Here’s the last in our 12 Days of Christmas series of gift-giving ideas for expats. Everything recommended in Days 1-12 will help you or someone near and dear to you plan and execute their overseas move.

Now on the final day, we’re focusing on books and products that will help you prepare for this momentous move, whether it’s a guide to a country of interest or a program to help you determine the steps you need to take to get yourself from Point A to Point B.

Excelsior!

On the Twelfth Day of Christmas, my expat gave to me. . .
Twelve “Prep the Move” Tools
Eleven Shiny Tech Tools
Ten Expat Books
Nine Freelance Tools
Eight Live Workshops
Seven Expat Movies
Six Travel Skill Sets
Five Writing Resources
Four Exclusive Clubs
Three Premium Blog Themes
Two Blogging Books
And a website for to earn some money

Preparing to Live Overseas

1. 52 Days To Your New Life Overseas — with extra holiday savings

   Kathleen Peddicord has used her 25 years of writing about the expat life, and 13 years of living as an expat in four different countries to create a guide to take future expats — step by step — from our home countries to our lives abroad. You can read my review here.

   And the best news is, you can save a bundle if you grab it by December 24. Just click here to order and use the coupon code 52OOPS. (You won’t get the savings unless you use the coupon!)

2. Cheap, Safe, and Friendly: The World’s Top Retirement Havens 
   There are places, the world over, where people are friendly, crime is almost non-existent, health care is excellent, and prices for everything from homes to groceries and doctors’ visits could make you think it’s 1953 again. 
   Places where it is possible to reduce your retirement cost of living, perhaps dramatically…while increasing the quality of your life. 
    We have prepared a series of five Country Retirement Reports that contain complete details on retirement opportunities in some of the world’s top retirement havens right now. 
   Go here now to learn more

   

3. Revealed: The World’s Top Undiscovered Retirement And Investment Haven

   I’ve found the city that I believe is on track to become one of the world’s most sought-after destinations, for both retirement and investment.

   This overlooked destination checks every box:

   • Perfect weather…it’s springtime all year long… World-class health care (5 of the best hospitals in all Latin America are here)…
   • Very affordable cost of living…
   • And the real estate? It’s a screaming bargain, both to buy and to rent… Plus, the people are friendly, the streets are clean and safe, the infrastructure international-standard…with its restaurants, cafes, galleries, and shops, this place feels more European than Latin American…

   
   Go here now to learn more
   
   
   

4. Interested in Panama? Here´s US $3,000 To Launch Your New Life There
   And that´s only the start of what we´re prepared to do help you realize your dreams in the world´s #1 retirement, lifestyle, invesment, and overseas haven…Learn how to earn free admittance to every Panama conference we hold…
   Plus, right now you can arrange to pay for your membership in installments. 
   This couldn´t be easier. And the opportunities in Panama right now couldn´t be bigger. 

   Go Here Now To Learn More About This Special Offer

   
   

5. If Europe Hits Your Hot Buttons. . . Here´s What To Do If Developing World Living Isn´t For You
   
   Not everyone is cut out for life in the Tropics or the developing world…
   If you´re more interested in Old World living, consider France. 
   France is the good life defined. The food, the wine, the art, the shopping, the history…
   And here´s what you may not realize about France: Living here, even in Paris, can be far more affordable than you might ever imagine. 
   Go Here Now To Learn More

   
   

6. Exotic — and Incredibly Affordable — Asia, Home of the World’s Cheapest Retirement Havens

   Amidst vistas of nearly indescribable beauty, you can pay US$100 a month for rent, spend only 1% of the usual cost of health care, and eat a full lunch for only 50 cents.

   The world doesn’t get any cheaper.

   This land of ancient kingdoms, emperors, explorers, adventurers, traders, and pioneers is also beautiful, safe, welcoming, and, in some parts, completely at peace.

   Go Here Now For More Details

   
   

7. If the Land of Vino and Tango Appeals. . .

   
   Own Your Own Vineyard In The Next Napa

   Live your dreams and plan for your retirement with a 12% annual yield.

