So, whats next?

[chris]

Seriously why ANYONE would recommend Europe (especially now) is beyond reason. Spain, Italy, Greece, etc are all bankrupt and going down the crapper. Good luck finding a job with an unemployment rate of 20% or higher.

Really people?? Europe??

Out of the options given, I would go with Thailand by a LOOOOONGGGG Mile! Amazing people...super friendly...cheaper than dirt...close to Singapore, Malaysia, all the other developing countries in SE Asia. A few hours from China if you feel like visiting.

I would suggest Phuket rather than Bangkok. It's a little more down to earth and relaxed...lot's of tourism so you tend to find English is spoken more and much safer.

I lived in Singapore for 2 years and went to Phuket at least 1 time every 2 months and can't wait to go back.

Check out the Islands as well, Phi Phi was my favorite.

GERMANY is NOT going bankrupt!

 

[robinho9]

i`d take Berlin. Lived there for six years. Wonderful city - and not so "German" as you might think. very open, very international. great nightlife, cheap fresh food, cool hang outs. however, some german phrases to get by in the beginning is recommendable. But go there when spring arrives, in winter it`s a little depressing...

 

[JWB]

GERMANY is NOT going bankrupt!

IT WILL BE AFTER IT BAILS OUT GREECE....AGAIN. Wake up. Read the news once in awhile...The EU is over.

 

[Thereandbackagain]

Thanks to all for your helpful responses!
Economically I am independent, so no worries here, although I like to have the possibility of some additional income.

JWB - Beyond all the talk of economic crisis the most countries of Europe are stable (not talking about greece, spain, portugal) and taking the actual economic numbers into consideration the USA are even worse and just a little better than Greece.

In Germany the unemployment rate is about at 3% right now and the economy is growing like crazy, mostly because of their strong exports to Asia. In Cities like Munich you have a very high official rate of working foreigners and the gov is searching desperately for skilled workers arround the globe (including countries like greece heheh). So it might be worth a look for other expats too who are looking for a well paid job.

Thanks for you opinion about Thailand! Gotta take a look into that but probably travel a couple of times there first...

 

[Thereandbackagain]

IT WILL BE AFTER IT BAILS OUT GREECE....AGAIN. Wake up. Read the news once in awhile...The EU is over.

I will do a little more read into that and thank you for your advice, although ATM I cannot see this scenario...but I have to agree that there are economic instabilities all around the globe right now.

RE bubble in China? Inflation problems in China? Greece going bancrupt and crashing the Euro as money and the EU as a political union? Dollar collapse because of printing too much money? A second corralito in Argentina because of unsuitable political measurements and manipulated economic data?

We live in interesting times

 

[Amargo]

Berlin is best. Germany is the powerhouse of Europe. Spain's economy is very depressed. Thailand is cheap but too third world from my perspective. I have heard that Berlin property is very reasonably priced. Good choice.

Property is still 'cheap' in Berlin, but has gone up more than anywhere else in Germany in the last years.

 

[Amargo]

I vote for Berlin, if you can stand the cold in winter.

 

[Amargo]

These must be paid positions..Dusseldorf? One of the dreariest of all dreary German cities...hilarious!

no no no no, you must be mistaking Düsseldorf with some other city (Mönchengladbach? Bottrop? Leverkusen?). Düsseldorf is actually quite interesting, has some seriously rich neighbourhoods and is home to some 8000 Japanese, making it the largest 'Japantown`in Europe.

 

[fifs2]

no no no no, you must be mistaking Düsseldorf with some other city (Mönchengladbach? Bottrop? Leverkusen?). Düsseldorf is actually quite interesting, has some seriously rich neighbourhoods and is home to some 8000 Japanese, making it the largest 'Japantown`in Europe.

You may well be right Amargo as I only ever visited on business, about 8 times but I've never lived there and I was always comparing it to Frankfurt, Munich and Cologne which are undeniably immediately attractive to the eye. I love it that we all have such differing views of the world - it's what makes life more interesting right?!!

 

[mariano-BCN]

Barcelona: I lived there between 20005 and 2011, it's probably the most cosmopolitan city in Spain, it has the best and cheapest connections with the rest of Europe, it's a city with a village heart, it has beaches, mountains and lots of expats living there. The food is the best I ever taste, much better, divers and healthy than here.
the minus: it's impossible to get friends with Catalans, don't wast any time or energy on that. If you can live with that: go for it.