Travel to Playa Del Carmen, Mexico
After our cruise, on September 6, we made our way from the Orlando airport to Cancun on JetBlue. It’s always a good flight on JetBlue. We have flown them a few times and have had good experiences. The seats are comfortable, they have been efficient, and they still serve snacks and drinks that you don’t have to pay for. Not to mention the free WiFi! You still have to pay extra to check a bag but unlike airlines in Southeast Asia, there is not a weight restriction for the carry-on luggage - just a size restriction that they don’t check even before you get on the plane like many low-cost carriers do.
I was always curious about the merger (that didn’t happen) of JetBlue and Spirit. I know they are both low-cost carriers but they are very different vibes; very different products. I did wonder if Spirit would rise up to JetBlue or if JetBlue would lower their quality to Spirit if the merger was approved. I guess we will never know now.
We arrived in Cancun and took the ADO bus to Playa del Carmen. When I first heard about taking a bus in Mexico, I thought it was going to be some dirty old bus having seats with bad springs and the occasional goat and locals carrying chickens. That is not the case. It is a comfortable bus with comfy seats and TV screens playing a movie. The movies are usually American movies dubbed in Spanish so i
t’s not so easy for me to follow unless I have seen the movie before. But it is some entertainment.
We made it to our VRBO apartment with no issues, walking the last part of the way from the bus station. It got a little hot toward the end of the walk. But this is where traveling light has a benefit. While we ARE lugging (I always say I am a pack mule when we do this), it is not overwhelmingly difficult since there is not much to lug.
Our Accommodations
This was our first time using VRBO. The fact that we do not like this place is probably my fault. Blaise wanted to stay at an AirBnB where we have stayed before. That place was clean and in a fairly new building with a lovely rooftop pool area. I did not want to book that place because there is only one window in the place and very little natural light. In hindsight, I should have agreed to it, but I didn’t. The devil you know, right? A lesson I have learned again.
This is the first time in our travels where I have felt misled by the pictures. As well as the description. The name of the place has the word “stunning” in it and if it was ever stunning, that was a very long time ago. But based on the quality of the workmanship inside the apartment, I’m thinking it was never stunning.
That is really all I am going to say about it. I feel like I have spent a chunk of time lately on this blog bitching about stuff and no one wants to hear that. I am trying to keep it real without whining which is a hard line to walk.
Our Time In Playa Del Carmen
We are essentially living here until I can complete the permanent residency process. My appointment was scheduled for Monday, September 28. I was told by the facilitator before the appointment that after that first appointment, it could take 1 ½ to 2 ½ more weeks to complete the “bio-metrics” portion of the effort.
We are hoping we finish early so we can be on our way to the next destination.
In the meantime, we have a general routine. We get up and go for coffee and breakfast in the morning and take a walk. We stay in during the day since we seem to be, yet again, on the surface of the sun. Then in the evening, we take a walk coupling that with dinner and/or a trip to the grocery store.
We do not have a vehicle here so we walk everywhere. There is not much that is interesting to write about. We have already seen all the things - cenotes, Mayan ruins, Cozumel… It is not my favorite place outside of seeing those things. It is very touristy and the sargassum (free-floating brown seaweed) on the beach is an ongoing problem even with the preventative measures they have taken. They clean up the beach in the mornings, piling up the sargassum, but it doesn’t get picked up and trucked out until later in the morning and early afternoon so you have unsightly stinky mounds of it for the chunk of the day during which we are interested in going to beach. So we don’t go. We have only been to the beach twice.
We have found some great local spots for breakfast and eating as well as our grocery store.
It will be four weeks this coming Monday that we have been here. When we first got here, we were lucky if we walked two miles a day. The humid heat took us some time to acclimate to. I would not say we are completely acclimated, but at least we are up to walking between four to five miles a day. More than five maybe once a week and less than four about once a week.
