Forums > General > Living, Working, Retiring

richeacap

Jun 19, 2003, 1:04 PM

Post #1 of 21 (1533 views)

Shortcut

Housing rental, weather and Internet Connection High speed

Can't Post |

I am trying to find out where the best housing for rental is for our six-month’s stay in Mexico. We will be in Mexico, starting in September, doing programming for a Canadian project. We will be getting a tourist visa. Are there many good rental places in your area? Would you please tell me if your area has good High speed Internet Connection? Also, how changeable is the weather is between seasons, in your area, as I have S.A.D., (Seasonal Affective Disorder)? I am affected by even the season changes, so hope to minimize the damage by picking a less changeable place.

Thank you any answers you can give,

Richea

johanson

Jun 19, 2003, 6:21 PM

Post #2 of 21 (1504 views)

Shortcut

Re: [richeacap] Housing rental, weather and Internet Connection High speed

Can't Post | Private Reply

Certain parts of Chapala and Ajijic have ADSL, 256 Kb/sec and up . Just west of Chapala, to inlude San Antonio, Ajijic, San Juan Cosala and Jocotepec, there is high speed 802.11b fixed Wi Fi with speeds of 128 Kb/sec and up

jennifer rose

Jun 20, 2003, 12:28 AM

Post #3 of 21 (1482 views)

Shortcut

Re: [richeacap] Housing rental, weather and Internet Connection High speed

Can't Post |

It might be helpful if you'd specify your parameters. Big city, tourist center, beach, hamlet, mountains, resort area, small town? Inland or the shore? Accessibility to an international airport? Do you want to rent a house or an apartment? Is living in a community heavily populated by English speakers important to you?

Take a look at a map of Canada or the United States, and imagine the possibilities. The range of choices is even greater in Mexico.

richeacap

Jun 20, 2003, 2:09 PM

Post #4 of 21 (1438 views)

Shortcut

Re: [richeacap] Housing rental, weather and Internet Connection High speed

Can't Post |

Hi Johanson and Jennifer Rose,

Thank you for your replies.

Johanson, you said that west of Chapala has ADSL. Is that near Chapala lake, which, we understand from reading on another thread, is a good place for the weather, as the lake moderates the heat and so on? The person who said this was Frank Burton, on a thread by Moondust, called, gotta focus on an area soon. Frank Burton says he lives at Riberas del Pilar, about halfway between the villages of Chapala and Ajijic. Do you know whether there is ADSL in Riberas del Pilar? Also do you know how quickly they hook up the ADSL and how costly?

Jennifer Rose, you asked about town size, and I guess we are open to a smaller town, if possible. In the thread I mentioned to Johanson, the people live between the towns, near Chapala Lake. Due to my illness the area sounds ideal. As far as the English speaking community, it would be nice to have some people around. I don’t speak Spanish and neither does my wife, but we are planning to learn. Any ideas on the best place to take Spanish lessons in the Chapala region?

Do either of you, or anyone, know how long the seasonal rains are and how severe?

Would anyone know whether we need a car in the Chapala area, or are things sufficiently close, and is there access to busses?

Thank you for your help. This is a very informative group and we appreciate your knowledge.

Richea

Georgia

Jun 20, 2003, 2:33 PM

Post #5 of 21 (1436 views)

Shortcut

Re: [richeacap] Housing rental, weather and Internet Connection High speed

Can't Post | Private Reply

Daylight in the latitude of Lake Chapala runs from about 11 - 13 hours during the course of the year. So, in the northern hemisphere winter, you have much longer days. Summer days are shorter, however, as a consequence of being closer to the equator.

There are few dreary days. Even during the rainy season the sun shines during the day. The rains tend to come in the late afternoon and overnight. Very considerate. Something like Camelot, actually.

There is bus service all along the north side of the lake (don't know about the south side, but probably there, too) which is very reliable and cost effective.

tonyburton / Moderator

Jun 20, 2003, 3:50 PM

Post #6 of 21 (1428 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Georgia] Housing rental, weather and Internet Connection High speed

Can't Post | Private Reply

In the interests of clarity, you will (in Chapala) experience roughly 11 hours of daylight during the northern winter and 13 hours of daylight in the northern summer; of course, the further north you go (in the northern hemisphere), the shorter the days will be in winter and the longer the days will be in summer.

People who relocate to Lake Chapala often find the lack of long summer evenings a strange experience for a year or two!

johanson

Jun 20, 2003, 5:15 PM

Post #7 of 21 (1413 views)

Shortcut

Re: [richeacap] Housing rental, weather and Internet Connection High speed

Can't Post | Private Reply

ADSL in Riberas de Pilar. I think you misunderstood me. There is ADSL within 3 KM of the Ajijic telephone office. By now there may be ADSL within 3 Km. (wire length they state, not driving distance) of the Chapala telmex office. But I don't know. I'm up north for the summer. What I meant to say is that there is 802.11b wireless internet service west of Chapala.

There is a wireless tower in the center of Riberas de Pilar, near the Animal Shelter that covers most of the community. The last time I checked, the average setup fee for an antenna tower, the antenna, coax, a pcmcia card and the adaptor that has to be placed in your computer tower was slightly over $400

If you have a notebook and live very close to an access point, your rates could be somewhat lower. If an extra high antenna tower is needed, it will cost more.

