Mexico - Ixtapa or Puerto Vallarta, which would you choose?

I'm looking to take an inexpensive beach getaway in mid-November or early December, and due to the slump in Mexican tourism, I am seeing some amazing deals. I have been to Cabo numerous times and I've also been to Cancun (which I could skip), and I'm looking for some place different. I've decided not to consider Acapulco due to the level of drug crime that has specifically afflicted that area. On the plus side, this violence, along with the overall economic downturn, is undoubtedly responsible for the magnitude of the deals I'm seeing. I'm looking at something in the vicinity of 7-10 days.

Flying from either San Diego or LAX, it's a pretty easy flight to the various western Mexico coastal resort areas. And I will either be paying cash money if I can get flights for under $400 round trip, or I'll use 35K of AAdvantage miles via Alaska Airways. I've narrowed my choices down to either Ixtapa or Puerto Vallarta - I've not been to either of these places before, and I am seeing great deals on hotels at both places - In Ixtapa, I can book Las Brisas without meals for $61/night through Jetsetter on any of the dates I'm considering, while for Puerto Vallarta, I'm extremely sure that I can get a 4* resort (either the Westin, Marriott, Sheraton, or Melia) for under $60 per night via Priceline or Hotwire - Hotwire is showing a 4* beach resort for $57 a night on all the dates I've looked at, while people have recently been getting the Westin or Marriott on Sheraton for prices in the high $40s to low $50s per night on Priceline.

I'm a single guy, looking for great beach, snorkeling, great deep sea fishing, good dining, interesting nightlife that doesn't involve binge drinking, and perhaps a bit of culture (but this last point is not critical). Given these criteria, and within the context of the sort of Hotels I can get in either place for $50-65 a night, would you choose Puerto Vallarta, or Ixtapa? The research I've done seems to indicate that the nightlife is better in PV compared to Ixtapa, but everything else is similar between the 2 resorts. Also, if it matters, I don't golf at all and could care less about access to golf.

Based on what you've told us, I'll suggest Acapulco as your destination.

As I said, I have specifically ruled out Acapulco because it has seen far more drug war-related violent crime than any of the other major resort areas. I'm not desiring to be yet another headless corpse, among the many which have turned up in and around Acapulco in the past year or two. I'm specifically looking for advice between Ixtapa and Puerto Vallarta, on the criteria of beach, nightlife fishing and dining and overall value, as well as the fact that these are two resorts in Mexico that are easily accessible from Southern California that I have not been to before.

I'm a single guy, looking for great beach

On this alone, I would not choose PVR unless you are outside of downtown in the Riveria Nayarit. However, this is pretty far from the interesting parts (nightlife, culture, etc) of town which are more on the south side.

We stayed at the PVR CM Marriott 3-4 years ago, the beach was nice, but the water had a steep drop off into the bay from the beach and wasn't crystal clear. We stayed at the pool for most of the trip (excellent pool snacks). The hotel itself had excellent staff and amenities. The room itself could have been transported to almost any other Marriott hotel and not felt out of place (maybe the color scheme).

As I said, I have specifically ruled out Acapulco because it has seen far more drug war-related violent crime than any of the other major resort areas. I'm not desiring to be yet another headless corpse, among the many which have turned up in and around Acapulco in the past year or two. I'm specifically looking for advice between Ixtapa and Puerto Vallarta, on the criteria of beach, nightlife fishing and dining and overall value, as well as the fact that these are two resorts in Mexico that are easily accessible from Southern California that I have not been to before.

I know what you said. And I read your original post including what you're looking for. Acapulco is still my recommendation. Take it or leave it. By the way: Princess Cruises just announced, this week, it's pulling its ships out of Puerto Vallarta because it considers it too much of a safety risk for passengers and crew.

If you're gay, then PV is a good choice. Ixtapa has no nighlife. Both places will be quiet when you visit - except on the weekend. Acapulco has the best nightlife in the country.

I recommend Puerto Vallarta, as it is bigger than Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo and has more night life, as you stated. Also, plenty more hotels and you can also go to Nuevo Vallarta and Punta Mita, if you can find a good deal on hotels there. I actually enjoy flying to Puerto Vallarta, because the airport is inside the city and you can catch a bus to your hotel, instead of paying for an expensive Airport Taxi, like in ZIH.

Puerto Vallarta´s malecon y beautiful and has enough night life, contrary to Ixtapa, which is more quiet during the weekend. So my recomendation goes to Puerto Vallarta for a single guy looking for those 3 things. I am also single but at the moment, I am flying to CUN as much as possible (twice a month) thanks to ultra low fares and also, really good hotel prices during weekends (even during the summer).

I recommend Puerto Vallarta, as it is bigger than Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo and has more night life, as you stated. Also, plenty more hotels and you can also go to Nuevo Vallarta and Punta Mita, if you can find a good deal on hotels there. I actually enjoy flying to Puerto Vallarta, because the airport is inside the city and you can catch a bus to your hotel, instead of paying for an expensive Airport Taxi, like in ZIH.

Puerto Vallarta´s malecon y beautiful and has enough night life, contrary to Ixtapa, which is more quiet during the weekend. So my recomendation goes to Puerto Vallarta for a single guy looking for those 3 things. I am also single but at the moment, I am flying to CUN as much as possible (twice a month) thanks to ultra low fares and also, really good hotel prices during weekends (even during the summer).

Thanks Carlitos, I just booked an award ticket on AA for just 25K miles (plus $78 in taxes and fees) from San Diego to Puerto Vallarta. Still trying to figure out what I'm doing for a hotel, as I know I can get the Westin for something like $50 a night via Priceline (it's $57 on Hotwire, and my low-ball $42 bid on Priceline just elicited a $57 counter-offer) but it's located on a less desirable stretch of beach in PV.

Thanks Carlitos, I just booked an award ticket on AA for just 25K miles (plus $78 in taxes and fees) from San Diego to Puerto Vallarta. Still trying to figure out what I'm doing for a hotel, as I know I can get the Westin for something like $50 a night via Priceline (it's $57 on Hotwire, and my low-ball $42 bid on Priceline just elicited a $57 counter-offer) but it's located on a less desirable stretch of beach in PV.

Look at ebay. Lots of timeshare owners looking to sublease their properties.

Craigslist Puerto Vallarta (there is an english translation in the upper right hand corner) is also a great place to find inexpensive vacation rentals.

OTOH, if you are looking for something a little more laid back, don't overlook Zihuatanejo (shares airport with Ixtapa). (I would avoid high season, "Semana Santa" / Holy Week or around Christmas/ New Year, as prices will be roaringly high in many place mentioned.)

Acapulco - meh! Guerrero just isn't my favorite in these parlous days.

I went with Puerto Vallarta. Split my stay between the Westin in Marina Vallarta, which I got on Priceline for $50 a night, and an inexpensive B&B in the Zona Romantica. In the course of my research, I realized that neither of these are where the best beaches are, south of town toward Mismaloya, but the best beaches can easily be gotten to by bus or taxi, and I felt that proximity to dining options and nightlife was more important.

next time check out Los Ayala beach for a day. the beach is great and has delicious restaurants at reasonable prices all along the sand. cabanas only cost $10 for the entire day and a fresh mexican style mariscos platter runs from $10-$15. Not a bad place at all.

next time check out Los Ayala beach for a day. the beach is great and has delicious restaurants at reasonable prices all along the sand. cabanas only cost $10 for the entire day and a fresh mexican style mariscos platter runs from $10-$15. Not a bad place at all.

Is there some reason I shouldn't check it out this time? My trip isn't for another couple of months.