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Credit Cards or Pesos?
- We use credit cards at restaurants, grocery stores, souvenir shops, etc. You might want to check to see if your credit card charges foreign transaction fees and if they do, get an additional one to use when traveling abroad. We also use our credit cards in ATMs to get pesos - might check to see if you are charged fees for this as well. Here's a list of credit cards without foreign transaction fees.
- You'll need pesos for the market, street vendors, cabs and pulmonias, some restaurants, etc. Maybe 4,000 ($200 USD prox) to 8,000 pesos a week. You can always draw more from the ubiquitous ATMs around town.
Offline Maps. If your phone will handle it, offline google maps is useful. That way you can have a map with you as long as you have your phone, and you don't have to use any data or be online. Google drug stores, grocery stores, coffee shops, restaurants, etc.
Backstock. There are storerooms in each house with some shared items like irons and ironing boards, batteries, vacuum cleaners, etc.
- Orange House: the storage closet in Apt 1 (ground floor)
- Blue House: the storage room in Apt 7 (ground floor)
Garbage.
- Picked up Monday, Wednesday, Friday about 7:00 PM. Even on Holidays. Just leave your trash on the corner by the "yellow rock", but don't put it out before 5:00 on MWF - dogs like to go through trash left out during normal business hours. They normally take the rest of day off after 5.
- Each bathroom and kitchen should have replacement bags, but if not, you can get more at the convenience stores or supermarkets, or use a plastic grocery bag.
- If you are not going to be around at 5:00 on trash days, just add your trash to the bin under the stairs at 49 Pedregoso before you go out. Someone will take out the combined big bag after 5:00.
Recycling
- Should be recycling bins in each apartment with the little recycling symbol on the top.
- The recycling center takes paper, cans, and plastic, but not glass. Glass goes in the trash.
- If the recycling container in your apartment gets full, you can let Octavio or Pepe know and they'll pick it up, or you can take it to Apartment 2 on the bottom floor of the Orange House where we accumulate it. Once we have enough, we make a trip to the recycling center.
Laundry
- Both houses have washers and dryers. You may need to use your phone language translator to choose settings.
  - Orange House: in Apt 1.
  - Blue House: folding doors inside the gate when you first come in.
Safe
- Each apartment has a safe. Ask for the combo. Good place for passport and extra cash.
Drying Racks. Each apartment has a folding drying rack. Usually in the closet. Good for towels after the beach.
Outdoor Shower.
- There's a really neat outdoor shower outside of the Blue House, hidden in the bouganvilla and disguised as an empty milk bottle. You gotta see it even if you don't use it.
- Turn on the water at the wall and there's another valve near the milk bottle.
- Serves both the Blue House and the Orange House.
- Helps prevent excess sand buildup in your apartment.
Step stools. Each apartment has a step stool, often folded and stored in one of the closets, in case you need to get to upper shelves in the closets and kitchens.
Hummingbird Feeders. 4 parts water to 1 part sugar.
Google Home. There's a Google Home device on the Orange House azotea.
- If you want music, just say "OK Google" and ask it to play something. For example, "OK Google, play a Ricky Nelson station".
- To turn on the pool light, just say "OK Google, turn on the pool light". Can you guess how to turn off the pool light? Sometimes Google doesn't cooperate. There's a switch in the utility closet near the compressors. The key to the closet is on the key rack inside the door to the Azotea.
Activities
- www.mazatlanlife.com and www.vidamaz.com are good websites to find current activities, day trips, etc.
- Also, "M" magazine and the "Pacific Pearl" are free monthly publications that list things to do, have restaurant reviews, etc. Pick one up at a coffee shop near the beach. They both have websites as well.
- We overplanned for visitors in years past and a best practice that emerged is for guests to plan their own activities. Have at it!
Plants
- Octavio and Pepe care for and water the plants. They'll knock before entering your apartment to do so every 2 or 3 days.

Credit Cards or Pesos?

You'll need pesos for the market, street vendors, cabs and pulmonias, some restaurants, etc. Maybe 4,000 ($200 USD prox) to 8,000 pesos a week. You can always draw more from the ubiquitous ATMs around town. ​

Offline Maps. If your phone will handle it, offline google maps is useful. That way you can have a map with you as long as you have your phone, and you don't have to use any data or be online. Google drug stores, grocery stores, coffee shops, restaurants, etc.

