Playa Del Carmen: Welcome Snowbirds!

The famous 5th Avenue in Playa Del Carmen

Reader Question: We're looking to explore Playa Del Carmen this winter for a week. Been going to Key West for the past 10 years and as we reach retirement age, we have come to the conclusion the we can't afford Key West. Wanting to see if we like Playa and hopefully start to look for a home to spend December through  May. 

Any advice on where we should stay to start our search would be greatly appreciated and we are SOOOO excited to take this adventure. We would consider other spots on the peninsula but think that Playa just may be the best to start this quest. We're both in our mid 50's, and from Ohio

Any correspondence is welcome and I want to thank you in advance for your time and assistance.

Most Sincerely, 
​Greg

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Answer: Hello Greg!
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Playa Del Carmen is absolutely beautiful and full of retirees, snowbirds and expats. Much, much nicer than Cancun for a permanent move  (which is super-touristy). My suggestion is to rent a place on 5th avenue and just peruse the whole city on foot (Airbnb is where we usually book our reservations because we prefer to stay in Condos with a full kitchen, rather than hotels). 

Take a day trip to Cozumel and Isla Mujeres, too. It's worth it, you might like the islands more. 

Akumal is fantastic and so tranquil, but it's a little further south, so it's a bit of a drive. Worth exploring though if you are looking for a "forever" home.

We liked Tulum for it's wildness and natural beauty, but the modern amenities just aren't there yet, plus there is a TON of real estate fraud going on in Tulum right now, so buying down there is very very risky, even for Mexican citizens. 

Good Luck!
Be free! Expatriate!
Manny Serrato