want to move to playa

dina4448 · 06-05-2006

hey there, my name is dina and this is the first forum I have joined. I am from Chicago and I visited Playa for the first time about 3 weeks ago and fell in love. With Playa that is. Genuine people, beautiful weather, delicious food and good music

who wouldn't fall in love. With all that said I am considering moving there. i travel a lot throughout the caribean and i have never felt so comfortable and welcomed before. i have been researching on the web on places to rent in playa and i am having no luck. I was hoping I can get some tips, anything would be helpful.
thanks and i look forwar do to meeting some new people

myhappyplace2 · 06-05-2006

Well shoot I thought this was an ad. I want to move to Playa 2!

Michele · 06-05-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by dina4448

hey there, my name is dina and this is the first forum I have joined. I am from Chicago and I visited Playa for the first time about 3 weeks ago and fell in love. With Playa that is. Genuine people, beautiful weather, delicious food and good music

who wouldn't fall in love. With all that said I am considering moving there. i travel a lot throughout the caribean and i have never felt so comfortable and welcomed before. i have been researching on the web on places to rent in playa and i am having no luck. I was hoping I can get some tips, anything would be helpful.
thanks and i look forwar do to meeting some new people

Hola and welcome to the forum. Obviously, there are MANY things to consider when making a plan to move, especially to a foreign country. I am assuming you have done some of that already because you have found Playa.info.

This site will prove to be an invaluable source of information and support before, during and after your big move.
To answer your question about housing.....you will most likely NOT be able to secure long-term housing in Playa via the internet. What you can do is reach out to several real estate agents in this area who will have an idea of what is available to rent. That being said, most brokers offices are only going to be handling rentals in a certain $$$$$ price range. If you are looking for something less expensive, you are going to have to do some foot-work here. If you can make a special trip down here just to secure an apartment, great. If not, plan on staying in a cheapy hotel for a few weeks while you pound the pavement. It will not be hard to find a place to live as long as you are realistic about price and location. FYI... you will not be living on the beach for $500 a month.

If you would like to PM me your specific $$ I can give you some more specific help. Any other questions...just post them right here. Good luck.

Oh...I almost forgot. There have been a lot of previous discussions on the forum about moving to Playa. If you give the search function a workout, you will find heaps of pertinent information.

dina4448 · 06-07-2006

michele thanks for your response. i guess i am looking at spending anywhere from $600-$800 a month. does that sound right? i don't need anything fancy. i guess it will also depend on the job that i get. i am coming to visit july 2nd and will be there for a couple of days. i am going to try to do some foot work and see what is available. any suggestions on where to begin for looking for housing?

synestere · 06-07-2006

It is far from easy to "get a job " in Playa unless you have the correct paperwork /visas etc ...........

claudiadeplaya · 06-07-2006

Hi Dina!
Bienvenida too! Michele is makes very good suggestions I agree with her, I would suggest for that price range of houses once you are here, you get a copy of a small magazine that is printed every two weeks called Andale! They have a large classified section with home rentals, a good area to look for is Quintas del Carmen, if you are lucky, you can still find a 2 bedroom for 6500 or arrownd that price range, if you look in Ejido you can find some for 4000 or little more.
I hope this helps you a bit if you want feel free to contact me too should you need any more information, regarding schools, jobs, doctors, or anything I can help with...
So welcome to Playa, we are all new here!

popeye · 06-07-2006

OR you can PM me, I have a new place ready to rent IF it's in your price range. I agree w/ all that's been said. Big step, be careful, wise and good luck in whatever you choose.

SarahB · 06-08-2006

Hi Diina! $600-800 for rent a month is about right. You'll just need to do what Michele and Claudia said about grabbing Andale and spending hours walking around looking for "Se Renta" signs. They go up and down so, so quickly. Do absolutely as much research as possible before you leave. I'm sure you've read that it's a different world living here than vacationing. Kinda the rule of thumb is to come with at least funds for living 6 months without work. Good luck!

SarahB · 06-08-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by myhappyplace2

Well shoot I thought this was an ad. I want to move to Playa 2!

I want you to too!

synestere · 06-08-2006

You can rent for as long as you can afford and your visa permits .............. work is a different matter . IMHO
Get real peeps , is it that easy .............

