back in Michigan with his math homework on Zoom.

And even small, out-of-the-way spots have wifi access. Roads are better than they were 40 years ago. Flights hop across countries for a handful of dollars.

The world is more connected. It’s more accessible. And it’s more open.

You are more likely to find the spot that’s just right for you today—than ever before…

…when, that is, you have some good guidance.

This August, that’s what my colleagues and I would like to give you.

And there’s another reason NOW makes so much sense.

Countries Want You—and They’re Dangling Carrots for You

Countries want you to come.

To a degree we’ve never seen before, countries are laying out the welcome mat, swinging the door open, and making it worth your while to go in.

In some cases, they’re effectively throwing money at expats—with benefits worth tens of thousands of dollars.

Panama has its Pensionado visa, which you may have heard of. It was created to attract foreign retirees just like you.

The bar to qualify is low. Folks who do, can stay long-term with no hassle and it’s simple to arrange.

With this special status, you get great tax breaks and discounts on all sorts of things—like 25% off airline tickets and monthly energy bills, 50% off entertainment like movie or theater tickets, and the list goes on.

Panama was at the forefront of this movement to attract expats, but now more countries are jumping on this “we want you” bandwagon and making it easier for you to come.

Even if you’re not yet ready to retire.

Greece, Croatia, Uruguay, Portugal, Thailand...and more... offer visas that will allow you to stay and even work...

This August at our Ultimate Go Overseas Bootcamp, our experts—flying in from all around the world—will help you sort out what programs and what places would make the most sense for you.

Over Three Full Days,
We’ll Show You the Best Opportunities

There’s never been a better time to explore your options overseas. And those options have never been better—or more varied.

No matter what your motivations may be for wanting to go abroad...

Perhaps the divisive politics of our time are pushing you... or maybe you feel the pull of adventure... or both.

Maybe it’s simply that you’d like a place to park some funds outside the U.S. and have a getaway you could visit that could pay for itself...

Or perhaps you’re looking for a way—and a place—where you can retire safely, affordably, in comfort, and with confidence...

Perhaps it’s some combination of all those things...

Let me assure you that at this event, you’ll find yourself in good company.

We created this live, in-person program coming up in August so you can brainstorm with our experts. Let them help you flesh out what you really want from your retirement—and then point you to the place where you could find exactly that.

In the best-value destinations overseas, remember, you could live well on a Social Security income alone.

With a modest $1,900, a couple could cover expenses in our best-value recommended locales—and still have enough left to eat out and travel.

With a more generous $2,500 to $3,600 or more a month to spend—a couple could live large. I’m talking perks like a housekeeper to clean and cook a few times a week... a gardener... a golf club membership...

A single person—in the best-value spots—can live simply for around $1,500 a month (and even less in some communities).

You could find a property you’d expect to come with a $1 million price tag in the US—only it might cost you half, or just a quarter of that.

The point is—you can get more overseas.

And there’s never been a better time—or a better way—to discover how much more.

We’ll Provide You Context, Clarity, and Direction

When you join our International Living experts in August—we’re going to talk about lots of opportunities in lots of countries. But this won’t be a survey program.

Our guys flying in from around the world are bringing with them their top picks from within their adopted homes.

The hilltop towns. The beachfront villages. The mid-sized cities. The cosmopolitan getaways. They know the countries they write about well.

Some spots are worth your while. And some are not.

And let me just say: A Google search will not distinguish between the two for you.

Our correspondents are bringing with them to Portland their good judgement—and the recommendations you need.

They’ve done the research so you don’t have to.

They’ve homed in on the spots that have the most to offer. And they’re going to roll out a map, point to these places you may want to consider, and show you what makes them so special.

They’re going to put all these “best options” in context for you and help you compare and contrast the places you learn about.

We’re structuring this program to include lots of roundtable discussions and in-depth workshops. So there will be plenty of time for back-and-forth with the experts and lots of opportunities for you to get your questions answered.

Our experts will detail who would like a certain place...and why.

And, equally important: Who wouldn’t like it.

You’ll learn about these communities from an insider’s point of view.

And they’ll get you focused. Excited. And feeling really good about your options abroad.

Because, when it comes down to it, you don’t retire to a “country,” you retire to a community. And each one has its own character and charm.