Changes In Playa Del Carmen
There have been a couple of changes in Playa del Carmen since we were here last. First is the cost of everything. It used to be, the cost of things here was much less than back home. That is not the case anymore. While it is not as expensive as home these days, the price gap is much smaller and in some cases, things cost the same as home. If you are thinking you are going to come here, live, and save money, you really won’t anymore.
This is odd to me because it feels like the place is dying, tourist-wise. Used to be, you would walk down 5th Avenue (the busy pedestrian walking area) on a Friday night and it would be packed with people. That is not the case. Many businesses are shuttered and the flow of people is sparse. I wonder if the price of everything is so high in hopes of making up for the loss of tourist volume. It is my lay opinion that if they don’t do better solving the sargassum issue and lowering the prices, people will just stop coming here. It looks like that has already started.
Another really odd thing we noticed is a greeting change. While you still hear “hola” and “buenos dias,” you now have “bom dia.” What is that about? “Bom dia” is Portuguese. We did not expect to hear that here at all. The last time we were here (three years ago) you didn’t hear that. Of course, I had to Google why this would be. Google says, and I have no idea if it is true, that there has been an influx of immigrants from Brazil, particularly Rio de Janeiro, to Playa del Carmen.
Major Benefit In Playa Del Carmen
One benefit here in Playa del Carmen (and it is significant for me, is that I found a pharmacy which sells my hot flash medication (Veozah) without a prescription and at a decent price. In Texas, I used to be able to use a coupon that reduced the price of the medication from roughly $600 a month to $30 a month. However, I recently changed my health insurance and have no prescription insurance, thus I am ineligible for the coupon. In my head, I cannot justify $600 a month even though it is a huge quality of life changer for me. Why I am nine years past menopause and still getting horrible hot flashes and night sweats, I do not know. (And what is up with getting pimples at my age?!) But $600 a month? It is just too much. I guess I was poor for too long in my younger years to be able to justify that kind of money.
BUT - here, I only pay $80 for a month’s supply. For that, I will hoard it while I am here. I feel like one of those prescription drug addicts shopping at multiple pharmacies and doctors to get their fix. In my defense, it is prescribed to me in the U.S. and I take it as prescribed. And I get my blood-work done as recommended to make sure it’s not affecting my liver function.
***Rant Warning***
(Feel free to skip the rant, but I am getting it out)
I would not have to hoard it in Mexico if the U.S. medical, health insurance, and prescription drug system wasn’t so messed up. I have done my research regarding the cost and availability of this drug in other parts of the world. In most countries outside of the U.S. where it is available/approved, the monthly cost ranges between $65 and $85. The highest I found outside the United States is $120. All way more manageable than the $600 in the U.S. Yes, I understand why - it is still under patent. I remember that class in law school. I call bullshit! If you can sell it for so much less outside of the U.S., then why not in the U.S? Let’s screw the Americans because we can? Yes, I know we are the richest country in the world and some of us might be able to afford more than others in other countries. I get it. But $600 a month is cost prohibitive for 95% (or more!) of those in the U.S.
This drug is the only thing that has worked for me. I have tried all the over-the-counter options and many herbal remedies. None of them helped. My gynecologist says due to my family history of breast cancer, I should not do hormone replacement or options that have estrogen or progesterone. Veozah is it. It truly is a quality-of-life-changer for me. Not only does it almost completely eliminate hot flashes and night sweats, but I run less hot when I take it, thus my heat tolerance is much better.
***Rant Over***
Immigration Appointment on September 28
My first appointment to finalize permanent residency happened on Monday, September 28 (two days ago). This happens at the Instituto Nacional de Migracion (National Institute of Migration - INM for short). The office is about a 25 minute walk from our apartment.
We (I say we but I really mean we - Blaise just came along for the ride) had to meet the facilitator in her office at 10:45. I had an appointment at 11:30 to change my address at the INM office which is right around the corner from the facilitator’s office and another one at 12:30 for the permanent residency.
I did not have to go to the INM office at 11:30 for the address change; the facilitator handled that for me. So we just stayed in her office until it was time to walk over for the 12:30 appointment.