   Here´s how to own your own vineyard, at a fraction of the price you´d find elsewhere
   
   

8. An English-speaking Paradise On The Caribbean
   
   
   Belize is a tiny, under-populated, under-developed country (there are but three highways in the whole place) blessed with a long Caribbean coast and a sprinkling of islands just offshore fringed by white sand and palm trees. It´s quintessential Caribbean served up for the non-jet-setter. For, while Belize is more expensive today, certainly, than it was the first time I set eyes on it, more than 20 years ago, it still can be called a bargain. 
   Plus, Belize has a great deal to offer beyond its Caribbean coast and islands. Inland, in the Cayo, Belize is a land of off-road mountain, jungle, river, cave, and waterfall adventures. And that´s not to mention the countless (and sometimes undiscovered) Mayan ruins. 
   Would it be a “good” place to live? Not for everyone. Belize is a 21st-century corsair´s playground, a frontier where you make your own way and the government interferes nearly not at all. This is a country for independent thinkers and self-sufficient sorts. 
   On the other hand: Belize is, in fact, one of the easiest places in the world to obtain foreign residency. It´s also one of the best tax havens in the world…
   Go Here Now To Learn More

   
   

9. Overseas Retirement Letter, and Bonus Report on Seven Places to Retire on Social Security Income Alone
   The average Social Security payment in the United States is slightly less than US$1,200 per month. If you qualify for Social Security, you can receive your monthly payment almost anywhere in the world. You can even have it direct-deposited to your overseas account in many countries. Then, Social Security check in hand, even if you have no other retirement income whatsoever, you could retire quite well in seven places our editors have identified. 
   A new report has just been prepared, detailing everything you need to know about receiving your monthly Social Security payments overseas. 
   Plus, this current special report introduces you to the seven most Social Security-friendly overseas retirement havens. 
   It can be yours free with our compliments when you take this opportunity to become a subscriber to the flagship retire-overseas publication, the “Overseas Retirement Letter.” 

   Find out how to receive your free copy of this new report here

   
   

10. Ecuador is consistently rated one of the best overseas retirement destinations. Learn all about it in the Ecuador Owner’s Manual New 2010 Edition
11. Mexico Owner’s Manual
12. France: The Owner’s Manual

So there you have it! I hope you’ve enjoyed our Twelve Days of Christmas gift ideas for expats and plan-to-be expats.

Merry Christmas!

Occasionally I reprint articles here that appeared on other expat websites. This one struck a chord with me, and I hope it will with you too. Thanks to Live and Invest Overseas, where you can read the original in its entirety.

“Vicki and I recently returned to Argentina after a six-month absence,” writes Intrepid Correspondent Paul Terhorst.

“The seasons are reversed here, and, like the song says, spring is ‘bustin’ out all over.’ We see new leaves on trees, migrant birds returning, more sunshine, better light.

“The Argentine economy is bustin’ out, too, doing very well. We hear a lot about a worldwide recession, but it seems to me that only the United States and a few other countries struggle. During our recent six-month trip to Asia, Vicki and I saw roaring growth. During our time in Thailand, that country was on the verge of a civil war. Yet Thai economic growth will come in at a healthy 9% this year. To keep inflation in check China has successfully slowed its economy, so growth will be ‘only’ 11%.

“In Latin America, we see the same story, including, in some countries, very strong growth rates. The southern cone countries–Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, and Paraguay–all enjoy the high soy and grain prices, along with new tourism from Brazil and the United States.

“Even Europe is doing well, led by Germany’s remarkable boom. Most of Scandinavia and northern Europe also enjoy solid growth.

“For sure, we see pockets of weakness. Japan never really recovered from the 1989 meltdown. Greece, Portugal, and other small European countries, along with Spain, have been hard hit. But the main problem continues to be the United States, now barely sneaking out of recession.

“We used to say that when the U.S. coughs the rest of the world catches cold. To a certain extent that may still be true today. The four BRICs (Brazil, Russia, India, and China) combined barely approach two-thirds of the U.S. economy. The U.S. consumer drives the worldwide export boom. The United States remains a huge factor.

“Still, I see most of Asia, Latin America, and Europe doing well. I went to China twice last year, and, in rural Yunnan province, saw new bridges, dams, roads, and sewers. China long ago learned that there was more to life than making toys for Wal-Mart.

“I was in the United States last month and flew on one of Jet Blue’s Brazilian-made planes. No longer do Boeing and Airbus split the market. I was in India for two months and saw an improved standard of living over what I saw just two years ago, when I was last there.

“I think we can expect the global boom to continue. Even Marxists these days look to trade and foreign investment to help grow their economies. We’ve all gotten hooked on the benefits of globalization.

