SMA has been voted the number # 1 pace in the world to VISIT...not to lIVE. There are many great places, but the reasons listed for this choice are correct........I have lived in SMA for close to five years. There are many changes and they are all good for the Mexican people who live there ad need to make a living....
Alice Sperling - 7 years ago
San Miguel is a sweet town, not a world class city. I've live here 12 years and love it, but best in the world? Not by a long shot.
Kevin Ryan - 7 years ago
I've lived in SMA off and on for over twenty years. Recently I returned to San Miguel to live. The changes on almost every level are radical. Still, there remains intact a great deal of authentic Mexican beauty and charm. What I have observed is that the enormous international coverage of the town has most recently turned it into a rather elitist destination for people the world over. Fortunately now, more Mexicans, from Mexico City, Monterrey and Guadalajara actually spend weekends in San Miguel, something that was not particularly true 20 years ago. There is no touring back the clock. SMA is poised to continue changing while it becomes inaccessible to many of it's own local population, still, in conversation with deal locals, most I meet love it, still, in spite of the innumerable changes. The local government would do well to REALLY organize, add security and put and end to the recent troubles caused by cartels as well as kidnappings. These forms of terrorism leave people feeling vulnerable and not supported by the local police and governmental administration.
J Valentine - 7 years ago
Too much crime.
Barbara - 7 years ago
Toooooo much traffic. Too much waste. Lack of sustainable practices in building and water usage - especially in those new high rises on the hill (not a single solar panel nor rain harvesting.) Too many golf courses for a desert climate. Too much high end "stuff". Too many big box stores. Feels like the almighty dollar and all the inconsideration that goes with it are settling in. . Feels like the people who are coming are bring all their fears with them. We have brought our "christmas" and our "halloween" - I bet Mega/Comer will soon be displaying their "holiday" merchandise from elsewhere.
William Conklin - 7 years ago
I've spent time in more than half the 15 cities listed as world's best. Universal refrain is for residents to wish for the good old days.
San Miguel is special as are most of the other 14 listed. Change is always going to happen
Alyce Magill - 7 years ago
I think San Miguel is still a beautiful city and great to share with the world.
Unfortunately there is a lot of traffic because of being a destination city.
I disagree that it is unsafe because of the cartels. There are many other cities in the world that I wouldn't go to because of problems. The local government is
doing what it can with the rapid growth. My husband and I have lived here for 5
years and have seen the changes...We have been visiting here for over 25 years.
Tell me of another city without problems in the world...The noise is not deafening, there
are a lot of celebrations here, mostly religious, the bells ring, we have fireworks on many
occasions...It is part of it's charm...Don't be afraid to visit...It is still a bargain by US or Canadian
standards and a lovely charming city. Park your car and walk to see the sights...
Dr. Todd D. Stong - 7 years ago
It is hard to beat the 400 year old village of Ajijic at one mile high on the north shore of Lake Chapala (largest lake in the nation), with the best climate in Mexico and near 14,000 English speakers in the winter which promote the greatest social life possible for seniors with live music and dancing 7 days a week. Cost of living is low and medical care great. Opportunities to serve the 45 villages about this lake are enormous and most rewarding. Less than an hour away is the 5 million person city of Guadalajara with every attraction you might find in a major city of Europe, plus near 10 flights/day to the US from as low as $80 to reach Texas.
David - 7 years ago
SMA is indeed beautiful, but for the reasons mentioned above, I chose not to live there. I love to visit though.
Steven Lowe - 7 years ago
San Miguel has indeed changed but it is still beautiful, interesting and truly magical. We do not know of a better place. We have loved and enjoyed San Miguel for 22 years. Everyone has to be somewhere and we choose San Miguel de Allende. Saludos.
Sarita - 7 years ago
I've lived here for four years and the past two it's been changing so fast - it's very sad. Development, traffic, and people coming every weekend from everywhere to be entertained has turned this town into disneyland. It's very say. And with the intentional rise in tourism, it's making it harder and harder for local people to be able to afford to live there. Now with this title it will get even worse.