That’s why, this fall, you’ll find out about places like these—

A hideaway on the beach in Costa Rica that is perfect if you want to avoid crowds and you like the idea of $2.50 Imperial beers at a bar on the sand (they pair well with the blackened mahi fish tacos).

Here the rainforest stretches down to the ocean—you can see sloths, toucans, kinkajous outside your door—and whales just offshore. A small, but welcoming international expat group makes settling in easy.

On $2,240 a couple could live comfortably here (housing included).

And the values are reflected in the real estate, too. While it’s certainly possible to splash out on a home that costs north of $1 million... you can also find a very nice 3-bed home (fully furnished) with beautiful sunset water views, an eight-minute drive to the beach and 12 minutes from town where you’ll find supermarkets, pharmacies, great restaurants, and more listing for $249,000.

One expat based there described her life there this way:

“I was sick of the rat race in the U.S. I was sick of corporate America. So I jumped on a plane with my dog and cat, and I moved.... It’s quiet here, definitely not the big city life. Everyone’s in bed by 8 p.m.! It’s about hiking, and ocean swimming here, not partying. And I love that the temperature is in the 80s F all the time.

“Things cost less here than in the city. My budget runs to about $2,200 a month, for everything, including my $33-a-month CAJA health-insurance payments.”

Dreaming about Europe? You might enjoy the laid-back lifestyle in a small, 2,000-year-old city on Portugal’s sunny southern coast.

A base for many English-speaking expats, this city of 22,000 with its shops, cafes, bakeries, and restaurants provides a lively and sociable lifestyle. (There’s even an Irish pub.)

Unlike many spots, this city is relatively flat—so it’s easy to walk around (though you’ll want comfortable shoes for navigating the cobblestones).

The beach here is among the nicest in the country, and you can kayak, paddle board, surf, and more. Plus there’s lots of golf nearby and the hiking and horseback riding is excellent.

This is the sort of place you’ll feel like you’re living on permanent vacation—only you can enjoy that jet-set life for around $3,000 a month (housing included) for a couple and closer to $2,000 a month for a single.

In large part, it’s because that housing can be so affordable. You can rent a small, beautifully renovated apartment in the city center for less than $1,200 a month. And the costs for food and entertainment are modest.

One local expat says, “The quality of life here is amazing... so much better [than back home]... my main activity is trying to figure out how I’m going to fit all my activities into the day. Since I’ve moved here, I feel like I’m at adult summer camp—I play tennis, I go swimming, we go out to eat. But even doing the day-to-day chores like shopping, when you’re in a place that is so beautiful, it is inspiring.”

If you like the idea of being an easy hop home (or even a drive) from home—you might consider a good-value, cool-weather city in the highlands of Mexico.

Imagine a palate of ochre, red, and yellow—bright against a deep blue sky. Artists and photographers flock to this color-splashed colonial city. They come for the famous quality of light, for the community...and for the good values.

As one happy transplant puts it:

“We are grateful for the wonderful weather. We love the evening rains and rolling thunder in the summer. In the morning we open our windows and watch the hot air balloons drift by. It’s so peaceful. We feel we are in the perfect place with an excellent quality of life and lifestyle.

"It’s been easy to develop new friendships... and to socialize. I didn’t do that much in Palm Springs. It’s hot and expensive there. I’m more active, and healthier here [and] the cost of living is at least 30% to 40% less than that in Palm Springs... Transportation is easy and inexpensive. There are taxi services, private companies, bus and luxury motor coaches to take trips to the beaches or other cities. The only stress in my life is finding time to meet up with friends and enjoy all that is available here.”

You don’t need to be an artist to appreciate how your nest egg can stretch when a budget of $1,963 will bankroll a comfortable life rich with cultural offerings—dining out, theater, gallery openings.

Life is slow-paced and relaxed here—the parks are full of couples and families enjoying a stroll. Sidewalk and courtyard cafes invite you to sit for a coffee. An English-language library speaks to how well-established the expat community is.

Those are just three examples—a little taste—of what we have in store for you this August.

We’ll bring you recommendations from Portugal, Panama, Costa Rica, Spain, Mexico, Belize, Ecuador, Italy, France, Malaysia, Malta, Uruguay, Thailand, and beyond.

Meet Your Expert Guides to the Good Life Abroad

At International Living, we fund a full network of contributors based all around the world who work on your behalf.

