puerto vallarta airport hotel

For what you describe, you won't leave from the airport, you'll leave from the bus station.

The hotels actually at the airport are not so good, it's worth going into the Marina, Hotel Zone, or even downtown. It's not far by taxi and you will have a much better experience, even if it's just for one night.

There are budget hotels on the south side of town
http://quepasapv.com/
next day take any bus going to Sams/Walmart (this will be written on the windscreen), get off there, walk about 50 yards north to the next bus stop and wait for the Sayulita bus.

Thanks to both of you-and great map-that helps a lot.

I posted the wrong link sorry
http://vallartainfo.com/hotels.html#budget

that's OK Cabron, I enjoyed the photos of the gang at Que Pasa!!

There's also many hotels in The Marina, which is only about 5 mins. from the airport, but they aren't the inexpensive ones, more like the Marriott, etc.

Cabron, Your first link took me to hotels that were on the south side of town and I thought that was the area you were recommending we stay. What I am wanting to avoid is a long cab ride through the traffic of town and the I believe those hotels were probably the closest ones. Am I on the right track? I do know the Marriott and the hotels in that area are close but I think the rates are around $250/night which doesn't make sense when we won't get there until around 10:30.

Also, we were there last year but rented a car to go to Sayulita. Is there any issue with getting our luggage onto the bus or is there a better way to get there rather than the standard city bus system? Thanks again to both you and Suze.

The south-side hotels are inexpensive and that entire area (which is "south of downtown, and south of the river") is approx. a 25-30 mins. taxi ride from the airport costing $20-25USD. Shouldn't be too bad of traffic at that time of night. I like www.hotelposadaderoger.com (~$50/range). But Belmar, Azteca, Hortencia, Yasmine, Posada Lily, etc. are all OK.

So no these aren't the "closest hotels" to the airport or where you'll catch the bus, but it's the area with the largest number of inexpensive hotels available. Well worth the taxi cost/ride/time imo.

Yes, you'll have a problem taking luggage on the city bus. I would taxi to Walmart and get the Sayulita bus, which will handle you luggage, I've seen guys get on with surfboards. LOL