One of the most vibrant aspects of Portuguese traditions is the festa. Literally translating to party, really, the term covers a wide scope of events that are significant in Portuguese culture. 

Festas take place in every town in Portugal, big or small, and can be linked to local patron saints, historical dates, medieval and Renaissance fairs, food festivals, or any significant cultural attraction.  

Most festivals take place between late May and mid-September. It’s elementary math: warm weather = festas. 

Each festa shows a different side to the heart of Portuguese culture, but there are many common aspects. They’re the perfect opportunity to immerse yourself into Portuguese tradition and spirit. 

Best of all, they’re free and open to all.  

Of course, many of these events are raucous, with loudspeakers blasting music, fireworks at all hours, kids throwing firecrackers at your feet, water being thrown from all sides… and sometimes even odder traditions, like being hit on the head with a plastic hammer or being pelted with flour…

If that doesn’t sound like the kind of atmosphere you’d go for, you probably want to avoid being in town for a festa.

But as you plan your trip to Portugal or think about exploring more of your new home country, you should include one or two festas in your itinerary to really get a true feel of local atmosphere.

My book, Living in Portugal: Your Guide To The Good Life In The Old World, dives deep into festivals, food culture, culture quirks, top dishes to enjoy, best sights to see, and the top locations we recommend for seeking a new life here.

I really peel back the layers of all aspects of Portuguese culture thanks to local friends and expats, as well as nearly 15 years spending time in Portugal myself. 

Below are just a few of the obscure and lesser-known festivals around the country to whet your appetite…

So pack your bags, bring your appetite, and get ready to dive into the world of Portuguese festas!

Travel Back To Roman Times

May: Emperor Caesar Augustus founded three cities in the northwest of Hispania, one of which was Bracara Augusta, now called Braga. In the 4th century, it even became the capital of the Gallician province. To celebrate this illustrious past, Bracarra Romana is held every year. The city recreates its Roman past, complete with a Roman fort, food and wine stalls, merchandise, musicians, dancers… and even Roman chariot races. For five days in May, the city and all its inhabitants and visitors dress up for the occasion—don’t be caught without a costume!

A City-Wide White Party

September: The first week of September is when Braga delivers its largest festival of the year—Noite Branca, or “White Night.” Everyone wears white clothing, and stages are erected on most street corners, as well as in public squares and municipal gardens. Live bands, DJs, and other musical acts perform through the night, with new acts every hour. Thousands of people come to dance the night away… On the last of the three nights, an estimated two million people show up bedecked in white and ready to dance.  

The Oldest Carnival Celebration

February: The Carnival celebrations of Podence are one of the most important events in the north of the country, and they’re presumed to have pre-Roman roots.  

In Podence, the stars of the show are masked characters called caretos, which in 2019 were classified by UNESCO as Intangible Heritage of Humanity. Caretos wear colorful woolen suits with rattles at the waist and red, yellow, and green fringes. Their faces are covered by masks made of leather, brass, or wood, and they carry staffs.  

On Tuesday and Sunday, the caretos take to the streets, dancing, running, and jumping, teasing and taunting visitors and young women in particular.  

Originally, caretos were boys and young men. However, due to the desertification that started mostly in the 1960s, the recovery of this tradition was only possible when women also started wearing colorful suits.  

Portugal’s Original Jazz Fest

July: The Cascais jazz festival, now called Ageas Cooljazz, has been held since 1971 and was the first jazz festival ever held in Portugal. For its inaugural lineup, it welcomed Miles Davis, Dexter Gordon, Phil Woods, and The Giants of Jazz: Thelonious Monk, Kai Winding, Art Blakey, Sonny Stitt, Al McKibbon, and Dizzy Gillespie. It still puts on a hit show that packs a stadium every year with hit artists like Chaka Khan, Diana Krall, and Seal and headlining in recent years.

A Living Museum In A Castle

July: For 10 days in July every year, Óbidos is transformed for its Medieval Fair, which will have you absorbed in a living museum populated by hundreds of actors posing as noblemen, beggars, mule-drivers, jugglers, musicians, jesters, dancers, and more.

The town’s castle and surrounding walls are the perfect backdrop for this roleplay, which will also feature jousting tournaments, medieval dinners, and a market, where you’ll find medieval costumes and accessories as well as things like traditional homemade medical remedies.The food stalls offer authentic Middle Ages fare and serve it in clay dishes, and weapons and tools are displayed and demonstrated. Animals will also be on display, including horses, donkeys, falcons, and snakes.

The Best Samba Festival In Europe

July: Sesimbra, a charming town on the coast near Setubal, welcomes thousands of visitors each July to come to watch the famous samba parades. The MegaSamba festival has become a key samba event in Europe, and it becomes more international every year, uniting composers, singer-songwriters, percussionists, choreographers, dancers, Mestre-sala and Porta-bandeira couples, as well as other representatives of schools of samba from different parts of the world.

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Step Back In Time In Algarve

August: In Silves, the event of the year is in August, when the town is transported back to medieval times for 10 days, with feasting, dancing, jousting, and shopping. The area around the Praça Al-Muthamid gardens is transformed into a tented area and includes games and events for families and children to enjoy, including traditional archery (watch out for stray flying arrows).

Each night, a professional drama troupe reenacts a different part of Silves’ history. The show covers the period from 1189 during the reign of Sancho I and the first Christian conquest of the city through to 1191 and the Muslim reconquest.

At 6 p.m. every day, the events commence with a procession through the streets, which starts from the Praça Al-Muthamid gardens and winds its way to the top of the town outside the cathedral.

The main event in the castle each evening is performances by medieval dance and circus theater groups. There are belly dancers, a medieval music group, a drumming group, troubadours, and Egyptian dancers, not to mention the traveling actors who wander the streets reenacting slavery, drunkenness, and general medieval life.

The streets are transformed into a series of market stalls, bazaars, and food stalls, selling all manner of crafts and homemade goods. You can even exchange your euros for Xelbs, which were the local currency at the time. With an exchange rate of 1:1, it’s a shopper’s paradise. 

You’ll learn about many more events and so much more in Living in Portugal, for example, where to go…

• To be hit on the head and burn your feet…
• To see thousands dressed as devils…
• To watch students burn their garb…
• To be brought to tears by a serenade…
• To be part of a 400-year-old party…
• The one time a year the public can peek behind palace doors…

Bonne route,

The post Portugal’s Secret Calendar: Strange, Spectacular Local Festivals appeared first on Live and Invest Overseas.

This is perhaps the best time of year for wine tours and vineyard visits in Europe—it’s harvest season, and you’ll find the wineries buzzing with grape picking, pressing, special harvest meals, and other seasonal traditions that aren’t part of a standard tasting-room visit at other times of year.

Plus, the weather is pleasant and tourism is down… crisp autumn walks among the vines that you don’t have to share with dozens of others.

This time of year is when wine tourism is less like sightseeing and more like being invited into the winemaking process itself.

You may have already done some wine tours on the Continent… perhaps Bordeaux or Champagne… These classics can seem a little mainstream these days, with lots of package offers and lots of other wine tourists. These well-trod paths can feel a little impersonal.