So you can always rely on the guidance we share. It’s not hearsay. It’s not generated by Google search. We aren’t a front for real estate agents or tourist boards.

We work for you.

We go out, we travel, we poke around. We meet expats. We talk to local experts. We ask questions. We see places for ourselves, firsthand.

And then we share what we find...

...not just “information,” but something much more valuable: Perspective, context, and our expert opinions.

In other words, we don’t just give you the facts, we help you understand what to do with them.

And, this August—our experts will be on hand in person to share with you their latest and greatest finds.

We’re still adding to the LONG list of experts from around the world that we’ll have on hand, among them...

[Note: Steve’s content is NOT approved, endorsed, or authorized by Medicare or the Social Security Administration. All information regarding Medicare and Social Security discussed or mentioned is available for free from Medicare or the Social Security Administration.]

And the list of experts we’ll have in Portland for this Ultimate Go Overseas Bootcamp goes on. You’ll hear from—and have plenty of opportunity to talk with—attorneys from Portugal, Ecuador, Malta, Spain, Panama, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Uruguay.

Plus we’ve invited experts in banking... real estate... medical tourism... travel, and more...

A Big Jump-Start for Your Go-Overseas Plan

Not only will our experts share their recommendations about where on the planet you should go to live better while you spend less... but we’ll also cover lots of other how-to’s, like...

• How to pay less than $200 a month for health insurance—plus how to navigate your (very good) healthcare options abroad so you can feel confident you’ll be taken care of.
• How to know if you should buy or rent overseas. We’ll explain how to choose, and then how to find the housing you’re after at a good price in a place you’ll like...
• How to hold real estate in your retirement accounts. Yes, you can use some retirement funds to hold overseas real estate and both shelter and grow your wealth in a tax-advantaged way.
• How to get your financial world in order before you go overseas...so it’s easy to manage your finances from abroad and so you can arrange your affairs so you’re maximizing the benefits of investment and residency overseas ...
• How to quickly plug into a community, feel connected, and enjoy yourself. We’ll show you the tricks for making friends fast overseas. Good news: It’s easy.
• How to earn overseas and flexibly fund a life you love. We’ll show you lots of ways you can get paid to do things you already know how to do by taking them online and—no great tech skills required.
• How to create a doable go-overseas timeline—with the to-do list you need to get from where you are now to where you want to be, quickly, easily, and enjoyably.

Connect and Network with the Experts and
Fellow Attendees

Throughout this program, we’re going to focus on making connections for you—because having somebody knowledgeable on the ground you can rely on makes everything easier and less stressful.

It would take you months—years more likely—to track down and meet with all the experts you can connect with in one place over three days in Portland.

We’ll have on hand our in-country editors and contributors, plus attorneys, financial advisors, real estate experts, and more.

You’ll have free access to our Networking Hall all day every day.

Inside, our speakers will have booths where you can sit down and meet with them, ask questions, discuss your options, and connect.

This is the ideal forum for getting the “real scoop,” which is impossible to glean from online or book research alone.

We encourage you to do your homework, of course.

But this live program in August will give you a big jump start on your path overseas.

It’s like the difference between reading a guide about how to ride a horse and actually putting your foot in the stirrup and getting on one. You learn a lot, fast.

You’ll be in good company at this conference—among like-minded fellow members who, like you, are interested in a wider world.

And you’ll find they’re not only good company, but also often a great source of insight about destinations, too.

As an aside, let me say quickly here that we expect a sell-out crowd. We’ve seen a real spike in interest around moving out of the US, and so I encourage you to book your seat early.

This is our ONLY U.S.-based event of the year.

We know there’s pent-up demand for a live event like this, and right now, people are ready to take action... so I encourage you to reserve your seat soon.

The faster you do, the more you save! And if you wait, there’s a strong chance you’ll miss out altogether.

Sell-Out Expected
Book Early to Get a Seat—and Save Big

The regular price to attend our Ultimate Go Overseas Bootcamp is $1,195 (your guest or spouse comes for a discounted $695).

But you don’t need to pay anywhere near that much.

The sooner you register, the more you save—

PLUS—Save EVEN MORE With Your
Membership Discount

As an International Living VIP member, you’re eligible for ADDITIONAL DISCOUNTS, which could save you hundreds more on top of the current discount.

Scroll down below to see your lowest price. And then click to register.

