You Must Get Used to Change and Practice Flexibility When You’re on the Go

It has often been said that, if there’s anything constant in this world, it is change. And when you are on the go, as travelers always are, change happens more often.

 Camping in Chicken, Alaska

 Nothing illustrates this more than this incident in Chicken, Alaska. We were newbies in RVing. We successfully drove across the Alaska Highway from Calgary, Alberta to spend a cool summer month in Alaska. But we returned to the Lower 48 on a different route through Chicken, Alaska, the Top of the World Highway to Dawson City in the Yukon, and then the Glacier Highway in British Columbia. 

  I distinctly remember the trauma of taking a shower in Chicken, a little town of 32 in summer and seven in winter. I thought I had enough Loonies (Canadian coins) for a hot shower at the campground. I ended by rinsing with cold water at the sink in a room with no heater in the cold of fall. I made a mistake and put all of them all at once in the beginning, I was supposed to put each one before each segment ran out. I had to learn to be more flexible. We were in a different “home” every few days.  

Using Public Transportation in Mexico City

Then I remember the folly of resisting local ways. During our 2009 three-week tour of Mexico, we parked our RV in Teotihuacan where the most visited pre-Hispanic ruins of the oldest civilization in North America are located. It is 25 miles northeast of Mexico City. One day, we took the public bus to tour the metropolis. With a population of 18 million, it is one of the most congested cities in the world. We loved our tour of Catedral Metropolitana, Templo Mayor, Plaza de la Constitucion, Palacio Nacional, and the Avenida Central shopping area, ending our day with a visit to the only authentic castle in North America, Chapultepec.

To get back to Teotihuacan, we needed to take the train to get to the bus station. But I was horrified to find that men and women rode in separate carriages to prevent chances of unwanted encounters. I didn’t want to be apart from my husband, so we hailed a taxi instead. Bill lost his cell phone and a lot of money and time going through all the city traffic in that cab. It was good that we made it to the last bus to Teotihuacan. But I should not have resisted local ways.  

Stopping in Guangzhou, China

 One year I went to Melbourne, Australia to babysit my youngest grandson. The cheapskate that I am, I opted for the lowest fares with long layovers in Guangzhou, China.  I thought not only would I save money, but I would also get to tour the second-largest Chinese city after Shanghai. Unfortunately, I discovered the seven-hour layover wasn’t long enough because I needed two hours each way to get to Guangzhou. I decided to spend those seven hours with my laptop instead.

 Sadly, its battery was down to almost zero. It just so happens that I also have a mechanical aptitude near zero. I could not get my chargers to work. Luckily, I discovered that my husband had put a portable one into my bag.  That plus help from a millennial Chinese couple saved me. But when I finally sat down, I was dismayed. I had forgotten that Facebook is banned in China. I turned to surfing, only to find that every search landed me in an unfamiliar site, totally in Chinese. My isolation was complete. I should have brought a book.

 It is hard to make a woman in her seventies to be more flexible. But I love to travel so I would have to keep on trying. I must be better prepared, arm myself with prior knowledge, and, most of all, have a great attitude when something unexpected happens instead.   

 

Travel Mishaps and How to Deal with Them

Travel mishaps are unfortunate accidents. They are pimples in the otherwise clear complexion of a fine travel day. I’m not talking about those incidents that make us scared enough to rethink how we travel. I am talking about simple occurrences that can be prevented but didn’t or couldn’t. Travelers are often in unfamiliar places so mishaps can happen to us more often. How we deal with them matters.

Buried in Snow

Early in our RVing career, we had to return to Washington from Florida for my citizenship interview with the US CIS. We weren’t supposed to be in the north in November, but we had to. We parked our RV at the Thunderbird RV and Camping Resort in Monroe, beside a river so my husband could do some fishing. But when a snowstorm arrived, we got trapped inside our RV.     

With very little propane left, our lone energy source for the heater and stove, we confined ourselves to microwaveable meals. Since management could not risk their pipes freezing, we were forced to scrimp on the little water we had left in the freshwater tank.  But we didn’t get glued to the TV and Internet. Instead, we enjoyed the new living arrangements. My husband ran errands and walked through the snow. I was a good girl scout, following instructions, for a change.