That’s what I love about Portugal’s wine country—it’s still like an intimate discovery instead of tourism for the masses.

Whether you’re cruising along the Douro on a small river boat, or trekking through the hills of Alentejo… raising a glass of tawny port or savoring a complex Madeira… every wine experience in Portugal feels unique.

What Wine?

Mention Portuguese wine and you probably think of Port, which deserves its reputation, sure.

The Douro, in Northern Portugal, from which port hails, is one of the world’s great wine regions, with vineyards carved into steep river valleys and a wine history that stretches back centuries.

But stopping at Port would be like going to France and drinking only Champagne.

There’s so much more to explore here… Portugal has a deep wine culture that few really know about.

This little country has an extraordinary range of landscapes and growing conditions: mountains, river valleys, Atlantic coastlines, and sandy plains. It has around 250 native grape varieties, and blending different grapes is a longstanding part of the country’s winemaking tradition.

And that’s what makes Portugal so much fun for a wine trip: there isn’t just one Portuguese wine experience, there are many—and each one feels personal and one-of-a-kind.

In the north, you can drink Vinho Verde: young, fresh wines from the Minho, often with that characteristic little spritz that makes them so refreshing. And despite the name, Vinho Verde isn’t actually a “green wine”—the name refers to its youthful character.

Travel inland and things change dramatically…

The Douro is famous for Port, but the region also produces dry reds, whites, and rosés. Its wine landscape is so distinctive that the Douro has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2001.

Then there is Dão, a region that’s practically unheard of, even in Portugal. It’s truly one of the country’s best-kept wine secrets, producing balanced, long-lasting wines as well as rosés and sparkling wines.

And if you keep going, the list just keeps getting more interesting: Bairrada and its sparkling wines, the high-altitude vineyards of Beira Interior, the extensive vineyards around Lisbon, the value-oriented wines of the Tagus, the dessert wines of Setúbal, the broad landscape of Alentejo, and eventually the very different wine worlds of Madeira and the Azores.

Go Where—And When—Everyone Else Isn’t

Where Portugal gets especially interesting for wine travel is in how off-path its experiences are compared to the more well-known wine destinations.

If you’re planning a wine trip outside the height of the traditional tourist season, don’t assume that the famous, polished tasting room is the experience you want… Think smaller.

Look for wineries that aren’t built around busloads of visitors and those without the well-known names. Search for family producers, smaller estates, and places where the wine is part of the everyday landscape rather than a tourism product.

That’s where you’ll get something completely different: a quieter tasting, more time with the people making the wine, a chance to ask questions without feeling like you’re being moved along to make room for the next group.

And, depending on the winery and season, you may also find the pricing to be much more accessible than more established wine-tourism destinations.

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Think Beyond Port

If you’re going to Portugal for wine, absolutely drink Port, but don’t make it the entire trip.

The country has been making wine for centuries and it’s has been part of Portuguese life for generations. Winemaking in what is now Portugal goes back at least to Roman times in some areas, and even earlier in others. Wine wasn’t simply something exported abroad, it had a regular place at Portuguese tables and celebrations.

That history makes the wine culture feel different when you’re actually there. In Portugal, you can feel that you’re not just visiting a collection of vineyards, you’re stepping into a land where wine has long been part of the food, landscape, and social fabric.

So try an aromatic Alvarinho from the north. Seek out an Encruzado from Dão. Explore Baga in Bairrada. Taste a wine from the high vineyards of Beira Interior. Go looking for Moscatel in Setúbal. If you’re near the Atlantic, explore what the coastal climate does to the wines around Lisbon.

And if you’re feeling particularly adventurous, look at Madeira or the volcanic vineyards of the Azores.

Now that’s a wine trip…

The Joy Is Not Knowing What You’re Going to Find

Fourteen wine regions, multiple classification levels, hundreds of native grape varieties, and an enormous range of styles and blends…

You can spend a morning drinking something light and fresh, an afternoon tasting powerful reds, and dinner with a bottle made from a grape you’ve never heard of. Don’t forget some Madeira with dessert.

So go a little farther. Book the smaller place. Ask about the local grapes. Try the wine you’ve never heard of. Travel outside the busiest period.

You’ll spend less… You might have the tasting room to yourself… You’ll likely end up talking to someone who has been making wine there for generations. And you’ll have discovered a side of Portugal that you can only get by traveling off-path.

Bonne route,

The post The Wine Country No One Has Told You About appeared first on Live and Invest Overseas.

I recently sat down with Dennelle Taylor Nizoux, an American expat who has been living in Montpellier for 15 years now.

One of the fastest-growing cities in France, particularly in southern France, Montpellier is becoming an increasingly popular option for foreigners looking for a new life in France.

This university city offers a superb, laid-back lifestyle, culture, great connectivity, year-round sunshine, and mild seasons—without the big price tag of places like Nice or Paris.

Dennelle founded Renestance real estate services in 2015, and has since helped countless international buyers navigate the French property market and get settled in the region.

I was eager for her to share her insider knowledge: what it’s really like to buy here, what surprises people, what ideal costs look like, who really belongs in Montpellier—and who doesn’t…

Kat: Let’s start with your story—how did you end up in Montpellier?

Dennelle: I was a student in Provence in college, so I got to know a little bit of the south of France and the Mediterranean area.

It never really felt like home to me, so I kind of wrote off the Mediterranean part of the south of France.

Later, my U.S. company transferred me to Paris, and I lived there for 10 years and met my French husband, who is from Normandy.

By coincidence, his best friend from Normandy moved to Montpellier in 2001. We would take the train down to visit him, and he and his wife had their first baby the same year we had ours.

We kept going down to visit them, and every time we had to take the TGV back to Paris, it just got harder and harder to leave Montpellier.

The more we saw of Montpellier, the more we liked the vibe. It’s low-key, easygoing, open-minded, and has an indoor-outdoor lifestyle. I was born and raised in Southern California, and it felt a bit like home.

We were living the grind in Paris with two small children, doing the métro, boulot, dodo (metro, work, sleep), as they say. It felt like living to work, whereas our friends in Montpellier got off work at 5 p.m., grabbed the kids, a bottle of rosé, and headed to the beach to enjoy life.

I thought, “This is what I want.”

We moved down here in 2010 with our kids, who are grown now.

Kat: For somebody who’s never been to Montpellier, how would you describe it as a city for living?

Dennelle: It ticks a lot of boxes.

It’s walkable; you don’t need to get in the car for everything. We’ve got five tram lines that are free for residents.

It’s also near the beach—only about 10 kilometers (6 miles) away.

There’s lots of hiking and easy access to nature. Within 20 or 30 minutes of downtown, you could be hiking in the hills or mountains.

It’s also a very young, dynamic city because of the universities, and that brings a lot of culture.

We have a lot of artists and writers, and anybody who’s attracted to the arts can usually find what they’re looking for in Montpellier. We even have two opera houses.

It’s a very well-rounded city, but also, as they say in French, à taille humaine—human scale. It’s still manageable. I think it’s around 500,000 people now, including the metropolitan area. So it doesn’t feel too big, but it still has everything you might be looking for.

Kat: Right, as a university town, would you say that students are the main demographic? Is this also a city where French people tend to retire, or is retirement more concentrated in the villages around Montpellier?

