New members of the Mexico forum, introduce yourselves here - 2018

Originally from Alabama, but have moved around a lot.  Alabama, Texas, Nebraska, Virginia, Panama Canal Zone, Oklahoma, and then back to Alabama.  Practiced law in Alabama for 4 years, before moving to Georgia, doing mostly criminal defense.

Currently living in Atlanta, Georgia, and visiting Mexico about twice a year.  Planning to retire before I turn 60 and moving to Puerto Vallarta.  Trying to save up enough money to make that happen sooner rather than later.

I have been visiting Puerto Vallarta for the past 10 years and have made several friends who live there or visit there regularly.

Trying to learn Spanish, and currently using an app called Duolingo and it claims I have reached more than 50% fluency, but still pretty slow on the comprehension and speaking.

mrhess wrote:

Originally from Alabama, but have moved around a lot.  Alabama, Texas, Nebraska, Virginia, Panama Canal Zone, Oklahoma, and then back to Alabama.  Practiced law in Alabama for 4 years, before moving to Georgia, doing mostly criminal defense.

Currently living in Atlanta, Georgia, and visiting Mexico about twice a year.  Planning to retire before I turn 60 and moving to Puerto Vallarta.  Trying to save up enough money to make that happen sooner rather than later.

I have been visiting Puerto Vallarta for the past 10 years and have made several friends who live there or visit there regularly.

Trying to learn Spanish, and currently using an app called Duolingo and it claims I have reached more than 50% fluency, but still pretty slow on the comprehension and speaking.

Hi Mr hess,

Duolingo is probably one of the best, Their other apps , like the stories, and tiny flash cards help quite a bit, you might try them also.

Mostly it's practice, and of course getting the ear and the sound of the words which can be a big issue. The dialogue can be different than what you imagine and the speech is quite rapid. You have to get whole sentences instead of just words. Words can slow you down so badly that you miss major parts of the conversation.

Buena suerte

Hi:
My wife Nancy and I will be moving (hopefully, permanently) to Quintana Roo in the summer. Leaving the cold weather of New England behind!

Hi Everyone,

I've recently (5 days ago) moved to Cancun for a few months, maybe more - an enforced relocation as part of my work.

I'm a 49 year old Englishman who's lived in Australia, Canada (briefly) and most recently Colorado in the USA.

I'm really looking to meet new friends, socialise, get familiar and more comfortable with the area, etc..

If there are any hints/tips, events going on, or if anyone would just like to hang out for a meal/drink just let me know!  I'm basically hoping for a bit of expat support for someone new in Cancun.

Hope to hear from and maybe meet some of you soon.

Thanks!

Martin.

Retired nurse practitioner from Memphis TN. I've visited Ajijic and made friends there. I'm now moving to San Juan Cosala as of Feb 28. I'm driving down with my 2 dogs and meeting an escort at the border. My friends are just amazed that I'm moving. Of course they wouldn't move across town which is why I've got to find some people that are more like me, adventurous. I hope to find some groups interested in cycling. motorcycles, travelling, foodies, wine etc etc etc.
Right now I'm trying to find a reliable mail service that will deliver from Laredo to Ajijic. I'd really like to hear suggestions. I've done some online research but want to hear what you've actually experienced.
Also what about Mexican insurance for cars? Anyone familiar with Bravo?

2doggirl wrote:

Retired nurse practitioner from Memphis TN. I've visited Ajijic and made friends there. I'm now moving to San Juan Cosala as of Feb 28. I'm driving down with my 2 dogs and meeting an escort at the border. My friends are just amazed that I'm moving. Of course they wouldn't move across town which is why I've got to find some people that are more like me, adventurous. I hope to find some groups interested in cycling. motorcycles, travelling, foodies, wine etc etc etc.
Right now I'm trying to find a reliable mail service that will deliver from Laredo to Ajijic. I'd really like to hear suggestions. I've done some online research but want to hear what you've actually experienced.
Also what about Mexican insurance for cars? Anyone familiar with Bravo?

Hi 2dog,

I think with Mexican auto insurance it is sort of a crap shoot. You must have it, and yet for the most part it will not perform like U.S. insurance, I had ABA which was supposed to be the best, well not bad for a cracked windshield, but for major problems, not good at all.
Now I have an insurance that was tied into the purchase of my car so the car manufacturer/ bank has a vested interest in performance. I would check the customer reviews and go from there.

Know what you mean about friends, mine were all amazed complete with shaking heads.  I am very adventurous , so off I went and here I am.

