Frequently Asked Questions

How do we get there?

Oaxaca has its own airport: Aeropuerto Internacional Xoxocotlan (OAX) It’s a 25 minute drive from the CaSa. There are direct flights from IAH, DFW, LAX, TIJ, SMF, OAK (many of these are on Volaris) Some find it easier and cheaper to fly into Mexico city and take one of the 15 daily flights to OAX (takes 40 mins). We are happy to help you look for a route but do not book flights for you.

Airport Pickup/Drop off

Airport pickup is included in your retreat. We will meet you no matter what time you arrive. Please do not worry if your flight is delayed to come in very late or very early.

We do everything we can to avoid using the airport taxi rank as the lines can be long. We will give you instructions on who to expect at pickup in our WhatsApp chat before you arrive.

We will arrange your airport drop off with a trusted taxi driver but the cost IS NOT covered (350mxn)

CAR SEATS ARE NOT GUARANTEED FOR AIRPORT RIDES

What time is Check in/out and does it matter what time I arrive?

Check in is at 3pm and check out is at 11am. Your Retreat officially starts with dinner at 6pm on arrival day. We realize that flights arrive when they arrive and will pick you up whenever you get here. If it’s before 3pm we will bring you somewhere to wait.

How many rooms / beds does the CaSa have?

The CaSa has 3 rooms that we use year-round and 1 room that is available upon request for private groups or during the big holidays (like muertos) All of our king beds can be split into twins upon request. See our Gallery for more details.

Who will be taking care of our children?

We have an amazing group of women who care for your children. Click here for more info.

Is there a Nanny for every child?

No. We try to maintain a ratio of 1 nanny for 2 children - especially when they are under the age of 5. For older children we adapt as necessary but children are NEVER left unsupervised. If you would like a dedicated nanny for your child, please let us know and we can find someone for you and let you know the cost.

Is there an age limit for children?

We do not have a minimum age for children. Our youngest guest was 6 months old. We offer different activities for our tweens and teens than we do our younger guests. We promise that they will have fun also!

Screens

The CaSa does NOT have a Television.

We do not allow screens while nannies are at the CaSa (9-5) as they provide entertainment through crafting, swimming, stories and playing. If a child needs some down time during the day (with your permission) they are of course allowed to use screens in their room.

This policy has been made with a lot of thought and intention. It only takes one child on a screen to bring all children flocking. They shun activites and lose interest in anything the nannies organize. Parents have very different approaches to screens and they can be a source of conflict with adults too. We want the kids to be engaged and having fun - you’ll be surprised with how well they do without them!

With any policy there is flexibility to accommodate the best interests of the child/ren.

Smoking

The CaSa is a SMOKE FREE zone. Even in our outdoor areas. Even if nobody is around. If you are a smoker please walk outside of the property to an area where the smoke will not drift into the playroom or CaSa.

*Oaxaca is a smoke free city. You are no longer allowed to smoke while walking down the street - just to make you aware so that you do not receive a fine!

Food Sanitation

We buy almost all of your food at the Abastos Market. This is where food is freshest and least chemically treated. ALL of our produce is cleaned (using idione drops or white vinegar.) We will not serve you any food which has not been properly clean. This is common practice in restaurants too.

Water - drinking & conservation

We provide fresh water for drinking and cooking. There is plenty of it in the CaSa so please stay hydrated. If you are out and about then do not fear water or ice. Restaurants use purified water and ice. Locals drink bottled water also so they wouldn’t dream of serving you tap water.

Oaxaca is a state with a water shortage. While we are lucky at the CaSa to have a good flow of water we still ask that you are mindful of water useage. We provide buckets to fill while waiting for the shower to heat - we use this water for plants and cleaning.

Diets & Allergies

We take your food allergies seriously. We will make sure the CaSa is allergen free ahead of your stay. Our chef is adept at accommodating veggie/vegan/gluten free diets. We keep whole milk, lactose free and dairy alternate milks in the CaSa during your stay. Upon booking you will be asked if your family has any allergies or dietary needs.

Menu

We ask for your dietary requirements before you arrive and bilt a menu tailor made to the group which accommodates all preferences. We put a lot of time into creating this menu which includes both Mexican and familiar foods. We do not make our food spicy (we serve spice on the side)

We provision for your Retreat ahead of your arrival and for this reason we are not able to change the menu to include items which we have not provisioned for.

If there is something you would like to add to your plate during your stay you are welcome to put in a request ahead of your arrival and we will try our best to make it happen!

