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Mexico/Questions Answered by Expert Ellen Fields
| Subject | Date Asked |
| Americans moving to Yucatan | 4/11/2010 |
| Q: My questions have to do with moving full time to Chuburna with young children (5 year old twins). We ... A: .. Your questions could take days to answer :-) so I have two suggestions for you: ... | |
| Long-term rentals, Meridia | 4/3/2010 |
| Q: I am interested in renting a small property in Meridia, or perhaps another smallish town which is ... A: Debbie, First of all, the historic centro of Merida is NOT by the beach, but it is easy to find a ... | |
| RE yucatan, buying to early? | 3/24/2010 |
| Q: I plan on retiring in the yucatan region in about 4-5 years, I'm thinking about buying either in ... A: George, There is really no way to answer this question. If you had asked me a year ago, I would ... | |
| moving to Merida/ESL teaching | 3/23/2010 |
| Q: My son is moving to teach ESL. I am terrified for him. Can you alleviate any of my fears? A: Yes, I can alleviate ALL your fears. I'm a 54-year-old mother of a 24 year old... and I have lived ... | |
| retirement | 2/22/2010 |
| Q: i don't require a lavish lifestyle. i just want to drink wine and listen to the roar of the ocean. ... A: Hola, Tom! There are plenty of people who live here, even at the beach, on a lot less than $2000 US ... | |
| Cost of renting in Campeche and what is the weather like | 10/27/2009 |
| Q: My husband and I are thinking of moving to Campeche. How much is does it cost to rent a 2-3 bedroom ... A: Yes, it's a little bit cooler in Campeche than Merida... not much, but a little. Campeche is on the ... | |
| Volunteer work, Merida | 8/27/2009 |
| Q: I am an Early Years specialist and I would like to come to Merida for 6 months and volunteer, ... A: Most places that need or could use volunteers don't have the resources to keep up a website, so you ... | |
| bring a car | 8/18/2009 |
| Q: what is involve to send a 2009 Fiat car from Italy to Mexico can we register that car ? what are the ... A: You can bring a car into Mexico as long as it is exactly 10 years old. The cost to import it is 15% ... | |
| one-time tax exempt shipping from USA to Merida | 6/24/2009 |
| Q: Hola, Ellen, Can you clarify something? I get various responses to this question. I have fm3 visa ... A: Honestly, Jim, I'm not a lawyer and I wouldn't want to make a pronouncement on this if I wasn't ... | |
| personal car in mexico | 6/15/2009 |
| Q: We go to Ajijic Mexico for three months every year. We would like to take one of our cars down and ... A: Yes, I'm pretty sure you need some sort of a visa or to be a citizen to import a car here. There are ... | |
| Traveling from Merida to Palenque | 6/12/2009 |
| Q: We are group of friends and we will be traveling to Mexico next week (staying till 28th June 2009) ... A: Hola, If you have a car, that is by far the best way to go to Palenque. You can, of course, also ... | |
| Moving to Merida from Canada | 5/14/2009 |
| Q: I am a Canadian living on a government disability,CPP (I am 55) I want to move to Merida to live ... A: The best thing I can do is direct you here to our recent article which outlines how much many things ... | |
| travelling | 4/26/2009 |
| Q: I am travelling over land from Tucson's into mexico, I was wondering if you could tell me the ... A: Jodi, You should probably talk to someone in Tuscon about how to get to the border. I imagine you ... | |
| travelling | 4/26/2009 |
| Q: I am travelling over land from Tucson's into mexico, I was wondering if you could tell me the ... A: Jodi, You don't say where in Mexico you are going... it's a big country. Generally, the easiest, ... | |
| transportation from cancun to chetumal | 4/23/2009 |
| Q: I'm flying into Cancun and need to get to Chetumal. Do you know if there are any one way car rentals ... A: I asked my assistant, Beatriz, who travels often to Chetumal, this question. Here is her rather ... | |
| Travel Cancun to Merida | 4/22/2009 |
| Q: Hola Ellen. My partner Christine and I are planning our next and hopefully definitive trip to Merida ... A: The exact state of the situation to go from the airport to the bus terminal... I don't know. But I ... | |
| Shipping a small package | 4/22/2009 |
| Q: My mom lives in Progreso, Yucatan. I have sent mail and packages to here for Christmas, birthday, ... A: Megan, The way to be 100% sure it gets to your mom would be to send it Fedex or UPS. Fedex has the ... | |
| living in merida,progresso.or other nearby | 3/18/2009 |
| Q: want to live the area, learn spanish, find work and rent a living space. have an income of 300us a ... A: No, I don't know of a place you could contact in advance. The one place you might find ads is in the ... | |
| living in merida,progresso.or other nearby | 3/17/2009 |
| Q: want to live the area, learn spanish, find work and rent a living space. have an income of 300us a ... A: Rodney, It won't be easy, but it can be done. You can find a house to rent for $100 or $150 US per ... | |
| Travel - vacation | 3/16/2009 |
