My First Airbnb In Merida, Mexico

Travel

Oct 30

I touched down in Merida, Mexico on Saturday, October 29, 2022. I’m no stranger to Airbnbs, but this time I wanted to pay careful attention to the style of the home, location, and proximity to other stores because I knew I was looking for long term accommodations. This house, called Casa Tranquila, came with the following:

2 bedrooms
2 bathrooms
Separate kitchen, dining and living room area
Large patio with dipping pool
Washer machine
Television with access to Netflix
Internet

Here is a video of a tour of my first Airbnb, Casa Tranquila:

The first Airbnb I stayed in when I moved to Merida, Mexico.

What I Liked About This Airbnb

The decor in the home was exactly what I hoped for with its vibrant colors and clear nods to Mexican culture. It felt spacious but not too overwhelmingly big. I think it’s the perfect size for 2 to 4 people.

I don’t have a vehicle, so I really appreciated there being a grocery store in walking distance from the home. I walked to Chedraui every morning not only to grab breakfast, but it gave me time to learn the neighborhood and practice my very basic and limited Spanish.

The neighborhood was very quiet during the day, and even though families spend more time outside in the late evening, the noise was always minimal. I saw a few street dogs, but there were more street cats than dogs! By my second day at Casa Tranquila, I made friends with a kitten who kept climbing the wall and hanging out on the patio. I grew up with a cat and couldn’t resist grabbing it some food from Chedraui. Can you guess what happened next?

Within a few hours, I had 2 cat friends. And by the next day it was a cat fiesta. I probably should have listened to my friend who told me not to feed the stray animals, but I couldn’t resist. I even bought a water and food bowl to leave at the house.

This is only 2 of the 5 cats that hung out at this Airbnb

Washer and Dryer Machines Are Luxuries Here

This home had a washing machine, which I learned from the landlord is a luxury in Merida, Mexico because many families do not have them. However, there was no dryer. The patio was set up for me to use the clothesline and pins to dry my clothes outside. This may be frustrating for some people, but I found it to be a simple pleasure. It was also my first window into realizing what was meant by, “Things move slower here in Merida.” I did struggle with the washing machine but I think it was my fault. I couldn’t figure out which rinse option to choose and at one point my clothes were held hostage by the water.

The washing machine at my first Airbnb in Merida, Mexico

Drying clothes outside in Merida, Mexico

It Rained Inside the Home

I only had one issue with this Airbnb. One night it rained pretty hard, and when I woke up the next morning there was some water flowing outside through the long window in the dining area. I used WhatsApp to connect with the house manager and the issue was quickly resolved. However, I also learned that depending on the neighborhood, the streets may not be leveled which can cause some water to get inside.

Why I Choose This Airbnb

I only booked this spot for one week because I had another, less expensive Airbnb I scheduled to stay in for 2 months. That would give me enough time to decide if I wanted to hop around every few months or pick one place to remain for my entire time in Merida. The host was extremely nice, and if they’ve found a way to prevent rain water from getting inside, I would absolutely book again.

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