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susank

Feb 20, 2010, 8:04 PM

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Retiring in Merida

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fishfrier

Feb 21, 2010, 6:43 AM

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Re: [susank] Retiring in Merida

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Susank. That is a pretty broad spectrum to try and cover in a single post. If you have some specific questions I'll try and answer the best I can. I own my home so my experience with rentals is some what limited. I live in downtown Centro and there is lots of traffic but we live a very comfortable life. Try to think about your day to day living and everything associated with that. Then scout around the neighborhoods, checking out the amenities that are nearby. Things that make your day to day life easier and more enjoyable. I can tell you this, less traffic does not mean less noise. When you are searching out neighborhoods make sure you go at various times in the day and night. You might be surprised at how different they can be.

susank

Feb 21, 2010, 6:57 AM

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Re: [fishfrier] Retiring in Merida

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Thanks. I'm particularly interested in neighborhoods around the University. Looking for small cafes, bookstores, rentals with space for my pets to explore. I love colonials. Possible to blend the two?

fishfrier

Feb 21, 2010, 7:30 AM

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Re: [susank] Retiring in Merida

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Uh, which university? There are many. You should check out the web site Yolisto. It's a Merida based forum with many more expats who can help answer questions that are Merida related.

(This post was edited by fishfrier on Feb 21, 2010, 8:09 AM)

susank

Feb 21, 2010, 10:51 AM

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Re: [fishfrier] Retiring in Merida

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Was referring to the major university, Universidad Autonoma de Yucatan. I'd really appreciate info from anyone looking at this post and will stay on Mexconnect. Once again, looking for help with rental ideas in this or related neighborhoods. I understand there are some enjoyable places north of Merida, too. Thanks.

fishfrier

Feb 21, 2010, 12:55 PM

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Re: [susank] Retiring in Merida

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Considering there are only about three members on this web site who live in Merida or the surrounding area it is really to your benefit the check out the web site I mentioned. You'll get much more informed answers to any questions you have especially when it come to rentals. It also has a classified section that has house rentals. I would check the Merida English Language Library for house rentals.They have a booklet that has all sorts of houses and apartments for leasing. Of course there is also the major newspaper Diario de Yucatan that you can check on line.

Hound Dog

Feb 22, 2010, 6:26 AM

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Re: [susank] Retiring in Merida

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My husband and I are retiring this September in Merida. I want to come there in July to find a rental in a comfortable part of the city (less traffic). Will appreciate any suggestions. My limit is $800 for rent. Also, I'd like to hear any suggestions about driving from Iowa. We're bringing two cats and a small dog. I speak moderate Spanish so I am comfortable with that issue but would like to hear any suggestions, cautions, etc. Thanks.

In 2004, as we pursued avenues for escaping the Lake Chapala foreign community for a place more suited to our needs, we spent some time exploring Merida as well as Izamal, the Gulf Coast between Chicxulub and Dzilam de Bravo, Lake Bacalar and some other places on the Yucatan Peninsula but decided, in the final analysis, to buy a home in the Chiapas Highlands instead. That is a personal decision based on a number of factors so I do not relate our experience as though it will mirror your own. I will say, however, that we were disappointed in much of outlying Merida away from the historic center and especially the seemingly endless nondescript and hot and humid sunsoaked concrete sameness of treeless barrios and unremarkable middle class suburbs. We decided that the only place suited to us was the historic center which remains one of our favorite places in all of Mexico. Just a thought but why not rent there month-to-month or on a relatively short lease and spend some time exploring the city in depth? We really liked such nearby towns at Izamal and Chicxulub and even isolated Celestun or at least we thought we did based upon a cursory visit to each place. There are few more charming places than colonial Campeche a couple of hours away on the Gulf or Puerto Morelos on the Caribbean far from the hustle of Cancun. You have so much to choose from and, while you do so, why not enjoy all the delights the historic center of Merida has to offer and, as stated elsewhere here, that area is no noisier than other parts of the city. In fact, we found our living quarters in centro quite pleasant and quiet and within walking distance of great restaurants and all sorts of cultural activities .

