We stayed in PV in mid May 2008 and had a great time. I happened upon an ad for a PV 2b/2b oceanfront apartment overlooking El Malecon (the local promenade). It was my lucky day! The condo proved to be wonderful and the constant entertainment from the balcony "people watching" kept my physically limited husband occupied for hours, along with his margarita of course. I took the bus all over town and am not sure I'd stay anywhere but Old Town. Bus fare is only 55 cents north and 60 cents south. We were just south of the Rio Cuale and I could walk everywhere--the flea market, shops, galleries, the Rizo grocery store, and restaurants. Try Asadero's, Joe Jack's, La Tia, and a great fajita place whose name I can't remember. Most of these on on the Basillo Badilla though. Rizo's is a Mexican experience of its own. The security guard recommended a premixed margarita called Margarita Careyes and a better margarita is impossible to find. Don't bother with any cute tropical clothes that are tempting in air conditioned stores at home. It's too humid for anything but a few tank tops, shorts, a swimsuit, and a pair of sandals and walking shoes.

We had a really good time in Puerto Vallarta. We were there May 23 - May 26th. The weather was around 85 each day and we did not get rained on.

There appears to be a traffic issue and the exhaust smell is not the best. This took a little bit for me to get use to.

There is a boardwalk area where live entertainment seemed to be happening every night. There were people selling things. There were people building (HUGE) beautiful sand castles. That was neat! There was live music, plenty of food, and lots to drink.

There are "American" style restaurants like Hard Rock, Carlos O’Brian’s, Hooters, McDonalds, Carl’s Jr, and more. There are also plenty of local restaurants that will delight you. We ate at a place called Pi Pi's and it was Authentic Mexican food...if that is your thing.

There are a lot of beach activities. There is parasailing, boat trips, snorkeling, skiing, and more. We parasailed and Loved it! It was $45.00 per person (did not see tandem being done). It was well worth it. We did it off the Holiday Inn Beach.

We also did visit the Sea life park (north of the airport about 5-7 minutes). There we swam with the Sea Lions (instead of the Dolphins). We loved it very, very much! It was $50 per person and lasts about 30 minutes. Very cool!

We stayed at Fiesta Americana and we have No complaints. The hotel is very comfortable. It is not a 5 star hotel, but it is great. The staff was amazing, the room was clean, and the pool was awesome. The drinks were made very well. The drinks are not super cheap - like in other places we have been. An Absolut and Sprite was $7.60 each or $76.00 Pesos.

Anyway, we WILL GO BACK. It was great and I hope we return later this year.

I wanted to share my amazing vacation because I know that it can help other people to choose their next trip. I visited Puerto Vallarta May 9th to 16th with my husband. It was not my first time in Mexico because I been to Cancun one year ago with my sisters. I really fell in love with Puerto Vallarta for the Spanish architecture of the downtown, the people so nice and the beautiful Bay of Banderas.

We stayed in a time-share condo of the Paradise Village; Great service and good food. I was impressed by the diversity of the buffet and the delicious a la carte restaurants. The beach of Nuevo Vallarta is the best. Long beach where you can walk until Bucerias where you have a flee market. Don't forget to bargain!
What is nice about Nuevo is that you are not far from downtown (around 30 minutes by bus).

We spent one afternoon visiting downtown Puerto Vallarta and I really liked the restaurant Talento. Good fusion meal. I took the Cesar salad and the shrimp Bali So Good! My husband ate the steak and it was also delicious (for people who prefer more standard food).

A friend of mine talked to me about Vallarta Adventures because they went to the Canopy last year. We decided to choose the Sea Safari because we love the ocean. I was very impressed by the quality of the service. From the beginning till then end we've been take care of. The guide knew so much about the culture, the flora and fauna and about the little fishing villages. The speed boat is a blast so bumpy. My favorite part was the Tarzan swing at the waterfall of Tacomata. The food was incredible and they serve us a coconut drink! My husband liked the kayaking and the visibility was good for the snorkeling.

We took as well the Rhythms of the night. What a show! I highly recommend it for family, couple or friends for the food, the spot and the environment who make you feel like a real Aztec. The only thing is that we met a couple on the boat who booked online before coming and they save 10% of the price. If we knew...

I suggest visiting Puerto Vallarta to discover or rediscover again the Mexican culture who's so friendly. Thanks to everyone who make our vacation memorable.