***

We've been members for a while, but have not been terribly active before, so time to catch up... My wife and I are finally retiring this spring. We built a house in Ameca, (located a little over an hour's drive from Lake Chapala) about 12 years ago and we have been traveling to and from there as often as we can. We found ourselves drawn to Puerto Vallarta more and more in the last few years. We have family there and we spend a couple of weeks there each year as well. We have come to really love the weather and the vibe in Puerto Vallarta. We got lucky and were able to purchase a cute little place in the neighborhood of Palmar de Aramara last summer. The final touches on the remolding are nearly complete now and we are excited to move in this fall. We intend to spend most summers at our home in Washington State, but we also have the option of staying in Vallarta, or heading over to Ameca in the Summer to escape the heat & humidity on the coast. We have good friends from our home state that have purchased a home in Conchas Chinas recently, and another couple of our closest friends will be moving to Nuevo Vallarta this fall as well. We look forward to spending time with old friends and family, as well as making new friends in our new life as expat retirees in Mexico. Woot!

Well, I'm new here, just got here in January after being told by the consulate that I could chance riding on a bus from Tijuana down here with just a copy of the stolen passport and the consular "report of theft or loss" form. I got LUCKY, there were no "checkpoints." I'm looking for work-for-keep jobs down here, maybe "teach English for room and board" while I wait for a replacement passport because my first attempt to just renew it, I got rejected on the online app because of my picture (happens to loads of people) and finally got my refund from the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs so I can "try again." On paper. Which happens to take like 8-12 weeks because they all have to come from Ireland. There's no, "just go to the Embassy and get an instant one in two days like you did at the Embassy there in London." That was London, this is Overseas. I will probably die here, and whenever my time on people's "couches" runs out. I've read stories about people getting stranded here, overseas, having had their papers/passports stolen and their wallets and their purses and then their Embassies refuse to pay for a return ticket home because they don't have any family or rich friends back home to pay for the ticket or send money; and then of course a replacement full passport costs money. Depends, of course, on whether the country they're stranded in, is willing to waste taxpayer dollars keeping them fed and housed in prison while they wait for money to appear out of nowhere "from back home" for repatriation. Now, I figure "work for keep" like teach English or French or clean house or look after teenagers or pets, could suffice for the like 3-6 months but finding that kind of situation in Mexico is, like, what, no-go? Most of the "workaway" type websites that have hosts on them, are either: the membership fee so you can contact hosts is too much (I've only paid one of them, HelpX, and only gotten one reply which said they don't have any room until MAY - it's some sort of English-teaching work-for-keep) or the free ones, you contact people until your fingers fall off from all the typing and no one responds. In any language - so don't bother telling me to "put it in Spanish." That doesn't work either. I created a profile on TalkTalkBNB and sent out 80 requests - in Spanish - only to have what few answered, say that they no longer lived here in Mexico City and one guy said "that's too long, have you tried AirBNB" - well I'm already suing AirBNB for refusing to refund me a stay back last January that I never made it to on account of being arrested at the Border trying to get TO the place and denied entry back into Canada! "Papers" which I  had lived in and worked in in Canada previously, back in '05-'07, were suddenly deemed "not valid" even though they hadn't expired and they were confiscated along with my entire purse and half the stuff in my suitcases....I'd paid an AirBNB for an entire month which I never made it TO, and they refuse to refund me that money which I NEED now. So don't tell me to look on AirBNB when I'm suing them. They won't refund my money from that stay without "documentation" and all my papers were confiscated that day by both Canada and the US customs assholes.

So unless I find a way to painlessly lay down and die, I need a work-for-keep situation until I can get some papers here from bloody overseas. Why is that so hard, Mexico? There's no idiomatic expression for it in Spanish because this is a Third World country which is so poor that everything is "you have to pay" just because you're from an English speaking country? I read that in Cuba, staying anywhere for free is actually against the law. Even Couchsurfing in Cuba requires that you PAY. Well this is not quite Cuba even though every place acts like it. Now, I know this isn't quite true because I'm reading stories on the Internet that people have successfully completed work for keep stays here in Mexico (now maybe they're outside of Distrito Federal, just like the same in England would be outside London by a long shot).

I feel like I spend all of my time trying to find an online work-remotely job from back in the UK or even the US but it's like they have some kind of sensors that detect where your computer currently IS and they reject you on that basis. Or having no phone to be reached at because the phone was in the purse that got stolen and that's still sitting up there in Tijuana at whatever police station they've decided to transfer it to this week. And on that note, on "when your electronics get confiscated by the government" I recently logged-in to my Apple ID's just to check them, and saw that my old MacBooks that the US Border Patrol confiscated, were still listed as "active" on them. That's beside the point of my now being in Mexico but it just says that when the police confiscate your electronics they just hold on to them for, what now, a year and counting?? Nice to know that when the Border patrol confiscates your electronics they don't erase your hard drives.

