If you want to discover the real outback Queensland it is worth knowing that here are a lot of roads that require you to report to police before you leave one end and report to them again when you arrive at your destination. This makes it easier to locate you of you fail to turn up where and when you were expected. Many of these roads can be attempted in a normal car but generally it is less hard-going in a 4WD.

Whichever means of transport you decide upon, it is very important that you are carefully prepared. Carry important spare parts is a good idea as trying to arrange a tow in these remote parts takes a long time and can be very expensive. Its also advisable to travel with a high frequency out-post radio transmitter that is equipped to pick up the Royal Flying Doctor Service bases. Mobile phones cannot be relied upon in such remote areas.

Water is essential you will need to carry quite a lot in the case of a disaster ” it is recommended that 20litres per person is sensible and of course food is a good idea too. Most tracks have an idea time of year to travel them. For example in Queenslands south-west, it is not advisable to attempt the tough tracks in summer (November to March) mainly because of the huge amount of dust, which increase mechanical malfunctions. In the North, travelling in the wet season may be impossible due to flooding and mud.

One of the best ways to ensure that you are traveling the proper roads, and are fully prepared for your journey, is to speak with the local police. They will advise you on which tracks are open and what is the suitable car for your travels. Another useful service is the RACQ (Royal Automobile Club of Queensland. When you join, they will cover up to $95 per year, and offer a 24 hour emergency roadside assistance service. If something were to happen, they will promptly arrive and try to correct the situation. If the problem can not be corrected they will arrange towing for you, making them a great asset. RACQ can also provide you with maps, weather and road conditions, and they sell a range of travel and driving products that will help with your travels.

If you should happen to come into car trouble sit is very important that you remain with your car, as it is easier to spot a car then it is to spot a person. Never wander off into the wilderness, as individuals have been found dead, from thirst, long after their car was found.

For the a Australia car hire that travelers can rely on go to www.budget.com.au. There variety is larger then the rest and you will be sure to get a reliable vehicle. It is the car rental Gold Coast travelers can rely on!

Hi, everyone,

There’s always going to be a lot of discussion about which destination is the best place to retire overseas. Of course, that location will differ for most people. However, I convinced my associate and guest blogger who currently lives in Panama (and has for years) to sit for a no-holds-barred interview of her experiences over there.

Here it is.  Hope you enjoy it.

Retire Overseas to Panama, Interview with Boomer Mary pt 1

Retire Overseas to Panama, Interview with Boomer Mary pt 2

Please leave your comments below. I’d love to know what you think of it.

Thanks a lot.

Is it too late to learn a different language?

Retire Overseas to Tropical Beaches and Exciting Foreign Languages

You wouldn’t believe how many times people have asked me, “I am considering living overseas after I retire, but my concern is that the only language that I know is English.  Should I give up my dream to retire abroad?” Even though I consider this a hindrance there are many who do not see it as such a handicap. If you go into it with a positive view you will discover that you can use English where ever you are. Most countries consider English to be their second language. Even if you only have an English vocabulary, the local people will be glad to assist you with any barrier languages that may exist.

The French, for instance, have a reputation for being aloof – particularly with those foreigners who refuse to attempt any exchange in their beautiful language. I disagree. I’m sure that, as anywhere, there are those who are friendly and those who aren’t. Back when I was a student, I lived in Paris for a while and found the Parisians I met to be quite warm and welcoming. My kids and their classmates feel the same way. I spoke little French when I arrived, but I used it as much as possible right away. That show of goodwill made all the difference. Naturally, I hesitated and stammered quite a bit as I tried to make myself understood. The shopkeeper grinned at my obviously amusing errors.

I’d only spoken a little, but the man flattered me about my accent, saying he enjoyed my spoken French. Then he told me he could manage English and was glad to be able to practice it on me. I felt relieved that somebody could speak English to me. I then went to this man’s shop often for great talks in French and English, even after I’d gotten better at speaking French.

When tourists try to speak French, the French people find it very entertaining. International travel is a lot of fun. You get to experience new things and try out different cultures. There are even things for you to experience that you might not be comfortable with but that is what makes the adventure truly memorable. Trying new and different things allows for personal growth and an exciting new experience with tons of incredible memories.

