AARP The Magazine Travels the Globe to Reveal the Top 5 Best Places to Retire Abroad

/PRNewswire/ -- Experts in celebrating the next chapter in life, AARP The Magazine traveled the globe to discover the ultimate retirement destinations abroad. Factoring climate, expat community, cost of living, housing, health care, access to the U.S. and culture and leisure, AARP The Magazine reveals the top five locales in its September/October issue (www.aarp.org/magazine), available in homes and online today. See what regions in Mexico, France, Panama, Portugal and Italy have to offer--castles, palm trees, rain forests, grilled lobster--in their unique and unparalleled retirement experiences.

1. MEXICO--Puerto Vallarta

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico is the undisputed number one destination for American retirees. With its rich Indian and Spanish culture, lavish beaches and affordable real-estate, Puerto Vallarta offers the low-cost, laid back lifestyle retirees seek to find in a community.

Some Reasons we love it:
-- Climate: Winters--sunny, pleasantly warm; summers--rainy, humid hot
-- Expat Community: Estimated at 50,000 American retirees
-- Access to the U.S.: Excellent

2. FRANCE--Languedoc-Roussillon

Once remote, the Languedoc-Roussillon region is now just three hours from the bright lights and bustling energy of Paris via high-speed train. The area is steeped in history and art. Languedoc-Roussillon is also a destination for the outdoor crowd with picturesque hills and beach along its Mediterranean seashore.

Some Reasons we love it:
-- Climate: Mediterranean--hot and dry summers; cool winters
-- Cost of Living: Not cheap, but a comfortably frugal life can be had
for $30,000 a year
-- Heath Care: Excellent. French health care has been named the best in
the world by the World Health Organization

3. PANAMA--Boquete

Panama is a smart choice for retirees who want it all. Not only does it feature attractive retiree destinations, Panama also offers an unbeatable package of retiree benefits and discounts. Boquete has a unique range of back-home amenities, from a golf course to high-end gated communities.

Some Reasons we love it:
-- Expat Community: An estimated several thousand
-- Housing Costs: A small house goes for $175,000; in a gated community,
$250,000 and up. Rentals: about $600 a month for a two bedroom house
-- Culture and Leisure: Rainforest hiking, river rafting, bird watching
and coffee plantation tours keep Panama a bustling location for
leisure

4. PORTUGAL--Cascais

Many wonder why Portugal has long been overlooked by American retirees. A plentitude of golf, beaches, resorts and trendy cafe life makes Portugal one of Europe's most pleasant surprises for retirees.

Some Reasons we love it:
-- Cost of Living: A comfortable life can be had on $25,000 a year
-- Health Care: Good. Nearby hospitals include the well-regarded
British Hospital in Lisbon
-- Access to the U.S.: Excellent. Direct flights to-and-from the U.S.
fly out of Lisbon

5. ITALY--Le Marche

Le Marche, bordering the Adriatic, is beautiful region with vineyards, snow-capped mountains and beaches a plenty. It also prides itself on the best fish dishes in the country and is trendy enough to have snagged Dustin Hoffman as a tourism spokesperson!

Some Reasons we love it:
-- Climate: Mostly sunny
-- Expat Community: Relatively few; an international mix
-- Culture and Leisure: An incomparable mix of open-air opera festivals,
Renaissance painting and architecture, wine tasting and nature
reserves


Plus: To avoid red tape, culture shock and language barriers, AARP The Magazine shares seven questions future retirees MUST ASK THEMSELVES before starting the exciting process of retiring abroad. And visit www.aarp.org/magazine to check out our five "additional" affordable, fun places to live the good life, plus FAQs and a resource guide.

For more information and an extended list of AARP The Magazine's "Best Places to Retire Abroad," visit www.aarp.org.

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Delta Launches First Trans-Atlantic Flight from Salt Lake City with Nonstop Service to Paris

Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) today begins nonstop service between Salt Lake City International Airport and Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport. The flights, operating as part of Delta’s joint venture with SkyTeam partner Air France, will be the first trans-Atlantic service ever offered by any airline from Salt Lake City and will be the only nonstop service operated by a U.S. carrier between the Western United States and Paris.

"We are pleased to be able to meet the growing international demand with Delta's first trans-Atlantic flight from Salt Lake City,” said Glen Hauenstein, executive vice president – Network and Revenue Management. “With the launch of service to Paris, Salt Lake City and the Western United States are just one stop away from the rest of globe."

Delta will operate daily service with a Boeing 767-300ER aircraft seating up to 216 passengers.
Paris is one of the most famous destinations in the world with attractions such as the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and the Louvre museum; while Salt Lake City boasts “the Greatest Snow on Earth” with access to some of the United States’ best skiing, hiking and mountain biking. Customers traveling beyond the capitals will have numerous connecting opportunities as Salt Lake City and Paris combine to offer more than 200 destinations beyond their city limits.

The new route is expected to offer significant cargo lift in both directions. From Paris, top shipments will include cosmetics, fashion garments and wine, while Salt Lake City’s chief exports will include machine parts, computers and information technology equipment.

