Posted by Roxanna McDade on Wed, Aug 04, 2010 @ 05:10 PM
by Glynna Prentice,
International Living
If your idea of the perfect vacation or retirement spot is by an ocean where the beach living is easy, look no further than Mexico. With nearly 6,000 miles of coastline, Mexico offers plenty of gorgeous beaches to choose from, as well as plenty of well-known resorts. But why stick with the tried-and-true? Here are five Mexico resorts that offer the best in beach living…and several of these may be off your radar.
For Water-sport Lovers Head to Loreto, Baja California Sur
Loreto sits on the Sea of Cortez, looking out at the bay that Jacques Cousteau dubbed “the world’s aquarium.” The Sea of Cortez teems with marine life, making it an excellent place for scuba diving, snorkeling and whale-watching. In fact, in Loreto you can enjoy just about any water sport ever invented. Get tired of the water? Just head to the desert and mountains outside town for a little hiking. For nature-lovers, it doesn’t get much better than Loreto.
This Mexico resort offers small-town living with a twist. The local population is less than 20,000, but Loreto gets tourists and snowbirds to liven things up. For big-city amenities, it’s only a few hours’ drive to La Paz, the state capital. And it’s only 700 miles to the U.S. border with Arizona and California (so you can actually drive here).
Some people come down for a visit and find that they never want to leave… It happens easily when you stay at a small B&B where you feel like one of the family. Or you can arrange to rent a house or condo for a few weeks. Both options are possible here.
Two Mexico Resorts Off the Beaten Path
San Pancho and Sayulita, in the state of Nayarit are two small towns at the southern tip of a 100-mile stretch of Pacific coast that’s been dubbed the Riviera Nayarit. They’re less than two hours north of Puerto Vallarta, one of Mexico’s most international beach resorts. But San Pancho and Sayulita are a world away from Vallarta’s glitz. In these little towns you’ll find low-rise homes and boutique hotels, dirt streets, a laid-back feel—and plenty of art galleries. The expats who have moved here are an artsy crowd.
On this part of the Riviera Nayarit, you can feel blissfully away from it all…yet be within hailing distance of Puerto Vallarta’s urban vibe. Head north up this coast and find plenty of small fishing villages that are practically undiscovered. But that’s changing…Mexico’s tourism development agency FONATUR has picked this entire coast for major development.
Use San Pancho or Sayulita as a base for exploring the area…or just kick back and enjoy their artsy ambience.
Laid-back in Puerto Escondido, state of Oaxaca.
This little town on Mexico’s southern Pacific coast has long beaches where the afternoon sun seems to shine brighter than it does in other places. Puerto Escondido is a Mexico resort with a laid-back vibe and a small expat community of young, hip beach lovers who’ve mostly come here for a single reason: to surf.
That’s because Puerto Escondido is one of the top 10 surfing meccas in the world. In fact, if you’re a serious surfer, you’ve no doubt heard of Puerto Escondido.
For the rest of us the town has largely remained unknown. That’s because Puerto Escondido is also hard to reach. But that’s due to change. Mexico is building a high-speed road to connect Puerto Escondido to the state capital, Oaxaca. The trip, which now takes nine hours along a winding mountain road, will be cut down to three hours when the highway is finished.
When that happens, Puerto Escondido’s beaches and bright sunny afternoons will be within easy reach.
Caribbean Beaches of Playa del Carmen, state of Quintana Roo.
Ten to 15 years ago, Playa del Carmen, on the Yucatán Peninsula’s Caribbean coast, was a simple fishing village where you got the ferry to the island of Cozumel. Today it’s a chic destination on its own—and the heart of the stretch of Caribbean coast known as the Riviera Maya.
In Playa del Carmen you’ll find beautiful beaches where you can enjoy swimming, parasailing, body surfing, and fishing off the coast. On shore, Playa offers everything from high-end, boutique stores selling designer wear to funky stalls where you can buy crystals and get your hair braided. The restaurant options are equally varied.
For comfortable beach living, there’s not much you can’t find in Playa these days, thanks to the range of shops and services. For anything you can’t find, just head to Cancún, less than an hour away. In fact, Cancún’s international airport is only half an hour from Playa—making this trendy town easy to reach.
If you want a beach town with upscale amenities and a bohemian edge, then Playa del Carmen may be the place for you.
Great Seafood at Progreso, state of Yucatán.
Progreso is the largest town on the Yucatán Gulf Coast, a stretch of coastline running west and north of Mérida, the state capital. Progreso is a port and cruise ship stop, a low-key Mexico resort with a population of about 10,000.
Enjoy lunch at a seaside restaurant along Progreso’s boardwalk (malecón), then skip across the sand for a quick dip in the warm Gulf waters. Seafood is excellent and cheap here—you can get a plate of seafood ceviche that will serve two for only about $10.
