75

I, too, am considering a one-year location in Mexico in 2013/2014.

I don't care about the restaurants, but I do care about climate and also internet access that is both reliable and high speed. Another criterion is ease/affordability for folks visiting me from the U.S. And trees. And rent that's under $400/month. A sense of place. Diversity of income, age, and ethnicity. Less than half million population, more than 50,000.

A mild climate year-round is super important and for that, I'm considering Cuernavaca and Ensenada.

A huge advantage to Ensenada is that it would be easy and relatively affordable for my U.S. friends/fam to visit me - fly into San Diego, then take a bus to Ensenada. I thought Cuernavaca would be the same in re: affordable airfare to the Mexico City airport, but I was pretty taken aback by the airfare I checked out - but maybe that was a seasonal hike (March).

A huge disadvantage to Ensenada is that it's so remote from most of the rest of Mexico, whereas in C'vaca, I'm guessing I can hop a bus or internal plane in Mexico City to just about anywhere in the country.

I don't want to live in Mexico City because it's too big for my taste, notwithstanding the current swooning over the delights of same. I can always visit the city.

Is there a reason why no one's mentioned Ensenada to the OP? I'm making an assumption it meets most of his criteria - and for my own selfish interests, I'm curious to know why it's not on anyone's list.

This post is kind of all over the map, but ... ideas on cities I may have overlooked would be helpful.

To save time, I've ruled out some great cities because they're too cold in the winter or too hot in the summer.

Other than Ensenada, I'd like the place to be 2 hours or less to Mexico City.

76

@#75:


Pátzcuaro, Michoacán. Or maybe Morelia. We have trees in and around Pátzcuaro. A beautiful lake. Four seasons: Winter is cold but bearable. Cold nights, pleasant days. This year it was hardly cold at all.
Spring, March, April, May, hotter and dryer. The least pleasant season, but not that bad.

Summer. June July August Sept. Cool days and nights due to the freshening and greening effect of afternoon and evening rainstorms.

Autumn; late Sept, October, November: the best season. Clear, warm days, little to no rain, cool but pleasant nights.

Morelia has an international airport nearby.

77

Mmmm, a lake. I like lakes better than oceans. Both places have piqued my interest - thanks.

Looks like Morelia is in a sweet spot between Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Queretaro. And it looks like airfares from St. Louis (home base of family) to any of these three are similar. Looks like Queretaro would be best connection, assuming regular buses from Q to Morelia.

What's the internet access situation? My job is internet-based.

78

Consider Valle de Bravohttp:http//www.visitmexico.com/en/valle-de-bravo

79

Consider Valle de Bravo

In the winter, just make sure you consider it with several layers... brrrr.

I have to say that my time in Patzcuaro last month was a lot colder than I expected too... every day was beautiful, but the nights were rough, especially since the place I was staying (Posada Mandala) had no heat.

80

Looks tempting .... and rather upscale for a person on a budget .... your thoughts on that, either of you (78, 79)? I'm looking to rent for less than $400 USD per month.

As someone else suggested to me, looks like my best course will be to use my first month in country to look first-hand at the places that interest me and then make a decision.

Also, to anyone: Any favorite websites or blogs that focus on solo or budget travel throughout Mexico?