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Q. Do I need
transportation?
A. In general, we recommend
renting a car, but you can take a taxi from the airport and walk or use
taxis once you at are the house. Even if you have a car, it is a good
idea to stock up on groceries before you leave the Puerto Vallarta area.
There are several large supermarkets, including a Sam's and Costco. There
is a large supermarket a few blocks to the north of the airport on your way
to Casa del Cielo. There are small grocery stores in San Pancho and you can
arrange a cab to get to them or to the many restaurants. On the other hand,
some guests prefer the freedom and convenience of renting a car, which you
should be able to do once you are at the airport. Keep in mind that there is
quite a bit to do and see in other towns.
Q. Can you pin point the location of the house on Google
Maps?
A. Yes, go to the following link to Google Maps then
click on the satellite view and zoom in to the house:
Casa del Cielo
Q. Is it safe to
drive?
A. There are more
hazards on Mexican roads than you are likely to find in the
states but generally yes. It is best to avoid driving at
night. There are also some unusual traffic rules regarding
left turns that you should know about before you get behind
the wheel. When you are turning left off the highway to go to San
Pancho, pull over to the right shoulder. Once it is clear in both
directions, make your turn across the highway into San Pancho.
If you signal to turn left while remaining in the main highway and then
turn, a Mexican driver will think that you are indicating
that it is OK to pass!
Q. What is the
weather like?
A. In general it
is warm all year with heavy, but brief, rains in the summer.
Go to
www.si-mexico.com/temps/vallarta_temps.htm
Q. How private is
the house?
A. There is only
one other house visible from ours and, except for the
caretaker, it is often unoccupied. On the other hand, our
maid and gardener are often present, and in a country where
many people do not have phones, it is not unusual to drop in
unannounced. We have also noticed that some guests prefer
not feeling isolated. If privacy is a particular concern, we
will try to accommodate you as much as we can.
Q. Are the water
and food safe?
A. Only the water
at the kitchen faucet is purified (small faucet); you should
not drink the water elsewhere in the house. The water
purification system works by a combination of ultraviolet
light and filtration. It must be left on at all times and
should not be used during a power failure. Beverages and
food that you buy in restaurants are generally safe, but if
you want to be extra cautious avoid unpeeled fruits or
vegetables and undercooked food. Be sure to drink plenty of
bottled or purified water to avoid dehydration. Refrigerate
food promptly.
Q. Can we have
more than 8 people if we bring sleeping bags? How many beds are there?
A. No, we cannot
accommodate more than 8. There are 3 kings and 1 double.
Two of the kings can be made into twins.
Q. Do I need to
speak Spanish?
A. It helps to
have some knowledge of the language; even a phrase book will
be useful, but there are enough English speakers at places
like restaurants that you will be able to get by without
speaking Spanish.
Q. How often do
you have maid service? Should I tip the maid and gardener?
A. Our maid
usually comes three times per week. If
you want additional service from her, we can make those
arrangements for an extra charge. Tips are always
appreciated. We suggest $5 per day.
Q. Can you
arrange for a cook?
A. It is best if
you make your own arrangements. We have found two excellent chefs in Sayulita
who are willing to come to the house and cook for you.
Go to
www.sayulitalife.com/business/oscar or
www.sayulitachef.com/
to learn about what Oscar or Sofia can offer you and to make arrangements. Our maid and her sister
have also cooked for guests. Since their English is limited, it
is probably best to make arrangements once you meet them.
Q. Is the house
safe for children?
A. We try to make
the house as safe as possible, but the house is located on a
cliff. The pool is also a hazard for small children, as is
the ocean. If you bring small children, they will need to be
closely watched.
Q. How do I get
to the beach?
A. We have a
cobblestone trail to the beach that is appropriate for
adults in good physical condition who are not afraid of
heights. THE BEACH IS NOT SAFE FOR SWIMMING AND children
must be supervised very carefully. The main San Pancho beach
is a five-minute walk through the jungle and is a better
place to swim.
Q. Do you have a
TV?
A. No, we believe
that we are offering an experience that is different from
the typical hotel or motel. Many guests have said that they
are glad that we do not have one. We do have a CD player and
a selection of CD's.
Q. Do you have
air conditioning?
A. No, although
we do provide fans The open nature of our house, like most
in Mexico, is not compatible with air conditioning.
Q. Do you have a
washer and dryer for guests?
A. Yes, we do. We
ask that guests be conservative in their use and make sure
that they are available for the maid.
Q. Do you have a
phone?
A. Yes. From the
states dial 011-52-311-258-4313. We also now have wireless
internet access if you wish to bring a laptop. If the internet
is not used for 10 days or more, it may need to be reset by
contacting Telmex at 01-800. The password is in parentheses below
the serial number on the modem.
Q. What are your
policies about payments and cancellations?
A. Please go to
www.casadelcielo.net and click on
contact us or reservations to find our current rates. We
ask for a 50% deposit to hold your reservation with the
balance due 30 days before you arrive. We cannot offer
refunds unless we are able to rebook, so if your plans
change it is wise to let us know as soon as possible.
Q. Is there
surfing and other activities?
A. Many people surf on the San Pancho
main beach; however, Sayulita, the next town to the south
attracts more surfers and the best place to surf is Caleta,
which is about 25 miles north. Another good place is inside
the Bay of Banderas, about 15 miles south towards Puerto
Vallarta. The Costa Azul resort offers many activities that
are available even if you are not staying there. Go to
www.costaazul.com for information.
Q. Are there good
restaurants in town and are they safe?
A. Yes, there are
many. Keep in mind that
many close over the summer. The Costa Azul resort, which is
open year round, is a 10-minute walk from our house..
Q. Should I worry
about crime?
A. San Pancho has
very little crime; most crime involves petty theft. Use
common sense about protecting your valuables.
Q. What about
bugs and other critters?
A. We are in the
jungle and, yes, there are bugs and other animals.
Fortunately, mosquitoes are not really much of a problem and
the other inhabitants are sometimes annoying, but not
dangerous. If you do not go barefoot and do not leave food
out, you should be fine. For most people, the pleasures of
seeing seabirds, butterflies, and whales more than make up
for the occasional lizard that wanders in the house On the
other hand, if you are very squeamish about such things you
may want to vacation elsewhere. If you have concerns in
particular, please contact us.
Q. How far in
advance do you take reservations and how do I know if you
have an opening?
A. We take
reservations up to six months in advance. Our calendar is
kept up to date. Occasionally, we are working on a
reservation but it has not been confirmed so the date would
still show as open.
Q. What is
checkout time?
A. Normally we
ask that you check out by 11am the day of your departure.
Especially if we have guests arriving that day, the maid
will need to start cleaning in the morning in order to be
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