PlayadelSoul · 06-08-2006

synestre is dead on, IMHO. Finding a job, as a foreigner, is difficult. You need to specialize in something that is not found in the Mexican working population. The amount of money you are planning to spend for rent is on the high end, unless you have some savings you want to burn through, real quickly. If you do find a job, it will probably not pay anywhere near the amount you would need to pay that kind of rent.

A common error made by people moving to this area is the idea that they can live like they are on vacation. Most of us working stiffs do split shifts, work 6 days a week, and rarely see the beach. My advice is that one should not make the move based solely on location. You need to research as much as possible and be ready for some huge changes in lifestyle. It is a great place to live, but rarely for the reasons one thinks of before they make the move.

Some of the most common jobs for foreigners are teachers (figure 8,000 pesos a month), entertainment staff (5000) or timeshare sales (0-who knows?). As synestre said, it is not easy. In fact, these days, it is a little more than difficult. If you have any questions, please feel free to PM me.

**Anna** · 06-08-2006

PlayadelSoul brings up some good points. Having lived here for almost a decade now, I can't tell you how many people I've seen come and go within a few months, once they realize that they can't have AC and rib eye on the money they'll make here. Many people working in the service/tourist industry go back to having room mates and riding a bike. A tiny studio can easily cost 500 usd which may very well eat half your salary. Be VERY frugal with money, and count on a few months before you get a job, get your papers sorted out (which you'll most probably have to pay for yourself) and start earning money.

Davev · 06-08-2006

Really, unless you have a massive bank account, I think these people are right on the money(pardon the pun). Probably better off working your tail off in the states, saving your $$ and going down to play as much as you can. It's kind of the opposite of moving to a ski town out west(which I've done), where jobs are plentiful, but lodging is difficult to find and very expensive.

Ginger · 06-08-2006

I think the best preparation for someone wanting to move to Playa is to get a simple, low paying job at home (think waitress, hotel, etc.) move into a studio apt., sell off most of your belongings, live on a meager budget, sell your car and only bike everywhere.

If you can accomplish this at home, then maybe you'll be prepared to attmpt it in Playa while undergoing the culture shock of another nation, different climate, different foods, different society and way of doing things.

JEZ · 06-08-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by dina4448

hey there, my name is dina and this is the first forum I have joined. I am from Chicago and I visited Playa for the first time about 3 weeks ago and fell in love. With Playa that is. Genuine people, beautiful weather, delicious food and good music

who wouldn't fall in love. With all that said I am considering moving there. i travel a lot throughout the caribean and i have never felt so comfortable and welcomed before. i have been researching on the web on places to rent in playa and i am having no luck. I was hoping I can get some tips, anything would be helpful.
thanks and i look forwar do to meeting some new people

Hi!

It is difficult, and all the above points are well meant and true. However a whole lot of us have done it, (I have been here over three years) and so it is clearly not impossible.

Good luck and I hope to see you living here with us soon!

JEZ

06-05-2006	#1 (permalink)
dina4448 sandflea Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: chicago Posts: 9	want to move to playa hey there, my name is dina and this is the first forum I have joined. I am from Chicago and I visited Playa for the first time about 3 weeks ago and fell in love. With Playa that is. Genuine people, beautiful weather, delicious food and good music who wouldn't fall in love. With all that said I am considering moving there. i travel a lot throughout the caribean and i have never felt so comfortable and welcomed before. i have been researching on the web on places to rent in playa and i am having no luck. I was hoping I can get some tips, anything would be helpful. thanks and i look forwar do to meeting some new people Last edited by dina4448 : 06-05-2006 at 09:14 AM.

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06-05-2006	#2 (permalink)
myhappyplace2 añejo Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: The big D with some other kool peeps> Posts: 2,708	Well shoot I thought this was an ad. I want to move to Playa 2!

06-07-2006	#4 (permalink)
dina4448 sandflea Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: chicago Posts: 9	michele thanks for your response. i guess i am looking at spending anywhere from $600-$800 a month. does that sound right? i don't need anything fancy. i guess it will also depend on the job that i get. i am coming to visit july 2nd and will be there for a couple of days. i am going to try to do some foot work and see what is available. any suggestions on where to begin for looking for housing?

