Well, what can I say apart from THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.....I've been blown away with the response and the level of detail that you've so kindly delivered. I was considering whether or not to make this video as I appreciate it's very general and vague, as we really do not have a clue. We genuinely thought that watching hours of expat videos featuring different countries would help us narrow it down to around 5 countries but in all honesty our shortlist just became our "longlist" 🤣🤣. You have ALL been so generous with your time that I just want to say how much I appreciate you all ❤ We make workout and training videos but they do not YET attract the views or level of engagement that this video has, and so I was really surprised to how many of you took the time to write down your experiences. Feel free to keep adding places 👍🏼 Best Wishes Mark and Ju
Colombia. I'm 63 now and I left the UK in 2018 to live with my Colombian wife and her son. The pros: 1. The cost of living is about 1/4 of that of the UK. I bought a flat outright for cash and that cost me £38K in a lovely little town not far from the capital; Bogota with stunning mountain views. 2. The climate is whatever you want it to be, it varies depending on altitude. Bogota is 8500 ft above sea level and has temps of 19C during the day and about 10C at night and it's the same all year round. As a rule of thumb, the temperature increases by 2C for every 1000 ft drop in altitude. 3. The people are friendly and helpful. 4. Healthcare is good. 5. Crime is nowhere near as bad as the country's reputation would have you believe. In fact I'd say you now have more chance of being punctured (you know what I mean) in London than in Bogota. The cons: the roads are terrible and driving standards are shockingly bad. You may find that your credit card may be cancelled because of the reputation of the country. That happened to me even though every time I've had a card cloned it was in the UK not Colombia. It would be wise to learn Spanish as there are very few people who are fluent in English. There are 3 stages of visa: Immigrant, Resident and Citizen. An Immigrant visa lasts 2 years then you can apply for residency. After 5 years of residency you can apply for citizenship. I'm a Resident. I will apply for citizenship next year. You can have dual citizenship. There is a double taxation agreement with the UK so you won't be paying tax twice. The DIAN (HMRC equivalent) are only interested in money that enters the country, so you can have as much money as you like outside of the country and they're not bothered. I have recently retired but before I worked remotely as a software engineer working as a contractor for mainly British companies. In short I like it here and have no desire to return. My quality of life is better than if I stayed in the UK. Another country I would consider is Chile. It's more expensive than Colombia but still way cheaper than the UK but it is one of the most pro-British countries I have ever visited.
Thank you for sharing such a detailed response. I hadn't even considered Colombia (probably watched too many movies). The DIAN stance seems attractive to me. I've always enjoyed living next to the sea, but then again mountain views sounds perfect. Interesting to hear you say Healthcare is good. Is it expensive? and/or if paid for by insurance, is that costly? I think that we're so used to the NHS that we almost convince ourselves through fear never to leave the UK. Chile.....another country not previously considered - good to hear pro-British. Cheer for all that, superb👍🏼
@@Fubar_The_WEF Why would anyone willingly move to what is effectively a third world country - and one of THE MOST drug-ridden at that? I'd rather struggle in the UK than spend my life wondering when the drug cartels were going to show up in the neighbourhood (unless they're already there of-course) knowing that the corrupt cops would be about as useful as a chocolate fireguard when they did? And there's NO WAY I'd do anything that would support a society so greatly based on Class A drug trade 😡
@@prf7237 Colombia has a big trade in health tourism. The quality of service is good and a fraction of the cost of the US. I will be availing myself of this at the end of the month. I'm treating myself to a hair transplant. The techiques used are the same as the US/UK but in the UK this would set you back the thick end of 10 grand, here it is under 2. We pay a monthly insurance to cover normal stuff and that's around £80 for the 3 of us. If you want to live on the coast then the Caribbean coast has 3 main cities: Cartagena, Barranquilla and Santa Marta. Barranquilla is a bit industrial but the other 2 are nice. A lot of ex-pats live in Medellin. It's at a lower altitude (hence hotter) than Bogota. Bucuramanga is also worth a look. Both those cities are in the mountains. Don't bother with the Pacific coast. It has torrential rain all the time, so very few people live there. I don't know a lot about Chile, having only been there for a 2 week holiday. It's biggest downside is the earthquakes. However the houses are built to be earthquake resistant. It's an emormous country. The southern tip is flipping cold and the far north is desert and in between is, well, in between.
@@MarkandJu Hi. The recommendation to consider Colombia is a good one. I live in Costa Rica (Almost 6 years now/Formerly lived in the USA), and Colombia is noticeably more affordable than here. My wife and I really enjoyed Bogota- found it to be friendly and modern- maybe in some ways more modern than Costa Rica. I love Costa Rica, but you will need to be prepared to spend a lot more.
Portugal. Lovely people, soft and friendly culture, rustic and natural, and their spoken English is as good as Holland and Norway. It's very easy to adjust and settle. The north is cold and wet, the south is warm and dry. House prices insane, but grab a piece of land and get yourself a cabin, like thousands of others do. It's not perfect, far from it, but what an experience! We love it, the kids too.
@jedw5210 thanks for your comment, I've mentioned in previous comments that South Portugal is on our shortlist. Possible recce in June for 2 weeks. Good job I love building cabins then. Reassuring to hear the children love it also. Cheers for that
i'm 63 now & travelled all over the world when younger, and lived/worked for periods in other countries, such as morocco and australia, but the fact is that many think that by going abroad they can 'start over', but the problem is that wherever you go you take your problems with you, plus you encounter a whole new set, so IMHO you need to be pretty stable before you even consider it as you don't know what you don't know, and there's a lot you will miss from home, even silly things, and after some bad days i remember crying and thinking what am i doing? lol, but that passes if you have the commitment, and a plan, so I'd recommend travelling/working abroad (and not as a tourist) to anyone, and if it doesn't work out you can always come back. In a nutshell id say for a big move with family and huge life changes, do your homework first, coz you don't wanna step off the plane and think 'now what', but you don't want either to be a 'cud'v/shud'v/would'v person. GL
That's good advice right there. As mentioned it a few years away yet. I travelled when I was 20 with a back pack, tent and surfboard and absolutely loved it, but yeah as you hint at, that's completely different to moving your family out. I guess I'm very lucky being happily married for 22 years and my wife is equally as keen for new adventures, also my two daughters think it seems cool. We do have concerns over leaving two adult children behind (their current choice), we won't know how much we'd cope missing them until actually trying it out. That's the difficulty though, we wont know until we try it. I appreciate your input 👍🏼
I did it the other way. At 19 i moved to Portugal, learned to teach English as a foreign language and stayed for 15 years. I decided that with a young family, the money i was earning would never really go that far in terms of buying a nice home in a nice location, so i decided to move back to the uk aged 34. I know it sounds very "analogue" but i started making a list with pen and paper that i carried round in my pocket for two years from the moment i had the urge to move. Quite simple - pros vs cons. For me, the pros column was much longer and had loads of added notes on cost of living, house prices etc that I'd built up based on research at the time. There's a lot of hate for the UK at the moment (especially if you believe the stuff you read in the comments on UA-cam), but for me, it was one of the best moves ever. So, after that ramble, what I'm trying to say is, don't over think it. Make a list and do a little research. Most importantly, think finance
@glennwhitlock1272 🤣🤣 that's not a ramble.... but it's very solid advice, and I appreciate it greatly. I don't hate on the UK, for me, as a tradesman, I have the ability to good fairly good money. I/we just have an itch for a change. It may not serve as a permanent one, but we just fancy a different experience. I suppose in your situation you had the prior, and probably current knowledge to return to the UK. If finances didn't come into play where would you prefer?
