Live in Mexico for two weeks in winter?
Question:
I live in northeast Missouri. Lately the winters have been getting harder and harder for me to take. I get three weeks off for vacation each year and was wondering how cheaply I could go someplace WARM in Mexico to spend the last two weeks of Feb? My thoughts are this….Im not wealthy enough to become a "snowbird" and move south for several months…. but I could surely move south for two weeks. Id stay here in Missouri till I absolutely cant take winter any longer which would probably be by the end of Feb….and then go "live" somewhere warm for those two weeks When i get back in early Mar….. winter wont be over in Missouri… but it will surely be on the decline by then. Anyway that’s my logic. So….. any advice or opinions on just how one could do this? And NOT spend a TON of money?
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I live in northeast Missouri. Lately the winters have been getting > harder and harder for me to take. I get three weeks off for vacation > each year and was wondering how cheaply I could go someplace WARM in > Mexico to spend the last two weeks of Feb? > My thoughts are this….Im not wealthy enough to become a "snowbird" > and move south for several months…. but I could surely move south > for two weeks. Id stay here in Missouri till I absolutely cant take > winter any longer which would probably be by the end of Feb….and > then go "live" somewhere warm for those two weeks > When i get back in early Mar….. winter wont be over in Missouri… > but it will surely be on the decline by then. Anyway that’s my logic. > So….. any advice or opinions on just how one could do this? And NOT > spend a TON of money?
The way to not spend a ton of money is to tent camp, cook meals on a camp stove, etc. How warm do you want to be? Corpus Christi, Texas might be warm enough. If you want warmer you’ll have to drive over to Mexico’s Atlantic coast and then south, which will cost more in gas, motels along the way, etc. Central northern Mexico is mountainous and cold at night. I spent Jan – March in Chihuahua and it got down to 30 at night. High 50’s – low 60’s in the afternoon. Still better than my usual winter in the Buffalo NY area -:)
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I live in northeast Missouri. Lately the winters have been getting > harder and harder for me to take. I get three weeks off for vacation > each year and was wondering how cheaply I could go someplace WARM in > Mexico to spend the last two weeks of Feb? > My thoughts are this….Im not wealthy enough to become a "snowbird" > and move south for several months…. but I could surely move south > for two weeks. Id stay here in Missouri till I absolutely cant take > winter any longer which would probably be by the end of Feb….and > then go "live" somewhere warm for those two weeks
Cozumel is pretty cheap, especially if you stay in town. You can get trip packages which are inexpensive with flights to Cancun and then stay in Playa del Carmen. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> When i get back in early Mar….. winter wont be over in Missouri… > but it will surely be on the decline by then. Anyway that’s my logic. > So….. any advice or opinions on just how one could do this? And NOT > spend a TON of money? >The way to not spend a ton of money is to tent camp, >cook meals on a camp stove, etc. >How warm do you want to be? Corpus Christi, Texas might >be warm enough. >If you want warmer you’ll have to drive over to Mexico’s >Atlantic coast and then south, which will cost more >in gas, motels along the way, etc. >Central northern Mexico is mountainous and cold at night. >I spent Jan – March in Chihuahua and it got down to 30 >at night. High 50’s – low 60’s in the afternoon. >Still better than my usual winter in the Buffalo NY area -:)
grandma Rosalie
Response:
>The way to not spend a ton of money is to tent camp, >cook meals on a camp stove, etc.
Yep….Ive thought abt that and am not against it….tent camping that is. However….if I could find a small cabin at a good rate that would work as well >How warm do you want to be? Corpus Christi, Texas might >be warm enough.
Well it doesn’t have to be Mexico. But I definitely want to stay somewhere that is s"summer-like" in dead of winter. Warm waters, shorts for daily wear. The only two places I thought it might be that warm in the US would be the Florida Keys and maybe as you say far south Texas such as South Padre Island. But Ive never been those places either. Does it get THAT warm in these two US places? I just assumed Id have to go even farther south to get THAT warm….. i.e. Mexico >If you want warmer you’ll have to drive over to Mexico’s >Atlantic coast and then south, which will cost more >in gas, motels along the way, etc.
How abt the Baja area? Someone in another thread mentioned Mazatlan Mexico. Maybe that would be cheap enough? >Central northern Mexico is mountainous and cold at night. >I spent Jan – March in Chihuahua and it got down to 30 >at night. High 50’s – low 60’s in the afternoon.