| Q: My girlfriend and I are planning a vacation for summer 2010. We were invited to go with her family ... A: Only you can answer that question. Disneyworld is a land of indulgence, rides and giftshops. Cancun ... | |
| transport Chichen Itza to Merida | 2/18/2009 |
| Q: My friend & I are taking a bus from Cancun to Chichen Itza and will be staying over night. What kind ... A: There are several buses scheduled from Piste (the little town right next to Chichen Itza. The bus ... | |
| progresso | 2/16/2009 |
| Q: I am going on a cruise in 2 weeks to Progresso. Currently our plans are to get off the boat (i ... A: .. It's not often that I get such an easy question! The beach is AT the other end of the pier in ... | |
| bus travel to Chichen Itza | 1/12/2009 |
| Q: Ellen, I am planning a trip to Yucatan in March. I've already set up airport transfer from Cancun ... A: I'm sure there are busses from Chichen Itza to the bus station in Cancun, but not necessarily to the ... | |
| Health Care in Merida | 12/20/2008 |
| Q: We are thinking of retiring in Merida and would like to know about health care services and where ... A: Olga, I have written extensively on our website Yucatan Living about these issues. You can read ... | |
| Teaching English on the Yucatan Peninsula | 12/9/2008 |
| Q: Could you please help me! I am looking to find a job teaching English at the start of August / ... A: Claudene, This list of local schools that teach Spanish should give you a good starting point... ... | |
| chichen itza | 12/2/2008 |
| Q: Greetings Ellen, I will be traveling with my son from Cancun to Chichen Itza on a Thursday and back ... A: Your trip sounds like a lot of fun! First of all, you will be as safe here in the Yucatan as you ... | |
| mini retirement | 12/2/2008 |
| Q: My husband and I want to come to Merida for a month to check out if we want to live there and ... A: Judy... The first place you probably want to check out is the Merida English Library ... | |
| Importing a Toyota Land Cruiser from Tokyo to Oaxaca | 11/6/2008 |
| Q: My firm (Winstone Group, a Japanese legal entity) will purchase a used (9 year old) Toyota Land ... A: Hola, Alberto I don't know the answer, but here's someone who will. This is a customs agent here in ... | |
| inexpensive rental property in Merida | 10/12/2008 |
| Q: We have searched the internet for something inexpensive we might be able to rent& visit Merida in ... A: Well, you might want to start here: http://www.yucatanliving.com/category/vacation-rentals Also, ... | |
| importing a car to Mexico | 10/2/2008 |
| Q: We have a small house in San Crisanto where we spend the winter on a tourist visa. We are Canadian ... A: As I understand it, you can bring your car into Mexico as tourists. But it can only stay as long as ... | |
| import boat | 9/22/2008 |
| Q: can i import new 2008?? or does the new 1998 law pertain to boats also A: I have no idea about a boat. You'll need to call a customs agent... here's one I have heard of: ... | |
| Teaching in Merida | 9/9/2008 |
| Q: I would love to teach English in Merida. How can I find language schools that would potentially ... A: Benjamin, I really don't know about the TEFL requirement, but in this article, you will find a list ... | |
| Retiring in Mexico | 8/26/2008 |
| Q: I am a single almost to be 63 yrs old and looking for inexpensive and safe place to retire on my ... A: Merida can still be a very inexpensive place to live, if you live like a local. You'll want to rent ... | |
| moving | 8/23/2008 |
| Q: I am moving to merida on january, and i wanto to know if there are good, clean, not expensive, and ... A: Storage units are not a big business here like they are in the States, because most Mexicans don't ... | |
| Driving to the Yucatan | 8/3/2008 |
| Q: My wife and I have sold our home in the U.S. and are moving to Progreso at the end of this month ... A: Woo-hoo!! Lucky you! Tampico: ugh. not my favorite place, but maybe we missed the good part. We got ... | |
| rentals in Merida | 7/27/2008 |
| Q: I am planning to relocate to Merida from Mexico City in December. I will be in Merida for two weeks ... A: Hola, Frank! I suggest you call Georgia Charuhas to see if she has a rental available. ... | |
| travel between merida and palenque | 7/24/2008 |
| Q: My wife and I will be in Hacienda Temozon, close to Merida, in early December and we would take a ... A: We have driven the road between Merida and Palenque (the road you would take) three or four times. ... | |
| Yucatan Shipping | 7/8/2008 |
| Q: May I trouble you for one more request? The US DHL is a big maze in the US and I have not been able ... A: Here in Mexico, very little business is done by email. You will get a lot farther if you call on the ... | |
| Yucatan | 7/6/2008 |
| Q: I am sorry for that fact that I am about to ask a zillion questions but I can't find the answers any ... A: Hola, Stephanie... I will answer your questions as best I can. 1. Yes, there is Fedex and DHL ... | |
| Chuburna Puerto | 6/18/2008 |
| Q: We would like to know if there are a number of Americans living in this area and what shopping is ... A: Yes, there are a lot of Americans and Canadians with homes in this area, as well as Chelem, Progreso ... | |
