Life's a Beach | Expat Life in Playa del Carmen

Reports and observations about life as an ex-pat family in Playa del Carmen Mexico from Michele and Rob Kinnon. Real Estate Playa del Carmen market updates and new listings of interest. Advise for other like minded adventurers planning to relocate to Playa del Carmen. Will include commentary and information on local schools, markets, recycling, environmental issues, volunteer opportunities, restaurant reviews and special events.

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Submit Your Nominations for the 2014 Heroes of Mexico Award

Today, The MEXICO Report, an internationally recognized blog showcasing positive news about Mexico Read More...

Posted Wednesday, March 12, 2014 9:31 AM by Rob Kinnon | 0 Comments

Filed under: Community , Charity, Volunteering, 2014, News

KKiS Fundraiser Needs Your Help!

One of our favorite charitable organizations, The KKiS Project (Keeping Kids in School) has one major fund raising event each year, an exciting live auction which his held in February. The money raised at this fun event pays for all the curriculum used in the classrooms throughout the school year as well as the backpacks and supplies that are distributed to needy students in Solidaridad. Read More...

Posted Monday, January 13, 2014 1:05 PM by Rob Kinnon | 0 Comments

Filed under: Events, Auction, Playa del Carmen , Fun, Charity, Volunteering, 2014

Christmas Dreams and DIF - A Partnership of Giving

"Life's a Beach" readers already know that Christmas Dream Playa has done a wonderful job over the past few years raising awareness about disabled and disadvantaged children in this region with their annual toy drives and "Letters to Santa" campaigns. Read More...

Posted Thursday, January 9, 2014 12:28 PM by Rob Kinnon | 0 Comments

Filed under: Events, Community , Puerto Aventuras, Playa del Carmen , Family Life, Charity, Volunteering, Rivera Maya, 2013, 2014, Kicks 4 Kids

A Visit to the Village of Nuevo Noh Bec

It's hard to believe until you see it for yourself but if you drive a few kilometers in any direction from the center of Playa del Carmen you will find tiny pueblos tucked away in the jungle with families eking out a meager existence and living without even the most basic services. Nuevo Noh Bec is one of these remote communities. Read More...

Posted Saturday, November 23, 2013 5:07 AM by Rob Kinnon | 1 Comments

Filed under: Community , Playa del Carmen , Schools, Charity, Volunteering, 2013, Kicks 4 Kids

A Visit to DIF in Playa del Carmen

The Sistema Nacional para el Desarrollo Integral de la Familia; SNDIF or just DIF, is a Mexican public institution of social assistance that focuses on strengthening and developing the welfare of Mexican families. Read More...

Posted Thursday, November 14, 2013 5:16 AM by Rob Kinnon | 1 Comments

Filed under: Community , Playa del Carmen , Charity, Volunteering, 2013

KKiS Needs Volunteers for Classroom Reading & Mentoring Program

This week, KKiS - Keeping Kids in School started up their regular in class English reading and mentoring program at the Pelopidas School in Guadalupana. This year volunteers will be in the 4th and 5th grade classrooms every Wednesday at 1:00 pm. Read More...

Posted Friday, November 1, 2013 5:06 AM by Rob Kinnon | 0 Comments

Filed under: Community , Playa del Carmen , Family Life, Schools, Charity, Volunteering, 12 Days/12 Ways, 2013

An Update from KKiS - Keeping Kids in School

What follows is an update from Gayle Collins the organizer for KKiS - Keeping Kids in School. As we have featured KKiS in our 12 Days/ 12 Ways Holiday Giving Series and many of our readers have shown an interest in KKiS and similar community outreach projects, we are reprinting it here. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or would like to find out how to get involved! Read More...

Posted Thursday, September 26, 2013 8:05 AM by Rob Kinnon | 0 Comments

Filed under: Community , Schools, Charity, Volunteering, 12 Days/12 Ways, 2013

The MEXICO Report Announces the ‘2013 Real Heroes of Mexico'

Yesterday, The MEXICO Report announced the ‘2013 Real Heroes of Mexico' awardees showcasing 30 profiles of those making a difference in Mexico. The Real Heroes of Mexico project was created in 2012 by Susie Albin-Najera, the creator and editor of The MEXICO Report, an internationally recognized blog showcasing all the positive, inspirational stories taking place in Mexico everyday. Read More...

