Steve and Elaine Matthews
Status: Couple
Employed or Retired: Retired
Where are you living now / where are you from: Southaven Miss. Outside of Memphis Tn.
Timeframe for a move: November – December 2015
Where else are you considering: Volcan Panama, Pedesa Panama, Penonome Panama, Playa Del Carmen Mexico
Why Vallarta: Beauty of Vallarta Possibility of driving instead of flying. Cost of housing and Ease of Pet transport.
How can ExPats in Vallarta assist you: Has anyone from the group driven from the states? Are there hotels along the way that accommadate pets? How are the Vets in that area? Wife has never been that and wonders about the beaches. Are there communities with Villas and condos with all the amenities? Do you move furniture from the states or just buy when you get there? As you see, we have a lot of questions.
Panama was my first choice because of ease of currency and banking but having been to Vallarta and weighting the options we are both getting excited about it. Thank you for any input. Steve and Elaine
Steve & Elaine, you have picked the right spot. We are transplanted Californians. We have lived her 12 years and would never return to live in the U.S. We are missionaries and teach English in an orphanage, a social Services boys home and a high school in a fishing village. We are very knowledgeable about many issues and I am considered a great networking source. I am the Chaplain for the American Legion Post #14 in PV.
We have driven many times from California to Mexico and back. But you probably be entering from Texas which we have also done. The best advise is to travel only on autopista’s (toll roads) during the daytime hours only. Most hotels will accept dogs but may charge a little. Notice I didn’t say motels. Motels while cheaper and clean are normally used by the Mexican men to take their mistresses or order in prostitutes. But the advantage is they normally are two story with a automatic garage underneath which is a positive to protect your possessions and we have used them.
We left most of our possessions i.e. Furniture in the states. We rented for a year then bought a home. My e-mail is fstphoen@juno.com or HisWillHisWayMinistriespv@gmail.com. My MagicJack telephone is 707-225-6451. Please send me your questions and I will respond. If you are concerned know that I am a retired California Highway Patrol Officer and can verify that through the U.S. Consular Agent Kelly Trainor in Nayarit, Mexico.
My husband and I also live in Southaven, MS We are going to Puerto Vallarta in January. We are thinking of retiring there in 2016. Have you found anything you recommend regarding moving?
Cathy, not sure what you mean. There are moving companies. You will need to make a list of all the items and a guess at their value and then they tax you on the value. You are better off selling your stuff in the states and buying stuff in Mexico. You can buy just beautiful furniture in Tonala or Tlaquepacque where the factories are located near Guadalajara. And I mean really high quality beautiful stuff at very reasonable prices. Hope that helps. Use Google and research on line.