Sarita - 7 years ago
I've lived here for four years and the past two it's been changing so fast - it's very dad. Development, traffic, and people coming every weekend from everywhere to be entertained has turned this town into disneyland. It's very say. And with the intentional rise in tourism, it's making it harder and harder for local people to be able to afford to live there. Now with this title it will get even worse. It's sad to see this happening.
I have great memories of San Miguel since the 50's... but unfortunately & as it has occurred in many cities en Mexico, and the world over, safety, security and negligence of the authorities who do nothing to protect the citizens, visitors, and now retired persons from other countries, its becoming an controllable & shame to our country. We don't need any of that tourism in Mexico. The Secretary of Tourism is now preaching a new tourism police for our cities where tourist frequents looking for drugs and other bad habits.
Drug consumption and their demand from the new comers, are breaking with our customs, peace and quiet of this city and our country.
Money makes the world go around, and where there is money there is consumers who demand drugs and the authorities know and have become blind, bribed or partners.. As many other tourist destinations in Mexico. Drugs are over taking our children and the schools & are becoming traps of consumers. We don't want any more growth that brings consumers dressed as tourist. Every day its becoming harder to find a peaceful town where to live and retire.. We need tourism but we need real control in Mexico to keep drugs out of our cities and punishment for everyone who attempts against our order. Big cities are over flooding with drugs and suppliers are looking for new places to continue their activities. There are many places as beautiful as San Miguel in MEXICO, but drugs are takeing us over.
it was a beautiful city too many cars traffic buildings every where closing in on the city..its not as safe as it was : Mexico has allowed the cartels thugs too take over .. how sad for Meixco and their lovely people who want a clean good country. need less corruption, just read this paper the news is full of crime corruption of city government officials
J. Reisch - 7 years ago
Sadly, San Miguel has become a tourist mecca, and with it the quality of life has declined greatly. What once was a very charming, safe, affordable place to live, has become expensive, noisy beyond belief, with poor air quality, and terrible traffic congestion.
Jurgen Buschek - 7 years ago
Traffic in SMA is atrocious, the streets can't handle the amount of vehicles, the air stinks and the noise is deafening..... :-(
Anthony Stein - 7 years ago
Yes and no! With all the recent titles San Miguel has gotten lately it has lost something and gained more crime and traffic! Now the cartels have taken notice and the city has become dangerous!
SMA has been voted the number # 1 pace in the world to VISIT...not to lIVE. There are many great places, but the reasons listed for this choice are correct........I have lived in SMA for close to five years. There are many changes and they are all good for the Mexican people who live there ad need to make a living....
San Miguel is a sweet town, not a world class city. I've live here 12 years and love it, but best in the world? Not by a long shot.
I've lived in SMA off and on for over twenty years. Recently I returned to San Miguel to live. The changes on almost every level are radical. Still, there remains intact a great deal of authentic Mexican beauty and charm. What I have observed is that the enormous international coverage of the town has most recently turned it into a rather elitist destination for people the world over. Fortunately now, more Mexicans, from Mexico City, Monterrey and Guadalajara actually spend weekends in San Miguel, something that was not particularly true 20 years ago. There is no touring back the clock. SMA is poised to continue changing while it becomes inaccessible to many of it's own local population, still, in conversation with deal locals, most I meet love it, still, in spite of the innumerable changes. The local government would do well to REALLY organize, add security and put and end to the recent troubles caused by cartels as well as kidnappings. These forms of terrorism leave people feeling vulnerable and not supported by the local police and governmental administration.
Too much crime.
Toooooo much traffic. Too much waste. Lack of sustainable practices in building and water usage - especially in those new high rises on the hill (not a single solar panel nor rain harvesting.) Too many golf courses for a desert climate. Too much high end "stuff". Too many big box stores. Feels like the almighty dollar and all the inconsideration that goes with it are settling in. . Feels like the people who are coming are bring all their fears with them. We have brought our "christmas" and our "halloween" - I bet Mega/Comer will soon be displaying their "holiday" merchandise from elsewhere.
I've spent time in more than half the 15 cities listed as world's best. Universal refrain is for residents to wish for the good old days.