“The newfound prosperity means locals go out more and travel more. Thai friends who reached their 40s without ever going abroad now travel to Laos, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Two Thai friends even plan to visit Vicki and me in Argentina. We see new restaurants, especially ethnic restaurants, opening in Argentina and India. Now in Buenos Aires and Chiang Mai we have several choices of Mexican places and Chinese food from different parts of China.

“As locals have more fun, Vicki and I do, too. We enjoy the new vitality, ambition, independence, and enthusiasm.

“Tired of the gloom and recession talk in the United States? Travel abroad. You’ll be surrounded by local prosperity. The challenges facing the U.S. will soon recede into a dim memory.”

Live and Invest Overseas’ publisher is Kathleen Peddicord, who’s been writing about expats and expatriation for 25 years. She also publishes a monthly e-zine called the Overseas Retirement Letter (which covers a lot more than just retirement), and is the author of the book, How to Retire Overseas: Everything You Need to Know to Live Well (for Less) Abroad , which I reviewed here.

A few days ago, I posted the results of International Living’s 2010 Annual Retirement Index. Topping this prestigious list are

1. Ecuador
2. Panama
3. Mexico
4. France
5. Italy

Today I’m looking at a very different list: this one includes the 10 Most Suitable Countries for American Expatriates.



According to the website Expatify.com, they considered these important criteria:

• How receptive is the local culture to Americans?

• How popular is the country for American expats already?
• Can you manage speaking only English?
• Is there overlap between local and American customs?
• Ease of finding jobs and affodability?

If you truly want to immerse yourself in a very different culture, this is not the list of countries you should consider. But if you want to go someplace where you can fit in fairly easily, consider the following countries:

1. Argentina

2. Thailand
3. Czech Republic
4. Australia
5. Italy
6. Brazil
7. Spain
8. Mexico
9. South Africa
10. Costa Rica

Last month I listed 9 Expat Blogs that I personally follow. Got such a great response I thought I’d add a few more. This list is focused on Central and South America, and I’ll add more recommendations later for other regions.

Personal Blogs

1. Expat Alley. Tom Frost shares his expat knowledge and interviews other expats. Originally from Oregon, USA, Tom has lived in Japan, Mexico, Argentina and is currently establishing a farm in Uruguay.

2. Flavors of Ecuador author Carrie explores Ecuadorian culture and history through one of my favorite media, food. Yummy pictures throughout! (Warning — when I’ve visited, the site has loaded rather slowly, but it’s worth the wait.)
3. From LA to BA. Argentine native grew up in Los Angeles, then moved back to Buenos Aires.
4. Balanced Melting Pot. Haitian national grew up in the US, then went back to Haiti and now lives and raises her family in Caracas, Venezuela.
5. Living in Patagonia. US couple from Lake Tahoe moved to Patagonia, Argentina.
6. 2 Gringos in the Caribbean. Couple moved, with their child and dog, from the northeast US to Turks & Caicos Islands.

   Professional Blogs

7. Yucatan Living. Online magazine for expats in the Yucatan, and for those considering the Yucatan as a destination for retiring, starting a business or owning a second home.

8. Nomadas Globales Argentina. Intercultural training and coaching from Natalia Sarro.
9. Expat Daily News, with editions for Central America and South America.
10. Traveling4Health. Excellent resources for both medical tourists and expats.

Do you have a favorite expat blog (or blogs) that you would like to recommend? Just click the comment button below. We love new blog recommendations!

About 500 people are gathered in Quito, Ecuador right now for International Living‘s Ultimate Event 2010. They’re learning about life in a bunch of countries where it’s possible to live well on $2,000 a month or less. Can’t be there with them? They’re offering the Ultimate Event 2010 Conference-At-Home Kit, and guaranteeing satisfaction. “If This Information Doesn’t Help You, Pay Nothing” they state. Substantial discounts are available if you order now.

by Suzan Haskins, International Living

Back in the U.S. another winter storm threatens the east coast, stock prices are diving thanks to high unemployment rates, the painful health care debate continues to make us all sick, and Conan O’Brien is in the news. For joining Twitter.

Who cares…about any of it?

Nothing works back home any more…from health care to child care, from banks to politics, from cars to bars. OK, the bars still work. But who really wants to pay $8 for a draft beer these days? Not me, and especially not when I can get a 22-ounce bottle of Pilsener, a mighty fine beer, here in Ecuador for $1. (And a full four-course meal for $2. And a three-bedroom condo for less than $50,000.)

Wouldn’t it be nice to fall in love with your life again? To find a place with better views out your windows, better weather, a lower cost of living, and where things really work?

