American Travelers Are Shunning the U.S. for Europe, Europe’s travel authorization system (not a visa) maybe coming soon, 5 tips for embracing mindful travel, To Drive or Not to Drive in Mexico and more Expat News

In this issue:

• American Travelers Are Shunning the U.S. for Europe
• Europe’s travel authorization system (not a visa) is coming soon. Maybe.
• 5 tips for embracing mindful travel
• To Drive or Not to Drive in Mexico
• And more Expat News

Expat Rebel Podcast

Expat news every week. Want to listen to a weekly podcast about being an expat and traveling the world? Each week, we post a new podcast with news you’ll find in this weekly email plus bonus stories, wisdom, and fun from Expat Rebel Chris. Listen to Expat Rebel podcast. It’s like the weekly newsletter but with additional narration and thoughts from Chris and we have plans for special guests later this year. You can subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Expat Life This Week

I’ve had a very busy week with life. Our kitten apparently got in a nasty cat fight and came crawling back home. One vet visit later and some apparently great pain killers based on her drunk-like walking around afterwards she is doing fine. She’s now an indoor cat. Our other cat hates being inside for very long but never has any issues so she stays outside and a daily visit inside to say hi. She sits next to me in one of my outdoor chairs while I read.

Xchele super hungry after not eating for two days

Xele enjoying our pool deck

Expat News

• Americans Flocked to Cancún for Vacation. Now They’re Thinking Twice. The Mexican resort city saw a surge in 2021 and 2022, but tourist priorities have changed. Travel companies that operate in the Cancún region are lowering prices in the short term. Tourists are turning their attention to destinations like Europe, Japan and other parts of the Caribbean.
• American Travelers Are Shunning the U.S. for Europe – “I think we just decided, let’s try something new” is the perfect quote. After the pandemic Mexico was seen as convient and close. Now people are wanting to explore a little more out before returning to pre-pandemic number worldwide.
• Europe’s travel authorization system (not a visa) is coming soon. Maybe. – probably coming next year, it will apply to those between the ages of 18 and 70 traveling in the 26 countries of Europe’s Schengen Area, which includes France, Italy, Germany and Spain, but not Ireland or Cyprus. The U.K. is implementing its own program for visa-free visitors called the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), which will cost about $12 and be valid for two years.It will apply to those between the ages of 18 and 70 traveling in the 26 countries of Europe’s Schengen Area, which includes France, Italy, Germany and Spain, but not Ireland or Cyprus. The U.K. is implementing its own program for visa-free visitors called the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), which will cost about $12 and be valid for two years.
• This All-business-class Airline Flies to Europe With Lie-flat Seats — Often for the Price of an Economy Ticket – new airline La Compagnie is a boutique French airline that offers all-business-class flights to Europe. Though it has a somewhat limited schedule compared to the larger airlines, it does offer lie-flat seats at a fraction of the larger airlines’ cost — sometimes for as little as 25 percent of the price.
• 5 tips for embracing mindful travel – great tips that help you slow down and enjoy your travel
• Is the Airbnb Dream Dead? – dubbed the “Airbnbust”, short-term rentals are going strong, but being a host has become much harder than it used to be. Good article on the many reasons that isn’t not as good as it used to be.
• To Drive — or Not to Drive — in Mexico – nice article that will help you decide whether you want to drive in México or not. I personally don’t drive. I’ve learned how to rely on drivers.
• Not renting to people with pets could be illegal in CDMX wow, not letting renters have a pet is an act of discrimination
• International Day of Indigenous Peoples is celebrated in Yucatán – large number of indigenous people in Yucatán and other parts of México are celebrated. Day was strengthen the identity of the Maya people in our Yucatán. I have a home in Yucatán and enjoy the native culture here, it makes my life more interesting.
• Zipolite: The Ultimate Nudist Beach in Oaxaca – just the one in México and it’s a bit isolated. Zipolite is not only a nudist beach, but also a bohemian and alternative community that welcomes people of all backgrounds, orientations, and lifestyles.
• Pharmacies in Tulum and Cancun shut down for selling dangerous pills to tourists – authorities found fentanyl in pills being sold as other substances like Oxycodone, Percocet, and Adderall in various areas around the country so they had them shut down.
• Largest Aquarium In Latin America To Open In México City – The impressive Parque Tepeyac Aquarium spans a total of 322,917 square feet.
• AMLO thanks US President Joe Biden for immigration policy – He said that he expresses his appreciation for opening a legal path for migrants, in reference to the app to request asylum and the delivery of visas to people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela.
• Foxconn: the world’s largest contract manufacturer expands factories in Mexico – This year the Taiwanese giant has built or expanded factories in India, Mexico, Thailand, and Vietnam. México is growing rapidly in industry.
• Costa Rica Expat Living: The Dark Side of Moving to Paradise – not all expat stories have a happy ending. Don’t be like these people highlighted in this article.
• 34 Best Airbnbs in Mexico (2023) | Condé Nast Traveler– according to the editors of Conde Nast Traveler this is the best Airbnbs in all of México
• Progreso lives a “broken” vacation; no longer attracts tourists – “Summer vacations no longer good, they have already “broken”, and cruise tourism is just an illusion, fewer and fewer passengers stay, most foreign tourists are taken to Mérida, archaeological zones and other destinations, few are staying in the port.” Don’t forget to enjoy the port town when cruising. Money spent in port towns tends to go directly to local families instead of International companies that aren’t even based in the country.