Seven Killed at Five Star River Maya Resort: Would You Buy a Second Home in Mexico?

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The second home market in Mexico is hurting, and headlines like the one out today are not helping. Seven people, five Canadian tourists and two hotel workers were killed at a five-star resort on the River Maya at Playa del Carmen, near Cancun, on Sunday. At least fifteen others were injured when a gas leak exploded in a maintenance area beneath the 672 room Grand Princess Riviera Hotel. The dead include a 33 year old Canadian real estate agent celebrating his honeymoon in Mexico; he was in the hotel lobby getting coffee for his bride, who, with her daughter, escaped injury. One guest reported smelling methane gas but, like most of us, ignored it because well, honestly, sometimes parts of Mexico do have that swampy smell. This leak may well have come from a nearby swamp under the hotel in numerous underground limestone caverns. The blast took out the hotel’s reception area and today, everyone is grateful that it didn’t occur later when hundreds of people might be checking in.

Playa Del Carmen is considered one of the safer parts of Mexico, and this appears to be a natural tragedy, NOT a drug cartel explosion. Still, I have always been wary of staying in those uber huge hotels — 672 rooms! — worried that a guest might smoke or fall asleep with a cigarette.  That’s one of the reasons why I love vacationing in smaller boutique hotels or private homes.

Candy Evans

Candy Evans

12 Comments

  1. Cindy SchWARTZ on November 15, 2010 at 9:08 pm

    You could not pay me to buy a property in Mexico at this time. No way you can put lipstick on a pig's butt. Give me Central America.



  2. Cindy SchWARTZ on November 15, 2010 at 9:08 pm

    You could not pay me to buy a property in Mexico at this time. No way you can put lipstick on a pig's butt. Give me Central America.



  3. Bob Woodruff on November 15, 2010 at 9:11 pm

    This is the best time to buy in Mexico. Absolute. Buy strategically in the Cabo area and north, almost all of Baja in fact, parts of Playa del Carmen. Avoid central Mexico and stay away from Monterrey, Acapulco,Cuarnavaca. The economy is thriving and the middle class is burgeoning.



  4. Bob Woodruff on November 15, 2010 at 9:11 pm

    This is the best time to buy in Mexico. Absolute. Buy strategically in the Cabo area and north, almost all of Baja in fact, parts of Playa del Carmen. Avoid central Mexico and stay away from Monterrey, Acapulco,Cuarnavaca. The economy is thriving and the middle class is burgeoning.



  5. Vicki Foster on November 16, 2010 at 11:04 am

    I agree w Bob!! Cabo is ON SALE!!!!!! I am working a desl on one of the properties we have listed there just now. People who understand that market are taking advantage of it….



  6. Vicki Foster on November 16, 2010 at 11:04 am

    I agree w Bob!! Cabo is ON SALE!!!!!! I am working a desl on one of the properties we have listed there just now. People who understand that market are taking advantage of it….



  7. Candy Evans on November 16, 2010 at 12:05 pm

    Vicki, I'll be posting on CostaBaja later this week. You are so right! Tell me about other properties there. Would you like to do a guest post?



  8. Candy Evans on November 16, 2010 at 12:05 pm

    Vicki, I'll be posting on CostaBaja later this week. You are so right! Tell me about other properties there. Would you like to do a guest post?



  9. richard p miranda on November 19, 2010 at 10:15 am

    Yes, I would. The overwhelming majority of the Mexican Republic is safe. My place to retire will be Huatulco. Quiet, serene, great beaches and restaurants and safe. Weekly direct flights from Houston.



  10. richard p miranda on November 19, 2010 at 10:15 am

    Yes, I would. The overwhelming majority of the Mexican Republic is safe. My place to retire will be Huatulco. Quiet, serene, great beaches and restaurants and safe. Weekly direct flights from Houston.



  11. Candy Evans on November 23, 2010 at 1:01 am

    @Richard — how about a guest blog post?



  12. Candy Evans on November 23, 2010 at 1:01 am

    @Richard — how about a guest blog post?