The World's Top Retirement Havens

Rating:
Summary: Less than adequate
Review: Having been to many of the places covered in this book, I was saddened to note that the writers appear to have not done their homework. The information is the sort that you could obtain by writing to the countrys Embassys. The book also appears to be aimed at the High End Market. The main reason for living in another country when you retire is to make your retirement income get "more bang for the buck." All the authors dialog about $700 to $1,900/month rents made me wonder what their perspective on retirement haven's is. Their internet resource guide was off and needs to be updated. Buy this book for general information purposes only.

Rating:
Summary: Less than adequate
Review: Having been to many of the places covered in this book, I was saddened to note that the writers appear to have not done their homework. The information is the sort that you could obtain by writing to the countrys Embassys. The book also appears to be aimed at the High End Market. The main reason for living in another country when you retire is to make your retirement income get "more bang for the buck." All the authors dialog about $700 to $1,900/month rents made me wonder what their perspective on retirement haven's is. Their internet resource guide was off and needs to be updated. Buy this book for general information purposes only.

Rating:
Summary: Out of Touch
Review: Having lived and visited many of the the countries reviewed, I was amazed at how little effort went into checking the reality of the cost of living. Also I found a huge lack of enthusiasum about most countries, sad if these are the best retirement havens. Mexico and France seem to be the only countries were some research was done. I thought this book would help with my decision, on which country in europe to retire. I favor Italy. I found I already knew more than this book had to offer and had more realistic information regarding living costs.

Rating:
Summary: A useful resource for difficult to find information
Review: This book gave a good overview of countries all of the world where Americans could retire and it tells you where to go for more indepth information. My husband and I keep debating what country sounds best-this week I think it's Portuga1!

Rating:
Summary: The Doors of San Miguel de Allende by Robert deGast
Review: This book is a feast for the eyes and senses. Composed of photographs of doors in the town of San Miguel de Allende, the writer/photographer,Robert de Gast, transports the reader to this incredibly beautiful place.How can mere doors have anything to say? Well, these doors "say" volumes about the charm and elegance of this historical Mexican town. One wants to go there...to walk up to one of those doors...to touch the exquisite brass knockers ...to knock! And, to be let in.Each door is different. Each door is unique. The colors, textures and carvings on the doors add to their individuality and charm. Vamos!

Rating:
Summary: The Doors of San Miguel de Allende by Robert deGast
Review: This book is a feast for the eyes and senses. Composed of photographs of doors in the town of San Miguel de Allende, the writer/photographer,Robert de Gast, transports the reader to this incredibly beautiful place.How can mere doors have anything to say? Well, these doors "say" volumes about the charm and elegance of this historical Mexican town. One wants to go there...to walk up to one of those doors...to touch the exquisite brass knockers ...to knock! And, to be let in.Each door is different. Each door is unique. The colors, textures and carvings on the doors add to their individuality and charm. Vamos!

Rating:
Summary: Good for General "Wishing" or to start planning
Review: This guide has general tips and contacts for what are the top overseas retirement destinations for Americans. For each country there are suggested locations and real estate options that would be of use to retirees. Locations that have substantial US/UK populations are also noted, for the not-quite-so adventurous. As stated above, this work is most useful for someone who's maybe thinking about living overseas, and wants to look at the pro's and cons. OR, convincing your "Significant Other" that yes you can actually live at that great vacation spot on Crete....
Anyone who's already deep into planning for such a move, or has spent considerable time overseas would probably already know most of the information provided here.

Rating:
Summary: Good for General "Wishing" or to start planning
Review: This guide has general tips and contacts for what are the top overseas retirement destinations for Americans. For each country there are suggested locations and real estate options that would be of use to retirees. Locations that have substantial US/UK populations are also noted, for the not-quite-so adventurous. As stated above, this work is most useful for someone who's maybe thinking about living overseas, and wants to look at the pro's and cons. OR, convincing your "Significant Other" that yes you can actually live at that great vacation spot on Crete....
Anyone who's already deep into planning for such a move, or has spent considerable time overseas would probably already know most of the information provided here.

Rating:
Summary: The Best Book I've Seen.
Review: This is the best book that I've seen that explains the pros and cons of top foreign retirement locations.Even if you're not ready to retire, the book is a fascinating explanation of what foreign retirement life is like. These havens aren't specific sites, such as retirement communities: instead, the book provides general information about various countries that are considered ideal for retirement. Most explanations include recommended living areas and places to avoid. Real estate, both rental and ownership, is thoroughly covered. Renting is generally recommended, at least initially. Some countries make real estate ownership for foreigners impractical or impossible. In other countries, the authors explain the easy procedures and how to avoic real estate rip-offs. In alphabetical order, the top retirement havens are Argentina, Belize, Canada, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Ecuador, France, Great Britain, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Portugal, Spain and Thailnad. The appendix includes useful Web sites for Americans living overseas, health insurance informations and other foreign retirement resources. This superb book will make many readers reconsider their retirement plans, especially after learning how economical foreign residency can be. This unique book should just be considered an introduction to the best foreign retirement countries: further study and visits are recommended. On my scale of one to 10, this excellent book rates a 10. Robert Bruss, Tribune Media Services

Rating:
Summary: Not much to go on
Review: While this book provided some general information about lifestyle and local culture, it lacked any serious details required by someone looking to retire abroad. In particular the tax information was at best irrelevant and at worst incorrect and misleading. Many of the Additional Resources and Useful Websites are out of date.

Overall this book provides a useful starting point for those considering retirement abroad, but lacks sufficient detail to make it a truly useful resource.