Punta del Este Travel Forum

I'm planning to live in Punta from Sept to the end of Dec 2006 and then come back again in Feb. I plan to surf, work and learn Spanish to a high standard. I surf in cold water back home so that and a lack of crowds/tourists during the off-peak period doesn't bother me too much, actually I think I'd prefer it. I can teach English or work in a bar, so that would be the initial plan to prevent starvation.
I was wondering if anyone could help me out with info on the following:
1. the cost of living.
2. finding a job that would sustain me, especially on a ong term basis.
3. how to find somewhere to live - a apartment within walk of the Atlantic beaches preferably, but not at any cost.
4. how easy are the locals to intergrate with?
5. How "dead" is it during winter - ghost town or jus not crowded?

Thanks,

Conor

PS - If anyone wants to offer me a place to rent or a job get in touch

Punta del Este might be expensive compared to other places in Uruguay... it's beautiful, but it ain't cheap.

About getting a job in September, that won't be easy... it's the off season and usually nobody is hiring, but you never know!

Locals are very friendly, specially in Maldonado. You won't have problems with that.

The winter is very cold there... but there's a lot of people living all year round in PDE. It's not a ghost town, but you won't see crowds. It depends on the weather.

If I were you... I'd go to La Paloma, it's about an hour NE of PDE. It's cheaper and you have much better surfing. But I don't know if there are Spanish schools... and is more like a sea resort than like a town, so the winter season can be a little too empty!

Good luck chop!

Here are two links to great cost of living information:

http://uruguayliving.com/2006/04/15/if-they-only-took-confederate-money-the-southron-and-local-prices.aspx

http://fromuruguay.blogspot.com/2005/12/uruguay-cost-of-life.html