Woo Hoo! Chuck’s work has approved his vacation for the week we need in California AND the month in Mazatlan. I never thought it would happen. They have screwed us on every vacation in the past. He can never get more than 3 days off at a time.

First thing I did was send an email to Marlene at Mazatlan Home Finders [4] and request their services. She and her husband live locally in Mazatlan and specialize in finding rentals. They don’t own any property and don’t make commissions on any rentals they find for you. They charge one flat fee. I like that.

They have a detailed questionnaire to pinpoint what you are looking for. Its great because they have thought of things that I never would have when looking for a vacation rental. After I sent mine in, Marlene emailed me back to say that it may be tricky to find a rental that will accept Reku. I don’t think my protestations that he is a very good dog will sway any landlords. I’m hoping that the offer of an additional damage deposit will. Marlene said that she is checking around, and not to send her fee until she is sure that she can help us. I like that too.

We are hoping that getting an early start on finding a rental will help us find what we are looking for. We’re also hoping that going in July will ease things a little. July is the hottest month in Mazatlan and the low season for tourism, so maybe someone will want their rental occupied desperately enough that they will acquiesce.

I know. Mazatlan in July: not everyone’s dream vacation. We keep reading how beastly hot it is there in the Summer. No better way to judge a place than at it’s worst, right? We don’t really think its going to be a problem. We’ve check out the weather history for the last ten years, and Mazatlan is consistently cooler that is here, and the humidity is about the same or a little higher. Plus, Mazatlan has the benefit of ocean breezes. Even if it is as hot there as it is here in July, at least we’ll be hot at the beach.