Moving abroad is an attractive concept for Britons who are keen to dive into other cultures, change their pace, and explore pastures new.
Many consider relocating when they enter their next stage of life. For young adults, this is often a career change or starting a family. For more mature movers, a fresh start comes when their children fly the nest and they approach retirement.
According to the experts at expat insurance provider William Russell, the best destinations for Britons are Spain, the USA, France, Dubai, and Italy. However, there are so many more excellent options that may be overlooked.
Weronika Popiolek has spent most of her life living in the UK, but decided to move to stunning Mexico City, the capital of Mexico.
Speaking exclusively to GB News about her experience, she revealed that while the weather is outstanding, it's the people and lifestyle she can't get enough of.
'People are nice and help each other, it's easy to make friends, and life is much slower'
GETTY IMAGES / Weronika Popiolek
Weronika was drawn to Mexico because of its lower cost of living and laid-back way of life. She felt that living in the UK meant working all the time and then spending a large majority of her salary on rent and bills each month, with "hardly any" getting saved.
"My husband and I decided that we want to live somewhere where you literally work to live, not live to work," she explained. "We wanted our priorities to be family time and our hobbies."
When Weronika took the plunge and made the move, what "surprised" her most about life in Mexico was "the hospitality, diversity, and how many opportunities there are in the city for work and other projects".
As for the "best thing" about living in the North American nation, it's the weather - "of course".
Mexico has a diverse climate with significant regional differences, but Mexico City specifically boasts daily maximum temperatures of 27°C in April and May, its hottest months. Its coldest month is January, which typically enjoys a daily maximum of 21°C.
In addition to Mexico's sunny skies, Weronika loves the people and their values. "There is a sense of community," she said. "People are nice and help each other, it's easy to make friends, life is much slower, and people prioritise family time a lot more."
The expat added that "people are a lot more open and have different priorities". In the UK, she felt that the majority prioritised work and going out on the weekends, whereas in Mexico, "it's normal to go for a coffee in the evening on a weekday".
But while Weronika has fallen in love with the lifestyle, she admitted it did take her by surprise.
She said: "Getting used to the relaxed way of life can be a challenge coming from a country where everything is structured."
Issuing a word of warning to Britons in Mexico, she suggested that the locals take a very laissez-faire approach. Meeting times at work may differ from what you might expect, for example, and if you invite two people to something, "expect more to come along".
Aside from structure, another major difference Weronika noticed was the culture and tradition.
"It is heavily influenced by indigenous traditions," she said, "which are very different to what we are used to in the UK and Europe generally".
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Weronika loves Mexico City's 'relaxed way of life'
GETTY IMAGES / Weronika Popiolek
Revealing her "least favourite" thing about living in Mexico, the expat shared that she does not always feel "secure".
In Europe, she was "used to the freedom of walking everywhere", but "this is not always the case in Mexico".
"Of course, where I live, I feel safe," she added, "but this is not the case in every state".
Like any country, some parts of Mexico are generally considered safer than others. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) provides detailed guidance on staying safe in Mexico, including information on the areas where officials advise against travel.
Considering moving abroad and keen to explore North America? A British man named the expat "paradise" where people are "open and welcoming" - it's not just a rumour.