Stranded on the Interstate

flat tire on I-71

Later we had a scarier one. Driving down Interstate 71 from Cincinnati, Ohio to Louisville, Kentucky, the right front tire of the RV blew out. It had eight tires, two in front and six at the rear in two axles. It was such a loud noise, unfamiliar to my ears, and I got scared. Bill managed to steer our 20,000-pound rig off the road. He remained calm and called Good Sam.

Then he found the Rummikub game and we played a few games, letting me win so I could forget my fear. But we had to wait inside the RV on a hot afternoon, without air conditioning. Help finally arrived and the tire was replaced. The rescue truck accompanied us to Louisville because he said many of our tires needed changing. It was midnight when we arrived at their shop. We were tired but, as usual, my husband was that same old boy scout I had married!

Lost in Helsinki

Hotel Ava and Institute

And that is why, in Helsinki, I panicked when I thought I lost him.   After the failed hostel experiment in Oslo, we chose the Hotel Ava, a very affordable option because it was attached to a Hotel Management Institute that provided most of the staff. The only problem was it was twenty minutes away from the city center. A Helsinki card was our solution, It paid for museums, tours, and cruises, as well as all public transport. It was a nice feeling to go ‘home’ at the end of the day.

On our last day, we finished packing early. We waited in the lobby with our bags, ready for the 3 pm public bus to the airport. We had time so my husband left for the nearby pharmacy just around the corner. But by 2:30 pm, he had not come back. I was upset that the receptionist did not give him a map of how to get there and back. I was in full panic mode, imagining all sorts of things that could have happened to him.  At 2:55 pm, he came in, got his bags, and instructed me to follow him to the bus stop. I ran all the way, lugging my carry-on through the cobbled streets, unmindful if it got damaged. Mr. calm, cool, and collected.

More planning is needed to prevent these mishaps. And how we deal with them when they happen that matters. My husband showed me how. He says, “They are just that, mishaps, not tragedies!” The right perspective.

 

TWO DRIFTERS, OFF TO SEE THE WORLD

They could be no more different from us. They are younger, in their 40s vs us in our 70s. They have been together longer, for two and a half decades vs our one. But they are, like us, in Mazatlan for three months this winter. We met for late lunch at Molcajete Loco in Old Mazatlan. The connection was immediate and 2 pm became 6 pm quickly. So I decided that you should also meet this very interesting couple, Jerry and Fiona, owners of the blog A Couple of Drifters.

Their traveling style is so like how we were during our RVing days. You see, to drift means to be carried slowly by a current; to cruise is to travel smoothly at a moderate or economical speed without a precise destination, for pleasure. We simply use different terms. They started with their Van Life until they sold the van, much like our RV Life until we sold the RV.  But we started much later, in our 60s, and our travel styles are so different now. They continue to drift, sans van, while we have shifted to slower and more planned travels from a base as soon as we reached our 70s. 

Once it presented itself, they seized on the opportunity for long term budget travel, believing that “nobody knows what the future holds so now is the time to undertake this journey whilst we are young(ish) and healthy.” Here are their answers to our “tracking down” questions:

1. Where have you been and how long has it been since you started this lifestyle?

beach camping in Baja

We started this lifestyle back in 2013, traveling for all of one year, hitchhiking from Portland, Maine across the U.S. through Mexico and all seven Central American countries, and back. We returned to Portland to work, save, and tie up loose ends. This current journey began in September 2017 and we've driven the length of the Baja peninsula twice—beach camping along the way plus house-sits in the US southwest.

2. How did you come up with your long term travel budget?

$15 each per day is the least amount we came up with to keep us on the road for as long as possible from our savings and retirement investments. We keep a detailed account of every penny that we spend in our Financial Times, a small notebook where we keep track of all daily expenses no matter how minuscule. An analysis of our 2019 entries revealed this breakdown: Transportation-45%, Food & Drinks-35%. Accommodation-7%, Digital Expense: 8%, Others-5%. As we sold the van towards the end of last year and moved into our apartment in Mazatlan, accommodation has risen to 30% of our budget and transportation is near zero.