Dennelle: Yes, there’s definitely a population of retirees here.

During Covid we had a lot of Parisians and French people from colder or less favorable climates come down to Montpellier because they could work remotely. There have always been people who wanted to retire to the south of France within France, but now we also have more remote workers here.

I think the villages can be attractive to retirees, particularly areas outside Montpellier—more countryside locations around places like Béziers.

You can get more for your money, and you’re not reliant on the job market.

Kat: You’ve experienced different parts of France, and I’m curious about your husband’s perspective since he’s from Normandy. Was there ever a pull to go north instead of south?

Obviously, the weather is the biggest difference, but aside from that was that ever a debate between the two of you?

Dennelle: He was perfectly fine with the weather in Paris—it was similar to what he grew up with.

But once we started spending more time in Montpellier, he really saw the appeal of being able to be outside most of the year.

We actually kept our apartment in Paris for probably the first 10 years we were in Montpellier because we weren’t sure if we were going to stay.

But pretty quickly, we both realized that waking up and seeing a blue sky every day changes everything.

Honestly, I think he was probably sold on it faster than I was.

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Kat: All right, let’s get into the property market. We’ve talked a bit about the lifestyle and who fits in this city.

You’ve been working in real estate down here for how long now?

Dennelle: Almost a decade now…

I started Renestance as a full-service relocation agency officially in 2015, and then I got my degree in real estate and immobilier in 2017. We’ve been dedicated buyer’s agents since 2017.

Kat: And you’ve been on the ground here for so long, you’ve seen how the market has changed… So, what is the market like right now?

Dennelle: Well, Montpellier has been one of the fastest—if not the fastest—growing cities in France for at least 20 years.

It was already growing quickly when we moved down here.

And, like I said, there was a bump during Covid, when a lot of people came because they could work remotely, so growth has been steady.

In terms of price per square meter, Montpellier is still about half the price of Nice and some of the other destinations in the south of France, while offering many of the same advantages in terms of climate and lifestyle.

It’s also a fantastic travel hub.

Property values have appreciated steadily over time, and with good reason.

Bonne route,

The post Discover The “Other” South Of France—Without The Riviera Price appeared first on Live and Invest Overseas.

Deauville, known as the Parisian Riviera and the “Saint-Tropez Normande,” is one of the most famous getaways from Paris…

Located on Normandy’s Côte Fleurie (Flowered Coast), and the closest beach to France’s capital at just two hours away by car or train, Deauville has long drawn the most distinguished and flashiest of European society from France’s capital…

Josephine Baker walked her pet cheetah down Deauville’s beach promenade…

She spent time there with one of my favorite artists, French-Dutch painter Kees van Dongen, who lived there with his son and said the town “fit him like a glove.”

The late Queen Elizabeth II was allowed to drive her car down the planks of the same boardwalk, where vehicles are ordinarily strictly forbidden.

It inspired Ian Fleming’s “Casino Royale”…

Tom and Daisy honeymooned here in “The Great Gatsby”…

Marcel Proust, Agatha Christie, and Noël Coward all used it as a setting, too…

And it was the birthplace of Coco Chanel’s career in clothing, she even opened her second shop in Deauville.

Thanks to the American Film Festival that has taken place here every year since 1975, the town is just as familiar with more contemporary celebrities… George Clooney, Matt Damon, and Harrison Ford have all spent plenty of time here, along with hosts of other American movie stars.

Yves Saint Laurent had a house here, as does Gérard Depardieu and many other French celebrities, socialites, and politicians.

Needless to say, this town was made for pleasure seeking and being seen…

In fact, that’s literally true.

Boasting the so-called queen of the Normandy beaches, the area was targeted for major development in the 1860s by Napoleon’s brother-in-law. He put in a rail line direct from Paris, and had the casino and hippodrome built (the region was already well-known as prime horse country).

With these investments came grand hotels, upscale restaurants, an enormous casino, famous art galleries, a major spa, and seaside promenade and tables were installed.

By 1910, the town was rich and attracted the rich. Luxury boutiques on every corner, record sales in all industries, yachts in the harbor…

When the airport was built in 1931, the town’s reputation went international.

Nowadays, Deauville is just as much a darling to the wealthy, but it’s within reach of us mere mortals, as well… the train from Paris costs less than €20, and the town has plenty of affordable hotels and Airbnb options for visitors.

Living here, the lifestyle would be laid-back and refined.

All the best shopping that you’d expect in Paris is available here, but also the produce market, where you can join locals in shopping for organic produce, meat, eggs, dairy, and flowers.

The eating out options here are excellent, but not many. This is a small town (population about 3,500), and they mostly cater to tourists with money, so eating out can paint you into a bit of a corner. In the middle of town, you’ll have to fork over to lift a fork… prices are on par with Paris’.

But with great seafood, especially shellfish, and farm-fresh dairy and produce coming in every day, any foodie would be happy here.

One of my favorite autumn dishes in France is poêlée de champignons, pan fried mushrooms, and the one I had here was the best I’ve ever had (prepared with diced foie gras and raspberries).

The beach that initially attracted the Napoleonic dynasty is as much a draw as it has ever been, and with good reason. I’ve seen a lot of beaches in my day… and this was possibly the widest beach I’ve ever visited.

To get from the boardwalk to the sea takes a few minutes’ walk on the beach. It’s famous for its multi-colored umbrellas tied in a specific way in summer.

The beach is packed with sunbathers and swimmers in summer. But in winter when the tourists have gone, the vast beach is practically empty but for a few locals walking dogs and riders exercising their thoroughbreds early in the morning.

In summer, the town brings in not just beach lovers, but also music lovers attending the local jazz festival and boaters visiting for regattas or the local sailing.

In fall, the Paris-Deauville rally brings classic cars to the city, when the streets become overtaken with exquisite vintage autos.

And as I mentioned, this is horse country. The area was long-known for quality horse breeding operations, which led it to be a popular racing town. Deauville is sister cities with Lexington, Kentucky, and Kildare, Ireland, two other global horse centers, with the goal of uniting the cities in their love of thoroughbreds and the horse industry.

The prestigious local studs attract some of the world’s wealthiest and best-known breeders, and the Hippodrome Deauville-La Touques and associated training facility is one of the largest, most famous, and most highly regarded in Europe. Called the “Four Seasons Racetrack,” the track hosts high profile events year-round.

The other local track offers courses for jumping, steeplechase, obstacle courses, and trotting courses—the only multidisciplinary course in Normandy.

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It’s a family-friendly track, offering just as many amenities to the not-so-horse-minded visitor, including an exhibition space, many restaurants and bars, free daycare, pony and donkey rides for kids, carriage and mini-car rentals, and more. Clairefontaine track also hosts theme days, good fun for all.

The local polo club is a hub for entertainment and networking, as well, with tennis and polo matches held year-round.

While the French aren’t avid golfers, there are several golf courses here, all of them very well acclaimed—even a mini-golf course next to the beach.

The main local museum, Les Franciscaines, converted from a former convent, is more a community center than traditional museum, and it’s a hub for local families. Part library, lounge, education center, games venue, kitchen, and much more, it’s always busy with folks of all ages enjoying all it has to offer.