@MarkandJu hi, again. Portugal will always be my second home. After leaving in 1997 it took me a long time to go back and visit my friends due to different reasons. 4 years ago one of my best Portuguese friends moved to the UK for financial reasons and we met up. This rekindling of our friendship reminded me of all the good times I had had and that I'd been a fool not to go back more often. Since then I've bought a Mazda mx5 convertible and made it my priority to go back on a road trip every summer (my youngest daughter keeping me company) to spend at least two months eating and drinking with my long lost buddies (all now 25 years older). It's a new "adventure" every year. So, after another ramble, it's Tomar in central Portugal. Such a chill town, not too far from the coast, 90 mins drive from Lisbon, a couple of hours from Porto. Everything for a family of adults/grown kids. Would be so much easier without Brexit. Anyway, again, think finances. If it's financially viable, you got nothing to lose. www.nomads-travel-guide.com/city/tomar/
@@glennwhitlock1272 I love the sound of your yearly road trip, sounds excellent. A few other comments pointed at how Brexit has spoilt things for Brits wanting to live/travel in and around Europe. We are planning to visit in June for 2 weeks, any recommendations? Thanks for the Tomar link - I'll check it out this evening
@MarkandJu well, if you're all going, then get round the table a little while before going and plan an itinerary that will give you all a taste of the country. Obviously the beach, but also a couple of large cities (Lisbon is heaving since COVID boosted its popularity, so not to everyone's taste), but Porto, Coimbra in the north, mixed with some smaller central towns (Tomar is a must) and even some out-of-the-way mountainous regions should really get the senses going. Maybe think of how your hobbies/personalities can fit in to it ie. Walking/cycling routes, ocean drives, gastronomy (the food and wine are excellent) and, of course, the Algarve down south. Print yourself a big old map and look up some of the places on Google. Two weeks isn't long to get a true feel for the place, but it might help you decide if it's a contender for a longer adventure. Happy to help if you need any more suggestions and it'd be interesting to get some feedback on your return 👍
@@glennwhitlock1272 I know two weeks won't be long enough....but it will at least put it as a potential contender. The plan would be to travel round for a few months post youngest daughter's education, so around 18 months or so. I'm getting excited thinking about it all. Cheeky little punt - subscribe to the channel and we'll post updates and ideas, that way we can keep in touch. Good chatting to you : )
Yeah, I think from a "getting things done" standpoint, there's plenty of potential obstacles. I worked on site alongside a few blokes from the South that were aright laugh, even though I needed an interpreter. 😆
@MarkandJu I'd probably avoid Sydney, it's beautiful but it's pricey. I'd look at queensland. I purchased investment properties there and it's affordable but prices are increasing. Australia has the best beaches in the world, it's incredibly safe, plenty of work options for PT and building. Australians are into fitness and there's plenty of work for building. My parents are retired here and still get the pension. In Australia if you work an employer has to pay an additional 10% into your pension.
@@jakethemuss5350 I've got a few friends out there, they all seem very content. I should be able to get work, as you say, with my trades. That's good that UK pension will be received without hassle. Extra 10% wouldn't hurt either 👍🏼 I did really enjoy it when I went 30+ years ago. Flew into Melbourne, and within a couple of hours I almost got hit by a tram and got a right telling off from Police for crossing the road 😆. Travelled up to Queensland - Surfers Paradise - Byron Bay. Then Bondi Beach Sydney, Newcastle (mates Uncle), then up to Cairns. Bloody epic trip.
As some in their 40's I feel trapped. I need to leave but don't know where or how. I don't have a trade, i'm mainly customer service/ sales and have a police caution from being a stupid 20 year old. Not criminal record, police caution, I just don't want to live here any more.
I feel you mate.....I guess it's easier to leave without taking a family along, but if your married with children then its a huge decision. I feel stuck here in the UK, I've got trades so I could probably find work but I'm 53 now and so in 3 years who's going to be looking to take me on. I also think it would be harder to get in, and settle in a country without being of a younger working age. To be honest I wouldn't have thought a caution 20 years ago will hold you back. "Thoughts become Things", dream it up, then follow it up. I honestly believe that the only way to change your life is to stop doing the things that got you to where you are. Someone with nothing has nothing to lose. Do your research and formulate YOUR plan. Best of luck.
@@DT-gn4qw police caution isn't declared on most criminal checks. You can teach English in most countries in Asia. It Depends on how much you need/want to earn.
Go to Australia. A great country, lots of opportunities, lots of beautiful beach towns and importantly it shares the same English language and culture.
Take a year and slow travel and visit a few places. Narrow it down and then do your research. Most places friendlier than the UK. As you have a trade you will do well anywhere as know how to graft.
@michaelgreen5515 That's a good response Michael. There's so many countries I could work (if allowed) as a Stonemason, There's thousands of old stone buildings that need restoration masons/builders in Europe and indeed many other countries.
I have been in Germany For 42 years now Just learn the language and behave yourself and you will be warmly welcomed here And Germany also has a lot of coastline Schleswig-Holstein Mecklenburg-Vorpommern where you can live wonderfully and the people are very friendly Better food better beer 🍻 Came Here when i was 18 now 62
I have a small educational charity in Burma (donating school books etc to orphanages and monastery schools). But I'm not suggesting you go and live there! (civil war, hardships and a host of other reasons). But between my trips to Burma, I have a 'base' at Jomtien Beach, Thailand. My rented accommodation costs 164 quid a month, 200 metres from a 6km beach, beautiful weather, food etc etc. I spend no more than 700 quid a month 'all-in', (excluding costs for my work/travel in Burma).
Simon, that's crazy.....£164 rent monthly - mind you not as crazy as working in Burma.....isn't that extremely dangerous? Still, sounds like a very worthwhile charity. I hope you stay safe 👍🏼
@@MarkandJu I've been teaching in Burma since 2012, so am fairly used to the situation (it was hard-going even before the coup). I'm very careful about where I travel within the country, and so far no problems :)
I can second that. I was last in Thailand in 2016 and was renting an apartment down near Sattahip at £150 a month including 50Mbps wifi. I had a large pool, balcony, and a spotlessly clean private beach. I think this sort of thing would blow Brits minds if they found out about it - I told a few people when I got home and they simply didn't believe it...
I'm glad to hear you had success moving away. I think 20 years experience qualifies you to give a decent answer.......You're the first person I know of to move to East Germany. Do you work there, or retired? Does the North East have any coastline?(sorry geography isn't my strong point) What's the rent costs like for say a 3 bed with garage or store etc?
@@MarkandJu Hi Yes east Germany has a coast line up north, I'm a small village in Sachen Anhalt. I don't pay rent as I own the house, which was cheap , would not be able to buy something this size in West Germany or the UK. I use to be a photographer but technology has been eating away at my job for some time. I now drive a mini school bus and do small carpentry jobs , oh also I make artist thing with my wood lathe and sell them at the Christmas market at Wittenberg. And in my free time I ride my MTB and I'm an urban explorer , filming abandoned buildings .
@@cozmicpretzscher That all sounds pretty cool. I absolutely LOVED working on the lathe. I forced myself to sell it as I literally stopped seeing the family 🤣🤣
This all depends on what you plan to do for income? If you're going to live in another country you'll likely need to speak the language, especially if you're going to be a personal trainer or joiner. You will also be competing with people who charge a lot less than you do in the UK due to the lower cost of living and perceived value of the skills. The uk state pension is paid to you directly, you won't have the option to trasnfer it. But its still paid to your uk account. What are your kids going to be doing for work there, assuming they even speak the language and/or can work on the visa. You can't just move to most countries and start working, you need to get a work visa, most countries don't hand them out easy.
@jbennison5672 Now, this is perfect. It's exactly why I posted the video. The responses all feed in to more/new considerations. I was hoping to learn more this way, which is great. We would all love a change of scene mostly. The children (not so young) understand that work would be different, and so would the pay. For myself, however, I wouldn't need to be earning loads so, part time work would probably be fine, and would keep me fit and my brain engaged. There's certainly a lot to consider. Thanks for sharing 👍🏼
@MarkandJu glad it was helpful, but my point is that you're children are not going to be able to work in the majority of countries due to employ regulations on immigrants. They cannot (legally) work in the EU for example. There is absolutely no way they could work in Thailand, Malaysia or China (where I currently live) as they wouldnt have a visa that permits work and of course there is the language barrier. The majority of people who move to new countries are adults, without kids, or those who are relocating temporarily on a job offer. There are also those who buy visas that allow them and their family to work, or reside there. But they are usually very expensive. Lots of people on UA-cam are digital nomads as well (on the appropriate visa), but I'm not sure if you have those kinds of skills. Even if you did, how would you support your wife and kids in Thailand for example, as none of them would be able to work.
@@jbennison5672 There you go....I've just learned a few more things. It's so much for all of us to consider. It isn't a do or die decision, but more about having an adventure. I would always have the UK as a back up.
