Please help me plan our exploratory trip to plan a retirement-in-Europe second home

[Anonymous]

Our goal is to buy a home in Europe where we'll spend 4-5 months per year in retirement. Our short-term goal is to find the right town/neighborhood/city.

I'm hoping to crowd source a travel plan our first 3-week exploratory trip in Portugal, Spain, France, Italy? This is what we're trying to find:

- a pretty neighborhood with older architecture on the coast or within one hour of the coast (obviously this doesn't narrow it down much)
- not a super tiny town unless it's, say, 45 minutes from Nice or someplace like it with cultural amenities and medical facilities
- looking to spend $500K-$800K for a 2 or 3 bedroom; so not Monte Carlo but also not budget Portuguese modern condos
- access to public transportation not a priority; if we need a car, we'll buy one and keep it there
- preferably an international community, though not necessarily American
- we're extremely well-traveled and self-sufficient and will take language immersion courses
- this is a 15-year plan; we'll sell once my husband reaches his upper 70s and don't mind if property values fall by then

Would you please identify areas where you've dreamed of retiring or encountered on your travels! We'll ideally spend 2 full days in 10 different areas during our drive. The following summer, we'll narrow it down to just 2 places and spend more time there before we start the actual property search the next year.

Thank you, DCUM!

PS This isn't a question about visas and residency permits and we know about Schengen. And yep, we also know how very hot the coast gets as well as the danger of fire, floods, sea rise.

[Anonymous]

Once you've decided on an area, you might want to rent first to ensure it's the right place for you.

[Anonymous]

Living somewhere is very different from visiting.

[Anonymous]

Are you an EU citizen? Our family is, but this would be very difficult and ill advised if you are not.

[Anonymous]

What does “extremely well traveled” mean? I have been to more than 120 countries and would never say something so obnoxious!

[Anonymous]

I'm French and would love to buy a little French chateau to the west of Paris, easy car ride to the coast of Normandy. I saw one during the pandemic that was really cute, but DH wasn't on board. (Yes, I know all about maintenance.)

[Anonymous]

Haven't been there, but what about somewhere like Toulon, France? Might not hit every one of your requirements, but probably most of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm French and would love to buy a little French chateau to the west of Paris, easy car ride to the coast of Normandy. I saw one during the pandemic that was really cute, but DH wasn't on board. (Yes, I know all about maintenance.)

Here's one...
https://www.jamesedition.com/real_estate/loches-france/loire-valley-sumptuous-and-powerful-18th-century-chateau-47-hectares-15th-century-keep-15378257

[Anonymous]

Depends on what you are looking for in terms of experience. DH and I have considered this and looked at Lille and Ghent. Very affordable by US standards and Lille is appealing because of ease of traveling throughout EU. Ghent is less convenient but we have family in Belgium and prefer it to Brussels. I am on the fence about Antwerp. I also love Strasburg, but I think we'd get bored there.

I won't do Spain, Portugal, or southern France because of the heat. I'd like to explore Germany a bit more to see if that's a better fit. Looking at Hamburg.

Don't know if this is useful to you though because I don't know what you prioritize. But these places would likely fit your budget and none are rural.

[Anonymous]

To me this feels like when families take college tours and they see 5-7+ schools over a week and then they can’t remember anything. I can’t remember even remember the right language or currency when I cross borders within the same trip. And I’m “extremely well traveled” as well. (Lived for years in Central America and Asia and work for a travel company).

You have to narrow your scope. To no more than two countries per trip, and to way more than 2 days in each place. What if it’s raining? You don’t want to judge a town based on 1-2 days there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To me this feels like when families take college tours and they see 5-7+ schools over a week and then they can’t remember anything. I can’t remember even remember the right language or currency when I cross borders within the same trip. And I’m “extremely well traveled” as well. (Lived for years in Central America and Asia and work for a travel company).

You have to narrow your scope. To no more than two countries per trip, and to way more than 2 days in each place. What if it’s raining? You don’t want to judge a town based on 1-2 days there.

+1. Also, how do you plan to get residency OP? Otherwise you will end up somewhere super pedestrian like Portugal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Depends on what you are looking for in terms of experience. DH and I have considered this and looked at Lille and Ghent. Very affordable by US standards and Lille is appealing because of ease of traveling throughout EU. Ghent is less convenient but we have family in Belgium and prefer it to Brussels. I am on the fence about Antwerp. I also love Strasburg, but I think we'd get bored there.

I won't do Spain, Portugal, or southern France because of the heat. I'd like to explore Germany a bit more to see if that's a better fit. Looking at Hamburg.

Don't know if this is useful to you though because I don't know what you prioritize. But these places would likely fit your budget and none are rural.

Lille is grey half the year. Although Ghent probably is too.

[Anonymous]

Here is what we did. Narrow down your scope to a specific country. You are casting way too wide a net. Then visit ex pat groups online and reddit and you'll get suggestions on towns and neighborhoods to live in. Then, you need to visit several times and at different times of the year. The first few times will still be under the base of the excitement and romance of the idea of buying a retirement spot in Europe. You need to visit and stay long enough to experience the reality of what living there is like.

Spending 2 days in a location and deciding that's where you want to buy is not a good way to go about doing this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What does “extremely well traveled” mean? I have been to more than 120 countries and would never say something so obnoxious!

I did not take offense. I think she just meant they have been to many countries and those she listed are her choices. If she did not say well - travelled perhaps she would get other suggestions of different countries.

When I read this site I assume people are on their phones ( so typos, auto correct changes words). I also assume they cannot write their entire back story. So in this case “ well traveled “ meant they’ve been to many many places but these are the ones they would like for retirement life.

[Anonymous]

Everyone is different, but my first preference would be a country where I speak the language. Are you ok with grey and rainy weather most of the year? Do you want to be near the ocean? City or small town? I would definitely go rent somewhere for a few months before committing.