3. What are your secrets in staying on budget when you travel?

We always look for the cheapest accommodation possible—hotels not hostels (they are no longer the best budget option), especially in Mexico and Central America. We walk for hours all over town looking for the cheapest place and, depending on where we are, we happily haggle the price of a room.

their apartment in Mazatlan

For example, here in Mazatlan, we are in a small one-bedroom apartment in a duplex at the residential neighborhood of Centro Historico, just a couple of blocks away from the Malecon. With cable, wi-fi, and a shared washer and dryer, it is just $5 each per day. We also do a lot of house-sitting, which has been a fantastic way to save money on lodging. Every now and then we'll take an overnight bus, not great for sleeping but kills two birds with one stone.

In terms of food, we try to share plates as often as possible. We eat one meal a day and snack the rest of the day with bread rolls. We choose unadorned, local establishments where there is a set menu and very few (if any) tourists. We also eat a lot of street food. We keep heating elements for boiling water when we don't have access to a cooker. They are perfect for making soups, tea, and coffee.

Transportation expenses are kept to a minimum because we walk a lot and never take taxis or ubers.  Jerry was able to do all the repairs to our van when we had one. We only had to buy the parts. For greater distances, we hitchhike as much as possible. When we do take buses, we always opt for the cheapest bus, which typically means a longer travel time due to frequent stops and no air conditioning, etc. This may also mean a standard seat for two adults will cozily hold 4, not an inch of space left open anywhere on the bus. Often, humans and livestock all share the same space.

If we need to replace any clothing we buy it at second-hand shops/markets and we carry a sewing kit. We also rely on free wi-fi, have no data plan, nor a cellphone. We also do shower laundry. Yes, just as it sounds, we do our laundry while we shower.

4. When and why did you shift from the van life to long term budget travel?

Little Elvis

Selling the van was all part of the original plan. Somehow we just ended up living the van life and house-sitting for longer than we thought we would initially. We sold "Little Elvis" (our van) the beginning of November 2019. We're glad we experienced van life but we are happier without our own wheels.

5. Are there any risks in maintaining your lifestyle?

There are more risks with our lifestyle but we have not encountered any of them yet. When hitchhiking we try to get our lifts while there is still daylight but we have had overnight lifts which turned out fine. We always try to get dropped off at truck stops, that way if we don't have any luck getting another lift to continue, we have a great place to pass the hours until it is time to put our thumbs out once again. Truck stops are open 24 hours a day and we have been treated with nothing but kindness from staff as we quietly wait for dawn.

As far as healthcare is concerned, we've both been very ill on the road, but have never needed medical attention. The best care is to live healthily and prevent major illnesses.

Fiona, leading the hitchhiking

6. How many of your years together have been spent in a home base and drifting?

We’ve been together 24 years as of February 15, 2020. Twenty and a half of those years have been in various home bases: Boston, MA, Birmingham, UK, Albuquerque, NM, Seattle, WA and Portland, ME. So, only three and a half years have been spent traveling as a “Couple of Drifters.”

7.  Which is better in sustaining or even enriching your relationship?

Over 24 years we've done the home base, van life and the current long term budget travel of hotels/hitchhiking/sub-leasing. We really don't find much difference. However, when we were at a home base, we were both working full time so we were not around each other 24/7. This is a key difference. Van life is also different. It was so cramped. “Little Elvis” had a whopping 26" x 28" of clear space. It meant having to communicate about everything. Every last little detail has to be thrashed out together. There's a lot of bickering and just as much compromising. We cannot deny that spending 24/7 together leads you to get on each other's last nerves. Don't be fooled by the idealistic shots that you see on Instagram of gorgeous couples looking perfectly quaffed and staring at each other adoringly. The reality is very different.

they lived at the upper floor of this house in Portland, Maine 

8. Then, what is your secret in staying together in each lifestyle?

The secret is in sharing responsibilities and knowing what they are. After 24 years we each kind of know our own strengths. As two individuals, we complement each other so that together we are like one fully functioning human. For example, with regard to our blog, there was a natural distribution of responsibilities. Jerry takes care of the technical aspects and Instagram, Fiona deals with other social media and marketing. We take turns writing posts. Other secrets are talking about things, listening to each other, and getting mad, sulking, calming down, and finally talking things through. The way we travel is different and can be quite intense. Sometimes, we feel the need to set ourselves down somewhere for a while and just relax. But, ultimately, what is most special about traveling as a couple is that you both share a strong common bond. You can look at each other and know that you are the only ones who can truly understand that moment from your travels that you may now be retelling others.