Thailand. Beautiful weather year round, very welcoming and warm people, as low as £2k a year for rent - very cheap cost of living, very safe crime wise, amazing food, more relaxed pace of life, nomad and retirement visas available. Cons: Not allowed to take job of thai person (I think it's a good sign culturally though when a country puts their citizens first), road safety, air quality in certain places/times of year, culture shock. Positives far outweigh the negatives for me. I'm working on moving out there right now.
I know so many mates (male and female) that have been and absolutely loved the place. I went to Bangkok (not the scenic area) when I was 20 but only for a few days on route to Bali. We hadn't considered Thailand tbh, but then that's why I posted the video to learn from others. I don't know what I don't know..... Sounds like you've already done your homework so I'll put on the list to have a study up. Good luck with your move, I hope it turns out amazing for you 👍🏼
@@MarkandJu No, don't listen to him, don't go to Thailand! I tried moving there a year ago and came back after 6 months. It's too busy, way too many people, prices have skyrocketed, Russians everywhere, Chinese everywhere, roads are horrendous and death traps. You need to know the langauge or have a Thai wife/gf to get by. You won't be able to get a job without special qualifications. You can't own land, you can't get citizenship and you will have to hop in an out on visa schemes. Thailand is only good for holidays only. Your skillset would not be able to earn any money as manual labour is only reserved for locals.
@@ridezeshoopuf5430 Thailand is great if you're retired or a digital nomad. But otherwise it's going to be tough. Especially with two kids who cannot legally work as well.
Moved to Thailand in 2003 and I would say BKK is by far the best city I've ever lived in (and I've lived in a lot). I did leave (in 2006 for Malaysia), but when you leave Thailand it leaves a hole in your heart that nowhere else can ever really fill.
Canada or New Zealand. If you have a trade you’ll be able to get work. Would be easier for your kids too. If you have family there it may speed up getting work visas too. Brexit has pretty much screwed up Europe for people from the UK. We spent last year living out of our campervan all around Europe southern Europe and the Balkans ( and Morocco) it was a great way to have an adventure and get a taste for “life” elsewhere. You’ll find the grass isn’t always greener though so make sure you have a good reason for why you want to leave the UK. There’s plenty of negative nellys that will put a downer on every aspect of what you want to do but the truth is anything is possible/workable if you are willing.
Cheers for that. The main difficulty is having responsibility and consideration for the whole family. I travelled years ago and have always had itchy feet, but what seems good to me doesn't necessarily float my children's boat. Luckily, at this moment in time, I haven't got anyone's partners to consider, although we know how quickly that can change..... Had a lovely camper and then a motorhome, but we could never seem to get away. I'm just thinking that my youngest will be 18 by then, and so it seems more likely 🤔
I'm Canadian, living in UK. I just spent a month in Canada. I do not recommend moving to Canada. Because of huge third world immigration on par with UK in recent years, wages are depressed, jobs are scarce, and housing, (both rent and sale) prices are so high, you will not be able to live anything except hand to mouth even with white collar jobs like software engineering. These prices are country wide. Nowhere is cheap relative to wages. It's like London prices nationwide. Even the recent immigrants are leaving. On top of this, the drug crisis in small and large city centres and the associated homeless encampments are depressing and dangerous.
@gmcgregor1686 That's really surprised me, I always thought Canada would be a really cool place. I hear online about recent unrest between workers and gov, but wow, it doesn't sound pretty anymore. Thanks for sharing, I appreciate it 👍🏼
@VeganVanTours we were at Golf Del Sur in July, the weather was perfect 👌🏼. We would consider living there as retirees in around 12-15 years. You said you're back in the UK....has the place changed for you?
My mate went to Madeira last summer and absolutely loved it. He said he could quite happily live there. I don't know what the property prices or rents are. I understand that the closer I perch us on the beach the more it will cost. I wonder what the climate is like throughout the year.
@AManInAGreySuit I'd be in the doghouse with the Mrs if I suggested anywhere sub zero temp. I have heard good things though, and it seems to be getting increasingly popular as a holiday destination 👍🏼
Vietnam is affordable and the people are happier than people in UK and weather is good . I recommend danang rent apartments 150 pounds a month plus water and electricity about 20 pounds. Food really good value for money at least half price of uk and local food half again.
@wontbelongnow5567 Vietnam, this is the mention......my mate stayed there 30+ years ago for several months - he was travelled all over the world, and Vietnam was his favourite place. Unfortunately, he died in his early 40s, but he said that he was planning to retire there.
@@MarkandJu Well it was only meant jokingly due to the topical nature of that country right now. The other suggestion would be Panama, very funny ha, ha. But then i had a revalation, Get citizenship of Greenland as a fasttrack way to getting a US passport. Or Canada? Or Scotland for that matter, it's only a matter of time before Trump purchases Scotland from the UK Government.
@@robertdewar1752 I think he already claims Scotland as his own..... Greenland, yeah slightly controversial at the moment. Still fear not - we're all in safe hands 🤣
If you want to retain your state pension yearly increases you are limited to: 1. EU countries 2. Switzerland, Gibraltar, Barbados, Bermuda, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Israel, Jamaica, Jersey, Kosovo, Mauritius, Montenegro, North Macedonia, the Philippines, Serbia, Turkey, and the USA. You cannot own a house in the Philippines. Only some of those countries will pay decent rates for work. Your daughters will need good job opportunities. You want to live by the sea. That pretty much reduces your options to France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Denmark and the USA.
@stevo728822 it's bloody hard to find a place that fits all the requirements. A few people do not like the UK but can't recommend somewhere better that fits the bill. It's a complicated thing 👍🏼
@mattfletcher2270 Cyprus, ah OK that hasn't been mentioned so far. I wonder if it suffered recent economic trouble like Greece or whether the two countries are completely separate of things. I'll take a look. Cheers
@MarkandJu The video I saw was on a UA-cam channel called "Nutters in Cyprus". He breaks down costs & alot of the steps needed to move there. Very tempted myself when the time comes. Good luck! 👍
There'll be a massive exit tax introduced within the next 2 years so my advice is just get out whilst you can. The Titanic is sinking so stop fannying about choosing the colour of a lifeboat just get in one.
If you want to live in another country you have to want to learn the language and adopt the culture. That doesn't mean not being English. But to expect people to work around you is both disrespectful and pointless.
@prf7237 Did i strike you throughout my video as someone who seemed disrespectful in any way? I wouldn't expect people to work around me. We would learn some of the language, and if it turned out to be somewhere we would settle, then no doubt we would learn to be more proficient. What seems pointless (your word) would be to make a huge commitment to fully understanding a single foreign language when we might, in fact, not settle there.
@@MarkandJu Wow, that was a bit of an over reaction. I was not talking to you specifically. You asked for people to share advice generally, which is what I did. Learning is never a pointless, particularly a language, as once you've attempted learning one it helps with any subsequent ones ( btw is not a huge commitment, but rather an ongoing one of 30mins to an hour daily). I hope this helps and good luck.
@prf7237 I apologise if I misread your comment. You're right, I was after general advice. I agree that learning a language is beneficial and would probably help towards learning other languages also. I struggle enough with English 🤣. Thank you for commenting, and once again, I apologise for misunderstanding it.
Cheers for getting involved.....Anywhere in the Far East? or is there any particular area that you could recommend we look into. Would language barriers be too much? Wherever we go we would look to get some language skills.
I left UK 12 years ago. Have lived in Belgium, Netherlands, Finland and Germany. All of these countries have a better quality of life than UK, I hope I never have to move back to UK. I liked NL best as it was easy to communicate and simple registration etc. If you rent vs buy, tax, need a visa etc just depends on your circumstances can’t provide general answers without knowing your situation, it’s different for all countries and all applicants, there surely will be options that suit any situation however.
I mentioned the Nordic countries to my wife and she just gave me a look......she feels the cold 😆. I have heard that the Germans aren't as fixated on home ownership as the Brits. Yeah I appreciate I was being ridiculously vague (almost never posted it once I heard it back), but we just cannot seem to narrow it down to even a handful. If I was to watch any videos on Netherlands I always think the people speaking are very straight forward, they sort of give off honesty & integrity vibes.
@@glocky0151 I've heard previously that it's somewhat of a landlord state with only around 5% of individuals owning their own home. I'm probably wrong but that's what a German lady living over hear told me several years back.
