🌎 World Aware

Welcome to World Aware, your weekly roundup of global news and insights that actually matter if you travel internationally, live abroad, or you're thinking about it.

Did you see the two videos we posted in the past week? Saturday's video compared slow and fast travel, while Wednesday's video was the long awaited comparison of Albania vs. Ecuador.

Viewers have been asking us to compare Albania and Ecuador since we posted our first video about Albania over 2 years ago. That video now has over 660,000 views! 🤯

In the past 2 years, Albania has changed a lot. Both tourism and western immigration are booming, which is leading to a lot of new development, especially housing.

In addition to English, we heard German, French, Spanish and other languages being spoken while on our recent visit for the month of April.

Even though we love spending time in Albania, and it's a great part of the Schengen Shuffle Strategy, we still think Ecuador wins the overall livability comparison for American expats looking for a new home.

Last September when we were in Cuenca, a woman stopped us in the grocery story to thank us for changing her life and the lives of her children.

She was an Ecuadorian from Guayaquil who had never visited Cuenca before and couldn't imagine it would be that much different.

Then she watch several of our videos about Cuenca and decided to visit. She was blown away by how different it was from Guayaquil.

Now she lives in Cuenca with her children and she told us how happy they are living someplace safer.

Everytime we post a video about Ecuador, we get comments (often in Spanish) from people who call us liars (that's an overused slur in Spanish cultures).

Most are Ecuadorians living in the U.S. who haven't been back in years (or for their entire lives). Many live in the worst parts of Ecuador and assume the whole country must be exactly like their neighborhoods.

Then the clickbait news cycle feeds the fear with sensational headlines from those dangerous areas, and paints the whole country with one broad brushstroke.

Is Ecuador as safe as it was when we moved there? Not even close.

Are the popular areas where expats live in Ecuador as safe as many U.S. cities? Absolutely.

To paraphrase one commenter on our comparison video, if you weren't from the U.S. and you relied on the news for your perception of it, no one would want to visit or live there.

If you're considering a move abroad, and safety (based on country level stats) is at the top of your list, then Albania wins hands down. Or another "safe" country in Europe, SE Asia, and maybe Uruguay. Just cross most of Latin America off your list.

If you have a more nuanced view of personal safety, then Ecuador and other countries in Latin America are still worth considering.

One final comment about safety before I wrap this up...

The U.S. State Dept still ranks Ecuador at a Level 2 Travel Advisory, which is the same as Panama, Spain and France.

​Colombia is a Level 3 and expats are still moving there because it's "safer" than Ecuador (and crime is old news so it doesn't make international headlines).

Perception doesn't HAVE to be reality, and it often isn't.

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Turtle Flotilla Cruise Update 🛳️

This isn't about the cruise or the cruise line or the ports we'll visit. It's about spending a week with an amazing group of people who will become your lifelong friends.

Here's a message we received yesterday from Paula who attended the Leap to Prague and will be joining us on the Flotilla:

"I want to thank you for so much. We had a great time in Prague, yes. But also Karen and I are talking almost daily. You've given me a new friend AND we're running a marathon together in New Zealand. I'm so lucky to be a part of this group."

We've heard so many stories like this one and we're so happy our club is helping to bring people together like this.

The cruise is open to ALL club members. A small refundable deposit made to the cruise line will secure your spot.

This is our first club cruise, but there's no guarantee we'll do another. It all depends on how this one goes and if enough people are interested. So if your thought is, "I'll wait and see where else they go," you may not have another chance.

We chose this cruise line and route because Amelia has never been on a cruise before so we wanted a more "standard" experience. If this one goes well, we will look at more exotic destinations and repositioning cruises in the future.

Your participation in the inaugural Flotilla will help ensure that there are many more to come.

The special rates we've negotiated expire TODAY (June 5th) so if you're thinking about going, now is the time to sign up.

The full details and booking instructions for the cruise are in the Turtle Flotilla Booking Info space inside our Mighty community.

Come set sail with us next April! There will never be another "first" Flotilla! 🥳

World Aware News

Here's what we learned about the world this week...

