The Best Cities for a Free as a Bird Lifestyle

According to Wikipedia there are 2,469,501 cities in the world and 193 internationally recognized states so, you have the choice. Choosing a destination is a very personal matter. It depends on the time of year you travel, for how long, what you like and dislike, and the cost of living, etc.

But you have to start somewhere, so here is the procedure we follow when seeking to find those little-known places of paradise.

Finding Paradise

We live in the Northern Hemisphere and the winter months are long and rough. So we want to escape from November to April. We have found that no matter the beauty of the place, weather comes first. We don't want to freeze but we don't want to melt either. Our most important criteria, ranked in order of importance are set out below:

• The weather - not too hot - not too cold - not too rainy.

• The opportunity to rent nice, furnished apartments for $15 to $30/night.

• High-speed Internet

• Everything else: cost of living, food, health & hospitals, security, things to see, things to do, culture, the people, the language.

The Weather

Here is a little secret. From November to April, the best climates in the world are located between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.

If you want a cool place, you can go up to the mountains and if you like it warmer you can stay at sea level.

So far, for these winter months, we have eliminated 2/3rds of the cities of the world, including areas around the Mediterranean Sea, Chile, and, yes, even Florida.... Please note that you can enjoy very good days if you include Florida and Chile. However, from November to April the climate will vary. This can mean some near freezing nights...it is possible to find better.

The next thing we check is the average daily high/low temperature for each month of our stay. The temperature alone is not enough to get the whole picture. You also need to check the humidity level.

We use a Humidex Calculator. It is a calculator that gives a real feel for temperature by combining the humidity level with the temperature. If you are not doing any physical work, you will find that a Humidex of more than 43C during the day is a little too hot. A Humidex of 37C/40C is good. But at 30C, chances are you will find the swimming pool too cold.

Apartments & High Speed Internet

Once we have found a place with a good climate, we then check the opportunities to rent a furnished apartment with high-speed internet access.

If the place is too small, it will not be easy to find the type of apartment we like, at a monthly rent we like. Ideally, the place should be close to a city of 500,000 people - or more. This is a good size. You will have a choice of supermarkets, hospitals, high-speed internet providers, cultural events, cinemas, taxis, restaurants, etc. Everything you need to enjoy a really good life.

Mountains or sea? We have debated this question for years but now, we are decided. The sea. Why? Because the sea gives us more possibilities, more things to see, more things to do. With the sea you can play on two fronts: earth and water.

The sea opens up a whole world of new activities: fishing (or eating fresh sea food), diving, snorkeling, beaches, a relaxed atmosphere, the possibility to wear shorts and sandals day and night, etc. We miss out on all of this in the mountains.

The Negative Criteria

No earthquakes, no hurricanes, no security problems, no malaria, and... no small islands. Hey, you are eliminating the Caribbean Islands? Yes. We have lived on some islands and we prefer continents. Everything is pricier on small islands, communications are more difficult and less reliable, many things are imported, you are at the mercy of events that can disrupt the transportation of food, drugs and even yourself, etc. You should certainly try islands a couple of time, but for us, they are now a thing of the past. Too limited.

Finding Your Own Paradise

The world is yours. Depending on the time of the year and the length of your stay, you can go beyond the Tropics. I am sure that you will find some places that we have never heard of.

Check the Newsletter for a cost of living comparison for different cities.