Here's some random facts and tips gathered over several trips to PV, the most recent being in May for our wedding at Buenaventura Grand Resort (see my separate review if interested) Here we go:
* AIRPORT: as soon as you get your bags you go through an area where someone in your group presses a button and if its a red light, you get your luggage QUICKLY looked through (for the obvious stuff you shouldnt have in your bags). If green, lets move on...YOU WILL BE BOMBARDED BY TAXI DRIVERS trying to take you someplace. Negotiate a better price if you want, but if you keep going to the taxi stand you pay $20-22 to mostly any hotel in old town or the hotel zone. (the return ride from your hotel will likely be only $10)
* HOTELS: all-inclusive will keep you shackled to your hotel, BUT if you are a boozer, you can have whatever you want. The cost of A/I is usually 2x the normal or so..If you are savvy, you can eat local(great restaurants and street tacos and beers at the store are less than a buck!!!) Some places make you wear a band, but that will peg you as a tourist if your walking around town (shimmy it off your wrist if you can, but careful if you break or lose b/c you'll likely have to pay!!)
* STREETS: as soon as you leave your hotel you may be hit on by all sorts of folks trying to sell you things like tequila or tour tickets or the dreaded timeshare. The timeshares are sneaky in that you might buy something and they'll ask if you want it for free..the catch:just a few short hours at our new resort. Dont fall for it...it will be much longer than whatever they say. A reminder: they are not your friends and they do want to make money. The easiest way to get away is to say that you live there now or that you are broke or something clever. You dont have to be rude, unless they're jerks....
BOOZE: booze is available at any corner store (OXXO, SIX) and they are like 7-11's that sell liquor...beer is everywhere for less than a buck. Save $$, buy your beer, keep it in your room fridge and take it to the pool deck in a cheap cooler. As for tequila stores, take a few tastes for free, but you really have no idea where the TQ in your fancy bottle comes from (Don So & So..etc.)
Your best bet is the liquor store or the duty free on the way home, because these tequila stores will try to get $50 a bottle from you.
Hey, if you can get them down to $20 a bottle have fun. You can drink in the streets, but I would not carry a bottle around because of the unwanted attention of the law.
FOOD: Do not fear the street taco!!! They are some of the best things you will eat. So very fresh with great choices of ingred. VERY IMPORTANT POINT: Watch to make sure that the person making the food is not the person handling the $$, then you're good. Most of the ladies can speak English, but you can also point and say dos, tres, etc.. ADOBADA is seasoned pork (great)
AL PASTOR is the gyro like meat you'll see on an upright rotiss. and it is pork with some pineapple(also great) ASADA is steak.
CHORIZO or LINGUICA is sausage(iron stomach??) TRIPA is cow stomach lining and SENCILLO is brains..no thanks.
RECOMMENDED RESTAURANTS: Barcelona Tapas(up on the hill, great sunsets (between 8 & 8:30pm)) La Bodeguita del Medio (Cuban food and great Mojitos!!) El Arrayan (authentic old Mex dishes like Cochinita Pibil...yum) or La Equina de los Caprichos (Corner of Wishes..Tapas, but smaller scale and very delicious!!) ask your concierge or internet for directions.
Do have a fried banana (20pesos/$2) or a crepe for desert on the Malecon that runs for a few miles along the coast. Nice stroll at night with frequent concerts or fireworks or people watching.
ACTIVITIES: Do go on a boat ride!! Go to Yelapa or Mismaloya or any of the other beaches by way of water taxis or private charter.
You can grab a boat at the pier in Old Town (Playa de los Muertos) or sometimes they are just right off shore and you can wave them in to take you anywhere. If you have many in your group, get the boat for a day or half day, go wherever and they will wait for you until you're ready to go back. Pay them at the end of the day. Short trips are $$ up front. Yelapa is great and a cool hike up the falls...lots of food choices on the beach where the boat pulls up. Look for Chelly and her container of pies on her head..good stuff!! Remember that most everyone there wants to make a buck, so you often have go-betweens that will sell tix to activities...buy direct if you can.
SHOPPING: The best souvenier prices are in Bucerias (a bus ride)..also a little more quiet and less-crowded beaches. Also the vendors at the Malecon are pretty cheap (bracelets or necklaces should be jus $5-10. Beach vendors walking around can be the most expensive, just bargain as best as you can..MOST IMPORTANT: who cares what you pay, as long as you are happy with what you paid.
Finer stores will usually give you a "cash discount" of 10-30% if you ask... Some stores just don't bargain at all. Cigars can be fakes too, the only guaranteed Cuban is at La Bodeguita del Medio. Beware the cheap Cuban, the avg should be about $20 or more..if less than that, or not in a humidor...dont buy it. Not a huge deal through customs, unless you're bringing back 50 boxes...just be smart. Take the paper rings off if you're scared.

Sorry this was long, but I hope you can benefit from my experiences...have fun. Write me if you have ?? that are reasonable.