We are on our way to Playa del Carmen, Mexico!

After all our research the time has finally come.  We are on our way to Playa del Carmen, Mexico with the warm sun, pristine beaches and the sweet breezes of the Caribbean…follow our adventures and experiences in the Riviera Maya!     

Adiós

What to Pack?

Let's face it, when you're talking about relocating to another country and all your worldly belongings have to fit into four large suitcases, the task at hand can seem overwhelming. After all, everything you own is important...right?  It was time for us to really decide what stays in the U.S.A. and what goes to PDC, Mexico.

Money, Money, Money, Money, M-O-N-E-Y

Or so goes the song "For the Love of Money" by the O'Jays.

It is all about the money isn't it when you move to Mexico. You need money to get there and live there. But what "money" do you use. Many Americans may not think about this.

When moving to a popular tourist destination like Playa del Carmen, you really need to think about it. Most of your big living expenses like rent, utilities, groceries, etc will almost certainly need to be paid in pesos. Pesos are the Mexican currency, learn more about pesos here.  They come in paper bill denominations of 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000. Coins come in of 5, 10, 20, and 50 cent (centavo) pieces; and 1, 5, 10, 20 peso pieces.  To see pictures of all Mexican paper bills and coins, click here.

Bathrooms and toilet paper

One of the first words we learned when we decided to visit Mexico was baño (bathroom).  Let's face it, being in a foreign county and not knowing the most basic words is a real challenge.  We know what you're thinking...learn the basics like hello, goodbye, thank you, etc.  Nope, that's not what we wanted to learn.  We wanted to learn how to read, recognize and say the word BATHROOM in Spanish.  So between our Spanish/English dictionary and the Spanish websites we frequented, we learned the word baño.

¿Hablas español?

So we are moving to Mexico in just over a month...with all the research and preparations, learning a new language seems to have slipped through the cracks.  However, it's never to late to get started. A plus for us is that in Playa del Carmen, in the heart of tourist-heavy Riviera Maya, most locals understand at least a little English; and some can communicate in English quite well.  

Are there Cooties in the water?

One of the big fears when going to Mexico is "are there cooties in the water that will make me sick"?   We've all heard the horror stories of "Montezuma's Revenge" when drinking water in Mexico.  The "cooties" are things like bacteria, viruses, and parasites.  Water (and food) in less developed countries does tend to have more cooties than in the United States.  

Our Visit to the Mexican Consulate Office in Washington, D.C.

A few weeks after getting back from our vacation/research trip to Playa del Carmen, Mexico,  it was time to move on to the next step; understanding the legal processes and requirements of going to another country as a resident versus a tourist.