Wow. Im curious what where you doing in that area? >Still better than my usual winter in the Buffalo NY area -:)
Yeah no doubt! No offense but you couldn’t get me to move to Buffalo for no amt of money!!! Im in north Missouri and it gets plenty cold and snowy here thank you. Haha
Response:
>Cozumel is pretty cheap, especially if you stay in town. You can get >trip packages which are inexpensive with flights to Cancun and then >stay in Playa del Carmen.
Well…..actually Im going to take a "vacation" to that are over July 4. Im staying in Bahia Principe Tulum on Riveria Maya area…. south of Cancun Im taking my 18 yr old nephew with me as a graduation present for him. However four nights stay cost $1600. How would it be possible to stay in this are for two whole weeks under $1000? I would do it but it has to be cheap. I don’t mind spending $1600 on this upcoming vacation because it will be in a resort area and is a "gift" to my nephew…. but this is a one time thing If I intend to escape winter every year just by myself it would have to be CHEAP… say under $1000 for travel, shelter, and food. Is that possible in the Playa Del Carma area??
Response:
I spent the first 30 years of my life in St. Louis….so I understand your thoughts. First, recognize that hotel and food will be your largest expenses. Do you need hot water? Probably yes. Room service? No. I recommend Isla Mujeres (near Cancun), Puerto Vallarta, or Acapulco. Acapulco is probably the cheapest to stay at (hotels with AC for $25/night), but the most for air fare. Get the travel book "Let’s Go" or "The South American Handbook" by Footprint. My daughter and I stayed in Acapulco for less than $40/day two years ago. Have a great trip. Bobby says… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I live in northeast Missouri. Lately the winters have been getting > harder and harder for me to take. I get three weeks off for vacation > each year and was wondering how cheaply I could go someplace WARM in > Mexico to spend the last two weeks of Feb? > My thoughts are this….Im not wealthy enough to become a "snowbird" > and move south for several months…. but I could surely move south > for two weeks. Id stay here in Missouri till I absolutely cant take > winter any longer which would probably be by the end of Feb….and > then go "live" somewhere warm for those two weeks > When i get back in early Mar….. winter wont be over in Missouri… > but it will surely be on the decline by then. Anyway that’s my logic. > So….. any advice or opinions on just how one could do this? And NOT > spend a TON of money?
Response:
What about doing one of the little grass shack hotels on the beach in Tulum. Don Armando’s Cabanas. Very cheap. Julie – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->The way to not spend a ton of money is to tent camp, >cook meals on a camp stove, etc. > Yep….Ive thought abt that and am not against it….tent camping that > is. However….if I could find a small cabin at a good rate that > would work as well >How warm do you want to be? Corpus Christi, Texas might >be warm enough. > Well it doesn’t have to be Mexico. But I definitely want to stay > somewhere that is s"summer-like" in dead of winter. Warm waters, > shorts for daily wear. > The only two places I thought it might be that warm in the US would be > the Florida Keys and maybe as you say far south Texas such as South > Padre Island. But Ive never been those places either. > Does it get THAT warm in these two US places? I just assumed Id have > to go even farther south to get THAT warm….. i.e. Mexico >If you want warmer you’ll have to drive over to Mexico’s >Atlantic coast and then south, which will cost more >in gas, motels along the way, etc. > How abt the Baja area? Someone in another thread mentioned Mazatlan > Mexico. Maybe that would be cheap enough? >Central northern Mexico is mountainous and cold at night. >I spent Jan – March in Chihuahua and it got down to 30 >at night. High 50’s – low 60’s in the afternoon. > Wow. Im curious what where you doing in that area? >Still better than my usual winter in the Buffalo NY area -:) > Yeah no doubt! No offense but you couldn’t get me to move to Buffalo > for no amt of money!!! Im in north Missouri and it gets plenty cold > and snowy here thank you. Haha
– Julie Check out my Travel Pages (non-commercial) at http://www.dragonsholm.org/travel.htm
Response:
>What about doing one of the little grass shack hotels on the beach in >Tulum. Don Armando’s Cabanas. Very cheap. >Julie
Julie…. .I didn’t know anything abt them!! I will check them out when Im down there in July! However in the meantime can you tell me more abt them?
