Bob Hyde and Trish Youngstrum are the newest members of the TOPMexicoRealEstate team, with a special focus on Mexico golf course real estate. They are also American retirees who have chosen to leave South Florida to enjoy a Mexico retirement on the beautiful beachfront of Playa del Carmen. For this reason they can comment on the advantages of Playa del Carmen real estate and Mexico in general over one of the favorite retirement destinations within the U.S. Generally, they are an excellent resource for sharing the benefits that owning Playa del Carmen property and living here offers. This is the second part of an interview with them (see Part 1).
TMRE: What is a retirement in Playa del Carmen like for an American?
Trish and Bob: The best way to describe it is that you can get involved in all manner of activities or, if you’d prefer, do simply nothing but hang out at the beach or pool.
TMRE: What kind of activities are there?
Trish and Bob: Where to begin? Book clubs, wine clubs, exercise groups, yoga, golf (more on that later, too), tennis, water sports, informal luncheon and cocktail hour gatherings, charity and community involvement, (the Rotary Club in Playa is very active) wonderful restaurants ranging from sidewalk taco vendors to world class cuisine…and we’d be remiss if we forgot to mention Playa’s wonderful beach bars!
TMRE: Are there many American or Canadian retirees here?
Trish and Bob: Yes, and we’ve made lots of good friends from both countries, and from Europe and South America, too.
TMRE: What is golf like in Playa del Carmen?
TMRE: Are the courses good?
Trish and Bob: No, they’re great! Beautiful courses by world class designers (Nicklaus, Norman, Dye) that are beautifully maintained.
TMRE: How many are there?
Trish and Bob: There’s one course in “downtown†PdC, at Playacar Phase 2, and six additional courses within easy reach. El Camaleon at Mayakoba is the site of Mexico’s only PGA tour event, the recently completed Mayakoba Classic, and Nick Price’s Grand Coral is our newest course. And there’s more coming.
There’s also an excellent course on Cozumel, a forty minute ferry ride from Playa. It’s fun to see folks walking to the ferry with golf bags slung over their shoulders!
TMRE: Do many people play golf?
Trish and Bob: Yes, but never so many that you can’t get a tee time.
TMRE: Could a golf fanatic choose Playa del Carmen for this reason?
Trish and Bob: You bet…and in the summer, get out early, finish before lunch and then grab a siesta out of the sun. There are also excellent Playa del Carmen condos for sale in golf course communities.
TMRE: How easy is it to get back home? Is it expensive?
Trish and Bob: In our case it’s ridiculously easy, an hour and fifteen minute hop from Cancun’s beautiful modern airport (45 minutes door to door, with easy and convenient parking) to MIA or FTL. And JetBlue and Spirit Air make it easy on the wallet, too.
TMRE: Does your family – kids or grandkids – visit? What can you do with them?
Trish and Bob: Not yet, but when they do there’s the beach and the pool, of course, but lots of environmentally themed water / adventure parks nearby (Xcaret, Xel Ha, Wet N Wild), too. Kids will enjoy the dolphin show at nearby Puerto Aventuras, and when all else fails there’s – you guessed it – McDonald’s, Burger King, Haagen Dazs , Dairy Queen etc. etc. etc….all the familiar logos and comfort food from back home.
Authors Trish Youngstrum & Bob Hyde bring over 50 years’ combined sales experience in the United States, most recently in South Florida. Trish is one of the few Realtors in the US and Mexico to hold the professional designation of Graduate Realtor Institute (GRI) and is a Certified Transnational Property Specialist working with agents and buyers of resort properties from the Americas and Europe. Trish and Bob moved to beautiful Playa del Carmen in 2009 where they now work with TOP Mexico Real Estate. For more information (512)-879-6546 THE www.TOPmexicorealestate.com NETWORK