@@MarkandJu I know Scandi countries are cold, but trust me they make up for it with well insulated buildings and cheap energy. I’m never cold in the nordic countries.
@basiaszendrei1603 now that is good to know. To me, the life seems very appealing. I would be in my element making Nordic huts 🛖. I'm sure they've got another name, but I just love the style of their wooden structures
I think you are too old to pass the entry requirements for Australia and New Zealand. And your UK state pension will be frozen at the rate of the year you move.
@stevo728822 That's tight - freezing the rate of pension..... I'm probably too old now. Trouble is time just flies by. When your children are several years apart, there's always a reason to put moving off. One starts school, whilst one is coming up to exams, one starts college etc etc.
Where can you go.. since brexit you now have the 90/180 day schengen rule, so europe is off the cards as a place to live. I've lived in the Netherlands for 15 years and had a blast..but post brexit.. living in an EU country is so much harder
Do you know what Martin I haven't considered the impact of living in another European country post Brexit rules. I haven't really travelled since covid. Like I said, There's just so much to consider. Another commenter also lived in the Netherlands amongst other countries and it was their favourite.
@@MartinTreadgold yes it has. Luckily I was able to get an Irish passport by ancestry, if I didn't have that it means my options for retirement would be reduced massively.
@Genesis83x The Sun 🤣🤣 (and if it wasn't so hot) only the products to protect your skin from getting cancer can cause cancer 🤦🏻♂️ The deeper I delved into other places, the more lost I became. Before having a family, I just needed a passport, rucksack, a few quid, bodyboard, and off I went.
@Genesis83x first Japan comment, I'm surprised no one else as mentioned it.....it's meant to be an amazing place. I wonder what Rhodes would be like to live? Nice place for holiday, I'm told.
@@MarkandJu common language and culture. It has its drawbacks though including cost and availability of property. A UK citizen would not need any extra permission to live and work in Ireland or access services
@@liamfoley9614 Yeah that's some good points there. I would be looking to rent right on the coast, and I've got a feeling it would seem pretty pricey, if indeed you can source a property.
@@MarkandJu My 2nd response doesn't show up on my end. UA-cam does this sometimes for some inexplicable reason. Very irksome, especially when I'm trying to post helpful advice. But anyways, you've read it from your end and that what's important. You got this...💪
@paulyflyer8154 NZ does feature on the shortlist as I've got family there and work opportunities within their business. Portugal is looking quite favourable. I'm not too sure about the 5 eyes other than its intelligence sharing between them. I don't take up political stances on social platforms though.
@nigelincebu5733 80p for a haircut 🤣 it's got to be £20 here now for a trim. I must say from watching videos on other countries and cultures that they appear to be really friendly, kind, considerate. I wonder if the UK pays pension if we were to move there?
If i was younger i would go to Russia, many western people have gone , new visa for temp residency 3 years to learn basic russian language, i am on pension so gov would stop payment if i went to what they class as a dictatorship , they lie in this country about freedom and back the wrong side , i have tried to tell my family of 22people from age 2 to 52 but they think i am crazy ,
I couldn't imagine moving to Russia, it would be too cold for my hobbies at sea. You're not the first person to say Russia though. Like you say, I would also have to bear in mind receiving the UK pension.
@MarkandJu That's how much private healthcare costs and it gets more expensive the older you get. Makes you realise what good VFM the NHS is and why it should be protected from the Americans and what a loss brexit was for those wanting to live in the EU.
@MarkandJu Really? That's interesting, if I had a choice, which I don't that is where I would go, not only that but UK citizens have been invited to go. In my opinion it is the most interesting country in the world and I would go there in a heartbeat if I could.
Thanks for getting involved. I have family that live in New Zealand so that's high on my list, esp as my cousin will employ me within his building company : ) Canada looks like a nice place to live, but I'm told that current leadership is controlling, but then which gov isn't.......
How would he obtain a work visa for NZ or Canada? Plus the property prices are outrageous in both countries. Cost of living is high too, just like the UK.
@jbennison5672 As a Brit he'd have more in common with either country's society than most other places. As for work visas he'd have that problem if he wants to go ANYWHERE remotely decent and getting one will ALWAYS depend on his skillset (and that of any partner he has). BTW I didn't mention Oz cos who the heck would volunteer to live anywhere that has so many plants, insects & animals that want to kill you? Not content with rivers and lakes the crocs have learned to live in salt water and sharks can live in fresh water!
@@noniousxltruffles7454 My cousin owns a building company in NZ and has offered me work several times over the years, it would probably get us in the country. I just think my age 53 could now be a limiting factor. My actual, apprentice - time served trade is Stonemasonry, this seems to be on many countries list of welcomed entry.
Well, what can I say apart from THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.....I've been blown away with the response and the level of detail that you've so kindly delivered.
I was considering whether or not to make this video as I appreciate it's very general and vague, as we really do not have a clue.
We genuinely thought that watching hours of expat videos featuring different countries would help us narrow it down to around 5 countries but in all honesty our shortlist just became our "longlist" 🤣🤣.
You have ALL been so generous with your time that I just want to say how much I appreciate you all ❤ We make workout and training videos but they do not YET attract the views or level of engagement that this video has, and so I was really surprised to how many of you took the time to write down your experiences.
Feel free to keep adding places 👍🏼
Best Wishes
Mark and Ju
Colombia.
I'm 63 now and I left the UK in 2018 to live with my Colombian wife and her son. The pros: 1. The cost of living is about 1/4 of that of the UK. I bought a flat outright for cash and that cost me £38K in a lovely little town not far from the capital; Bogota with stunning mountain views. 2. The climate is whatever you want it to be, it varies depending on altitude. Bogota is 8500 ft above sea level and has temps of 19C during the day and about 10C at night and it's the same all year round. As a rule of thumb, the temperature increases by 2C for every 1000 ft drop in altitude. 3. The people are friendly and helpful. 4. Healthcare is good. 5. Crime is nowhere near as bad as the country's reputation would have you believe. In fact I'd say you now have more chance of being punctured (you know what I mean) in London than in Bogota.
The cons: the roads are terrible and driving standards are shockingly bad. You may find that your credit card may be cancelled because of the reputation of the country. That happened to me even though every time I've had a card cloned it was in the UK not Colombia. It would be wise to learn Spanish as there are very few people who are fluent in English.
There are 3 stages of visa: Immigrant, Resident and Citizen. An Immigrant visa lasts 2 years then you can apply for residency. After 5 years of residency you can apply for citizenship. I'm a Resident. I will apply for citizenship next year. You can have dual citizenship. There is a double taxation agreement with the UK so you won't be paying tax twice. The DIAN (HMRC equivalent) are only interested in money that enters the country, so you can have as much money as you like outside of the country and they're not bothered.
I have recently retired but before I worked remotely as a software engineer working as a contractor for mainly British companies.
In short I like it here and have no desire to return. My quality of life is better than if I stayed in the UK.
Another country I would consider is Chile. It's more expensive than Colombia but still way cheaper than the UK but it is one of the most pro-British countries I have ever visited.
Very useful, thanks. What is healthcare like in Colombia and which other cities would you recommend?
Thank you for sharing such a detailed response. I hadn't even considered Colombia (probably watched too many movies). The DIAN stance seems attractive to me.
I've always enjoyed living next to the sea, but then again mountain views sounds perfect.
Interesting to hear you say Healthcare is good. Is it expensive? and/or if paid for by insurance, is that costly? I think that we're so used to the NHS that we almost convince ourselves through fear never to leave the UK.
Chile.....another country not previously considered - good to hear pro-British.
Cheer for all that, superb👍🏼
@@Fubar_The_WEF
Why would anyone willingly move to what is effectively a third world country - and one of THE MOST drug-ridden at that?
I'd rather struggle in the UK than spend my life wondering when the drug cartels were going to show up in the neighbourhood (unless they're already there of-course) knowing that the corrupt cops would be about as useful as a chocolate fireguard when they did?
And there's NO WAY I'd do anything that would support a society so greatly based on Class A drug trade 😡
@@prf7237 Colombia has a big trade in health tourism. The quality of service is good and a fraction of the cost of the US. I will be availing myself of this at the end of the month. I'm treating myself to a hair transplant. The techiques used are the same as the US/UK but in the UK this would set you back the thick end of 10 grand, here it is under 2. We pay a monthly insurance to cover normal stuff and that's around £80 for the 3 of us.