One of the best things about Progreso is its easy access. It’s only half an hour from Mérida, with its big-city shopping (English-language cineplexes, shopping malls and U.S.-style warehouse stores) and international airport. But Progreso is also well-connected to all the other little beach towns along this stretch of coast.
And what a coast it is…with stretches of empty beach or sandy coves where flamingoes feed, and little fishing villages where boats bob at their moorings.
The Yucatán Gulf coast remains one of the best bargains in coastal Mexico. Along this coast you can still find houses near the beach for well under $100,000. Even in Progreso this price will get you a home within a short walk or drive of the beach.
So come on down to Mexico, where there’s a beach town for every taste.
Posted by Roxanna McDade on Sat, Jul 17, 2010 @ 07:02 AM
By Mexico Insight at Mexperience.com
In this series of articles we will examine five essential skills any budding expat considering Mexico should develop, whether the move is for living, working or retirement, full-time or part-time. In this first article, we examine possibly the most essential skill of all: learning the local language.
Even if you plan to live in an area of Mexico that is settled by large foreign expat communities speaking English, you will still need to learn some Spanish to get by on a daily basis, and especially if you want to get the most of your experience of being in Mexico.
Spanish is Mexico’s official language, and is spoken by over 450 million people in over 20 countries world-wide. By being able to understand and speak Spanish, you will gain access to the culture in a way that you would otherwise not be able to benefit from by having everyone else speak to you in English.
Furthermore, many of the people you will need and want to interact with regularly may not speak much English, if any at all. On a daily basis these could include the local shop keepers and market traders, the gasoline station attendant, the bank clerk, your maid and the gardener. People who provide essential services on an ad-hoc basis and who also may not speak English include the plumber, the car mechanic, the electrician, or the local doctor.
It’s inconvenient having to ask someone to translate for you all of the time. It’s also good manners to be command at least a modicum of understanding for the language of the country which you have chosen to adopt. Spanish is a phonetic language, it’s easy to grasp the basics and you can start learning right away.
In fact, you can start learning Spanish now by undertaking some free online lessons. The language program we have partnered with offers eleven lessons; the course has been designed by an language teacher who devised a way to teach Spanish in such a way that gets you conversing within a quarter-hour. Try the free lessons and see how you get on; you can buy the entire course on DVD, the course is reasonably priced and comes with a refund guarantee.
To accelerate your learning, there is no better way to learn Spanish than by immersing yourself in the language among a group of peers, attending a course at a local language school in Mexico. These structured courses offer an excellent way to learn Spanish, alongside other students who have the same desire as you to study, sharing the learning and getting involved locally at markets, banks, shops and other places where you can exercise the language you’ve studied in the classroom.
If you’re planning to move to Mexico, you can start to learn Spanish today using the online lessons, and accelerate your learning at a language school in Mexico when you arrive. If your move to Mexico is part of longer-term plan, but you intend to visit Mexico beforehand, consider mixing learning with pleasure on your next visit by including a course at local Spanish language school.
Our Learning Spanish guide is an integral part of our Living & Lifestyle section. Learn about how Spanish is applied in Mexico, as well as the reasons why Spanish is such a great language to learn. Intermediate and advanced students will all find a lot of value by reading Foreign Native’s language blog articles here.
Next Time: Essential Skills for Expats 2: Flexibility & Patience
Posted by Roxanna McDade on Thu, Jul 15, 2010 @ 07:16 AM
By Andrea Julian
Many people are choosing retirement in Mexico. If you are thinking about retirement in Mexico but are unsure of where you want to settle, consider the beautiful little beach town of Puerto Penasco in Sonora. Known by locals as Rocky Point, this idyllic little beach town is only 94 miles from Ajo, Arizona and the international border. It is accessible by excellent toll roads and even has a small international airport, making it very convenient for all kinds of travel. Choosing Puerto Penasco for retirement in Mexico is a good choice for many reasons.
Excellent real estate deals. There is no shortage of excellent real estate deals to be had in Puerto Penasco. Whether you are looking for a private home or a condo in a resort style setting you will find it there. Buying real estate is fairly simple and straight forward, as well. Since Puerto Penasco is in the 'free zone', laws for U.S. citizens are simpler there, which is why it is becoming such a popular choice for retirees from the United States.
Incredible year-round fishing. For many people, retirement means more time to spend doing the things they love, and that includes fishing. The Sea of Cortez offers abundant year round fishing, which is another one of the main draws of the area. You can bring your own boat down and spend your days fishing at your leisure. There are several marinas where you will be able to store your boat for a low monthly fee.
Inexpensive living. Your retirement income is sure to go a lot farther in Mexico. For $1,500 a month, you will be living great. That kind of money doesn't go too far in the states, but in Mexico, it is a healthy income. If you buy a house and don't have to pay rent, you could even live on a lot less.
