some content is good. but overall treatment of customers is poor. I am a 7+ year customer and signed up for lifetime membership specifically for their monthly mailed magazine--then shor... See more
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I fell for their slick appeal to find secrets to make travel less expensive. We paid for their rag for 2 years and never learned any of the secrets they alluded to in their ads. Now they claim to hav... See more
Company replied
1. Content, very good, informative, maybe short (1m) videos of experiences of people, not testimonials, but experiences/bump resolutions.... 2. Politics (slanted) did creep in some, not needed. In... See more
Company replied
The ultimate retirement resource. I have found International Living to be a great source of information for those looking to retire abroad. Many of the articles are interesting even if not focussed... See more
Company details
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Live, Retire and Invest Overseas. Articles, news, classifieds, information on retirement, and living abroad from International Living...
Contact info
Ballytruckle Road, Waterford, Ireland
- internationalliving.com
3.1
Average
292 reviews
Replied to 86% of negative reviews
Typically replies within 2 weeks
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As with other reviewers - It’s a SCAM
As with other reviewers, and former subscribers, I was very disappointed by what a scam International Living is. They constantly send you emails and snail-mails hocking some BS investments. As others have also said, it is not easy to quit their scam. Shame on them.
20 April 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from International Living
Hi there,
Thank you for sharing your concerns. I’m sorry to hear that you’ve been feeling frustrated. While I understand that the investment opportunities we share may not be of interest to everyone, we do have many subscribers who appreciate the information, as well as the chance to attend our masterclasses and seminars to learn more.
If you’d prefer to stop receiving our emails, you can unsubscribe by clicking the link at the bottom of any email we send. Also, our customer service team is always available to assist you with any issues or questions you may have.
We’re here to help in any way we can, so please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Warm regards,
Éimear
Total Scam
Total scam. Do not buy. I signed up for their membership, and it's a complete rip-off. Every single thing they offer costs more for basic information, and it’s just upsell after upsell. To make things worse, now I’m bombarded with spam emails from them pushing crypto investments. It's like I paid them just to get more ads in my inbox. Absolute waste of money. Stay away!
21 September 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from International Living
Hi Kent,
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts. I’m sorry to hear that your experience hasn’t met your expectations, and I’d like to address your concerns.
We do have costs associated with providing more in-depth information, as this helps us maintain our global network of correspondents and experts. This ensures that our members always receive the most current insights on traveling in style, retiring comfortably, and making smart investment decisions.
Regarding the emails, I completely understand how they can feel overwhelming. You can always choose to unsubscribe using the link at the bottom of any email, or adjust your preferences to receive a weekly roundup rather than daily messages. we’d be happy to assist with making those changes if you'd prefer.
Again, I appreciate your feedback, and if there’s anything I can do to improve your experience, don’t hesitate to reach out to me on CSsupervisor@internationalliving.com.
Warm regards,
Éimear
What a scam!
What a scam!! Everything written in your basic subscription (I was foolish enough to extend from a 1-year to a 2-year, for savings) is referred to generically, in order to get you to pay extra for details! This is the most complex labyrinth of pay-extra story-telling - even while I was trying to finalize my subscription (which I have written to ask to have cancelled - within 5 days of paying for 2 years, which I will NEVER USE! Guess what? No reply, regarding my requested refund! I am now going to contact my credit card company to file a complaint & redemption), they inundated my computer with about a dozen pay-more offers - "Don't leave yet", "Here is an extra, exclusive offer!", etc.
Do yourself a favour & google topics you're interested in - International Living has been driving me CRAZY, for almost two weeks now!!
15 August 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from International Living
Hi TJ,
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. I’m truly sorry to hear that the process has been frustrating for you, and I completely understand how the extra offers and promotions can feel overwhelming. We always aim to make things clear and straightforward, and I regret that this wasn’t the case for you.
If your cancellation request was made within the cancellation policy window, we will ensure that your refund is processed promptly. You can contact me on CSsupervisor@internationalliving.com, and I’ll personally assist you to make sure everything is taken care of as quickly as possible. Please mention this message in your email.
