Challenge: Why Los For Retirement?

[poanoi]

Aside for the $1000/month, do i have to be of any particular age to qualify for retirement visa in Ecuador ?

I don't think so.

However, there are some special problems with getting official documents for most South American retirement destinations. For example for Ecuador if you have been living in Thailand you would probably need super official (and translated AND officially legalized, not simple) criminal background records for both Thailand and your home country. Reading some reports on this board, the hassle of obtaining such a document for Thailand may be MASSIVE! Also their bureaucracy is very slow compared to Thailand, processes can take months and months and sometimes decisions happen too late, plus up till recently you absolutely need to hire lawyers, typically costing thousands of dollars. Of course the end result if you succeed can be permanent residency, not possible for expat retirees in Thailand. I see signs that Ecuador realizing this cash cow aspect of foreign expats and is slowly making it easier. For example, until recently SINGLE applicants needed to provide official documentation that they have never been married, and they are dropping that silly requirement. Recently an immigration office was opened in Cuenca offering some English speaking services and claiming a lawyer isn't needed, but this is new, and most people still feel they need lawyers.

Thanks for info, there always seem to be some hassle with visa at the end of the day,

except for Cambodia

[Penefattore]

anyway, the big problem with Ecuador is it is far away from Thailand, going there to have a look ain't exactly an afternoon stroll.

[Jingthing]

Thanks for info, there always seem to be some hassle with visa at the end of the day,

except for Cambodia

Yes, but bottom line for all the whining on this board, Thailand's retirement visa program is among the easiest and most flexible in the world.

[HeijoshinCool]

Thanks for info, there always seem to be some hassle with visa at the end of the day,

except for Cambodia

Yes, but bottom line for all the whining on this board, Thailand's retirement visa program is among the easiest and most flexible in the world.

Yes. I had to bend over backwards to get mine.

[TommoPhysicist]

Thanks for info, there always seem to be some hassle with visa at the end of the day,

except for Cambodia

Yes, but bottom line for all the whining on this board, Thailand's retirement visa program is among the easiest and most flexible in the world.

Yes. I had to bend over backwards to get mine.

You were lucky ..... I had to bend over forwards!

[NeverSure]

OK, So I am just stirring the chit. I'm wanting some thinking and it's happening.

I'm amazed only by the comments about my suggestion that women are poor and available when I believe that's a big reason many expats are in Thailand. Most men can have a younger woman and give her a good life only in third world countries.

I really like the comment about men in LOS jumping from balconies and it not being investigated. From what I read here, Thailand isn't all that safe for expats or tourists, especially in some areas. This is true of any country. Stay away from certain neighborhoods and life will be simpler.

Now, if not Ecuador, then how about Costa Rica or another? My point is the same. Why Thailand only? When reading various threads, it is easy to find complaints about Thailand although I know at the root the same posters love it. But it isn't perfect nor is anywhere else.

Thank you for the discussion, and I hope it continues. I can't tell for sure whether the income requirement in Ecuador is US $800 or $1,000 per month. Sites are conflicting. But it is low and I don't think there is an age limit. This could be helpful for some people.

Please don't tell me it's expensive to live there. Thailand is no longer cheap and I think Ecuador or Costa Rica are now cheaper. At least Ecuador uses the US dollar so for US citizens their money is stable unless there is bad inflation not indexed into social security or other investments. For other Western countries who's currency had risen against the dollar, they would now be ahead.

I still love Thailand!! This is just discussion!!

[Potosi]

Yes, we're getting older, but that's paid for by a multitude of chronic conditions almost all old people suffer from. Bad back, hips, diabetes, you name it. Relocating to Thailand shortens the suffering indeed.

[NeverSure]

Yes, we're getting older, but that's paid for by a multitude of chronic conditions almost all old people suffer from. Bad back, hips, diabetes, you name it. Relocating to Thailand shortens the suffering indeed.

I believe that in Ecuador you are required to join their nationalized health insurance program. I think it costs about US $140 per month. I apologize if I'm mistaken, but I've read that several times.

[soomak]

Again comparing to Ecuador and Latin America in general, you kind of have to learn Spanish (or Portuguese) or pay a lot for translators, while in expat-ville Thailand you really don't have to. Spanish is easier than Thai but above stupid gringo speak level, it's not that easy!

(Talking about basic living things: banking, dealing with utilities, immigration matters, etc.)

Spanish is the easiest language to learn for an English speaker, and it's easy for speakers of any European language as well.

I've never learned Spanish nor spent time in a Spanish speaking country, but just from movies I picked up probably a hundred words.

My brother spent six months in Latin America and could speak Spanish almost fluently when he got back.

I stay in Thailand for two years already and can only speak on a very very basic level.

I would say language is one of the biggest drawback of Thailand.

[Jingthing]

Yes, we're getting older, but that's paid for by a multitude of chronic conditions almost all old people suffer from. Bad back, hips, diabetes, you name it. Relocating to Thailand shortens the suffering indeed.

I believe that in Ecuador you are required to join their nationalized health insurance program. I think it costs about US $140 per month. I apologize if I'm mistaken, but I've read that several times.

