6 surprising additions to the top 10 expat destinations

The Telegraph this month listed its recommendations for the least expensive places to retire. And the list includes some unexpected additions to the usual top 10 expat destinations. Estonia, Poland and even Wales get a mention, as buyers look to increasingly diverse places for affordable property.

Here are some of the more surprising places suggested by the newspaper:

Nova Scotia, Canada

Photo credit: Glen Euloth

With its 4,000 miles of coastline and low prices, Canada’s open air region has sea, sand and a high number of Scottish descendants. Shipwrecks and islands litter the landscape, which boasts a continental climate that should appeal to buyers as much as its nickname: “Canada’s Ocean Playground”.

Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt

Photo credit: Svetlana Grechkina

Egypt may seem a little dry and dusty for older house hunters, but this resort guarantees a warm place to live with swimming pools, ancient history and the Red Sea. It’s different: in a good way.

Tallin, Estonia

Photo credit: Jim G

“Estonia?” you say, wondering what The Telegraph is thinking. But the newspaper highlights the cheap costs, describing it as “a European capital where you can afford a place in the middle of town”. The lack of surveying and other paperwork adds to the appeal, while Estonia’s high tourist figures reveal the country’s surprising foreign appeal.

Lalzit Bay, Albania

Photo credit: Robert Nagle

This resort is often mentioned in conjunction with Albanian real estate, despite the fact that it’s not finished yet. But the weather is as sunny as it gets on the Adriatic Coast, and Albania’s tourism industry and economy is looking healthy right now, especially compared to the rest of Europe.

Marrakesh, Morocco

Photo credit: Jon Addison

Morocco is a popular place, but not always one that gets mentioned for retirement. But The Telegraph assures us that it can be very relaxing for new residents, and the 32 million people already living there probably wouldn’t disagree.

Monmouthshire, Wales

Photo credit: Phillip Capper

Go to Wales? Yes, says The Telegraph, recommending places like Monmouth and Abergavenny for their local cuisine and wide range of cultural activities and festivals. Once you travel there, the picturesque landscape is hard to resist.