Basically I'm willing to take my law degree and master's and TEFL certificate and cook and clean for a roof over my head. Even in ENGLAND I was able to get "work" like that. OK, that was 15 years ago but what's different now except that I'm older and tire more easily...?? Because I'm a woman? Because I'm a minority - no, wait, I look like most people from Oaxaca or Guatemala or Panama, so it can't be that. Maybe up in Northern Mexico but not down here. "Have EFL certificate, will cook and clean and take out the garbage and change litter boxes for room and board" what part of that is incomprehensible? Good thing I'm just short of having a PhD and having had everything stolen from me time and time again all in one calendar year. That would be MORE  soul-crushingly humiliating. I can blame "all this" on the fact that I "only" have a Masters.

Hi there, I am new here (well on the Mexico site I am already on the Ireland site where I live momentarily) and want to introduce myself shortly.
I am German, living in Ireland in the moment with my 12 year old daughter. I have years of experience in tourism, airport etc while I was living in Greece for a couple of years and have a degree in Graphics, PR etc and in social studies.
Since last February I study Spanish which I always loved and add to my German, Greek and English.
I always had a passion for Mexico, the culture, food, people, todo realmente lol and consider emigrating in 2019.
Also doing my TEFL this year to have a base starting teaching English.
So we could start somewhere and my daughter could go to school even she does not know SPanish YET (she will be in the first year secondary school then here)...
So any recommendations really really appreciated...
Like (even I read that as a teacher your employers will sort the visa) how difficult is it to get a visa to work as a European or will my EU driving licence be valid, can I drive with it... everything really.

Thanks

xx Chris

Kerryspirit wrote:

Hi there, I am new here (well on the Mexico site I am already on the Ireland site where I live momentarily) and want to introduce myself shortly.
I am German, living in Ireland in the moment with my 12 year old daughter. I have years of experience in tourism, airport etc while I was living in Greece for a couple of years and have a degree in Graphics, PR etc and in social studies.
Since last February I study Spanish which I always loved and add to my German, Greek and English.
I always had a passion for Mexico, the culture, food, people, todo realmente lol and consider emigrating in 2019.
Also doing my TEFL this year to have a base starting teaching English.
So we could start somewhere and my daughter could go to school even she does not know SPanish YET (she will be in the first year secondary school then here)...
So any recommendations really really appreciated...
Like (even I read that as a teacher your employers will sort the visa) how difficult is it to get a visa to work as a European or will my EU driving licence be valid, can I drive with it... everything really.

Thanks

xx Chris

I drove using my U.S. license until I became a permanent resident, I found English to German was easier than English to Spanish. German is more like English. There are several people on the forum who are familiar with teaching jobs here, so I am sure someone will respond to the teaching questions.

So keep up the language studies in English, and now Spanish.

Buena suerte

Does that mean I would be able to drive with my EU licence? Sorry what does that mean English to German and to Spanish?
Yes I will try to connect with TEFL people here and try to get some info like would I be able to survive with it (for a starter anyway) with a child?
How long do you live in Mexico?!
Yo adoro eso pais especialmente Mexico desde fui una niña ;-)

Muchas gracias ;-)

Kerryspirit wrote:

Does that mean I would be able to drive with my EU licence? Sorry what does that mean English to German and to Spanish?
Yes I will try to connect with TEFL people here and try to get some info like would I be able to survive with it (for a starter anyway) with a child?
How long do you live in Mexico?!
Yo adoro eso pais especialmente Mexico desde fui una niña ;-)

Muchas gracias ;-)

It means as a visitor you can use your license from Deutschland. 

What I was saying  is, it is easier to learn german if you speak English, and English if you know German  because they are similar, but harder to learn Spanish, because they are not very similar. Es ist besser, nicht zu versuchen , gleichzeitig Englisch und Spanisch zu lernen.

How long have I lived in Mexico ?  6 years.

I love learning languages and I know German, English, Greek and now Spanish something which comes naturally to me. And I believe also my daughter will learn easily.
Yea well I want to work and make a living in Mexico but I am still at the beginning so I investigate more, finish my TEFL and study Spanish ... hope to move out of Ireland in 2019 .... very exciting..

Buena suerte with the languages Kerry.

iam new here. I plan to move to La Conception this spring. I have friends in a small village in the mountains. I have a home to rent for 60.00 american. I am looking for driving help with my own car, and banking in the area. I am also looking to find out about getting my medications. I am 70 years old retired nurse. Female. my income is SSI. I will be flying my cats in, and trying to get temporary residency.