Also, I want to gently remind you that you can unsubscribe from any of our email threads by clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of each email. This should help reduce the number of messages you’re receiving from us.
Your feedback is important to us, and we’ll do our best to make things right. Please let us know if there’s anything else we can assist with, and I’ll keep an eye out for your reply to resolve this swiftly.
Warm regards,
Éimear
I subscribed
I subscribed, hoping to get a little information about living abroad. First, everything is presented through rose-colored glasses. Second, I did not get a magazine series that provides information. What I really did is pay to have my name added to a list of grifters. I get 3, 4, 5.. emails a day asking me to pay for something new. Also, these so-called experts have an agenda larger than money. Many are climate change-denying, MAGA-ish folks who have a political agenda. I would NOT advise subscribing to this drivel.
18 August 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from International Living
Hi Dr. C,
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us. I’m sorry to hear that your experience hasn’t been what you expected. If you’re supposed to be receiving our magazine but haven’t had access to it, I’d be more than happy to assist. Please feel free to email me directly at CSsupervisor@internationalliving.com, and I’ll look into your account to see how I can help.
Regarding the emails you mentioned, I understand how frustrating it can be to receive more than you want. We always include an option to unsubscribe at the end of each email, as we want to make sure you’re only getting content that’s of interest to you.
Thanks again for your feedback, and I hope to be able to assist you further.
Warm regards,
Éimear
Anthony was helpful and very pleasant
15 August 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from International Living
Hi Leslie,
Thanks so much for your lovely review. I've personally told Anthony, and it's very much appreciated.
Have a lovely day,
Éimear
PROMISES ARE A LIE: Nothing is Free, esp. Their Gifts
I subscribed to the mag for several years. September 2023 I attended "Go Abroad" seminar in Denver $950. Left seminar head spinning with so many conflicting details. It was impossible to sort out answers to the questions I had about taxes and moving. One speaker would say taxes are offset by credits then the next speaker would say USCitizens are on the hook. Reference materials were outdated and mostly reprints from previously published articles. They push risky investment strategies like crypto and creating LLC to avoid taxes. Worst of all, they never stop trying to sell you staff by using the cheapest tactics...long emails promising a free book only if you pay for something. LIES! Nothing is given
13 May 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from International Living
Hello JK,
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us. I understand that there was a lot of information presented at the Denver conference, and it can be overwhelming to sort through it all.
As an attendee, all of the information from the seminar is still available to you, and you also have access to the speakers' bios in the workbook you received. This will allow you to reach out to them directly to discuss your specific situation and get tailored advice for your circumstances. If you no longer have the workbook, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at CSsupervisor@internationalliving.com, and I’d be happy to look into your account and see how I can best assist you.
We know that moving abroad involves many considerations, especially when it comes to taxes, and I’m here to help in any way I can, putting you in contact with the right people.
Thank you again for sharing your experience.
Warm regards,
Éimear
DON’T USE THIS TRAVEL PLATFORM
This company will NOT work with you.
If you have an issue… you might as well talk to the moon. Their customer service representatives relay information to a person who emails you back… absolutely no conversation. If you need to use a platform to help educate you about living outside your country… do yourself a favor… don’t use International Living.
9 August 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from International Living
Hi Donna,
Thank you so much for sharing your feedback—I’m really sorry to hear that you’ve had a frustrating experience. I know how important it is to feel supported, especially when navigating something as significant as living abroad.
I’m here to help in any way I can. If you’re open to it, I’d be happy to personally look into your account and see what we can do to address your concerns. You can reach me directly at CSsupervisor@internationalliving.com, and I’ll do my best to assist you.
Thanks again for bringing this to my attention.
Warm regards,
Éimear
It's impossible to cancel a…
It's impossible to cancel a subscription! The only way for me to contact them is through their online form to which I have yet to receive an answer three days later. Contacting them via phone is not possible as I'm in Europe. The contact form doesn't even work on mobile, only desktop. Ridiculous! I've now contacted my bank and it looks like I'll have to cancel my card in order to avoid paying for another year!
