IF YOU LIKE A MANOYOU WILL LOVE SAN MIGUEL
As you enter Altajena there is a beautiful rock slab fountain that greets you, which adds to the serenity of the house. On the other side of the fountain you will find the den, which brings all the comforts of home, large TV, DVD, VHS, and a CD player. Casa Altajena has free 24/7 phone service to the US and Canada, plus WiFi. Fresh flowers and a bottle of wine will greet you upon your arrival. The den opens to the garden. There are two bedrooms downstairs off the den, each with their own bathroom. Each is distinct with their own character. 
Upstairs you have another sitting area, with Mexican folkart from all over San Miguel and other surrounding cities in Mexico. There is a dining room separated from the den by a two way fireplace. The master bedroom is also on this level with a large attached bathroom and walk-in closet. 
The kitchen is also located on the second floor, and it is well equipped. You have views from both levels.There is also a one-car garage, if you are in need of parking. The house is a 20 minute walk to the jardin, so you are close enough to town, but far enough away so won't be bothered by the noises of San Miguel nightlife. Truly a relaxing experience! 
To Reserve Your San Miguel Get-Away Contact: John Wilson 361 774 0200 HOW SAFE IS TRAVEL IN MEXICO?As always, it is relative.For link to complete article click here. Despite the increase in drug-related violence, a closer look at Mexico shows that the country is actually safer than what headlines suggest. As a whole, Mexico's murder rate is surprisingly low: 12 homicides for every 100,000 inhabitants. When compared to Washington, D.C.'s 31 people per 100,000 inhabitants and New Orleans 64, the numbers aren't cause for concern if you know where to avoid.The article has drawn up a list of Mexico's most popular tourist destinations and rated them one to five, one being the highest cause for concern, and five being the safest. Here is a real surprise.STAY OUT OF THE BORDER CITIES!BORDER CITIESFear Factor: 1 WORST The State Department listed several cities as not advisable to visit, including Ciudad Juarez, Tijuana, Nogales, Nuevo Laredo, Monterrey and Matamoros. The worst of the bunch of Ciudad Juarez, across the border from El Paso, Texas. SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE AND THE COLONIAL CITIES Fear Factor: 5 SAFEST "I feel as safe here as anywhere I have ever lived and so do my neighbors and friends," says Barbara Erickson, who's lived in San Miguel de Allende a number of years. "San Miguel is as lovely as ever." This arty town is popular with Americans, who stroll its lovely colonial streets, dine out and browse the art galleries without worries. This is true of all of Mexico's stunning colonial cities. In some cases the countryside around them may be iffy (the state of Michoacan, for instance, has had troubles, but its capital, Morelia, is lovely and safe, as is Patzcuaro). Guanajuato, Queretaro, Zacatecas and the rest of the colonial cities are well worth visiting. GUADALAJARA Fear Factor: 4.75 Mexico's sophisticated second city is both a colonial gem and a major center for shopping that's regularly combed over by interior decorators from the southwestern U.S. There's also a lively art scene to enjoy, with art galleries and museums. But Guadalajara is a very large city, with the attendant need for caution, and it's best to stick to the central city tourist areas and leafy upscale neighborhoods like the Zona Rosa. A popular side-trip is past fields of blue agave to the town of Tequila, where tequila distilleries can be visited and the wares sampled from such famous brands as Cuervo and Herradura. This is completely safe, but again, don't over-indulge. OAXACA Fear Factor: 5 Oaxaca city was the site of a teachers' strike in 2006 that led to some violence and, unfortunately, the shooting of an American freelance journalist. As a result, the city has been tarred as unsafe, although nothing could be farther than the truth. The colonial city center, the nearby ruins at Monte Alban and the surrounding crafts towns like Teotitlan del Valle are well-traveled and very safe. "There is a lot of hysteria in the US about everything from drugs to flu in Mexico, but after five years in Oaxaca with my husband and daughter, I have to say that these issues have not even remotely affected us," said an American expat. Oaxaca has a thriving art scene and one of Mexico's most highly-regarded cuisines. The Oaxaca coast, including beautiful, well-developed Huatulco and the little surfing mecca of Puerto Escondido is very safe, although swimming along the coast must be done with caution (check with your hotel), as some areas have rip-tides. IXTAPA/ZIHUATENEJO Fear Factor: 5 Ixtapa is a resort area developed by the Mexican government, and its big resorts are extremely safe. Neighbor Zihuatenejo is a former fishing village that reeks charm and has some upscale hotels and lovely outdoor restaurants. Many Americans live in "Zi" including famous American fashion designer Betsey Johnson. This is another spot where your biggest problem will be sunburn. PUERTO VALLARTA Fear Factor: 5 The lovely cobble-stoned hillside fishing village that was "discovered" after the filming of Night of the Iguana has spread at a dizzying rate, so that there are many Vallartas, including the original (still charming) town, the Marina and Nuevo Vallarta. Puerto Vallarta is filled with art galleries, which regularly throw open houses, gourmet restaurants and hotels in every price range. There are also the kinds of bars which encourage patrons to over-indulge, and that's never a good idea. Downtown Puerto Vallarta is safe to stroll, but never late at night after the festivities are over, and it's not a good idea to venture too far off the beaten track. Thousands of Americans live here, and love it. The Costalegre coast, stretching from Puerto Vallarta to Manzanillo in the south, is very safe, as is the newly-named Costa Nayarit (a series of bucolic fishing villages) to the north. ACAPULCO Fear Factor: 4.5 Acapulco in recent years has undergone a major revival. Once Mexico's most fashionable resort, it had gone a bit seedy, but now has regained much of its glamour. Unfortunately, it has recently been touched by drug-related violence, and although most has been on the edges or outside of town, some bodies have been found on a street lined with nightclubs, including the bodies of police officers. It's especially important these days to be alert to your surroundings here, and stay away from nightclubs known to attract the narcotraficantes. That said, the possibilities of being caught in a drug shoot-out are on the extreme end of slim to none. LOS CABOS Fear Factor: 5 Cabo San Lucas, San Jose del Cabo and the "Corridor" of resorts that stretch between them are like a backyard for residents of the southwestern U.S. Thousands of Americans live here on the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula (light years away from Tijuana's troubles) and the artsy little town of Todos Santos 45 minutes up the Pacific coast from Cabo San Lucas. Some visitors complain it's too American in Cabo. The region is very safe, with good highways and busy downtowns. Visitors should stay out of unlighted side streets and stick to the well-traveled tourists areas, where shopping, art galleries and a big choice of restaurants make straying unnecessary. Swimmers must exercise extreme caution -- the waters are treacherous and it's important to know where it's safe to swim and where not to even wade very far.
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