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10 of the Best Places to Escape to Outside of the USA 

K says she’s leaving the country if Trump wins. JM says he’s leaving if he loses.

If their sentiments are common, airfare and other costs of living abroad will be going up. Depending on what happens tomorrow, you may want to plan ahead.

Here is our list of the best places to escape to outside of the USA – the posh places and the charming places (for those on a budget). We compiled it mostly from our colleagues at International Living.

Abruzzo, Italy

La bella Italia: known for its historic cities, beautiful beaches, delicious cuisine, exquisite fashion, and influential art. Pick the right area of the country to call your home and you can spend your weekends driving to its diverse cities and small towns, and you can even take a ferry to the unforgettable islands of Sardinia and Sicily. If you make your home in the region of Abruzzo, in particular, you will enjoy an affordable cost of living that is ideal for those who are no longer working full-time. You will have access to Pescara, which sits along the Adriatic coast, and you will also be close to Rome, vineyards, castles, and villages. Plus, when you don’t want to be on a beach or in the water, you can go skiing instead, as this region is close to it all. With a warm climate throughout the year, you can relax in the sunshine while sipping wine and chatting with friends.

Annecy, France

The big attraction in Annecy, the pearl of the French Alps, is the ski slopes in winter. But this lakeside city is an appealing place to be year-round. Unlike other top ski destinations in France, fairy-tale Annecy is not a tourist town, but a living community that is more cosmopolitan than a typical haunt of snow bunnies. Annecy is a city of art and history that can seem like an open-air museum. Every July, its streets are given over to Noctibules, an annual art festival, and the much-anticipated Fete du Lac in August features the biggest fireworks show in Europe.

Kotor, Montenegro

This tiny seaside country of a half-million people dispersed over an area smaller than the state of Connecticut is nestled between Croatia and Albania in Southern Europe. Bayside Kotor, surrounded by towering mountains on one side and the dazzling Adriatic on the other, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and perhaps the best-preserved medieval town in the Mediterranean. The Old Town square is anchored by the 11th century Saint Tryphon’s Cathedral, but its cafés and shops are lively and bustling with a youthful energy. This is a little-known but friendly, safe, and welcoming corner of Europe, comparable to the historic stone villages in Italy, but more affordable.

Carcassonne, France

Walt Disney is said to have been inspired by its towers, turrets, and ramparts, and you can understand why when the sun rises over the medieval city of Carcassonne in southeast France. At the heart of Cathar country, this was, for centuries, an important fortification. Today, the city of Carcassonne has much to offer tourists and residents, including a medieval castle, St. Nazarius Basilica, boutiques, artists’ workshops, and Michelin-starred restaurants. Life in the Bastide is centered on the Place Carnot, with its pretty fountain, street-side cafés, produce market, and restaurants. Within an hour are the sandy beaches of the Mediterranean, and 90 minutes away is skiing in the Pyrenees.

Città Sant’Angelo, Italy

Perched on a hilltop with views of Gran Sasso Mountain, the Adriatic, vineyards, and olive groves sits 9th-century Città Sant’Angelo. In the heart of Italy’s Abruzzo region, this is one of the greenest parts of Europe, with more than a dozen ski resorts in one direction and 80 miles of coastline in the other. Città Sant’Angelo has earned the title “Borgo,” recognizing it as one of Italy’s most beautiful cities. Sant’Angelo has also been designated a “Città Slow,” a town committed to preserving traditional ways of life and resisting development. Not much has changed in Città Sant’Angelo over the centuries, and that’s the way residents like it.

Ambergris Caye, Belize

The sole Central American country with English as its official language, Belize offers retirees a warm, outdoor-oriented environment, including fishing and barrier reef diving. Cost of living is quite reasonable. Crime is not a problem outside of Belize City. Quality healthcare can be an issue; retirees often return to the US – a two-hour plane ride to Houston – for major medical needs. This politically stable country lures retirees with a Qualified Retired Persons program that offers permanent residency upon showing just $24,000 in annual income. Popular venues for retirees include Ambergris Caye, an island 35 miles northeast of Belize City, and Corozal, a mainland city on the Atlantic Ocean near Mexico.

Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic has swaying palm trees, warm turquoise water, and year-round sunshine in abundance. This small nation boasts about 800 miles of coastline, all of it sandy and inviting. While the southeastern coast can be very touristy, the north coast is less trafficked and naturally stunning, with forested mountains rising behind the white-sand beaches. The city of Puerto Plata provides resort beach living without typical resort beach costs. A couple’s basic monthly budget is about $1100, including rent. If you invest in a place of your own, your monthly living costs could be much less, as property prices in this country are a bargain. You could buy an apartment for as little as $100,000.

Chiang Mai, Thailand

Chiang Mai lures travelers, expats and retirees from around the world with its exceptionally low cost of living, high-quality health care and modern infrastructure. For $330 a month, you could rent a two-bedroom bungalow with a garden, and for $830 monthly, you could settle into a three-bedroom villa with a private swimming pool. Rents normally include utilities and basic cable. You can get around using tuk-tuks, baht buses, and the occasional taxi for just a few dollars a day. Many expats claim it’s cheaper to eat out than to buy groceries, and with all the food options in this city, it’s not hard to eat out for every meal.

Mazatlán, Mexico

Mazatlán boasts more than 10 miles of sandy beaches and a new five-mile boardwalk. You could slide easily into expat life and speak mostly English, or choose to live in a Mexican setting, speaking Spanish and immersing yourself in Mexican culture. One of the biggest benefits of living in Mazatlán is the low cost of living. Basic items for a couple will cost you about $1070 a month if you own your own apartment, and $1380 if you rent a house near the beach. Food prices vary depending on how many American and Canadian imported items you buy. Dinner for two in the city’s best fine-dining establishments costs about $61, including wine and tip. Dinner in a more casual restaurant on the water runs about $31 with drinks.

Da Lat, Vietnam

Da Lat’s cool weather, misty peaks, and pine forest have a historic and otherworldly charm that can be enjoyed at an impressively low cost. Monthly expenses for a couple work out to about $900. Rent can be as little as $194 a month for a studio apartment on the edge of town and $345 to $430 for a more central apartment. Air conditioning isn’t needed in Da Lat, so electricity bills are always low, and utilities are usually included in the cost of a rental. Known as the garden of Vietnam, flowers including roses, marigolds, hydrangeas, and golden everlastings are grown here. Da Lat has its own wine industry, and enjoys a reputation for having some of the best food in the country. A full, delicious meal can be had for as little as $1 a plate.

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