How long does it take to get set up? That depends on whether or not the ISP has the equipment on hand, or whether it is on backorder.

Temporary telephone internet connectivity could be given almost immediately. Wireless connectivity usually is within 2 to 5 days but could take much longer, if the equipment is on backorder.

(This post was edited by johanson on Jun 20, 2003, 5:18 PM)

jennifer rose

Jun 20, 2003, 8:53 PM

Post #8 of 21 (1392 views)

Shortcut

Re: [richeacap] Housing rental, weather and Internet Connection High speed

Can't Post |

Morelia would probably not fit your needs. It's over a million, with a lot of options. There is high speed Internet capability in some but not all neighborhoods, there is not a large pool of English-speaking people, and you will need to speak at least some Spanish. It doesn't have the expatriate infrastructure and supply of short-term rental housing that San Miguel de Allende and the Lake Chapala area do.

jrice

Jun 23, 2003, 8:27 AM

Post #9 of 21 (1333 views)

Shortcut

Re: [richeacap] Housing rental, weather and Internet Connection High speed

Can't Post | Private Reply

For weather, I think the Guadalajara area (including lake Chapala) or Cuernavaca region would probably be best. Both have unusually balmy climates.

I gather you do not have to be or travel to any particular place in Mexico? If you have to visit Mexico City, Cuernavaca would be a lot closer.

Mexico City also has a pretty moderate climate through most of the year, though it does have a few days that qualify as hot and a few that are cold and the rains seem less programmed than those in Guadalajara.

Mexico City also probably has the most extensive menu of high-speed internet options: there are high-speed services offered by Prodigy-Telmex and by Terra as well as wireless services by igo.com.mx and by iusacel (both of the latter are at least partially portable within the DF).

gpk

Jun 23, 2003, 4:55 PM

Post #10 of 21 (1304 views)

Shortcut

Re: [jennifer rose] Housing rental, weather and Internet Connection High speed

Can't Post | Private Reply

I just discovered something on a recent visit to Michoacan--I can no longer tolerate humidity--AT ALL! I was very surprised because it wasn't really that humid (compared to my former home in Pennsylvania), but here in Guanajuato state we live in a desert, which turns out to be right for me.

richeacap

Jun 23, 2003, 7:17 PM

Post #11 of 21 (1290 views)

Shortcut

Re: [gpk] Housing rental, weather and Internet Connection High speed

Can't Post |

Hello again,

Thank you again for all your informative replies. After reading the info here, and researching more on the net we have decided on the Lake Chapala region. We will be flying from Vancouver BC, Canada to Mexico City, and wonder if it is best to continue to fly to Guadalajara, as that adds another $700.00 to the flight’s costs, (as I will be traveling back and forth once a month for a week and need to try to cut the costs). Does anyone know if buses are fairly regular and cost effective? Also, if we do fly, is the trip from Guadalajara to Aijijic best on bus or by taxi?

With regards to rental of a place, is it possible to rent when we get there in September, or is it difficult to find places then? We are hoping to go and stay at a short term place, and look for a place that will meet our needs for Internet access, and so on.

Thank you in advance for any answers.

Richea.

esperanza

Jun 23, 2003, 9:04 PM

Post #12 of 21 (1281 views)

Shortcut

Re: [richeacap] Housing rental, weather and Internet Connection High speed

Can't Post | Private Reply

Your questions are a little confusing. If you're coming to Guadalajara, why not fly from Vancouver to Guadalajara and leave out the Mexico City leg? Perhaps I've missed something that would help me understand that.

The easiest way..and the only direct way...to get from the Guadalajara airport to Ajijic is by taxi. The airport is 30 minutes south of Guadalajara, where you would have to go to get the bus to Ajijic...and yet the airport is only 30 minutes NORTH of Ajijic (in other words, it's exactly halfway between the two). Taxis will bring you to Ajijic from the airport at any hour of the day or night for approximately 250 pesos ($25.00USD).

There is frequent and excellent bus service from Mexico to Guadalajara, but you actually arrive in Tonalá, a suburb of Guadalajara, not to the city proper. From the nueva central camionera (the bus station where you arrive) to the central camionera vieja (the bus station where you catch the bus to Ajijic) is a longish (20 minute) taxi-ride away and will cost you approximately 70 pesos. The bus from there to Ajijic costs 32 pesos and takes about an hour.

In September you should have no problems finding either a short or long-term rental in Ajijic.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

richeacap

Jun 23, 2003, 9:46 PM

Post #13 of 21 (1278 views)

Shortcut

Re: [esperanza] Housing rental, weather and Internet Connection High speed

Can't Post |

So far we have not been able to find a direct flight from Vancouver, they all stop off in Mexico City, Though the return flight to Vancouver is direct from Guadalajara. Maybe, I will have to search for a better travel agent who is willing to get a local flight between Mexico and Guadalajara. I dont speak spanish, so if I do use the bus system, will the lack of understanding the language cause problems in purchasing tickets etc.,

Thanks, Richea

Uncle Jack

Jun 24, 2003, 4:45 AM

Post #14 of 21 (1272 views)

Shortcut

Re: [richeacap] Housing rental, weather and Internet Connection High speed

Can't Post | Private Reply

The following Airlines offer service Vancouver/Guadalajara without going to Mexico City; America West, Continental, United, and Mexicana. Each require a plane change in either San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, or Houston.