| Nationalizing a car | 6/5/2008 |
| Q: I have heard recently that there are new restrictions as of March; ie that only 1998 vehicles can be ... A: Heinz, We have also heard that Mexico has put a new law into effect that only 10 year old cars may ... | |
| From Cancun to Palenque | 5/9/2008 |
| Q: My friends and I are planning to travel from Cancun to Palenque. We are 6 people. Do you suggest ... A: Although with six people you could probably justify the cost of a car, you might have a more ... | |
| reliable chiropractor | 5/2/2008 |
| Q: i am in cancun now and my back is in a great deal of pain, but I can't find anyone who could ... A: I don't know any in Cancun, but there is an American here in Merida who used to work in Cancun. His ... | |
| bus travel | 4/26/2008 |
| Q: D I am very excited to be visiting the Yucatan in June. I am planning a trip which starts in ... A: Irma, It is possible to take a bus (without a tour) to Chichen Itza. You will need to go to the ... | |
| FM3 | 4/16/2008 |
| Q: I have purchased land near San Felipe and I assume I need to get a FM3. Does my wife and kids need ... A: It is my understanding that you don't need an FM3 just because you own land here. You can stay for ... | |
| Cozumel | 4/15/2008 |
| Q: Visiting Cozumel by cruise boat Sept 29,Monday 8am-10pm.My wife and I want a quiet beach ... A: I'm not an expert on Cozumel but I have been there a few times. Our favorite place is called the ... | |
| Chelem beach | 3/26/2008 |
| Q: We are looking into a place in Chelem for August. The owner says it does not need air conditioning ... A: It's really relative and depends on the person. It can get very hot in this general area in August. ... | |
| living and working in Chetumal with family | 3/23/2008 |
| Q: My family and I are thinking seriously about moving to Mexico; specifically Chetumal. My dad lives ... A: Hola, Abby! In general, there are very few if any jobs for foreign healthcare professionals in ... | |
| Mexico | 3/8/2008 |
| Q: sorry for disturbing you i would like to ask some questions about mexico 1. What hotels are good and ... A: You ask a lot of very general questions, so I am going to suggest that you do more research on the ... | |
| driving from cancun to chichen itza in night | 2/19/2008 |
| Q: Your answers to few other questions are very clear and answered a lot of my questions. As a local, ... A: Hola, Dhaval... As someone who has done this drive many times, I would personally NOT drive at ... | |
| Auto importation question | 2/18/2008 |
| Q: My wife and I have been living in Paamul, Q. Roo for the past 13 years where we own a dive resort. ... A: Hola, John... I am not aware of the requirement to for FM-2 holders to drive a Mexican-registered ... | |
| Beach rentals | 1/30/2008 |
| Q: We are heading to the Yucatan in a few weeks. I have visited your site frequently and as a result ... A: If you want to be near a village, look for rentals in Chelem, Chuburna, Telchac or Chicxulub. ... | |
| Distance in Yucatan | 1/30/2008 |
| Q: Can you please tell me how far are those towns (km, hours drive) : - Cancun to Tulum ? - Tulum to ... A: Well, I can tell you how long it takes to drive between those towns... Cancun to Tulum is about 1.5 ... | |
| First Vacation | 1/24/2008 |
| Q: My best friend and I are planning a vacation for the Fall of 08....Is that a good time of year to ... A: Yes, it's a great time to come here. September and October are still within hurricane season, ... | |
| Bus Travel inthe Yucatan | 1/9/2008 |
| Q: This is a great way to get information. Thank you so much ! We are landing in Cancun and wanting to ... A: As far as I know, there is no bus to Merida from the Cancun airport. You need to go to the Cancun ... | |
| Importing Cars | 1/4/2008 |
| Q: My wife and I would like to import some cars to Mexico. I am a Canadian citizen and my wife has ... A: Axel, I think your best bet would be to call a customs broker in Progreso and ask them those ... | |
| Monthly rent in Merida | 12/29/2007 |
| Q: My wife and I are both retired and are intersted in Merida. We are thinking of renting a place in ... A: At this writing, $800 a month rent is certainly reasonable. You may not be close to the zocalo for ... | |
| rentals in PV Mex | 12/16/2007 |
| Q: Fields My wife and are considering staying in PV MEX for the winter months now that we are ... A: Greetings, I'm not sure what you mean by "PV MEX". If you mean Puerta Vallarta, which is on the ... | |
| Chuburna de hidalgo | 12/9/2007 |
| Q: Can you describe Chuburna de hidalgo, I see a small house I am interested in for retirement. I am ... A: Chuburna (as it is known) is a neighborhood north of the Centro. You can't walk to the Centro from ... | |
| Merida and transport | 11/11/2007 |
| Q: I can't find the bus schedule from Chichen Itza to Merida. How frequently to buses leave and do I ... A: Hola, I doubt the Chichen Itza bus schedule is on the web. I don't know how frequently they leave, ... | |
| Transport | 11/7/2007 |