The attached café has a few options for snacks, but the dining room also features cooking appliances of all kinds, that all guests are welcome to use—bring something to toast or microwave and enjoy it in the beautiful atrium.

But despite all the finery and the glitzy events, Deauville somehow manages to feel quaint… not overwhelming or exclusive. Another writer described it as “understated elegance.”

A cute local tradition has most houses ornamenting their rooves with small clay animals, sometimes posed in vignettes: a cat chasing pigeons away, an owl eyeing a mouse.

The Hotel Barrière, the grand hotel that dominates a main square near the beach has a many-gabled roof covered in not just animals, but mermaids, jockeys, and more.

While it’s not very well known to North Americans, Deauville is a wonderful option for a new life in Normandy, offering all the chic and convenience of Paris with a small-town feel.

Bonne route,

The post A Jet-Setter’s Playground On The Parisian Riviera appeared first on Live and Invest Overseas.

Cordon Bleu pastry chef, Frédéric Hoël, held up two handfuls of dough, one that you could have mistaken for a neatly folded (albeit miniature) sheet in a linen store… the other more closely resembled a half-deflated air mattress that someone tried to fold before it was fully emptied.

“This is good,” he proclaimed, holding the neat stack up high.

“This is bad,” hoisting up the messy pile. “It will not work.” He shook his head darkly.

We giggled nervously and looked around at one another… who among us 12 or so novices had created the failure dough? Who was the phenom? Only time would tell.

Learning as an adult can be hard… humbling, even.

My pastry-making class at the Cordon Bleu here in Paris was a good reminder that no beginner is ever good at anything. And before you become good at something, the learning process is a challenge all itself.

Living overseas, there’s a learning curve that can’t be denied, and it’s compounded by all the other things you have to learn at the same time—as you plan your move you have to learn about residency options, tax consequences, health care and insurance availability…

And then once you arrive you also likely have to learn a new language, how to get around in your new home, become familiar with a new culture, be taught how to properly eat a new cuisine… and so much more that you won’t even guess at before arriving.

Plus, there’s just the simple fact that learning later in life is… uncomfortable, at least, if not more difficult. You’re not used to being “bad” at things once you’re an accomplished adult. You’re not used to being a beginner anymore.

And, frankly, it’s not the best feeling to be the underdog… to always feel like you’re behind, trying to catch up.

But it does pass—as long as you put in a consistent effort—and bit by bit, you realize you are getting better… that you’re no longer the newbie… that you’re becoming more and more comfortable.

This is true of anything new that we start to do routinely, be it a sport, an art form, a cooking technique, a computer program, a new remote control, a new route to work… etc.

I’ve recently adopted a new life motto: Get comfortable being uncomfortable. 

So much of what we don’t like in life is simply discomfort. We become used to our routines, our friends, our home, our favorite foods, our way of life… and once we do, we don’t like to try new things.

Because it wouldn’t be as easy… it would be uncomfortable. (Hence the proverbial comfort zone.)

In the fitness world, this is called “plateauing.” You do the same workout so much that your body no longer sees it as a workout—it’s no longer a challenge, it’s just an everyday activity. Your body takes it in stride and you cease to gain muscle or lose weight, maybe even put some more back on.

To overcome this inevitable pitfall, any good fitness trainer knows you need to change things regularly.

Which doesn’t feel good.

You have to push your body to do something it doesn’t usually do, so it feels awkward, it hurts, it burns, your joints pop, breathing is difficult… and none of that is desirable in itself.

More than anything, though, it’s just uncomfortable. Because a week later, your body is used to it and you don’t feel the way you did that first day.

You’ve become comfortable being uncomfortable.

Moving to Europe will certainly have you uncomfortable plenty of the time—but that’s the whole point of your live-overseas fantasy, isn’t it?

To no longer eat the same foods every day, take the same street home…

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What pushed you to make this leap is the excitement of meeting new people, trying new things, and be challenged by a new way of life—to stop living on autopilot.

Moving to Europe, you are as literally as possible getting out of your comfort zone.

So don’t fret that it takes time to adapt and integrate… to figure out exactly which part of town you want to live in… which local delicacy to relish (and which, perhaps, to avoid)…

In the beginning, anything new you do is uncomfortable—including living overseas—you just have to keep at it. (Like me making disastrous croissants…)

I’m not saying that learning can’t be fun and rewarding, it should always be both of those things. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t challenging… and a challenge is by definition uncomfortable.

When it comes to moving to Europe, there’s no shortage of things to learn and be taught, and while it can be uncomfortable, perhaps even overwhelming, there are some things you can do to give yourself a head start, things we talk about here regularly: ask for referrals, do your own research and due diligence, visit in person at all times of year, rent before you buy, etc.

But the ultimate way to streamline the process is to learn in person. If you’re planning a move to Europe, the best thing you can do to educate yourself is to hire a tutor.

To learn from someone who has the time to explain everything in full detail and to whom you can ask all your questions as they arise—or, even better, many someones…

Those who are professional experts in their fields in your new home…

And those who have come before you—expats who have already been through the ringer…

Which is exactly what we deliver and our Live And Invest Conferences and this week’s France Virtual Conference is no exception. It’s happening online this Thursday and Friday, Sept. 24 and 25. You’ll find all the details here.

I’m excited to be connecting with our team of in-country experts to share all that life in this Old World great has to offer.

I’ll be dialing in from my home in Paris. I hope you can join in the fun from wherever in the world you are and look forward to connecting with you online on Thursday.

Bonne route,

The post Expat Life Lessons appeared first on Live and Invest Overseas.

I lived in Panama for seven years before moving to France.

I love life in Paris but there are plenty of things about life in Latin America that I miss.

If you’re still debating which side of the pond is right for you, maybe these pros and cons will help you decide…

The Laid-Back Attitude Of Latin America

After the rigor of France, being in easygoing Latin America can feel like a breath of fresh air. No one there is too worried about anything, no one moves fast or demands much from anyone else.

And Latinos love kids, which is a boon for my young family.

On the other hand, this often translates into a lack of respect for your fellow people. Whether it’s being late for an appointment or causing a traffic jam because you wanted to have a chat in the middle of the road, you can see how being so relaxed about everything in life can have a negative impact on others.

One of my pet peeves in our modern age is people who use their phones with the sound on in public. This happens all over the world, of course, but in Europe, a pointed glare from across the room is enough to shame anyone into hastily silencing their device (in most cases).

In Panama (and many other places I visit), everywhere I go people are taking calls on speaker, watching loud videos without headphones, or playing games with the volume all the way up… and if anyone notices a glare, they don’t respond to it.

I like that in Europe there are rules and everyone follows them…

Queues form naturally and if someone tries to cut, everyone will point out their mistake. Traffic moves swiftly, even in congestion, because everyone knows how to behave on the road to make sure everyone gets where they need to go in a timely manner. Meeting times are respected. Noise nuisances are rare.

I also like that people respect their environment as much as those in it. No one litters, roads are well maintained, facades regularly repainted, and parking rigorously enforced.

These are things that are often lacking in Latin America.

