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bgracie

Dec 28, 2010, 1:54 PM

Post #1 of 16 (4702 views)

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What is essential to bring, best method

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I am anticipating a move this spring (to spend at least 1/2 of year, possibly longer) to Mexico, probably Chapala or Guanajuato areas. I have a couple practical questions I can't find answers to in the posts here.

I will rent of course at first. Will be myself and later my sister and a good friend, I'm an early retired person who does some occasional business consulting.

First, I know most things can be gotten there, albeit more expensively for some things. I'm a foodie and my cookware is important, so I'd like to bring that, also my capuccino machine and my laptop and small electronics. I also want to bring a few tempurpedic type bed pads as the typical mexican beds are too hard for me.

For a relatively small quantity of things like this, but that are bulky, what is the best way to bring them? Take them on the airplane and pay the extra for the packages? or have it shipped?

Wouldnt be bringing anything else, but if there is something critical and hard to get I would appreciate that. I'll be having visitors regularly from the states too so they can always bring things, but just would like feedback from you veterans.

Particularly if any of you are aware of the prices there, or even availability, of the bed toppers in Mexico?

Thanks!
Barbara

robt65

Dec 28, 2010, 8:13 PM

Post #2 of 16 (4649 views)

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Re: [bgracie] What is essential to bring, best method

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Hello bgracie,

If you are "a foodie and my cookware is important" (as you say) you might want to add a really good set of kitchen knives including poultry shears, knife sharpner, corkscrew, really good quality, strong stainless strainers, european quality rock salt and pepper corn grinders, an excellent (manual or electric can opener) and a good quality pressure cooker. Excellent quality teflon cookware I have found a difficult thing to find here. For those lurking in the background remember please I said "Excellent Quality Teflon".

robt65

tashby

Dec 28, 2010, 8:45 PM

Post #3 of 16 (4638 views)

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Re: [bgracie] What is essential to bring, best method

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México has really turned the corner on the legendary rockhard bed. Tremendously comfortable mattresses, and mattress pads, are available.

Yes, YES, to any kitchen/cookware you find essential. Easier to bring than replace.

richmx2

Dec 29, 2010, 8:53 PM

Post #4 of 16 (4531 views)

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Re: [bgracie] What is essential to bring, best method

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I'm confused. You're coming for a limited stay (six months) and trying to move all your goods and chattels with you? What's the point?

http://mexfiles.net
http://voiceofmexico.com
http://editorialmazatlan.com

bgracie

Dec 30, 2010, 12:58 AM

Post #5 of 16 (4507 views)

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Re: [richmx2] What is essential to bring, best method

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The entirety of my earthly possessions, aside from my car, would fit in a couple boxes. I just go pretty lightly through life, but a few things ARE important to me (bed comfort, good cookware, books, computer, etc) so I am just looking for feedback on what is harder to come by there, or very expensive, for planning purposes.

The length of my stay is not determined, lots of wild card factors still, but at least several months a year and potentially more.

DavidHF

Dec 30, 2010, 7:01 AM

Post #6 of 16 (4482 views)

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Re: [bgracie] What is essential to bring, best method

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If you're driving the it sounds as if your goods would fit in the car. If you're flying, bring what you can, paying for the extra luggage. If you can't bring it all that way, bring the most important and have those joining you later bring the remainder.

Vichil

Dec 30, 2010, 8:04 AM

Post #7 of 16 (4466 views)

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Re: [bgracie] What is essential to bring, best method

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When we move from one place to another we bring with us our cast iron skillet, a couple of good knives, a Chinese cleaver, our cast iron skillet and our expresso machine ,everything else ( you can find expresso machines, cleavers, knives etc but they can be expensive and I like what I have)can be found if you have to have it it may be more expensive here or require some effort but it can be found in Mexico including bed pads.
All my favorite recipes are on a memory stick. Bring a kindle for reading in English iand be ready to adapt to whatever you can find where ever you are.
If you choose the Chapala area you will find all of the above including knives and iron skillets (preseasonned) We have lived here 10 years and have not gotten anything from the States for cooking during that time so with a little work and extra money you can find everything here when in a pinch.
I do not know what is available in Guanajuato but it is not that far from Guadalajara or Mexico City where you can find everything.

What to bring deends on your priorities and life style. I see you had no problem thinking about the expresso machine and the computer, no questions about them although you can find machines here. Do the same thing with the rest of your kitchen equipment, bring things you really like and use daily or weekly, the rest figure out what you cannot live without. Since you are not coming here to never go back you will have opportunities to go to the States and bring what you really are missing. Everyone is different and has different needs and priorities. If you come here and like cooking you may want to learn about the local way of cooking and get whatever you need here.

