Puerto Vallarta
 

We are going on a family trip to Puerto Vallarta. We have never been there and would really love your input.

Where should we go?

What should we see?

Where should we eat?

Should we have a car?

Of what should we be cautious?

Thanks in advance for your advice.

Hi Punki, I spent a week in PVR in August and had a great albeit low-key time. I recommend staying on the hotel strip just outside of the city centre (away from all the noise and congestion). I stayed at the Sheraton Buganvillas which was good value for the price. Also just outside and to the right is an outdoor food court serving all the local foods - clean, tasty and inexpensive (especially compared to hotel prices).

You'll have no trouble finding all types of restaurants in all price ranges and if you're the adventurous type as I was you'd even try the fare offered by the street vendors. At all cost you must avoid Planet Hollywood and the Hard Rock Cafe as these are crass examples of American commercialization (I'm joking, no I'm serious; fellow Canadians will get this!)

It's a great place for walking around and window shopping especially along the boardwalk (El Malecon?). Since I didn't do very much while I was there except lie on the beach I can't say much on what you should see except that on every corner there will a tour outfit with many recommendations on must-sees. But better to start with the hotel concierge whom you can go back to if you aren't satisfied.

You do not need to rent a car as you can walk almost everywhere plus the taxis are quite inexpensive. Fares are fixed so you don't have to worry about being taken for a ride!

All hotels claim that their water is potable but bottled water is a good precaution. Of course all the usual precautions about personal items apply and I would say there is nothing out of the ordinary to worry about. PVR depends on its tourism and has a fairly good infrastructure in that regard. It is also a very popular gay destination so you know it has to be okay! Enjoy!

P.S. Book your hotel stay with AA Vacations and get 3,000 (or thereabouts) AAdvantage miles and your package will include ground transfers to and from the hotel.

Punki,
There is a small resort I went to,costa careyes, about 1 hour south by car. http://www.careyes.com.mx/ http://www.mexrent.com/ . It was photographed in Architectural Digest. It's really wonderful, (see the website pics) but only if you want to get away. They have all sorts of activities during the stay, including trips to some beaches where turtles lay eggs at night. I found Puerto Vallarta quite touristy otherwise, but enough for a day trip. I looked for the beach from the Night of the Iguana (La Nuit de l'Iguane that I ended up calling l'Ennui de l'Iguane) but could only find concrete buildings at Mismayola.
I think a little further up from Careyes there is a club med, and a few amazing villas on top of the cliff that you can rent for $3,000/day (but you can visit) !!! Great restaurant on top of the cliff.


[This message has been edited by Droneklax (edited 12-09-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Droneklax (edited 12-09-2000).]

I was there a little over a month ago, stayed at the
La Jolla de Mismaloya resort which was very nice. The Night at the Iguana restaurant near the hotel was pretty tasty as well. It's a little ways from downtown but a pretty quick taxi ride.

That was my only time there so I may not be the best guide.

The downtown area is is fun to walk around, lots of small side streets to get lost in. Lots of small shops some more touristy than others but all geared toward tourists.

I was only there for a long weekend so i don't have too many specific suggestions. I was disappointed in the ocean, found it to be a bit too dirty for my tastes. I was there right after a couple big storms so that may have been the problem.

There's certainly lots of people hawking activities such as snorkling and parasailing. Also plenty of places to rent jet-skis and boats.

Enjoyed the fresh seafood quite a bit, also the tequilla tastings at some of the tequilla stores and bars (that may not be the best family outing though!)

Puerto Vallarta is quite safe, never felt otherwise while I was there and I spend a lot of my time wandering around by myself trying to get lost.

Lot's of taxi's around to take you wherever you want to go. If I remember correctly they aren't metered but there's a fixed rate for different zones around town.

Overall I enjoyed it, probably won't rush back but everyone I met was very friendly and it made for a relaxing break.

We stayed at the condos adjacent to La Jolla de Mismaloya 2 years ago. The condos were nice, but as far as the ocean was concerned, you could see raw sewage floating in it every day we were there. It might have been a temporary thing, but there were articles in the local tourist paper admitting it was an ongoing thing.

We went out to eat the second day we were there to a very nice restarant. the next day my wife got Montezuma's Revenge and was sick the rest of the time we were there. The Night of the Iguana movie set is just a bunch of old buildings that are falling apart. As far as the town of Puerta Vallarta is concerned, if you enjoy seeing people living in poverty and want to take advantage of them by arguing about prices, you will have a good time.

Needless to say, we will never set foot in Mexico again. I hope your trip is better.

I hesitate to post this because I don't like to talk people out of going places and perhaps your experience will be different ... but ... I used to visit Puerto Vallarta frequently, but as I found it getting worse and worse each time, I no longer return. I haven't been there in a few years now, so perhaps it's changed, but based on comments above, it doesn't sound like it. In town, you must fend off vendors trying to sell you tours; on the beach you must fend off people trying to sell you hats; in the hotels, you must fend off people trying to sell you timeshares. I just don't find that much fun. The last time I was there I spent most of my time feeding the myriad dogs running around with their ribs showing, broken bones, etc. As mentioned, the ocean is dirty.