As you can see, it is right to call them drifters. And it is even more right to call them a couple steadfast in their hope that they can sustain this lifestyle forever or at least as long as they can. Fiona wants to go everywhere and Jerry doesn't have a list. Soon, they will return to New Mexico for another house-sit. Then, they go back to Mexico to resume their drift farther south, past Central America, perhaps into South America. 

Find out how interesting Jerry and Fiona's journeys are as they go on their long-term budget travels. You'll see why the Mayor of Albuquerque, NM shared their post, 
Unique Things to Do in Albuquerque, on his Fb page. The song, "Moon River" captures their spirit precisely: "Two drifters, off to see the world. There's such a lot of world to see."

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Are All-Inclusive Resorts Worth Your Money (Part 3)

                                              ANALYZING COSTS

Part 1 has been a definition of what all-inclusive means at El Cid Resorts. Part 2 was a discussion on how we mitigated the two major disadvantages of weight gain and sociocultural isolation. This Part 3 is a discussion of the costs. We offer three kinds of analysis. The costs of all-inclusive stays as compared to 1) prevailing market costs, 2) owning a home in Mexico, and 3) costs of staying at home in Viewpoint.

Each is compared to our total cost of ownership of a three months stay at El Cid Resorts for 20 years. We paid $90,000 for this privilege. Computing a total of 1800 days (30 days x 3 months x 20 years), our total cost per day is at $50 at present value.

Comparison to Market Costs

The market value of lodging at El Cid Resorts through Tripadvisor is M$2342 or at a 20:1 exchange rate means US$117. The present value of buffet rates at El Cid are: breakfast M$280, lunch M$$390, and dinner $450, a total daily rate of M$1090 or US$56. This includes all drinks. If you add this to the US$117 daily lodging cost, the total daily cost of an all-inclusive stay is US$173. Compare this to the US$50 daily cost, Our savings is more than one hundred twenty dollars a day!

Comparison to Owning a Home in Mexico

condo ownership in Mazatlan

The average selling price of a one-bedroom condo facing the ocean in Mazatlan is US$180,000. The obvious advantage of buying is that, at the end of 20 years, you still have the asset that is worth, let’s say, the same. But what are the other costs of owning this home? 2.2% of the purchase price is owed to the bank and 4% is closing costs or a total of 6.2% one-time costs. This amounts to US$11,160. The cost of furniture and appliances can be US$5,000. Thus, the one-time total cost is US$16,160. 

Subtract this from US$90,000 and you have to account for the balance of US$78,740.

Estimates of recurring costs are culled from the cost of living estimates for expats living in Mazatlan:  https://www.expatistan.com/cost-of-living/mazatlan. Total living expenses per month would be food, US$300, utilities, US$100, cleaning help, US$300. At three months a year for 20 years, these translate to US$42,000. The balance of US$36,850 can be used for the maintenance of the condo and furniture and appliances, property management fees, and property taxes per year or a monthly cost of US$3,070. In short, it is a zero-sum game.

But do I really want to get all the headaches of owning a home? Definitely not at this age and neither do I want to give up all the amenities and activities I can have at El Cid at no additional cost. We will not have the same level even at the plushest of condos. At El Cid real estate, homeowners have to pay for a membership at the country club. Those cooking and Spanish classes also will cost a lot of money. And I can no longer have that free special birthday gazebo by the sea (headline photo) or the heavy discounts for tours and fishing boats.

Comparison to Staying at Home in Viewpoint

our Viewpoint home base

What if we stayed at home? Our monthly living expenses in Viewpoint are: food, US$300 and an opportunity cost of US$ 2,750 or a total of $3,050 per month. Opportunity cost is what we give up if we do not rent out our Viewpoint home for three months to Arizona’s winter visitors. Multiplied by 3 months for 20 years and it comes up to US$165,000. This more than pays for the timeshare investment of US$90,000 with a savings of US$75,000. These savings we are earmarking for the maintenance of our Viewpoint home. For example, we plan to add an Arizona Room for US$20,000. In other words, it would cost us more if we stayed at home during winter.

Whether we compare to market costs, to owning a home in Mexico, or to staying at home in Arizona, we are at a major advantage by choosing to stay all-inclusive in El Cid Resorts for three months a year. This year, we have chosen to stay in Mazatlan. We can also choose to stay in Cancun or Cozumel. We are even waiting for the completion of the Cabo San Lucas resort and hope that they will also build in Puerto Vallarta. We are so happy we stumbled upon this new way of vacationing past 70! 