06-07-2006	#5 (permalink)
synestere añejo Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Playa del Carmen Posts: 2,047	It is far from easy to "get a job " in Playa unless you have the correct paperwork /visas etc ...........

06-07-2006	#6 (permalink)
claudiadeplaya life=playa Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Playa Posts: 755	Hi Dina! Bienvenida too! Michele is makes very good suggestions I agree with her, I would suggest for that price range of houses once you are here, you get a copy of a small magazine that is printed every two weeks called Andale! They have a large classified section with home rentals, a good area to look for is Quintas del Carmen, if you are lucky, you can still find a 2 bedroom for 6500 or arrownd that price range, if you look in Ejido you can find some for 4000 or little more. I hope this helps you a bit if you want feel free to contact me too should you need any more information, regarding schools, jobs, doctors, or anything I can help with... So welcome to Playa, we are all new here!

06-07-2006	#7 (permalink)
popeye life=playa Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Midwest USA Posts: 775	OR you can PM me, I have a new place ready to rent IF it's in your price range. I agree w/ all that's been said. Big step, be careful, wise and good luck in whatever you choose.

06-08-2006	#8 (permalink)
SarahB añejo Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Playa...now Iowa Posts: 2,897	Hi Diina! $600-800 for rent a month is about right. You'll just need to do what Michele and Claudia said about grabbing Andale and spending hours walking around looking for "Se Renta" signs. They go up and down so, so quickly. Do absolutely as much research as possible before you leave. I'm sure you've read that it's a different world living here than vacationing. Kinda the rule of thumb is to come with at least funds for living 6 months without work. Good luck!

06-08-2006	#10 (permalink)
synestere añejo Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Playa del Carmen Posts: 2,047	You can rent for as long as you can afford and your visa permits .............. work is a different matter . IMHO Get real peeps , is it that easy .............

06-08-2006	#11 (permalink)
PlayadelSoul añejo Join Date: May 2005 Location: We'll know when we get there, We'll find mercy Posts: 8,962	synestre is dead on, IMHO. Finding a job, as a foreigner, is difficult. You need to specialize in something that is not found in the Mexican working population. The amount of money you are planning to spend for rent is on the high end, unless you have some savings you want to burn through, real quickly. If you do find a job, it will probably not pay anywhere near the amount you would need to pay that kind of rent. A common error made by people moving to this area is the idea that they can live like they are on vacation. Most of us working stiffs do split shifts, work 6 days a week, and rarely see the beach. My advice is that one should not make the move based solely on location. You need to research as much as possible and be ready for some huge changes in lifestyle. It is a great place to live, but rarely for the reasons one thinks of before they make the move. Some of the most common jobs for foreigners are teachers (figure 8,000 pesos a month), entertainment staff (5000) or timeshare sales (0-who knows?). As synestre said, it is not easy. In fact, these days, it is a little more than difficult. If you have any questions, please feel free to PM me.

06-08-2006	#12 (permalink)
Anna top babe admin Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: after 10 wonderful years in Playa, now back in Sweden Posts: 2,951	PlayadelSoul brings up some good points. Having lived here for almost a decade now, I can't tell you how many people I've seen come and go within a few months, once they realize that they can't have AC and rib eye on the money they'll make here. Many people working in the service/tourist industry go back to having room mates and riding a bike. A tiny studio can easily cost 500 usd which may very well eat half your salary. Be VERY frugal with money, and count on a few months before you get a job, get your papers sorted out (which you'll most probably have to pay for yourself) and start earning money.

06-08-2006	#13 (permalink)
Davev life=playa Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Greater Nerakistan Posts: 703	Really, unless you have a massive bank account, I think these people are right on the money(pardon the pun). Probably better off working your tail off in the states, saving your $$ and going down to play as much as you can. It's kind of the opposite of moving to a ski town out west(which I've done), where jobs are plentiful, but lodging is difficult to find and very expensive.

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06-08-2006	#14 (permalink)
Ginger none Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 10,162	I think the best preparation for someone wanting to move to Playa is to get a simple, low paying job at home (think waitress, hotel, etc.) move into a studio apt., sell off most of your belongings, live on a meager budget, sell your car and only bike everywhere. If you can accomplish this at home, then maybe you'll be prepared to attmpt it in Playa while undergoing the culture shock of another nation, different climate, different foods, different society and way of doing things.