In general in Mexico if you stay at a large hotel, they will give you a mediocre room. Complain and you will get a better room. Doesn't matter what your status is.

Do not rent a car.

There are parts of Mexico I love. La Paz is terrific and not spoiled yet by tourist industry. I guess if I were going to go to Puerto Vallarta I'd stay someplace like where Droneklax mentioned that's away from the center of things.

Good luck and have fun.

If you want to go where the Mexicans go for vacation try Rincon Guayabitos. It's about an hour north of the airport. It's safe, friendly and much cheaper than P.V. If you are looking for night life this isn't the place but the beaches and people there are great. I stay at Casa Blanca, one bedroom units with a kitchen and pool right on the beach but there are a number of places available that are also good.

Dick

letiole:

I agree with you about the dogs. Whenever I was in town, not only did I feel sorry for them, but I constantly worried about them getting hit by cars that seemed not to care if they hit them or not.

We did rent a car and took a drive into the countryside. It was even more depressing than Puerto Vallarta was. As bad as the everyday person has it in Mexico, it's really depressing to think there are many more places even worse.

My wife and I were in PV just over 1 yr ago. We did not like it as much as an earlier trip to Manzanillo.

In PV, you can walk around quite easily, even if you are in the hotels just outside the city. I do not believe that swimming in the ocean is recommended at the hotels in town. We stayed even further north of PV. Swimming is possible here.

The buses are inexpensive and are generally on time. There is the standard Hard Rock Cafe, Zoo etc. Nightclubs go until the late hours of the morning (4 or 5 am). There is a little bar, in more Mexican style than the Americanised Hard Rock, on the street that runs parallel to the promenade. Take the side street with the bank (I hope that there is just one) and turn left at the first corner. It is about 5 or 6 doors up. Beer is cheap in that bar (less than $US1) and plentiful.

If you are planning on getting duty free liquors, get it at the airport. There is a large liquor store and several shops in the upstairs waiting area.

Do we plan to return in the future? No. Would we recommend the place to others? Sure.

Enjoy!

Hi Punki,

You're a nice lady. If you must go to PV, at least skip the car rental.

What other Mexican resort cities have you visited?

Absolutely love PV. Have been several times. Do the timeshare exchange as PV is one of the timeshare capitals of the continent. I would suggest spending a few minutes with the Westin people and agreeing to a tour. They will take you to your resort at no charge, saving you a cab ride, feed you a pretty good meal and usually throw in trips or tours. The Night of the Iguana Beach trip is great as it is only accessible by boat and the lunch they serve is awesome. You can then snorkel, scuba, get a massage, etc. Last trip stayed at the Westin Club Regina after previewing the trip before (stayed at Villa del Palmar).

Don't rent a car; taxis are great. Always get the cab number in case you leave something behind. The shopping is very good. Once at the Malecon you can walk just about everywhere. I stay away from the gringo restaurants, such as Planet Hollywood, etc, and look for the rare finds. I try different places each trip. IMHO, you and Joe have made an excellent choice!

I have a friend who goes to PV each year and goes to a little village called Yelapa. It is accessible only by boat from PV but is very rustic but comfortable. I think it is popular with daytrippers, but after they all leave for the day, it's all yours. There are quite a few website on yelapa with some very interesting places to stay. Most have limited electricity, but they will take good care of you with food and hospitality.

I was at Rincon de Guayabitos over Thanksgiving. A FOAF's family has a development there called Villas del Mar just up the hill from the beach there.

RdG has much nicer beaches than PV and it seemed really safe to me. Yes, people (including 6 year olds) will be coming by every few minutes to sell you things, but often these are things you cannot get back home!

If you see someone selling a mobile with wood painted fish and a puffer fish, buy a bunch of these (45 pesos=$5). Amazingly simple, very Mexican, and a great present to take home to friends.

RdG does not really have a nightlife--so you would have to head down to PV to see what is going on in tourist land.

We went to de Santos Restaurant for dinner one night in PV. A nice (but not amazing) dinner for 5 was $133 including drinks. You'll find it a couple of blocks off the Boardwalk near the lighthouse.
http://www.go2vallarta.com/maps/ looks to have some decent maps of the area.

I really like PV, primarily because it is not only a great resort but a real village - not just a resort built in nowhere (e.g. Cancun). The nicest hotels are not right in town - Westin, Marriott, Krystal, Sheraton are all just north of town. As nice as these hotels are, I don't particularly like the setting, especially the marina area where the Marriott is located.

My favorite is the Camino Real just south of town. It is built right into the side of the mountain and has its own great beach. It also has an excellent dining room.

LaJolla Mismaloya is also excellent, but it really is quite a distance from PV, and for me one of the really enjoyable features of the area is being able to wander around the town and especially along the river. You are a lot less likely to get back into the town from here.

I also recommend a wonderful little restaurant called Cafe des Artistes. It has a first class owner/chef name Thierry Blouet, Not Mexican food, but you can find plenty of that elsewhere. It is just a couple of blocks from the old church that you see highlighted in many articles about PV.

I'm going to PVR in early January and staying at the Westin. How is the beach there?