Snacks

We stock the CaSa with fresh, local fruit, fresh tortilla chips, yoghurt, crackers etc which the children are given between meals. Oaxaca does not have access to many of the packaged organic items that I took for granted in the USA. We provide 3 meals for the children a day so we make sure that they are well fed. If you’ve brought anything from home that you’d like us to give to your children - please let the nannies know. We have a guest fridge where you are welcome to store anything you like!

Picky Eaters!

We know that kids can be picky. We have also found that the picky eaters do well when they are around other children at the CaSa. We do our best to make plates appealing to the kids and Rosa is great at getting to know their tastes and getting them to eat! We have plates with compartments so things don’t touch but we are not able to cater to individual likes and dislikes as that would become overwhelming for the chef.

We prefer to let children try what is on offer rather than only offering kid food. If they do not like their dinner we always have ‘safe foods’ like pasta, mac n cheese, sandwiches, quesadillas in ample supply - we even make our chicken nuggets from scratch and we will make them something else if needed. We promise that we will not let your child go hungry.

What equipment does CaSa have for children?

We have pack and plays, high chairs, kids plates, cups and utensils. There is a baby bath available upon request. We have a playroom with a section for younger and for older children and entertainment for all ages. There are puzzles, books and board games. For the Pool we have floaties (puddle jumpers and back floats.) We even have a boppy if you are nursing.

Should I bring a car seat or stroller?

We have a Mountain Buggy Nano and a City Mini GT stroller that you may borrow (let us know ahead of time.) We have car seats for all but infants. All of our seats are forward facing.

For airport pickups we cannot guarantee that there will be a car seat on offer. The CaSa is 25 minutes away from the airport through the city. If you want to be guaranteed a car seat for this leg of the journey then you will need to bring yours with you.

Legally: Car seats are not required in Mexico and often taxis do not have the clips (sometimes they’ve locked the buckles under the seats or cut them out entirely!)

Excursion Transportation

We use the CaSa Honda Pilot for groups of 6 people or less. It has a latch system on 4 of the seats, seat belts for all and room for 8 passengers. For larger groups or those who need more than 3 car seats we hire a minivan. None of these vans have shoulder belts (lap only.) Sometimes companies have sent us older vehicles due to availability and some seats do not have a belt at all. It doesn’t happen often but it is a possibility.

While we do our best to avoid transportation that does not meet our standards but one thing we do not compromise on is driver safety. We require drivers to be cautious and attentive - this means not being on their phones and driving within speed limits.

Laundry

There is not a machine for guest use at the CaSa. We do however collect your laundry on Tuesday and return it to you on Wednesday.

Does the CaSa have a Pool? (Safety)

We do have an indoor pool which is solar heated so the temperature varies depending on cloud cover. Half of the pool is open to the sky which keeps the CaSa lovely and fresh. We will provide you with towels for the pool during your stay.

We do not allow children who are not potty trained into the pool.

The pool is enclosed using child proof, hotel style locking system with a self closing gate.

WiFi

Yes we have the fastest available WiFi at the CaSa. We also have a mesh system to boost the signal throughout the CaSa and Terraza.

Do I have to pay all at once?

No. We ask for a non refundable deposit when you book and then you have the option to pay in installments. If your trip is less than 60 days away we do require payment in full.

Money (pesos) & Tipping

The best way to take out money is via an ATM but ALWAYS decline the exchange rate offered by the ATM. There are ATM’s at the airport.

Most places will accept cards but street food vendors and local markets will only accept cash.

Tipping here is from 10-20% with 10 being the norm.

It is at your discretion whether or not you’d like to tip the staff. It is not expected but always appreciated.

Spending money is hard to advise but here is an idea of what things cost in MXN as not all our guests are from USA: Taxi to/from Town $120, Meals on excursion $100pp, Airport taxi $350,

You can eat at a restaurant for as little as $50 and as much as $2200 depending on how fancy you’d like to be. The average is about $250 for a meal and drink at most establishments.

Can I bring my Mother/Sister/Friend?

Absolutely. We base our pricing on one adult, one child as we were tired of being penalized for not having a second adult when we travel. That said you are welcome to bring another adult - just let us know so we can add the option to your week.

What to bring?

Dont forget to pack: Long sleeved SPF swim top and hat for kids. Sunscreen & bug spray (can be hard to get good brands here!)

Warm Layer: The CaSa is open above the pool so we recommend bringing something cosy for the mornings (especially from Oct - Jan).

Diapers: Readily available here but the brands and sizing are a little different.

If your child sleeps in a pack and play and it’s during our colder season please bring a sleep sack for them. We do not provide blankets in pack and plays

Laundry

There is not a machine for guest use at the CaSa. We do however collect your laundry on Tuesday and return it to you on Wednesday.