7 August 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from International Living
Hi Michelle,
I hope you’re well. Thanks for your message, and my sincere apologies for the frustration caused.
I’ve researched into this, and can confirm that your cancellation of renewal request was actioned last Sunday & you will not be charged. I have also responded to your email to confirm & explain.
If I can help you any further, please do let me know, I’d be more than happy to help. Just reply to my message to you via email.
Warm regards,
Éimear
Enjoy the speakers and the attendees
Always enjoy the speakers and the information presented. The information builds nicely from one presenter to the next and provides alot of detailed and practical information. We've also found it's great to meet people at meals and hear their stories.
20 July 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from International Living
Hi Tom,
So lovely to hear from you, and we very much appreciate your feedback. Glad you enjoyed the speakers & experts, and the great crowd we had this year. I couldn't agree more, actually getting to speak with people and hear their lived experiences is always valuable.
Have a wonderful day ahead,
Éimear
Tremendous amount of information to…
Tremendous amount of information to digest. It's wonderful that we were able to connect with the presenters.
Unfortunately, there were some presenters who gobbled their words or spoke too softly and were not easily understood.
20 July 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from International Living
Hiya Linda,
Thanks for such wonderful feedback - and the time you took to write it. Don't feel overwhelmed by the amount of detail, you'll have it all on your account, to browse at your leisure. And you have the experts contact information in your workbook too - if you think of any other questions!
I appreciate the constructive feedback too, we will review the recordings to ensure we can improve at each conference, we want everything to be as clear as possible for our customers.
Thanks again & have a lovely day,
Éimear
Great conference
Very informative with a wealth of resources and tips. Appreciate meeting professionals and organizations that can support our decisions and move.
18 July 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from International Living
Hi Marie,
Thanks so much for your feedback, we appreciate it for sure. Glad you enjoyed your time with us, and access to all experts & information.
Have a wonderful day,
Éimear
Pura Vida
Fast Track Costa Rica - Jul 18-20 2024
The sessions were very enlightening and I enjoyed the opportunity to meet like-minded people.
Thank you IL team for packing in so much information within such a short time. The flow was very efficiently thought through.
Kudos to the organising team 👏🏻
18 July 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from International Living
Hi Jochua,
Thank you so much for your feedback, it's really appreciated. Lovely to hear that you found it so detailed and helpful, and yes, the crowd was so lovely.
Have a lovely day,
Éimear
Waste of time marketing hub
I
After receiving a number of emails for several weeks now and clicking on links to check out what sounds like interesting topics the site provides very little information. The emails you sent of personal experiences seem scammy. They take what sound initially like personal stories of people living abroad but mysteriously omit the name of the countries they're living in! These are just marketing come-ons. Even the "free report" links are useless. Their resources appear more to sell things than give the viewer useful information and it's a ridiculous waste of time.
26 June 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from International Living
Hi Udo,
Thank you for your feedback & taking the time to reach out. We really appreciate hearing back from our customers. Our aim is to provide valuable & actionable info for those considering living/retiring abroad. We share authentic stories & insights from real expats in various countries around the world.
I understand your concern about the lack of specific country details and the impression of marketing over information, this is noted. If you are looking for detailed stories, I recommend visiting the "Countries" section on our website, where you can find specific information about living in countries like Costa Rica, Mexico, Spain, and more.
https://internationalliving.com/all-destinations/
If you have an example of a personal story from us which doesn’t mention the country, please do let me know, and I’ll get that rectified.
Our free reports are meant to give a broad overview and initial insights. For more comprehensive information, we offer in-depth guides and resources which can be accessed through our membership programs or purchased individually.
We provide high-quality, reliable information. Our expert advice comes from experienced professionals who spend considerable time researching, analyzing, and compiling detailed reports and guides. This ensures you receive accurate & up-to-date information tailored to your needs. This is why more detailed information will have a cost. The fees for our expert advice help us maintain the quality and depth of our resources, supporting our team in delivering the best possible insights for your international living plans.
