Author Archives: Thomas Lloyd

The Pricing Factor – The Even Cheaper Parts of Mexico

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Retirement living in Mexico

The colonial town of Valladolid – not far from Cancun, Playa or Merida

Here’s something that may or may not surprise you; regardless of which retirement location you choose in Mexico, regardless how low the cost of living, there are probably many parts of the country that are even cheaper!

 

So, why don’t you pack up and move to one of those places?

 

Well, the answer to that is usually fairly obvious; the more popular expat and tourist locations usually have more modern services, more people that speak English, better airport and highway access, etc. And they’re already so much cheaper than what life back home was.

 

Yet, there are several benefits to these very low-priced parts of Mexico.

 

Travel

 

While you’re home base will be Playa del Carmen or Puerto Vallarta, you can hop on a nice coach bus or rent a car and head out to visit nearby villages. The cost of everything from hotels to icecream to taxis will be low, even compared to the surprisingly los prices you were just getting used to in your new home town. For example, about 2 hours from Playa del Carmen is the charming – yet all but unknown – town of Valladolid.

 

retirement living in MexicoThis makes it easy to spend retirement years traveling, seeing new sights and having new experiences, even if you’re on a tighter budget. One couple who headed out for a trip through some of these quieter villages told me that there full vacationing expenses – hotel, bus, restaurants, etc., – cost them less than their regular expenses would’ve been for the same amount of time back in Canada. Mind you, this couple likes to “rough it” a little, but they fully enjoyed all aspects of the trip.

 

Affordable Help

 

One of the many advantages of retiring in Mexico is that you can afford to hire a maid, a gardener, a handyman for maintenance, etc. and not bust the budget. People coming into the more economically thriving areas from the villages are part of what makes this possible. For them, even the wages which already seem surprisingly low to us seem quite high. Many of them send part of their wages back to the farm where the cash goes a long, long way.

 

Of course, we want to give back to our new communities and not take advantage, but paying the going wages or a bit higher will go a long way for these people. Hiring them offers a double benefit; it’s good for you since it offers you a more comfortable lifestyle for a much better price. It’s good for them because it gives them access to cash and a better life that otherwise they wouldn’t have.

 

So, yes, there are most certainly places in Mexico that are cheaper than the expat town you chose. No, they probably wouldn’t be appealing for you to live in, and yes, there are ways which you can both enjoy the benefits of the low costs there and contribute to the lives of those who live there.

 

-Thomas Lloyd

Staying Active in Playa del Carmen

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Playa del Carmen is a town in which we can’t help but to be active on a normal basis. By settling here in Playa, you may actually be improving your health and wellness even if you didn’t realize it. Aside from the fact that you generally do a lot of walking and moving around from one place to the other, Playa promotes many choices for staying fit and the good news is there is something for everyone!

Let’s take a look at some of the options, shall we?

Walk-Everywhere Lifestyle

While the use of taxi’s and cars are a main source of transportation to get from one place to the other it is more likely that you spend just as much of the time walking to your destination. Why not? The weather is nice! So even without exercise in mind we are doing it! And besides, Playa is small and sometimes it doesn’t make much sense to drive. Our feet and the use of bicycles are actually the main form of transportation here therefore contributing to the “subconscious calorie burn”!

Join a Gym!

This is the most typical mechanism as the gyms here offer state of the art equipment for both cardio and strength, on site personal training and group classes.

Yoga

Yoga is HUGE here in Playa del Carmen! There are many yoga studios scattered throughout Playa. It is unlikely that you will not see one as you are strolling through the main streets toward the beach here. Try yoga on the beach or in a studio! There is even yoga on the ocean with the use of surfboard. Give it a try!

Keep that Core Tight!

Holding hands with the same hot demand of yoga is Pilates. There are many Pilates studios here in Playa and some are even teamed up with the yoga studios and gymnasiums.

 

Outdoor Running!

Find the treadmill boring? Well who wouldn’t when you have the perfect setting and nice running/jogging options here in Playa. Try some barefoot running on the beach. It’s easy to forget you are exercising while you are connected with such a nice view. The 5th Avenue is a nice option for a run. The mornings are quieter (and cooler) but if it’s in a busier time of the day make it like an obstacle and weave in and out through the people. Also, it’s a good way to people watch. Consider the track on 10th avenue and 34th street which at the moment is under construction but will be available again soon. And also, try running through different neighborhoods. Switching up your route can prevent boredom.

Don’t like running? Well, all of these options are just as nice for walkers.

Cross fit

Cross fit studios are becoming very popular as well. Living near the beach means that fitness and being strong is a hot topic. Cross fit combines some hard core techniques to get you in shape. It’s worth the sweat!

Tennis anyone?

There are a couple of nice options for tennis courts in Playa del Carmen center as well as Playacar. It should be pretty easy to find a partner if you don’t have one already.

Take a bike ride!

