# If I were to expatriate, what would be a good destination? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 16, 2002, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-were-to-expatriate-what-would-be-a-good-destination/124196 "2002-08-16T15:02:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Earthworm\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f07891/32.png) [@Earthworm\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthworm_Jim)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-were-to-expatriate-what-would-be-a-good-destination/124196/1 "2002-08-16T15:02:39Z")
So, I’m always entertaining the notion of leaving the good ole USofA, at least for a few years. It’d make a nice get-away for a while, and I can only be a better person for seeing some of the rest of the world. But what’s a good country to start with? I’ve been thinking mostly about New Zealand or Australia, but I really don’t know much about any place other than the US. So, anyone have any suggestions? Thanks, ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-were-to-expatriate-what-would-be-a-good-destination/124196/2 "2002-08-16T15:23:23Z")
Cayman Islands, perhaps? ---
**Author:** ![Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ebca7d/32.png) [@Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Violet)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-were-to-expatriate-what-would-be-a-good-destination/124196/3 "2002-08-16T15:40:47Z")
> [@](#): > > what’s a good country to start with? I’d so some research based on my interests and the type of climate I like/dislike. Also, how would learning a new language suit you? ---
**Author:** ![bernse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@bernse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bernse)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-were-to-expatriate-what-would-be-a-good-destination/124196/4 "2002-08-16T15:41:24Z")
Taking for granted you have some good $$$ to spend… I wouldn’t recomend either of your choices as they are not exactly tax friendly and generally just plain expensive to live in. Caymans are nice but expensive… so bring lots of dough. My underdog choice - **Belize**. Very laid back, more or less safe (safer than most other C.A. countries) awsome weather and beaches (save the odd Hurricane) and land is relatively cheap. Tax laws are relatively friendly. ---
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-were-to-expatriate-what-would-be-a-good-destination/124196/5 "2002-08-16T22:33:45Z")
I’d second New Zealand. You speak the lingo already, the cost of living is low, and the countryside is gorgeous. ---
**Author:** ![Ferrous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Ferrous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferrous)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-were-to-expatriate-what-would-be-a-good-destination/124196/6 "2002-08-16T22:49:01Z")
I’m heading for Costa Rica one of these years. Belize is a good choice also. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2002, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-were-to-expatriate-what-would-be-a-good-destination/124196/7 "2002-08-17T14:00:30Z")
All depends on what you think you want to do to pay the rent; unless they are independently wealthy, a lot of people do what you’re proposing by teaching English as a Second Language. This you can do practically anywhere, although the degree of logistical difficulty with getting work permits, etc, varies greatly from place to place. So you haven’t told us what your aim is: do you just want a change of scenery? If so, what kind of scenery do you like? How intrepid are you? Korea and China seem to be very popular for English teaching these days. Look at a local college paper, and you’ll probably see ads for English teachers there. OTOH, if I had to pick anywhere I’ve been so far as a beautiful, charming, not terribly stressful place to live and experience for a while, I’d pick Portugal. A little bit off the beaten path, lots of history, beautiful architecture, ocean, friendly people, yet access to all the benefits of “civillization” (whatever that means)…what more could you want? It sure would be helpful to learn Portuguese, though, but you could do that once you got there. I have no idea about the work permits there, though. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2002, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-were-to-expatriate-what-would-be-a-good-destination/124196/8 "2002-08-17T16:00:52Z")
We are hiring. Shoot me your CV. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2002, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-were-to-expatriate-what-would-be-a-good-destination/124196/9 "2002-08-17T16:09:22Z")
Move to Miami; it’s the same as a foreign country–different language(s), clothing-optional beaches, lots of shiny people and so on and so forth. Besides, it’s closer to home if you want to move back. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2002, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-were-to-expatriate-what-would-be-a-good-destination/124196/10 "2002-08-17T16:29:15Z")
I honnestly don’t think anybody could give you a sound advice on such a question. It totally depends on your preferences. What cultures have you an interest in? Chinese or latino-american? What climate would you enjoy? Fire and Ice type Iceland or tropical Thailand? What language would you like to learn? The british version of english or farsi? What are your interests? The great landscapes and wildlife of Australia or the old history of India? What is your comfort zone? A place as different as Canada or as different as Zaire? Of course, if you intend to travel to different places and are just wondering where to start, you could indeed consider an “easy” country. Westernized, english-speaking, etc… You should probably just wonder what country seems attractive to you (apparently Australia/ New-Zealand) and try to gather infos on this particular country in order to decide whether it actually fits your bill or not. ---
**Author:** ![Granuaile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecccb3/32.png) [@Granuaile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Granuaile)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2002, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-were-to-expatriate-what-would-be-a-good-destination/124196/11 "2002-08-18T06:39:38Z")
FWIW: I recently spent a few weeks in New Zealand visiting in-laws and was very impressed with it. Beautiful, beautiful countryside and plenty of things to do in a big city with an English feel. (I am referring to Christchurch. Go Crusaders!) However, it is _insanely_ difficult to emigrate to. My Brother-in law is an Irish citizen and married a Kiwi. When she wanted to move back to NZ, BIL had to jump through hoops. Repeatedly. He was a US green card holder and told me it was harder to get into NZ with sponsorship than into the US without. He now has a job opportunity in Australia but their entry laws are (according to him) so restrictive that he’s thinking about giving up on the idea. If you have alot of US dollars behind you, you can live LARGE in New Zealand. When I was there it was something like NZ$2.00 to US$1.00 That being said, I’d move there in a heartbeat. ---
**Author:** ![TalkingHead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TalkingHead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TalkingHead)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2002, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-were-to-expatriate-what-would-be-a-good-destination/124196/12 "2002-08-18T07:46:28Z")
If you are going to go anywhere, then it must be Cascadia. It’s gorgeous, really, check it out here [http://zapatopi.net/cascadia.html](http://zapatopi.net/cascadia.html)