International Living Community

Hi, I'm Bel, the Mexico Correspondent and this is great timing. I was just speaking to someone from Chapala last week who was telling me about the amazing old Franciscan Chapel in Ajijic that is beautiful and the young man from Ajijic who came back to perform with the 48 piece orchestra - he's studying at Julliard in New York - so there's some lovely culture in the area.
But to answer your question, I'm not sure of your length of stay, budget, or preference of hotel, AirBnB or apartment so I did a quick search and here's a nice mix of all of the above for you to have a look at and see if anything takes your fancy.
It's right next to (3miles) from Chapala so there's plenty to do and see and if you may find something cheaper in Chapala if you don't like anything in Ajijic.
Hope this helps. Cheers, Bel.

Hi Lynne, hola from Mexico.
Yes there are plenty of options for shared living. When I first came to Cozumel I lived in a house where the family still lived for 3 months and it was wonderful. I would recommend checking out Airbnb and looking at rooms in a house, or, joining the expat FAcebook group of where you are interested in living. When you narrow down a town or city, just Google "expats + (the city)" and it will come up with all of the expat groups. All you do is join and ask the question. I'm sure you will get a ton of referals.
Another option is to look up home stays. Or farm stays if that interests you. That way you are helping a local family or business which is lovely as well. Cheers, Bel, Mexico Correspondent.

Hi Pat,
I know there is a beautiful CCRC here in Mexican Caribbean, in Cancun. I spoke to the owners at our big annual Bootcamp in Las Vegas last month and it was also a lot more affordable. The name of the place is Kiosko and here is the link to their website - https://kioskoseniorliving.com/. I hope that helps.
Warm Regards,
Bel Woodhouse - Mexico Correspondent.

Hi everyone,
Welcome one and all I'm Bel the Mexico Correspondent and here to answer any questions you have about living in Mexico. I've been in the Riviera Maya region for seven years and am happy to answer any questions you may have. I promise if I don't know the answer I'll find out! So don't be shy, come say hi.

In Mexico there are several places where you don't need to speak Spanish. Places like the Riviera Maya, Lake Chapala, San Miguelle de Allende, Puerto Vallarta etc where a lot of locals speak English. But it's fun to learn and always appreciated.
Bel - IL Mexico Correspondent.

Hi Mathew,
I'm not sure if anyone has gotten back to you but have you looked at Lake Chapala? It's around 5,000 ft but has a very comfortable climate due it's being nestled next to a lake surrounded by mountains. They say this microclimate is the best in Mexico. Here is more information if you'd like a quick read on this beautiful expat haven.
https://internationalliving.com/countries/mexico/lake-chapala-mexico/

There are plenty of way to rent in Mazatlan. A quick Google search will give you a list of real estates to contact, or you can look on VRBO, AirBnb, or something similar. Another great option is to join the expat Facebook group for Mazatlan and there are plenty of people who live there that can answer your questions and share good real estate agents.
Bel - IL Mexico Correspondent

Hi, I'm Bel the Mexico Correspondent and I was in San Miguel de Allende a couple of months ago. Is this the San Miguel you are referring to? I live in San Miguel de Cozumel, and there are other San Miguel's throughout the country so I just want to check I give you the correct information.
Assuming it's this San Miguel, allow me to put your mind at ease. I went out to the popular expat neighbourhoods outside of the city and they were full of beautiful modern homes and good infrastructure for driving around, close to major shopping malls and quiet. But if mountains aren't your thing, then on both east and west coasts you'll fine lively, fun beach towns and cities with plenty to do and beautiful natural scenery. I would recommend checking out (scroll to the bottom of) our Mexico page which has 43 places listed an there are plenty to choose from depending on the area you'd like to live. You can find that here - https://internationalliving.com/countries/mexico/
Warmest regards, Bel - Mexico Correspondent.

Hi, I'm Bel, the Mexico Correspondent and have lived in Mexico for 8 years so I'm sorry you feel that way. My experience has been nothing but positive, both in day to day life and while traveling through Mexico. My friend and returned yesterday from completing the entire Maya Train route which spans 5 states of Mexico from Quintana Roo in the east to Chiapas in the west and loved the entire trip. People were very friendly and welcoming, in every place we stayed, and as single women no one bothered us at all.
If you notice, we here at IL only recommend safe places with large expat communities. Not the cities or border towns known for high cartel activity. Mexico has 31 states, it's a big country and a lot of it is safe, friendly, beautiful and a joy to live in. I hope this helps with your concerns.
Warm Regards,
Bel - Mexico Correspondent.