Travel Reconnaissance: How to Assess Your Potential New Home

So, I recently spent 8 glorious days in a potential retirement location in Spain—Valencia, to be perfectly clear. My girlfriend and I had been discussing potential cities for our future home. Together, we worked out some of our “must-haves,” and I made a list. With Google at my fingertips, I got to work, weeding out city after city until only a few standouts remained. After a spur-of-the-moment ticket purchase, we arrived in Madrid and made our way to Valencia to do a recce (reconnaissance). Once there, we got to work exploring and soaking in the Valencian vibe, imagining our potential future.

More about this at the end of the article.

For you, when considering a move overseas for early retirement, it’s essential to assess key areas during an on-location visit. Yes, it’s critical to spend some time there and see if it’s actually going to cut the mustard as your future home. You need to see the sights, smell the pastries, and ascertain if the level of traffic noise is going to drive you into a homicidal rage that could put a dampener on your new life. Essentially, I’m giving you leave from your life to go and visit your shortlist of retirement locations. Go book the tickets and tell them that Andy approved your PTO.

This guide will help you evaluate some key aspects of everyday life by providing practical activities you can do in your potential new city. These activities will help you determine if the destination meets your needs.

Key Areas to Assess:

1. Cost of Living
   • Activity:
     • Shop like a local: Visit grocery stores, local markets, and neighborhood shops. Compare prices with what you’re accustomed to and see if it aligns with your retirement budget. We did this and were blown away by how cheap fresh fruit and veggies were in Valencia compared to Panama.

• Dining out: Eat at local restaurants and cafes that residents frequent, rather than tourist spots, to gauge the true cost of dining out. I also urge you to find good coffee (or your particular vice) and compare both the quality and price to what you’re used to back home.
• Transportation: Use public transportation, such as buses, trains, or local taxis, to understand daily commuting costs and convenience. We found that the metro was extensive and frequent, while Uber, our usual “go-to,” was not.

2. Healthcare Quality
   • Activity:
     • Visit medical facilities: Check out local hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies. Speak with healthcare professionals and, if possible, schedule a basic check-up to experience the standard of care.We visited a physio and numerous pharmacies and were impressed by:
       1. How easy it was to arrange a physio appointment (the next day).
       2. The high level of care and skill of our physio.
       3. How affordable the care was.
       4. His recommendations for things to do and his thoughts on Valencia 🙂

• Chat with expats: Join local expat groups and ask about their healthcare experiences, including the quality and accessibility of medical services. We had friends there already, so this made life easier, but expat groups can be found via Facebook or apps like MeetUp. I can’t recommend this enough.3. Safety and Security
  • Activity:
    • Neighbourhood strolls: Explore different neighbourhoods at various times of the day and night. Pay attention to lighting, the presence of security, and the general atmosphere. I know this is common sense and it’s different for everyone, but we walked, ran, biked, and used public transport everywhere and felt very safe. There’s a level of confidence that comes with that.

• Engage with locals: Strike up conversations with residents and expats about their perceptions of safety in the area. Check local news for crime reports or safety advisories, and just ask your Airbnb host if there’s anywhere you should avoid.

            4. Quality of Life

• • Activity:
    • Immerse in daily life: Spend time in parks, cafes, and public spaces to get a feel for the local lifestyle. Try out activities like hiking, visiting cultural sites, or attending community events. Be a tourist and get the lay of the land. I’m a park guy. I love them. I love running and training in them, having picnics, and taking leisurely strolls through them in the evening. Go find your places and see how you feel when you’re there.

• Observe the local vibe: Notice how locals spend their leisure time and how relaxed or stressed the general atmosphere is. Especially if you’re seeking a slower paced life after the hustling and bustle of the corporate grind.5. Infrastructure and Connectivity
  • Activity:
    • Test internet and utilities: Check the speed and reliability of internet connections in various parts of the city. This is critical if you’re a remote worker or have family back home you love video calling.
    • Explore transportation: Use local transportation apps to make the most of your options, including public transit and roads, to see how easily you can navigate the city. Being able to confidently move around is a game changer in the quality of life department.

6. Language and Cultural Fit

• Activity:
  • Language classes: Take a short course (prior) in the local language to assess how easy or challenging it will be to communicate. Then use it while there. Who cares what you sound like? Everyone started somewhere. Get on with it.

• Cultural immersion: Participate in cultural activities, festivals, or traditions to see how well you adapt to and enjoy the local culture. We packed into a small café to watch a EuroCup Football game (Italy vs. Switzerland). The whole place was packed with Italians. The mood was electric, and we ate and drank while we watched. It was a fantastic experience, even if I was the only Switzerland supporter there.
  Switzerland 2 – 0 Italy 🙂

            7. Expat Community

• • Activity:
    • Join expat groups: I know I’ve already mentioned this, but seriously, expats who have been on the ground are going to be a really easy social and intelligence circle to break into. They can give you good advice on all elements of life that are important since they’ve already been through it themselves. So, find the groups (FB, Meetup, or whatever) and attend the events. Ask about their experiences and challenges living in the area. It’s all good info, and who knows—you might have made your first friend in your new home.

Post-Trip Reflection

Review Your Experiences

Compare Destinations

Make an Informed Decision

Based on your on-location experiences and post-trip reflections, decide whether the destination aligns with your retirement goals. If you’re unsure, consider revisiting the top destinations or exploring new ones before making a final decision.

By actively engaging in these activities during your visit, you’ll gain a comprehensive understanding of each potential retirement location, ensuring you make an informed decision that will stand you in good stead as you start your new life in your dream location. Happy hunting!

Oh, and I almost forgot—we’re all-in on Valencia and are currently sorting out visa stuff. Absolutely frothing for it! More on that in future posts.

Cheers

Andy

Panama City