Community Forums

Sunnyfalls · 05-06-2025, 12:37 PM

Yep, like others have said, maybe first go with some experienced people. Maybe start at Rocky Point. Lots of stuff online what to do and not to do. It helps to speak the language if only basic phrases wherever you travel. You don't want to be like the typical arrogant, clueless, English only speaking, self-entitled American. We personally wouldn't take an expensive looking MH into Central America. But we would never be comfortable with that look anywhere. However, we now take our Casita trailer to Costa Rica from Southern Oregon on an annual basis without any issues whatsoever. These days we are more concerned about traveling in the States than traveling in any country in Central America. I dunno if we are great yet or if we have ever been all that great. But we definitely feel very embarrassed these days when traveling in other countries. Nevertheless, we are still going to Buchart Gardens on Vancouver Island in BC for several days later this month and hopefully we won't get too chided.

Gayle & Bob
"Los Gatos Casita"

ThisIsUs · 05-06-2025, 03:28 PM

Gayle and Bob, you absolutely I am confident from locals perspective be welcomed with open arms as always. Enjoy your trip Butchart Gardens are breathtakingly beautiful was our experience several years ago. Come and enjoy.

No I speak fluent Parisian french (not Quebecois dialect), as well Old English mother tongue, but not Spanish. I will for sure start practicing with some on-line programs I'm sure I can find. I agree, making the effort in foreign lands to speak their language even a little and funnily with hand motions to them, is usually appreciated by locals. They in turn often enjoy helping you with pronunciation being proud of their homelands. I made it around Italy years ago on 3 phrases plus thank you very much and please. Those being: How Much please? Sorry I don't understand Italian. Tea with milk please. LOL. Of course over time you pick up many other words like gas for the auto and so on.

Huge thanks to many for sharing your experiences and confidences that's what I wanted to hear

Any suggestions on having monies on one's persons whilst down there, what you do? Also what mobile telephone/internet data you use for more than say a couple months stay. All appreciated as always. Places to absolutely avoid?

ThisIsUs · 05-06-2025, 03:30 PM

Gayle and Bob, you absolutely I am confident from locals perspective be welcomed with open arms as always. Enjoy your trip Buchart Gardens are breathtakingly beautiful was our experience several years ago. Come and enjoy.

No I speak fluent Parisian french (not Quebecois dialect), as well Old English mother tongue, but not Spanish. I will for sure start practicing with some on-line programs I'm sure I can find. I agree, making the effort in foreign lands to speak their language even a little and funnily with hand motions to them, is usually appreciated by locals. They in turn often enjoy helping you with pronunciation being proud of their homelands. I made it around Italy years ago on 3 phrases plus thank you very much and please. Those being: How Much please? Sorry I don't understand Italian. Tea with milk please. LOL. Of course over time you pick up many other words like gas for the auto and so on.

Huge thanks to many for sharing your experiences and confidences that's what I wanted to hear

Any suggestions on having monies on one's persons whilst down there, what you do? Also what mobile telephone/internet data you use for more than say a couple months stay. All appreciated as always.

Cooperhawk · 05-06-2025, 04:16 PM

Well, We've been to Mexico twice and we had no problems, but do remember it is a third world country so be a bit cautions.

Our youngest daughter Poo Poos our concerns so she rented a villa a few miles out of Mexico City (which from the pictures looks really nice and cheap too), and the our 8 year old grandson fell and broke his arm.
It took two hours down the mountain to a hospital which was then unequipped to treat his particular fracture. They had to put it in a sling and come back home to get it treated.

Just saying, go wherever you want, but be careful.

MSTEIN · 05-06-2025, 04:33 PM

Traveling in the Baja speaking Spanish is really not totally necessary. The mainland of Mexico is a different situation and some understanding of the language is needed. Baja is a very tourist area and most people there speak English so communication is not as big of an issue as it is in the mainland of Mexico. We didn’t know any Spanish when we first started going. I tell people that ask me if I speak Spanish that I have learned one new word every year we have spent in Mexico so I’m up to about 13 words!! Don’t overthink it. It’s not that hard. We have always been able to get pesos from ATM’S at a reasonable exchange rate. ATM’S are everywhere.
Mike

Sunnyfalls · 05-06-2025, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThisIsUs

Gayle and Bob, you absolutely I am confident from locals perspective be welcomed with open arms as always. Enjoy your trip Buchart Gardens are breathtakingly beautiful was our experience several years ago. Come and enjoy.

No I speak fluent Parisian french (not Quebecois dialect), as well Old English mother tongue, but not Spanish. I will for sure start practicing with some on-line programs I'm sure I can find. I agree, making the effort in foreign lands to speak their language even a little and funnily with hand motions to them, is usually appreciated by locals. They in turn often enjoy helping you with pronunciation being proud of their homelands. I made it around Italy years ago on 3 phrases plus thank you very much and please. Those being: How Much please? Sorry I don't understand Italian. Tea with milk please. LOL. Of course over time you pick up many other words like gas for the auto and so on.

Huge thanks to many for sharing your experiences and confidences that's what I wanted to hear

Any suggestions on having monies on one's persons whilst down there, what you do? Also what mobile telephone/internet data you use for more than say a couple months stay. All appreciated as always.