If you want to live on the coast then the Caribbean coast has 3 main cities: Cartagena, Barranquilla and Santa Marta. Barranquilla is a bit industrial but the other 2 are nice. A lot of ex-pats live in Medellin. It's at a lower altitude (hence hotter) than Bogota. Bucuramanga is also worth a look. Both those cities are in the mountains. Don't bother with the Pacific coast. It has torrential rain all the time, so very few people live there.
I don't know a lot about Chile, having only been there for a 2 week holiday. It's biggest downside is the earthquakes. However the houses are built to be earthquake resistant. It's an emormous country. The southern tip is flipping cold and the far north is desert and in between is, well, in between.
@@MarkandJu Hi. The recommendation to consider Colombia is a good one. I live in Costa Rica (Almost 6 years now/Formerly lived in the USA), and Colombia is noticeably more affordable than here. My wife and I really enjoyed Bogota- found it to be friendly and modern- maybe in some ways more modern than Costa Rica. I love Costa Rica, but you will need to be prepared to spend a lot more.
Portugal. Lovely people, soft and friendly culture, rustic and natural, and their spoken English is as good as Holland and Norway. It's very easy to adjust and settle. The north is cold and wet, the south is warm and dry. House prices insane, but grab a piece of land and get yourself a cabin, like thousands of others do. It's not perfect, far from it, but what an experience! We love it, the kids too.
@jedw5210 thanks for your comment, I've mentioned in previous comments that South Portugal is on our shortlist. Possible recce in June for 2 weeks.
Good job I love building cabins then.
Reassuring to hear the children love it also.
Cheers for that
Portugal has many many Afric*n men.. Mainly in the towns..
i'm 63 now & travelled all over the world when younger, and lived/worked for periods in other countries, such as morocco and australia, but the fact is that many think that by going abroad they can 'start over', but the problem is that wherever you go you take your problems with you, plus you encounter a whole new set, so IMHO you need to be pretty stable before you even consider it as you don't know what you don't know, and there's a lot you will miss from home, even silly things, and after some bad days i remember crying and thinking what am i doing? lol, but that passes if you have the commitment, and a plan, so I'd recommend travelling/working abroad (and not as a tourist) to anyone, and if it doesn't work out you can always come back. In a nutshell id say for a big move with family and huge life changes, do your homework first, coz you don't wanna step off the plane and think 'now what', but you don't want either to be a 'cud'v/shud'v/would'v person. GL
That's good advice right there. As mentioned it a few years away yet. I travelled when I was 20 with a back pack, tent and surfboard and absolutely loved it, but yeah as you hint at, that's completely different to moving your family out. I guess I'm very lucky being happily married for 22 years and my wife is equally as keen for new adventures, also my two daughters think it seems cool. We do have concerns over leaving two adult children behind (their current choice), we won't know how much we'd cope missing them until actually trying it out. That's the difficulty though, we wont know until we try it. I appreciate your input 👍🏼
I did it the other way. At 19 i moved to Portugal, learned to teach English as a foreign language and stayed for 15 years. I decided that with a young family, the money i was earning would never really go that far in terms of buying a nice home in a nice location, so i decided to move back to the uk aged 34. I know it sounds very "analogue" but i started making a list with pen and paper that i carried round in my pocket for two years from the moment i had the urge to move. Quite simple - pros vs cons. For me, the pros column was much longer and had loads of added notes on cost of living, house prices etc that I'd built up based on research at the time. There's a lot of hate for the UK at the moment (especially if you believe the stuff you read in the comments on UA-cam), but for me, it was one of the best moves ever. So, after that ramble, what I'm trying to say is, don't over think it. Make a list and do a little research. Most importantly, think finance
@glennwhitlock1272 🤣🤣 that's not a ramble.... but it's very solid advice, and I appreciate it greatly.
I don't hate on the UK, for me, as a tradesman, I have the ability to good fairly good money.
I/we just have an itch for a change. It may not serve as a permanent one, but we just fancy a different experience.
I suppose in your situation you had the prior, and probably current knowledge to return to the UK.
If finances didn't come into play where would you prefer?
@MarkandJu hi, again. Portugal will always be my second home. After leaving in 1997 it took me a long time to go back and visit my friends due to different reasons. 4 years ago one of my best Portuguese friends moved to the UK for financial reasons and we met up. This rekindling of our friendship reminded me of all the good times I had had and that I'd been a fool not to go back more often. Since then I've bought a Mazda mx5 convertible and made it my priority to go back on a road trip every summer (my youngest daughter keeping me company) to spend at least two months eating and drinking with my long lost buddies (all now 25 years older). It's a new "adventure" every year. So, after another ramble, it's Tomar in central Portugal. Such a chill town, not too far from the coast, 90 mins drive from Lisbon, a couple of hours from Porto. Everything for a family of adults/grown kids. Would be so much easier without Brexit. Anyway, again, think finances. If it's financially viable, you got nothing to lose.
www.nomads-travel-guide.com/city/tomar/
@@glennwhitlock1272 I love the sound of your yearly road trip, sounds excellent.
A few other comments pointed at how Brexit has spoilt things for Brits wanting to live/travel in and around Europe.
We are planning to visit in June for 2 weeks, any recommendations?
Thanks for the Tomar link - I'll check it out this evening
@MarkandJu well, if you're all going, then get round the table a little while before going and plan an itinerary that will give you all a taste of the country. Obviously the beach, but also a couple of large cities (Lisbon is heaving since COVID boosted its popularity, so not to everyone's taste), but Porto, Coimbra in the north, mixed with some smaller central towns (Tomar is a must) and even some out-of-the-way mountainous regions should really get the senses going. Maybe think of how your hobbies/personalities can fit in to it ie. Walking/cycling routes, ocean drives, gastronomy (the food and wine are excellent) and, of course, the Algarve down south. Print yourself a big old map and look up some of the places on Google. Two weeks isn't long to get a true feel for the place, but it might help you decide if it's a contender for a longer adventure. Happy to help if you need any more suggestions and it'd be interesting to get some feedback on your return 👍
@@glennwhitlock1272 I know two weeks won't be long enough....but it will at least put it as a potential contender.
The plan would be to travel round for a few months post youngest daughter's education, so around 18 months or so.
I'm getting excited thinking about it all.
Cheeky little punt - subscribe to the channel and we'll post updates and ideas, that way we can keep in touch.
Good chatting to you : )
I visited Ireland in 2015. I would have recommended it as the people are so friendly. Unfortunately they are as bad if not worse than the UK.
That makes no sense
@@WilliamJones-hc7ff It does if you live in the UK or Ireland.
Both places have a huge influx of people.
@@SeanRidley-g7z I live in the UK. Maybe read your comment - it makes no sense.
Yeah, I think from a "getting things done" standpoint, there's plenty of potential obstacles. I worked on site alongside a few blokes from the South that were aright laugh, even though I needed an interpreter. 😆
I moved to Australia 20 years ago. Never looked back.
Hi Jake, I spent 3 months in Oz when I was 20 and absolutely loved it. It does feature on our list of potentials. 🤙🏼
@MarkandJu I'd probably avoid Sydney, it's beautiful but it's pricey. I'd look at queensland. I purchased investment properties there and it's affordable but prices are increasing. Australia has the best beaches in the world, it's incredibly safe, plenty of work options for PT and building. Australians are into fitness and there's plenty of work for building. My parents are retired here and still get the pension. In Australia if you work an employer has to pay an additional 10% into your pension.
@@jakethemuss5350 I've got a few friends out there, they all seem very content.
I should be able to get work, as you say, with my trades.
That's good that UK pension will be received without hassle. Extra 10% wouldn't hurt either 👍🏼
I did really enjoy it when I went 30+ years ago. Flew into Melbourne, and within a couple of hours I almost got hit by a tram and got a right telling off from Police for crossing the road 😆.
Travelled up to Queensland - Surfers Paradise - Byron Bay. Then Bondi Beach Sydney, Newcastle (mates Uncle), then up to Cairns. Bloody epic trip.
Mate I’m from Newcastle. Great place. Great beaches. Jobs available due to industry/mines/construction. Problem is Australia is so expensive now
@AW-ev8cg I've heard it's got expensive, especially property.
Not sure I'd get in as would be 55_56 by the time it comes around.