| Q: We are planning to visit the area in November this year. For the second week we are staying in the ... A: Normal taxis from the airport are a little expensive, but they are regulated. Just find out what the ... | |
| driving | 11/2/2007 |
| Q: We will be entering Mexico this Sunday Nov 1 at Matamoras-any ideas of the route to travel to avoid ... A: Hmmm... I've done that drive at least five times and have never heard of Catazaja. I just checked ... | |
| driving | 11/2/2007 |
| Q: We will be entering Mexico this Sunday Nov 1 at Matamoras-any ideas of the route to travel to avoid ... A: There are really only two ways to go south....along the coast or through Mexico City. So, to avoid ... | |
| Transport | 10/17/2007 |
| Q: We are planning to visit the area in November this year. For the second week we are staying in the ... A: Hola again! There are many nice accommodations in Merida Centro. At the low budget end, one of my ... | |
| Transport | 10/15/2007 |
| Q: We are planning to visit the area in November this year. For the second week we are staying in the ... A: Hola! I'm not sure what "main sites" you are referring to, but I'm going to assume you mean Mayan ... | |
| Bus to Chicken Itza or Valladolid | 10/10/2007 |
| Q: I arrive in Cancun at 1500 and want to go to Chicken Itza. Are there any first class buses that ... A: I must say I don't know about the exact bus schedule from the airport to Piste or Valladolid, but I ... | |
| Car Importation Fees from US to Mexico | 10/3/2007 |
| Q: I am selling an SUV in California and have been given an offer to buy from Mexican nationals who ... A: As I understand it, if a car is over 10 years old, you can import it into Mexico by paying the 15% ... | |
| October Clothes | 10/2/2007 |
| Q: Hola Ellen, You were kind enough to answer some Merida questions for us a while back. We are ... A: Hola, First of all, thanks for all the compliments and we're so glad that you like Yucatan Living! ... | |
| beach rentals in Progreso area | 10/1/2007 |
| Q: but isn't completely remote either (we have two teenagers). What are the beaches/ villages like in ... A: The beaches are Gulf beaches, not Caribbean beaches. They are the difference between Tampa and Key ... | |
| beach rentals in Progreso area | 10/1/2007 |
| Q: but isn't completely remote either (we have two teenagers). What are the beaches/ villages like in ... A: Hola, You didn't mention when you would be going. These areas are all a lot more fun (for teenagers) ... | |
| Short visit to Mexico - Help | 9/21/2007 |
| Q: We are planning a short visit for about 3-4 days to Mexico during thanks giving this year. Our main ... A: Hola! First of all, no. I would not fly into Ciudad del Carmen. Fly into Villahermosa and you are ... | |
| Living in Merida | 9/19/2007 |
| Q: My question is very simple. How much money would it take a month to live comfortably in Merida if ... A: We get asked this question a lot, and it is very difficult to answer. You can live high on the hog ... | |
| cooking appliances | 7/23/2007 |
| Q: As we work through our small renovation, the question remains: To purchase a stove or a cooktop. ... A: We have lived without an oven for over five years. We're building a new house now, and we're going ... | |
| from cancun to chetumal | 7/22/2007 |
| Q: We are arriving at Cancun 12:30 pm on Oct 25 and would like to get to Chetumal as soon as possible. ... A: From the Cancun airport, its best to take a taxi to the bus station in Cancun. At the bus station, ... | |
| Interested in working in Mexico | 7/18/2007 |
| Q: I am a 21 year old travel and tourism student in New Brunswick Canada. I will be graduating from my ... A: I really don't have any experience with working in Cancun, but I know a few people who do. I ... | |
| Internet in Chuburna Puerto | 7/13/2007 |
| Q: I visit your site regularly, and was suprised to run across you here also and realize it is the same ... A: Hola! I don't know anyone who lives in Chuburna but a friend of mine who lives in Telchac Puerto ... | |
| Merida retirement | 7/6/2007 |
| Q: We are flying in to Merida for a week in Mid-October. I have spent the last several months ... A: Hola, Tom. Thank you for the compliment on our website, yucatanliving. There are a number of ... | |
| Non-touristy places | 7/6/2007 |
| Q: Last winter my husband and I had a great time on Isla Mujeres at a small, Mexican hotel (Roca Mar)on ... A: Cozumel has some nice beaches with small hotels on the east side of the island. No big hotel would ... | |
| Non-touristy places | 7/6/2007 |
| Q: Last winter my husband and I had a great time on Isla Mujeres at a small, Mexican hotel (Roca Mar)on ... A: Yes, I think you would find something similar on Isla Holbox, but the water there is more Gulf-like ... | |
| Merida to Holbox Island | 6/28/2007 |
| Q: I'm going to be in Merida for a conference the first week of July and would like to visit Holbox ... A: Hola, Jan.... It won't take more than a day to get there, but it might take the greatest part of ... | |
| Living & working in Yucatan | 6/24/2007 |
