Anyone been to Puerto Vallarta?

[Doughboy]

Possibly planning a trip in July for an anniversary with the wife. Have any of you guys been there before? What do you think the best place in Mexico to visit is? Taking into consideration sites to see, and cost. I know Cancun is fun and cheap, but looking for a little nicer and less rowdy time.

Thanks

 

[jyapur]

Playa del armen is the best, try this link

http://www.playadelcarmen.com/

 

[Doubledown21]

Not the best time of the year to travel there. I have been there about 7 times. In fact leaving March 28th. Its the rainy season in July. If you want to go I would suggest travel bewteen Dec 1st and the end of April. Puerto Vallarta is a wonderful place with plenty of 1st class hotels and restruants. They also have a small sports book.

 

[Morris]

Just got back from Playa Del Carmen a couple of weeks ago and it was great. All inclusive and you felt like you owned the place the first day. Was looking at Puerta Vallarta just last nite and couldn't find any all inclusive so I took them off my list. Wouldn't hesitate to go back to Playa. Its alot more quiet and relaxing than Cancun itself and you're only about 30 miles south.



Bob

 

[cisco]

I've lived in Guadalajara, Mexico for the last 7 1/2 years. It's 165 miles east of PV.

Doubledown21 is exactly correct. Room rates double from December 15th to April 15th. July will be rainy and very humid. I won't go over then.
I prefer Old Vallarta to the new section. Mismaloya is a couple of minutes away and it is beautiful.

Not much to do as a tourist in Guadalajara but it has one of the best climates in the world and that's why I live here. Average yearly temperature is 76 degrees. http://my.myway.com/weather/obs.jsp?id=MXJO0043

You may want to consider Manzanillo (pronounced mon-sa-knee-yo). Located south of PV. The movie McHales Navy was made there.It's more layed back but you can party there as well. They have all inclusive hotels. Again, you'll catch the humidity.l
http://www.mexicanpacific.com/listings2.asp
http://www.karminapalace.com/English/inclusive.asp


Enjoy your trip.

 

[Doubledown21]

If you want to stay in Puerto Vallarta the side of town to stay is called the golden zone. There are three hotels that I would recomend. Camino Real a first class hotel. Cost about 180 a night includes taxes. Staying there starting the 28th of March. I also have stayed at El Presidente an all-inclusive right up the road, a real nice hotel. Also as Cisco stated Mismaloya is very nice, 1st class. Depends what your budget is.

 

[ferdville]

Camino Real and el Presidente are both very nice hotels. Not much else to doas far as sightseeing goes. They have a hell of a Parasailing trip. Stay away July, August, September.

 

[TIME TO MAKE $$$]

My parents own a condo there but it is located in NUEVO VALLARTA. The condo is right next to PARADISE RESORT. The portion of the strip are all 5* resorts and great golfing, shopping, scuba diving are found in this region etc etc. The only downfall is that it is about a 20 minute drive from downtown. Relax during the day, tehn head downtown to party...

 

[Doughboy]

Here's the thing. We will be going down in July for our anniversary, so is it humid and rainy everywhere in Mexico then, or would somewhere like Manzanilla. And I have had humidity at school in south, but is it that much worse. And when you say the rainy season, how much rain is that a day? I like Mexico because it's very affordable. The most I want to spend on room and airfare is about $1500 for a 4 night trip. I understand I will spend more on other stuff while there, but I am not sure I caan even come close to afford all inclusive, plus my wife isn't a big drinker, although I might do enough for us both. I also want to go somewhere that there are sights, oh say like ruins, because the wife is a teacher and that is what she enjoys, that is the tourism. I just want a bar, and a casino, and a golf course, and I am happy. Is there somewhere else that might be better that time of year at that price?

Thanks Again

 

[fatdaddycool]

Costa Rica is nice and somewhat similarly priced. Turks and Caicos in the Providenciales is nice also yet a little higher priced but well worth it the beaches are stunning. The water immaculate. Belize is also nice and suprisingly affordabel and has the best snorkeling or scuba diving in the world period. Rain forest and river rafting also available. Antigua is overpriced and only o.k. would not recommend. Cuaracas is beautiful as well and you can't beat South American night life. Mazatlan has some ruins as do Cancun. Cozumel is slightly higher priced for some reason at least it was when I was there. Might want to look into Cabo of you are looking to avoid the rains. Good luck and have fun stud.

 

[AR182]

Been to Antigua & paradise Island & was very disappointed in both.

FDC,

Next time I need a place for vacation you are the man I will see. You seem to have traveled quite a bit.

 

[cisco]

You can travel to Manzanillo and stay at a 4 or 5 star hotel all inclusive for what you are considering paying. go to a travel agent and inquire about the hotels that are in the link that I posted. Ask for their summer rates and promotional packages. they have them, believe me.

There's a decent hotel in old Vallarta called The Frankfort Hotel. You can get a nice room there for 40-50 dollars a night and it's 3 blocks from the beach. In fact, there are a lot of hotels in that price range that are a few blocks from the beach. It's the ones right on the beach that cost the bucks.
You can also look on E-Bay. There are condo rentals that you can pick up. I've seen them listed in there pretty cheap.
El Cid in Mazatlan .
I just did a quick check and found this. there are more:

http://www.rciholidaynetwork.com/HN...uwqbGmTU1vPwYLQ1fL5BteOPlaOSMNvRmk73Rk0whqmst|-4240581519220522955/-1062686919/6/8888/8888/8889/8889/8888/-1|-6099117056372789290/-1062686911/6/8888/8888/8889/8889/8888/-1|1047529509211

 

[Doubledown21]

As for going to Manzanillo I have been there. Stayed at the Karmina Place. A 5 star rated hotel. It has a golf course next to it. The hotel is very nice. It is an all inclusive. The food was rehashed from one meal to the other. Drinks were watered down. No one can drink all day without getting drunk. There is no night life or resturants outside of the hotel when I was there about 3 years ago. I would not recomend this place (MANZANILLO) to anyone.