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->I spent the first 30 years of my life in St. Louis….so I understand >your thoughts. >First, recognize that hotel and food will be your largest expenses. Do >you need hot water? Probably yes. Room service? No. >I recommend Isla Mujeres (near Cancun), Puerto Vallarta, or Acapulco. >Acapulco is probably the cheapest to stay at (hotels with AC for >$25/night), but the most for air fare. >Get the travel book "Let’s Go" or "The South American Handbook" by >Footprint. >My daughter and I stayed in Acapulco for less than $40/day two years >ago. >Have a great trip. >Bobby
Thanks Bobby!! And yes im only two hrs north of St Louis…. in Hannibal
Response:
Sure They are grass shacks right on the beach. Located on the road that goes along the water just south of the ruins in Tulum (although iirc, you cannot drive straight from the ruins, you have to get back to the road, take the next left to get there.) Don Armandos had stone beds with mattresses and/or hammocks. I slept on the bed, my daughter in the hammock. No electricity; you can get a battery operated camp lantern that works just great. A great big step above camping, but still very basic. I think we paid less than $10 US a night. They now run $20 to $30 a night depending on season (I was there off season, in June) There is some discussion of them for the first night of my trip to Playa del Carmen in 1996 on my web site. They are popular with backpackers and hostellers (you might look into hostels too). Some are very nice, some are filthy. I went with my hubby a couple years later and stayed one night in one of the latter. Get there early in the day to get the best (I’d plan on an inexpensive hotel somewhere the first night so you can get to the Cabanas early. Most do not take reservations, and the best "sell out" by noon.). Make sure you see not only the cabana you will be staying in but also the shower. Don Armandos had a bar and restaurant, others may not. Be careful of drinks with ice in them and water; you can get diahrea but mixed drinks without ice and canned and bottled drinks are fine. It’s what I would do if I were in your situation. Julie >What about doing one of the little grass shack hotels on the beach in >Tulum. Don Armando’s Cabanas. Very cheap. >Julie > Julie…. .I didn’t know anything abt them!! > I will check them out when Im down there in July! > However in the meantime can you tell me more abt them?
– Julie Check out my Travel Pages (non-commercial) at http://www.dragonsholm.org/travel.htm
Response:
Hope you good people keep sharing information about Mexico. I will monitor it as I might be forced to move down there in the event John Kerry gets elected as President. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I live in northeast Missouri. Lately the winters have been getting > harder and harder for me to take. I get three weeks off for vacation > each year and was wondering how cheaply I could go someplace WARM in > Mexico to spend the last two weeks of Feb? > My thoughts are this….Im not wealthy enough to become a "snowbird" > and move south for several months…. but I could surely move south > for two weeks. Id stay here in Missouri till I absolutely cant take > winter any longer which would probably be by the end of Feb….and > then go "live" somewhere warm for those two weeks > When i get back in early Mar….. winter wont be over in Missouri… > but it will surely be on the decline by then. Anyway that’s my logic. > So….. any advice or opinions on just how one could do this? And NOT > spend a TON of money?
– http://limasite85.us/construction_4.htm
Response:
> If you want warmer you’ll have to drive over to Mexico’s > Atlantic coast and then south, which will cost more > in gas, motels along the way, etc.
John! Where is the Mexico Atlantic coast, are you talking about the Gulf of Mexico or the Pacific Coast down the west coast of Mexico?
Response:
>> If you want warmer you’ll have to drive over to Mexico’s > Atlantic coast and then south, which will cost more > in gas, motels along the way, etc. > John! Where is the Mexico Atlantic coast, are you talking about the Gulf > of Mexico or the Pacific Coast down the west coast of Mexico?
