Ken and I are in the middle of a little weekend getaway to Puerto Vallarta. It’s about a 5 hour bus ride from Guadalajara, and oddly, it’s the beginning of the “slow”season. I would have expected that this would be the beginning of the high season, but apparently that’s from November to early April. We’re staying at the gay end of town naturally, a few blocks from the beach in a nice place called the Abbey Hotel and at the far opposite end of town from the big mega-resorts. The weather’s perfect this time of year, not suffocatingly humid like it can be in other months. I had a bit of a rough time of it last night – stuck in the hotel room with a case of sunstroke and too many Pina Coladas.
The real estate business here is still exploding, and there’s no sign of the slowdown that’s affected the most of the rest of the world. Of course, that’s because Puerto Vallarta actually IS a tropical paradise. Still, you can pay up to 10 million for a luxury condo if you want, but you can also rent a bachelor for 200 bucks a month if you don’t mind living in the old town.
I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that places like Puerto Vallarta are now acessible to us as weekend destinations as opposed to annual vacation spots. But, a little hard work and a few more trips down here and I’m sure I’ll find some way of adjusting to the reality of it.
Jeeze
The good life…….I’ve heard about that.
Tropical vegetation always looks like overcooked brocoli, or is that just in photos? I guess they make up for it with the water, and the beaches, and the sun.
You always think everything looks like food. Why do you think that is?
Since when? And I don’t know why. I have no idea where you’re going with that.
is it nice there?
Hey BeeJay: Puerto Vallarta is fantastic. We love it there. It’s affordable and the atmosphere is friendly. A couple of things: the weather is incredible, but from the end of May to the middle of September it’s VERY hot and humid. A lot of the locals leave for the summer and go up into the mountains. You get spectacular daily tropical downpours that really steam the place up afterwards. It can be difficult to sleep at night in this part of the year.
The other thing is that like every tropical resort, the beach peddlers can get on your nerves sometimes. There are a lot of them, and they can sometimes be pretty persistent. It depends a bit on what part of town you stay in, whether you’re in the older part of town, or staying in a more self-contained complex.
The waters of Vallarta are considered very safe. It’s in a bay that’s patrolled by dolphins, so there’s never been any shark attacks that I’ve heard of. The beaches are very clean and the water is quite warm in the mid summer.
Other factors: the drinking water in Puerto Vallarta has exceeded health standards for the last 10 years in a row. I still recommend drinking bottled water at all times however, just to be safe. Overall, Vallarta is a safe, friendly town. It’s a resort that’s popular with families, not just from the States and Canada but from Mexico and Central America too. Use the normal common sense precautions that apply for travel in Latin America – no flashy jewelry, no iPod earphones, don’t get mixed up in buying drugs or any of that sort of thing.
Oh, and the food is fantastic. Sushi – and I mean GOOD Sushi – Vancouver-quality, Italian, Greek, Mexican, Thai, Indonesian, Argentinian, American fast food – whatever you want.
Another thing, don’t let the family-friendly thing turn you off if you’re looking for a party-town. You can have a LOT of fun in Vallarta too! Nightlife usually starts late, around midnight, and goes to sun-up.
Hi Chris-
Can you recommend a place for my husband and i to stay? We’ve been married less than a year and have a seven month old baby. We desperately need a vacation and are looking to get away for a while. Not sure if we’re going to take our little girl but any advice you can give would be appreciated.
Hi Heather. There’s a Hilton which has a really nice complex that would be perfect if you’re travelling with a young child. It’s also close to a fairly large air conditioned mall, and of course you can taxi anywhere. Here’s a really great website that will help you find exactly what you’re looking for:
http://www.vallarta.com/
Their information is up to date and you can find some pretty great deals through them. All the hotels they refer are good quality. Have a great time!
hey i live in vallarta!
you enjoy puerto vallarta mexico wow
Whenever I travel I use http://www.trekkertime.com. It’s awesome
Hey
I love PV. I would like to find a volunteer job. Any advice?
I think that puerto vallarta is Beautifulllll, and for Chardon question, how about volunteering at the local Library?
Marycarmen, I will be volunteering at School of Champions but I don’t have lodging yet