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Nine Beautiful Islands that Make Perfect Retirement Escapes

3/25/2022

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Ambergris Caye, Belize, gives residents and visitors amazing access to the Mesoamerican Reef and some of the best watersports activities in the world.
By John Roberts
The world is filled with so many beautiful places that are amazing to visit, and many of these same places also plant in our minds the idea that maybe, just maybe, we could live here permanently.  
What is your idea of a perfect retirement destination? 
For me, it has to be warm, filled with friendly people and lots of great opportunities to enjoy nature. 
I have long aspired to eventually spend my later years among new friends enjoying a relaxing, sun-filled uncomplicated life in an island community. 
"When you need a change, island life sounds pretty good," says Jennifer Stevens, International Living magazine's executive editor. "And it really can be. Especially because -- in the right places -- island living can cost less than you’d spend to stay home. 
"When you lower your cost of living by taking your life to a good-value place in the sun, all of a sudden, you can afford to breath, to relax, to create a lifestyle for yourself that prioritizes what’s important to you." 
International Living has a report showcasing islands found in a variety of places on the globe where you can stretch your retirement dollars without sacrificing your desired lifestyle. These are destinations ideal for retirees and ex-pats who seek privacy, peace and a simpler way of life. 
Check out this list of nine great islands for your perfect retirement: 

Malta 
The tiny island nation of Malta covers just 122 square miles and offers something for everyone -- from ancient walled cities and scenic coastal trails to countryside farmhouses and charming restaurants. 
Malta is also home to a number of UNESCO World Heritage sites. Malta is an archipelago of three islands (Malta, Gozo and Comino) with more than 155 miles of coastline. It's warm here all year. 
The English-speaking population -- a legacy of British colonization -- makes it easy for North Americans. For centuries, Malta has been a sought-after destination, and the capital city Valletta is an especially desirable location with rolling hills reminiscent of San Francisco. 
Your money can go surprisingly far here, with couples living comfortably on $2,600 per month. 

Mallorca, Spain 
Mallorca is the largest of the Balearic Islands, located in an autonomous region of Spain -- just off the coast of the Iberian Peninsula. Mallorca owns a rich cultural history, and highlights include the Gothic cathedral of the capital city, Palma, and the hilltop castles in the mountainous countryside, as well as Arab structures built before the Reconquest.  
You'll also find Roman ruins that serve as reminders of its importance as an outpost of the sprawling Roman empire. 
The whole coastline of this 1,405-square-mile island is ringed with marinas, harbors and natural rock-lined coves. It's the perfect place to weigh anchor in the western Mediterranean. The climate is mild year-round. Couples can do well on $2,500 a month, depending on your lifestyle.  

Penang, Malaysia 
The island of Penang, off the coast of Malaysia, has been a favorite spot for expats for decades. 
A couple can live luxuriously for between $1,500 and $2,500 a month, with all the comforts and conveniences of home. 
Penang's international airport (with many low-cost Asian airlines operating) makes it easy to explore even more of Southeast Asia. 
George Town is Penang's largest city. It's a foodie hot spot and home to eclectic architecture, a vibrant art scene and perhaps the best street food in the world. Plus, as a former outpost of the British empire, Penang has a largely English-speaking population. 

Ambergris Caye, Belize 
Belize's largest island, Ambergris Caye, is surrounded by blue waters. This Central American island in the Caribbean features wonderful water sports opportunities and a lively nightlife. 
Ambergris and the dozens of nearby cayes (tiny islands) are incredibly rustic, which means they still have a laidback feel. San Pedro is the major population hub on Ambergris. 
Moving to Belize is easy because it's the only country in Central America with English as its main language. Plus, the U.S. dollar is accepted, credit cards are widely used, and well-known U.S. brands are available, too. 
A couple can enjoy a comfortable retirement in Ambergris Caye, including rent, for between $2,700 and $2,900 per month. 

Ireland 
Not idyllic in terms of weather. You'll obviously find warmer, sunnier and more sandy destinations in other parts of the world. 
But Ireland is no less a magical place to consider for your retirement. 
An emerald beauty on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, the island of Ireland is a delightfully friendly and welcoming place to live. It could rain at any time, but the Irish weather is not something to endure, it's to be embraced. This climate has shaped the land and its people. It's the reason fields are such a rich green and why the hillsides blaze purple with heather. 
The English-speaking populace coupled with a warm and embracing culture makes Ireland an easy place to fit in. This also gives you a convenient jumping-off point from which to explore the rest of Europe. 
On a budget of around $2,800 a month, a retired couple could live quite comfortably. 

