Diplomatic version:
Zihuatanejo is delighted to play host to thousands of Canadian travellers each year. Canadians especially enjoy Zihuatanejo's relaxed pace and casual atmosphere. In fact, Canadians seem to thrive here and the people of Zihuatanejo enjoy the pleasant and polite ways of their northern visitors.
Like Canadians, Mexicans,
too, have suffered the vagaries of an exchange rate that fluctuates
beyond their control. In fact, through peso devaluations and other
events, Mexicans have had it a lot worse. That's why it is unrealistic
for Canadians to complain of the current poor exhange rate for
the Canadian dollar. It was not caused by Mexicans and, in fact,
they should be on the receiving end, not the giving side, of exchange
rate
sympathy.
Please don't ask for bargains or favours based on the current Canadian dollar rate. When changing money, please don't try to barter. The merchants and people of Zihuatanejo have to survive on the money they earn during the tourist season, paying many of their costs in US dollars with a peso that fluctuates even more violently than the Canadian dollar.
Your understanding of this situation will be greatly appreciated by the people of Zihuatanejo, who look forward to continuing to be a winter home-away-from-home for many snowbirds.
Zihuatanejo is not Mazatlan or Puerto Vallarta. It is not Acapulco or Cabo San Lucas. For those who have disocvered Zihuatanejo, that difference is the attraction. Where those other tourist centers are over-developed, commercialized and crowded, Zihuatanejo has maintained its relaxed pace and pleasing atmosphere. The conveniences are here, but not the McDonald's.
While that's why we
love Zihuatanejo, it's also the reason why the cost of accommodation
here is modestly higher than in those other centres. In Zihuatanejo
you won't find the hundreds of tacky highrises that clutter the
streets of those other destinations or the scores of chain hotels.
This makes for a better vacation, but it also makes for a shortage
of quality,
economical rental properties.
If you're considering a vacation in Zihuatanejo, please consider that the price you'll pay for uncrowded beaches, an unspoiled population and a leisurely experience in a delightful Mexcian city will be reflected in the cost of your accommodation.
The tourist season provides a real economic boost to the people of this community - and they are doing it with fewer available "rooms" than any other destination. In order to help Zihuatanejo remain an oasis of calm, please be prepared to pay more for your accommodation here than you would in a more developed "concrete jungle". As people who have visited know, it's well worth the difference.
Written by a Canadian regular
Leigh baby,
I know it's your business to
help and serve people; it's what you do. But
if these people are righteous and uptight, I don't want them on
my beach!
OK, maybe I'm being a bit possessive here, but if they're going
to give you
problems over this very friendly bit of advice I've written, then
they're
going to be guests from hell eventually anyway. I liked your metaphor
of
comparing real estate in New York and Alabama. For Canadians,
you could say
Toronto and Prince George. Same thing and it makes the point.
You can only be so reasonable
and accommodating but at some point it becomes servility and I
don't think you'd wear that very well. I like your frank
honesty and if someone else doesn't appreciate it, then....
I suppose I digress here, but
you have the best range of good, clean,
quality rental accommodation in Zih. You have something available
in
virtually every price range. You bust your ass to make sure that
people get
what they're looking for and what they need. I don't see how offering
a
little friendly advice along the way can be a problem. Especially
if it
comes from me, an experienced CANADIAN Zihua traveller. (This
will be the
fifth trip this year.)
So keep doing what you're doing
and use my words whenever it comes about.
Send people to the site in a friendly way, but make it clear that
my words
are written from experience. It may only help a little but I don't
see how
it can hurt at all.
xxxo
Marcus
I will match ANY discount given by the Hotel Villa Del Sol,
as well as give discounts in the following scenarios:
To anyone who works longer hours than me.
To anyone who still can't afford a car or even a $400 horse!
Anyone who had to give up their professional goals, e.g. getting their degree, in order to support their parents before the age of twenty (many property owners).
Anyone with less annual paid vacation (I, by the way, get none) than the property owner.
Persons with lower annual income than the property owner also with the same or more number of children
Single persons over age 40 who have dated over 50 "candidates" and still haven't found a companion. You deserve a break.
And dont forget the obvious...I try harder for people I like.
