3 Months To Live Abroad - but Where?

Without budget info how do you expect anyone to make a suggestion?

Yep, more info required. Budget ? city ? island ? accommodation ?

Florida
Cuba
India
Anywhere along the Med
Greece
Turkey
Thailand
Vietnam
Cambodia
Singapore
Hong Kong
Malaysia

South America may be ruled out due to the long flights although I think my flight to Sao Paulo from London was 12 hours. You will need to check for daily flights yourself for the rest of the above and Brazil.
You could base yourself in or around Barcelona or the South of France giving you the option of making trips to/from Spain, France and Italy or overnight train journey's to other parts of Europe. In my experience, the Costa Del Sol in Spain is one of the best area's in mainland Europe for good weather and Seville, Granada and Cordoba are within easy reach. The Island of Malta has great weather and beaches too and is packed with history and friendly people.

Thanks, Linfield, that's exactly the kind of advice I was looking for - areas of/places in a country based on personal experience. I like the sound of the Costa del Sol as a good place to stay and with the bonus of being a 'gateway' to others. Now, I have a start point to research types of accommodation and cost. And good to receive a response given with kindness and respect, those 2 great 'hallmarks' of TT!

Your'e welcome gina. I haven't lived there ( Spain ) for quite a while now. Last time The Sur in English was the main English Language newspaper which you may find useful for idea's on prices for accommodation/language courses etc albeit mainly from other ex-pats renting their places. You can check the classified's online. Most estate agents will speak English and it is worth registering with them too for accommodation. Malaga has frequent daily flights to the UK and is only a 2-2 & 1/2 hours flight.
Prices in Spain have went up in recent years as prices in all the Euro Zone have too but some things still remain cheaper than home but these days don't expect major savings. To be on the safe side I would budget based on prices at home then any savings you make will be a nice surprise. Like everywhere it just takes common sense like not shopping in the centre of a touristy town but using the big supermarkets on the outskirts of a major city or eating out where the locals do.
The Costa Del Sol is a very touristy place but I wouldn't let this put you off. There are advantages to that too especially if you don't speak the language fluently and it does no harm to make friends with 1 or 2 ex-pats as long as you resist living exclusively in that environment.
The weather, food and culture are great in Southern Spain and living there for any length of time will be an enjoyable and enriching experience.

Well let's see how many kind and respectful suggestions you get without budget info ginatraveller.

The number of relevant responses is the TT hallmark of a well asked question.

Your follow-up practical info is hugely useful, Linfield - great starting points, thank you! I'm happy to do masses of research & having a specific start point - for accommodation in particular - is really helpful. I agree - I think it's a good idea not to be put off by the touristy side of Costa. I can see advantages of being there as a base, especially for a 'first-timer' at living abroad. I can also check out if there are any meetup.com groups in the area as one point of social contact. The budget advice is very sensible and, as you say, anything left over from my 'transferable' living costs here can be used as a bonus over there. I'll also check out your suggestion for Malta, never having been there! Thank you once again for taking the time & effort to share your experience with me - the 'this place worked for me' reply is just what I'm looking for.

Hi GinaTraveller,

I recommend Sicily! While I've a small studio in Cianciana (Agrigento), somewhere nearer the coast like Noto or Modica would be an excellent option for you. There are plenty of British expats there but not too many (this British writer lives in Modica http://www.thetraveleditor.com/authors/180/Carol_King/ ) Sicily remains truly itself and in many ways retains character even as its infrastructure improves. Prices are going up but are still lower than Spain. Personally I'm in love with Palermo, and have a soft spot for Siracusa and Erice and Trapani, but I do like the rougher side, as I'm based in Bangkok for much of the year ;)

Cambodia's rough, particularly near the seaside; Sihanoukville has a well-deserved reputation for attracting expats who've overstayed their welcome in Thailand.

Vietnam's coastal region can be lovely but is rougher in character than Thailand's.

Malaysia's beaches are often beautiful and unspoilt but given the choice between the two, most choose Thailand - Malaysia's for a better-heeled, more discerning crowd, and there's little or no obvious s*x tourism there compared to Thailand and SE Asia.

Singapore's good for families or couples, but can be a bit sterile though the art scene is looking up. Rents are high but it's a great place to work a corporate job as salaries are fantastic. Air's much cleaner than HK. We lived on affordable Lamma Island in Hong Kong near the beach, loved it, but eventually the pollution drove us away. No cars on the island, just little village houses.

Lots of options! If you'd like to remain near the UK though Spain or Italy sound like good bets.

Enjoy your travels....

Thanks, waxybrushes - really useful info. It's looking like I may have to stay near the UK in the short term, so I am adding Sicily to my list of options, as I haven't been there before, but it has been on my list of places to visit. I'll enjoy doing the research!