According to Lee Harrison, who has lived in Ecuador, Brazil and Uruguay:

“Everything [in Uruguay] runs like clockwork. All the roads are safe and well-kept, the parks are clean, the hardware stores and grocery stores are well-stocked, trains and buses run on time….”

And the cost of living is low. In Montevideo, Uruguay’s famous colonial city, Lee showed us photos of a two-bedroom apartment in a building offered for $65,000. “This is a nice apartment—I would happily live in it,” he said.

Glynna Prentice acknowledges that Mexico, where she lives, isn’t the least-expensive country. But, she says, in Mexico you can get government health insurance for $300 or less a year. And that includes all your prescription medications.

A private insurance plan, she says, is half the cost you pay at home, as are out-of-pocket expenses.

And this isn’t publicized, but Mexico offers a great retirement program for anyone living there as a resident. Lots of discounts on things like restaurants, cultural activities and medical care.

Glynna says Mexico may be the easiest country for a foreigner to get a resident visa in.

But Lee Harrison says that about Uruguay, where he plans to apply for permanent citizenship. And Dan Prescher says the same about Belize and its famous Qualified Retirement Program, which allows a host of benefits including importing your household goods, vehicle and boat duty-free and tax residency…whether you actually live there or not.

Belize may be the easiest country to relocate to—especially if you’re concerned about the difficulties of learning a foreign language.

There’s so much more to tell you! But of course, I can’t type up everything that’s happened here in Quito. In just two days so far, we’ve already spent 13 hours in presentations and workshops. And we have two days yet to go!

We’ve learned about the best countries for second citizenship, the best countries to obtain residency easily and at little cost, and which provide free or very low-cost health care to residents.

That definitely helps us know where to look to find the location of our dreams. And thanks to our speakers, we now have a very good idea of how much it will cost us to live in these countries, including the costs to buy a home, apartment, or acreage.

Would you like to learn more about all the countries and opportunities we’re discovering here at the Ultimate Event? Let me tell you how you can…

We’re putting together a complete package of nearly everything that’s happening at this event, with audio recordings of all 76 of the presentations.

We’re also making copies of all the speaker handouts, PowerPoint and visual presentations. And, of course, the complete dossier we give to each attendee when they showed up here at the Swissotel in Quito.

It’s the Ultimate Event 2010 Conference-at-Home Kit—and it covers every aspect of the 2010 Ultimate Event.

Would you be interested in attending a conference or workshop to learn more about living overseas? Have you ever attended one? Share your thoughts by clicking the comment link below.

Don’t miss another Future Expats update! Sign up for convenient email RSS delivery here.

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In the Expat Web group on LinkedIn, a member asked recently, “As an Expat, which countries do you think have the best and worst healthcare systems?”

Belgium, Spain, Switzerland, Canada, Malta and France all received positive comments. One poster said Japan’s was “the worst I ever experienced.” The US was mentioned favorably, but “only if you have good insurance. Prices are about 5 to 10 times the costs of France or Belgium.” This kind of anecdotal information is interesting, but not all that useful.

Of course to most expats and would-be expats, especially those of us who are approaching retirement age, health care is an important consideration in where we choose to live. What is its quality? Is it at least as good as what I’m used to? How expensive is it? How accessible is it? Will I have to be in a major city to have quality care available?

So what’s a concerned health care consumer to do?

There’s an interesting bubble chart on the Columbia University website, showing the average life expectancy and health care spending by country.

The US is way off by itself as the biggest spender. But our life expectancy (77 years) lags behind Japan (85), Switzerland, Australia, France, Canada, Norway, Spain, New Zealand, Austria, Korea, Portugal, UK, Luxembourg and Denmark, all of whom spend considerably less (around half!) than we do per capita.

The WHO (World Health Organization) has published a listing of medical care by country. Compiled in the year 2000, it’s a bit outdated, but might provide a good starting point. You can see it here.

A Few Considerations

First, I think it’s safe to assume that the care you’ll receive in rural areas will not be as up-to-date or comprehensive as the care you can receive in major cities. That’s true in the US just as much as anywhere else.

If living in a bustling metro area is not your taste, how fast and easy is transportation to those areas you’re considering? Use your common sense – if your dream retirement is on a remote beach or mountain-top retreat that’s an 8-hour drive over mostly dirt roads to get to the nearest city, that will be an issue in accessing quality health care. If it’s an hour or two over good roads, you’ll have significantly better access.