When I was in the facilitator’s office before the meetings, I signed all the documents, and was given an overview of what to expect at the INM office at 12:30. I was told that at the end of the appointment I would be told one of two things. If I was told to wait outside, I was going to get my bio-metrics done that day, get my permanent residency card, and I would be finished with the process. Or I would be told I was done for the day and would have to wait for an e-mail that would tell me when to come back for the “bio-metric” portion to complete the process. Usually you get the e-mail the day before you are to come in for the bio-metrics. When I asked what determines if I complete everything that day or if I would have to wait, she told me it depended on what agent I got. While waiting to go to the INM office, I was encouraged because a couple came back from the INM office to the facilitator’s office to wait because they were told to come back at 1:30 for their bio-metrics.
At 12:20 the facilitator walked me over to the INM office. I waited outside (yes, outside in the oppressive heat - at least it is a covered area) in a seating area for my name to be called to go inside. I was called inside at about 12:25 (five minutes early). I had to sign in. It looks like one of those guest books you find at various landmarks and tourist places around the world, where you put your name and country. Here I had to add the date and time of the visit. So I did that and sat down and waited again for my name to be called. The inside was comfortably air conditioned. I was sitting there for maybe two minutes before my name was called. I should mention that once you are inside, you are on your own. The facilitator must wait outside so that is why she gave me an overview of the process when we were in her office.
Keep in mind, everything in the INM office is done in Spanish. My Spanish is limited. Blaise is the one learning Spanish. I am learning Italian since we love Italy and hope to spend more time there. (Side bar: Did you know that learning a new language can delay cognitive decline and potentially delay the onset of dementia and Alzheimer's when you are older?)
So I struggled through the Spanish catching enough bits here and there to do as I was told. I paid my fees and was then told I would receive an e-mail telling me when to come back for the bio-metrics and to get my card. The facilitator told me this would be anywhere from 2 days to 1 ½ weeks but likely the latter. I guess that is better than the original potential 2 ½ weeks.
So, I wait.
Cost Breakdown
How much did all of this cost, this time around (not including the last two visits for the temporary residency)? Here’s the breakdown (USD conversions are as of today):
Facilitator Fee: 9,000 pesos ($498.01 USD)
Bank Statement Translation: 600 pesos ($33.20 USD)
INM Reception Fee: 1,847 pesos ($102.20 USD)
INM Permanent Residency Fee: 13,578 pesos ($751.33 USD)
For an all-in total of $1,384.74. This is way higher than what we paid when Blaise got his permanent residency. I don’t remember exactly how much it was but I certainly do not remember it being this much.
And no, I have no idea what that reception fee is for.
Is this all worth it? I don’t know. I just know we have put so much time and effort into this process up to this point, it doesn’t sit right to just let it go, especially since Blaise has his permanent residency already. Also, even though living in Mexico for even part of the year is less appealing to us than it used to be, it never is a bad thing to have options.
Final Playa Del Carmen Analysis
Not every place we go can be a home run or an exciting place. Sometimes it just is what it is and you make the best of it. I am ready to move on to the next destination.
Roadmap of Future Travels
We have some pretty exciting stuff coming up - on this trip and another trip we will begin next June. Some of this is booked but much of it is not.
South America
The only thing we have booked past Playa del Carmen thus far is a cruise to return to the United States, leaving on March 10 of next year. It will be an Azamara cruise from San Antonio Chile through the Panama Canal ending in Miami. We booked that in the last month as an alternative to a long flight back home.
Once we are done in Playa del Carmen, we add a new country to our growing list of countries visited and head to Peru to check a place off the bucket list - Machu Picchu.
Recently, it has come to our attention that some do not know what Machu Picchu is. Fair enough. Briefly, it is a 15th-century Inca citadel in the Andes mountains. I think many know the place by the picture but might not know what it is called.
