February 9, 2026Monday, February 9, 2026

Just a thought… Don’t be afraid to try something new. It might be the best thing you ever do. [Author Unknown]

As we all settle in for more great sports entertainment from Milano-Cortina, here’s another diversion for you today. It’s more of a travel edition that I hope you’ll enjoy.

Marisa, Sheila, Barbara and more readers whose queries I answered, but whose names I didn’t save, inspired today’s blog. Who knows? You might find some things in here that come in handy as well.

You know by now that I’m down in Nuevo Vallarta (about a 20 minute drive from the main Puerto Vallarta airport) on Mexico’s west coast. (Nuevo Vallarta is the small black dot just a little northwest of PVR.)

I arrived in mid-November and, although I’m getting homesick for BC and the adventures that await with a new cottage that Rob and our friend helped move all of our stored house stuff into two weekends ago, I’m going to stay until March 19.

I realize as I write this that you may think I’m muy loco for considering returning early. But look at the view that awaits! Rob shot these deer (in the only way he’ll ever do that, by the way) as he was moving a few things in on Friday. Nice that if I can’t be there watching over him, they are!

I’ll answer the questions I’ve received via email and social media messages and posts about our stay in this beautiful country. Here goes.

Why Mexico?

It’s a direct flight from Victoria (on WestJet – sadly not Porter…yet) and we had to break our habit of going to California to escape the grey winters and the blues they bring. My sister lives a 3-1/2 hour drive away in the Guadalajara district, so I’m also familiar with how easy the living here can be. Plus it’s much warmer than the Coachella Valley of California, with far less rain. Nearly zero.

Do I feel safe?

Yes. Absolutely. Now, like anywhere, you don’t go out at night alone, and you stick to areas that you’re familiar with, but I’m also staying in a gated community with a combination of visitors and residents. And I know that in an emergency I can call and ask to be put through to an English-speaking operator.

Is language a barrier?

I wouldn’t say so. Plenty of visitors know little more than “please, thank-you, good day and how much?” and they get by with the help of apps that translate on the spot. I dove into Spanish lessons on a paid app the moment I had chosen Mexico, so with 228 days of practice under my belt (tongue?) I’m more than able to converse. Let’s just say I know enough Spanish to get into trouble, but not enough to get out of it!

How did you find your accommodations?

This is the question I get asked the most. Although I am not a supporter of the politics of apps like AirBnB or VRBO, both of whom have contributed to the despot ruining things south of the Canadian border, I didn’t have too many choices. So I used AirBnB because it had far more options.

Search filters are your biggest friend. You put in the dates you want to go (flexibility is a great help), the area you prefer (more on that shortly) and what needs you have: AC, a pool, how many bedrooms/bathrooms, is it pet-friendly, etc.. Your options are pared down for you (and yes, you can specify how much you want to pay) and then you read the reviews. I cannot stress this highly enough. I found a homeowner who was great at communicating and even offered me a bit of a discount on top of the long-stay cost cut that exists for some listings. To say she’s been incredibly helpful (to the point of picking us up at the airport!) would be an understatement.

Location, Location, Location

As with any stay, where you are is as important as your preferred accommodations. Some like having their meals made, their rooms cleaned and their towels regularly changed. Rob and I prefer privacy as we don’t care for loud surroundings with oblivious visitors (including door slams, heels on marble floors above us, pounding poolside music, etc.) and love being able to bring the dogs for long stays. I don’t like all-inclusive because I’m paying for everyone else’s booze, plus enjoying a keto lifestyle, I prefer to make my own food. Walkability for us is a plus. I learned where to find local stands for produce, use shopping apps for bigger needs, and hire ride shares for large grocery shops.

The issue of choosing a neighbourhood was a challenge, so I read websites and asked around. For example, that’s how I learned that Zona Romantica in Puerto Vallarta is noisy. Having visited there this trip I can’t imagine navigating the dogs on walks through the busy streets and uneven sidewalks. It’s a recipe for a broken ankle. I wanted a quiet area that’s an Uber ride from things I need (more on that next) and that’s where Nuevo Vallarta came in. Readers who are staying in nearby Bucerias (boo-ser-EE-as) love their area too.

Do you need a car?