| Q: we are from the UK and my husband and I are considering a job opportunity I have to work in the ... A: Hola, First of all, you didn't say which part of the Mayan Riviera you are considering, and it does ... | |
| Buying pre-construction in the Yucatan | 6/6/2007 |
| Q: I'm thinking about buying a pre-construction house near Cancun. The builder and the real-estate ... A: Hola, Since both the builder and real estate company are American, perhaps you can sign the contract ... | |
| Vacation rental in Chicxulub | 6/4/2007 |
| Q: My husband and I are thinking about renting a house on the beach for a week in February 2008. We're ... A: Hola, Emily... Do you have to worry about not speaking Spanish? No, not really. You won't be able to ... | |
| winter rental | 5/9/2007 |
| Q: Ellen: May husband and I are interested in a winter rental for 2008. Could you tell me something ... A: Hola! Progreso is indeed the largest town of the ones you mention, and the largest along the beach. ... | |
| Driving from Cancun to Palenque | 4/16/2007 |
| Q: We will be traveling to Mexico May 10 through 17. The first leg of our trip will consist of ... A: Hola, Cancun to Palenque seems to me like it would take longer than 5.5 hours. I assume you plan to ... | |
| car travel in Mexico and CA | 4/8/2007 |
| Q: We are recently back in San Carlos, Sonora after a 1 year trip from here to Panama and back by ... A: Hola, There is a website about the Yucatan that will give you info about driving there: ... | |
| long stays in Chicxulub area | 3/28/2007 |
| Q: I have so many questions that I don't know where to start. Is any one beach area better than another ... A: Hola, I think that the merits of each individual beach are argued a lot, without a definitive ... | |
| cost of living | 2/21/2007 |
| Q: My husband and I want to buy a very small home and retire in the Chuburna/Chelem area. I would like ... A: This is indeed a difficult thing to answer, but I'll do my best with what I know. Here's the ... | |
| safety and crime | 2/9/2007 |
| Q: A recent article in a Connecticut newspaper talked about the recent brazen dalight killings by drug ... A: Should you be concerned? Not for your own safety, no. First of all, asking if it is safe in Cozumel ... | |
| Merida Retirement | 2/8/2007 |
| Q: Ellen, I'm going to retire next year (at 65, and no health issues)and would like to move to the ... A: Hola, Steve... In order to get your FM3 visa to stay in Mexico, you need to show (every year) ... | |
| Cancun to Chichen Itza | 2/2/2007 |
| Q: we're flying into Cancun at 3pm on a Wednesday and want to get up to Chichen Itza to see the light ... A: It is ambitious to arrive in Cancun at 3 pm and make it to Chichen Itza by 8 pm, but I think it is ... | |
| cost of living | 1/9/2007 |
| Q: My husband and I are thinking of moving to the Yucatan, Merida area. If you could possibly tell me ... A: The brief answer to this question is that you CAN live more cheaply here, but you can certainly ... | |
| Palenque area | 12/31/2006 |
| Q: After looking through the bio's of experts you were the closest to where I'm looking. I would love ... A: Both Palenque and San Cristobal are well worth visiting and spending a good amount of time. I have ... | |
| Isla Mujeres | 11/14/2006 |
| Q: We are visiting Isla for the first time in Feb. Is there a place to snorkel right off of the beach? A: I recall that the last time we visited Isla Mujeres, we had to go offshore to a reef in order to get ... | |
| car travel in the Yucatan | 10/26/2006 |
| Q: We will be traveling in the Yucatan in March 2007. What is the best source of detailed road maps? I ... A: The best source of detailed road maps are here in Mexico. They are called Guia Rojo. They come in a ... | |
| shippin stuff to Yucatan | 10/14/2006 |
| Q: Ellen, Do you have a chat name and service? AOL or Yahoo? Re: the shipping. Having been in ... A: I don't use chat services, actually. I'm too busy at the moment... Regarding shipping your ... | |
| shippin stuff to Yucatan | 10/13/2006 |
| Q: Hmm,where to start. My father in law has signed the esrituras granting us his family place in ... A: Congratulations on being given a house in the Yucatan! Five years ago, we spent thousands of ... | |
| requariments to import a car. | 9/30/2006 |
| Q: I'm planning to buy a car for my parens Im currently a recident of USA my husband is a citizen, my ... A: Veronica, In order to have an American-bought car in Mexico, you have to either have an FM3 visa ... | |
| transportation/real estate | 9/25/2006 |
| Q: A friend and I will be in San Miguel de Allende this November...to get to Merida from San Miguel, is ... A: Yes, you can take a bus from San Miguel to Merida. You probably have to go through Mexico City. ... | |
| merida, mex | 9/5/2006 |
| Q: i will look into the suggested web sites. my particular problem however seems to be that i ... A: As you said,this is not a decision I can make for you. It *is* hot and muggy in Merida about four or ... | |
| merida, mex | 9/3/2006 |
| Q: i am planning a trip to merida/progresso in oct. i am told there is ferry service avail. from fla ... A: Hola, Lloyd... It sounds like you are a good candidate for living in the Yucatan Peninsula...but ... | |
