- Dani Hill
- 1 day ago
- 6 min read
The idea of living and working abroad has been forefront for us the last year or so, the fact that we work from our lap tops and our lap tops can be anywhere our laps are, is very cool. The benefits of a cheaper day to day cost of living is attractive too.
Earlier this year we attended an online workshop with Expatsi to learn about how they offer support, knowledge and expertise to Americans who are planning to move abroad, to anywhere. From a quiz to tell you what countries may fit your families needs to literal people in places that you can meet with and talk to and ask all the questions! (Shameless and unpaid plug for this great program!)
Mexico is attractive to us as we have two big kids that would not join us on our journeys, we share custody of them, and they are in a great high school. Just not an option to uproot them at this time. Mexico is close enough to come home for every celebration and occasion, and for them to travel to unaccompanied. While Europe is interesting and a place we would like to explore and Australia pulls at my heart every day, thats just too far for anything more than temporary right now.
Regina went on a 5 day scouting trip in March with Expatsi to Puerto Vallarta and surrounds. She learned how to order fish at the fish market, and what the local real estate market was like, plus had the opportunity to talk to and meet other Americans looking to move out of the country and expat's that lived in Mexico who had recently moved, and some that have been there for almost 10 years. We both couldn't go because... life... so Regina asked all my dumb questions about child care and car seats and ?donde esta el biblioteca? So we both got some information that would lead to us booking a month in Bucerias, just north of PV.
A Month. In Mexico. Just let that settle in for a moment. This planned month is this summer and involves a long stay Air BnB, nannies, shopping, traveling, living, cooking, being, working, coping, talking and walking in Mexico. A MONTH!
But before that grand adventure, our conversation turned to Ensenada one night. We have friends that go there, not a far drive from San Diego. Seemed like an option we had to check out. We talked about driving, spending a weekend or a week there, and we thought maybe it would be fun to explore the area on our own, no kids.
We discovered that it was about 7 hours drive from our home in Vegas, or we could fly in to Tijuana and rent a car. I googled 'best way to see Ensenada' and what popped up? Cruise! Okay, so we had been wanting to cruise, never been, and if we have a day in Ensenada to explore plus a fun experience getting there. Lets do it!

I contacted my friend Michelle at https://looking-forward-travel.com/ We have known each other for many, many moons and she hooked me and my mum up with a trip to Memphis and NOLA late last year. I knew she had recently started cruising and she found us a great deal on a 5 day Mexican Riviera Carnaval cruise in May. This included a day in Cabo and a day in Ensenada, and 2 days at sea. Perfect.
Hello Hotel Boat! Departure day loomed and we drove 5 hours to Long Beach and saw the tremendous ship we would be living on for 5 days.. I had fear, but I had a 3 year old who very much was sold on the idea of sleeping in a hotel on a boat. Hence the term, Hotel Boat was created.

The cruise was... challenging, and mainly because our beautiful wonderful active kid was kicked out of Kids Club every time we put him in. He would last 30 minutes or an hour and a half but never longer. And it was because they would do a planned activity and he wasn't listening. Wasn't following directions and was running around. Um, yeah, he is three. So we didn't get much adult time, not as much as expected. But we did explore the boat, eat and swim. We did take it in turns in the evening to gamble, see some entertainment and wander the shops and we did decide that we are doing this again sans children!
Regina got the internet package so she was able to use her phone and computer. She worked from on board, in our little cabin. On her laptop and answering calls a few hours each day. We were on board Thursday through Tuesday, so it was easy to take most of the weekend off from work. Me? I didn't even take my laptop!
First stop was Cabo! Hello Mexico, beautiful coast line, the bluest water, the most pretty rocks and a busy, bustling port. We had to take a boat to get to the shore, and then another water taxi to get to the beach and we had just gotten off a large boat that we were sleeping on. I am not a boat person, I was not a pirate in another life and boat after boat (getting smaller each time) was not particularly appealing for me, but, I was brave for my kid.

I found Cabo to be a little overwhelming, with lots of people selling you stuff, putting iguanas on your head, wanting your money to take glass bottomed boat tours and sell you blankets. Meanwhile the tourists are flocking to drink and eat. It was a little crazy. We started out by getting a Pedi Cab and heading out from the coast walk (just a little bit). We had been warned on the ship to not stray from the tourist areas, and there were Federales with big weapons all over the place. In fact, when we first got to shore, Regina asked one of them where the swim beach was and he just slowly shook his mask covered head.

We saw a little of the streets, and markets and shops in the area surrounding the shore. But mostly we saw Jose's sweaty back as he pulled us around as we took pictures, and giggled and took in the locals. A water taxi to 'our beach' and a table in the sand was next on the ticket, with a couple margaritas and a short lived splash in the ocean that was intent to drag us all the way to Australia with each ebb. Seriously, the undertow was so strong that I fell with Lenny in my hands, into the sand and then when Regina was having a go, she fell so dramatically a local jumped in to pull her up! We returned to the ship with less $$ and a toy iguana. Cabo? Ca-no.
After another day at sea we arrive at Ensenada. Already I liked the city better, it was layed out in a cove and the ship could dock right up to land. No boats to get to the boat.

We walked in from the cruise terminal and almost immediately rented a UTV. Buckled the kid in - we got him this awesome harness for just this reason! And off we went, exploring a little bit of the community, residential areas. We stopped at a supermarket - highlight of the day! And wandered around taking pictures of stuff and reminding ourselves that yes, they had all the essentials and some were much cheaper!
Bud lite 12 packs were 109 pesos - $5.68, a small pack of Bacon was 77 pesos - $4, and a loaf of Bread was 30 pesos - $1.56. A 12 pack of toilet paper 79 pesos - $4.12, a large bottle of coke was 20 pesos - $1.04. So, long story short, we will be able to eat and drink and its going to be cheaper that in the US right now!
The three of us wandered the fore shore a little - missed the whole tourist area and didn't make it to the beach but talked about coming back. I went into an OXXO - just like a 7 11 back home but everything was in espanol! We ate at a little taco place, bought some jewellery and a few trinkets. Regina got us all Starbucks and we headed back to the boat. Seemed to be a clean, laid back city and I can't wait to return.
The next morning we were back State side, and we disembarked and drove home. All in all, an experience we would do again (the cruise) and spend more time at (Ensenada). Regina also wants to return to Cabo to see the tropical fish on a glass bottom boat tour. I'm good.
Back to life as usual, for just a couple weeks before the grand 4 week Bucerias, Mexico immersion. After the 5 day taste of travel working there were a few lessons learned. We need help with 'L' on a day to day basis if I am to work at all!
Stay tuned as we pack and get Amazon packages every day before we head to Mexico #2! Oh yeah, we bought a Starlink too!