I liked Newcastle 👍🏼
As some in their 40's I feel trapped. I need to leave but don't know where or how. I don't have a trade, i'm mainly customer service/ sales and have a police caution from being a stupid 20 year old. Not criminal record, police caution, I just don't want to live here any more.
I feel you mate.....I guess it's easier to leave without taking a family along, but if your married with children then its a huge decision. I feel stuck here in the UK, I've got trades so I could probably find work but I'm 53 now and so in 3 years who's going to be looking to take me on. I also think it would be harder to get in, and settle in a country without being of a younger working age. To be honest I wouldn't have thought a caution 20 years ago will hold you back. "Thoughts become Things", dream it up, then follow it up. I honestly believe that the only way to change your life is to stop doing the things that got you to where you are. Someone with nothing has nothing to lose. Do your research and formulate YOUR plan. Best of luck.
I doubt they even have a record of it as the statue of limitations mean its cancelled after 7 years....
@@DT-gn4qw police caution isn't declared on most criminal checks. You can teach English in most countries in Asia. It Depends on how much you need/want to earn.
I relocated to Thailand when I was 40. It can be done. You didn't say whether you had a family or not. That is a HUGE factor.
Go to Australia. A great country, lots of opportunities, lots of beautiful beach towns and importantly it shares the same English language and culture.
I really like Australia, I spent a few months there 30 years ago
Pretty sure you can't just come to Australia. You need to apply for residency. Contact Australia House in London ( I guess )
thanks. but i have heard that the house price in australia is very expensive? just as the same situation as in uk in terms of cost of living. not sure
@thankyouthankyou1172 @sandrafinbar do you know about current house prices?
Take a year and slow travel and visit a few places.
Narrow it down and then do your research.
Most places friendlier than the UK.
As you have a trade you will do well anywhere as know how to graft.
@michaelgreen5515 That's a good response Michael. There's so many countries I could work (if allowed) as a Stonemason, There's thousands of old stone buildings that need restoration masons/builders in Europe and indeed many other countries.
I have been in Germany For 42 years now
Just learn the language and behave yourself and you will be warmly welcomed here
And Germany also has a lot of coastline Schleswig-Holstein Mecklenburg-Vorpommern where you can live wonderfully and the people are very friendly
Better food better beer 🍻
Came Here when i was 18 now 62
Better beer alright 👍🏼
A few other contributors mentioned Germany. I was also told about the beautiful Northern coastline
I have a small educational charity in Burma (donating school books etc to orphanages and monastery schools). But I'm not suggesting you go and live there! (civil war, hardships and a host of other reasons). But between my trips to Burma, I have a 'base' at Jomtien Beach, Thailand. My rented accommodation costs 164 quid a month, 200 metres from a 6km beach, beautiful weather, food etc etc. I spend no more than 700 quid a month 'all-in', (excluding costs for my work/travel in Burma).
Simon, that's crazy.....£164 rent monthly - mind you not as crazy as working in Burma.....isn't that extremely dangerous? Still, sounds like a very worthwhile charity. I hope you stay safe 👍🏼
@@MarkandJu I've been teaching in Burma since 2012, so am fairly used to the situation (it was hard-going even before the coup). I'm very careful about where I travel within the country, and so far no problems :)
@TeacherSimon-Myanmar fair play. Would be pretty daunting for most I imagine
I can second that. I was last in Thailand in 2016 and was renting an apartment down near Sattahip at £150 a month including 50Mbps wifi. I had a large pool, balcony, and a spotlessly clean private beach. I think this sort of thing would blow Brits minds if they found out about it - I told a few people when I got home and they simply didn't believe it...
@CaldonianDude that's ridiculous, sounds very, very tempting
East Germany, been here for 20 years, would never live in the uk again, love it here.
I'm glad to hear you had success moving away. I think 20 years experience qualifies you to give a decent answer.......You're the first person I know of to move to East Germany. Do you work there, or retired? Does the North East have any coastline?(sorry geography isn't my strong point) What's the rent costs like for say a 3 bed with garage or store etc?
Are you not on the wrong side of the wall??
@@nw8000 lol
@@MarkandJu Hi Yes east Germany has a coast line up north, I'm a small village in Sachen Anhalt. I don't pay rent as I own the house, which was cheap , would not be able to buy something this size in West Germany or the UK. I use to be a photographer but technology has been eating away at my job for some time. I now drive a mini school bus and do small carpentry jobs , oh also I make artist thing with my wood lathe and sell them at the Christmas market at Wittenberg. And in my free time I ride my MTB and I'm an urban explorer , filming abandoned buildings .
@@cozmicpretzscher That all sounds pretty cool. I absolutely LOVED working on the lathe. I forced myself to sell it as I literally stopped seeing the family 🤣🤣
This all depends on what you plan to do for income? If you're going to live in another country you'll likely need to speak the language, especially if you're going to be a personal trainer or joiner. You will also be competing with people who charge a lot less than you do in the UK due to the lower cost of living and perceived value of the skills.
The uk state pension is paid to you directly, you won't have the option to trasnfer it. But its still paid to your uk account.
What are your kids going to be doing for work there, assuming they even speak the language and/or can work on the visa.
You can't just move to most countries and start working, you need to get a work visa, most countries don't hand them out easy.
@jbennison5672 Now, this is perfect. It's exactly why I posted the video. The responses all feed in to more/new considerations.
I was hoping to learn more this way, which is great.
We would all love a change of scene mostly.
The children (not so young) understand that work would be different, and so would the pay.
For myself, however, I wouldn't need to be earning loads so, part time work would probably be fine, and would keep me fit and my brain engaged.
There's certainly a lot to consider.
Thanks for sharing 👍🏼
@MarkandJu glad it was helpful, but my point is that you're children are not going to be able to work in the majority of countries due to employ regulations on immigrants. They cannot (legally) work in the EU for example. There is absolutely no way they could work in Thailand, Malaysia or China (where I currently live) as they wouldnt have a visa that permits work and of course there is the language barrier.
The majority of people who move to new countries are adults, without kids, or those who are relocating temporarily on a job offer. There are also those who buy visas that allow them and their family to work, or reside there. But they are usually very expensive. Lots of people on UA-cam are digital nomads as well (on the appropriate visa), but I'm not sure if you have those kinds of skills. Even if you did, how would you support your wife and kids in Thailand for example, as none of them would be able to work.
@@MarkandJu as far as I'm aware, the Malaysian MM2H visa is still very good value and even that costs $125k (and neither you or your family can work).
@@jbennison5672 There you go....I've just learned a few more things. It's so much for all of us to consider. It isn't a do or die decision, but more about having an adventure. I would always have the UK as a back up.
@@jbennison5672 Forget to include in the last comment.....my youngest would be a minimum 18/19 in 3 years.
Thailand.
Beautiful weather year round, very welcoming and warm people, as low as £2k a year for rent - very cheap cost of living, very safe crime wise, amazing food, more relaxed pace of life, nomad and retirement visas available.
Cons: Not allowed to take job of thai person (I think it's a good sign culturally though when a country puts their citizens first), road safety, air quality in certain places/times of year, culture shock.
Positives far outweigh the negatives for me. I'm working on moving out there right now.
I know so many mates (male and female) that have been and absolutely loved the place. I went to Bangkok (not the scenic area) when I was 20 but only for a few days on route to Bali.
We hadn't considered Thailand tbh, but then that's why I posted the video to learn from others. I don't know what I don't know..... Sounds like you've already done your homework so I'll put on the list to have a study up.
Good luck with your move, I hope it turns out amazing for you 👍🏼
@@MarkandJu No, don't listen to him, don't go to Thailand! I tried moving there a year ago and came back after 6 months. It's too busy, way too many people, prices have skyrocketed, Russians everywhere, Chinese everywhere, roads are horrendous and death traps. You need to know the langauge or have a Thai wife/gf to get by. You won't be able to get a job without special qualifications. You can't own land, you can't get citizenship and you will have to hop in an out on visa schemes. Thailand is only good for holidays only. Your skillset would not be able to earn any money as manual labour is only reserved for locals.
@@ridezeshoopuf5430 Thailand is great if you're retired or a digital nomad. But otherwise it's going to be tough. Especially with two kids who cannot legally work as well.
