As promised here is the blog on money.
What you really have to do is bring cash. What you really don't want to do is rely on getting cash out of a cash machine while in Mexico. Peso's are cheap and cash machines in Mexico give you pesos, not dollars. So if you want a hundred dollars it will give you a THOUSAND pesos. And in addition, you get a slightly better deal when using american dollars anyway.
So how much cash do you need? Well I personally plan for the following, adjust your plan as you feel it applies to you.
Money for the Beach -
Aren't beaches suppose to be free? They are but the awesome thing about the beach is that local vendors roam down the beach all day so that every 15 minutes or so (when it's real busy) you might see a vendor and that vendor might have jewelry (personal favorite), pottery, swimsuit cover-ups, hats, sun glasses, trinkets, tiles, tortilla's, ice cream, horseback rides, or banana boat rides and a plethora of other things to numerous to name. Will you want this stuff? Well, not all of it, but I'm pretty sure you'll want some of it. You can get some nice silver jewelry, like a cool bracelet, for around $10. The kids love the banana boat rides and they are like $2 a kid or something like that. I just plan that I might need around $100 for the beach but honestly, I probably never actually spend that much.
If you go into town you'll want some for shopping there too - it's a lot of the same stuff you see on the beach but just MORE of it.
If we go out to eat I would say that for our whole family of 5 it's around $50? But you can eat cheaper than that if you want at some other places besides the restaurant we usually go to. Ice cream cones are like .50 or so. Mexican coke is around the same price as our coke. (but cheaper than buying Mexican coke here). If you are a non caffeine drinker, Mexican Orange Fanta is awesome!
The people I go with usually bring money for the farmacia (pharmacies). I'm just saying. Don't risk taking non-prescription drugs over the border though - you can get in trouble. BUT if you have a prescription that is costing you more money than you want to pay in the states you can get the EXACT same drug there MUCH cheaper. (most of the drugs you buy in the states are actually manufactured there - all the major drug companies have plants in Mexico) If you are interested in specific costs let me know, I might be able to find out before we get there and let you know. Bring your prescription bottle with you to Mexico if possible unless it's a drug no body cares about. No one's going to put you in jail for carrying lipitor across the border but phentermine is a different story.
Sometimes we buy fresh shrimp off the boats. Delicious! Not too expensive - we can usually feed the whole house for around $30.
Sometimes we run to the grocery store for something we forgot or ran out of - no problem, there are several good grocery stores. Food is slightly cheaper than here.
You can use your bank card or credit card for some things. Gas at the gas station. MOST stores or restaurants but not all of them.
Hopefully that helps you get an idea. Let me know if you have a specific question on money issues.
Next time we'll discuss plans for Sunday while there.
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Las Conchas Sunset
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Senora, Want some Jewelry?
Another of my favorite things about mexico - SHOPPING ON THE BEACH WHILE GETTING A TAN! More on that in a later blog entry, but first -
Kyle and Tammy have written asking about passports. I was worried about this too when I heard about the new law - we've never needed them before. It turns out you still don't need them when traveling into Mexico by car. At least until 2008 and until further notice (they want to make it a law beginning next year but it hasn't actually been enacted yet). If you are flying out of the country you'll need one in Canada or Mexico (and pretty much everywhere else) but driving is no problem (or problemo). Honestly even birth certificates are probably not necessary. Just the drivers license's for the adults should be fine as ID.
Next blog entry I'll address the shopping and the money issues!
Monday, January 22, 2007
Rocky Point Sunset
Sunsets are one of the things I love about Rocky Point.
As promised here are tips for the beach to have the best possible experience. You really need as many swimsuits as possible for your kids. They get wet, they get dry, they change, they don't want to change back into the wet suit, it gets super sandy and dirty and you have to wash it out, they need a different one in the meantime, etc. There are a million reasons why this is true but it is most defintely true. Because we swim so much it is not a big deal for us - the kids already have at least 6 or 7 suits each, but for those who don't have a ton of swimwear already I would highly recommend you not consider anything less than 2 suits per kid. 3 would be better. They don't need tons of clothes because they'll be in their swimsuits most of the time.
Towells, Towells, Towells, Towells, you need A LOT of towells. You cannot imagine how frustrating it is to find every towell you brought is full of sand and/or damp. There are towells in the house which I highly recommend stay in the house. But for the beach you need a minimum of 2 towells per member of your family. 3 is better!
I also highly recommend buying swim socks. Target usually starts to carry them right about now - if not now, then in the next few weeks they'll be getting them. They are also known as water socks. Every member of your family should have some (ESPECIALLY the younger kids), they are basically essential. This is the only way to save your feet on the rocks and sand.
Toys for the beach - obviously the usual sand toys are always fun, beach balls that can be blown up when you get there, boogy boards if you have them, or anything of that nature keep the kids happy for hours.
All this talk of swim suits, sand and water reminds me - CHAFFING is a problem ALWAYS. Bring something to help treat it because your kids are definitely going to need it about day 2.