Hi Gordy,

I am thinking along the same lines as you actually.
I'm new to this website.

Since I only have a few personal possessions that fit into about 3 large suitcases, (would like to get it down to (2 medium ones) soon, I want to travel to places and do sort of what you're doing.

Maybe
1 or 2 months Puerto Vallerta + towns along the beach in that area like Manzanillo
1 month or so Playa de Carmen
And check out some other cities.
I heard Cabo and that west cost area can be very expensive not exciting.
But I'm open to at least check it out.
I think you said you've been to Rosarito?
How was that?

I'm looking to drive down by car for anywhere from 3 to 6 months per year.
If I like Mexico I would like to stay up to the total 6 months they allow.

I'm also thinking about going to Guatemala for one month per year.
Looking to make new friends here and bounce ideas and opinions off each other.

I have lived in USA, Brazil a few years, Thailand a few months and traveled to many cities in Europe and Asia.

But would like to stay now on this side of the planet for now.

Please feel free to reply and I welcome any other replies.
Would definitely like suggestions and opinions specifically about:
1) Mexico - Incl: Playa de Carmen, Puerto Vallerta, and beach towns in Mexico.
2) Guatemala also...
3) Maybe even Belize...

Craig777 wrote:

Hi Gordy,

I am thinking along the same lines as you actually.
I'm new to this website.

Since I only have a few personal possessions that fit into about 3 large suitcases, (would like to get it down to (2 medium ones) soon, I want to travel to places and do sort of what you're doing.

Maybe
1 or 2 months Puerto Vallerta + towns along the beach in that area like Manzanillo
1 month or so Playa de Carmen
And check out some other cities.
I heard Cabo and that west cost area can be very expensive not exciting.
But I'm open to at least check it out.
I think you said you've been to Rosarito?
How was that?

I'm looking to drive down by car for anywhere from 3 to 6 months per year.
If I like Mexico I would like to stay up to the total 6 months they allow.

I'm also thinking about going to Guatemala for one month per year.
Looking to make new friends here and bounce ideas and opinions off each other.

I have lived in USA, Brazil a few years, Thailand a few months and traveled to many cities in Europe and Asia.

But would like to stay now on this side of the planet for now.

Please feel free to reply and I welcome any other replies.
Would definitely like suggestions and opinions specifically about:
1) Mexico - Incl: Playa de Carmen, Puerto Vallerta, and beach towns in Mexico.
2) Guatemala also...
3) Maybe even Belize...

Hi Craig,

There are a number of small beach towns worth exploring in the yucatan and Quintana roo. There are also beautiful old cities All down the eastern coast.

Be careful with Guatemala which is politically and environmentally unstable. There are people who have had a scary time there.  The Mexican border keeps a close eye on people returning from there, so be very careful with paperwork and meeting visa expiration dates.

Belize is worth seeing if you are a diver, and the beach towns are interesting, if you watch for sink holes. Suddenly being down to your knees on the beach is exciting. They are English speaking.

I think the cocktail hour begins at dawn , so that is something to be aware of also. It tends to be pretty expensive and has very different attitudes, There are potential mosquito carried parasites in jungle areas . I have been there 3 times, it is fun to visit occasionally.

Buena suerte

Thanks Travel Light!

Thanks for all that info.

As for Guatemala:
If i end up going there one day it will be by plane and not by car.
Also I would be landing in Guatemala City and then get a ride to Antigua or to around the lake near Panajachel or both.
Both towns are supposed to be halfway decent and safe from what the expats say that are from there.
There are lots of expats living there.
But I never went there, so I don't know the vibe yet.

As for Belize:
I would only visit possibly one day just for a week maybe on vacation etc.
I do know that they speak English.
I don't have a desire to live there, just want to check it out one day.
What do you mean about cocktail hour starting at dawn?

Currently I am living in Brazil and have tons of mosquito viruses here.
There is yellow fever epidemic now.
A few people died in the small town all the way up in the mountains I live in last month.
There is also Dengue, Zika and the other disease.

I have a big big problem with mosquitoes.
They love me and my body chemistry.
I get bit more than anyone around me.
I have to live in a screened in apartment.
It is a real pain in the butt because the apartments and houses do not have screens 99% of the time here. So I had to have someone come to the apt and custom measure all the window we want to leave opened.
It not only was expensive here - as most things in Brazil have very high price tags,
it took a while for the screens to be built, and re-done if they didn't fit perfectly.

