Category Pages For: LIVING Ideas

Special events and fun things to do

DECEMBER 2016: Click here to read our Retirement Reviews. OVERVIEW: My sister and brother (and partners) joined me in Belize for Christmas 2016. One of our planned ‘special events’ was a trip over the Guatemalan border to see the Maya Ruins at Tikal. We planned to base ourselves in San Ignacio, Belize (near the Guatemalan border) and to do a day trip to Tikal from there. Tikal is considered to be one of the most important archaeological sites of Maya culture, along with: Palenque, Chichén, Calukmal, and Uxmal in Mexico; and Caracol and Xunantunich in Belize. Tikal is deep in the jungles of […]

Tikal – Guatemala – Day Trip from ...

DECEMBER 2016: Click here to read our Retirement Reviews. OVERVIEW: I made my way from Punta Gorda (Belize) to Livingston & El Estor (Guatemala) by water taxi (lancha). In Livingston I stayed in a BELOW GRANDPAcking Standard hotel: the Hotel y Restaurante Casa Escondida. I paid US$33 / night for a Twin Room with Fan and Cold Water Ensuite overlooking the rivermouth. The Twin room that I had was tiny. The best thing about the hotel was the view: There is nothing to do in Livingston, 2 nights is enough … this gives you 1 whole day to walk to the stepped waterfalls and spend […]

Rio Dulce – Guatemala – A Lakefront ...

xpujil-calakmul-29
NOVEMBER 2016: Why not read our Mexico Retirement Reviews. OVERVIEW: In Uxmal, I stayed in a GRANDPAcking Standard hotel: the La Casa del Mago. I booked the Mago at a 26% discount: MXP764 / night (US$38). This included a Continental Breakfast. On arrival, I was ‘upgraded’ to a room at the Lodge. Uxmal was the start of my ‘Maya Ruins LIVING Ideas’ adventure. They are wonderful, ornate ruins … and, definitely, worth a visit. It was time to head for Xpujil to see the ruins at Calakmul. UXMAL TO XPUJIL: I made my way 145 kms south from Uxmal to Xpujil on second class public buses. […]

Xpujil – Mexico – Calakmul Maya Ruins

NOVEMBER 2016: Why not read our Mexico Retirement Reviews. OVERVIEW: In Merida, I stayed in a GRANDPAcking Standard hotel: the Doralba Inn. I booked the Doralba at a 58% discount: MXP469 / night (US$26). This included a Buffet Breakfast. I had some fun in Merida at the Procession of Souls. It was time to head for Uxmal to do some more LIVING. MERIDA TO UXMAL: I made my way 60 kms south from Merida to Uxmal on a second class public bus. From the Doralba it was a 20 minute walk to the ADO Bus Terminal. Buses to Uxmal leave every 1 to 1.5 hours during the day. I […]

Uxmal – Mexico – Maya Ruins

OCTOBER 2016: Click here to read our Mexico Retirement Reviews. OVERVIEW: I made my way from El Cuyo to Rio Lagartos by public transport (local buses). El Cuyo was a very quiet fishing village on Mexico’s northern coast with a nice surf beach. It offered good value ‘living’ and a laid-back lifestyle. In El Cuyo, I stayed in a GRANDPAcking Standard Vacation Rental: the Hacienda Antigua Lodge. El Cuyo accommodation is expensive; I couldn’t afford to stay anywhere on the seafront. But the Antigue was on the beach road only 50 meters from the beach. I paid MXP500 / night. It was time to head for Rio Lagartos. I planned to stay […]

Rio Lagartos – Mexico – Information

SEPTEMBER 2016: Click here to read our Mexico Retirement Reviews. OVERVIEW: I made my way south from Isla Mujeres down the Mexican Caribbean Coast via Playa Del Carmen to Tulum. The Yucatan Peninsula is famous for it Cenotes: a natural pit, or sinkhole, resulting from the collapse of limestone bedrock that exposes groundwater underneath. You can snorkel the cenotes or SCUBA dive them. Some can be snorkelled or SCUBA dived. Some can only best be SCUBA dived. Some of the best cenotes are in and around Tulum … so, I decided to SCUBA dive 3 in one day. THE OPTIONS: There are several dive shops in […]