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Are All-Inclusive Resorts Worth Your Money? Part 2

MITIGATING THE DISADVANTAGES 

It seems like the ideal life. No more housekeeping, laundry, dishwashing, cooking, and other mundane activities. Everything is available at the flick of the finger, so to speak: food, facilities, fun, and fascinating sunsets. You have no worries, cares, and hassles. All your time for things that make you happy. But there are three definite major disadvantages.

Weight Gain

You have all the food you want...and at the best locations. It is all-inclusive so you want to get the best values for your money and eat as much of the best ones as fast as possible, especially if you are staying for a short limited time. This is exactly what we did. On the first month, it was no wonder I gained  many extra pounds and developed a “baby bump.” But, on this our eighth week, I have returned to my original weight. Although traces of the bump still remain, I am well on the way to returning home as I left…without it. The following are the best practices we developed to deal with this major disadvantage.

go-to eating place

First, we put breakfast back to simple: in the room. Just like at home, we have breakfast as soon as we wake up. So we stocked up on simple things like cinnamon rolls and butter, bagels and cream cheese, or granola with nuts and raisins, together with lots of fruits and juices. We still go down to breakfast twice a week: once on Wednesday to have oatmeal or yogurt and hot chocolate; on Sundays for brunch of pasta and paella.

my favorite salad

Second, we put lunch also to a simple event. Our go-to place is La Alhambra, the open-air buffet by the sea which features a grilled item every day-grilled fish, roasted pork tacos, grilled fajitas, etc. I stick to this one dish. The restaurant also has the most complete salad bar in the entire complex. My go-to salad is a small plate of jicama and lettuce with a sprinkling of fake crab meat; usually, without dressing.

Third, we still make dinner our Event of the Day but we don’t go to the buffets anymore. We stick to a la carte dining. In buffets, there are a lot of filler items and you can get drawn to fill your plate with many of these. Even with small samples of each, they can add up to a bunch. A la carte ordering gives you the best dishes from the chef, the freshest versions of the dish, and limits what you can order. In the beginning, we ordered an appetizer, a soup or salad, an entrée, and a dessert. Now, we stick to sometimes just an appetizer or two or an entrée and split the salad and dessert.

Fourth, we are also eating healthy because there is just so many fruits, vegetables, seafood, fish, chicken, and pork available alongside with red meat. In fact, the latter is almost a no-no for us now. In the beginning, we were drawn to the New York, ribeye, filet mignon, churrasco, or arrachera steaks but now we are opting more for fish, shrimp, lobster, and chicken, sometimes pork. And we always start with salads or vegetable antipasti and make sure we have some fruits for the day. I am sure we get our required daily allowances of many vitamins and minerals.

Mexican cazuelitas

Fifth, our exercise regimen has been consistent. We spend thirty minutes at the fitness center every day. Bill hits balls at the golf course and tennis courts. We sometimes even join dancing classes. Our Fitbit shows that we walk at least 10,000 steps every day because we walk from one facility to another among four buildings in the resort complex and not use the free shuttle provided. At home, the kitchen and dining room are just a few steps from the bedroom and the living room. This is even complemented by afternoon walks on the beach or to the shops of the Zona Dorada, the shopping zone beside the complex.

  

Social and Cultural Isolation

There is another major disadvantage of all-inclusive resort stays. Let me call it the risk of social and cultural isolation. It comes from being confined to the resort facilities, again to get the best values from the money you paid, especially if you are staying for a short limited time. 

First, to counter social isolation, El Cid offers many activities. Bill and I have joined Spanish, dancing, cooking, and cocktail-mixing classes. Bill has sometimes joined tequila tasting and me, Texas Hold’em. Every evening, there are shows in the El Cid Theater: Mexican, Impersonators, Broadway, Tropical, Children's, and Audience Participation. Lobby bars have karaoke nights, casino nights, live music, etc.  Each restaurant offers different kinds of live music with different cuisines. And there are always activities on the beach. These are all opportunities for meeting new friends.

my Texas Hold'em group

Second, even if family and long-time friends are more special, we cannot transport all of them to Mazatlan. The staff of El Cid including the wait staff, the maids, and the drivers, and the guards, and the Mexican people, in general, are so hospitable, they can be our "family" while we are in El Cid. In fact, there is an Elite Lounge dedicated to hosting all-inclusive guests and catering to our every need. The Lounge is also where we have met many new friends from fellow guests. We look forward to meeting all of them again in the next season when we return to Mazatlan.