I researched whether we did and the overwhelming consensus was DON’T rent a car! Yes, the drivers are more erratic than we’re used to at home, traffic moves quickly (until it frequently stops to a crawl for whatever reason) and it’s an awful lot to take in for a newbie to the area. Plus, it’s expensive, of course, unless you look into Uber, where you can rent a car for about 50 pesos (or less than $5 Canadian) a day. Now that’s just preliminary research – do your own – but it’s an option.

I was not too familiar with Uber before I came, but for ride share it’s my new friend: often less expensive than a cab, you get a price before you even order your car. Taxis are less predictable and I’ve encountered drivers that only want cash, which isn’t always convenient. Uber is your pal, amiga. There is also a bus system that gets residents around, but that’s just a few steps beyond my comfort zone. Download the Uber app before you leave Canada and everything goes straight onto your credit card. Easy peasy.

If you choose to catch a taxi at the airport, there can be long waits. So if you order an Uber (which aren’t allowed on airport land) you have to traverse an over-the-highway walkway and wait on a sidewalk until your ride arrives. It’s not hard once you’ve figured out where to meet. Just remember their plate numbers or letters you’ve been texted, and away you go.

Can I use my cell phone?

Rob and I have a Canada/US/Mexico plan that allows us to phone freely. But whatsapp is most frequently used by businesses and people alike down here as a viable alternative to a local phone number.

Are the people friendly?

Well, as I like to think about Canada and US tourists, “You get the Canuck you deserve.” If you are polite and make an effort, especially in situations where service people don’t speak English, you’ll be treated well and we all muddle through. Learn the customs a little. Excuse yourself a lot. Always greet according to the time of day, or simply say “hola” (silent H). Say “thank you” often. Learn to ask if they speak English and go from there. We are not entitled to be here, and we are grateful for their hospitality, from the gardeners in the neighbourhood to the men who work seven days a week at the security booth. Learn names. It really matters to them and makes Canadians look good.

What Do You Do for Fun?

There are cinemas that have films in their original English on certain showings, but nothing has lured me into a theatre. Besides, what language would you watch the Melania “documentary” in if you wanted to understand it, anyway, LOL? Go to local restaurants and street vendors if you want great homemade cuisine, or you can safely order in via Uber Eats (which I’ve never used) if that’s your preference. Of course there are regular street markets galore for food, people-watching, crafts and adventures; all you have to do is search for them on Trip Advisor or Google.

How busy you are – from golfing, to beach visits, to exploring area restaurants, to shopping – is entirely up to you. Someone asked about beaches: I’m not a sand-in-my-toes kinda gal so I can’t honestly say. But there are public beaches and if there’s not one to walk to, you just call a car to get you there. At home, you can watch your favourite shows on Netflix, bring an HDMI cord to plug your computer into the TV, or view on your device. Your options are pretty much limitless.

Finally, a Fashion Tip:

Find a Canadian flag patch, pin or sticker and affix it where people can see it. Not only is it a great conversation starter among fellow Canadians (and a few Mexicans who have been happy to let me know what they think of Trump), it also lets your hosts know you’re not from a country that is a threat to them or their loved ones in the US. I bought my supply at a dollar store in Canada and have taped a stitched Canadian flag patch on my purse and a sticker on my cell phone cover.

Am I virtue signalling? You bet your frozen bum I am. As Canadians, we’ve earned it. Funnily enough, at a restaurant a few weeks ago, my pal Lisa and I were asked if we were actually Canucks, or (as I called it) poser hosers. Um, no, buddy. Ask me what I think of Danielle Smith, Wayne Gretzky or Kevin O’Leary. That ought to answer any citizenship questions!

So that, my friend, is a little bit of inside information for you. Would I come back later this year? Not for a four-month duration; it’s too long to be away from my home on Native land. I’ve been fortunate to have a few guests while I’m here (not to mention Rob’s three trips down – the final one coming to get the dogs and me in March) and the rest of the time has been quiet and restorative. I’ve gotten a little lonely, but between you, another visit from my Mexican-based sister, the dogs and recording Gracefully and Frankly with Lisa Brandt, I’m busy enough. Plus it’s a great time to binge all of those series I never had time for, like MAID and Younger on Netflix.

I hope this answers your questions – you can email me a follow-up if you have any. Until we talk this Thursday on the podcast, have a gentle week. We’re almost a third through it already. You can do this!