SO A COUNTRY or STATE IN A COUNTRY WITH LOTS OF MOSQUITOES IS OUT OF THE QUESTION FOR ME.

I heard from one person that Mexico (near the beach towns) doesn't really have a mosquito problem.
Which is music to my ears.
But I would love confirmation on that from as many people in many cities in Mexico to verify this.

I want to specifically know about mosquitoes in:
Playa del Carmen, Puerto Vallerta, Rosarito Beach, Baja, and the beach towns around those cities.

I know mosquitoes normally don't go too close to the beach usually in most towns because of the wind.
They don't like heavy winds that usually happen near the beach.
And to be safe you need to live within 1 or 2 blocks from most beaches in the world.

But in Bara da Tijuca area near the lagoon which is about 5 minutes from the beach you have millions if not billions of mosquitoes.

So Brazil - even near the ocean is not safe.

I went to visit many beach towns in Brazil and ALL of them:
Including - Cabo Frio, Buzios, Copababana, and many more have tons of mosquitos.
Even if you get a hotel room about a 40 feet from the beach and sand.
And they never have screens. They leave their front door to the hotel opened and there's usually about 100 mosquitoes in the hotel going from room to room biting everyone, especially me.

Glad you brought up mosquitoes in your reply.
You got me thinking,, about getting more info now about that in Mexico especially.

I know that the Ades Egypti mosquito that that varies Dengue, Zika, and Yellow fever usually stays below Mexico, but I have seen on maps that they made their way all the way up to FLORIDA now.

This sucks,

So if they are in Florida I know they are in Mexico also.

I guess I just have to see where they are most populated in Mexico.
I know it can't even be 1/100th as bad as Brazil.
But I am curious anyway.

I got bit my first month back to Brazil in 2015 and ended up with Zika.
I was actually one of the first 1,000 people to get that in RIo.
Now there are millions!
That's how much Mosquitoes like me.

It only lasts a few days with flu like symptoms and you get a rash with bloodshot eyes and look and feel like hell, but that does not compare to Chikungunya, Dengue or Yellow Fever viruses!

Craig

Brazil is probably one of the worst areas Mosquito wise, but who ever told you Mexico was Mosquito free hasn't been paying attention. Heat, humidity and any wet lands equals mosquitos period. The thing I have noticed about mosquitos is that they have a preference. It seems for the American diet, it  is high on that list. I have a natural spray I use if needed.

You are right about wind, they are not a problem where it exists. Cancun sprays so that pretty much takes care of that area. People walk on the malcon here with no problem.  I don't know about Playa del Carmen because I only visited there briefly, but Tulum a sister city is very humid and there are natural wet lands that do attract the little beasts.

What do I mean by "cocktail hour begins at dawn" ? I mean drinking is important there and very common, good thing you have to use a golf car in Ambergris Caye to get around. I just found it striking. I likely exaggerated, but not by much. A tour guide on the first trip wanted me to buy him a beer or three, and I have been asked about cocktails at lunch. No one here asks me if I want an alcoholic drink that much, even in restaurant /bars.

As for Guatemala , there is a video on Netflix about the most environmentally dangerous places you can go, and Guatemala is featured. You might want to watch that. Plus Guatemala does have Mosquitoes in the low lands. The people with problems in Guatemala have been people who flew in and then were trying to fly out. It's just a poor, politically unstable, environmentally unstable  place, so do serious homework on it before going would be my advice.

I haven't heard of any mosquito issues in Puerto Vallarta, Rosarito Beach, Baja, but then I haven't been there during the rainy season. I will be visiting Rosarito in a couple of months so I will have more current information by June.

Buena suerte

Hey T Light,
Thanks again!
Great info.

I will have to do more research about Mexico and the mosquito hotspots there.

I use natural spray I make myself with pure potent essential oils and water in a spray bottle.
I use lots of Lemon Eucalyptus Oil because I hear that they hate that.

That's good that Cancun Sprays. It keeps the cash coming in from from tourists that dont complain about stuff like that I guess.

It makes sense that Rosarito doesnt have any because neither does california which is right around the corner basically.

Let me know how you like Rosarito after June.
I'm curious about it.
I love that it's not expensive.
I love that it's a beach town.
And love the fact that I can make a fast run into San Diego if I ever wanted to in about 90 minutes from start to end.

Will you be going there by car?
 
I'll have to try and look up that movie on Netflix about the most environmentally dangerous and learn more about Guatemala.

You say people were trying to fly out?
Wonder if they made it out.
The police stopped them?
Is that on the video?

I like that there may not be Mosquito issues in Puerto Vallarta, Rosarito Beach, and Baja.