Posted Monday, September 2, 2013 12:04 PM by Rob Kinnon | 0 Comments

Filed under: Announcements, Community , Charity, Volunteering, Rivera Maya, 2013

Rotary Club Rubber Ducky Regatta in Cancun MOVED to May 12th

On April 14, Rotary Playa del Carmen Seaside will be participating with other Quintana Roo Rotary Clubs in the Grand Rubber Ducky Regatta! First prize is a house in Cancun!!! Additional awesome prizes include a motorbike, home appliances, furniture packages, flatscreen TVs and much more! Read More...

Posted Saturday, March 23, 2013 5:28 AM by Rob Kinnon | 0 Comments

Filed under: Events, Community , Cancun , Playa del Carmen , Schools, Fun, Charity, Volunteering, 2013, Rotary

Annual Auction and Luncheon to Support KKiS

The 2nd Annual KKiS Project Fundraiser will be held on February 28th at 11:00am at Wah Wah Beach Bar on 2nd and the beach. The event will be a luncheon and live auction with a wide array of amazing prizes donated by generous Playa locals and friends from abroad! The KKiS Project, headed up by Playa resident Gayle Collins, is an organization of American and Canadian ex-pats who provide support to under-privileged school children in the Playa del Carmen area. Their mission: to help keep kids enrolled in school by supplying uniforms, providing school supplies and backpacks, securing English language materials for the classroom and providing volunteers for the classrooms to help students learn English. Read More...

Posted Sunday, February 24, 2013 10:20 AM by Rob Kinnon | 1 Comments

Filed under: Events, Community , Playa del Carmen , Charity, Volunteering, 2013

It's Official!

Last Tuesday, at the weekly meeting, I was inducted into the Rotary Club Playa del Carmen Seaside Chapter as an active member! President Bob Hyde presided over the short but official ceremony and presented me with my Rotary pin. Read More...

Posted Thursday, February 21, 2013 10:25 AM by Rob Kinnon | 0 Comments

Filed under: Community , Playa del Carmen , Volunteering, 2013, Rotary

Used Computers and Laptops Needed for Local School

The Rotary Club of Playa del Carmen Seaside, an English speaking club in Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico - on the Yucatan Peninsula - is soliciting used PC laptops, desktops and tablets in good working order to provide to the classrooms of Mayan children in our area. Read More...

Posted Friday, February 15, 2013 5:00 AM by Rob Kinnon | 1 Comments

Filed under: Community , Playa del Carmen , Schools, Charity, Volunteering, 12 Days/12 Ways, Rivera Maya, 2013, Rotary

Playa del Carmen Seaside - The Riviera Maya's Rotary Club for English Speakers

It is inarguable that Playa del Carmen is one of the fastest growing cities in the world. Thousands of people move here every year from other parts of Mexico, from the United Sates, Canada and countries across the globe. Their reasons for moving to the Riviera Maya are as varied and unique as the people themselves. Read More...

Posted Tuesday, January 29, 2013 2:31 PM by Rob Kinnon | 1 Comments

Filed under: Community , Playa del Carmen , Family Life, Charity, Volunteering, 2013, Rotary

KKiS Needs Volunteer Readers! Can You Help?

For the past couple of weeks, KKiS (Keeping Kids in School) has fallen way short of the number of folks they need to help teach English to first, second and third graders at Pelopides School. Yesterday they had only eight people, roughly half of what's needed. Read More...

Posted Thursday, January 24, 2013 10:01 AM by Rob Kinnon | 1 Comments

Filed under: Announcements, Community , Playa del Carmen , Family Life, Schools, Fun, Charity, Volunteering, 2013

Playa del Carmen Charity Seeks Donations for Auction

Playa del Carmen's KKiS Project (Keeping Kids in Schools) will be holding their 2nd Annual Charity Auction on February 28th at Wah Wah Beach Bar. This fundraising event will be a Luncheon with Open Bar and an exciting LIVE auction with all proceeds going to support KKiS efforts in 2013. Read More...

Posted Monday, January 21, 2013 5:00 AM by Rob Kinnon | 0 Comments

Filed under: Announcements, Events, Community , Playa del Carmen , Fun, Charity, Volunteering, 2013