Panama Versus France: The International Twist On Cuisine

It’s hard to scorn French food, but if there’s one word you’d have to apply to it, it’d be Traditional, with a capital T.

Innovation isn’t high on the list of things the French value, and while I love the consistency and dependability of a Parisian brasserie, I feel like a bit of a rube when I visit other places with more inventive takes on my old favorites.

Chefs in Latin America are all about pushing the boundaries and experimenting with local flavors, often blending them into classic recipes for a delightful burst of flavor that you weren’t expecting. They often train abroad and gain work experience in other countries, then bring all that skill to bear back home.

I met one such Panamanian chef who’s worked in one of the official Best Restaurants in the World in Manhattan before returning to work at Lo Que Hay, which made the list of 50 Best Restaurants in Latin America a couple of years ago, and was the hottest new restaurant in Casco Viejo last I visited.

Unfortunately, they don’t take reservations and when we tried to get in, the place was already packed. We wandered over to Tántalo instead, a popular rooftop nightclub and restaurant that my husband and I used to frequent back in the day. We were blown away by the tuna tartare, which featured apple instead of avocado, and played with passionfruit and cilantro instead of relying on the classic soy and sesame flavors.

Still, there’s something to be said for the reliable old French basics. I love that I know when autumn comes, onion soup is guaranteed on every menu. When things warm up outside, it’s carpaccio and tartars that take center stage. You can predict French menus like you can predict the weather in Panama.

Speaking of…

The Seasons

I love the variety that seasons offer…

I love that I need to check the forecast every day in Paris to know what the day will hold. I missed wearing boots and sweaters when I lived in Panama, and I relish the cold now that I have it back.

Tuileries Garden in the Fall…

In Latin America, at least around the equator, there are no seasons to speak of. Moreover, the sun rises and sets at about the same time every day no matter the time of year.

I love waking up with the sun at 6 a.m. or thereabouts, and starting the day off with an enthusiastic bang. Seeing the clear blue sky as soon as I get out of bed is like a jolt of energy.

When I lived in Panama City, I’d take my dog out for a run before the sun got too hot, hit the gym, go for a quick swim to cool down, make a smoothie with fresh tropical fruits and coconut water, then head to work by 8 a.m.

Panama City’s Cinta Costera

The downside is that the sun also sets before 7 p.m. every day, which can be a drag when you depend on daylight for motivation. It’s hard to want to go out again after getting back from work in the dark. But I love that it winds me down naturally for the day.

In northern Europe, the sun rises after 8 a.m. and sets before 5 p.m. in winter… In summer, the sun rises early like in Panama, but stays out until well after 10 p.m. European daylight hours can be inconvenient, to say the least.

With the consistent sunshine you can expect on the equator, you never really need to plan ahead for the weather. Every day is perfect for the pool or the beach, with minor blips of monsoon level rain to add to the spice of life in the tropics. I had a nice tan for nearly a decade, which was fun.

Panama Versus France: The Business Culture

This one depends on the location you’re talking about in Latin America, but when it comes to Panama City, there’s a much more modern business mentality than anywhere in Europe…

And this is true of most capital cities south of the border, as well as most other densely populated cities. It’s only in the small towns and fishing villages that you’ll encounter the “mañana attitude” that North Americans associate with this part of the world.

When I say business culture, it comes down to things like opening and closing hours, a more consumerist mentality, and even the ability to start or manage a business.

Europe is far less evolved on the topic of anything commercial than anywhere on the far side of the Atlantic. Businesses don’t typically open until 10 a.m., close for lunch (at least an hour, if not two), and close by six, eight at the latest. Few things open on weekends. Laws inevitably favor employees over employers, and the taxes associated with running a business can be prohibitive.

I was shocked that many businesses open at 7 in the morning in Panama and close at 8 p.m. at the earliest. Hours are consistent six days a week, and while you can’t count on things being open on Sunday, it’s becoming more of a norm.

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Panama Versus France: Which Is For You?

This is obviously a subjective question… all of the above-mentioned issues could be a pro or a con… or both… depending on your preferences, priorities, and perspective.

Do you like the idea of an anything-goes culture? Or are you a rule follower by nature?

If you like order and calm, then Europe is more your speed. If you like chaos and unpredictability, Latin America will be more your speed.

Do you prefer stability and reliability over spontaneity and experimentation? When it comes to the weather, Latin America is more dependable, but when it comes to maintenance of the status quo, Europe is the winner.

If you like that feeling of off-road discovery and a no-taboos Wild West feeling, it’s Latin America.

If you like walking a well-paved road that’s clean and orderly—both metaphorically and literally—it’s Europe.

And, of course, these are grand generalizations. There are places on both continents that defy all these stereotypes, and places where they are true to varying degrees… I’ve tried to outline the extremes of the spectrum.

Which is for you?

If you think it might be Europe, why not join me later this week for our France Virtual Conference—taking place online this Thursday and Friday, Sept. 24 and 25—where we’ll take a deep dive into all the pros and cons of life in this Old World great.

Book your spot to join me at this live, two-day event and you’ll gain access to expert advice from French residency attorneys, tax pros, real estate insiders, and long-time expats; Q&A sessions for answering your most pressing questions; downloadable tools, reports, and checklists; plus, lifetime access to it all via click-and-play on-demand video.

Book your spot to join me at the France Virtual Conference today and you’ll lock in a $100 discount.

Looking forward to connecting with you online this Thursday…

Bonne route,

The post France Versus Panama appeared first on Live and Invest Overseas.

I first came to Paris in 2004 and finished high school in one of the city’s bilingual schools…

And that was that.

I had fallen in love and was smitten for life.

In the interim years, I moved around a bit, always with the intention of eventually moving back to Paris. 

In 2018, a full decade after my first stint here, I finally got the chance.

My husband and I, plus our dog and cat, all hopped the Atlantic and settled into Paname (the local nickname for Paris).

Eight years on, we’ve had two daughters here, survived Covid, invested in real estate and agriculture in Europe, pursued residency and citizenship, and created a life here that we intend to build on for decades to come.

Having lived here previously, I have the unique perspective of having seen Paris change over the last two decades. As much as Parisians like things to stay the same, things have indeed changed—and, in many ways, these changes have made the city more accessible to foreigners.

As my husband likes to say, “America is inevitable.” American culture has been exported around the world, and Paris—as much as locals would vehemently deny it—has embraced it as strongly as anywhere else in the world.

Back in 2006, when Nicolas Sarkozy was running for president, he made the tabloids for jogging… they called him an American puppet, running around in pointless circles just like Americans like to.

No self-respecting French person would have jogged back then. Today, though, you’re likely to be run off park paths by the hordes of joggers that run at all hours of the day.

When I lived here as a teen, there could be no greater humiliation than being seen in public in a baseball cap, in shorts, in sneakers, or any kind of loungewear.

These days, most women wear tennis shoes to work with dresses, skirts, and suits… Baseball caps are more of a fashion statement than a sports statement… and you’ll see plenty of folks on the streets in yoga or sportswear as they make their way to a class or a gym.

Gyms, incidentally, were a rarity back then—there was but one chain with a few locations in the city. Nowadays, there are just as many choices as you’d expect in any U.S. city.