Tulum – Mexico – SCUBA Dive Cenotes

SEPTEMBER 2016: Click here to read our Mexico Retirement Reviews. OVERVIEW: I made my way south from Isla Mujeres down the Mexican Caribbean Coast via Playa Del Carmen to Tulum. In Tulum, there are 2 famous local sites: Tulum (itself) and Coba. TULUM RUINS: I was staying in a hostel in Tulum so I went to the Tulum Ruins first. My hostel rented out bicycles for MXP80 / day … which is a reasonable price in Mexican tourist areas.The Tulum Ruins are an easy 3km cycle from the centre of Tulum. You cycle about 2kms north on the main road and, then, cut down a […]

Tulum – Mexico – Mayan Ruins

JULY 2016: Click here to read our Mexico Retirement Reviews. OVERVIEW: It is recommended that, if you plan to live in or travel in Mexico for any length of time, you should try and learn some Spanish. I made my way from Puerto Vallarta to Tlaquepaque to attend Spanish Immersion Classes. CULTURLINGUA: I took the middle-priced Tlaquepaque option for US$650. You are, usually, quoted in US$s – but can pay either in US$s or in MXP (at the conversion rate on the day of payment). I was willing to pay a bit extra for private classes. Other schools only had 2 hours of group […]

Tlaquepaque – Mexico – Spanish Immersion Classes

  MAY/JUNE 2016:   Click here to read our Philippines Retirement Reviews. OVERVIEW: You can come to The Philippines and hit all of the popular spots from Palawan Island (Puerto Princesa, Sabang, Port Barton and El Nido) to Coron to Boracay to Siquijor to Panglao to Malapascua … But the Central Spine offers more of an authentic Philippines experience at a cheaper price without the crowds … with beaches and experiences that are just as good. In this post, I suggest a 1-2 month itinerary for those who want to follow a ‘Road Less Travelled’. All on a GRANDPAcking Budget of US$54 / […]

Central – Philippines – A Road Less ...

  JUNE 2016:   OVERVIEW: In this post, I tell you about a little ‘hideaway’: Marinduque Island … I tell you how you can spend a month living in peace and quiet on this idyllic little island … and do so on a GRANDPAcking Budget. ABOUT MARINDUQUE ISLAND: Marinduque is an island province in the Philippines located in the MIMAROPA Region. Its capital is Boac. Marinduque lies between Tayabas Bay to the north and the Sibuyan Sea to the south. It is west of the Bondoc Peninsula of Quezon province, east of Mindoro Island, and north of the island province of Romblon. Couple […]

Marinduque – Philippines – A Perfect Escape

  JUNE 2016:   OVERVIEW: In this post, I tell you a secret … I tell you about a little ‘hideaway’: Maripipi Island … I tell you how you can spend a month living in peace and quiet on this idyllic little island … and do so on a GRANDPAcking Budget. ABOUT MARIPIPI ISLAND: Maripipi is an island in the province of Biliran, Philippines. It is the smallest and least populous municipality in the province. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 6,699 people. Maripipi has a coastal circumference of twenty-four kms. Maripipi is home to the famous Sambawan Island. Maripipi has […]

Maripipi – Philippines – A Secret Escape

MARCH 2016: OVERVIEW: I have already posted the GRANDPAcking Costs for Boracay. These demonstrate that GRANDPAckers cannot afford to LIVE on Boracay Island using our standard approach. However, it is such a beautiful world-top-ten beach destination that it is worth showing how GRANDPAckers CAN LIVE on Boracay in High Season on a GRANDPAcking budget with only a few ‘minor’ adjustments to lifestyle. In this post, I explain how… CROSS REFERENCES: Read Boracay – Philippines – Information for more detail. Read about Philippines Retirement Locations. Read about other Philippines Destinations and Travel Budgets. Read about GRANDPAcking Costs if you don’t know how to interpret my figures. SPREADSHEET SUMMARY: WHAT IT SHOULD COST […]

Boracay – Philippines – LIVING on a ...