WLS

Our family of 4 (2adults, son 14, daughter 18) currently have reservations for 4 weeks of language school in Oaxaca starting July 8. Due to concerns for safety and hygiene caused by the teacher demonstrations and riot police currently taking over Oaxaca City, I am leaning toward a last minute change of location (despite the large amount of deposits we would lose). San Miguel has so many rentals I thought it might be possible to find a nice one even at such short notice. Airline tickets can be changed to Leon. Centro Bilingue has room for my family. Now housing. I would prefer to spend all four weeks in a 2 bedroom/ 2 bathroom rental within easy walking distance to school (on Correo). We can be flexible. My daughter and I are arriving alone on July 8 and could spend the first week in a B&B (recommendations?). My son and husband arrive week 2 (July15) and at that point a rental would be most convenient but two rooms at a B&B would work if we could have a mini-fridge. Any and all help and advise is much appreciated!

mikemo

Centro Bilingue and AHA are very close and both well regarded.
A local hotel: Parador San Sebastian is inexpensive and gets good feedback.
Las Terrazas probably has no reservations for this time, but is very nice.
Please check the fairly active TA forum.
There are several nice rental places in Atencion which I can foward if you would like.
M (SMdA, Gto)

WLS

mikemo: Thank you so much for your help.Parador San Sebastian doesn't seem to take reservations, so that won't work. I would very much appreciate it if you could let me know about the rentals advertised in Atencion. What is your advise on how to determine online, if a SMdA rental is "nice"? I check locations on a map but beyond that, never having been to SMdA, I am at a loss. Also, if you would be so kind as to answer two more SM questions. 1.How hot can we expect it to be during the day and at night? I have looked up averages but the current temperature appears to be significantly above what the books say. Has it really been in the high 80's lately? 2. Can my husband (who is very heat sensitive) really not wear shorts to school in SM? I am assuming my 14 yr old son can wear his. Thanks so much for your insider info.

WLS

Anyone have experience with Casa Puesta del Sol?

Stewbear

I have not been to SM but have traveled extensively to cities of inland Mexico & in all shorts are Not Approved attire for males. Now with the huge US influence perhaps it is less a error as he other cities but I kind of doubt it!

mikemo

WLS,
S'bear is correct. I wear shorts at home, and to the car wash, but almost never in town.
Best weather site is www.vivasma.com click the blue box upper right for the QRO airport report. June - early Oct is the rainy season with moderate temps and little daytime humidity. It can be hot in the sun (the official temps are recorded in the shade), so a hat and sunblock are recommended.
Casa Puesta del Sol is uphill to the E beyond Las Terrazas. I know the owners of both and have stayed at LT, but not CPdS. Both get good/great feedback. Casa de la Cuesta and Casa Schuck are nearby as well.
Apts. near Juarez Park: (from US: 011 52 415) 152-2369 152-6336
Others: 152-3221 152-1276 152-3946

Casa Anita on Jesus is moderate and gets great reviews on the TA forums (I have visited). Casa Calderoni is a relative value in a higher end place.
If you "find" something interesting, I can go by and look if I have not already seen it.
Buen viaje.
M

WLS

mikemo: Thank you for all your help. Las Terrazas looked wonderful but as you predicted they do not have availability for our dates. Casa Puesta del Sol is available and has a family suite(2 bedrooms/2 bathrooms) with kitchenette. It looks very nice and we will probably go with it because I can see it and read the positive reviews. It isn't located very conveniently and is more than I hoped to spend BUT at this late date one can't have it all. A relaxing, enjoyable stay in a beautiful place is the bottom line. Many of the B&B's have age limitations if they take kids at all. Casa Cuesta for example says minimum age is 16. I will continue to investigate. Your info has been very helpful. Thanks for taking the time to share!

kwil

WLS,
Try looking at vrbo.com/16448. I have stayed there twice and loved it and it is a very easy walk to el centro. It may be a long shot since it is July and many Texans spend July in SMA but is worth a try.

Also, have you tried posting on the trip advisor and falling in love with san miguel forums? Or a few of the rental agencies? I've used vacation-homes-san-miguel.com and thought they were great.

mikemo

WLS,
I think you'll like Casa Puesta del Sol. It'll take a few days to adjust to the altitude (>6800 ft in Atascadero) if you are coming from < 2000ft, but taxis are ubiquitous and will take 4 for $20.pesos.
M

mikemo

kwil,
For my file, where is vrbo 16448 located?
M

WLS

kwil:Thanks for the info. I woill look into the rental you suggested.

mikemo: The very helpful Greg from Las Terrazas forwarded my correspondence with him to Annie Ruetinger of San Miguel House Rentals. She suggested Casa Delilah which is available for our dates. Ever hear of it? It is in the Guadiana district supposedly 12 level minutes of walking to the center, though I don't know what that means in terms of distance to Centro Bilingue. I need to decide today before CPdS is no longer available. Thanks again for all of your help!

kwil

Ladriella basically dead ends into the house at, if I remember correctly, cjon del codo.

WLS

kwil: Using your advice, I checked into the 16448 but it only has two beds. We need three. However, I did call Jennifer at vacation-homes-san-miguel and I may have found a good house. The only problem is that I can't judge distances from the SM map. The house I am looking at is Casa Lorraine on Callejon del Cardo (#G95 on the vacation homes web site map) How far is that to Correo (where our school is located)?

Mikemo: What do you think about Casa Lorraine on Callejon del Cardo? The price is good and the house looks nice. I am wondering about the area and distance.

Thanks to all!

mikemo

There is some construction on Cardo and they are finishing a huge public parking garage there which will increase traffic more than exponentially.
Closer to the park is better, but...
If you have the address, I'll go down in the morning. It's a not insignificant walk to Centro Bilingue, but we do it lots.
I'll check the rental web site.
M

mikemo

My computersecurity will not permit me to open the web site.
M

mikemo

kwil,
Others I know have stayed on Ladrillera: great little tree shaded street and 'hood.
M

mikemo

OK, is it C'jon de Codo - very good - as noted above, or Calle Cardo (which is in barrio Guadiana)? The activity there is a bit much.
M

WLS

mikemo: The website description says Callejon del Cardo 5 blocks south of the city center. Casa Lorraine is listed on the vacation-homes-san-miguel.com website under 3 bedrooms and is number G95 on their location map. There is no exact address given but on the map it appears to be near the intersection of C. del Cardo and Guadiana. Sounds like maybe I should stick with Casa Puesta del Sol. Way more expensive but more peaceful and safe?

mikemo

I cannot access the rental web site as my computer security claims it's contaminated.
Send me the street address and I'll go look tomorrow morning.
Mike

mikemo

I tried calling vacation homes, but get a continual busy signal. Often a sign of Telmex problems.
M