Great climate. Puerto Penasco enjoys about 300 sunshine-filled days a year on average. The weather is much like the weather in the southwestern United States. It is a desert climate, so days can be hot and nights can be chilly. Unlike some parts of Mexico, which have a distinct rainy season, Puerto Penasco gets rain throughout the year in short bursts.
Retirement in Mexico is becoming more attractive as prices for food, gas, and living in general continue to rise in the United States. You may think you can't even afford to retire if you are living in the United States, but before you think of having to go back to work, consider retirement in Mexico. Puerto Penasco, with its convenient location near to the international border, means you can easily go back and forth to visit family and friends. Its idyllic beach side location on the gentle waters of the Sea of Cortez will make you truly feel like you are living the life of luxury you always dreamed about but thought you could never afford. So why not consider retirement in Mexico? With Puerto Penasco's beautiful beaches, scenery, inexpensive real estate and friendly people, its really hard to find any reason not to!
Posted by Roxanna McDade on Mon, Jun 28, 2010 @ 07:00 AM
By Marlo Heresco, suite101.com
Thoughts of palm trees, warm ocean breezes and a simple life are realities for many retirees. International retirement to another country such as Mexico is very common, especially for North Americans. Not all who do so are necessarily of the retirement age or in their golden years. There are many people in their twenties who arrive for a visit and never leave. There are also those in their thirties and beyond that plan the move to enjoy warmer winters and a less stressful life.
What Does it Mean to Retire Internationally?
When the thought of retiring to an international country like Mexico comes to mind, many questions arise. Some think of retirement as a new way of life, putting their long working days behind them. Others seek semi-retirement, meaning they are intending to work, perhaps only a little. To retire internationally generally means to not work at all.
What is the Best Way to Retire in Mexico?
Most tourists entering Mexico will automatically get a six-month tourist visa. These are provided free of charge at the destined airport. It is easy to live in Mexico for six-month increments while traveling back to your home country to renew your tourist visa. If this method is not suitable, one can apply to be a resident. When it comes time to claim status, applying for a rentista or resident status is by far, the simplest way to live there. This means that the successful candidate then has permission to reside in the country for twelve months at a time with proven income, such as a savings account. This eliminates the need to leave Mexico every six months. As well, it builds credited time to becoming a possible permanent resident.
What are Some of the Other Options to Retiring in Mexico?
There are many ways to retire and reside in Mexico. The simplest of them is to be a rentista or resident. However, setting up a new business, becoming a partner in an existing business, or getting a job in Mexico are other ways to reside in the country. It is not necessary to have a business started or a job offering before arriving in Mexico.
Who Can Own Property in Mexico?
Anyone can own property in Mexico. Buying a small seaside condo or a large beach house is definitely possible. It is even possible to build your own house in Mexico as long as the land has been purchased. The real estate rules in Mexico are vastly different from those in other parts of North America, so hiring a well-established real-estate company is definitely a good idea.
Retiring in Mexico
Mexico is a wonderful country of sea air, warm smiles and friendly culture. It also has a vast amount of history to offer. Enjoying fresh, exotic fruit, tropically found animals and a new language are only some of the treasures waiting for anyone who makes the move. A successful retirement to Mexico can easily be accomplished with a little bit of homework and some good planning.
Posted by Roxanna McDade on Thu, Jun 17, 2010 @ 06:50 AM
From the Baja Times,
June 16-30, 2010
SAN DIEGO - May 21, 2010 - The International Community Foundation released its report "Housing and Real Estate Trends Among Americans Retiring in Mexico's Coastal Communities" to make recommendations to policymakers in both the U.S. and Mexico, as well as to educate and inform U.S. retirees about key issues to consider when purchasing real estate in Mexico. The report is the third of five research studies that will be published by the Foundation.
For years, U.S. & Canadian retirees have re-located to Mexico as an alternative retirement destination that was affordable, offered desirable weather and was close to their communities of origin in North America. To further analyze these trends, especially in the context of the current economic crisis, the International Community Foundation surveyed over 840 U.S. retirees in coastal areas of Mexico over 50 years of age. Key findings include:
- Survey respondents selected Mexico for the lifestyle (79 percent), cost of living (75 percent), weather (69 percent), and proximity to the U.S. (63 percent). They also considered other overseas destinations, including Costa Rica, Panama, and Belize.
- Over 62 percent of survey respondents live in a house rather than a condo. Focus groups also voiced a clear preference for Mexican-style colonial architecture and the "village" concept as opposed to high-rise urban living.
- When considering the purchase of a home in Mexico, survey respondents noted that the availability of basic infrastructure and utilities (84 percent) and clear legal title (82 percent) were more important considerations than the price (78 percent).
