Housing Availability in December

Hello,
Planning and budgeting my move to SMA...any advice is welcome!

At the moment, I am thinking I will either drive my car OR ditch my car and fly into Leon/SMA. Upon arrival, I am thinking I will book a hotel room for 5-7 days and THEN begin looking for a 1-2 bedroom to rent, for around $800/month. NOTE: I am traveling with my furbaby (Smee). So my questions are:

1) I am seeking a simpler life in SMA. How much of a hassle is having a car in SMA vs not having a car?   I am in good health & walk about an hour everyday.

2) What are the best/no frills hotels that accept pets in SMA?

3) What is the best way to find an economical rental in SMA? I am aware of Craigslist.

4) What areas of SMA should I absolutely avoid renting in for safety reasons?

5) Is it feasible to find, secure and move into a rental within 5-7 days or should I plan a longer stay in a hotel?

6) What is involved in getting utilities turned on in my name, if utilities are not included in the rent? Do I need to an interpreter for this task? Do I need a handful of pesos?

Again, any advice you can provide to help make this big move, less stressful for this solo retired chicky and her little perro is greatly appreciated!