When moving to or visiting a new country, it is always beneficial to learn to speak the language. Learning the native tongue shows respect for the locals. It can elicit respect, be deemed friendly, and it will work wonders for your acceptance.

If you’ve thought about retiring overseas, but hesitated because you’re worried about the language barrier, you might want to think again. It isn’t hard to learn another language, and it doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. It isn’t absolutely necessary. Retiring overseas doesn’t mean you have to speak another language, though I personally would invest the time it takes to learn the language of the country I chose to live in. That’s just my opinion, however; you might decide differently.

When living as an expatriate, you can gain deeper insight into cultural nuances by becoming fluent in the native language. Becoming immersed in another culture can be a very rewarding experience and learning the language becomes all that much easier.

French was now flowing freely from me, as I was breathing, living, thinking, and even dreaming in the language by the time I left! The flight home provided a memorable experience, as I had to learn to turn off the language I had so recently become engulfed with. When the flight attendant spoke to me in English, I instinctively answered in French. Making the transition back to my native language required me ponder how to translate my thoughts back into English again. This experience still makes me laugh whenever I think of it. I will not soon forget my time in France and becoming fluent in the language only furthered my enjoyment of my time spent abroad.

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When we first decided to retire overseas to Panama our friends and family were shocked.  Why Panama?  Where is Panama!  Would you really want to live on a Caribbean island for ever?  Isn’t Panama a dictatorship?  Is it safe?

I look back now, 5 years into living in Panama and it all seems so funny, but it was so real.  So first  a few facts. Panama is the southernmost country in Central America and home to the Panama Canal.  Panama hats are another story.

The building of the canal was a long and arduous process commenced in the 1800′s by the French and finished finally in 1914 by the Americans.  To protect their investment (my belief) the Americans supported Panama in separating from Colombia in 1904, after assuring Colombia they would not support Panama if they tried to separate.  Ahh international politics.

Since that time Panama has had a strong democracy except for a 20 year stint between 1969 and 1989 when it was a dictatorship.  When Noriega was ousted by the Americans in 1989 after they had supported him for years and years, Panama quickly and happily reverted back to democracy.  I describe it as an enthusiastic democracy as the populace is very, very much involved and everyone has their political favorites.

Is there corruption? Of course, where isn’t there corruption… but the new President, Ricardo Martinelli, a millionaire business man, is determined to root it out.  He started off donating his president’s salary to charity and has stated that because he is already rich he will be incorruptable.  Unfortunately we know it is power and not money that corrupts but he has a few corruption czars who are certainly making a good stab at getting corruption out of the courts and out of the government.

In any event, living here, and coming from Canada, I certainly do not feel that this is a corrupt society.  In fact most of the locals are very kind and go out of their way to help you.  I will tell you lots of neat stories as I talk about Latin America here in these posts.  We might leave Panama but it would be to try another Latin American country as living here in Panama has opened up a whole new world to us.

So why not retire overseas in Panama?  The cost of living is about 60% less than living in Canada and my American friends tell me that holds true for people who come from the US as well.  It is warm year round, there are no hurricanes strike Panama.  The closest one has come is into Costa Rica our northern neighbor but a quick look at a map will show you why Panama is  practically assured of  no hurricane activity.  You have two climates to chose form eternal spring or eternal summer.  The mountains allow you to live in what ever climate you choose as the higher you go the cooler it gets.  Yes there are mountains but the highest ones and the only active volcano is close to the Costa Rican border.

There are lots and lots of fabulous beach resorts in Panama, and in fact I live on a golf/beach resort.  Check it out www.mypanamavilla.com. We live in a town home which borders the golf course and our private beach club is a three  minute walk away, next to a warm blue ocean and white sand beach.  And we live on the Pacific side.  The Caribbeans side is largely undiscovered and the beaches are even nicer and the water even bluer and warmer.