- The vast majority (77 percent) of respondents owned their homes; only 16 percent were renters. Though survey respondents were not specifically asked if their home was purchased 100 percent in cash or was financed, many focus group participants confirmed that they had purchased their retirement homes with cash.
- Sixty one percent of U.S. retirees surveyed indicated that they would be willing to pay higher property taxes if they could be guaranteed better municipal services (including zoning enforcement, water, police, fire).
- When asked to advise those would-be retirees considering purchasing a home in Mexico, 69 percent of survey respondents highlighted the need to fully understand the risks of buying a home in a foreign country. Fifteen percent of respondents noted that retirees should "take the leap of faith" and that everything will work out okay.
The report can be accessed electronically at: http://www.icfdn.org/publications/rra.php.
About the International Community Foundation: The International Community Foundation is a public charity founded in 1990 with a mission to expand the level of charitable giving internationally by U.S. donors with an emphasis on Mexico and Central America. Future reports in the Foundation's "U.S. Retirement in Mexico" research series will address trends in volunteerism, philanthropy, and civic engagement, and the environment. For more information regarding the International Community Foundation, visit www.icfdn.org.
Posted by Roxanna McDade on Thu, May 27, 2010 @ 07:10 AM
By Maggie Van Ostrand Mexconnect.com
Without fanfare, President Felipe Calderon has been quietly working on attracting millions of U.S. retirees to Mexico by proposing the expansion of retirement benefits and medical tourism. It is anticipated this proposal will be brought up when President Calderon meets with President Barack Obama on an official visit May 19th, sources say. President Calderon, not one to give up easily, already has a Plan B: to raise the same issue later this year, if nothing happens between the two nations on May 19th.
Mexico's ambassador to the U.S., Arturo Sarukhan told Miami Herald columnist, Andres Oppenheimer, "It's one of the pillars of our plans to trigger economic and social well-being in both countries. We will be seeking to increasingly discuss this issue in coming months and years."
Last August in Guadalajara at a U.S.-Canada-Mexico summit, at the request of President Barack Obama, President Calderon shelved the same idea until the passage of health care reform in the U.S. Now that health care reform has passed, it is time to bring the matter up again. First things first.
About one million U.S. expats already live in Mexico, and that number can grow to five million by 2025, according to estimates based on U.S. Census figures. (Actually, five million U.S. retires already live abroad, mostly in Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Brazil, with an additional 1.5 million in Europe, and 850,000 in Asia.)
Enticing even more U.S. retirees to move south of the border is expected to depend somewhat on getting the U.S. Joint International Commission to certify hospitals that meet the standards of U.S. hospitals. Already, nine Mexican hospitals have been so certified, and others are currently awaiting certification.
Already certified:
American British Cowdray Medical Center IAP Observatorio Campus
Mexico City
Accredited December 6, 2008
American British Cowdray Medical Center IAP Sante Fe Campus
Mexico City
Accredited December 12, 2008
Christus Muguerza Alta Especialidad
Monterrey, Nuevo Leon
Accredited July 22, 2007
Clinica Cumbres Chihuahua
Chihuahua, Chihuahua
Accredited April 23, 2008
Hospital CIA Hermosillo
Hermosillo, Sonora
Accredited December 11, 2008
Hospital CIMA Monterrey
San Pedro Garza Garcia, Nuevo Leon
Accredited December 19, 2008
Hospital Mexico Americano, SC
Guadalajara, Jalisco
Accredited March 20, 2010
Hospital San Jose Tec de Monterrey
Monterrey, Nuevo Leon
Accredited December 25, 2007
Hospital y Clinica UCA. S.A. de C.V.
Monterrey, Nuevo Leon
Healthcare costs in Mexico are approximately 70 per cent lower than healthcare costs in the U.S. so, if Calderon's proposal to Obama starts with an agreement allowing Medicare benefits to U.S. retirees living in Mexico, instead of Medicare only covering healthcare services in the U.S., the savings would be enormous to the U.S. and also bring needed dollars to the Mexican medical profession.
This is being quietly talked about at the highest levels, leaving media attention to the negativity it seems to prefer with both the drug wars in Northern Mexico and healthcare naysayers in U.S. politics.
In other words, while the loudmouths roar, the whisperers are getting things done.
Posted by Roxanna McDade on Tue, May 25, 2010 @ 09:27 AM
By: Andrea Julian
Mexico is a stunningly beautiful country with a vibrant local culture and a variety of landscapes to explore. With a laid back vibe and friendly immigration laws, retirement in Mexico has become a popular choice for many people from North America. More and more, international retirees, especially Canadians and Americans, have been choosing to retire in Mexico for a variety of reasons. Here are just some of the reasons that make Mexico such an attractive retirement option.