The sell-out risk is VERY HIGH with this program. Please don’t wait to reserve your place.

Attendance is strictly limited by the size of the conference space—and we expect demand to be significant.

It’s important to reserve your seat early.

The earlier you register, the more you save. And we can’t add more chairs. Once we’re full, that’s it.

So I encourage you to reserve your place now while you can take advantage of the deepest available discount—and we can still ensure that seats are available.

You’ll Be Prepared…
Whether You’re Ready to Go Abroad Now or You’re Planning for the Future

This August, we’ll give you every tool you need to be confident you’ve targeted a place in the world that makes good sense for you.

And you’ll know exactly what to do to get there—the best way (or ways) to take advantage of the opportunities on offer.

We've anticipated questions you probably don’t yet know you have. And we’ll answer them before you leave.

So I hope you’ll join us in Portland.

Now is the time to get educated... to understand your options and put a plan for yourself in place.

Particularly in these uncertain times, it’s a good idea to understand your options. You want to know what the lay of the land is, and this August in Portland, we’ll show you.

This is the ONLY event we’ll hold in the US this year... and your best opportunity to understand what your overseas options are.

There’s a lot of “click bait” on the internet today around living overseas... and a lot of incomplete and downright incorrect reporting.

Here at International Living, we take seriously our mission: To get you the whole story... to point you to the best opportunities, explore them with you in detail (the pluses and the minuses), and to help you understand how best to match up what you’re looking for with a real world place on the ground where you can find it.

When you register now, we’ll include a special resource for you, FREE...

Special Companion Guide
Yours FREE When You Register Now

In addition to all the “hand-holding” our experts will offer you through their presentations and workshops and through the time they’ll spend with you in our Networking Hall, we’ll give you another helpful resource when you register now.

We call it International Living’s Go Overseas Roadmap ...and when you reserve your place for this event, the first thing we'll do is begin readying a copy especially for you.

It's not available to the general public.

We created it for event attendees, specifically. And each attendee’s Roadmap will—by the end of the event—look different from everybody else’s.

Because this Roadmap is as much a workbook as it is a guide to the countries and opportunities we’ll be exploring together.

As a companion resource for this live, in-person conference, it includes not only important country-specific information, details, recommendations, and contacts that go along with each expert’s presentation...

But it’s also full of worksheets and questions for you to consider. And consider them we will, together.

The Roadmap is what I think of as a “living document,” which means as you work through it with our experts’ help, it will begin to point you down a specific path.

But your path will be your own. You have your own ideas, your own priorities, your own set of circumstances...and those drive the direction you head in.

We’ll work with you to help you make sense of your best options...and using the Roadmap , you’ll literally begin to circle on the map the spots you should be focusing on.

You’ll find the Go Overseas Roadmap full of...

• Interactive elements designed to help match your dreams about life overseas with the specific place (or places) where you could make that dream real.
• Your step-by-step guide for what to do first, second, third, and so on so you can smoothly transition from where you are now to where you dream of being.
• A cheat-sheet that gives you a checklist for planning your escape overseas.
• In-depth country reports on Portugal, Belize, Costa Rica, Panama, Spain, Mexico, Ecuador, France, Malaysia, Uruguay, Malta, Thailand, and Italy that function as written companions to the presentations and workshops our experts give—so you have a detailed reference you can refer to later.
• Our rolodex of contacts you need to help you get overseas quickly, efficiently, and with as few hiccups as possible.
• And more...

If we were to sell this Go Overseas Roadmap in our bookstore, we could easily do so for more than $100. And it would be worth every penny.

It’s the ultimate, user-friendly guide to seamlessly creating a better life abroad.

Though, frankly, we won’t ever sell it that way. It’s designed specifically as an integral companion resource to this event and so that’s the way we’re keeping it.

This Event Is Personalized to You—and Useful

As I said earlier—this Ultimate Go Overseas Bootcamp is geared entirely to helping you—in your individual situation—to find the spot that’s right for you.

Everybody’s “roadmap” for going overseas is going to look different.

After all, what would make you happy might drive your neighbor nuts.

We all have our own preferences, our own interests, our own lists of “must-haves” and “can’t stands,” our own budgets.

Everybody’s situation is unique, in other words.

That’s why this special 3-day Ultimate Go Overseas Bootcamp is going to be super-interactive.