When eating out, you’d be looked at like an alien if you asked to take your leftovers to go, and there was no infrastructure to provide you with a to-go box or bag. Partially, this is due to how people eat here—portions served are reasonable, meant to be finished in a sitting. Since Covid, though, takeout food and delivery services have flourished, and now any café is ready to wrap up whatever can’t be finished.

All these little concessions to American culture may seem insignificant, but they add up. My husband had far less culture shock after moving in 2018 than he did when he came to visit in 2008.

That’s not to say moving here will be a seamless transition from North America… there are still plenty of things that you’ll need to adjust to…

If you’ve ever fantasized about a life in Paris, I can tell you that it’s not only possible to live here—as a working family, as a student, as a retiree, or anything in between—but that life here won’t disappoint on that fantasy.

Paris is a working city. People make fun of Parisians and their never-ending routine with the joke motto: metro, boulot, dodo (metro, work, sleep). And depending on where you live, this routine can be a bedrock of life. If you settle in a working district, or even just in a building that’s mostly commercial with a couple residential units, you’ll see the pattern of this daily grind.

But Parisians work to live—it’s cliché but it’s true. Parisians go to work late, they take a leisurely lunch, often with wine, they end the day early, and they enjoy their evenings with friends and family. Their work hours are regulated by a law that mandates a mere 35 working hours per week.

Shops stay closed on Sundays, often work only partial Saturdays, if at all. School holidays take place every six weeks (for two full weeks), and the entire country closes down for the month of August when everyone takes vacation.

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And all of this in a major world city.

It doesn’t matter to a Frenchie if they can make extra money working during “off” hours or that to be closed for lunch is somehow unprofessional in our modern world… they prefer their personal time to extra cash.

Non-working hours are truly sacred to the French. And that’s one of the things I love most about living here—I love that they value work less than personal time and that this idea is reinforced at all levels of society.

All that said, it’s important to really scope out a neighborhood before making any commitment, because the feeling of each quartier is unique and you might not get a real sense of it until you’ve spent a couple of full days and nights.

Generalized descriptions of an entire arrondissement won’t mean much when it comes to a particular area or even a specific street or building. You’ll only be able to truly know a place by spending time there yourself.

It was important to me to find a neighborhood that felt residential—one that felt like a community. In a more working part of the arrondissement, most of the population commutes in for work and is out by 7 p.m., and there’s a feeling of exodus. No sense of permanence, like you could get to know your neighbors and become a known regular at the café. I took care to make sure the part of town we settled in is residential—perhaps a little too much so at times.

Think Paris sounds like the city for you?

If you’re a city person at heart but still appreciate a more traditional, less streamlined way of life…

If you want to go to the opera one night and a local produce market the next morning…

If you love being active and walking everyday…

If you never tire of museums, architecture, and history…

If you live for a spontaneous café lunch… 

If you want to easily make expat friends after arriving…

If you want to hop around Europe, exploring every country on the Continent…

If any of the above sound like you, then Paris might be your Shangri-La.

Whether you’re retired, working, raising a family, or are just a kid, Paris’ lifestyle will suit.

Between the food and the wine, the museums and the monuments, it’s easy to fall in love with Paris at first sight. But if you think you can stomach all the little quirks and annoyances, too, the love might last a lifetime…

Bonne route,

The post The Truth About Expat Life In Paris appeared first on Live and Invest Overseas.

This story unfolds on the West Coast of Northern Cyprus, where Larry and Mary returned to see the progress of their frontline Mediterranean apartment…

They purchased their pre-construction unit and began building last year.

Now, what had started as a vision shared through architectural plans, digital renders, Zoom meetings, and email conversations has started to become a real home by the sea.

This is when building a property overseas stops feeling abstract…

The West Coast: A Different Side Of Northern Cyprus

Before visiting the apartment, Larry and Mary stopped at the sales office, overlooking both the coastline and the wider project area.

From that first view, they were reminded instantly of why they chose this stretch of coastline for their new home over all the others the world has to offer. And they aren’t the only ones—this is increasingly a highly sought-after region for expats and investors from across the globe.

The landscape here is open, quiet, and unspoiled. Unlike heavily developed Mediterranean havens where the coastline has already become crowded and expensive, this coast still carries a sense of natural calm. The sea, the breeze, the slower pace, and the panoramic ocean views create an atmosphere that you just can’t get through photos alone—you have to see it to believe it.

Cyprus offers Mediterranean beauty… but with a more accessible lifestyle and property market compared to many coastal regions in Spain, Portugal, Southern France, or Italy.

From Floorplans To A Real Mediterranean Home

As Larry and Mary looked toward their apartment, their excitement was clear.

At the start, a property purchase like this exists only as a floorplan…

Months later, standing in front of the building turns that paper dream into a reality. Their apartment had finally reached a stage where their future home could be imagined in real life.

And it’s clear even at this stage of the construction: a beachfront apartment here offers more than a gorgeous view. It creates a routine shaped by morning walks along the coastline, fresh Mediterranean air, access to wellness-focused spaces, and a calmer rhythm that has disappeared in busier cities.

Life By The Sea

The apartment’s location is closely connected to one of the project’s most important lifestyle features: a specialized wellness center. Positioned just steps from the sea, the concept is designed around long-term comfort, wellbeing, movement, relaxation, and quality of life.

The center supports a day-to-day lifestyle where health and wellness facilities, assisted home care, coastal walks, sea views, and resort-style amenities are just part of life, not something to be figured out or sought from afar. 

Northern Cyprus’ West Coast offers a peaceful, wide-open way of experiencing the Mediterranean, with a calm, laid-back rhythm that you just don’t get any more from the traditional Med hotspots. Here, life revolves around morning beach strolls, ocean views, and a closer connection to nature. Time slows down here… life is more balanced.

Why Move To Cyprus?

Moving to Cyprus (or anywhere) always starts with the same list of practical questions: 

• Cost of living 
• Property value 
• Health care access 
• Climate
• Community 
• Residency options
• Long-term lifestyle quality 

And Northern Cyprus answers each of these questions with a combination of affordability, classic Mediterranean lifestyle, and a rapidly appreciating international property market.

Relocating across the Atlantic might seem like a major logistical challenge—and it’s certainly not one to be taken for granted—but traveling from the U.S. to Northern Cyprus is remarkably straightforward. With seamless, top-tier connections via Istanbul on Turkish Airlines, reaching this Mediterranean paradise is both easy and comfortable.

In established coastal markets, a modern sea-view apartment with resort facilities and on-site wellness amenities would demand an entry price of at least double the average in Northern Cyprus—if not more.

But here, selected coastal regions still offer a window of opportunity…

Buyers can secure homes close to the Mediterranean—or directly on it—while the area continues to develop… that is to say, before prices mature.

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A Region Shaped By Nature, History, And Slower Living

After touring their apartment, Larry and Mary relaxed and refreshed themselves at a nearby restaurant, just down the beach from their soon-to-be new home.

Sipping a cocktail on the beach, the conversation naturally moved beyond property and investment, and the island itself became part of the story…

Cyprus carries a deep cultural history shaped by ancient civilizations, archaeological sites, coastal settlements, and centuries of Mediterranean influence.