Bill's tequila tasting group

But how about cultural isolation? This is why we choose Mazatlan instead of Cancun. Mazatlan has an excellent broader community one can get involved with. With a population of 650,000, the city has a full plate of entertainment options, from concerts to movies to theater to opera. We have also done three-day trips and have four others scheduled before we go home. An Art Walk every first Friday of the month is such a fun activity. Trips to the Library have been enlightening and enjoyable.



We don't tire of inspecting each branch of the Michaels Gallery chain with their quality Mexican home decor. There are three main shopping districts: the new Mazatlan Galleria Mall area with Liverpool and Sears department stores and Walmart/Sams Club nearby, the Zona Dorada, and the Old Town Mercado and Centro Hispanico. And there is a major Flea Market in Juarez every Sunday morning. We should not forget the large supermarket chains like Soriana, Mega, and Ley. As a result of great shopping values, we are bringing home an art piece for the house, favorite new hats, quality inexpensive clothes, and some new jewelry!

Since we are staying for three months each year, we actually are able to make and keep friends and not be isolated within the confines of the resort. But then you will ask what about cost, especially because we are staying for such a long time. This is the last major disadvantage of all-inclusive resorts.  I will discuss in Part 3, four weeks from now after we have seen how everything goes and counted all the expenses at the end of our thirteen-week stay. Then we will have the final answer to the question "Are All-Inclusive Stays Worth Your Money?" 

Amazing RV Camping Hacks to Give You an Unforgettable Camping Experience

This week, I go back to lessons we learned in RV cruising (which we did for eight years, five of them full-time)! This post was written for my blog by Outdoorsy.com. 

"If you are also an RV owner, you know that space in your RV and movement of items when you are traveling are two big problems. Whether you are parking somewhere for an extended stay or hitting the road for multiple destinations, you want ideas to make it a trip to remember. These 5 hacks will blow your mind when it comes to saving your sanity so that you can spend your time enjoying your favorite camping experience.   
     

In the Bathroom

Use a closet organizer or mesh shoe holder to hold your bath products or wet towels. Either option will maximize the amount of space you have in the bathroom. You can also use suction cup holders in the shower for your shampoos, soaps, and conditioners. This makes them easy to access and keeps them from falling when you’re are driving. While the mesh shoe holder will hold more items, the closet organizer will keep them securely in place. Both have little drying time, as well. Choose the option that will work best for your family’s needs.

In the Refrigerator

This hack is one of my favorites when tent camping and works just as well when camping in an RV. Crack all your eggs, ahead of your trip, into a wide mouth water bottle. You can add measured lines on the outside to know how many eggs you are cooking with each use. This will help to minimize the amount of space you use in your fridge, keep your eggs from cracking in transport and make just the right amount of eggs for each meal with a quick pour. 

In the Pantry

Canned foods take up a lot of space. One hack that you can use to minimize the amount of shelf space your canned goods take up is to use a magazine holder for storing your cans. A magazine holder can keep over a half dozen cans in the same amount of space that just a few would take standing up. The holder will also keep the cans from falling over when you are driving and keep them organized.

In the Cabinets

Unless you want to use all plastic cups and paper plates, you will need a way to keep your glasses from clanking together and breaking when you are driving. One good bump and you could have an entire set of wine glasses shatter. By using a can koozie on each glass, it will cushion them from cracking and breaking making them easy to store safely. While glass is not the best space saver, a glass of wine just tastes better than drinking it out of a plastic cup.

All Over the RV

Anywhere you have extra space, placing a rack or organizer can help you to maximize space. Don’t get caught up on the name of the device. Just because an item is called a desk organizer, does not mean it can only be used on a desk. The same goes for bathroom carriers and shoe organizers. Hang an organizer on the inside of cabinet doors, use suction cups to put them on your windows, and attach a shoe organizer along any blank space (like around a bed frame) to utilize every inch of your RV. The amount of storage space you gain will be mind-blowing and will help to ensure you have everything you need on your road trip.