| ANY SCHOOLS FOR AMERICAN KIDS? | 8/7/2006 |
| Q: We are thinkign about moving to Merid, I lived there from 1981-1986 and I loved the life style ... A: Hola, As far as I know there are no American schools in Merida. Well, there is one just starting but ... | |
| Expat retirement | 7/26/2006 |
| Q: Is renting a 'turn-key' house/condo easy for expat (US)retirement? Humidity - oppressive? Is ... A: Yes, it is easy to rent a turn-key house. Easier to rent one from another expat unless you speak ... | |
| cancun to miami | 7/20/2006 |
| Q: is there anyway we can get our car to Florida from cancun area by water? A: There used to be a ferry called the Yucatan Express. You can find out about that and the service ... | |
| driving the highway | 7/3/2006 |
| Q: We want to visit Chichen Itza but do not want to do the 12 hour tour from Cancun. How safe is it to ... A: Hola, Terry! I think driving to Chichen Itza is a great idea. The carretera to Chichen Itza is ... | |
| 2nd class bus station | 7/1/2006 |
| Q: If I were taking a cab into Merida from the airport, heading for Parque Santiago, is it possible I ... A: By the second class bus station, I assume you mean the one to the south of town. This station is on ... | |
| Playa Del Carmen | 6/7/2006 |
| Q: I am traveling to Playa Del Carmen later this month. I am wondering about getting my eyes checked ... A: I have heard of people getting their eyes done here in Merida and being very happy with the result. ... | |
| accomodations | 3/25/2006 |
| Q: Ellen, My family and I are going to The Reef at Playacar. I didn't make the reservation and I know ... A: As they used to tell us in school (though we didn't believe them...), there are no stupid (or ... | |
| buying pre-construction house in yucatan | 3/2/2006 |
| Q: Like others, I am thinking about purchasing a house in Yucatan. Do I need to set up my own ... A: Only a lawyer (a notario, as they are called here) can set up a fideicomiso. It is a trust between ... | |
| Living & working in Yucatan region | 2/27/2006 |
| Q: I am a Canadian who is interested in moving to Mexico, specifically the Yucutan area. I lived ... A: Well, it's great that you can speak Spanish. That will certainly help. I would imagine that you ... | |
| purchase of beach house | 2/16/2006 |
| Q: I am in the early stage of gathering information on puchasing a beach house. I am aware of the ... A: Hola, The estimated costs are somewhat different, depending on which area of Mexico you buy in. The ... | |
| Short term living in MX, with good internet connection | 12/10/2005 |
| Q: I am a mechanical engineer from Denver, in the midst of a career change, starting a software ... A: YOu can stay in Mexico for 90 days with a tourist visa. You can fly into Cancun and stay in Playa ... | |
| Merida Markets | 11/23/2005 |
| Q: I am interested in the location of the markets in Merida. I have a Merida map and will be coming in ... A: Sorry this took me so long to answer....I was on a short vacation. Anyway, the main mercado in ... | |
| Road trip | 8/12/2005 |
| Q: I would imagine my question pertains to any part of Mexico as well as your particular area of ... A: Having lived here four years, it seems to me that there is less crime here than in the US, despite ... | |
| Yucatan in general | 7/15/2005 |
| Q: I really dislike posing a general information question rather than specifics, but the Yucatan is one ... A: I think what most of us like about living in Merida and the Yucatan is: -inexpensive living -cheap ... | |
| passports for children | 6/20/2005 |
| Q: we are traveling from california to cozumel next month with our children, ages 6 & 8, we are getting ... A: Obviously, your kids are not going to be handling their passports or exchanging money. And I can't ... | |
| Cost of living in Yucatan and Riviera Maya | 3/22/2005 |
| Q: Having spent a lot of time in Cancun over the last few years, I can assure you that grocery prices ... A: You see? Three years here and I'm thinking like a Yucatecan :-) Yucatecans are known for being ... | |
| Cost of living in Yucatan and Riviera Maya | 3/21/2005 |
| Q: My husband and I are planning to move to Puerto Aventuras in Quintana Roo. We have taken into ... A: Dorothy... I live in Merida, which is a little cheaper than Puerto Aventuras, mostly because its ... | |
| Truss factory | 3/14/2005 |
| Q: I was thinking with the advent of NAFTA that perhaps Mexico would be a good place to build a truss ... A: 1. Mexico does NOT have an abundance of wood. It has similar or worse environmental problems as many ... | |
| Am reaching Mexico city airport... | 3/4/2005 |
| Q: Am reaching Mexico city airport at 8.30 in the evening. Pls tell me the best way to go to puebla . I ... A: I've only driven from Mexico City to Puebla once, but my impression is that it is an hour or two ... | |
| Merida - Info | 2/22/2005 |
| Q: We are visiting Merida next month (March) and would like to visit Uxmal. We would like to not take ... A: I think my friend Trudy, from Iluminado Tours, has the perfect solution for you. She runs ... | |
| Your opinion on The Yucatan as a New Home | 2/19/2005 |