If it’s a nice evening why not take the bike out for a spin. It’s very nice ride through Playacar for example. Also, Playa is building up their bike paths to make it easier and more enjoyable to take a relaxing and safe ride through the town.

Dance your heart out!

Take a salsa or Tango class or just simply find where the music is and dance. There’s plenty of it here so take advantage and let yourself go. Dance is just as great for the mind and soul as it is for your body. Learn a few new moves or use what you’ve got but either way have fun and move!

And with all this being said we have to remember the summer is here and it’s HOT! Stay active but also remember to stay hydrated! Drink water as you are participating in these activities and also throughout the day.

-by Bea Lozano

Mexico Health Care Kit

The Five Senses of Playa del Carmen

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Retirement living in Playa del CarmenPlaya del Carmen is an invigorating beach town awaking all of your senses beyond the norm. With so many things to see, hear, smell, touch and taste you are sure to want to return again and again or join the rest of the expats that have made this wonderful place their home. So what’s different? I believe it is the combination of multi culture, tradition, value of simplicity, love and beauty.

 

I See Magic!

The ocean gives a different kind of magic in each time of the day. I enjoy the mornings and evenings because of the quiet and peace that it fills me with. But during the day the ocean is moving. There is energy created by beach-goers making a buzz in Playa.

 

If you venture outside of the beach and up the 5th ave you can see much movement and excitement. One of my favorite things to do on the 5th ave is to have a cup of coffee at Starbucks and people watch. You will see vendors and restaurants busy at work asking you to come try their product. You will see different kinds of entertainment from men dressed as characters, break dancers, street shows, mariachis, etc.

 
Off the 5th you see what real life is like here in Playa. There are lots of people walking or riding bicycles, Couples holding hands, kids playing in the street, workers working, cats and dogs running around without a leash just having fun and doing what is within our nature. Many of these things are very rare to see in the Midwest where I come from.

 

Can you smell that?

Ocean and sand! We all are familiar with the great smell of the beach. It’s a smell that tells us to enjoy, relax and let go!

 

Food! Restaurants, small Mexican kitchens or taco carts are in abundance here. Wherever you go you smell the aroma of food. This is of course why I tend to remain permanently hungry in Playa.

 

Incense! I have noticed that the use of incense is quite popular here and I smell it a lot on the 5th avenue coming from some stores

 

Oh YUM!

This is my personal favorite topic! The food, fruit, and different kinds of drinks here are amazing. There are so many new things to try. From simple to the most exotic kinds of foods, Playa is full of top notch restaurants.

 
And have you tried the cooking from a local Mexican kitchen, otherwise known as a Fonda? If not then please do! It’s some of the best yet inexpensive food you will eat here. Let’s not forget the availability of wonderful fruits, juices and flavored waters. Have you tried Jamaica (HA-MI-CA) water yet? Here you will find the food is National but also very International so try it all

 

Hello I Can Hear You!

Well, one of our most incredible senses is our hearing. Each town and city has their own flare to it. So what is different and particular about Playa? Well, for one back in the U.S. I would have never thought I’d be living next door to a rooster but, well now I have one for a neighbor. He sings his song throughout the day but is never bothersome. It actually makes me feel very nice that I have discovered this simplicity to life.

 

Nature is a noise that you hear often here. The chirping of the various kinds of birds is a common sound. The language! Oh how I love the Spanish language. It sounds so beautiful to me when I hear people talk. I’ve known Spanish for a while, but I still love listening – the new hasn’t worn off! Music is filled in the streets and in the touristic areas day and night including those great mariachis and local musicians.

 

Retirement living in Playa del CarmenIt feels so Good!

The sand in my feet! It’s perhaps one of the most wonderful feelings for me personally is to feel the sand touch my feet and to touch the water.

 

“Fish spa” at a cenote! The little tadpoles swim up and eat the dirt off of your feet. It feels ticklish but very neat at the same time.

 

The wind! Feeling the wind blow against your skin and in your hair is a sweet relaxation.

 

Playa can take the energy all through your body. Connect with nature and the community. Listen, taste new things and enjoy Playa!

-by Thomas Lloyd

 

Livin' Playa video interview

Hot, Hot, Hot in Playa del Carmen!

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It’s started. Except for our brief rainy interlude, the temperature around here has started to rise again. And when it goes up it really goes up, making anywhere but somewhere the breeze is blowing uncomfortable. Here are some tips for staying cool in the summer in Playa del Carmen.

 

Living in Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Fresh fruit juice blends in Mexico are delicious and a great way to stay cool!

1- Try some refreshing new drinks!

 

Mexico is famous for fresh fruit juices and they are so easy to make at home – all you need is a blender, some ice, water, fresh fruit and some imagination. Things like watermelon, pineapple, and oranges blend best. There are some interesting fruits in Mexico that you can also try if you like – pitaya, guava, and tamarind. My favorite mix is really easy to make – mix some water, ice, and mint leaves in a blender, and presto!