@@jamesreilly7756 Point taken 🤣 Cheers for so much detail, that's really helpful. Let's keep that as a holiday destination then.
Moved to Thailand in 2003 and I would say BKK is by far the best city I've ever lived in (and I've lived in a lot). I did leave (in 2006 for Malaysia), but when you leave Thailand it leaves a hole in your heart that nowhere else can ever really fill.
Canada or New Zealand. If you have a trade you’ll be able to get work. Would be easier for your kids too. If you have family there it may speed up getting work visas too.
Brexit has pretty much screwed up Europe for people from the UK. We spent last year living out of our campervan all around Europe southern Europe and the Balkans ( and Morocco) it was a great way to have an adventure and get a taste for “life” elsewhere. You’ll find the grass isn’t always greener though so make sure you have a good reason for why you want to leave the UK.
There’s plenty of negative nellys that will put a downer on every aspect of what you want to do but the truth is anything is possible/workable if you are willing.
Cheers for that.
The main difficulty is having responsibility and consideration for the whole family.
I travelled years ago and have always had itchy feet, but what seems good to me doesn't necessarily float my children's boat.
Luckily, at this moment in time, I haven't got anyone's partners to consider, although we know how quickly that can change.....
Had a lovely camper and then a motorhome, but we could never seem to get away.
I'm just thinking that my youngest will be 18 by then, and so it seems more likely 🤔
I'm Canadian, living in UK. I just spent a month in Canada. I do not recommend moving to Canada. Because of huge third world immigration on par with UK in recent years, wages are depressed, jobs are scarce, and housing, (both rent and sale) prices are so high, you will not be able to live anything except hand to mouth even with white collar jobs like software engineering. These prices are country wide. Nowhere is cheap relative to wages. It's like London prices nationwide. Even the recent immigrants are leaving. On top of this, the drug crisis in small and large city centres and the associated homeless encampments are depressing and dangerous.
@gmcgregor1686 That's really surprised me, I always thought Canada would be a really cool place.
I hear online about recent unrest between workers and gov, but wow, it doesn't sound pretty anymore.
Thanks for sharing, I appreciate it 👍🏼
Left the UK 18.5 years ago to live in Tenerife and now returned.
@VeganVanTours we were at Golf Del Sur in July, the weather was perfect 👌🏼. We would consider living there as retirees in around 12-15 years. You said you're back in the UK....has the place changed for you?
@@MarkandJu Yes. Some good, some bad but definitely changed yes.
@@VeganVanTours your channel looks cool, I'll subscribe and keep an eye out on your adventures 👍🏼
Come with us to France, mate, we can buy a whole hamlet between us 😀
YEAH lets do it bro 👊🏼 property prices seem good there
@@projectsinthebarn how do the kids work? None of them will have visas that permit work.
I've started looking at Madeira - need plenty of money though
My mate went to Madeira last summer and absolutely loved it. He said he could quite happily live there. I don't know what the property prices or rents are. I understand that the closer I perch us on the beach the more it will cost. I wonder what the climate is like throughout the year.
@@MarkandJu rent and house prices on Madeira are expensive in the city county side less but remote.
Rents like here are getting higher.
@Sim-c8n house/rent prices seems to be an issue wherever you go, at least that's what I'm finding out
I would recommend Poland, great people once they get to know you. Gdansk or Krakow are two great places.
@AManInAGreySuit I'd be in the doghouse with the Mrs if I suggested anywhere sub zero temp.
I have heard good things though, and it seems to be getting increasingly popular as a holiday destination 👍🏼
Could I ask ? Slab City or Castro Street, SF ? Thanks
Who's this question for? 😀
Vietnam is affordable and the people are happier than people in UK and weather is good . I recommend danang rent apartments 150 pounds a month plus water and electricity about 20 pounds. Food really good value for money at least half price of uk and local food half again.
@wontbelongnow5567 Vietnam, this is the mention......my mate stayed there 30+ years ago for several months - he was travelled all over the world, and Vietnam was his favourite place. Unfortunately, he died in his early 40s, but he said that he was planning to retire there.
Mauritius is good from what I have seen . Just £1500 a month to move there
@@Zarter125 £1500 per month living costs? That's a bargain
I would go to Russia, now that they have made moving there so much easier...no language test, no history test.
@@junerobertson4389 I can't see us going to Russia.....is it somewhere that you have experienced before?
almost anywhere else would likely offer an improvement
No comment 😆
Portugal
High up on the shortlist for sure
New Zealand
Could make sense - I have cousins that have lived out there 35 years
Greenland
C'mon Robert give us the details.......😀
@@MarkandJu Well it was only meant jokingly due to the topical nature of that country right now. The other suggestion would be Panama, very funny ha, ha. But then i had a revalation, Get citizenship of Greenland as a fasttrack way to getting a US passport. Or Canada? Or Scotland for that matter, it's only a matter of time before Trump purchases Scotland from the UK Government.
@@robertdewar1752 I think he already claims Scotland as his own..... Greenland, yeah slightly controversial at the moment. Still fear not - we're all in safe hands 🤣
If you want to retain your state pension yearly increases you are limited to:
1. EU countries
2. Switzerland, Gibraltar, Barbados, Bermuda, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Israel, Jamaica, Jersey, Kosovo, Mauritius, Montenegro, North Macedonia, the Philippines, Serbia, Turkey, and the USA.
You cannot own a house in the Philippines.
Only some of those countries will pay decent rates for work.
Your daughters will need good job opportunities.
You want to live by the sea.
That pretty much reduces your options to France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Denmark and the USA.
@@stevo728822 cheers for taking the time to include such detail - I appreciate it.
Pity, I was hoping to see Portugal on the list.
@@MarkandJu Rates of pay aren't great in Portugal. Neither are job opportunities for your daughters.
@stevo728822 it's bloody hard to find a place that fits all the requirements.
A few people do not like the UK but can't recommend somewhere better that fits the bill.
It's a complicated thing 👍🏼
Yes, I think based on the information provided this is the best answer.
Saw a very good video recommending Cyprus, as it's very English welcoming & has very low levels of immigration & crime.
@mattfletcher2270 Cyprus, ah OK that hasn't been mentioned so far. I wonder if it suffered recent economic trouble like Greece or whether the two countries are completely separate of things.
I'll take a look.
Cheers
@MarkandJu The video I saw was on a UA-cam channel called "Nutters in Cyprus". He breaks down costs & alot of the steps needed to move there.
Very tempted myself when the time comes.
Good luck! 👍
@mattfletcher2270 that's awesome mate, I appreciate that. I'll definitely check it out tonight. Nice one 👍🏼
I left 15 years ago. Best decision I ever made.
@@Fishcakebuttie I love your name, I used to have them all the time....
Can you say where you went, and why you prefer it? 👍🏼
There'll be a massive exit tax introduced within the next 2 years so my advice is just get out whilst you can. The Titanic is sinking so stop fannying about choosing the colour of a lifeboat just get in one.
@paulyflyer8154 seems all countries want to impose exit tax.
If you want to live in another country you have to want to learn the language and adopt the culture. That doesn't mean not being English. But to expect people to work around you is both disrespectful and pointless.
@prf7237 Did i strike you throughout my video as someone who seemed disrespectful in any way? I wouldn't expect people to work around me. We would learn some of the language, and if it turned out to be somewhere we would settle, then no doubt we would learn to be more proficient.
What seems pointless (your word) would be to make a huge commitment to fully understanding a single foreign language when we might, in fact, not settle there.
@@MarkandJu Wow, that was a bit of an over reaction. I was not talking to you specifically. You asked for people to share advice generally, which is what I did. Learning is never a pointless, particularly a language, as once you've attempted learning one it helps with any subsequent ones ( btw is not a huge commitment, but rather an ongoing one of 30mins to an hour daily). I hope this helps and good luck.
@prf7237 I apologise if I misread your comment. You're right, I was after general advice.
I agree that learning a language is beneficial and would probably help towards learning other languages also. I struggle enough with English 🤣.
Thank you for commenting, and once again, I apologise for misunderstanding it.
What the hell are you talking about?
@@MarkandJu No worries and good luck!
Anywhere in the far east, Europe has had it.
Cheers for getting involved.....Anywhere in the Far East? or is there any particular area that you could recommend we look into. Would language barriers be too much? Wherever we go we would look to get some language skills.