Panama wants retirees of any age and has established a penionado visa program, which gives you residency.  You must prove an income of $750 a month and then all sorts of discounts become available to you including 25% discounts on airfare and meals, there are discounts on medicines, supplements, and visits to the  doctor or dentist or other health care professionals.  Many of the medical fraternity were trained in the US or Europe, they speak perfect English and many carry board certification from the US.  There is even a John Hopkins affiliate hospital in Panama with all the newest technology.  Panama already is treating people with stem cells taken from your own body to prevent rejection and the recoveries are spectacular.  Medical Tourism is thriving and many people come to Panama for a variety of treatments.

Well I could go on and on but the best thing I can say is Come and Visit.

Retire Early - Retire Now - Retire Overseas

Do you want to retire overseas while you’re still young? You’ll really enjoy retirement if you retire early and live abroad as an expatriate. You can begin a new life in a new country, and learn about the world from a different point of view.

You shouldn’t expect to retire without a steady source of income that you can rely on, and that’s even more important if you’re going to retire overseas. You never want to outlive your money, and your nest egg may grow if you have a portable business that you can operate from wherever you live.

Keep an eye on the total budget that will be available to you in terms of your investments and savings. Never move overseas unless you’ve got a good idea how much money you’ll need to have an acceptable standard of living.

If you’re planning to resettle outside the United States, you have to see if your pension and social security are going to suffice. You can’t settle into expatriate living without enough financial security. How much money you have saved will help you decide where to live once you retire overseas.

With sufficient reliable and solid investments you can even retire early or retire young.  But you might not be able to tell how much you’ll need to retire abroad until you pick a place. One country can be very different from another in terms of how much money is needed to retire abroad.

Surprisingly, you might not save money by retiring overseas. That could depend on where you live and how much you like to be on the go. It’s very tempting to travel around the world from your base in another area of the globe, and this can exhaust your savings pretty quickly.

People like to visit those who’ve retired abroad, and showing them around is pretty expensive, too. Therefore, be realistic about what you’re hoping for when you’re writing your retirement budget.

What is the first important thing for boomers, and other folks who want to retire early or retire young, including those who just want to live abroad?  Well, you’ve got to create a budget for the country in which you want to live.

You can greatly decrease your costs by selecting a destination that has a comparable standard of living to which you have become accustomed, while having much lower prices.  You can even live in less urbanized areas where expatriate living will be cheaper and you will have calmer, more relaxing environment.

If you’re thinking about retiring abroad, you need to understand the rules regarding savings accounts and investment strategies in the country you’re heading for. This place will probably be where you live out your years, so you’ll want to familiarize yourself with its policies.

Americans who live abroad sometimes have to follow a different set of laws from folks who were born there. Find out ahead of time what kind of benefits you’ll be entitled to as a retiree. You don’t want to find out that there’s no good medical care available, for instance. If you don’t factor in the amount you’ll need for doctors and medications, you could be downplaying the amount of money you’ll need to live.

You must consider property values when you decide to retire overseas.  Everyone should adhere to a budget, especially boomer, and other folks who want to retire early, retire young, including those who simply like living abroad. It’s crucial to know the housing market in your retirement country, whether you plan on renting or buying.

You must also budget airfare for the occasional trip back and forth to your home country.  That trip may be sooner than you expect.  Unexpected family matters and planned friendly visits can have a drastic effect on your budget when you live abroad.

Once you determine how much money you will need to retire abroad, you may begin planning your new life. You will be on the path of making your expatriate retirement a good one!

Retire Early - When you plan well, time is your friend.

Do you want to retire overseas while you’re still young?

You’ll really enjoy retirement if you retire early and live abroad as an expatriate.

You can begin a new life in a new country, and learn about the world from a different point of view.

You shouldn’t expect to retire without a steady source of income that you can rely on, and that’s even more important if you’re going to retire overseas.

You never want to outlive your money, and your nest egg may grow if you have a portable business that you can operate from wherever you live.

Keep an eye on the total budget that will be available to you in terms of your investments and savings. Never move overseas unless you’ve got a good idea how much money you’ll need to have an acceptable standard of living.