Roatan, Honduras 
Roatan is located 35 miles from the northern coast of Honduras and is one of the country's beautiful Bay Islands. 
Although, Honduras is Spanish-speaking, Roatan is largely English-speaking thanks to a long colonial relationship with the United Kingdom. 
A mountainous interior is covered with jungle. The coast features white-sand beaches and rocky coves, that are dotted with colorful fishing villages. Roatan is a well-known diving destination and one of the Caribbean's best retirement locales. The Mesoamerican Reef just offshore is the setting for much of the world-class diving that makes the island famous. 
The numbers: A couple could live well in Roatan on $2,000 to $2,500 a month. 

Isla Mujeres, Mexico 
This little island is one of our favorite Mexican destinations. We have been a few times during our visits to Cancun. The clear waters of the Caribbean Sea are fantastic for snorkeling, and white-sand beaches ring the island, which is about eight miles from Cancun (an easy ferry ride). 
This relaxed island is a world away from its more tourist-developed neighbor; golf carts are preferred to cars as the way to get around the island.

Read about our time on Isla Mujeres: Tripping Around Paradise on Isla Mujeres 

The island enjoys a warm tropical climate (low to mid-80s for most of the year), which means there is plenty to do on Isla Mujeres. Water activities top the list; you can snorkel, dive, sail, fish or simply enjoy some beach time. 
The cost of living is far lower than a similar lifestyle would cost back in the U.S. A couple can live a nice life on Isla Mujeres for $2,500 to $3,000 a month. 

Isla Colon, Panama 
The gorgeous tropical archipelago of Bocas del Toro is one of the best-kept secrets in the Caribbean. Close to the border with Costa Rica, Bocas del Toro is a group of nine main islands and a few hundred smaller cayos and islets, dotting calm turquoise waters. The main island is Isla Colon. 
Bocas Del Toro is a perfect place to test drive the dream Caribbean lifestyle. The expat community is welcoming and well organized. A couple can live here on as little as $1,400 a month, renting a simple and cozy, island-style home. 
The main center is Bocas Town -- a seaside town of brightly painted buildings – located on the large island of Isla Colon. Here, the water is the main focus; fishing, water sports and whale watching are just some of the popular activities. 

Crete, Greece 
Crete, the biggest island in Greece, offers the best of Greek island living. The island has more than 630,000 residents and is lively all year, largely because of its industry and agriculture. 
Crete makes an excellent retirement choice for many reasons. While it offers many of the attractions that go with island living, including world-class beaches, seaside tavernas and a relaxed vibe, it also has a good health-care system.  
The cost of living in Crete largely follows the cost of living in mainland Greece and because Crete is so big, you'll have lots of housing options. A couple can live here on as little as $1,800 a month.

This article is provided in collaboration with International Living.


Thanks for reading,
JR
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AmaWaterways and Backroads' New Lineup of Active River Cruises

3/4/2022

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I have joined Backroads and AaWaterways for active river cruises on their Danube River Cruise itineraries. This is an amazing way to explore the historic cities away from the crowds.
By John Roberts 
River cruise leader AmaWaterways and top adventure-travel company Backroads have unveiled a lineup of more than 150 active cruise outings for 2022 and 2023, with itineraries on the Bordeaux, Danube, Douro, Rhine and Seine rivers, including nine full-ship charters and select sailings on AmaMagna. 
Backroads and AmaWaterways have been partners for more than seven years and have set the standard for active river cruises. The adventure tours also will extend to the Dutch and Belgian waterways with the Backroads River Cruise Bike Trip. Three departures are slated for April 2023, and adventurous travelers will enjoy the region's famed tulips, windmills and cuisine as they sail and cycle between Amsterdam, Netherlands, and Bruges, Belgium. 
I have had the fortune of taking a couple of these Backroads/AmaWaterways voyages and had an amazing time spending the days cycling and hiking while including a lot of camaraderie with new friends over shared cultural experiences, as well as delicious food and drinks.

7 Tips and Tricks to Get Ready for Your Backroads Biking River Cruise 

In 2015, AmaWaterways and Backroads developed the ultimate active travel river cruising experience. You get to see the best highlights (and away-from-the-crowd spots) at your destinations on highly curated biking and hiking tours. Alongside this, cruisers immerse themselves in the comfort and hospitality of an AmaWaterways river ship. Backroads' routes take you away from busy port and tourist destinations to find the gems of your destination, as well as the culture and history of these places.