We understand the need for balance between providing free valuable content & offering paid products. Your feedback will help us improve this balance and ensure that even our free content is as helpful and detailed as possible.
We genuinely appreciate your notes and hope to better meet your expectations in the future. If there are specific countries or topics you are interested in, please let us know, and we can direct you to the most relevant and detailed resources available.
Thanks again for your time.
Warm regards,
Éimear
Subscribed Very little actual info
Subscribed Very little actual info. What do you get for a paid subscription? A lot of ads for lectures and info sessions that are additional cost. Waste of money
1 May 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from International Living
Hi Steve,
I’m sorry to hear you’re unhappy with your subscription. We aim to provide you with the ultimate guide to living, retiring, and investing overseas.
With a subscription, we provide expert insights through in-depth articles and reports by seasoned expats and local experts. We help people discover the best places to live and invest for them, and exciting opportunities that can help you live better for less. Our content is full of practical advice on visas, healthcare, local customs, and integration into new communities.
We have a global network of adventurers and expats, sharing experiences and building friendships.
You’re right – we do offer more than just this advice, we also offer online seminars, in-person conferences & Masterclasses. Providing expert advice involves significant time and resources to ensure the content is valuable and well-researched. Our team of professionals dedicates countless hours to gather accurate information, analyze data, and present it in a clear and useful manner. This commitment to quality incurs costs, which we believe are essential to delivering the high standard of advice you deserve.
Please do reach out to our customer service team for more information on your subscription, or if you have any other questions at all. We value your feedback & thank you for your time.
Warm regards,
Éimear
I ordered a Spanish Language course…
I ordered a Spanish Language course through International Living. After my payment cleared they were supposed to send me the code to access the course.
They gave a 30 day money back guarantee. It has been two weeks since my order and despite my repeated calls and emails I have not received my access codes. When you can all Internation Living they give no answers and state that the Course Provider will respond within 24 hours. If course International Living only acts as an agent and can't process a refund. I think it's a scam to take me beyond the 30 day refund period.
22 May 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from International Living
Hi William,
Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us. I'm truly sorry for the inconvenience caused by the technical issue you encountered, we had a technical glitch with the email containing the login details being sent out.
I understand how frustrating & worrying this was for you.
I really appreciate you bringing this to our attention. Your feedback is crucial in helping us identify & fix any problem. I'm happy to let you know that the issue has been resolved, & we’re taking extra steps to prevent it from happening again.
Thank you for your patience & understanding. If I can help any further, please feel free to reach out to me; CSsupervisor@internationalliving.com. I’m here to help!
Warm regards,
Éimear
False Claims
How to cruise around the globe in a luxury cabin for only $37 per day. Glamorous entertainment, elegant balcony cabins, and cruisers love the five-star treatment: “the service was just perfect”.
This and all the other LURES are nonsense. I was a long time subscriber and I am a long time, long rang cruiser. These claims are to have you sign up. There are laws I believe to prevent these false claims. If I am incorrect, please feel free to contact me privately or publicly giving a SINGLE example.
7 May 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from International Living
Hi Eamon,
Thanks for taking the time to share your views, we certainly welcome all feedback. In our popular travel book called: Secrets Travel Writers Never Share, we shared a resource that cruisers can use to access deals they won’t find on any cruise company’s website…
For example, this resource is currently offering awesome cruise deals like a cruise from Genoa, Italy to Miami from $25 per night, or another cruise from Miami to Valencia, Spain starting at $31 per night, and a cruise from Southampton, England to Fort Lauderdale, Florida at $45 per night for a balcony room. Along with thousands more cruise deals like these and for all budgets too.
Because here at International Living, we have a team of over 300 travel writers and travel experts always looking for the best overseas experiences for the best price, and our legal team makes sure every claim we publish is backed up.
Our members who paid the $49 for our digital book got a further 100 more travel tips just like this one inside, along with access to our members-only website for the year, and our popular overseas living magazine. And you're welcome to become a member too and give it a try with our 30-day risk-free trial to see for yourself...