So, frankly, if all you want to do is sit back and listen to lectures, well...this might not be the forum for you.

But if you’re ready for answers...ready to pinpoint the spot that’s right for you...ready to get an actionable roadmap so you have a path to follow from where you are now...to your ideal retirement locale overseas...

Then I hope you’ll join us...

Because in your just-right place overseas, the climate will put a smile on your face...the cost of living will allow you to live better...and you’ll have the time and freedom to create a life that matches the one you see in your mind’s eye. Click below now to register.

Or you can call our special number toll-free at 1-866-681-2402 or direct at 1-443-353-4232 Monday to Friday 9 am to 7 pm ET to register by phone.

I look forward to seeing you in August.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Stevens
April 2025

P.S. When you sign on to attend this Ultimate Go Overseas Bootcamp—we’ll give you something extra, too, at no charge...

We’ll be recording this program in Portland—capturing all the advice, guidance, and recommendations from every expert in every session.

And for attendees with us in the room in Portland, access to the recordings is FREE. They’re our gift to you, a special thank you for attending in person.

I am confident you’ll find them useful. Because it means you can listen in again to any of the sessions you’d like.

In the afternoons, we’ll be splitting into smaller groups for our special-focus workshops. As an attendee, you can only be in one room at a time. But with the recordings, you’ll have access to every word uttered in the other workshop sessions, too.

This is a value of hundreds of dollars that’s yours, FREE, when you reserve your place in Portland for International Living’s Ultimate Go Overseas Bootcamp today.

P.P.S. Live better. Spend less. Retire sooner. You can do it. And you can do it today in all sorts of beautiful, welcoming, good-weather communities around the world.

Laid-back beach escapes. Quiet mountain getaways. University towns. Even cosmopolitan cities.

In the right places—and we’ll show you what they’re like and where they are in August—you really can live a richer, more engaging life than you do today...but spend as little as $1,900 a month as a couple to do it, (housing included).

There is so much opportunity overseas today—and we’ll show you how you can best take advantage of it. I’m confident you’ll be impressed.

This event is going to be bigger and better than anything we’ve hosted before.

Attendees at our past live in-person events rave about them:

The Speakers Were Authentic

“This was one of the most informative and enjoyable conferences I have attended. The speakers were authentic and candid about their experiences or what they were offering. High quality all round. Definitely was worth my time and helped to focus next steps on our own journey”. - Juliann

Made me Feel Like I Could Actually do This

“Practical info in areas like laws, finance, insurance as well as learning more about what living in each area is actually like, pros and cons. The speed dating concept was GREAT for narrowing the field followed by longer in depth on selected countries. Lots of good info. Great job! Really nice to meet and hear from people who are actual expats. Made me feel like I could actually do this.” – Donna

Helped me Narrow my Choices

“Thanks again. It was useful & helped me narrow my choices.” – Valerie

Exceeded My Expectations

“More than met my expectations! Amazing presenters with extremely important information! Life changing!!! Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! You made it interesting, fun, and informative. There were many factors that I hadn't even thought about and I have been looking into expat-ing for a couple of years! Y'all rock!!!” - Dee

Great Whether You Want a Full-Time or Part-Time Overseas Experience

“This weekend was very informative and I highly recommend it to anyone who is considering a full or part time move abroad. Thank you so much.” - Daryl

Meet Like-Minded Individuals

“An exceptional opportunity to meet the speakers and like-minded individuals interested in living overseas. This year's Overseas Bootcamp was my first. I learned a lot and it was fun to meet International Living writers that I read every month. I look forward to next year's conference.” - Eric

Got Answers to Questions We Didn’t Know to Ask

“The breakout sessions helped narrow down from just a country list, to areas of interest within each country. Appreciated that none of the vendors on hand was high pressure. We had many questions about insurance that were well covered. The entire conference was very well organized and well worth the trip. The variety of relevant topics covered gave us answers to questions we likely would have not even though to ask. - Randy

Balanced Picture: Thanks for Sharing the Good and the Bad

“Solid information, solid experience in front me day after day. All the supports were there if I needed to access them. I feel it was money well spent to begin my long wished-for life overseas... Thank you for being organized, clear, providing tons of resources that we need after the conference and most of all to the guest speakers who offered up their ‘tell it like it is’ advice and stories. We need to hear it all, good and bad.” – Heather