| Q: Our research tells us that in Majahual a cruise ship docks once weekly in the off-season and daily ... A: ok, now that you've told me a little more, we can talk :-) if you want to just support yourself, i ... | |
| Your opinion on The Yucatan as a New Home | 2/19/2005 |
| Q: A co-worker and I are exploring the idea of relocating from the USA to the Costa Maya region. We ... A: Hola, I would have to know more about what you plan to do in order to give you honest pros and ... | |
| lang. programs/ rentals | 2/10/2005 |
| Q: I may have written before...new ques. I want to study Spanish for about 4 weeks but would also like ... A: Hola, Nydia... Hiking in the Yucatan is not a formal affair. You can walk around the ruins, and ... | |
| Life in Merida | 2/1/2005 |
| Q: I have never been to Merida, but have always wanted to go. I plan to visit somewhere between ... A: .. Merida is very different, so you should definitely visit before you decide to move. Having said ... | |
| long term housing/Merida | 1/28/2005 |
| Q: I am very well-travelled on the West side of Mexico and Mexico City, generally, but have never been ... A: Hola! There are two places in Merida that I know of like what you are looking for: ... | |
| Travel to Merida | 1/21/2005 |
| Q: How hard would it be to travel from Mexico City to Merida by bus? A: It should be fairly easy....lots of people do it everyday. You will probably have to go via another ... | |
| Starting an ecotour business | 1/1/2005 |
| Q: My partner and I are interested in selling our properties in Maine and moving to the coast south ... A: Well, congratulations and good luck. As far as I know, there are a few websites with information ... | |
| Bus travel from Cancun to Oaxaca | 12/24/2004 |
| Q: One concern we have about renting a car is that we both don't speak Spanish. I can manage a few ... A: Hola Ashwini! Well, take a Spanish/English dictionary with you, bottled water and a sense of ... | |
| Bus travel | 11/26/2004 |
| Q: I will be in Xalapa near Vera Cruz. Want to travel by bus to Akumal south of Cancun on Dec 26th. I ... A: I'm sure there is a way to take a bus from Veracruz to Merida. Probably through Villahermosa. Just ... | |
| jungle | 11/16/2004 |
| Q: I would like to take a Mexican vacation to see jungle near the coast. What coastal tourist cities ... A: If you are talking about Ensenada, you are probably referring to the West Coast of Mexico (it has an ... | |
| travel | 11/10/2004 |
| Q: Ellen - thanks in advance for your availability to answer questions. My husband and I are ... A: There are many places right downtown where you can buy a cellphone. I would suggest buying a Telcel ... | |
| Dentistas- dental work | 11/6/2004 |
| Q: I am going to be in Merida from the 11th - 23rd of this month. Can you give me a referral of a good ... A: Try reading this page first: http://www.yucatantoday.com/culture/eng-healthcare.htm I personally ... | |
| Buses to Chichen Itza | 10/23/2004 |
| Q: We are arriving in Cancun airport in January and would like to get to Chichen Itza - can you tell me ... A: Hola! I don't know of buses to Chichen Itza from the airport. I believe you have to go to the bus ... | |
| merida | 10/23/2004 |
| Q: I am traveling around the world on a fellowship to took at food culture and storytelling. I am ... A: Hola, Selina... What a wonderful opportunity for you. I don't know of any apartments for rent ... | |
| car rental | 10/12/2004 |
| Q: I'm sure you've answered this in the past, but I'm having difficulty finding out what kind and how ... A: Hola Sharon, I think this is really a personal decision based on your sense of security versus your ... | |
| travel in northeastern Mexico | 10/7/2004 |
| Q: A group of us (husbands and wifes) want to visit Mexico in January for a week. We are all in our ... A: Hola Ray, First, a confession. We live in the Yucatan and don't stay at all-inclusive resorts, so ... | |
| gyms | 8/8/2004 |
| Q: Are their any good gym in Merida? I'm a weight lifter. A: I'm NOT a weightlifter, so I don't know how to tell you if the gyms are good or not. But there are ... | |
| flights from Cancun to Puebla | 7/26/2004 |
| Q: I want to get from Cancun to Puebla at some point towards the end of the first week of august and ... A: You should be able to fly from Cancun to Puebla for less than $300. Call Dennis at Yucatan Trails ... | |
| documentation for minors | 7/16/2004 |
| Q: My family and myself will be traveling to Mexico (Near Playa de Carment) next month. I will be ... A: I have flown many times with minor children (my own and stepchildren). You absolutely HAVE TO have ... | |
| buses | 7/13/2004 |
| Q: I would like to travel by bus from Oaxaca to Cancun or Merida and I was wondering if it was possible ... A: Yes, it is possible. Go to this page and look up some of the information on the different bus line ... | |
| Bus travel | 7/1/2004 |
| Q: We are planign a trip to Mexico,Guatmala and possibly south in October and NOvember thsi year. I ... A: There is information here: http://www.yucatantoday.com/eng-transportation.htm on the bus schedules ... | |