I don't think you will have any problem. Just being multilingual is a huge advantage. Just making an attempt to speak the local language and appreciating/embracing the local culture instead of looking down on it or fearing it will pay huge dividends and gain you local respect and friends. While Gayle was born in Texas, she grew up in Germany and took French as her foreign language while living there...and first had to become fluent in German... Coming from Texas, her Spanish is very good too. I learned German in HS and some Spanish from living in NJ in a Puerto Rican/Spanish neighborhood while growing up. And I also learned some Chinese, Malaysian and Russian from my Boeing travels.

We use Starlink in our RV and at our OR, Costa Rica and New Zealand homes. We also use Meshtastic and ham radio for emergency communications too. We got rid of cell phones/plans years ago and we just use Wi-Fi on our Samsung pads for phone/video calls wherever we are. We are using Starlink from Harris Beach State Park on the Oregon coast right now...

Many people go to Mexico just for the lower cost and frankly better dental and medical care. So don't be concerned about that either despite the naysayers. Unfortunately, there is much BS on US social media...and many fools actually believe it.

Gayle & Bob
"Los Gatos Casita"

ThisIsUs · 05-06-2025, 08:19 PM

Muchas Gracias todos (or is it Todas) = not sure on when to use feminine versus masculine LOL.

Flyboy757 · 05-06-2025, 08:26 PM

Does Roger’s offer a México plan you can add to your Can/ US plan ?

We have been with Telus since 1996 ! We have a Can/US/MX unlimited talk & text plan with 200mb of data per month per phone. $85 Cdn each. This rate is for our being a long time customer.

Unplanned Tourist · 05-06-2025, 10:06 PM

We just switched from Koodo to Telus. Lower rates, more data and good for Canada, US and Mexico. Check them out if you're not locked in a plan now.

ThisIsUs · 05-06-2025, 11:53 PM

Flyboy and Unplanned does Telus when switching in the USA and Mexico, give you good coverage with all the tower companies available in a set area or is it a hit and miss.

Forgive my asking it's just when we were with Bell for many years, and had a house in Sarasota they'd only use the T-Mobile towers down there and we had little to no service as they wouldn't pick up on Verizon or AT&T. It was pre 2017 admittedly and one of the reasons we changed to Rogers, which has been awesome coverage around the USA. I will look into Mexico plan availability being added, as the Roam like home plan is just extortionate for any long term travelling.

Thanks for that and as a FYI we currently pay $55/month for the unlimited everything Can/USA plan we are on as a 3rd phone family plan.

Sunnyfalls · 05-07-2025, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThisIsUs

Muchas Gracias todos (or is it Todas) = not sure on when to use feminine versus masculine LOL.

The expression we now frequently hear at the cantinas in Central America whenever loser king is on news is Pinche Pendejo. Pretty hilarious and if we say it, we often get a free round... Best wishes and enjoy your trip!

Gayle & Bob
"Los Gatos Casita"

Unplanned Tourist · 05-07-2025, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThisIsUs

Flyboy and Unplanned does Telus when switching in the USA and Mexico, give you good coverage with all the tower companies available in a set area or is it a hit and miss.

We've just recently switched, so no hands on feedback yet. We were told they use Verizon and AT&T towers, so should be decent in the US.

An option if you are locked into a plan is to get an Esimm. We've had good luck with the Airalo app. Tried another that was recommended, but it was a flop IMHO.

Cheap and good coverage, but only data. We've used them in Norway, Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary in Europe, Jordan, Egypt and Hawaii when we were still with Koodo. WAY better than $15.00 a day roaming charges.

Flyboy757 · 05-08-2025, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThisIsUs

Flyboy and Unplanned does Telus when switching in the USA and Mexico, give you good coverage with all the tower companies available in a set area or is it a hit and miss.

Forgive my asking it's just when we were with Bell for many years, and had a house in Sarasota they'd only use the T-Mobile towers down there and we had little to no service as they wouldn't pick up on Verizon or AT&T. It was pre 2017 admittedly and one of the reasons we changed to Rogers, which has been awesome coverage around the USA. I will look into Mexico plan availability being added, as the Roam like home plan is just extortionate for any long term travelling.

Thanks for that and as a FYI we currently pay $55/month for the unlimited everything Can/USA plan we are on as a 3rd phone family plan.

We wintered in AZ many years and used local towers …ie AT&T, Verizon…… We now winter in Mazatlan, MX. AT&T is available but we use a Mexican provider, TELCEL. Fly to MX so can’t comment on reception while driving.

ThisIsUs · 05-08-2025, 02:16 PM

Thanks Flyboy, we are thinking can get a Telcel sim or as some others suggested an ESim if need be. Haven't had chance to yet delve deep into Rogers etc but will soon.

Side note as to time available to research: Daughter gave birth to twin 33 week gestation preemies 6th April, finally came home off tubes etc last Saturday so we are all hands on deck to help as her hubby construction worker framing houses. Anyways please keep any an all suggestions/expereinces coming. Nice to read typically during a brief Nursery break or late at night before slumber.

As always thank you all for sharing.