Laurieanne Lynne and Marv Wickstrom

Employed or Retired?   Recently retired, and doing part time consulting via telecommute

Single, couple, family?  Couple

Where did you live previously?  Calgary, Alberta, Canada for many years and still have property there. We now live in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada in summer.

When did you move to Vallarta?  November 2011.

What part of town do you live?  Mismaloya & South Bay

Why did you decide to move?  As much as we love Canada, we don’t love winter – at least not for months at a time. A warm climate was a must for us.

Where else did you consider? We researched popular destinations in Canada, US, Central America and Mexico, but did not think they offered the advantages of PV in terms of affordability, walk-ability, a warm and mostly stable climate, the ocean, jungle and mountains, excellent dining and arts, enjoyable local culture and more. We have been to other places in Mexico but like PV best.

What were your consideration?  We, along with various friends and family, had been coming to PV since the early 1990s and enjoyed it every time. We like the Mexican people and learning about their way of life. We find them to be very kind and friendly.  We knew several Canadians and Americans who had purchased condos in PV and wintered there for many years and liked it very much.  Direct flights to and from PV so it is an easy quick trip  Affordability of beautiful ocean side property for very reasonable prices, esp with low interest rates and the Canadian dollar near or over par

Scenery – beautiful ocean, mountain, and jungle views everywhere as well as the quaintness of the Old Town

English is widely spoken – although we are attempting to learn Spanish, it will be a long time before we are fluent so it was important to us to find a doctor, dentist, lawyer, etc. fluent in English

The array of restaurants, bars, lounges and different cuisines at every price point. Beer for example is very inexpensive

Transportation is easy. You don’t really need a car. Taxis are everywhere and very reasonable. Busses are everywhere too and they are really cheap

The array of healthy fresh fruits and vegetables – very inexpensive especially if you shop in local markets or fruit stands

The large expat population of Canadians and Americans who reside or winter in PV on a long term basis was very reassuring

The variety of interesting, affordable day trips and overnight trips to colonial towns, major cities and interesting places that are available

What was the main reason(s) you moved here?   Warm climate, affordable, great food, safe, easy to get around, friendly people, interesting culture, strong arts scene.

Top 3 things you have learned that you think might help someone moving to Vallarta now?

•  Safety – we find PV, and Mexico in general, to be very safe, and so have most people we have met. We have never personally encountered any danger or felt unsafe. Aside from taking the usual sensible precautions that we would take in any city, we come and go as we please in PV and elsewhere in Mexico.
• The people (both Mexican and expats) are almost always friendly, helpful and kind. English is widely spoken
• Affordable – depending on where you choose to live/dine etc. you can live very well on relatively little — or you can live very lavishly if you choose.