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Sharyn

Oct 10, 2006, 12:54 PM

Post #1 of 10 (4554 views)

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House -Sit or rent room in San Cristobal de las Casas

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I will be flying to San Cristobal de las Casas via Tuxtla G. on Oct. 24th (flying out on Nov 21) and want to sign up for a language course. I realize this is going to be a rainy experience! I hope to find a nice, yet affordable place to stay for about 2-4 weeks. Part of my 4 weeks could possibly be in a live-in situation arranged by the school. (your favorite school choice there is welcome too!)

Another possibility: I would be willing to supply information to anyone wishing to have a house sitter if you p.m. me. I am 59, non smoking female, retired, homeowner, just for starters.

House-sitting may be a long shot, so on with what I hope to find to live in whether renting or house-sitting: Somewhere that is very convenient to school and town center. FYI: my Espanol is extremely limited, ergo, the course before I start house-hunting for my new home.

p.s. I looked at the pictures of Bebes (looks very nice), but I wonder if the walk in the grass to and from the room will be sloshing wet in the rainy season? Anyone with experience at this time of year, please let me know. I am hoping to get a place for no more than $125 per week, furnished. Is this realistic?

Sharyn

Bubba

Oct 11, 2006, 6:43 PM

Post #2 of 10 (4523 views)

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Re: [Sharyn] House -Sit or rent room in San Cristobal de las Casas

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Sharyn:

Why do you think San Cristobal will be in its rainy season in the latter part of October and into November? This is a wonderful place but don´t be worrying about the weather there. $125USD a week is chump change. Reset your goals.

Sharyn

Oct 11, 2006, 8:50 PM

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Re: [Bubba] House -Sit or rent room in San Cristobal de las Casas

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Hum. Well, maybe someone needs a house sitter for awhile, or would like to rent me their spare room. I'm not cheap, but frugal. I thought $500 a month in far-off Chiapas was good money, not "chump change". I plan on traveling around Mexico about 3 months or more looking for a place to settle. I don't mean to offend anyone in the business. I know they have to charge more than I wish to pay.

By the way, when is the rainy season there? I just googled 'weather san cristobal'. Did a bit of history search, and got the impression I might have planned the trip for the coldest and wettest time of year. Glad if that's wrong.

Sharyn

sfmacaws

Oct 11, 2006, 11:31 PM

Post #4 of 10 (4501 views)

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Re: [Sharyn] House -Sit or rent room in San Cristobal de las Casas

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Sharyn,

You will be at the tail end of the rainy season and should only get substantial rain if a hurricane comes through. This happened last year with Stan and may have contributed to the rain stats you are looking at.

It will start getting pretty cold at night while you are there. In late Dec last year it was in the 30's F before dawn and there was frost on the ground. During the day it warmed up into the high 70's F, so it is very nice all winter in the daytime. Like many high altitude places, the temp drops with the sun.

I can't imagine that $500US a month is not a princely sum for getting an apt. I haven't looked though so I can't give you real data. As with most places, you will only find the place that you want by being there and looking in person.

I'd suggest going to a hostel for a few days and then looking around. Also look on any bulletin board at the language school. Consider making an offer at a B&B that you like, they may let you rent by the month without meals for a lot less. Remember that even furnished apts in Mexico are lacking some very basic stuff.

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

Sharyn

Oct 12, 2006, 9:48 AM

Post #5 of 10 (4480 views)

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Re: [sfmacaws] House -Sit or rent room in San Cristobal de las Casas

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Thank you so much for the weather explanation and the affirmation that I wasn't being cheap.

I love your idea of asking for a special rate for 4 weeks and will get on that immediately. And if anyone else reads this, who has a friend in town, let them know that as of now, I am still available to make a deal or house sit!

Sharyn

Gayla

Oct 12, 2006, 9:54 AM

Post #6 of 10 (4479 views)

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Re: [Sharyn] House -Sit or rent room in San Cristobal de las Casas

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Sharyn, have you located a Spanish language school yet? Most of the ones that I'm aware of, or have investigated, help their students find accommodations, a lot of which also include meals.

I'm doing 3 weeks of Spanish immersion in Cuernavaca in January to get my Spanish skills back up to speed, and the school I'm planning to attend offers a wide range of lodging possibilities ranging from about $15/day to $36/day tops, and these rates include 21 meals/week. I would suspect that the cost of living is higher in Cuernavaca than it is San Cristobal and that the per day lodging fees may actually be less. If you havn't found a language school yet, finding one help your lodging plans fall into place.

Bubba

Oct 12, 2006, 10:11 AM

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Re: [Sharyn] House -Sit or rent room in San Cristobal de las Casas

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OK, Sharyn:

I was just being Bubbaistic. Yes you can find a nice place for under $500USD a month. We are renting a very nice casita for about $350USD a month while we remodel our new home. You can do even better with the language schools. Personally, I don´t like the idea of living with a family but I will be in an intensive Spanish language course this spring when our house is finished. I´m thinking of Instituto Jovel.

Jonna´s right that a hurricane can come through there and mess you up in Chiapas in October or even early November but not to worry, you will not find the tropics in San Cristobal.

Sharyn

Oct 12, 2006, 11:43 AM

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Re: [Gayla] House -Sit or rent room in San Cristobal de las Casas

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You don't know how much I appreciate the input. Thank you.

Sharyn

Oct 12, 2006, 11:44 AM

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Re: [Bubba] House -Sit or rent room in San Cristobal de las Casas

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Bubba,

Thanks for comin' clean. I will contact Joven!

RickS

Oct 13, 2006, 7:42 PM

Post #10 of 10 (4425 views)

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Re: [Bubba] House -Sit or rent room in San Cristobal de las Casas

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So Bubba I am confused. Sharyn comes on 'worrying' about the weather and asking a reasonable question about lodging costs. You let her know that the weather will be fine, but you basically tell her that her $500/mo. won't hack it and to reset her goals. And all along you know that you are "renting a very nice casita for about $350" there and could "do even better with the language schools". Thankfully Jonna came to the rescue and reassured her. Maybe I just don't understand what being "Bubbaistic" means. It can't mean being helpful.