(This post was edited by Vichil on Dec 30, 2010, 8:15 AM)

bgracie

Dec 30, 2010, 11:15 AM

Post #8 of 16 (4429 views)

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Re: [Vichil] What is essential to bring, best method

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Vichil and David - thanks great input!

I'm not driving - I wish I could but as adventurous as I am , I'm not up to driving through northern Baja (I live in the San Diego area) these days. I know people do it all the time, but especially as a woman alone, no.

I dearly wish I COULD drive (or have someone drive with me , or for me), that would make everything so much simpler. That brings a thought to mind - is it possible to pay someone (dependable and honest) to drive ones car (getting the proper insurance etc), to one's destination (through northern baja say, down to GDL area) or is that too risky or impractical

im glad to try to manage without a car, but it would be nice to have it,and kill two birds with one stone

skier14

Dec 30, 2010, 12:03 PM

Post #9 of 16 (4415 views)

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Re: [Vichil] What is essential to bring, best method

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And where in the Chapala/Guadalajara area I might ask did you find a preseasoned cast iron skillet?

DavidHF

Dec 30, 2010, 2:18 PM

Post #10 of 16 (4396 views)

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Re: [bgracie] What is essential to bring, best method

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If you do wish to drive here, go to Phoenix then south thru Tucson and cross at Nogales. From there it's good quality toll road most of the way to Guadalajara. It is possible to have your car chauffered, I expect it's expensive though. Remember you'd first need to pay for a plane ticket from here to San Diego. Send me a PM and I'll put you in contact with someone reliable.

bgracie

Dec 30, 2010, 3:14 PM

Post #11 of 16 (4381 views)

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Re: [DavidHF] What is essential to bring, best method

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David you are so helpful! I will do that!

Vichil

Dec 30, 2010, 6:16 PM

Post #12 of 16 (4354 views)

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Re: [skier14] What is essential to bring, best method

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I found some American ones in a store in Tlaquepaque. The store is on Juarez on the left handside going towards the Parian. It is the furniture store before the furniture store called Hecht. This store has antique reproductions and old stuff. Go through the store cross the patio at the back. the iron skilets can befound in the back in the building on the left here and there. They are new made in the USA.

cookj5

Dec 30, 2010, 8:09 PM

Post #13 of 16 (4327 views)

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Re: [bgracie] What is essential to bring, best method

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I second the opinion that you should at least drive to Arizona and then cross at Nogales. No reason to ever enter northern Baja. If you want to shorten your actual driving miles in Mexico to the minimum, continue on across the US desert states through Texas and cross at Laredo. Then you only have about a 10 hour drive to Lake Chapala, which you can shorten to two easy days with a stop at Matehuala. We moved down from Oregon and did that.

As to essentials, consider a good set of sheets and pillow cases with a close thread weave. These can be hard to find in Mexico and the usual local stuff is scratchy to sleep on. Same goes for a pillow to your preference of firmness or fluffyness. Good quality, long-lasting clothing can be difficult to find, in my experience. Stock up on casual wear, leave most of the fancier stuff behind. Most folks around Lake Chapala seldom get more dressed up than shorts and a t-shirt. Finally, good quality footwear is important. Particularly if you end up around the Lake, you will likely be walking a lot, and most of that will be on cobblestone streets. Think good, thick tread and ankle support. And if you are a hiker, be sure to bring your hiking boots.

Mexberry

Jan 4, 2011, 5:47 PM

Post #14 of 16 (4053 views)

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Re: [bgracie] What is essential to bring, best method

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If you have to resort to airfreight, get a quote that will include customs clearance fees for a local broker. DHL or UPS may be the most convenient , but be prepared for a shock at the cost.
Mexberry.

sandykayak

Jan 5, 2011, 2:49 PM

Post #15 of 16 (3981 views)

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Re: [bgracie] What is essential to bring, best method

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How about bringing a good quality (ie not the ones from Wal-Mart. I did and it was glued together and awful. Good prices at Overstock.com) full-sized 4-6" memory foam topper with you? If you buy new it will be squashed into a reasonable size. You can also get in Mex at Costco, but probably for quite a lot more pesos.

That way you can take it with you if you move to another place. Just a thought...schlepping a bed seems like a lot of hassle.
Sandy Kramer
Miami, Fla & El Parque

bgracie

Jan 7, 2011, 10:22 AM

Post #16 of 16 (3840 views)

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Re: [sandykayak] What is essential to bring, best method

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I think that is the best idea, just bring the boxed mattress topper on the flight with me.

Thank you again, Barbara