Florida may be known as \u201cGod\u2019s waiting room,\u201d but retirees don\u2019t have to settle for crowded beaches and steep prices.<\/p>\n
Around the world, there are destinations where once-in-a-lifetime experiences, from walking medieval city walls to releasing lanterns into the night sky, cost less than a week in the Sunshine State<\/a>.<\/p>\n Discover More: 6 Affordable Travel Destinations Perfect for Retirees in 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Trending Now: 5 Clever Ways Retirees Are Earning Up To $1K Per Month From Home<\/a><\/p>\n These seven international getaways are true bucket-list adventures that are cheaper than Florida<\/a>.<\/p>\n Cartagena, Colombia: Walk the Walls at Sunset<\/p>\n Few experiences rival strolling along Cartagena\u2019s 16th-century stone walls as the Caribbean sunsets<\/a>. This UNESCO-listed Old Town is compact and flat, making it easy for retirees to explore at their own pace.<\/p>\n Hotels here average about $81 a night<\/a> compared with average about $159 in Miami<\/a>, and flights from Miami often cost under $400 round-trip<\/a>. A three-course dinner for two averages $50<\/a>, less than half of Florida\u2019s $120<\/a>.<\/p>\n For You: 10 Vacations That Need To Be on Every Middle-Class Retiree\u2019s Bucket List<\/a><\/p>\n Lisbon, Portugal: Ride the Iconic Tram 28<\/p>\n Climbing aboard Lisbon\u2019s yellow Tram 28 through the historic Alfama district is a bucket-list ride every retiree should experience. The city is safe, welcoming and easy to navigate thanks to its network of trams and funiculars.<\/p>\n Guesthouses average around $110 per night<\/a> compared with $174 in Orlando<\/a>, and East Coast flights often dip below $500 round-trip<\/a>. Dining for two averages $64<\/a>, versus $80 in Orlando<\/a>.<\/p>\n Panama City, Panama: Cruise the Panama Canal<\/p>\n Gliding through the Panama Canal, one of the world\u2019s great engineering wonders, is a must-do for travelers of all ages<\/a>. Retirees will find Panama City especially comfortable, with English widely spoken and walkable neighborhoods like Casco Viejo.<\/p>\n Hotels average $66 a night<\/a> versus Florida resorts at $220 to $280<\/a>, and flights from Miami often cost under $400<\/a>. A meal for two is about $50<\/a>, compared to can range from $31 to $73 per person<\/a> in Florida.<\/p>\n San Miguel de Allende, Mexico: Soak in Desert Hot Springs<\/p>\n A soak in San Miguel\u2019s natural hot springs, surrounded by cacti and desert skies, is a rejuvenating experience that belongs on every bucket list. The cobblestone streets of this UNESCO city are easy to explore, and it\u2019s home to a welcoming retiree community.<\/p>\n Boutique hotels start around $134 per night during low season<\/a> compared with over $200 in Florida<\/a>, and flights from the U.S. are usually under $400.<\/a> Dinner for two runs averages about $43 for a mid-priced dinner for two<\/a>, well below Florida\u2019s $80 and above.<\/p>\n Chiang Mai, Thailand: Release Lanterns in the Night Sky<\/p>\n At the Yi Peng Lantern Festival, thousands of glowing lanterns rise together into the sky, a sight few forget. Chiang Mai offers a slower pace and easy access to the Old City, making it retiree-friendly<\/a> despite the long flight.<\/p>\n Hotels cost about $50 a night<\/a> compared with Tampa resorts\u2019 $130<\/a>. Even with airfare ($900 to $1,200<\/a>), extended stays are far cheaper thanks to $2 to $3 street food meals<\/a> compared with Florida\u2019s $25 to $30.<\/p>\n Valletta, Malta: Sail the Grand Harbor at Sunset<\/p>\n A sunset cruise through Valletta\u2019s Grand Harbor, framed by centuries-old fortresses, is the kind of memory retirees will treasure forever. This compact Mediterranean capital is easy to navigate on foot, with English widely spoken and excellent healthcare.<\/p>\n Luxury hotels average $160 per night<\/a>, versus $220 per night<\/a> in the Florida Keys. Flights from the East Coast run $600 to $700 round-trip<\/a>, and dining for two at inexpensive restaurants is about $18<\/a>.<\/p>\n Prague, Czech Republic: Cross the Charles Bridge at Dawn<\/p>\n Watching the sunrise from Prague\u2019s Charles Bridge, surrounded by Gothic towers and baroque statues, is a quintessential bucket-list moment<\/a>. The city\u2019s historic center is pedestrian-friendly, with affordable public transit and a welcoming atmosphere for older travelers.<\/p>\n Hotel rooms with a view average about $69 a night<\/a> compared with Miami\u2019s $152<\/a>, and flights from U.S. hubs start at $415 round trip. Dinner for two averages about $50 per day<\/a> compared to $72 per day<\/a>.<\/p>\n More From GOBankingRates<\/p>\n This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com<\/a>: 7 International Retirement Bucket List Spots That Are Cheaper Than Florida<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Florida may be known as \u201cGod\u2019s waiting room,\u201d but retirees don\u2019t have to settle for crowded beaches and…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":30129,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[21882,28,30,29,21883],"class_list":{"0":"post-30128","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-florida","8":"tag-bucket-list","9":"tag-florida","10":"tag-florida-headlines","11":"tag-florida-news","12":"tag-medieval-city-walls"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30128","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30128"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30128\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/30129"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30128"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30128"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30128"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}