Shocking News in the Quality of Life Index

International Living Postcards--your daily escape

Monday, Jan. 2, 2006
Paris, France

Dear International Living Reader,

This is shocking news! For the first time in International Living history, the U.S. has been toppled from its premier position of First Place in the Quality of Life Index.

Every year, without exception, the U.S. trumped all competitors. What can we say? Living is easy in America. But in the 2006 Quality of Life Index…the champion has fallen to #7.

Since 1979, International Living has scoured the Earth in search of the best. The best of everything…including quality of life. The first of every year the results of the annual index are released. We never know exactly how it will turn out. But this year, the results surprised everyone.

The annual Quality of Life Index has become the gold standard by which to measure the most interesting, most appealing, and most potentially rewarding of these places on Earth to live.

In the January issue of International Living, you can discover exactly where you can find the best quality of life in the world. At the beginning of each year, IL examines the essential factors that contribute to living a quality life. For the 2006 index, 193 countries were researched and rated to uncover the absolute best places to live.

What factors contribute to the Quality of Life Index?

Where will your dollars go furthest? Where is the weather finest? Where is the health care best? Which environment is the most pristine?

International Living considers nine important criteria: cost of living, leisure and culture, economy, environment, freedom, health, infrastructure, safety and risk, and, of course, climate.

Countries jockey for position every year. Situations vary. Economies rise and fall. Disasters strike. Governments change. Progress comes…and goes.

This year, to our surprise…France took the grand prix.

In the January issue of International Living you'll discover why. But that's not all. Five other countries passed the U.S. It was a tough year for the U.S. economy…and increasing infringements on personal freedom took the perennial favorite down a few notches.

No, we're not saying that everyone should move to France.

What we are saying is that the world is alive with opportunity…for travel and adventure…for living, working, and retiring…for fun and for profit. Every month in International Living and every day in your IL Postcards, we alert you to the most interesting, most appealing, and most potentially rewarding of these opportunities.

Where are the Best, the Worst, the Safest, and the Most Dangerous Places to Live?

It came as no surprise that Iraq offers the worst quality of life on the planet.

But who would have guessed that Uruguay would capture the top spot in South America? Croatia took honors in Central Europe. And Namibia beat all African contenders. Nicaragua beat Costa Rica in Central America, but Ecuador bested both of them.

This report will shatter your perception of the world…but only if you read it.

If you are a subscriber, the annual Quality of Life Index is waiting for you right now on our website, but if you are not currently an active subscriber, here's a special offer for you to get your new year started off right.

Act Now…and Get the Annual Quality of Life Index for only $12.25

Here's your chance to get IL's most popular annual report--unavailable anywhere else--for only $12.25. But that's not all.

If you order now, we'll send you three monthly issues of International Living with no obligation at all. For the next three months allow us to keep you briefed on brand-new opportunities for escape, adventure, retirement, money saving and moneymaking all over the world--in places you've read about here in these IL Postcards, and in secret new locations. And, first of all, you'll receive the January Quality of Life issue.

If you tried to do this kind of research on your own, it would take you months and cost you hundreds--or even thousands--of dollars in time and money to collect this information, if you could find it at all.

The International Living Quality of Life Index, a mammoth survey unavailable anywhere else, is your complete, one-stop compendium of all the best--and worst--places on earth, The safest, the cheapest, the freest, the cleanest, the ones with the most perfect climate, and much more…all carefully weighted and rated on a scale of one to 100. Plus the next two issues of International Living are yours too…at no extra cost.

All This and More for Just $12.25!

If you accept this special invitation now, we'll give you a trial three-month subscription to International Living. You'll get ALL the benefits IL print subscribers enjoy for a little more than a buck a week.

You are invited to give International Living's print edition a try. There's absolutely no financial risk to you. You have my 100% satisfaction guarantee. If, for any reason you don't find IL's print edition and all the benefits that come with it an absolutely amazing value…just cancel…no questions asked. You'll get a full refund on all unmailed issues. You can't lose.

Plus, for the next three months you'll rip open the envelope with your latest International Living issue and be rewarded many times over as you discover the new opportunities and options for your future. It's sure to be a win-win deal.

IL is so much more than just a newsletter or magazine. It's like a portal to a new life. It opens the doors of a world of possibilities to you.

And if you are as pleased with your subscription and the special IL intelligence reports that you will receive as part of this special offer…as I believe you will be…then do nothing at all. And we'll continue sending you International Living every month. We'll automatically bill your credit card the low $12.25 subscription price on a quarterly basis.

It simply couldn't be easier for you.

Activate this special offer NOW and gain immediate online access to the Quality of Life Index 2006. And see where in the world you can find the best quality of life…for you, your family, and your future.

Sincerely,

Kathleen Peddicord
Publisher, International Living

P.S. I urge you to take advantage of the special offer now. And remember, you'll gain unlimited access to the members-only section of the International Living website. There you'll find the full members-only stories that you only read part of in our e-mails. You'll have complete contact information for all of our IL correspondents, resources, and local contacts for real estate, retirement, living abroad, resorts, and travel.

The website also gives you access to several years of IL issues archived and searchable online. What travel information do you want for your next trip? Chances are you can find the travel tips, contact lists, and recommendations from our team of international correspondents to help you maximize your travel enjoyment. Click here to activate your savings now.