Have a great one.
Talk soon again hopefully!

Craig

Craig777 wrote:

Hey T Light,
Thanks again!
Great info.

I will have to do more research about Mexico and the mosquito hotspots there.

I use natural spray I make myself with pure potent essential oils and water in a spray bottle.
I use lots of Lemon Eucalyptus Oil because I hear that they hate that.

That's good that Cancun Sprays. It keeps the cash coming in from from tourists that dont complain about stuff like that I guess.

It makes sense that Rosarito doesnt have any because neither does california which is right around the corner basically.

Let me know how you like Rosarito after June.
I'm curious about it.
I love that it's not expensive.
I love that it's a beach town.
And love the fact that I can make a fast run into San Diego if I ever wanted to in about 90 minutes from start to end.

Will you be going there by car?
 
I'll have to try and look up that movie on Netflix about the most environmentally dangerous and learn more about Guatemala.

You say people were trying to fly out?
Wonder if they made it out.
The police stopped them?
Is that on the video?

I like that there may not be Mosquito issues in Puerto Vallarta, Rosarito Beach, and Baja.

Have a great one.
Talk soon again hopefully!

Craig

Hi Craig,

The people I know who were in Guatemala made it out . One was actually stopped in the airport, after visiting Guatemala to renew his Mexican visa ( you have to exit the country every 6 month and comeback in, getting a new visa) The easy way to do that is Belize for a few days, but he decided to try something different. Given that Mexico takes a pretty hard line on Guatemala, for whatever reason they would not let him back into Mexico. It took him two to 3 weeks to fix that and I believe the whole trip scared him quite a bit. The other person also got stalled at the airport but it was Guatemala that decided they need some extra fees. She was stuck for 2-3 days.

As for Guatemala itself beyond the political issues, "Guatemala has been severely affected by natural hazards including volcanic activity, hurricanes, and landslides. The worst disaster was the 1976 earthquake that killed over 23,000 people and resulted in economic damages estimated at 17.9 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). Over the last decades, further events caused additional human and economic losses, such as Hurricane Mitch (4.7 percent of GDP), the 2001 drought (0.1 percent), and Hurricane Stan (3.4 percent)." ( banking /financial website)

No I won't be going to Rosarito by car . I have crossed the border numerous times using a car, but driving from here to there would take a long time ( week or so), time I don't have. So we  ( my Mexican amigo and I will fly). Of course if I was Mexican it would only take maybe 4 days or less, but I like to sleep at nigh, and be off the road at sunset, plus I drive much closer to the speed limit. Ja Ja

The mosquito spots are actually fairly easy, hot humid, little wind, and the best WETLANDS. The area with flamingos for instance , okay during the day, but with those wetlands loaded with mosquitoes at night.
Areas that do not eliminate standing water. After rain, I put bleach in standing puddles and I don't have a problem. Known areas are places like Merida which is hot and humid it has mosquitos in the rainy season which is beginning. They have no winds to speak of and no beach , so it would be a prime spot.
and Tulum with it's wetlands. I just basically figure there could be a problem and always have sprays.

What I have had problems with is the " Chaquiste" a nasty little sucker sort of a cross between a noseeum and a chigger. You don't see them, they hang out in garden areas, the male likes pollen the female likes you. As with chiggers , if you assume you may have one on you, you take a a thorough shower and you will probably be fine. If you don't there might be a nasty itch later followed by a large red bite spot which can last a couple of weeks. I have found cleaning the area quickly then applying activated charcoal on the bite works well. Charcoal works on mosquito bites also, but they don't last long. My last mosquito bite was last year.

T Light,

Wow to all the stuff about Guatemala.

The only reason I wanted to go to Guatemala is that I hear it's peaceful in the good parts of course,
and I wanted to get a temp residency card from there. I hear it's easy and after you apply you you just have to visit once per year to keep it.
Very cool. They have 0% tax on foreign income.
Not many countries offer that.

About Mexico 6 month visa.
I thought that Mexico allows US Citizens along with many other counties to enter their country
with NO VISA REQUIRED for up to 6 months.

When you say Visa do you mean just a regular stamp in your passport from them when you pass through immigration?

So you can basically live in Mexico if you stay let's say 5 months then hop on a plane and go to Belize for 3 or 4 days and return by plane again and get another 6 months?

That's great. I thought that's how it worked but wasn't sure.
I'm guessing that they don't want you to stay in their country 11 or 12 months out of each calendar year. And that after about 2 or 3 years of doing this they probably will politely ask you to get a residency there? No?
What do you think about that?

