I had a discussion with some friends yesterday about the appeal of Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. I plan to travel more next year and perhaps live abroad. Spain is at the top of my list, but I've also looked at Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand since I have friends who live in those countries.
The main concern U.S. citizens have when traveling or living abroad is safety. I can't think of many countries where I'd feel completely "safe", but political unrest and economic instability are important issues. There are several reasons why I've narrowed my search to Monterrey, Nuevo Leon Mexico.
- Proximity. Monterrey is a 90-minute direct flight from Houston, Texas. It's not too far from my birth city of San Antonio, so I can visit my parents in San Antonio more often.
- Natural Beauty. Monterrey is an "advanced" city with modern amenities, but it's not as much of a tourist town as the coastal areas. I want my wireless internet, but I also plan to enjoy the mountains, gardens, historic museums and architecture.
- Safety. No place is ever "safe", but Monterrey is often billed as one of the safest cities (#1 or #2) in Mexico. Their most disturbing issue seems to be the pollution.
As always, before deciding to live abroad, you should visit for at least 2-4 weeks. I've been using Expedia to price my stay. A two-week stay for a decent hotel (3.5 stars) and a round trip flight was about $1100. Of course, you can spend a much more or much less depending on your budget and what you plan to do.
Read more: Monterrey - All About Monterrey - Complete City Guide.
Learn more about relocating to Mexico.
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