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| Machu Picchu |
During the time in Lima, we hope to see another location on Blaise’s list - the Nazca Lines. I did not know what this was until Blaise told me. It is a collection of giant ancient drawings on the earth located in a desert in Peru. Blaise must really want to see them because you have to view them from the sky in a plane and he is not a fan of heights.
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| Another one of the Nazca Lines |
After Bolivia, we may go to Buenos Aires, Argentina, it really depends on when we leave Playa del Carmen, which is still up in the air since I don’t have my permanent residency card yet.
Our last stop before hopping on the cruise on March 10, will be the Mendoza region of Argentina where we hope to meet up with friends there. Mendoza is Argentina’s wine region so it is kinda their version of the Napa Valley. Part of the time there should be during harvest season so I am hoping my friend and I can channel our inner Lucy and Ethel and stomp some grapes. That is how I picture it in my mind.
Our Cruise out of San Antonio, Chile leaves on March 10, ending in Miami on March 29. Our stops are as follows:
- Coquimbo, Chile
- Iquique, Chile
- Arica, Chile
- Pisco, Peru
- Callao (Lima), Peru
- Panama City (remember we got quarantined here for 10 days back in 2022)
- Panama Canal (this will be our second trip through the canal)
- Puerto Limon, Costa Rica
- Isla San Andres, Colombia
- Cozumel, Mexico
While we have been to Chile, all the stops in Chile will be new to us as well as Pisco, Peru and Isla San Andres, Columbia.
We have wanted to spend some time in South America and while this does not hit all the spots we want to visit, it is a good start. With any luck, we will return to South America.
We will spend about 2 ½ months home before we head back out again. During this time, we will celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary and both our nieces as they graduate from an Occupational Therapy doctoral program and nursing school (Boomer Sooner). We are so very proud of them!
Europe
On June 10, we will leave again for a long trip. This time we are heading to Europe via an Azamara cruise from Miami ending in Tilbury (London), England on June 28.
This will be another great itinerary with a stop in the U.S. at a huge city I have never been to. Of all the places we have visited, it is surprising I have never been there. Can you guess?
Here is the exciting itinerary for that cruise:
- New York City (yep, I have never been! If anyone has an idea of how to spend only one day in NYC, your suggestions are very welcomed. How do you spend just one day there?)
- Newport, Rhode Island (neither of us has been here either)
- Cruise the Cape Cod Canal (I had no idea there was a canal there)
- Boston, MA (Our biggest memory of Boston is Brandon throwing up in the Cheers bar when he was a kid)
- Halifax, Nova Scotia
- St. John’s, Newfoundland (My sister was born in Newfoundland when my dad was stationed at Goose Bay, Labrador but we won’t be anywhere near Goose Bay. This will be my first return to Newfoundland since that time. I am looking forward to this stop for that reason.)
- Cork, Ireland
- Plymouth, England
- Le Havre, France (The hope is to see Normandy Beach!)
Once we disembark in London, we plan on spending time in England, Scotland, and Ireland before beginning a 12-day Gate 1 tour on August 28 leaving out of Helsinki, Finland and visiting Tallinn, Estonia; Riga, Latvia; Vilnius, Lithuania; and Warsaw, Poland.
Why Gate 1? Gate 1 is a very structured itinerary with a bit of free time. I am not sure we are going to like this since we are used to doing our own thing once we are on land but we wanted to give it a try because we are considering something similar in Egypt for safety reasons.
After the Gate 1 tour, everything is fairly open. We hope to spend some time in the Balkan countries and maybe go back to our most favorite country to visit - Italy. We have also talked about going back to Paris since Blaise has not yet been to The Louvre. He was in meetings when I went since I was with him for a portion of a work trip many years back. I had the free time; he did not. And don’t you have to see The Louvre if you can?
In Conclusion
We hope to get the next couple of months scheduled and booked in the next couple of weeks.
I’m thinking I might write next a bit about some of the logistics of traveling like we do - things we bring, things we don’t, and how do we handle certain things. I’m still thinking on it.
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