This history adds depth to everyday life. The island is not just a sunny location… it’s a place with character, history, memory, and cultural richness influenced by all the major civilizations of this region.

Property Values On The West Coast Of Northern Cyprus

One of the strongest reasons international buyers are paying attention to the West Coast is the balance between lifestyle and value.

In major Mediterranean destinations, beachfront property with modern amenities has become increasingly costly. Prices in many parts of Spain, Portugal, Southern France, and Italy have moved beyond the reach of many lifestyle investors.

Northern Cyprus offers a different picture. Modern resort-style developments, sea views, wellness facilities, and walking-distance access to the coastline are still affordable.

But it won’t last forever…  as international awareness grows, Cyprus’ market will appreciate.

In other words, buying here right now is not just a lifestyle decision but a promising long-term investment.

The quality of life and potential capital appreciation make a purchase here an easy decision, and as infrastructure, demand, and international recognition develop, prices will only rise.

More Than A Beachfront Apartment

Larry and Mary’s visit illustrates how the decision to buy here is never based on one factor alone…

The apartment matters, but so does the coastline…

The view matters, but so does the feeling of the region…

The investment value matters, but so does the idea of waking up to a fantasy-scape as you look out your window to the new life you’ve adopted…

With wellness and medical care at the heart of the project, this property does something unique in blending home, leisure, and wellness—all just steps from the ocean. 

This combination appeals to so many for different reasons. Be you a retiree, lifestyle buyer, remote professional, or investor, there’s something here to appeal.

Cyprus’ West Coast In 2026

The West Coast of the island is especially suited to buyers who want a quieter alternative to more developed Mediterranean towns, while still having access to modern property standards and resort-style facilities.

This isn’t just changing your address… This is choosing a slower pace, a wide-open landscape, and an unbroken connection to the sea.

Larry and Mary’s return to the West Coast was more than a construction visit. It was a reminder of why they fell in love with this island in the first place.

The opportunity here is not only to purchase property, it’s about securing a beachfront place in the Mediterranean region before it becomes fully discovered.

Bonne route,

The post Larry & Mary’s Mediterranean Dream Getaway ($110K!) appeared first on Live and Invest Overseas.

After a day trip to Carcassonne, Theresa and her husband decided to relocate here from the States. The year was 2009, their children were grown, and the time was right. 

She tells us what life is like in this corner of France…  

LIOS: What made you choose Carcassonne over any other town in France? 

Theresa: We wanted a mid-size town with historical significance and the ability to walk to the train station. We can walk to the train station and take day trips without worrying about a car park.  

(Theresa added in a later conversation that she takes the train quite regularly to Narbonne, or other places of interest, on her own and has also flown solo from Carcassonne to take a trip to London.) 

Carcassonne has been the perfect choice for us. We enjoy the south of France for weather and cultural events.  

LIOS: What are the best things about living in Carcassonne? 

Theresa: The best part of living here is the return to a simpler life. We eat healthier foods as we shop every day. A trip to the post office or the bakery is always begun with a greeting of “Bonjour.” We enjoy the attention to detail from restaurants to flowers being wrapped with ribbon. 

LIOS: What don’t you like about living in Carcassonne? 

Theresa: We thought and thought and couldn’t come up with anything we don’t enjoy. This doesn’t mean that things are always smooth, but we make it work. 

LIOS: Is the windy weather a problem? Carcassonne is known by many to be windy… 

Theresa: It has never been a major concern for us. We appreciate the breeze that cooled our apartment and the fact that we never have to use air conditioning. 

LIOS: What type of property do you own, and is it in the Bastide or La Cité? How many months of the year do you spend in Carcassonne? 

Theresa: We own a two-story, two-bedroom town house in the Bastide. We spend about five months in total each year in Carcassonne. We are usually in here for summer and then return in the fall and winter and maybe the following spring…  

We again thought about how we wanted to live while in France, we have a garage (where we can leave our Citroën deux chevaux of course!), and a small courtyard. It was the first place we looked at and when we realized what our limited budget would buy, we knew we had a winner. 

LIOS: Do you rent your property out when you are not there? 

Theresa: We do not rent out the property. It’s truly our second home (though we have been told we could rent it out). 

LIOS: How did you find your property? Would you recommend a particular realtor? 

Theresa: Buying property in France is much different than in the United States. It’s important to find a realtor to work with you that understands both markets.  

We hired a lovely couple who were realtors and expats. They not only guided us through the experiences but reminded us of the differences and did not allow us to make assumptions based on our knowledge of American real estate.  

We stuck to our budget and recognized that finding what we were looking for would need some flexibility. For example, we were able to move in but it has taken some time to make things as we want.  

Nothing happens quickly in France, and you must be prepared to relax. Our home is just what we wanted but it is next to a restaurant, which I think was a stumbling block for others; it was a compromise we were willing to make.  

The restaurant owners now look out for our property when we aren’t there. Our realtors were worth every penny and are now dear friends.

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LIOS: Do you think it’s necessary to learn French in order to get by? Did you speak French before coming here? 

Theresa: My husband was born in France and is a French citizen. He has lived in the States for 45 years, and I had never heard him speak French until our first trip many years ago.  

He speaks French fluently, but I do not. You need to know some French before you live in a city like Carcassonne, however, you can get by.  

We try to speak only French at least one day a week, which we have been told is a good way for me to improve. The experience is much richer when you can communicate… and a little wine can always ease your tongue! 

LIOS: Are there any Anglophone expat groups? 

Theresa: We’re not aware of any formal expat groups, but we have met many English-speaking people on vacation. One of the reasons for living in an historical city is you will meet English speakers and hear English, especially in the summer. 

LIOS: What about the cost of living? How does it compare to back in the States? 

Theresa: You can live well for very little in Carcassonne.  

Fresh fruit and vegetables are reasonable. Restaurants can be pricey so searching out inexpensive options is necessary but certainly possible. Internet and TV are inexpensive as we don’t have a million channels like in the States.  

We don’t use air conditioning so utilities are reasonable throughout most of the year; heat is electric and can be pricey if used constantly. Taxes should also be considered.  

LIOS: Could you comment about the availability, price, and quality of medical and dental care? 

Theresa: We have not needed medical or dental care. The local pharmacies are terrific for minor issues such as colds. We contacted our U.S. insurer (Blue Cross – Blue Shield) and take paperwork with us if we need medical care in France. 

LIOS: What about the surrounding area? Are there particular villages that you would recommend visiting? 

Theresa: We would recommend driving through the Corbières Mountains, train trips to Avignon and Toulouse. Limoux is fun at Carnival time. We try to take a Sunday drive in any direction and stop for lunch. We have found some gems that way—Castelnaudary being one that comes to mind. There are some of the aptly labelled “most beautiful villages in France” close by. 

LIOS: If you could offer any other insider knowledge to someone considering moving to Carcassonne, what would you tell them? 

Theresa: Carcassonne is easily explored in a few days as a tourist, however living here requires a dedication to the French lifestyle. 

Bonne route,

The post From A Day Trip To A New Life In Southern France appeared first on Live and Invest Overseas.