Backstock. There are storerooms in each house with some shared items like irons and ironing boards, batteries, vacuum cleaners, etc.

Orange House: the storage closet in Apt 1 (ground floor)​

Blue House: the storage room in Apt 7 (ground floor)

Garbage​.

Picked up Monday, Wednesday, Friday about 7:00 PM. Even on Holidays. ​​ Just leave your trash on the corner by the "yellow rock", but don't put it out before 5:00 on MWF - dogs like to go through trash left out during normal business hours. They normally take the rest of day off after 5.

Each bathroom and kitchen should have replacement bags, but if not, you can get more at the convenience stores or supermarkets, or use a plastic grocery bag.

If you are not going to be around at 5:00 on trash days, just add your trash to the bin under the stairs at 49 Pedregoso before you go out. Someone will take out the combined big bag after 5:00.

Recycling​

Should be recycling bins in each apartment with the little recycling symbol on the top. ​

The recycling center takes paper, cans, and plastic, but not glass. Glass goes in the trash.

If the recycling container in your apartment gets full, you can let Octavio or Pepe know and they'll pick it up, or you can take it to Apartment 2 on the bottom floor of the Orange House where we accumulate it. Once we have enough, we make a trip to the recycling center.

Laundry​

Both houses have washers and dryers​. You may need to use your phone language translator to choose settings.

Orange House: in Apt 1. ​​

Blue House: folding doors inside the gate when you first come in.​

Safe​​

Each apartment has a safe. Ask for the combo. ​Good place for passport and extra cash.

Drying Racks. Each apartment has a folding drying rack. Usually in the closet​. Good for towels after the beach.

Outdoor Shower.

There's a really neat outdoor shower outside of the Blue House, hidden in the bouganvilla and disguised as an empty milk bottle. You gotta see it even if you don't use it.

Turn on the water at the wall and there's another valve near the milk bottle.

Serves both the Blue House and the Orange House.

Helps prevent excess sand buildup in your apartment.

Step stools. Each apartment has a step stool, often folded and stored in one of the closets, in case you need to get to upper shelves in the closets and kitchens.​

Hummingbird Feeders. 4 parts water to 1 part sugar.

Google Home. There's a Google Home device on the Orange House azotea.

If you want music, just say "OK Google" and ask it to play something. For example, "OK Google, play a Ricky Nelson station".

To turn on the pool light, just say "OK Google, turn on the pool light". Can you guess how to turn off the pool light? Sometimes Google doesn't cooperate. There's a switch in the utility closet near the compressors. The key to the closet is on the key rack inside the door to the Azotea.

Activities

www.mazatlanlife.com and www.vidamaz.com are good websites to find current activities, day trips, etc.​

Also, "M" magazine and the "Pacific Pearl" are free monthly publications that list things to do, have restaurant reviews, etc. Pick one up at a coffee shop near the beach. They both have websites as well.

We overplanned for visitors in years past and a best practice that emerged is for guests to plan their own activities. Have at it!

Plants​

Octavio and Pepe care for and water the plants. They'll knock before entering your apartment to do so every 2 or 3 days.​​

You'll need pesos for the market, street vendors, cabs and pulmonias, some restaurants, etc. Maybe 4,000 ($200 USD prox) to 8,000 pesos a week. You can always draw more from the ubiquitous ATMs around town.

Orange House: the storage closet in Apt 1 (ground floor)

Garbage.

Picked up Monday, Wednesday, Friday about 7:00 PM. Even on Holidays. Just leave your trash on the corner by the "yellow rock", but don't put it out before 5:00 on MWF - dogs like to go through trash left out during normal business hours. They normally take the rest of day off after 5.

Recycling

Should be recycling bins in each apartment with the little recycling symbol on the top.

Laundry

Both houses have washers and dryers. You may need to use your phone language translator to choose settings.

Orange House: in Apt 1.

Blue House: folding doors inside the gate when you first come in.

Safe

Each apartment has a safe. Ask for the combo. Good place for passport and extra cash.

Drying Racks. Each apartment has a folding drying rack. Usually in the closet. Good for towels after the beach.

Step stools. Each apartment has a step stool, often folded and stored in one of the closets, in case you need to get to upper shelves in the closets and kitchens.

www.mazatlanlife.com and www.vidamaz.com are good websites to find current activities, day trips, etc.

Plants

Octavio and Pepe care for and water the plants. They'll knock before entering your apartment to do so every 2 or 3 days.