I hope this is helpful.
Warm regards,
Éimear
Fast Track Europe Conference 2024
Fast Track Europe Conference 2024 in Portugal
First time at an actual conference, although I have subscribed and purchased many publications over the past twenty years. It was not inexpensive, but I feel I got my money's worth. The speakers brought a number of items to my attention that I had not considered. I now have a much better understanding of the countries and their cultures, and more importantly, the preparations I can make to ease a practical transition to residing in France, Greece, Italy, Portugal or Spain, or possibly Montenegro, Croatia, Czechia, or Ireland.
12 April 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from International Living
Hi Bruce,
A big thank you for taking the time to let us know your feedback on our Fast Track Europe 2024 conference. It was super successful, and I met a lot of people there, sharing your experience. We hope to continue to help you in the same way further, all our resources are found on our website internationalliving.com
Many thanks again,
Éimear
One issue of this magazine is enough
One issue of this magazine is enough. We subscribed while it was still issued in print. The informative is repetitive and nothing you can't find online for free. It is also unrealistic, you can't live anywhere in Europe at the prices they claim. One poster claims he has subscribed for over 30 years. Maybe he can't figure out how to unsubscribe...
2 April 2024
Unprompted review
Be wary of some of the offered Real Estate Tours
Overall the conference was very useful but there were a couple of items that disappointed. First, nearly half of the Sunday afternoon session was devoted to hyping the living in Costa Rica . I assume this is because there is an upcoming Fast Track Costa Rica Conference. The second item was that there were Real Estate tours offered both before and after the conference. We, my wife and I, signed up for the Kathy Canton Real Estate Tour after the conference. It was listed as an all-day tour lasting from 8:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. for $250.00 per person. The night before the tour we got an e-mail stating the the tour would start at 9:00 A.M.. I assumed that it would still last until at least 6:00 P.M. or later. Boy, was I wrong, the tour ended at around 2:00 P.M. Considering we spent an hour of that time at lunch it really ended up being only a half-day tour and yet we paid $500.00 for a full day tour for two people. I would not recommend anyone taking the Kathy Canton tour. It really was not worth the money.
16 February 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from International Living
Hi Frank,
I hope this message finds you well. I wanted to take a moment to thank you for the feedback you provided. Your insights are always valuable to us, and we appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts.
Thanks so much for letting us know you generally enjoyed Fast Track Panama 2024, and found it useful.
I understand you were disappointed with Kathy Canton’s tour; I have reached out to her with your information & I would urge you to do the same if you feel the need. We really value your feedback, so thanks for bringing this to our attention.
Regarding our bonus session on Costa Rica, this is our number one question we get asked; ‘why would I choose one over the other?’.
We give 50 mins of our schedule, towards the end, to speaking about life in Costa Rica. Given the proximity & similarities between them, we find it valuable to provide insights into & differences between both. This helps our attendees make informed decisions & compare opportunities and lifestyles that are already on their minds.
Your feedback helps us understand what we're doing well and where we can improve, ultimately helping us to better provide information & support at our conferences and meet the needs of our attendees.
Warmest regards,
Éimear
Generally very informative and…
Generally very informative and professional. If you are looking for information on retirement or working overseas and living for less, this is the place to go. Yes, you will be offered other opportunities of interest for additional $$$ (that's how the world works). There are a lot of moving parts to moving to another country (shipping, legal services, healthcare, real estate +++) so you have to consider IL as the hub for all these other services/opportunities and decide which ones you may need. The luxury of paper magazines/newspapers etc has become too costly for most advertisers so it should come as no surprise that IL magazine has now gone digital too. It is much more current and entertaining to get the digital version, for those who can keep up with the pace of change.
16 February 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from International Living
Hi Jack,
Thank you for your thoughtful review & the time and effort you invested in writing it. We're delighted to hear that you find our content ideal & useful. We acknowledge the importance of evolving with the times, and your feedback is truly valuable. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts.
Have a lovely day,
Éimear
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