(This post was edited by Hound Dog on Feb 22, 2010, 6:31 AM)

susank

Feb 22, 2010, 7:05 AM

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Re: [Hound Dog] Retiring in Merida

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Thanks so much for this information. Each time I look at photos of Merida, I come back to this part of the city. It seems to have everything that we would enjoy. We had also considered Chapala but I can see why you felt a need to escape. It looks like problems are increasing there. In Centro, I notice there are many colonials to rent and they look perfect for pets! Do you have air conditioning? Did you drive to Merida? I can't decide whether or not to drive or fly. Getting the pets there is hot weather is going to be difficult.

fishfrier

Feb 22, 2010, 7:36 AM

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Re: [susank] Retiring in Merida

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Air conditioning, at least the main bedroom, is almost a must. I could not sleep at night in the Spring, Summer or Fall without it. I can nap in a hammock but I could not spend a whole night in one. Having your own vehicle will give you much more freedom. I live three blocks from the Santiago mercado where I stop by almost daily, but having a car to shop at the larger grocery stores or places like Costco is life saver. Public transit is fine but lugging around stuff in 100 degree weather is not a lot of fun. I would not live here without a vehicle. It's a big, sprawling city and getting bigger. I agree with Hound Dog. Start with a short term rental. You might be surprised at how your wants and desires can change once you start living here.

Hound Dog

Feb 22, 2010, 8:09 AM

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Re: [susank] Retiring in Merida

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If you fly with 3 pets the third one will have to be "imported" When flying you are only allowed 2 pets. I met a woman in Ajijic who had major problems in Guadalajara flying in with 2 cats and 1 dog.
Check the Chapala.com forum. Another woman came in from Germany into cancun with a bunch of cats, her name is something like revimigrant..check it out and ask her for the requirements before you make a decision.
Driving we had no problems but this is Mexico and things are very fluid...

susank

Feb 22, 2010, 9:18 PM

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Re: [fishfrier] Retiring in Merida

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Sounds good. We'll drive down!

mcm

Feb 25, 2010, 12:50 PM

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Re: [susank] Retiring in Merida

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Susan
UADY, the Universidad Autonoma de Yucatan, actually has a number of campuses spread throughout the city. Though I'm not terribly familiar with all of them, none of them are in areas that have a particularly University town feel (like Berkeley, Ann Arbor, Austin), with lots of bookstores/coffee shops. The closest would be the downtown (original) branch, which is in the middle of Centro, but the student-life feel is lost in the hustle and bustle of the downtown.

I live in a comisaria (small town) just outside of Merida -- which is rapidly becoming an attached suburb. Because it's part of the municipio of Merida, city bus service is available (6 pesos a ride) directly to Merida Centro (30-40 minute bus ride).

My suggestion would be to start out by renting a place, fairly short term, in or near Centro, and explore the area -- Merida is huge -- there are over 600 named colonias and fraccionamientos (developments), as well as 47 comisarias and subcomisarias (villages and former haciendas on the outskirts). In the last few years, there's been a trend towards upscale developments outside the ringroad, especially in the north. These are not areas marketed to foreigners, but are marketed to upper middle class or wealthy Mexicans (many from outside of Yucatan). The point of all that is that there are so many possibilities of different types of neighborhoods to live in that it's hard to recommend any one or several in particular.

For people new to the area, I think Centro has many advantages -- easy foot access to cultural/music events being one of them. After a few years, or months, or weeks, you may find that you want a less busy environement, but everyone's tastes are different.

FYI -- Merida has grown outward, so in general, the newest neighborhoods are those closest to the outskirts of town (the periferico or ring road). Generally speaking, the north half of the city is more middle class/wealthy, whereas colonias populares (working class neighborhoods) are more concentrated in the south. But there are fine neighborhoods in just about every part of the city.

susank

Feb 25, 2010, 9:32 PM

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Re: [mcm] Retiring in Merida

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Thanks so much for the detail.This really helps.

Mac539

Mar 1, 2010, 4:07 AM

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Re: [susank] Retiring in Merida

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I was in Ciudad del Carmen over the weekend for their 1st annual international motorcycle weekend. While there, I saw a realtor who was only selling real estate in Merida. I thought it was really odd that there could be that much demand in Carmen. BTW, a Yucatan motorcycle club was there.

I would not even rent until I spent a weekend in an area I liked. Mexicans like loud music and it can get really loud around some of the plazas.

cookj5

Mar 4, 2010, 6:18 PM

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Re: [Mac539] Retiring in Merida

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In Reply To

And, as someone once said about Mexico "if you can't stand noise, find another country".