Are there hot spots of medical tourism in the country you’re considering? If so, you can be pretty well assured those doctors will speak English, have up-to-date training and use modern equipment. According to Business Week:

“The low cost and high quality of medical service is a big selling point for Singapore and Thailand, which have heavily promoted medical tourism in recent years. Hospital costs are as much as one-half what they would cost in the U.S.” Read the entire article here

Other popular medical tourism destinations include Panama, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Malaysia, South Korea, India and Israel. There are plenty of websites which discuss medical tourism, as any Google search will show.

Once you’ve narrowed down some possible destinations with health care facilities that will meet your needs, conduct your own research. When you visit the area, ask a lot of questions, find out what other expats do for health care, visit the hospitals and clinics if you can.

Ultimately, as with any other aspect of your move, you need to just do it.

International Living’s annual Quality of Life Index. Every year, IL produces a Quality of Life index, which usually differs quite a bit from their recommendations on best places to retire. France has topped the list for several years running.

1. France (was #1 last year as well)
2. Australia (moved up from #5 in 2009)
3. Switzerland (down one spot)
4. Germany (up from the #8 spot in 2009)
5. New Zealand (up from #9)
6. Luxembourg (down from #4)
7. USA (down from #3)
8. Belgium (down from #6)
9. Canada (a big jump up, from #19)
10. Italy (down from #7)

Top Ten Retirement Havens from Live and Invest Overseas

1. Argentina
2. Belize
3. Chile
4. Croatia
5. Dominican Republic
6. France
7. Malaysia
8. Panama
9. Uruguay
10. Vietnam

Mercer’s Best Cities for 2009:

1. Vienna, Austria (1st)
2. Zurich, Switzerland (2nd)
3. Geneva, Switzerland (3rd )
4. Vancouver, Canada (tied 4th)
5. Auckland, New Zealand (tied 4th)

Forbes list of The World’s Most Expensive Cities to Live. According to Forbes, the 10 most expensive cities are:

1. Tokyo, Japan
2. Osaka, Japan
3. Moscow, Russia
4. Geneva, Switzerland
5. Hong Kong, China
6. Zurich, Switzerland
7. Copenhagen, Denmark
8. New York, USA
9. Beijing, China
10. Singapore

2009 Best Retirement Havens, according to International Living:

1. Cuenca, Ecuador
2. Merida, Mexico
3. Coronado, Panama
4. Punta del Este, Uruguay
5. Calitri, Italy

So there you have it. Some highly respected lists from 2009, and one for 2010.

Best wishes for a happy expat New Year!

Live and Invest Overseas publisher Kathleen Peddicord has named the Top 10 Retirement Havens for 2010, and the list includes some surprises.

Panama occupies the top spot, and Peddicord comments that “this country manages to become more appealing all the time.”

Vietnam

Her Top 10 picks include:

1. Panama
2. France “World’s best quality of life, world’s best health care, world’s best infrastructure, world’s most romantic city”
3. Uruguay for “The banking, residency, and tax advantages of Panama without the chaos or the construction dust.”
4. Dominican Republic. “Easy foreign residency, favorable approach to foreign taxation, and, right now, a down real estate market that has created great crisis buy opps”


5. Argentina, which has “the most cosmopolitan city in Central or South America. . . . If you want to live a life filled with art and history, culture and interesting company, but you can’t afford Paris and its euro, look to Buenos Aires.”
6. Malaysia, specifically Kuala Lumpur
7. Chile, a new addition, for beachfront, First World services, and lowest violent crime rate coupled with the highest GDP per capital in Latin America.
8. Belize, “safe stable and English speaking.”
9. Croatia, where “both nature and man have worked together over many centuries to create something very special, almost magical”
10. Vietnam, for its “temptingly low cost of living” and youthful population and energy.

Panama’s placement is no surprise, nor is France’s in the no. 2 spot. Uruguay, Malaysia, Belize, Croatia and Argentina have been in the forefront of expat retirement destinations for several years. Surprise additions — at least to me! — to the list were Chile and Vietnam. While I’ve been aware for several years that Vietnam’s economy was growing, and I’ve had a personal interest in the country, I was surprised to see it emerge on a “Top Ten” list. And, I have to admit, I’m not at all knowledgeable about Chile, although I feel as though I know a reasonable amount about most of the other South American countries.

I will watch the forthcoming information about those two countries with great interest.