Expat News

Most Americans Consider Retiring Abroad but Few Actually Do

About 712,000 Americans receive Social Security benefits at foreign addresses, representing less than 1% of all beneficiaries, even though interest in retiring overseas is much higher. Polling shows 44% of U.S. adults have seriously considered the idea, while 14% are actively planning or thinking about a move within two years. The gap may be partly explained by retirees not updating their official addresses after moving abroad. [Source]

Albania Faces Growing Backlash Over Trump-Linked Resort

Protests in Albania have entered a third day over a luxury coastal resort project linked to Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump. Critics say construction threatens protected habitats in the Narta Lagoon and Sazan Island area, while Prime Minister Edi Rama argues the €4 billion investment will boost tourism and economic development. An anti-corruption investigation is underway, but the government says the project will continue.[Source]

Veterans Are Finding a Retirement Path in Costa Rica

After retiring from the U.S. Army in her 40s, veteran Isah Kushma relocated to Costa Rica, using her military pension and VA disability compensation to support the move. Drawn by the country's warm climate, lower living costs, healthcare access, and proximity to the United States, she spent years researching before settling in Guanacaste. Her experience highlights how some American retirees, particularly veterans with portable benefits, are building lives abroad without giving up income or access to certain healthcare reimbursements. Veterans considering a similar move may find that many earned benefits continue even while living overseas. [Source]

American Expats in Yucatán Are Finding It Easier to Stay Connected to Home

As more Americans settle in Mexico, many are discovering that maintaining ties to life back home is easier than it once was. Improved internet infrastructure, streaming services, digital banking tools, package forwarding, and online media have reduced many of the practical trade-offs of living abroad. While cultural adjustments remain part of the experience, expats in Yucatán can often keep access to familiar entertainment, financial services, and everyday products without frequent trips back to the United States. [Source]

Panama’s Boquete Remains a Magnet for Overseas Retirees

The mountain town of Boquete has spent more than two decades building a reputation as one of Latin America’s most popular retirement destinations. Located in western Panama, the town attracts retirees with its mild year-round climate, established expat community, and relatively easy access to both Panama City and international travel. With more than one-fifth of its residents now coming from abroad, Boquete continues to stand out as a place where newcomers can find both affordability and a ready-made international community. [Source]

Travel News

Airlines Warn U.S. Airport Restrictions Could Disrupt International Travel

Airlines, travel organizations, and business groups are warning that a proposal to halt international border processing at Newark, Seattle and other major U.S. airports could create widespread travel disruptions. The threat stems from a dispute over immigration enforcement, but industry groups say any shutdown would affect millions of travelers, cargo shipments, and supply chains across the country. With the FIFA World Cup set to begin in North America within weeks, international travelers could face flight cancellations, diversions, and longer travel times when entering the United States. [Source]

Vietnam Brings Back Mandatory Health Declarations for Travelers

Starting July 1, 2026, Vietnam will require all travelers entering, leaving, or transiting through the country to complete a health declaration within seven days of travel. The rule applies at airports, land borders, and seaports, with health checks and additional screening possible for some passengers. Officials say the measure supports disease prevention, but it is also expected to add another step to border processing. Travelers should plan extra time at airports, especially during peak travel periods when immigration lines are already lengthy. [Source]

Study Finds Commercial Flying Remains Safer Than Many Everyday Activities

A new analysis from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University found that U.S. commercial aviation remains one of the safest forms of transportation, even when compared with common activities such as driving, motorcycle riding, skiing, cycling, or scuba diving. Researchers examined risk using multiple measures, including passenger miles, trips, hours of exposure, and lifetime odds, and found flying consistently ranked among the lowest-risk activities. For travelers concerned by recent aviation incidents, the findings suggest that commercial air travel remains statistically far safer than many risks people routinely accept in daily life. [Source]

That's all for this week. Let me know if you have any questions.

Safe travels.

JP (Amelia Says Hola)​
​AmeliaAndJP.com | TurtleTravelClub.com​

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