Expat shares safest country to retire as they say a woman can walk alone | Travel News | Travel

Retiring abroad as a single person can be a daunting prospect. But there’s no reason not to take the plunge, according to the expat experts at InternationalLiving.com .

Jessica Ramesch, International Living, said: “For a single person, exchanging your existing life for a brand-new one in another country is a big deal. An overseas move can be a grand adventure, often with lower living expenses and a better, healthier lifestyle.

“But it won’t be without its challenges. What expats all over the world report, though, is that you’re never on your own. And that has been my experience as a single abroad, as well. Seek out established expat communities, and you’ll find them to be friendly and helpful.”

According to the team’s research, Madrid, Spain’s vibrant capital city, is one of the best places in the world to retire as a single person.

It’s one of Europe’s driest capital cities and the low rainfall might be a huge plus for British retirees looking to escape the UK’s dreary weather.

Many residents find that owning a car is unnecessary as it’s easy to get around Madrid using its public transport system.

Marsha Scarborough, an American expat living in Madrid, said she felt the city was a really safe place to live.

She said: “In 2016, one of my former students invited me to visit him in Madrid. I had never really considered Europe because I had a preconceived idea that it would be too expensive.

“But I took a chance and went and I didn’t regret it. You can walk on the streets at any time of the day or night as a woman alone and not even think about it.

“There might be a couple of pickpockets, but there is almost no violent crime. People don’t have guns. To me, that was a big plus.”

Madrid has a relatively low crime rate and according to Numbeo statistics, more than 85 percent of people feel safe walking home at night.