Also if I bring a car in from the USA driving,
I've read that I have to take it out before the 6 months expires or I pay fines and piss them off.
That is the only bad thing - that they won't let you leave your car with a neighbor for a few days when doing a border run to Belize let's say to get a new 6 months stamp...

Everything else seems easy there.

I do not want to be without a car there the first time I go, because I want to check out a few cities per trip.

Maybe
1) The first trip go to: Puerto Vallerta area  (keep the car in that location for those 6 months) and surrounding towns within a 2 hour drive let's say.
2) The second trip keep the car around the Playa del Carmen Yucatan area for those 6 months.
3) And third trip: Drive from California to Rosarito and make my way down to Cabo area slowly and keep the car on that Baja Peninsula area for those 6 months.

Any tips would be appreciated by you or anyone that reads this.

Anyways, about Chiggars
They are so bad. And those Mexican bugs sound just like them.
I once got them when visiting Mississippi several years ago.
I arrived home and had hundreds of red dots all over my legs and body that itched like crazy.
I got scared until someone told me what they were.
I hope I never get anything like that again!

Till next time!!
Tchau

here is a good source Craig,

https://www.mexperience.com/lifestyle/l … migration/

As for the car, it would require an import sticker once you are past specific Border based areas , So your traveling without the car and coming back for it later isn't a good plan. Also the storage risk and cost would be impressive if it was acceptable. Parking is a major issue in Mexico. I rent a garage space on another street.

Thanks...

What do you think of not bringing a car?
And just pack 2 medium bags?

Maybe just
fly from USA > Playa del C. (spend a couple months there)
Then
fly from Playa del C, > P. Vallerta (and spend a couple months there)

And the next time I go back to Mexico stay another two months at my favorite of the two places, and then travel to other spots before the 6 months is over?

Or is it much better to bring a car from the USA and drive it back every 6 months....?

Not having a car can be a real pain I guess because you can't really go anywhere.

Craig777 wrote:

Hi Gordy,

I think you said you've been to Rosarito?
How was that?

There are two towns named "Rosarito" that I know of in Baja:

South of Tijuana is what I mistakenly called "Rosarita Beach". I've been to Rosarito Beach twice, once as a little boy to witness my mother marrying her third husband.

Back then it was a step up from the quality of life in Tijuana; a nice little beach town for a day trip.

No longer.

I was there about a year ago, and was amazed at how trashed the town appears now.

It's become the West coast Ft. Lauderdale for Southern California kids who want to party hard, every weekend, being not too far from the border.

Tijuana, on the other hand, has had a bit of a facelift, and whenever I visit from San Diego, I cross the border on foot, skip the taxi lines, and walk into town and back without a care in the world...during the daytime.

There is another very small town named Rosarito in the Valle De Los Cirios Natural Protected Area, but I've never been there.

travellight wrote:

here is a good source Craig,

https://www.mexperience.com/lifestyle/l … migration/

As for the car, it would require an import sticker once you are past specific Border based areas , So your traveling without the car and coming back for it later isn't a good plan.

Thanks for info, T-Light. This related link on that site helped clarify things for me:

BRINGING FOREIGN PLATED CARS INTO MEXICO

Thanks Gordy,

I didn't know that Rosarito Beach went downhill like that.

I thought that most of the kids would do their partying in Tijuana instead since it's closer,
but since Rosarito Beach has a nice beach I guess they would prefer that.
It makes sense.

And lately - I like to sleep when I feel like it.
Where I live now there are roosters, dogs and inconsiderate people doing things at 6:30 in the morning waking people up that they don't need to do.
So my sleep has been interrupted many days lately,
so when I look for a place to rent by the month or week I'd like to choose a location that has as least noise as possible. Just for sleeping purposes.
I don't mind some noise during the daytime - that's normal.
The type of daytime noise I can not tolerate during daylight hours is any type of construction.
Jack hammers, tile cutter saws, etc... lol.

We are moving just south of Rosarito town to Popotla, which is much quieter.  Plan to split time six months there and six months in US somewhere close to grandkids.  When we looked the further south of Rosarito town you go the calmer it is.  However, even Rosarito proper hasn't seemed that bad.  At least during the day.  We don't go during party hours or spring break, which from the videos is crazy. 

You will want to read up on the FMM visas for tourists as supposedly everybody needs one.  There is no more "free zone" on Baja or close to the border.  You can get one in advance from a place in San Diego or after you cross the border.  You can get one good for 180 days for a small fee and seems easier to get it in San Diego.   

http://www.discoverbaja.com/go/fmm-tourist-permits/

The no car idea is a thought Craig. If you are comfortable with taxis and buses you can do it. I'm an explorer and I like to see small less traveled places so a car is important to me. For two years I just drove back and forth between Belize, or the U.S. and Mexico. Since then I have been permanent so I explore Mexico mostly. I have a secure garage I rent on another street so I can also fly if I choose.