If you’re planning to resettle outside the United States, you have to see if your pension and social security are going to suffice. You can’t settle into expatriate living without enough financial security. How much money you have saved will help you decide where to live once you retire overseas.

With sufficient reliable and solid investments you can even retire early or retire young.  But you might not be able to tell how much you’ll need to retire abroad until you pick a place. One country can be very different from another in terms of how much money is needed to retire abroad.

Surprisingly, you might not save money by retiring overseas. That could depend on where you live and how much you like to be on the go. It’s very tempting to travel around the world from your base in another area of the globe, and this can exhaust your savings pretty quickly.

People like to visit those who’ve retired abroad, and showing them around is pretty expensive, too. Therefore, be realistic about what you’re hoping for when you’re writing your retirement budget.

What is the first important thing for boomers, and other folks who want to retire early or retire young, including those who just want to live abroad?  Well, you’ve got to create a budget for the country in which you want to live.

You can greatly decrease your costs by selecting a destination that has a comparable standard of living to which you have become accustomed, while having much lower prices.  You can even live in less urbanized areas where expatriate living will be cheaper and you will have calmer, more relaxing environment.

If you’re thinking about retiring abroad, you need to understand the rules regarding savings accounts and investment strategies in the country you’re heading for. This place will probably be where you live out your years, so you’ll want to familiarize yourself with its policies.

Americans who live abroad sometimes have to follow a different set of laws from folks who were born there. Find out ahead of time what kind of benefits you’ll be entitled to as a retiree. You don’t want to find out that there’s no good medical care available, for instance. If you don’t factor in the amount you’ll need for doctors and medications, you could be downplaying the amount of money you’ll need to live.

You must consider property values when you decide to retire overseas.  Everyone should adhere to a budget, especially boomer, and other folks who want to retire early, retire young, including those who simply like living abroad.

It’s crucial to know the housing market in your retirement country, whether you plan on renting or buying.  You must also budget airfare for the occasional trip back and forth to your home country.  That trip may be sooner than you expect.  Unexpected family matters and planned friendly visits can have a drastic effect on your budget when you live abroad.

Once you determine how much money you will need to retire abroad, you may begin planning your new life. You will be on the path of making your expatriate retirement a good one!

Every year the number of Americans who choose to retire overseas increases.

Would you like to be one of these expatriate pioneers?

Retire Overseas - The Boomers Set the Pace

There are several excellent reasons to do this.  While some people may not want to leave their family and friends behind, others find the call of foreign lands irresistible. If you are one of these people you may want to start looking for some of the best places to retire abroad.

Many people do this by taking extended vacations in prospective countries to see if they will eventually want to move there. Once you have done this, and come up with a payment plan.  You can make your decision.

Americans are experiencing another baby boomer trend.  Seniors are choosing to retire abroad. The high cost of living, increase in taxes, and the bad economic conditions of recent years are combining to make living abroad a real possibility that can also make financial sense for American seniors.

These reasons combine with the possibility of the adventure of living in a new country to make relocation to foreign soil an appealing option for many seniors.

Boomers, as well as people who want to retire early or retire young, should consider the possibilities and prices of living in active communities in different countries. Often, your fixed income can go farther in a foreign country.

The Internet has made it easier than ever for baby boomers to prepare to retire. It’s now simple for boomers to decide to retire in another country, where the cost of living is lower and health care and housing are easier to obtain.

In many Mexican cities, you can find doctors and dentists who trained in the United States. They moved to Mexico to provide needy people with inexpensive health care.

Is Panama the Best Place to Retire?

Retire Overseas - Perhaps this turtle decided to live abroad also.

Panama, among other countries, has an environment similar to that of the state of Florida with a much lower cost of living. You can find housing in Panama in many different price ranges.

You can buy options on real estate on mountainsides and on beaches. Waterfront restaurants and other beach amenities can be enjoyed in a calm environment.

Flights between Panama and the US are cheap.  Crime is lower in Panamanian cities than in many American cities. Panama uses the US Dollar as its official currency, making the move even easier.

