Ask HN: What are some cheap idyllic places with lots of nature?

#1

Post by dennybritz » Sun, Aug 30, 2015, 4:49 AM UTC

I am getting tired of city life and want to try spending some time in rural area with mountains, lakes, forests, etc. What are some places you can recommend? It could be anywhere, doesn't need to be in the U.S.

The only other requirement is fast internet.

Re: Ask HN: What are some cheap idyllic places with lots of nature?

#2

Post by sciguy77 » Sun, Aug 30, 2015, 5:25 AM UTC

I have a relative who lived in Montana for several years. I'm told its a world-class hiking state and is much cheaper than Colorado. I went once to go fly fishing and it was gorgeous. Only the winters are supposed to be terrible, so you'll want to time your stay well.

If you're more inclined towards Europe then I'd recommend Hungary, a very cost-effective place to live.

Good luck!

Re: Ask HN: What are some cheap idyllic places with lots of nature?

#3

Post by atmosx » Sun, Aug 30, 2015, 5:25 AM UTC

Ithaca, you know Ulysses island. I am not sure about thr fast Internet. I assume you could get some lousy ADSL.

The sea and nature are marvelous though. The people are very good too. There at least another 50 places in Greece that fit the description, but Ithaca is my favorite. You can check out Nomads list, for cities that are better fit for tech nomads.

Re: Ask HN: What are some cheap idyllic places with lots of nature?

#4

Post by mscharrer » Sun, Aug 30, 2015, 5:25 AM UTC

I know quite a few idyllic places with lots of nature. None of them have fast internet.

Re: Ask HN: What are some cheap idyllic places with lots of nature?

#5

Post by jib » Sun, Aug 30, 2015, 5:28 AM UTC

Lots of places in Sweden with great internet, great nature and ok prices. If super cheap is your focus, maybe not, but it is quite affordable outside cities. The North for mountains, the west or north for forests and lakes.

Re: Ask HN: What are some cheap idyllic places with lots of nature?

#6

Post by DaemonKrog » Sun, Aug 30, 2015, 5:29 AM UTC

Western Pennsylvania has pretty much everything you're asking for. I live near Pittsburgh, but I'm honestly less than an hour drive away from all of this.

The only caveat (to living directly in the mountains) is that in any place where you're engulfed in nature, your Internet connection is going to be slower. It's too costly for the ISP to install or upgrade infrastructure to an area with less than say 400 homes per square mile. Past a certain number, it's just not a viable investment.

Satellite ISPs have been getting better though and DSL technology has shown at least a theoretical 800Mbps (in labs). Maybe someday it'll be possible to get great broadband in the mountains.

Re: Ask HN: What are some cheap idyllic places with lots of nature?

#7

Post by chm » Sun, Aug 30, 2015, 5:30 AM UTC

Are you a US citizen?

At $0.76 per CAD the whole of Canada is pretty much the definition of "cheap".

Re: Ask HN: What are some cheap idyllic places with lots of nature?

#8

Post by icebraining » Sun, Aug 30, 2015, 5:31 AM UTC

Lots of foreign tourists have been coming here to Portugal - we have plenty of cheap rural homes in the middle of forests, large and small rivers with good walkable trails and bathing areas, and during these summer vacations, I had a nice 30mbps connection in a village so small it didn't even any shops.

A small example: http://www.vortexmag.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Dornes1....

Re: Ask HN: What are some cheap idyllic places with lots of nature?

#9

Post by peteretep » Sun, Aug 30, 2015, 5:31 AM UTC

Thailand, if you can handle the heat. Some great national parks, amazing hills in the north, huge amounts of greenery, and of course, the beaches. Coming up to the cool season too, and it's all wonderfully cheap.

Re: Ask HN: What are some cheap idyllic places with lots of nature?

#10

Post by harwoodleon » Sun, Aug 30, 2015, 5:34 AM UTC

Swansea, Wales, UK

I moved back (in from there originally) and we have

- the UK's first area of outstanding natural beauty - mountains, loads of mountains - world class beaches - low cost of living - a TechHub with easy access to TechHub Shoredich in London - pretty good internet, with 300mb consumer connections being rolled out - great surfing

And soon to be built, a £1.5bn tidal lagoon and £0.5bn to be spent on regenerating the city centre.

Desk space in Techhub is currently £150p/m

Average monthly rent is £500 p/m for a studio/1den in a pretty new shoreside development SA1

We have a few London based businesses looking to relocate because of the low cost of living and great lifesytle.

Two Google engineers were here last week and were massive impressed, needless to say they are coming back here on holiday.