Just wanted to say I've been researching Mexico heavily for a couple of months and while I won't be going to PDC (yet) due to logistics, it's more safe than the Phoenix-metro area where I currently live. US media loves to paint a dirty picture of Mexico but if you talk to people who actually live there you'll get first-hand information about how things really are.

From what I've been told by expats if you get involved in drugs of any sort you're exposing yourself to risk, otherwise you shouldn't feel unsafe in PDC. Same holds true for a number of other Mexican cities.

News channels have 24h a day to fill.
That means on slow news days....

Let's put it this way. The amount of coverage a story gets depends not as much on the importance of the story, but on how much other horror (real or imagined) there is to report that day aside from that story. (Swine flu, anyone?)


Any estimates on how many 2+2 players actually live in PDC? (Currently in San Miguel de Allende in Guanajuato)

I think this is a huge statement. I already lived here pre-BF, so I'm in the same boat as mr.bum.

Also, I just uploaded a bunch of videos. Here's a quick vid of me paddleboarding around my bay:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZ8tyb0S1fw

and another couple vids from some diving last week in Cozumel:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRWIoOd67M8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_IEUjcCBXQ

yeah that was me...

when i went i was looking for a nice safe place.. hopefully with a nice view..
but what i got was a place w/ ants, broken apps., and view of the barrio next to the highway.. i wish i did like it..
i was kinda utg though as i had a lease in chicago almost up.. and i knew pdc wasn't gonna work for me so i just decided to bounce to vegas (summerlin).

..and i didn't 'make up' what i was told by the dude who has lived there for years.. he said to pick up the newspaper and you can read about ppl disappearin' or getting whacked all the time.. he said 'the zetas' were all over mexico...

fwiw i'm probably moving to toronto in the winter if Sen. Reid doesn't drop a bill soon.. :/

lololol
so you did zero research before you came down here? then you checked out one apartment that did not meet your expectations and decided no others would either? you're an idiot

what an a55hole^
yeah i didn't do any research (where did i say that?)
do you take it personally that i didn't like PDC?
have i offended you?

TBH, i had done quite a bit of research post 'black friday'..
i was 90% sure i was movin' to malta..
but, i ended up choosing pdc b/c of a recommendation from my fam..
and the fact that it would save me around $7k.

i had rented a condo for a month through some woman on craig's list..
and the pictures looked really nice (after wading through many others and contacting ppl in mexico over the course of a month)...
of course, i was mistaken when i got there.

i didn't feel like looking at other places cuz i didn't like the city (including 5th ave)
i thought it was dirty and quasi-sketch..

i only rented the place for a month because i knew there was a chance that i might not dig it..
and if i didn't, (crazy thought i know), i might move to toronto or vegas..
time is money and i didn't feel like dickin' around eatin' tacos.. so what..
glad you enjoy it.

go f**k yourself.

and fwiw, this is what the condo owner's assisstant told me as well... ^
"just don't buy any drugs and you'll be o.k." to be exact...

i guess the guy who was in the condo before me got caught up with the gangs and drugs and left (jail/disappeared/went back to the US) after a week or two..

How to Win Friends and Influence People

-mr.bum

Looks incredibly nice...how did you wind up in Playa before black Friday...why is your locations still "SD, CA?"

Assuming you don't split your time, is there anything you miss about life in the US?

Not sure I fully understand what you guys mean about safety?!
Everything I hear about Mexico is that there's a war going on

Is PDC on the other side of the war? no gangs there?
Seems beautiful if safe

^^^ Allow me to put this into a context that will add some perspective.

"Did you hear? They found those LA cops that beat up that black guy innocent. There's riots in the streets!"

"Sh**! Sounds dangerous! I better cancel my trip to Des Moines."

So the "war" is only in other parts of the country?
Perfectly safe to live there and travel in and out?

Again, I'm sorry if my questions seem dumb to you, I have no clue on the subject

I stayed in Playa Del Carmen for 2 months about 2 years ago. I walked in the most ghetto areas of the city at 2am and I never felt threatened. I heard of the Zetas many times but never any issues. I think it was very safe and very foreignor friendly. Much of their business is from tourism. I had a lot of people saying I would get kidnapped or something like that. I didn't feel unsafe at all during my stay. Everyone was very friendly.

Got here on Monday and loving it so far. Anyone in town want to get some drinks tomorrow or Friday?

i mean, "dont buy drugs and you'll be ok" seems like sound advice anywhere

im down for drinks friday, not till 11 or 12 though

Pictures/videos look awesome.

Can anybody recommend me some nice apartments (2BR, 2BA) for monthly leases in PDC?

Have only been to Cancun in the past, how do both cities compare to each other?

how is the security in the apartment complexes? some complexes have their own security guards etc correct?

how would u guys rate the reliability of the internet there?

this is the site i used
internet is very good plus a 3g backup usb is like40$ including 100mb of data.

I'm getting the wheels rolling on making the move to the Yucatan with another P2Per or two. Originally I had planned on moving in January 2012, but if I get things moving in the right direction sooner, it looks like that is an option.

The Rosarito thread seems to have really kicked off a nice group of poker players moving to Mexico, and while I appreciate their excitement for being back up and running and living in a "beach" town, I think we all know that PDC, Cozumel, and Cancun better represent what a beach is really supposed to be.

From this thread I can see there's at least 4 of you in PDC: bumpking, mr.bum, noseeds99, and JB-nasty, with Keyztone making the move to Cozumel in January.

I've been to all three locations before (Cancun, Cozumel, & PDC), and I'm open to all three options. Right now it looks like PDC is at the top of the list.

For those who live there already, why did you choose one city over the others?

Do any of you guys live together?

Are there more poker players down there than just the 4 of you that you are aware of?

Do there appear to be many more places available for rent (on a monthly basis) down there than I see online? I've looked at Craigslist (disorganized nightmare), HomeAway/VRBO (way overpriced), and the two links in this thread. Ideally I'd like to get a newer, clean 2/3 BR house or condo near the beach.

I'm very well traveled and am fluent in Spanish (or at least will be once I'm down there for a week again), so I'm not worried about getting around, but I do like the idea of having a poker community down there that could help make my (and my friend(s)) transition back online quick and easy.

Pole dancing contest fri at tequila barrel, whos in

Lots of for rent signs at nice looking places around town. I think alot of owners want to hold them for busy season though so you cant lock in a decent longer term rate everywhere. That was the case at a couple places the real estate agent I used was looking at for me. They wanted double rent for December and January. Same thing on the websites, rent might be listed at $1200 now but it fluctuates some based on the season. Thought I was gonna get a really sick place until I found that out. Still was able to find a very good place though, just had to go down the list a little bit.

JB, would you PM me the info for the realtor you used? And maybe PM me the complex you're in (if it's a condo) if you like the place you're at.

Doesnt seem many people check this thread, but if anyone in town wants cash for Party let me know

I'm looking to spend the winter abroad, was thinking maybe thailand then i found this thread. anyone would know of a room, I want to stay 3 months+