Whether you are taking a short RV road trip or if you plan on cruising all winter, set your self up for an amazing adventure that will keep you traveling in comfort and convenience. A little advance planning following these amazing camping hacks and you will find every RV experience is more relaxing and stress-free."

See this post for more RV cruising tips. (10 Commandments of RV Cruising)

Are All-inclusive Resorts Worth Your Money? (Part 1)

We just completed the first four weeks of a thirteen-week all-inclusive stay at El Cid Resorts’ El Moro Beach Hotel. Bill has long wanted to retire in Mexico and, since I did not want to primarily for health care reasons, we have compromised on this program. I have gained x pounds even with a focused effort to stay slim by exercising daily. It is not really the pounds but it’s where they land. There is a noticeable “baby bump” that I do not like. It makes me not want to don a swimsuit in this beach paradise!

the four El Cid Resorts in Mazatlan

This is what all-inclusive means in El Cid Resorts. It means all-you-can-eat and drink at any of the following food and beverage outlets whenever we stay in any of these vicinities: four Mazatlan hotels (El Moro, La Marina, La Castilla, and La Granada), two Cancun hotels (Ventus and La Marina), La Ceiba in Cozumel, and those that will open in the new Cabo San Lucas facility. This year, we are in El Moro in Mazatlan. 

some of the restaurants in El Cid Resorts

These are all that are available for our use:

1.    9 Restaurants

La Concha-international food

El Patio-Argentinian food

La Marina-international food

El Alcazar-Italian food

Ban Horu-Japanese food

La Pergola-international food

La Cascada-Mexican food

La Alhambra-international food

La Terraza-international food

2.    5 Snack and Drink Bars

La Gruya

El Patio

La Conchinita

Snack Bars at La Marina

3.    2 Lobby Bars

El Moro

La Castilla

4.    4 Exclusive Elite Lounge, one at each hotel

some of the facilities at the El Cid Golf And Country Club

It also means free use of the facilities of the Casa Club (the Mazatlan Golf and Country Club owned by El Cid) such as the swimming pool, tennis courts, the fitness center, and sauna and steam bath. Discounts are available at the golf course and the Spa Garden. There are also huge discounts for boating and fishing at the Mazatlan Marina Yacht Club which is at the La Marina premises. El Cid also owns Pronatours and tours come at sizable discounts there, too.

the beach fronting El Moro

There is a beachfront and two pool complexes with swim-up bars and large hot tubs for resort guests to use at La Granada, La Castilla, and El Moro. In addition, there are three private pool complexes and a private beachfront for the exclusive use of Elite members like us at El Moro and La Marina. Finally, at every hotel, activities are organized targeting various interests of guests. We have taken courses in Spanish, salsa and other Latin dances, cooking, and mixing drinks, for example. There are more.

some of the activities we joined

In addition, Mazatlan is a great Mexican town to visit. With a population of 500,000, it is considered the Shrimp Capital of the World, has the longest Malecon in Mexico, and has, for an icon, the highest lighthouse in the world on a hill by the bay. There is a vibrant downtown center and many short day trips can take you to colonial villages, a few islands, and even the city of Durango up in the mountains.

It really means great vacations with abundant food, adequate facilities, and many adventures at one great location. But there are major drawbacks to this lifestyle, not the least of which are unwanted weight gain and unwarranted expense. Others may set in for those who stay too long (like us). Boredom with the food, activities, and facilities and the increased feeling of isolation even amid plenty of people (due to lack of solid social circles unless you are adept at meeting strangers) may all set in.

But these are negatives that arise only because of the way we use the benefits. If we exercise moderation and balance, then there will be fewer. of them And with better planning, there may be none. I am developing a few Best Practices for All-Inclusive Resort Stays and will post about them after the eighth week as Part 2 of this series. It is a lifestyle that deserves honing because it is the best that one can have. We are giving ourselves the chance to enjoy it before we leave his world permanently. We do believe it is worth the money and an analysis of costs will be in Part 3 after our twelfth week.

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I hope you will stay tuned.

3 European Countries, a Family Reunion, and 3 Months in Mexico Using Timeshares

Sedona Summit by Diamond Resorts

Timeshares don’t really get a positive nod from a lot of travelers. It is a major investment, there are high maintenance fees, and you are limited to their inventory and availability. But we own sixteen weeks of timeshares. Are we fools? What made us “invest heavily” in this traveling lifestyle?