Mexico has an excellent climate. The warm, temperate climate of Mexico makes it an attractive destination for retirees. In the land of eternal summer, there is never a need for snowshoes or heavy coats. Mexico has miles and miles of beaches to choose from. You can stay close to home on the northern beaches of Baja or take in the laid back Caribbean vibe of the Yucatan peninsula.
Retirement in Mexico means you are still close to home. Even if you retire in Mexico, it's certain you will want to be able to head back north to visit the family every once in a while. Mexico is close to home for Americans and Canadians. There are many international airports that have direct flights to the U.S. and Canada. In addition, it's easy to drive your car or RV to Mexico; all you have to do is buy a Mexican auto insurance policy. This is a very popular option with manyNorte Americanoretirees.
Retirement in Mexico is cheap. One of the most attractive options for retirement is the added value to your dollar. For $2,000 a month in Mexico, you can live like a king. You can live in an ocean front condo, eating out as often as you want and truly live it up. Many retirees choose Mexico because they know that they will be able to take it easy since their pensions will go farther, which is the whole point of retirement anyway, right?
The Mexican people are very friendly. The Mexican people are a warm and friendly culture who value tourists and are happy that foreigners want to make Mexico their home. Many visitors are overwhelmed by the friendliness of the locals compared to people from their home country. In addition, many ex-pats and Europeans have chosen to make Mexico their home. Retirees to Mexico are sure to find a community of like-minded foreigners wherever in Mexico they choose to retire.
Mexico is safe. Despite rumors to the contrary, Mexico is as safe a place to visit or retire to as any place in North America. This is not to say that there are not dangerous areas, just like there are dangerous areas in any town, country or city in the world. Typically, though, retirement in Mexico means you will be living in an area where there are a lot of other international people living, and these areas are typically very safe and crime-free. The areas that are dangerous tend to be in areas that are not attractive to tourists or retirees.
Posted by Roxanna McDade on Mon, May 17, 2010 @ 06:04 AM
Reviewed by James Tipton on Mexconnect
Salsa Verde Press, Laredo, 2009
Available from www.amazon.com.
A lot of us now living in Mexico managed in the past to escape the northern climes — in part due to the confidence we developed reading books on how to live in Mexico. Although many now heavily rely on on-line sites like MexConnect.com, comprehensive guides continue to be published in book form and on Kindle as well.
I think the first book I bought about actually living in Mexico was the Howell & Merwin book, Choose Mexico: Retirement Living on $400 a Month. That was back in 1985, but even then, talking to people who had made the leap, I learned that $400 was really awfully minimal living, particularly in places most Canadians and Americans wanted to be: San Miguel de Allende, Puerto Vallarta, the Lake Chapala area. A few years later, in 1997, I bought their slightly updated version, with the title also updated, to Choose Mexico: Live Well on $600 a month. Well, even at $600 it was rather minimal living. The latest version (2007) is simply and more safely titled Choose Mexico for Retirement. Those books by Howell & Merwin introduced me to lots of possibilities, though, and I thank those authors for the information they gave me. Likewise I discovered new things in books like Live Better South of the Border by "Mexico" Mike Nelson, which I passed on to a fellow passenger on Autobus Americanos who wanted to know about AA locations in Mexico. "Mexico" Mike also wrote the useful Sanborn's Travelog series of guidebooks for drivers to Mexico (1986-1998). I also like the very informative and very useful book curiously titled Mexico: The Owner's Manual, a new edition just released by International Living.
But still new ones arrive!
The Best How-To Book on Moving to Mexico is written by three people who have made the move, and two of them are familiar to regular readers of MexConnect. Carol Schmidt and Norma Hair met each other in 1979 "when both were on the state board of directors of California NOW." They lived in RV parks in Arizona and Washington before moving to San Miguel de Allende in May of 2002. Carol connected with www.mexconnect.com, writing columns and moderating their San Miguel de Allende forum. She accumulated, with Norma's help, enough columns and features to put together a book , San Miguel: Retiring to Mexico on Social Security (Salsa Verde Press, 2006), and she has still more books about Mexico in mind: San Miguel de Allende on a Budget; Falling in Love with Mexico by Bus; and Ten Years in Love with San Miguel. The third editor, Rollins "Rolly" Brook, "after visiting all 50 states in the USA and many countries around the world… found himself most at home in Mexico." In 2000 Rolly retired to Lerdo, Durango, and from there, in addition to moderating a MexConnect forum, he documents his new life in Mexico on his own website.
Clearly this is no trio on extended vacation. They actually live here… permanently.
These authors are bold and direct. The opening chapter is titled "Why We Say This is the Best How-To Book on Moving to Mexico. We deliberately chose the title… because this book is exactly that. You'll find the rules and the practical advice you expect, plus our personal experiences of what it is like to fall in love with Mexico and make the big move to a happier, healthier, less stress-filled, more fulfilling, fun and creative way of life. Welcome to your journey. And hang loose."