Or the Caribbean Coast (south of the Gulf, near the Yucatan). That would be my choice. — Julie Check out my Travel Pages (non-commercial) at http://www.dragonsholm.org/travel.htm
Response:
Or I if George Bush manages to get elected. Julie – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Hope you good people keep sharing information about Mexico. I will > monitor it as I might be forced to move down there in the event John > Kerry gets elected as President. > I live in northeast Missouri. Lately the winters have been getting > harder and harder for me to take. I get three weeks off for vacation > each year and was wondering how cheaply I could go someplace WARM in > Mexico to spend the last two weeks of Feb? > My thoughts are this….Im not wealthy enough to become a "snowbird" > and move south for several months…. but I could surely move south > for two weeks. Id stay here in Missouri till I absolutely cant take > winter any longer which would probably be by the end of Feb….and > then go "live" somewhere warm for those two weeks > When i get back in early Mar….. winter wont be over in Missouri… > but it will surely be on the decline by then. Anyway that’s my logic. > So….. any advice or opinions on just how one could do this? And NOT > spend a TON of money? > — > http://limasite85.us/construction_4.htm
– Julie Check out my Travel Pages (non-commercial) at http://www.dragonsholm.org/travel.htm
Response:
>It’s what I would do if I were in your situation.
Thanks for the info Julie! Tell em tho….. how were the beds to sleep on? Clean? Also….. are the bathrooms clean? And are they just one "centralized" building full of bathrooms?
Response:
>>It’s what I would do if I were in your situation. > Thanks for the info Julie! > Tell em tho….. how were the beds to sleep on? Clean? > Also….. are the bathrooms clean? And are they just one "centralized" > building full of bathrooms?
Depends on the place. Like I said, with my daughter I stayed at Don Armando’s Cabanas, which was clean, with clean bathrooms. I was pleased. With my husband I stayed at another one, and I cannot remember the name, but it was just south of Don Armandos, and it was filthy. The cabana was acceptable, but the bathroom was disgusting. Some have bathrooms per cabana or two, most have centralized bathrooms. When you go ask to see the cabana you will stay in PLUS the bathroom. Also, in this kind of situation I always take hostel sheet sacks, just to have my own sheets. The beds were clean but this is kind of a personal comfort thing for low end accomodations. Julie — Julie Check out my Travel Pages (non-commercial) at http://www.dragonsholm.org/travel.htm
Response:
>Depends on the place. Like I said, with my daughter I stayed at Don Armando’s >Cabanas, which was clean, with clean bathrooms. I was pleased. With my >husband I stayed at another one, and I cannot remember the name, but it was >just south of Don Armandos, and it was filthy. The cabana was acceptable, >but the bathroom was disgusting.
Ahh OK….. I misunderstood you. I thought you meant that some of the Don Armandos cabanas were filthy….. when in fact you were talking abt another establishment all together. >When you go ask to see the cabana you will stay in PLUS the bathroom.
Good idea Are there places to eat close to these Don Armando cabanas? If yes are they in walking distance or would I need some form of transportation while staying in these cabanas such as scooter or car? Or could I take taxis every place I wanted to go if staying in these cabanas?
Response:
>> If you want warmer you’ll have to drive over to Mexico’s > Atlantic coast and then south, which will cost more > in gas, motels along the way, etc. >John! Where is the Mexico Atlantic coast, are you talking about the Gulf >of Mexico or the Pacific Coast down the west coast of Mexico?
I didn’t make the above statement so Im not sure what was being said
Response:
> monitor it as I might be forced to move down there in the event John > Kerry gets elected as President.
It could be worse, we could get Dubya again. To the OP, Mexico is nice and I enjoy visiting there. However, the food in Mexico is not cheap and you have to drink bottled water, depending on where you stay. Yes, south Florida and Texas is warm in February. You will not have problems driving, since the road signs are in English. There are some cheap places to stay in both states. I live in Texas, we get plenty of snowbirds here and we are happy to have you visit. Becca Sleazy3 http://www.cruisemaster.com/sleazy3.htm MOAGC http://www.motherofallgroupcruises.com/
Response:
> Are there places to eat close to these Don Armando cabanas? If yes > are they in walking distance or would I need some form of > transportation while staying in these cabanas such as scooter or car? > Or could I take taxis every place I wanted to go if staying in these > cabanas?
