Any suggestions for a trip to Puerto Vallarta?

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Tiffany R

I have been to PV 6 times once a year for the past 6. So best places to eat, If you like seafood and steak go to Ah Caramba's, it has the best surf and turf for two and it overlooks the malecon. All you see is ocean and the boardwalk. Make sure you shop in old town and don't take no for answer with bardering, almost all of them will allow you to pay what you want you just have to tell them that you got a better price somewhere else ;) always works. Make sure you go to Burros it is a little bar right on the beach that sells three beer for $3.50. There is also a place right on the main drag across the street from the Plaza Pelicanos that has the best tortilla soup. A must try. Make sure you go to Pipi's and have the margarita that is the size of a fish bowl. Cab rides are very cheap, generally in the middle of the day it should not cost you any more than 5-15 pesos to go to the flea market. The flea market is a great place to do most of our shopping and everyone is very friendly. There is a nice old man who runs the bar their and he has fresh ice cold coconuts in his freezer that with a little lime juice are to die for. If you enjoy swimming in the ocean and hiking then you must take the Yelapa and Majahuitas tour. You go snorkeling and see all sorts of amazing things, I saw a stingray each time i went and I took the tour 4 out of 6 times. Yelapa is a beautiful town that you can only get to by boat. You go for a nice hike and then fo a dip in the waterfall. There is a nice bar right on the malecon which I enjoy very much, we go every year and they remember us. Make sure that you have some bings ice cream which is really good. Depending on when you go the bull ring is a must it is on Wednesdays at 5pm. Take yourself on your own sightseeing tour, go peek at the Cathedral in the middle of Vallarta the whole crown is actually made of gold, not plated, solid gold, neat huh? As for bars I recommend Zoo as well as carlos o'briens which is very touristy but is still a good time. If there is anything I can help you with please feel free to email me there is so much to do out there but it all depends on what you want to do. Enjoy every minute of your trip.

Spring

I have been their before and had an absolutely wonderful time. One very important thing to remember is that the sun is VERY hot their, as it is close to the equator. Make sure to wear a high SPF sunscreen. I went with some people who got bad heat rash and sunburn...it pretty much ruined the trip.
As far as crime, as long as you stay on the sidewalks where the shopping/club/restraunt district is...you will be fine. Crime can be a problem in PV though its not generally committed against tourists. Remember their government depends on tourists for monetary reasons. The police presence in PV is very high, which made me feel safe.
Of course always be cautious when paying in public view..don't whip out a whole bunch of cash and keep your wallet protected.
I can't stress enough to be very alert when eating out at restraunts outside of the resort. Most of the local restraunts/bars use tap water which is not safe for tourists. Our bodies cannot handle the bacteria content. Always stick to bottled beer, soda, water, etc. Dont forget the ice is made from their water! I brought anti-diarrhea meds along for this reason-they did come in handy. At restraunts make sure that the food is being properly refridgerated or heated.
As far as I remember cabs were not too expensive...just a few dollars. I mostly relied on the shuttle bus which was very convienant and cheaper than a cab. Though if you don't know where you're going I would suggest a cab.
Have a great time!

whateverbabe

i have been there 5 times.....gorgeous beaches and try staying at the Los Palmas motel, great service and staff......make sure you go to the old market place for your best buys and visit the soccer field and bull arena........rent a car to see more

weechi

ok, my boyfriend and i were in vallarta and we felt totally safe. keep in mind, getting drunk and loud, then stumbling around...isn't safe anywhere.

my boyfriend is mexican, but both of us were so surprised at how many people spoke english.

clubs you should go to... Hilo and Zoo were my favorites. loved the restaurant Las Palomas...it was IN the sand, very nice. the cuban restaurant is great. all of these places are on the boardwalk area. there is a nice italian place near Zoo and Hilo that is authentic, and very good.

cab rides are very cheap. so...it's not a lot to shell out.

i would't plan on buying stuff....the prices were outragious...meaning shirts, jewelery, etc...

i don't think ther eare many activities you should avoid. keep in mind that things like parasailing are not regulated very well, it could be unsafe.

oh i know...do NOT take an ATV tour that goes up into the moutains. a TOTAL waste of money. we had our car and followed the tour, just to see where they would go...it was insane how much they were charging...for nothing!!! just up a dirt road, sitting out by dirty water, and then returning.

about the water....as far as i know, they do NOT use tap water. that is crazy. i don't know one single mexican that drinks tap water, why the crap would they give it to tourists?? if you are really scared...order a mineral water. but believe me, they aren't going to serve you something they know will make you sick. they depend on tourism to survive. they don't want you ill.

oscar h

it is very beautiful over there you should go to relax

pecangirl

You haven't said how old you are- but I highly recommend the 1/2 day tequila factory tour combined with the 1/2 day horseback riding in the mountains/river. It was a spectacular day, active and fun yet relaxing and gorgeous.

Crime is minimal- like someone else said, just avoid flashing cash and expensive jewelry. Common sense.

As for souvenirs (shirts, jewelry) being expensive_ I did NOT see that. Bought plenty as it was cheap and everywhere- even poolside at our hotel.

Oh yeah- the snorkeling was awesome and we saw whales and dolphins on the way.

goucho727

don't worry about crime. the police are in full force and look out for tourists as much as they can. if your planning to hang at the malecon try La Dolce Vita italian eatery. try to sit upstairs on the rail. also if your feeling like you need some American food or felling I recommend Paradise Burger. Their food is totally awesome and the bartenders are really cool. As fool upscale try Oscar's. Expensive as heck, but tasty. Also don't be scared to eat on the street. Try to find tacon de marlin for the best fish burrito you will ever have. If you are staying outside of downtown. try mauricio's for great seafood at low prices. just follow the signs toward ixtapa around the loop and go past the baskin-robbins. down about 1 mile is mauricios. make sure you go somewhere after noon but before 7pm. if they are crowded they will give you a beer or soda and ceviche tostadas while you wait. also choose one beach to go to (if you have a car) other than PV/NV/Bucerias. i love sayulita, and punta de mita. also mismayola is nice. stay away from the hotel zone as much as you can (prices are higher). go to walmart as soon as you arrive for all the nessecities. for dance clubs try hilo and zoo. for upscale lounge atmosphere try the roof at de santos. most of these are on the malecon so you will be able to walk. if you have a car. they just finished a brand new parking garage near the beginning of the malecon. it is a nice addition, although i have never had trouble parking even on crowded nights. watch on the weekends for for bands playing on the malecon, its always free and mucho fun. the beaches in nuevo vallarta are much better than in hotel zone and marina vallarta. hope that helps. have fun. i am going to pv again soon. i will be hitting all my spots for sure.

tequila_mama1

watch out for people who wants to sell time shares..ask how much for a cab ride before getting in they don't use meters..Don't drink the water..in town haggle prices they usually will drop the price on somethings.know your Mexican peso's and bills..learn a little bit of spanish if you don't speak it..

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