I love Rocky Point and I'm getting really excited about going this year!
Write in comments with any new questions you have.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
MexicoShade & Beach Instructions and Answers
When you come to the blog with questions please leave a comment and we will try to answer. Chances are that more than one person may have the same question and so this is a simple way to answer everything. Kyle and Tammy left a comment/question on the frequently asked questions entry regarding bedding and we answered the question there - Monika had different questions in a different entry and I answered her there - it's a bit cumbersome for now but hopefully it will all make sense. I'll make sure to add a new entry with a bunch of the new questions answered every few days or so as they accumulate. In the meantime check to see if an entry has comments and read the comments. (you just click on comments for those who do not understand...) Also if you have trouble accessing all the blog entries use the right hand bar where they are each listed seperately and click on each one. Kirk had trouble when he tried to get to the ones not visible on the first page by clicking on the 'older posts' option at the bottom of the page, but had no trouble when using the side bar.
Tune in next time for an entry regarding towells/swimwear/beachtoys and any other questions you guys have come up with in the meantime!
By the way, the photo in this entry shows the expanse of a small portion of Las Conchas beach which is the beach where we will be staying, the shade thing is a palm shade that is in front of our beach house - the kids sleep under it at night sometimes (the older kids). In the daytime it's a good place to find shade.
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Rocky Point Mexico Beach
The reason this is such an awesome place to stay - a to die for beach. pristine, clean and gorgeous!
Villa del Ensueno in Rocky Point Mexico
One of the bedrooms. They all look similar, all with their own bathrooms.
Villa del Ensueno RockyPointVacationHomes.com
The living room and the second living room with the television visible in the background. Through the door is the courtyard and behind the chairs going the other directions is the patio and the beach below.
Villa del Ensueno Puerto Penasco Mexico
This is part of the porte cochere under which you park outside.
Villa del Ensueno in Rocky Point Mexico
This is the courtyard of the house where we'll be staying. All the bedrooms can be accessed from this courtyard and it also links to the front room and the kitchen.
Sunday, January 7, 2007
Frequently Asked Questions for Rocky Point
Driving into Mexico - is that dangerous?
No, it really isn't. Having said that, everyone will need to purchase Mexican Auto Insurance at the border. American Insurance companies used to offer coverage about 100 miles over the border but they no longer do this - in order to play it safe you purchase a short term Mexican car insurance policy at the border (well, really, before you get to the border, at a convenience store or other dozens of venues before you actually reach the border). The policies usually run for about 5 days and cost between $30 and $50 depending on the level of coverage and the age of the car (make and model play a part in cost also). We've never had any problems though - it's just a safeguard.
What about church on Sunday?
While going to church while on vacation may not be everyone's cup of tea, we will have the opportunity to attend the local ward in Rocky Point on Sunday. Going to church (just sacrament) is actually a really cool experience. Even though none of us really speak Spanish, it doesn't matter - you stil pretty much understand everything that's going on! We took the kids when they were all still really small and they were totally great. Dress is not the level of Sunday Dress that we are used to. I've even gone in my Batik skirt that I use as a swimsuit cover up. Very Casual sunday dress is appropriate just because for the most part, the Mexican people will not be as dressed up as we are used to at home. They will probably be wearing sunday clothes, or most of them will be, but they won't be full suits and dressy dresses.
Food?
We are going to buy food before we leave while we are still in Phoenix. Water is really important. Each family needs to bring enough water for their family for the days we are there. Realize that you are going to feel like drinking water much more than you usually do - the heat will take it out of you and you will get dehydrated if you don't consistently drink the whole time. Some soda or juice is okay, but if you don't make a concerted effort to drink water you will get sick. As far as food, we usually recommend that each family take care of themselves for breakfast and lunch. Don't like a big breakfast? (we don't tend to like big breakfasts most of the time), fine, just bring some cereal and milk, maybe some bagels and fruit. We can usually buy tortillas and/or burittos on the beach from the locals and those are great for breakfast too. Lunch is usually a "you're on your own" kinda thing - We generally have anything you can think of to make a sandwich, some chips, licorice, things of that nature and then the kids are kinda able to eat whenever they get around to it. We will have several fridges and freezers in the house so there shouldn't be a problem with storage. For dinner we are thinking of combining efforts and taking turns making the big meal for everyone. Keeping it simple, like lasagne and garlic bread or fajita's. Maybe one night those who want to can go into town to go out to eat. There's a great restaurant right by the sea that can accomodate large groups and is relatively inexpensive. Your kids are probably going to want to graze a lot during the day so you really want to try to make sure you have their favorite snacks.
Sun!!!!
The WORST thing that can happen is a sunburn because you (or your child) will be miserable the rest of the trip. You have to CONSTANTLY re-apply the sun block ALL DAY! I cannot emphasize this enough! Believe me, I have learned the hard way- it doesn't even look at all like you are getting any sun until the sun has gone down and you turn beet red within the last hour of the day and lay miserable in a fever induced stupor for the rest of your stay!
Let me know what other questions you have!