San Miguel is special as are most of the other 14 listed. Change is always going to happen
I think San Miguel is still a beautiful city and great to share with the world.
Unfortunately there is a lot of traffic because of being a destination city.
I disagree that it is unsafe because of the cartels. There are many other cities in the world that I wouldn't go to because of problems. The local government is
doing what it can with the rapid growth. My husband and I have lived here for 5
years and have seen the changes...We have been visiting here for over 25 years.
Tell me of another city without problems in the world...The noise is not deafening, there
are a lot of celebrations here, mostly religious, the bells ring, we have fireworks on many
occasions...It is part of it's charm...Don't be afraid to visit...It is still a bargain by US or Canadian
standards and a lovely charming city. Park your car and walk to see the sights...
It is hard to beat the 400 year old village of Ajijic at one mile high on the north shore of Lake Chapala (largest lake in the nation), with the best climate in Mexico and near 14,000 English speakers in the winter which promote the greatest social life possible for seniors with live music and dancing 7 days a week. Cost of living is low and medical care great. Opportunities to serve the 45 villages about this lake are enormous and most rewarding. Less than an hour away is the 5 million person city of Guadalajara with every attraction you might find in a major city of Europe, plus near 10 flights/day to the US from as low as $80 to reach Texas.
SMA is indeed beautiful, but for the reasons mentioned above, I chose not to live there. I love to visit though.
San Miguel has indeed changed but it is still beautiful, interesting and truly magical. We do not know of a better place. We have loved and enjoyed San Miguel for 22 years. Everyone has to be somewhere and we choose San Miguel de Allende. Saludos.
I've lived here for four years and the past two it's been changing so fast - it's very sad. Development, traffic, and people coming every weekend from everywhere to be entertained has turned this town into disneyland. It's very say. And with the intentional rise in tourism, it's making it harder and harder for local people to be able to afford to live there. Now with this title it will get even worse.
I've lived here for four years and the past two it's been changing so fast - it's very dad. Development, traffic, and people coming every weekend from everywhere to be entertained has turned this town into disneyland. It's very say. And with the intentional rise in tourism, it's making it harder and harder for local people to be able to afford to live there. Now with this title it will get even worse. It's sad to see this happening.
I have great memories of San Miguel since the 50's... but unfortunately & as it has occurred in many cities en Mexico, and the world over, safety, security and negligence of the authorities who do nothing to protect the citizens, visitors, and now retired persons from other countries, its becoming an controllable & shame to our country. We don't need any of that tourism in Mexico. The Secretary of Tourism is now preaching a new tourism police for our cities where tourist frequents looking for drugs and other bad habits.
Drug consumption and their demand from the new comers, are breaking with our customs, peace and quiet of this city and our country.
Money makes the world go around, and where there is money there is consumers who demand drugs and the authorities know and have become blind, bribed or partners.. As many other tourist destinations in Mexico. Drugs are over taking our children and the schools & are becoming traps of consumers. We don't want any more growth that brings consumers dressed as tourist. Every day its becoming harder to find a peaceful town where to live and retire.. We need tourism but we need real control in Mexico to keep drugs out of our cities and punishment for everyone who attempts against our order. Big cities are over flooding with drugs and suppliers are looking for new places to continue their activities. There are many places as beautiful as San Miguel in MEXICO, but drugs are takeing us over.
it was a beautiful city too many cars traffic buildings every where closing in on the city..its not as safe as it was : Mexico has allowed the cartels thugs too take over .. how sad for Meixco and their lovely people who want a clean good country. need less corruption, just read this paper the news is full of crime corruption of city government officials
Sadly, San Miguel has become a tourist mecca, and with it the quality of life has declined greatly. What once was a very charming, safe, affordable place to live, has become expensive, noisy beyond belief, with poor air quality, and terrible traffic congestion.
Traffic in SMA is atrocious, the streets can't handle the amount of vehicles, the air stinks and the noise is deafening..... :-(
Yes and no! With all the recent titles San Miguel has gotten lately it has lost something and gained more crime and traffic! Now the cartels have taken notice and the city has become dangerous!