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samoca

Feb 15, 2004, 3:13 PM

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Finding rental this August in SMA

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I'm intending to come back to San Miguel for a month to test the waters for a possible future move in a year or so. I've only been there for one week last May with a friend and we stayed in a B & B. Searches on this site and elsewhere suggest that once in San Miguel, bulletin boards and word of mouth will reveal nicer, more inexpensive rentals than can be found via the internet. I do have a friend who lives there who will put me up for the first few days while I look around. My one consideration is whether August is a more crowded month than usual--what with annual chamber music festival. I'm tempted to take the advice of coming down and taking a chance on finding a place for the month but don't want to be forced to rely on my friends the whole time or stay in a pricey hotel.

By the way, anybody who knows of a good place to rent for August or, even better of course, housesit, please reply to my email address. I'm single woman in my 50s, currently living in Southern California, with some local San Miguel references.

Thanks!

Pat

SAnta MOnica CA

Carol Schmidt

Feb 16, 2004, 7:21 AM

Post #2 of 3 (266 views)

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Re: [samoca] Finding rental this August in SMA

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SMA has two high seasons, corresponding to the cold and hot seasons in the states. Many start coming down for Christmas, and then a whole bunch arrive in early January through late March.

We call the summer crowd the Texans, escaping the high humidity for our 6400 ft altitude and refreshing afternoon rains, but there are many others as well, including students and teachers here for the summer, and they fill up the city in July and August. Mid-September is the most popular time, from El Grito (the call for independence in 1810) on Sept. 16 through the running of the bulls two weekends later, but many of those visitors are from Mexico City.

But there are still places available, and I'm pretty sure you can find someplace on the less expensive side for August. It just might be a couple blocks farther from Centro or have a few less amenities than you want, but you won't be stuck at the Sierra Nevada for $200 a night!

Lots of people want to housesit for free rent, and a few SMA residents do flee the city during the summer high season, but I think the opportunities for that are slight. You never know though, and you could put a classified ad in Atencion with your request. I'll dig up their e-mail address: atencion@bibliotecasma.com

Carol Schmidt

samoca

Feb 16, 2004, 11:19 AM

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Re: [Carol Schmidt] Finding rental this August in SMA

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Thanks a lot, Carol. I wasn't really counting on a house sit--I've tried posting a notice on cool list and nobody responds at all. The main thing I'm concerned about is finding a place under, say, $400 a month, which is about what I see as the low end for rentals advertised on line. I know I wouldn't have to pay $200 a night, but don't want to be stuck paying $75 a night either. Am particularly grateful for the Atencion email address, tho', because the only email for them I've seen on line must be quite outdated and keeps getting returned. Thanks again.

Pat (aka Samoca)