The book is divided into four parts.
Part One: Your Deal-Breaker Questions: Costs, Health Care, Personal Safety
This covers topics like, "Is it really a quarter to a third cheaper to live in Mexico?" "Health care, most likely your main worry." "Crime and Personal Safety."
Each chapter goes into detail. For example, "Heath care…" covers
- Cost of doctors
- ERs and hospital care
- Differences in health care in Mexico
- Medical tourism
- Medicare and Canadian health care programs
- Keeping Medicare Part B
- Varying quality of care
- The two government hospital systems and private hospitals
- Applying for IMSS
- Private insurance plans
- Medical evacuation companies
- Different attitudes toward prescription drugs, hospices, living wills, medical power of attorneys, prepaid funeral plans
- Living in Mexico with disabilities and with HIV/AIDS
- Allergies, amoebas and food poisoning
- Dentistry
- Visioncare
- Alternative and holistic medicine
- Rolly's experience in a Hospital Angeles ER
- Carol's detailed report on having two knee replacement surgeries in Querétaro.
Part Two: Where in Mexico Is Best For You?
Carol and Norma chose the historic colonial city of San Miguel with its year-round temperate climate, "many liberal and artsy expats to help them settle in," a central location, plenty of activities and organizations, and many "free or low-cost happenings…."
Rolly chose to be the only expat in a tiny town in northern Mexico. This chapter gives a "sweeping overview of some of the favorite expat areas in the 31 states of Mexico".
Part Three: Making the Move
When you've made the decision to move to Mexico, here is the nitty-gritty, how to do it. Which Visa do you need? FMT? FM3? FM2? Dual citizen? What about taking pets across the border? What is a menaje de casa? Should I just have a garage sale and buy new in Mexico? What items are prohibited? What about a car? ("Only one vehicle is allowed in your name.") Can I get a car-importation permit on-line? Liability insurance. Getting Mexican car plates. Should I just buy a Mexican-plated car when I arrive? Do I really need a car?
Part Four: Living in Mexico
Once you've arrived and begin to settle in, you need to know how driving is different in Mexico. And you need to know how to find inexpensive accommodations, and how to rent and to buy. You'll also need to know how to hire a housekeeper, a gardener, or other employees and — should you wish to work — how to get a work permit, how to start a business (teaching English is a popular business for expats).
You'll want to fit in, and this means learning Spanish, and how to use Mexican banks and ATMs, and how to get phone and internet service, and perhaps even cable and satellite TV. How to make phone calls economically both inside and outside of Mexico. And what is the INAPAM card (discount card for senior citizens). And what about all those holidays and celebrations? And how do you type Spanish accents on your English language keyboard? (Alt160 for á for example).
Appendix
The Appendix includes such things as "Grocery Price Comparison between Dallas, TX, and San Miguel de Allende."
Mexican Consulates and Embassies are listed, with complete addresses, telephone numbers and email addresses. There is also a list of Mexico's World Heritage Sites (like the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, as well as the town of San Miguel). And there is a list of Pueblos Mágicos, cities that have been declared Magical Cities by the Mexico Secretariat of Tourism.
You also have information on the Vehicle Pollution Control Policy Hoy No Circula, which tells you what days you are allowed to drive in Mexico City (it depends on the last digit of your vehicle license plate).
And finally, Rolly provides in both English and Spanish a sample menaje de casa, the list of household goods you are required to have (five copies in Spanish) when you move your possessions across the border.
Well, hats off to Carol, Norma, and Rolly! The Best How-To Book on Moving to Mexico just might be that best book. I think you better have it handy in the car when you head to Mexico.
Posted by Roxanna McDade on Fri, May 14, 2010 @ 01:56 PM
By Ronald Buchanan Mexperience.com / Mexico Insight
Good news for American retirees in Mexico. Good news, too, for Mexico’s struggling economy.
According to Andrés Oppenheimer, the well-informed Miami Herald columnist, President Felipe Calderón wants to persuade the US government to make Medicare benefits payable for treatment in Mexico to US retirees. Right now Medicare covers only care in the US itself.
But that will be a modest first step in a much bigger plan that aims to draw millions of Americans to Mexico in what would be the biggest Mexico-US joint project since Nafta—in which Canada is also a partner—came into force 16 years ago, says Oppenheimer.
Mexico would become North America’s Spain. Millions of retirees from northern Europe have chosen to retire to the sunshine and relatively low living costs of Spain. And not only retirees but growing numbers of cyber-commuters.
The European Community extends health benefits to its citizens no matter the member country in which they choose to live. A similar scheme appears to be being hatched in Mexico. “It’s one of the pillars of our plans to trigger economic and social well-being in both countries,” Arturo Sarukhan, the Mexican ambassador to Washington, told Oppenheimer.