The thing about cars is they can be dinged, and more importantly be lightly stripped of logos and such. Your car can just sit on the street as long as it is clear it is locked , alarmed and attended in an irregular but frequent manner. The Audi I had lost the circle logos and model logo in the 2nd year. I now have the mazda 3 in a locked garage.

As for the noise, the solution isn't that expensive. A white noise machine, you can buy them at Amazon online. It's the best solution to the neighborhood dogs I find.   I tried sonic devices and they worked for the nextdoor neighbors dogs but not the dogs beyond 50'

buen adventura

Hi everyone,

My name is Chris, I am from France and I am thinking of moving to Mexico in the near future. I have previously lived in New York and London so it wouldn't be my first experience abroad.

I have plenty of questions let's hope I can find answers here

Hi. My husband and I, in our 60's are looking to move to Mexico, probably Baja.  Either rosarito below Tijuana, or something on sea of Cortez..San Felipe, la Paz..but not in the city
We want water, beach, low cost of buying or renting, and ease of living
Not looking to golf..more like fishing, short trips including our sheltie
Bringing my pickup
Would like to pack up my kitchen to take
I'd give up all my clothing and shoes to take my kitchen and electronics
I don't want seclusion, but not crowds either
We both have SS and combined approx $2500 month
After short rent period, we plan to buy a home for under $150,000. Hopefully less. 2-bedroom 2 bath between 1100-1500 sq ft

I also see that Mexico has retirement incentive..is that in baja as well?
Here is an excerpt from an international magazine
"
Get a senior citizen's card once you're 60 years old through INAPAM, Mexico's national senior citizens' organization.
With an INAPAM card from your Mexican state government, you can get discounts off a variety of goods and services, including medical care and devices; airline and bus tickets; entrance fees to concerts, museums, and archaeological sites; and even get a discount on your property taxes.

With a temporary residence visa you can bring your foreign-plated car to Mexico and keep it here. If you switch to a permanent visa you'll need to get a Mexican-plated car."

We have a timeline of maybe 20 month to accomplish

Hello again rosiedoll.

This would be a more useful site to look at for current correct visa and other questions. https://www.mexperience.com/lifestyle/l … migration/

Thanks, I've had all the visa info etc.
Unfortunately, it's not answering the stuff I posted about

Rosiedoll wrote:

Thanks, I've had all the visa info etc.
Unfortunately, it's not answering the stuff I posted about

If you look at the directory, that site has more than just visa info.

For instance https://www.mexperience.com/lifestyle/l … ations/#11

Again, I read everything on that site
I have found the discount for retirees info I specifically asked, but did so by searching internet
The rest of my questions are not answered on that site
They pretty much can only be answered by people who live in various areas...and who have experience the move with their vehicles and possessions

travellight wrote:

For instance https://www.mexperience.com/lifestyle/l … ations/#11

OK, so this is what you said "I also see that Mexico has retirement incentive..is that in baja as well?
Here is an excerpt from an international magazine
"
Get a senior citizen's card once you're 60 years old through INAPAM, Mexico's national senior citizens' organization.
With an INAPAM card from your Mexican state government, you can get discounts off a variety of goods and services, including medical care and devices; airline and bus tickets; entrance fees to concerts, museums, and archaeological sites; and even get a discount on your property taxes.

With a temporary residence visa you can bring your foreign-plated car to Mexico and keep it here. If you switch to a permanent visa you'll need to get a Mexican-plated car." The site I referred you to talks about those types of issues.

As for living here, depending on what your needs are you can live here with the cost limitations you spoke of. I referred you to another source because you quoted a source and some of those "international magazines' are selling so they give the briefest information and are not providing complete information, just the most positive slant..

There may also be old posts on this site which may answer your specific questions. Checking under the housing tab on this site might help you also.

So you want to move with your car to somewhere in Mexico, have you been to the Mexican counsel in your area to see if you can get a temporary visa ? That is your first step. As for the car , there would be an import fee required. When I came in it was $300 for my car which was returned when I left Mexico to renew my visa. I then gave the money back when I reentered. That money switched hands probably 6 times before I qualified to actually become temporary or permanent. They gave me permanent. At this point it may be possible to get a temporary from the counsel before coming down here but you have to provide proof of your income and a filled out form to the counsel.