 

2- Drink water!

 

It will keep you cool and staying hydrated is very important, especially if you tend to sweat.

 

3- Hit the beach!

 

 

It’s the best place to stay cool. And if you get too hot the ocean waves are right there to cool you down instantly. Try to find a spot under a palapa or you can rent some shade with an umbrella and beach chair or bed. There are some nice beach clubs around that offer great food and a wide variety of beverages, so you don’t have to lift a finger.

 

4- Jump in the pool!

 

Another great place to cool off – without having to worry about the waves knocking you over. Just remember your sunscreen because nothing burns more than sunburn.

 

Whenever you do begin life in paradise, these tips help you stay safe and sane the summer season.

 

-by Bea Lozano

 

Mexico Real Estate Investment Kit

What to Do on Rainy Days in Playa del Carmen …

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I’m going to make a startling admission:

 

There really are rainy days in Playa del Carmen!

 

There aren’t many of them – I’d say over 300 days of the year are mostly sunshine. Even when there is rain, it lasts for a couple of hours at the most, and sometimes much less, and then Playa’s bright sun comes out again.

 

But there really are a handful of days in which it rains all day. And in these cases, it usually rains hard.

 

So what to do on a rainy day in a place where life is out on the beach, a stroll out on Fifth Avenue or breakfast on a terrace?

 

I have to admit, it’s hard to keep stuff around just for a few days a year when the rainy days keep you inside. These are my personal favorites:

  • browsing the web – writing blogs of course (good internet connections around here)
  • watching a moving – there are good movie rentals in English, as well as 2 movie theaters, also mostly in English (with Spanish subtitles)
  • bowling – we just got our first bowling alley a couple of years ago!
  • hanging out at the mall – whether you like malls or not, you won’t find yourself spending much time at them just because it’s so easy to be outside – except on the rainy days! (One has underground parking)
  • a game of chess – you can do that outside too, but rainy days are especially good for it; my 8-year-old son has become quite the pro! There’s a very informal chess club that meets on Fridays at one of the malls.
  • drink hot chocolate – it never really gets cold enough for hot chocolate here, but I always feel like the hard rain makes it taste better
  • read a book – it’s a good chance to catch up on some over-due reading

 

So how will you spend your rainy days here? Well, to be perfectly honest, I wouldn’t worry too much about it, since it’s so seldom. But on the other, when it happens so seldom, you kind of appreciate it!

 

-by Thomas Lloyd

 

Mexico Real Estate e-book

This is the Place to Enjoy Nature Near Tulum!

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While many people have heard of the bigger theme parks near Playa del Carmen and Tulum, Xcaret, Xplor and Xel-Ha, fewer people know about some of the smaller gems nearby. Kantun-Chi is one of these places.

 

Kantun-Chi is a lower-key nature park, with focus on tours and diving in the underground caves, a small zoo, and a few cenotes to snorkel and dive in. I can tell you, the last time I spent a full day there, it was one of the most relaxing I can ever remember having – and here in Playa there are plenty of relaxing days.

 

A highlight of the park is that they have an a full underground tour where the caves are lit up with colored lights giving a very surreal effect:

 

Here are some more pictures of the park:

 

If one day you just want an active but quiet and relaxing day, where you don’t feel you have to hurry to finish all the activities, this park is the place to go.

 

-by Bea Lozano

 

Kit_Ownership

Today, Playa del Carmen’s Deep Sea Fishing Tournament Starts! – Video

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If you love fishing, then Playa del Carmen really would be your cup of tea!

 

This morning, Playa del Carmen’s annual fishing tournament was kicked off.  Take a look at this video from Mexico Travel News:

 

 

This is one of the winners from last year’s tournament, I believe:

 

Here’s a shot of “the big catch” on a boat. (This is not in the tournament, but gives you a taste of what fishing in Playa del Carmen is like:)

 

If you’re around, it’d be great to head out and see some of the prize catches. If not, well you know what you can plan for the next time you’re here in Playa!

 

-by Thomas Lloyd

 

Mexico Insurance Kit

Mexico’s Charm Comes in Simple Images – A Car in a Village

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Imagine this – a traditional Mexican town, with brightly painted homes, an old VW parked on the road …

 

Well, you don’t have to imagine.  Here’s a picture:

 

If you live in Mexico, scenes like this are very common.  Notice the man fixing his own car an the roadside.  Back home, this may indicated some sort of emergency repairs, but here, this is normal; even in repair shops in working-class communities will have a car or two on the roadside while they work on them.

 

Also notice the VW Beetle; “Bugs” (or “Bochos” in Spanish) went out of production 10 years ago, in 2003, so relatively new Beetles can still be found on the road.

 

As I’ve said before, now and then I just like to do a Google search for images on Mexico.  This is the second time I’m sharing some of these pictures, and I think I’ll do some more in the future.

 

– by Bea Lozano

 

Mexico Health Care Kit