2022-23 river cruise trips available through the AmaWaterways and Backroads partnership include:
Best for Couples, Friends and Solo Travelers 
Bordeaux River Cruise Bike Tour  
Dutch and Belgian Waterways River Cruise Bike Tour 
Rhine River Cruise Easygoing E-Bike Tour (Dolce Tempo program) 

Best for Families 
Danube River Cruise Family Bike Tour: 20s and Beyond 
Portugal's Douro River Cruise Family Bike Tour: 20s and Beyond | Older Teens and 20s 
Rhine River Cruise Family Bike Tour: 20s and Beyond | Teens and Kids 

Full-Ship Celebration Bike Tours 
Danube River Cruise Full-Ship Celebration Bike Tour 
Portugal's Douro River Cruise Full-Ship Celebration Bike Tour 
Rhine River Cruise Full-Ship Celebration Bike Tour 

"Our active river cruises have been a guest favorite ever since we launched our first departure with AmaWaterways in 2015," said Tom Hale, Backroads' founder and president. "The opportunity to only unpack once while relaxing in comfort aboard such a luxurious ship is the perfect way to explore multiple countries, get immersed in the beautiful back roads and trails of Europe and enjoy the truly impressive accommodations and hospitality of AmaWaterways." 
Check out the website for the full slate of active river cruise itineraries with Backroads and AmaWaterways. 
Backroads' new Dolce Tempo Easygoing E-Bike River Cruise on the Rhine River is for travelers new to active travel, or those who want to explore the world actively but at a more leisurely pace. Two departures are scheduled for September 2022 with another three planned for 2023. 
"We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Backroads and introduce these exciting new itineraries for biking enthusiasts," said Gary Murphy, AmaWaterways co-owner and senior vice president of sales. "The unique aspect of bringing Backroads enhanced active biking experiences onboard our river cruise ships is that companions who may not wish to participate in the daily biking program with Backroads can still have a wonderful vacation experience by participating in AmaWaterways' many escorted cultural or culinary tours that are included each day.  
"These new itineraries are the perfect opportunity for travelers to explore the beautiful landscapes of Europe on a bicycle." 
Onboard, cruisers will enjoy the AmaWaterways' river ships that features twin-balconies in most staterooms, as well as connecting and triple occupancy staterooms that are ideal for families and friends who want to ride together on a vacation adventure.  
Additional amenities include the daily "Sip & Sail" cocktail hour, heated sun deck pools with swim-up bar, hair and massage salons, fitness centers and complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the ships.

Thanks for reading,
JR
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Hike and Flight: St. Mary’s Glacier in Idaho Springs

3/3/2022

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By John Roberts
The Hike: St. Mary's Glacier in the Arapaho National Forest 
The Flight: Craft ciders at Clear Creek Cidery & Eatery in Idaho Springs 
St. Mary's Glacier is a signature day hike in Colorado and a wonderful outing for both visitors and residents in the state. The trailhead is located at: St. Mary's Glacier Trailhead, St. Mary's Drive, Idaho Springs. This is located just over an hour from Denver and up a switchback road to a well-marked parking lot just before that trailhead, which begins at 10,400 feet in elevation. 
There is a $5 parking fee (self-pay in a provided envelope and mail slot). The route climbs to just past 11,000 feet once you reach the glacier. St. Mary's Glacier might not be technically a glacier these days as it is not flowing under its own weight any more. Instead, it's a semi-permanent ice field and still an impressive sight once you get there. I loved scaling the steep hill to the ice field and soaking in the 360-degree views on a sunny day when I first hiked it on March 1, 2022. 
The hike is about 2.5 miles out and back. The first scenic location is at 1 mile into the hike at St. Mary's Lake. This is a great spot to rest because the route is a steep uphill at the start until you get to the lake.  
This is a wonderful place for a picnic, and you can even go in for a swim during warmer months. A path to the right of the lake brings you around to the hill that you climb to get to the ice field.  
You can cross-country ski, enjoy snowshoeing and even go sledding or snowboarding down from the ice field. 
This hike is combined well with a lunch at flight at Clear Creek Cidery & Eatery, located about 20 minutes away in the historic town of Idaho Springs. Clear Creek has a nice menu filled with comfort foods, including a great cheeseburger. You can choose from about nine ciders on tap to build a flight. 
I had the Lavender Lemonade, Agave Peach, Cherry Glider and Alma (apples and honey).
Check out our Colorado Craft Brewery Guide to find more great craft beer spots around the state.

Thanks for reading.
Happy hiking and sipping!
JR
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St. Mary's Lake
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A view from the glacier.
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My lunch and flight at Clear Creek Cidery & Eatery.
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