Like the Gaza Strip perhaps..? Middle East is at boiling point politically at the moment.
I left UK 12 years ago. Have lived in Belgium, Netherlands, Finland and Germany. All of these countries have a better quality of life than UK, I hope I never have to move back to UK. I liked NL best as it was easy to communicate and simple registration etc. If you rent vs buy, tax, need a visa etc just depends on your circumstances can’t provide general answers without knowing your situation, it’s different for all countries and all applicants, there surely will be options that suit any situation however.
I mentioned the Nordic countries to my wife and she just gave me a look......she feels the cold 😆. I have heard that the Germans aren't as fixated on home ownership as the Brits.
Yeah I appreciate I was being ridiculously vague (almost never posted it once I heard it back), but we just cannot seem to narrow it down to even a handful. If I was to watch any videos on Netherlands I always think the people speaking are very straight forward, they sort of give off honesty & integrity vibes.
@@glocky0151 I've heard previously that it's somewhat of a landlord state with only around 5% of individuals owning their own home. I'm probably wrong but that's what a German lady living over hear told me several years back.
@@MarkandJu I know Scandi countries are cold, but trust me they make up for it with well insulated buildings and cheap energy. I’m never cold in the nordic countries.
@basiaszendrei1603 now that is good to know. To me, the life seems very appealing. I would be in my element making Nordic huts 🛖. I'm sure they've got another name, but I just love the style of their wooden structures
@@basiaszendrei1603 and I love the way they talk, and the accent 😀
I think you are too old to pass the entry requirements for Australia and New Zealand. And your UK state pension will be frozen at the rate of the year you move.
@stevo728822 That's tight - freezing the rate of pension..... I'm probably too old now. Trouble is time just flies by. When your children are several years apart, there's always a reason to put moving off. One starts school, whilst one is coming up to exams, one starts college etc etc.
@@MarkandJu Yeah, the Australian and NZ immigration points system favours younger people.
@stevo728822 thanks for making me feel old 🤣🤣
Where can you go.. since brexit you now have the 90/180 day schengen rule, so europe is off the cards as a place to live. I've lived in the Netherlands for 15 years and had a blast..but post brexit.. living in an EU country is so much harder
Do you know what Martin I haven't considered the impact of living in another European country post Brexit rules. I haven't really travelled since covid. Like I said, There's just so much to consider.
Another commenter also lived in the Netherlands amongst other countries and it was their favourite.
@MarkandJu its a shame, brexit has ruined a lot of things we used to enjoy
@MartinTreadgold yep and Brits voted it in. I understand we were paying alot out, but it was sold as a half truth
@@MartinTreadgold yes it has. Luckily I was able to get an Irish passport by ancestry, if I didn't have that it means my options for retirement would be reduced massively.
At this point in the reality of the world we live in I'd recommend the Sun :)
@Genesis83x The Sun 🤣🤣 (and if it wasn't so hot) only the products to protect your skin from getting cancer can cause cancer 🤦🏻♂️
The deeper I delved into other places, the more lost I became.
Before having a family, I just needed a passport, rucksack, a few quid, bodyboard, and off I went.
@MarkandJu it was sarcasm 😂
Genuinely though I can recommend Rhodes, Thailand, Japan and Canada. All must better than the UK for living and quality of life.
@Genesis83x yeah I got that mate, I'm probably as sarcastic as you 🤣
@Genesis83x first Japan comment, I'm surprised no one else as mentioned it.....it's meant to be an amazing place.
I wonder what Rhodes would be like to live? Nice place for holiday, I'm told.
Ireland
Two for Ireland - so currently in the lead......is that recommendation through experience? or a desire?
@@MarkandJu common language and culture. It has its drawbacks though including cost and availability of property. A UK citizen would not need any extra permission to live and work in Ireland or access services
@@liamfoley9614 Yeah that's some good points there. I would be looking to rent right on the coast, and I've got a feeling it would seem pretty pricey, if indeed you can source a property.
@@MarkandJu in that case you might find something. It's close enough to do a recce ... plenty coast though
@@liamfoley9614 yeah exactly 💯
I left another response, but I'm shadow banned for some reason :(
Shadow banned?????
@@MarkandJu My 2nd response doesn't show up on my end. UA-cam does this sometimes for some inexplicable reason. Very irksome, especially when I'm trying to post helpful advice. But anyways, you've read it from your end and that what's important.
You got this...💪
Avoid the other 4 "five eyes" at all cost. America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. With the exception of the climate they would be even worse.
@paulyflyer8154 NZ does feature on the shortlist as I've got family there and work opportunities within their business.
Portugal is looking quite favourable.
I'm not too sure about the 5 eyes other than its intelligence sharing between them. I don't take up political stances on social platforms though.
I live in Philippines they speak English good sunny weather everday very cheap example haircut 80 pence.
Loving caring people not like UK now
@nigelincebu5733 80p for a haircut 🤣 it's got to be £20 here now for a trim.
I must say from watching videos on other countries and cultures that they appear to be really friendly, kind, considerate.
I wonder if the UK pays pension if we were to move there?
Dubai
@@Emma-kb1qw suit the crypto.....bit posh for me though I reckon.
Have you got experience being there? Or just fancy it?
Go west your find what your looking for.
Sounds like America back in the day 😆👍🏼
China
C'mon Belay give me the details......😀
If i was younger i would go to Russia, many western people have gone , new visa for temp residency 3 years to learn basic russian language, i am on pension so gov would stop payment if i went to what they class as a dictatorship , they lie in this country about freedom and back the wrong side , i have tried to tell my family of 22people from age 2 to 52 but they think i am crazy ,
I couldn't imagine moving to Russia, it would be too cold for my hobbies at sea. You're not the first person to say Russia though. Like you say, I would also have to bear in mind receiving the UK pension.
You could also be conscripted into the Russian army and sent to Ukraine! Total insanity.
@jackhammer5235 yeah that sounds inviting
Afghanistan
I guess accommodation is affordable 😁 I bet they love us Brits
If you want to leave the UK you better set aside £15k a year for healthcare insurance...unless you have an EU passport.
@Bustergonad9649 info like this is why I'm glad to have posted the video. Blimey that's a lot of money
@MarkandJu That's how much private healthcare costs and it gets more expensive the older you get. Makes you realise what good VFM the NHS is and why it should be protected from the Americans and what a loss brexit was for those wanting to live in the EU.
@@Bustergonad9649 Yeah I can fully concur on those points for sure.
@@Bustergonad9649 15k seems excessive. I have worldwide health insurance (excluding USA) and it's 5k for a family of three. We 42, 37 & 4.
@@jbennison5672 depends on your age and health. I have a friend who is 55 with AF, £15k.
Russia
@@Semi0ffGrid7 that's the 3rd mention for Russia 👍🏼
@MarkandJu Really? That's interesting, if I had a choice, which I don't that is where I would go, not only that but UK citizens have been invited to go. In my opinion it is the most interesting country in the world and I would go there in a heartbeat if I could.
@@Semi0ffGrid7 we would obviously need to ignore everything mainstream media covers......
@@MarkandJu absolutely, that would be an essential prerequisite to maintaining a healthy mind and perusing a happy, fulfilling life!
@@Semi0ffGrid7 yep 💯
Clearly not Yank-land.
Try Canada or New Zealand.
Thanks for getting involved. I have family that live in New Zealand so that's high on my list, esp as my cousin will employ me within his building company : )
Canada looks like a nice place to live, but I'm told that current leadership is controlling, but then which gov isn't.......
How would he obtain a work visa for NZ or Canada? Plus the property prices are outrageous in both countries. Cost of living is high too, just like the UK.
@jbennison5672
As a Brit he'd have more in common with either country's society than most other places.
As for work visas he'd have that problem if he wants to go ANYWHERE remotely decent and getting one will ALWAYS depend on his skillset (and that of any partner he has).
BTW I didn't mention Oz cos who the heck would volunteer to live anywhere that has so many plants, insects & animals that want to kill you? Not content with rivers and lakes the crocs have learned to live in salt water and sharks can live in fresh water!
@@noniousxltruffles7454 My cousin owns a building company in NZ and has offered me work several times over the years, it would probably get us in the country. I just think my age 53 could now be a limiting factor. My actual, apprentice - time served trade is Stonemasonry, this seems to be on many countries list of welcomed entry.