First, there are four kinds of ownership:

1.    Single Property-limited to only one property

2.    Single Country-limited to all the properties of the specific timeshare in a country.

3.    Single Region-limited to all the properties of the specific timeshare in a region

4.    Global-limited to all the properties of the specific timeshare in the world

Royal Sea Cliff by Wyndham, our home resort

We own twelve weeks in El Cid Vacations Club, all-inclusive. Mexico is my husband’s favorite destination so this is #2 for us. We also own four weeks (split between Club Wyndham and Diamond Resorts International) as #4. Together with these two's respective affiliations with Interval International and RCI, respectively, theoretically we can go to any destination in the world. For example, here are four links to some of the resorts we have used using our timeshare ownerships:  1) Balkan Jewel Resort, Razlog, Bulgaria, 2) Palazzo Catalani, Soriano Nel Cimino, Italy, 3) Le Club Mougins, Mougins, France, and 4) Royal Club of Benal Beach, Malaga, Spain, 5)  Cabo Azul, San Jose del Cabo, Mexico, 6) Ventus by El Cid, Cancun, Mexico, and 7) El Cid Marina, Mazatlan, Mexico. 

We bought El Cid as a way of being able to stay in Mexico longer. You see, Bill would love to retire there. I would rather be in the US so we compromised on a primary home in Phoenix at a resort lifestyle community. Our second home can now be at any of El Cid’s seven properties in Mexico (4 in Mazatlan, 2 in Cancun and 1 Cozumel).

sunset at La Ceiba Cozumel by El /Cid

This membership came with an all-inclusive feature, a bonus for reaching platinum level (at least 12 weeks). The total cost of ownership redounds to a rate of $75 daily or $2250 monthly for the three months we are there. This includes lodging, food, beverage, and utilities. Yes, it is better than paying for twelve months of insurance, taxes, maintenance, and utilities, paying for country club memberships, cooking every meal and maintaining a bar. It may not be an asset but then again, we are no longer at the investing age. We just want to have fun and we have other properties and funds to pass on to our kids.

We stumbled upon El Cid through Wyndham which, together with Diamond, were the first ones we bought. These two assure us of four weeks of travel elsewhere from our two homes.

swim-up bar at Cabo Azul, San Jose del Cabo, by Diamond Resorts

This year, we are basically using Diamond to travel in Europe for a month, beginning Oct. 1. The first week, we will be at the Holiday Club Schloesslhof in Tirol, Austria. From there we will explore Innsbruck, about 45 minutes away and Salzburg, two hours away. On the second week, we will stay at Mondi-Holiday Hotel Oberstaufen in Oberstaufen, Germany. Munich, Zurich, and Lichtenstein are each only two hours away. It is a great base. On the third week, we chose Royal Regency in Vincennes, France. Paris is only 25 minutes away, Versailles, 50 minutes, and Normandy. Before Austria, we will visit friends who own B&Bs in Ljubljana and Bled, Slovenia. After Paris, we go to Brussels Belgium to complete our month.

And then when we come back, after three weeks of rest, we are joining my daughters and grandchildren in our annual family reunion of thirteen in Palm Springs using our Club Wyndham points. After another three weeks of rest, we fly to Mazatlan, using our El Cid points, catch their New Year’s Eve Party and enjoy an all-inclusive vacation until March 31.

Ventus infinity pool and hot tub at Riviera Maya by El Cid

The Wyndham and Diamond ownerships are more expensive. They are not a 20-year lease like El Cid is, but a perpetual ownership which we can pass on to our children and our children’s children even when have passed on. But there are intangibles that timeshare ownerships give the weary traveler. The resorts always have kitchens so we usually prepare our own breakfasts and most dinners and have lunch out every day we are touring to taste local food. Also, they are resorts which have amenities from the basics like fitness centers, pools, and hot tubs to those with golf courses, tennis courts, beachfront, chapels, restaurants, etc.

That is the value we are getting from our timeshare ownerships these next six months. And then the cycle repeats for 2019-20. We are comfortable with these arrangements. 
They are the most convenient ways to have vacations since we are now cruising past 70. 

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