| travel to cancun | 6/28/2004 |
| Q: plan to travel to cancun from Athens Greece. I would be grateful if you could provide me for some ... A: In my experience, it is not easy to find non-touristy places in Cancun. But just a short 45 minutes ... | |
| photography in merida | 6/14/2004 |
| Q: i am a still photographer traveling to merida in july or august to photograph a brochure for a small ... A: My husband and I are photographers (we do lots of hotels around here), but he's the boss when it ... | |
| Buying Property | 6/4/2004 |
| Q: I am looking at buying a house in Xcalat. What are the restrictions on buying as a foreigner and ... A: Do you mean Xcalak? On the Caribbean north of Chetumal? The only restrictions on buying as a ... | |
| Long Term Rental in Merida | 6/1/2004 |
| Q: My wife and I are seriously considering retiring in Merida. Would appreciate any advice or ... A: There are many good places to retire around here. I think coming down and renting first is a very ... | |
| travel from mexico city | 5/24/2004 |
| Q: Cheers for answering question, but already checked out bus websites and been quoted $900!! These ... A: The cost to take a bus first class from Merida to Cancun (a 3.5 hour trip) is about $190 pesos or ... | |
| travel from mexico city | 5/22/2004 |
| Q: i am trying to find info on travel costs from mexico city to yucatan, merida, campeche, or areas ... A: That cost seems about right. The most direct way to get answers to your questions would be to use a ... | |
| Visiting Tulum & Chitcin Itza | 5/14/2004 |
| Q: Ellen, 4 of us will visit Cancun in Jan 2005. We want to visit Tulum and Chitcin Itza.We're ... A: Yes, you should make a reservation for a car prior to arrival. Since it sounds like its your first ... | |
| Merida Religous/Cult Holiday | 5/12/2004 |
| Q: This may seem like a strange email. After 4 years, I am still puzzled by events that happened to me ... A: Lydia... The Mayans can be a very mysterious people. I have never heard of a holiday at that part of ... | |
| Chiropractors in the yucatan | 4/29/2004 |
| Q: I am a Chiropractor currently practicing in England. I would like to eventualy move to the Yucatan, ... A: Yes, this is perfectly feasible. I know of chiropractors from France and the US who practice here. ... | |
| Transport Inquiry | 4/26/2004 |
| Q: In mid may, we are planning to visit Chinchen Itza & Uxmal & want to stay in Mayaland Hotel ... A: Hola, Pradeep. No, I don't think there is any direct public transportation between Chichen Itza and ... | |
| distance and travel | 3/30/2004 |
| Q: how far from merida to tulum? to playa del carmen? whats the best way to travel? i am not into the ... A: Hola! Merida to Tulum is about a 3 hour drive. You take the carretera towards Cancun, then turn ... | |
| Winter retreat | 3/29/2004 |
| Q: ------------------------- Here is a better picture of what I am looking for and what I can afford. ... A: That extended explanation does help. I think you will find what you are looking for on the beach in ... | |
| Restaurant Possibilities in Merida and Valladolid | 3/28/2004 |
| Q: Have you ever been in Akumal ? Perhaps our paths crossed as I lived there for many years. I am in ... A: Hola, Cristina... A new good restaurant is always welcome, and would do well, I´m sure, in Merida. ... | |
| Winter retreat | 3/28/2004 |
| Q: I live in upstate NY. I am looking for a place to stay in Mexico next February and March, maybe ... A: Hola Don, There are plenty of barking dogs here in Mexico...its just part of life. I would suggest ... | |
| Merida / Progreso | 3/16/2004 |
| Q: We'll be arriving at Progreso for a few hours via a cruise ship. Since we are limited in time, what ... A: My vote would be to get a taxi to take you to Dzibilchaltun. These are ruins about 20 minutes from ... | |
| Bus travel and schedules in the Yucatan | 2/16/2004 |
| Q: I will be traveling to Merida w/ my mom (she is 79 years old). After spending 4 or 5 days in Merida ... A: Hola... I do believe that not many buses originate from Valladolid, as you mention. I looked at ... | |
| Travel by bus from Cancun to Chichen Itza | 2/13/2004 |
| Q: Ellen, Thanks so much! I am now thinking of staying overnight in Chichen Itza. First, should I ... A: I think it would be a good idea to reserve your room at Chichen Itza. You didnt say exactly when you ... | |
| Travel by bus from Cancun to Chichen Itza | 2/12/2004 |
| Q: I understand this is not "specifically" your area, but thought you may be able to help. I would ... A: Almost everyone in Cancun speaks English these days. And if you are staying in any of the hotels on ... | |
Mexico
Answers by Expert:
Ellen Fields
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I can answer questions about Merida and the state of Yucatan regarding travel and moving there to live, as well as real estate practices and conventions, computer and internet availability and communications to the US from the Yucatan.
Experience
My husband and I have lived in the Yucatan for over five years. We publish the www.yucatanliving.com website.
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