Delta’s new nonstop service between Salt Lake City and Paris beginning June 2 is scheduled as follows:

Flight Departs Arrives Effective Flight Time
170 Salt Lake City at 5 p.m. Paris at 11:15 a.m. (next day) June 2, 2008 10hr 15min
171 Paris at 10:20 a.m. Salt Lake City at 1:30 p.m. June 2, 2008 11hr 10min

Customers traveling to, from or through Salt Lake City will enjoy Delta’s recently upgraded facilities offering more spacious, convenient and efficient check-in thanks to state-of-the-art self-service technology throughout the terminal. The multimillion dollar overhaul supports Delta’s commitment to providing customer-focused technology along with helpful, personal service as it continues to expand its reach from one of its fastest growing hubs.

Additionally, customers flying in the business cabin on Delta’s new flights between Salt Lake City and Paris will enjoy enhanced service including new seats with improved cushioning and the same 60 inches of legroom and wide-angle recline that have made BusinessElite® a customer favorite. Customers will experience new innovative food offerings designed by celebrity chef Michelle Bernstein, original wine selections by Andrea Robinson, exclusively designed signature cocktails by nightlife proprietor Rande Gerber and industry-leading, on-demand, personal in-seat entertainment boasting more than 20 first-run and popular classic movies, a variety of TV programs, a broad range of music, and a suite of 12 video games. Delta recently added full-size pillows, duvets and modern and stylish dinnerware to its onboard offerings.

With the added service to Paris, Salt Lake City becomes Delta’s fourth trans-Atlantic gateway, supporting the largest network of routes offered between the United States and Europe by any global airline. With its summer 2008 schedule, Delta operates service to more trans-Atlantic destinations than any other carrier with service between the United States and more than 45 cities. From Salt Lake City, Delta currently offers 328 peak-day departures to 105 destinations.

Access the World With Just a Click: delta.com Adds Online Award Ticketing for Air France Flights

PRIME NEWSWIRE -- Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL) SkyMiles(r) members now have access to more of the world when shopping at delta.com for Award Travel on Air France, Continental(r), Northwest(r), Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines using the SkyMiles Award Calendar. Customers can easily search for Award seats by lowest mileage amount or schedule and view availability on both outbound and return flights.

Now, 97 percent of Delta's Award Seats are available on delta.com. As part of Delta's continued effort to expand online Award redemption experiences, Delta customers can also:

* Redeem miles for a previously reserved Award Ticket that contains
flight segments on partner airlines -- without having to call
Reservations;

* Search for Award availability without logging in to a SkyMiles
account;

* Cancel unused Award Tickets for past and future travel;

* Avoid direct ticketing fees;

* Enjoy the same access to Award availability as Delta Reservation
agents; and

* Place an Award Ticket on hold for up to 48 hours before
confirming their reservation.

"Delta is making online Award redemption as accessible and straightforward as possible so customers can easily use their hard-earned miles," said Jeff Robertson, managing director of the SkyMiles Program. "Award Travel on our partners accounts for nearly 15 percent of our redemptions, so the ability to search for partner Award Travel on delta.com streamlines the booking process and allows SkyMiles members to use their miles for travel to additional destinations."

The award-winning Delta SkyMiles program offers members multiple mileage-earning opportunities when flying Delta, Delta Shuttle(r), the Delta Connection(r) carriers, Delta AirElite(r) and other SkyTeam(r) airlines. Additional mileage-building opportunities are offered through more than 100 partners such as the Delta SkyMiles Credit Card from American Express, SkyMilesShopping.com, participating hotels, car rental companies, telecommunication services, restaurants, retailers and more. Now in its 27th year, SkyMiles is one of the longest-running and most successful loyalty programs in the travel industry. It was named "Best Frequent Flyer Program" for 2006 and 2007 by Business Traveler magazine and received top honors for "Best Bonus Promotion" from InsideFlyer magazine at the 2007 Freddie Awards.

Delta Air Lines operates service to more worldwide destinations than any airline with Delta and Delta Connection flights to 305 destinations in 58 countries. Delta has added more international capacity than any major U.S. airline during the last two years and is the leader across the Atlantic with flights to 38 trans-Atlantic markets. To Latin America and the Caribbean, Delta offers more than 478 weekly flights to 58 destinations. Delta's marketing alliances also allow customers to earn and redeem SkyMiles on nearly 16,409 flights offered by SkyTeam and other partners. Delta is a founding member of SkyTeam, a global airline alliance that provides customers with extensive worldwide destinations, flights and services. Including its SkyTeam and worldwide codeshare partners, Delta offers flights to 474 worldwide destinations in 104 countries. Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes and check flight status at delta.com.

Terms & Conditions:

All SkyMiles program rules apply to SkyMiles program membership, miles, offers, mile accrual, mile redemption and travel benefits. To review the rules, please visit delta.com/memberguide. Taxes and fees for award travel are the responsibility of the passenger and must be paid at the time the ticket is booked. Award travel seats are limited and may not be available on all flights or in all markets. Partner airline benefits subject to change and subject to the terms and conditions of each partner. Offers void where prohibited by law. Offers and benefits subject to change without notice. Other restrictions may apply.
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