Ambergris Caye among the Top 8 places to retire in 2014

Here’s a last glimpse of part of San Pedro on Ambergris Caye as we took the air taxi back to the mainland of Belize for our flight home in October. I mean, really, are you surprised that it is a highly desirable place to retire to?

Well, it is nice to know that we are on the right track.

A U.S. News & World Report blog post today lists Ambergris Caye among the top 8 places in the world in which to retire in 2014.

And darn if that isn’t exactly what we plan to do.

I don’t think that Kathleen Peddicord, founder of the Live and Invest Overseas publishing group, lists them in any particular order but Ambergris Caye is No. 3 on the list for folks who keep track of that sort of thing.

Peddicrd calls these eight the “ the best, most comfortable, affordable, convenient and rewarding spots worldwide for retirement in 2014.”

Among others on the list are Coronado, Panama; Languedoc, France; and Cuenca, Ecuador.

Hey, among the eight, guess which one is the most expensive, in terms of monthly budget and rent?

If you said Ambergris Cay, you’d be wrong but not by much. Languedoc requires a $2,300 per month budget with rentals at $800. At No. 2 in expenses, says Peddicord, Ambergris requires a monthly budget of $2,000 with monthly rent also at $800. Well, it is a small island with a fairly limited land mass and a highly desirable location. I don’t know France’s excuse.

Puerto Vallarta in Mexico also requires a monthly outlay of $2,000 but rent lists for $100 less than on the Belizean island.

The lowest  costs are found in Chiang Mai, Thailand where your monthly budget sets you back a mere $1,100 and rent check runs $400.

About Belize, Peddicord writes: “Warm, welcoming, independent and private. These four perhaps seemingly contradictory adjectives best describe both Belizeans and their country.”

She also says don’t believe what you read in the news: “ Belize is also one of the safest countries in the world.”

She offers one precaution: “I would not recommend Belize if you have a serious health concern or existing medical condition. Health care facilities and standards are improving but limited.”

But Peddicord admittedly has a soft spot in her heart for Belize having visited off and on over nearly 30 years.

“I would recommend Ambergris to any retiree dreaming of retirement on the Caribbean Sea this new year,” she concludes.

Darn. Now we really have to get there quickly, before everything is filled up! Hey, Ambergris Caye, save us a space. We’ll be there around February 7. I’ll buy the first round if you help us with our luggage!

Read the entire Kathleen Peddicord post here.

Related articles

• “Back When” in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize. (abelizehomeforus.wordpress.com)
• “Who Wouldn’t Wanna Be Me” in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize. (abelizehomeforus.wordpress.com)
• The World’s 8 Best Places to Retire in 2014 (money.usnews.com)

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