Kathleen Russell
Status: Single
Employed or Retired: Retired
Where are you living now / where are you from: I am currently in Seattle readjusting to life ashore after four years sailing the Pacific.
Timeframe for a move: I expect to make a trips before October 2014 to check out some neighborhoods and look at rentals then plan a pemanent move around January of 2015.
Where else are you considering: No where
Why Vallarta: I spent 18 months living in Mexico while cruising aboard my 44 ft sailboat and the PV and La Cruz area was my absolute favorite. So, now retired at 53 and single it sounded like the perfect time to look at becoming part of the PV expat community. I know it will be a very different experience for me without a partner but with a brush up on my Spanish and the companionship of my dog I think it will be a perfect fit. I can’t wait to begin meeting a whole new group of friends and to have the opportunity to experience a side of PV that I missed while I was busy concentrating on getting the sailing side of Mexico.
How can ExPats in Vallarta assist you: Though I know the general area well I don’t have any idea which neighborhoods I might want to focus on so any insight would be appreciated.
Hi Kathleen,
My name is Trenie and I also am retired and single. I moved here in December of 2013. I had been visiting for the last 25 years. I now live at the N. end of Puerto Vallarta and like my choice of a rental very much but have decided to move South of Old town with a beautiful view on a cliff. I have been told that you can often see the orcas and other ocean life from the apt. . So then of course I am giving up spacious living conditions.
I have looked at many apts. prior to deciding on the one that I will be moving into Oct. 1st. After checking out many choices I have determined that you do not get “everything” in a rental that you are hoping for. I have found that craigslist is a good place to start. North and the East part of town you get more (somewhat) for your buck. El Centro is a bit more close to the Malcon and the busyness of a city and less $$ back into the hill area unless of course the view is “spectacular”. I have chosen for this coming winter to move to Mismloya, a small area South of town. Old town is a wonderful place to be in the middle of all the action but often noisy in the late evenings due to the many clubs and tourists. These apt”s are often more expensive since everything is at your finger tips.
So again I say, it is all in where your priorities lie.
1. Fun, and great restaurants, shopping, right outside your front door…………………………..Old Town
2. Walking distance to all the town has to offer and at times a view of the ocean………….El Centro
3. More for your buck (so to speak), on a bus line and Costcos etc……………………………….North and East
4. Great views of the ocean and a bit “out there” with a short bus ride into Old Town…..Mismaloya
5. The Marina district is N. of town and a 15 min. bus ride…………………………………………….Marina
Now of course none of this is in stone, there are exceptions to all places but this give you a “general idea”. I would be happy to meet you when you arrive and give you some insight of what I have learned which is truly “the tip of the iceberg”. Sometimes it is fun when trying to make choices to have a second opinion. I will be renting my 3bd. 3 ba. house until Oct. 1, 2014 and you are welcome to stay with me for a few days to get your bearings of the area or there is two inexpensive hotels in Old Town. They are both under $60.00 per night and may be a bit less due to this being the low season for tourists. The website for Yasmin is hotelyasminpv@gmail.com. I do not know the other one off the top of my head but with your request I see to it that I will get it to you. Hotel yasmin is more “quaint” with the other one having a great view of the area. They are across the street from each other and in Old Town. I like both of them. My email is gpenrod@comcast.net. Also one more thing, about 2 or 3 weeks ago I wrote a paragraph to the expats paper of how I determined came to the conclusion of choosing PV as my retirement home. You may check that out to learn a bit more about me.
Hope things work out to your liking and I love it here, Trenie