Anyone thinking of retiring abroad or long winter holidays abroad?

ianthy

We are planning to spend many summer months in Italy and the winter months in warmer places - Dubai and the far east come to mind. Love the UK but I find the weather depressing... especially at the moment.

happyandcontented

We were in Italy in Lecce at Easter and we met a couple from the US who had taken a 3 year lease on an apartment. They had retained their US home and when the lease is up they will decide where to go next! They didn't have any children in the US though, so no ties to keep them there or pull them back.

Snakey

I'm hoping to give up work in 5-6 years' time and, while I feel it's too early to start spending time and effort researching the detail, the idea of spending e.g. early January to late March, plus the whole of November, somewhere warm... is definitely in my mind. Winters here are too long, dark and miserable.

Since I'll only be in my early fifties I won't, touch wood, be concerned about healthcare. And I wouldn't be staying anywhere long enough to worry about tax residence.

I would not buy. Too much trouble and expense, and why tie yourself down to one place? Also, if you can frame it in terms of you going on holiday (apparently long-stay rates for hotel rooms, in the off-season, are also a thing), people are less likely to expect to turn up at their convenience and stay for a fortnight free of charge with you as their tour guide, the way they might if you talk about your "villa in Spain" or whatever.

Further afield is attractive as well, since the flight cost is divided among more days and the jetlag and the stress of travelling takes up less of your holiday in percentage terms.

I'd probably arrive home to find the place knee-deep in burst pipewater and my insurance refusing to pay out because I was away for too long, but c'est la vie.

stephen160

We own a rental villa in Orlando Florida, with the intention of spending the winter
months in the villa. I would prefer to retire to the uk but the weather is so unpredictable, look at today raining and only 8 degrees and its almost May
steve

bostonerimus

I'm and expat living in the USA and now that I'm retired I plan to spend more time in the UK and might end up downsizing to a smaller home there.

TheShape

My girlfriend watches (or at the very least it's on in the background) a Place in the Sun: Winter Sun all the time. She has been very keen to holiday in the winter in warmer climates and possible to own a property abroad to use in the winter but I've not been all that keen especially as I dislike hot climates. However, last February we spent a week in Malta and I really liked the climate. This March we spent a week in Gran Canaria and she almost had to drag me home. The temperature, low 20s by day, high teens at night was perfect for me and I felt totally energised. Breakfast on the terrace, relaxing on the beach, swimming in the sea (I don't think I'd swam for 20 years) is something I could get used to.

bostonerimus

TheShape wrote: »

My girlfriend watches (or at the very least it's on in the background) a Place in the Sun: Winter Sun all the time. She has been very keen to holiday in the winter in warmer climates and possible to own a property abroad to use in the winter but I've not been all that keen especially as I dislike hot climates. However, last February we spent a week in Malta and I really liked the climate. This March we spent a week in Gran Canaria and she almost had to drag me home. The temperature, low 20s by day, high teens at night was perfect for me and I felt totally energised. Breakfast on the terrace, relaxing on the beach, swimming in the sea (I don't think I'd swam for 20 years) is something I could get used to.

In my early 20s I spent a lot of time on La Palma and really got to enjoy the weather and pace of life. I worked with some other British folks who lived there and planned to eventually retired there.....no way were they coming back to the UK.

crv1963

Thanks to everyone who has contributed above. It has helped me to think this over, my thoughts have altered from buying an apartment in one place to multiple long rentals over the retirement so we can see in some better way other parts of the world, not just Europe.


Pets I don't see as a long term problem, other than the aged cat as the dogs can be vaccinated and be issued with passports!

mollycat

We had seriously thought about retiring abroad when retired; until Brexit came along and sort of dented our confidence that such a thing would be possible.

We also are pet orientated, (dogs and cats + 1 Guinea pig guesting with us), but we had considered workarounds for those.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned in the thread yet is the learning of the native language, (apologies if i have missed it ). Many years ago I had a yearning to learn Spanish; had done French at school and enjoyed same.

Bit by bit, year on year I picked up a little more, both when out on holiday for practice and studying at home in sunny Dundee!

I'm now at the stage of being okay..ish in most scenarios, as long as the locals slow down a wee bit for me

This is probably obvious, but it really does enhance the experience of being in a different country, and for us, would have meant being more able to avoid the ex-pat enclaves that suit some people, but would not have been the ideal choice for us.

Anyway, @crv1963.....nice to see your plans are well afoot!! Not long to go now amigo

Crabby

Spain and Portugal are full of North European Snowbirds in motorhomes and caravans escaping the winter. We'll be joining then when my wife retires. Just finishing a 3week jaunt, and sat having breakfast looking up at Mont Blanc.:)