Out of the hundreds of emails we get from readers every day, at least a dozen are to do with international health care—how do you access it, how much is insurance, what about age limits, etc.?

In fact, our recent survey shows that 6 in 10 Live And Invest Overseas readers are considering going overseas for medical or dental care due to cost.

Health care in Europe (and overseas in general) is typically a fraction of the cost as in America, and access is usually universal—even for foreign residents.

So ask yourself… what would your retirement look like if health care weren’t something you had to worry about…?

When you move to Europe, you’ll discover that a routine doctor’s visit costs less than dinner out, prescriptions are a fraction of U.S. prices, and health insurance no longer dictates your life…

For Americans used to navigating high costs, complicated insurance, and the fear of an unexpected medical bill, Europe can offer a very different experience.

But “European health care” isn’t one homogenous thing, and figuring out any given system takes a little bit of know-how.

This month’s issue of Europe Uncovered is dedicated to giving you just that…

This is an in-depth guide to health care in five of the most popular countries for Americans abroad—France, Spain, Greece, Italy, and Portugal.

But we go beyond the basics of the simple process—that is, how each system works—and dive into the reality of what it’s like to be an expat seeking medical care in a foreign country.

Five sets of expats who have actually used the systems in each country weigh in on their experiences and how they compared to back home—including insider details on access, quality of care, copays, costs, and comparisons.

They share what surprised them, what worked beautifully, where they ran into frustrations, and what they wish they’d known before they needed care.

Because it’s one thing to read about health care overseas (or ask AI for a summary of a foreign health care system)…

It’s another thing entirely to know what it feels like when you actually need it.

Here’s a few snippets of stories expats have shared with me for this report…

What It’s Really Like

Mary’s France Story

Mary Kisinger moved to Montpellier in the South of France in late 2025. Even though she hasn’t even celebrated her one-year anniversary, she’s already had plenty of experience with the local health care system…

“In April I had an unexpected trip to the ER in France.

“I did not yet have my Carte Vitale (French health card), which meant I would pay for this emergency visit from my own pocket. I was very worried about the cost.

“No payment was required that night at the hospital, so I was still dreading that bill.

“Two weeks later I received that dreaded bill… for 257 euros for all the medical services, including the two scans, hospital-administered pain meds, and doctor’s consultation.

“I literally laughed out loud! My previous U.S. hospital procedure was a colonoscopy (granted, not exactly comparable, but the only thing I have to compare), and my bill, with Medicare, was $14,000! I did not add an extra zero to that amount.

“I’ll take the French system any day over the U.S.!”

Micah’s Spain Story

“For our specific visas to live in Spain, we were required to purchase private insurance. Private insurance! Oh no! In the U.S. insurance is crazy expensive, but as it turns out, that is not the case in Spain. For a family of four, for an entire year, the bill was about $2,800, or to put that in terms of American health care, about 2.5 months of what it would cost us through my wife’s employer.

“But there’s more! Or rather, there’s no more! Whereas in the U.S. you are still on the hook for co-pays, deductibles, and the like, in Spain, for the most part, our plan required very little additional out-of-pocket expenses.

“Here’s a specific example—our son needed to have ear surgery. We decided to have this done in Spain, and we spent exactly zero dollars on the procedure, which included pre- and follow-up appointments as well as a one-day hospital stay.

“The fact that we don’t have to pay any out-of-pocket costs to go see a doctor has made decisions to seek medical care much easier—we never have to weigh up whether we need treatment or if we should just try to “tough it out”—an occurrence that takes place far too often in the U.S., often with tragic results. Medicines are reasonably priced as well, most prescriptions we’ve had to fill have rarely if ever cost more than $20 if that.”

Su’s Italy Story

“In Italy, health care is generally more affordable than it is in the U.S., but the quality and availability of services vary.

“Every resident in Italy is entitled to a health card that entitles you to free visits with your medico di base (primary care physician) and free or discounted tests and procedures.

“If there is a fee for a service, it’s usually under 50 euros. You pay a ticket sanitario, which is a bit like a co-pay, but ultimately it is far less than the full price of the service. Many prescription drugs are free; others are heavily subsidized.

“The maximum expats pay is 2,788.87 euros per year currently.

“I have my general practitionerthrough the SSN system, so I don’t pay for visits. She’s also fairly responsive via WhatsApp, which is surprising to me, since no American doctor was ever reachable without an appointment! If I need a prescription without it being necessary to have a visit, I just text her, and she sends me the prescription.

“For appointments that are more urgent than the Italian health system can accommodate, I go to a private facility and pay out of pocket. I’ve done this for various imaging services, and I pay to see my gynecologist; otherwise, I’d end up seeing a different doctor every visit.

“Even paying out of pocket is so much more affordable than the private health care I was paying for in the U.S. as a freelancer.”

Joch’s Portugal Story

“Sleepless nights. Many sleepless nights.

“Anxiety about the costs of quality health care led to sleepless nights as I approached 70. Jeff and I lived in northern California. I feared I could not afford to stop working. If a catastrophic health issue arrived, would escalating costs bankrupt us?

“We did some research and decided a move to Portugal was the answer to our problems.

“Portugal’s health system is ranked the 9th best in Europe and 12th in the world.

Portugal’s hospital network offers modern, well-equipped units, and at least 90% of all doctors are English-speaking. Specialty consultations at a public hospital will cost you about 8 euros and emergencies about 20 euros.

“In 2019 residing in California, Jeff and I paid over $12,000 a year for health insurance (salary deductions plus co-pays). I’m told that figure today can reach $19,000 a year for an individual. Our Portuguese private medical insurance is less than $1,000 a year.

“Yes—we reduced our health care costs by 92%!

“My private health insurance this year is 32 euros per month. Specialty consultations are at least 50% covered by insurance, meaning you pay less than half the total cost of the appointment. For example, an average specialty consultation costs about 80 euros; with insurance you pay only 35 euros.”

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Jackie’s Greece Story

“I watched images on the monitor of my husband’s beating heart while the cardiologist completed the exam using modern computerized equipment. It was nearly 7 p.m., evening to our way of thinking, afternoon as it is considered in Greece.

“Back in Washington State, from where we hail, an appointment this late in the day would have constituted an emergency, but here regular office hours can run until 10 p.m.

“And America’s privacy laws would have certainly kept me in the waiting room, unlike here where it is expected that family members who accompany patients to appointments will sit in on them as well.

“There’s no doubt about it; our Greek health care has been different from that which we’ve experienced in the States.

“It is less expensive.

“More thorough.

“More expedient.

“Personalized and caring.

“Joel’s cardiology checkup was a prerequisite for his cataract surgery the following week. Such an exam is generally required prior to medical procedures (cataract surgeries, knee and hip replacements, for example) that might involve an anesthetic.

“This appointment included a dual blood pressure test, EKG, and an ultrasound of the heart, all of which took the better part of an hour. It was all conducted by the doctor and the cost was 70 euros (about $80).

“Joel’s recent cataract surgeries were performed a week apart in a recently opened eye surgery center in Kalamata. The cost of two surgeries was 2,500 euros, and includes three follow up visits—the final one six months from now. My eye exam was 50 euros.”

Bonne route,

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