1

I will suggest Merida for safety, culture & shopping...One can drive to the "beach" ... carracar

2

I second carracar's suggestion. Check the http://www.yucatantoday.com website for more info.

3

How healthy is your mom in terms of vision and mobility? How much (or little) can she walk? Would she have trouble avoiding obstacles on the sidewalk, or could she spot them and step over them? (Broken slabs, open registers, and bits of steel bar sticking up are common sidewalk obstacles.) How can she handle stairs and steps? What if they are taller than normal curbs or steps?

If she is ok with these physical challenges, she has a lot more freedom to get out on the street and experience Mexican culture, but if they will give her problems, that eliminates some possible suggestions.

4

Merida would be nice. If you want beach, I'd say fly in to P.V., then go up the coast. Anything between Bucerias and Chacala should be fine.

Everybody should heed maesania's warning about hazards! I know where the sidewalk opens into a major cravasse on a busy corner in Hermosillo, and ten-foot deep pit near Palenque -- both unmarked! Ditto for re-bar sticking out where it can poke you. I guess everybody knows those hazards are there, so there's no reason to mark them.

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Edited by: Yersinia on Feb 22, 2013 10:56 AM

5

Being "bien añejo" myself, I will side with an enthusiastic endorsement "maesania's" points. I don't see well anymore, step carefully only to have my feet land somewhere else, suffer from medicine induced vertigo, easily twist ankles, and would do poorly breaking a bone or cracking a skull. "Cobblestones & Me" do not mix.

Toilets that wobble, slick wet tile floors, all of it makes life down here more challenging. Your mom in her enthusiasm may ignore or minimize the importance of these facts but you need to plan ahead. Wal-Mart sells "slip proof socks" like USA hospitals have. Vital when calls to the bathroom happen at night. Walking shoes that support the ankle are indispensable. If she does not use a cane, get her a lightweight walking stick. Pack a couple of night lights.

All Derived From The School Of The Hardest Of Knocks

6

I'd go along with those suggesting Mérida with one big caveat - it's hot and humid even in November (I just checked the weather there for today - low 90s with 75% humidity and showers coming). In fact, if it wasn't so hot and humid, I'd seriously consider moving there.

Overall, the city is pretty clean comparative to other large cities in Mexico. It's also pretty laid back for such a large place, yet not boring and there's musicians playing marimbas and harps in the parks in the evening. Then there is the shopping - handmade Panama hats, silk blouses, guayaberas, high quality manta (loose-woven cotton) shirts and blouses. Really nice stuff at very good prices.

Also, lots of good restaurants (I recommend Los Almendros for excellent Mexican food) and in the evening older folks dress up in their guayaberas and long dresses for a stroll past the mansions lining Paseo Montejo. In fact, one of the mansions is a museum that you can tour - and it's worth the tour.

And if that isn't enough, there are great day trips out of Mérida such as the flamingo sancuary at Celestun, the Ruta Puuc with magnificent Mayan ruins, the Ruta Convento (Convent route) through Mayan towns with beautiful churches.

7

Yes, Merida – it's definitely 'less hot' in November – and definitely not Vera Cruz in this case. Mazatlan might be nice too.

If you're not hung up on the beach, everyone comes away loving Oaxaca and San Cristobal, with the former being especially senior-friendly, and both have gorgeous weather in Nov.

8

^^^^^^^ with no edit function (news flash: just heard that it's coming back 'soon') I cannot correct my glaring error in stating that 'everyone' loves Oaxaca. I guess it has its detractors... but they're all just grumpyskins.

9

Puerto Vallarta would probably suit you just fine. Just be sure to stay in the old town, either centre or south side, and not in Nueva Vallarta or the Marina area.

Although it is a touristy city, it has real charm and is wonderful for older tourists. The people are so hospitable and will be very willing to help with any mobility issues or problems that might occur. A bonus is all the wonderful restaurants and free entertainment on the weekends on the Malecon.

You do have to walk out for uneven pavement and the cobblestones there, as well. Taxis are plentiful and cheap.

Have fun!

10

A Canadian friend took her old mom to Oaxaca city for a week and they had a ball. Problem of course is the beach element: Huatulco or Puerto Escondido are a long ways away unless you might consider flying down from Oaxaca city.

11

Not on the beach but I would recommend this place. http://oliviasapartments.com/.

In November the weather is perfect, the area is flat and easy to walk. The public transportation is excellent and right now we have two 80 year olds staying here and they both love it.

Nancy and I (not quite 80) stay here for 5 months each year and are very happy we have chosen Tlaquepaque as a place to spend part of each year.

Ron Wollersheim

12

Not the Atlantic coast, but I've taken two mid-70s friends to La Manzanilla on the west coast on a couple of occasions. Both loved it. It's not, of course a city with all that implies, though the village has good restaurants and beach cafés, an art gallery, an art walk in early February and a fun fiesta during the second week of the same month. The beach is hard sand - good for walking and the ocean is safe for swimming. There are boat tours of the crocodile lagoon to see the amazing variety of birds and out onto the bay to see whales, dolphins and, possibly, turtles. The main street (and that's about all you might need apart from the beach) is newly paved. The village can be accessed by bus (about 4 hours) from Puerto Vallarta, but the easiest way is to fly into Manzanillo airport and take a taxi from there (about 45 minutes). Many people rent apartments when they stay in La Manzanilla (you can google the place name and lots of info. comes up. Be careful if you rent - many places are up steep hills), but there is what seems to be a nice hotel - Tonalá - on the main street. Google it as well. If you get tired of La Manzanilla, a 20-minute bus ride takes you to Melaque and, a bit further on, to Barra de Navidad, both on the same bay but very different and both more "town" than "village".

13

Thanks all for the suggestions, my mom is fine she can walk with not problems, with the stairs she is fine too, if she handle somebody arms (is more for feeling safe, than any issue). She takes yoga classes twice a week, and is prety active.
Definetly I will consider the Merida option, need to find how far from the beach it is.
Thanks again!