This information is readily available at: www.travelocity.com

Unless you require some service, or special consideration, not mentioned here, You might consider getting yourself another travel agent.

uj

Jean

Jun 24, 2003, 5:40 AM

Post #15 of 21 (1266 views)

Shortcut

Re: [richeacap] Housing rental, weather and Internet Connection High speed

Can't Post | Private Reply

Check Air Canada for seat sales to Puerto Vallarta. You will then have to take a bus to Guad, but there should be quite a savings. Also check http://www.destina.ca as they also have some good prices. I just booked Guad-Toronto-Guad for $660 Cdn. through destina. I think if you book your flights far enough ahead (mine was 2 months) you can get some good deals.
Retirement Communities
http://www.retirecommunities.com

beverleywood

Jun 24, 2003, 6:43 AM

Post #16 of 21 (1252 views)

Shortcut

Re: [richeacap] Housing rental, weather and Internet Connection High speed

Can't Post | Private Reply

Also do check out expedia.ca - they have GREAT prices!

Don

Jun 24, 2003, 7:24 AM

Post #17 of 21 (1243 views)

Shortcut

Re: [richeacap] Housing rental, weather and Internet Connection High speed

Can't Post | Private Reply

Be sure to check out Alaska Air. They are/have restarted service to Guadalajara. Vancouver is close to Seattle and you can possibly fly from there. I see Alaska Air is offering a rountrip flight from Seattle to Guadalajara for $393.00 U.S. (Plus taxes and fees). Don't know the details or restrictions. Most if not all flight from the Pacific Northwest will usually have at least one stop. Usually in California, except those with hub cities in Arizona or Texas.

(This post was edited by Don on Jun 24, 2003, 7:58 AM)

jrice

Jun 24, 2003, 9:50 AM

Post #18 of 21 (1221 views)

Shortcut

Re: [richeacap] Housing rental, weather and Internet Connection High speed

Can't Post | Private Reply

One thing that puzzled me: $700 extra to fly from Mexico City to Guadalajara? Even in Canadian dollars, that strikes me as exhorbitant. A round trip Mexico City-Guadalajara should be more like US$300, I'd think. $700 might be for first class?

You surely should be able to get a direct flight to Guadalajara. Or at least one that changes in a U.S. airport without passing through Mexico City.

johanson

Jun 24, 2003, 6:24 PM

Post #19 of 21 (1181 views)

Shortcut

Re: [richeacap] Housing rental, weather and Internet Connection High speed

Can't Post | Private Reply

Be careful, Someone is trying to over charge you. The last price I saw posted for a round trip flight between Seattle and Guadalajara was $393 US. And that was 1 minute ago when I opened up my "my.yahoo.com" home page.

One of the options offered by yahoo is to check daily the lowest price between certain destinations. The special is offered by Alaska Airlines. Their normal rates are closer to $523.The rates from Richmond (YVR) were somewhat higher.

I live closer to the Vancouver Airport than the Seattle Airport but always check both. Last year I often flew out of Richmond. In July I will be flying out of SeaTac on a trip to Central America. I'm saving close to $200 Canadian. Always check all of your options. Sometimes the savings can be in the hundreds of dollars Good luck.

PS when you come down for good remember to bring your Star Choice Small dish system with you so you can listen to the same radio stations and watch the same TV stations you do in the lower mainland. I like listening to AM 690 (CBC) or watching CBUT channel 2 or KING channel 5 while in Mexico and Central America. It's just like being home.

cristalhombre

Jun 24, 2003, 10:26 PM

Post #20 of 21 (1160 views)

Shortcut

Re: [richeacap] Housing rental, weather and Internet Connection High speed

Can't Post | Private Reply

Another option to consider from Vancouver, BC. Train down to Portland (very nice trip on the new Talgo trains "Amtrak" along Puget Sound) Two trains daily I believe. Then fly direct from Portland to Guad (non-stop) on Mexicana Airlines. I have done this from Seattle. Very easy to transfer from Amtrak out to the PDX airport on public transportation.

"NOT ALL WHO WANDER ARE LOST...."

johanson

Jun 24, 2003, 11:26 PM

Post #21 of 21 (1157 views)

Shortcut

Re: [cristalhombre] Housing rental, weather and Internet Connection High speed

Can't Post | Private Reply

Good idea. I've taken the train from Vancouver to Mt. Vernon, half way to Seattle. I enjoyed it. It's not a short trip though. Go to the amtrak website you will see that there is a train that leaves Vancouver at 8:45 AM and arrives in Portland at 5:15 PM Another leaves at 12:30 PM and gets in at 9PM and another leaves at 6 PM with a stopover in Seattle and doesn't arrive until 2 PM the next day.

So it's a great trip with a great view but it could use up a day of travel