Many American retirees, boomers, and other people who want to retire early or retire young choose to live in South America, and Panama lets people live enjoyably at an inexpensive price.

Retirees aren’t just heading to just Florida when they retire. In fact, trends indicate that many aren’t even staying in the United States. The allure of cheaper health care has drawn many retirees to exotic locales such as the Philippines and Thailand.

These countries are often the home of U.S. trained physicians and dentists who provide much-needed services at a fraction of the stateside cost. Not only do these countries offer friendly people and exotic locations, but American retirees can live comfortably for a few thousand dollars a month.

In the United States, Florida is a popular retirement location where the cost of living and real estate value are very high. Retirement living in Florida is somewhat difficult these days. Hence many Americans prefer to live an expatriate life in overseas. Everybody will get something at an affordable price.

Retire Overseas to The Dominican Republic

The economy. The state of the union. Crime. All these issues and more are leading many older Americans to retire overseas. The baby boomers are no longer looking at staying in the United States and recent research proves that.

The United States and Canada are looking at having close to 100 million active adults retire within the next 20 years.  A lot of retirees are buying property overseas since they believe that real estate will give them a secure investment, and they will be able to live overseas should the need arise.

If this is something that you are interested in, for whatever reason, whether it be your health or maintaining your quality of life, then follow this “Top Five” list on how you can “Live the Expat Life”. It will make your decision-making and your planning much easier.

1. Make New Friends! Start networking with other people as soon as possible. Building a strong network of friends is necessary when you retire overseas, and this might mean going out of your comfort zone to meet new people.

Your new network of people should include folks who you would be able to call in case you have an emergency situation. Ask questions! People love to talk about themselves and by doing this, you will learn who is reliable and who is not.

The quicker you can make trustworthy and reliable friends, the more comfortable you will be in your new expat life!

2. Always do your due diligence before deciding where to retire. Research is absolutely necessary! Retiring overseas may seem glamorous and exciting, but don’t get caught up in the dream.

Realistically look at what your quality of life will be, including healthcare options, and decide if you really want to start all over again in a new locale.

Living overseas can be a lot of fun, but you should not think that everything will be roses; you will have setbacks and disappointments. Realizing this before you move will make your transition a lot easier.

Retire Overseas to The Dominican Republic

3. Search the internet for information on retiring overseas.  What sort of resources can you find on the internet about expatriate living? Honestly, the internet is a great resource when you are investigating the expat life!

You can join online discussion boards or communities that discuss all these issues and more and will let your join their message boards for free. Get advice from those expats who have already retired overseas and learn from their experiences!

Ask questions of these people (Remember, people love to talk about themselves!) and see if they have any sound advice about what you should and should not do, before and after, your transition. Inevitably, you will run across discussion boards where those who retire overseas are not happy with the decision; this occurrence should be expected.

And some may even fervently wish to return to their birth country. Hear these folks out, since you may feel what they are feeling at some point in your expat life, and you can take what you have learned from them to help you deal with your own emotions.

4. Make you decision for the right reasons.  Retiring overseas will not let you escape your own thoughts! If you are interested in the expat life and want to retire overseas because you feel your life lacks something or is deficient in some way, then you should realize that you may be just as dissatisfied overseas as you are at home.

If your thought process is not right, then it doesn’t matter where you choose to live, you will still be dissatisfied. Moving overseas should not be a spur of the moment idea, and you should really examine the reasons you want to make a change. If your reasons are sound, like a better quality of life or better health, then you are on the right track.

If your decision is based on how you “feel” about the idea, then it’s probably NOT a good idea. Decisions based on emotion will inevitably lead to major regret and that is not what you want when you become an expat because there is no going back.

5. Even though you can always return home if you want to, consider the move irreversible. Once the deed is done, it’s done. That will make you think much more seriously about what you are planning to do.

When you finally reach the conclusion that the expat life is for you, don’t burn your bridges. You might be tempted to tell some of those folks how your really feel about them, especially since you think you will not ever see them again.

But eventually, you will return home someday, and you don’t want any bad feelings marring your return. I think that there is no such thing as too many friends. You never know when your friends may be of assistance to you.