Apparently, Calderón raised the issue the last time he met President Barack Obama. But Obama asked him to hold fire until after US healthcare reform was passed. Now that Obama’s reform is in place, the issue could well be revived when the two leaders meet in Washington on May 19, though that meeting will inevitably be dominated by the drug issue.
Spain’s legion of foreign residents and visitors have undoubtedly boosted Spain’s economy. When the first foreign residents began to trickle into Spain, its economy was in tatters in the wake of the Franco dictatorship. The average Briton was three times as wealthy as the average Spaniard.
No longer, though the world economic crisis has dealt Spain a particularly severe blow. But right here in Mexico there is evidence of Spain’s economic vitality. Its banks, hotels and energy companies operate all over the country, and Spanish companies go head to head with Americans in real-estate developments for US retirees and second-home owners.
Could it happen here? Yes. Will it? There have to be doubts over the political will on both sides—three if you count in Canada’s Stephen Harper.
But a healthcare deal would make eminent sense for the US. Quality healthcare here is about 70% cheaper than it is in the US and the Medicare bills would be correspondingly lower. Yet many more hospitals will need US certification—only about seven are certified right now.
Posted by Roxanna McDade on Thu, May 06, 2010 @ 04:30 PM
Wild Bill discovers Mexico's Costa Esmeralda--the Emerald Coast of Veracruz
by: William B. Kaliher Mexconnect
Wild Bill is a seventy-six year-old expatriate enjoying his motor home and life in relative seclusion at Quinta Alicia Trailer Park on the palm covered coast of Costa Esmeralda, Mexico. Retired from both the military and a career in aviation management, Bill is a widower with five grown children. We sat at a concrete picnic table a hundred feet from the Gulf coast's lapping waves with a steady breeze rustling the palms overhead. I asked how he and his RV came to settle in Mexico.
The former Vermonter, clad in sandals, slacks and tee-shirt, said, "About eleven years ago, I realized I'd been around the world and not seen anything."
Wild Bill cured his dilemma by purchasing a small used Allergo. His consulting on aviation took him around the country. The motor home put him on the ground to enjoy the views along the way. In 2001, he made his first venture into Mexico via RV. That challenging and enchanting trip lasted a month and he lengthened his stay on each subsequent foray. The majority of his first ventures were solo trips, but he occasionally teamed up with others enjoying their motor home travels.
"Weren't you scared driving a motor home in Mexico?" I asked.
Bill set his white cup down. "At first, Mexican driving scared me. However, as I learned the highway customs, the difficulties evaporated. Tell your readers to never, never, never give a left turn signal as they would in the States. The left turn signal is a sign to the driver behind you that the road ahead is clear for him to pass. For years, Mexico had virtually shoulder-less roads and that signal helped keep traffic moving. If you can't naturally make the left, pull as far off to the right as possible and allow everyone to pass. When the highway is clear make your left."
Wild Bill was in his element, a man who'd driven his motor home to almost every part of Mexico. He had great advice based on the common sense he'd gathered along the way. Many of the roads are narrow and virtually shoulder-less. That's something American tourists have to realize. The other major problem new drivers face is the directional road signs and/or lack of signs. They're in Spanish. Desviación (Detour) and Peligroso (Dangerous) are difficult at first. Topes are another road barrier the tourist must learn — elevated "speed bumps" in the road to slow drivers and save the expenses of signals or hiring traffic cops.
He camped at Quinta Alicia on Costa Esmeralda for the first time in 2002. The location was a perfect early stopping spot when visiting as he explored the majority of the country. In 2005, he decided to see how bad the summer season was and found it wasn't as uncomfortably humid and hot as many people indicated. That settled it. Feeling safer in Mexico than anywhere in the United States, Wild Bill parked his bought-used, 1990 Pace Arrow, and made a new home in the type semi-tropical paradise so many dream of.
Wild Bill adds flavor to an already colorful local scene in a multitude of ways. He's made many friends among the locals and become a fixture on the Costa Esmeralda landscape. A short walk takes him into the local village for shopping, or a quick bus trip carries him to larger nearby cities for serious shopping. With imperfect Spanish, Wild Bill accomplishes anything he wants, but at times values the anonymity this small Mexican subculture affords him.
I watched steam swirl from his coffee. Another hundred yards inland, it would compete with subtropical heat for primacy but, where we sat, his cup was the hottest thing going. I'd noticed two Mexican flags flying from Bill's Pace Arrow and asked about them.
The ocean breeze stirred his white hair as he took a slow sip of coffee. "I fly the first one to show empathy for the Mexican people. I added the second to fool new American tourists so they don't bother me," he replied.
Having visited Mexico almost yearly since 1971, I knew exactly what Wild Bill was saying, but sat back to fully hear his thoughts.
