The home is spacious. A large kitchen has all appliances. Two bedrooms, both with en suite bathrooms. A huge enclosed veranda looking out on a manicured garden. Well located at end of the Malecon (15+ minute walk to main plaza) and local six corners’ shops. So why did we leave early?
Let me preface this by saying that once the owners (they don’t use their real name) returned to Ajijic and I found them living next door, they graciously allowed us to use their casita while the power was out in the rental and giving us the option to move out for a partial refund. That said, I could talk about the salvation army furniture, the wooden beds – even less comfortable than they sound, the lack of lighting on the private road or in front of the house, the swarms of ants (tiny on kitchen counter, large near bedroom) and other bugs invading home, difficulties with the TV and internet, or the repeated power outages (that didn’t impact the hosts with a backup generator) and lack of flashlights or candles. But most of this can be chalked up to, as the hosts said, “Welcome to Mexico.”
My real complaint is the lack of communication or caring. The host stopped answering their phone after day one, later explaining they don’t own a cell phone and don’t know how to access their voice mail?!?! The only contact was a housekeeper who spoke Spanish. What hurt the most was sitting in the dark while the hosts, two doors over with power, didn’t care enough to walk over to see if we needed anything.