Don Armados has a restaurant. Basic but good food. Walking distance, if you like to walk, to the ruins and some commercial establishment. Even if you don’t stay at Don Armando’s you can eat there. Also, Don Armando may have changed their name. I’d check the latest Moon Guide to the Yucatan or Let’s Go. Julie — Julie Check out my Travel Pages (non-commercial) at http://www.dragonsholm.org/travel.htm
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me6, this is what to do. Airfare is a concern, so start finding the package companies…maybe Apple in your area? I use Funjet and www.worryfreevacations.com and get pretty cheap flights from Texas. To where do the cheapest flights go? That’s where you need to go and where to start your web research. Lots of places have inexpensive hotels. I can get to Playa Del Carmen pretty cheaply at least twice a year, and cheap hotels and food are everywhere in Playa. I know that Mom’s Hotel has a very small apartment with a kitchen that they will give you a deal on for 2 weeks. People stay at Mom’s for around $400/mo, which is not too bad. If you really tried it would be easy to eat on around $10/day…$2 breakfast, $3 lunch and you can get a pretty big comida corrida for $3.50. It may be even cheaper if you buy stuff at the store and cook it yourself, assuming that you can find a kitchenette. See my web page at www.io.com/~dru/DrewsWebPage01.htm for more info. Drew Shuller Waco, TX
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I live in northeast Missouri. Lately the winters have been getting > harder and harder for me to take. I get three weeks off for vacation > each year and was wondering how cheaply I could go someplace WARM in > Mexico to spend the last two weeks of Feb? > My thoughts are this….Im not wealthy enough to become a "snowbird" > and move south for several months…. but I could surely move south > for two weeks. Id stay here in Missouri till I absolutely cant take > winter any longer which would probably be by the end of Feb….and > then go "live" somewhere warm for those two weeks > When i get back in early Mar….. winter wont be over in Missouri… > but it will surely be on the decline by then. Anyway that’s my logic. > So….. any advice or opinions on just how one could do this? And NOT > spend a TON of money?
Response:
>Yes, south Florida and Texas is warm in February. You will not have >problems driving, since the road signs are in English. There are some >cheap places to stay in both states. I live in Texas, we get plenty of >snowbirds here and we are happy to have you visit.
Where would you recommend staying in Texas for two weeks Becca? Where would I stay that is both cheap AND as warm as it is in summer time in Missouri? I don’t want to go someplace that isn’t WARM and sunny. I guess what I mean is…. I don’t just want to go someplace it is say in the 60s each day….. i.e. cool but not cold. Instead I want to go someplace where its just like summer time… but this way in Feb
Response:
>Airfare is a concern, so start finding the package companies…maybe Apple >in your area? I use Funjet and www.worryfreevacations.com and get pretty >cheap flights from Texas. To where do the cheapest flights go? That’s where >you need to go and where to start your web research. Lots of places have >inexpensive hotels.
Wow Drew! I think you may be the answer Im looking for… your web page that is! Im a bit puzzled tho….. do you recommend NOT getting a package deal to PdC and instead putting your own "package" together by staying at Moms and getting air fare as a separate item? Also…. what is the off season at PdC? When is best savings? If I were to do this say last two weeks next feb could i get a decent deal? Looking forward to hearing your replies!
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> Also…. what is the off season at PdC? When is best savings? If I > were to do this say last two weeks next feb could i get a decent deal?
February is not off season anwhere in the Caribbean. Off season is like May/June and September-early December. > Looking forward to hearing your replies!
– Julie Check out my Travel Pages (non-commercial) at http://www.dragonsholm.org/travel.htm
Response:
Yes, get the cheap airfare from the package people if you can, and then stay at your own hotel, one that’s not a resort. They are everywhere in Playa. Feb would be the worst time to go as far as price. Christmas and New Year’s are expensive also, but I got great deals for like Jan 4th or so for at least a week or two afterwards. Then the winter season starts up. May is also the off season for the Caribbean, and the summer is too, but then you have to worry about hurricanes…a little less worry if you’re staying for two weeks maybe. Drew
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Airfare is a concern, so start finding the package companies…maybe Apple >in your area? I use Funjet and www.worryfreevacations.com and get pretty >cheap flights from Texas. To where do the cheapest flights go? That’s where >you need to go and where to start your web research. Lots of places have >inexpensive hotels. > Wow Drew! I think you may be the answer Im looking for… your web > page that is! > Im a bit puzzled tho….. do you recommend NOT getting a package deal > to PdC and instead putting your own "package" together by staying at > Moms and getting air fare as a separate item? > Also…. what is the off season at PdC? When is best savings? If I > were to do this say last two weeks next feb could i get a decent deal? > Looking forward to hearing your replies!
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