"That's not in all cases, of course," he continued. "A great many I enjoy talking with. But those who only want to verify their own opinions on Mexico or don't bother trying to understand the culture and history aren't generally people who will get the most out of their trip or make one want to talk with them. We get quite a few RVers during the motor home season, November through May, and I've also found people who are unsatisfied with their caravan experience. The caravan sometimes puts people together whose personalities don't fit and can be limiting when someone wants to linger a bit longer. But we've had sixteen or seventeen big motor coaches camp here at a time.
Bill swirled his coffee and I asked, "What about problems with the police on the highways?"
Bill nodded and described the four levels of police in Mexico. The tránsitos,or traffic police are the ones to be somewhat concerned with. They're most notable because of their brown uniforms and the fact they don't carry guns. They're paid very little and some may subsidize their salary with traffic stops. I never pay a bribe, but I know the culture better than most Americans. There are three things to keep in mind if one stops you. Never be intimidated. You might even take their picture as they exit their car. If they press the issue concerning a ticket, tell them 'Take me to the station.' These steps usually make them back off but if you have one that doesn't appear to be backing off, you might want to pay a few dollars to be on your way.
There's also a form put out by the Mexican government. It's in Spanish but can be useful. The form has the appropriate questions asking what is the offense, etc. Fill the form out during the stop and ask the cop to sign it. The majority of the tránsitos don't want such a stop on record and back off.
Intrigued by his insights I asked, "Beyond your primary advice on road signs and different highway customs, what would you warn the new-to-Mexico motor home driver about?"
"Avoid narrow streets at all costs," he said. "If you find yourself on one and have someone with you, have them get out and help you navigate through. But try to avoid narrow streets. Pedestrians darting out and cars pulling into traffic are far worse here than in the States. They don't realize it's harder to stop a motor home than a car, so the driver must be extra cautious in city traffic. It's best to park a motor home on the edge of town and walk in or take a taxi. Taxis are very cheap here, and it saves the worry of ending up trapped on a narrow street."
I could tell Wild Bill was recalling his own experiences, and asked if he'd ever had any problems.
"My only accident traveling Mexico was in Oaxaca," he replied. "There were two lanes of traffic each way, with the inside lane used for parked cars. I was traveling with perhaps eighteen inches to spare on each side between the parked cars and the vehicles on my left. I couldn't have been going fifteen miles-per-hour when a guy pulled in front of me. I took off his driver's side rearview mirror." He shook his head recalling the incident. "In minor circumstances, like this, you never want to call the police. They'll have both drivers follow them to the police station where both vehicles are impounded until the details are worked out. One lady I know had a more serious accident and her RV was impounded for several days. She made herself at home in the impound yard and lived in her motor home until the insurance companies worked everything out.
"In my case, the guy and I were in the same predicament and wanted to work things out without the cops. We started negotiating. He wanted a hundred dollars. I countered with a fifty dollar offer and he settled for that. Just make sure you have Mexican insurance."
Some distant birds caught my eye and I changed the subject to refocus on practical aspects of RVing. "When you're traveling, have you ever had problems with sewage disposal or finding a camping spot?"
"Never. The campgrounds cover those problems. However, when I was first traveling and learning my way, I discovered I could park overnight at most Pemex stations. That's something the new tourist should keep in mind if caught traveling late. Give the security guard ten or twenty pesos (one or two dollars) to keep an eye out for you and your mobile home. That alleviates any concerns."
"How about breakdowns?" I asked. "Have you had any serious problems?"
"Good point," Wild Bill said, shifting positions on the cement bench where we sat. "People will want to know about that. My brakes went out in the middle of nowhere. I was ten miles from the closest town but a couple in another motor home was traveling with me at the time. We had CBs, which helped. They were towing a car and we unhitched it for his wife to drive. He drove slowly and I followed close behind him and he warned me of any impending obstacles or problems. We stopped at a couple of roadside mechanics, who are usually very good, but this was too much for them. None of them charged anything for looking for the problem. We finally reached a larger shop in the city. I had a broken brake line and had lost all the hydraulic fluids. I was fearful of the cost, but they did everything for a quarter of what it would have cost in the States. Another time I had to have the air conditioner recharged. I don't recall the cost but it was negligible."
I spent a great morning with Wild Bill, living his life of Riley if only temporarily. I can only hope, should you decide to try Mexico, your path wanders into Alicia Trailer Park and you encounter this inquisitive gentleman and expert on RVing in Mexico. The ocean breeze is perfect for great conversations. If you have questions in the meantime, please e-mail me at wkaliher@mindspring.com or the editor, and your e-mail will be forwarded to Wild Bill.
Alicia Trailer Park rates at press time ran from approximately $5.60 USD per night, $36 per week and $125 a week for one person to $11.20 a night, $64 a week and $232 per month for two people