You are mistaken.

http://www.cuencahighlife.com/post/2009/10/15/With-the-right-choices-medical-care-is-excellent-in-Ecuador3b-Cuenca-is-a-top-center.aspx

[Jingthing]

Again comparing to Ecuador and Latin America in general, you kind of have to learn Spanish (or Portuguese) or pay a lot for translators, while in expat-ville Thailand you really don't have to. Spanish is easier than Thai but above stupid gringo speak level, it's not that easy!

(Talking about basic living things: banking, dealing with utilities, immigration matters, etc.)

Spanish is the easiest language to learn for an English speaker, and it's easy for speakers of any European language as well.

I've never learned Spanish nor spent time in a Spanish speaking country, but just from movies I picked up probably a hundred words.

My brother spent six months in Latin America and could speak Spanish almost fluently when he got back.

I stay in Thailand for two years already and can only speak on a very very basic level.

I would say language is one of the biggest drawback of Thailand.

I disagree because Thais largely do not expect foreigners to speak Thai but people in Latin America EXPECT expats to speak Spanish functionally.

[HeijoshinCool]

Yes, we're getting older, but that's paid for by a multitude of chronic conditions almost all old people suffer from. Bad back, hips, diabetes, you name it. Relocating to Thailand shortens the suffering indeed.

I believe that in Ecuador you are required to join their nationalized health insurance program. I think it costs about US $140 per month. I apologize if I'm mistaken, but I've read that several times.

You are mistaken.

http://www.cuencahig...top-center.aspx

I'm checking it out. Looks interesting. I'm carefully considering moving to a Spanish speaking country, sometime in the next 5 years. Health insurance (I'm over 50) and land ownership ar paramont.

Do you have good information that the the insurers pay reliably?

I am a bit concerned with the following statement on the site:

With the right choices, you will receive personal attention from medical practitioners not seen the U.S. since the 1960s.

Why did these doctors leave the U.S. 50 years ago? Aren't they a bit old to be practicing medicine? Maybe they are geriatricians?

[NeverSure]

Yes, we're getting older, but that's paid for by a multitude of chronic conditions almost all old people suffer from. Bad back, hips, diabetes, you name it. Relocating to Thailand shortens the suffering indeed.

I believe that in Ecuador you are required to join their nationalized health insurance program. I think it costs about US $140 per month. I apologize if I'm mistaken, but I've read that several times.

You are mistaken.

http://www.cuencahig...top-center.aspx

OK, Thanks.

[craigt3365]

You might want to check out this thread:

Some great posts there.

I spent a month in Ecuador several years ago. And many, many months in CA/SA/Mexico. Spanish is a necessity. It's very difficult (pretty much impossible) to live there if you don't speak Spanish well. Crime is much worse there. Road safety is worse (hard to believe, eh?). Food is OK, but not nearly as interesting as here. Though seafood on the coast is amazing. Banking is crazy. Takes forever to get anything done. Health care, IMHO, is better here.

Quito is a smoggy, crowded city. Cuenca is the expat enclave. A very beautiful city. I only spent 2 days there, but did like it a lot. It's quite small, so I would imagine difficult to find many items you may desire in terms of shopping.

Not sure about cost of living, but I would guess it'd be on the same par as here. Be careful with these websites claiming you can live on $XXX per month here or there. I just saw one for Chiang Mai that said you could live like a king for $800 there. Live yes, like a king, no.

[jellydog]

You might want to check out this thread:

http://www.thaivisa....-than-thailand/

Some great posts there.

I spent a month in Ecuador several years ago. And many, many months in CA/SA/Mexico. Spanish is a necessity. It's very difficult (pretty much impossible) to live there if you don't speak Spanish well. Crime is much worse there. Road safety is worse (hard to believe, eh?). Food is OK, but not nearly as interesting as here. Though seafood on the coast is amazing. Banking is crazy. Takes forever to get anything done. Health care, IMHO, is better here.

Quito is a smoggy, crowded city. Cuenca is the expat enclave. A very beautiful city. I only spent 2 days there, but did like it a lot. It's quite small, so I would imagine difficult to find many items you may desire in terms of shopping.

Not sure about cost of living, but I would guess it'd be on the same par as here. Be careful with these websites claiming you can live on $XXX per month here or there. I just saw one for Chiang Mai that said you could live like a king for $800 there. Live yes, like a king, no.

Amen. Until recently I had lived in Argentina for seven years and traveled a bit in South America. The idea, often promulgated by the "travel business", that English is spoken by many of the natives in South America is rubbish. So, you must learn spanish. Fairly easy to do for some, not so for others. In addition, crime is a major issue, and increasing in many countries. Argentina being a prime example.

And food. Here in Bangkok there is such a variety of wonderful food. And if you like, cheap. In much of South America there is little to no variety. Rio and Sao Paulo are exceptions. Ecuador is not.

And, as noted above, banking practices are unpredictable at best. In Argentina the word would be byzantine.

As for cost of living, depends on the person, but I think overall a bit less here. That said, I spend more here because I find more to do here. More diversions, more energy.

I've only been here two months, so I'm an innocent as far as Thailand. But, if you like it here, I'm betting you won't like South America.

My 2 cents.