Dori

Suze, you seem to be the expert PV person. I'm leaving next Thursday to Puerto Vallarta. I'll be traveling solo and staying at the Hotel Eloisa. I'll be there for five nights. Any suggestions on restaurants, excursions, etc. that are particularly solo travel friendly. I've actually been to PV twice, but stayed in the hotel zone. Staying downtown I think will give me a whole new experience. I know you have travelled solo there. Any suggestions?

suze

For Dori,

Hotel Eloisa is in a GREAT location, a couple blocks from where I usually stay. I've looked around but never stayed there. Some rooms seem much nicer (sunnier, airier than others) so you might ask to see a couple when you check in.

I've never done formal tourist excursions, so am not sure how that would be to do solo. Mostly I just spend time walking and relaxing around the Old Town neighborhood - eating, shopping, going to the beach, or sunning/drinking/reading by the hotel pool. Also stroll the Malecon in the evenings, get an ice cream, visit the Cathedral, take a local bus around.

As far as restaurants, there are loads of casual ones on Olas Altas and Basilo Badillo (streets right by your hotel) and I've always felt comfortable eating in them solo. Memo's Casa de Hotcakes & Fredy's El Tucan for breakfasts. Cafe de Olla for lunch. La Bambas for dinner on the hidden patio upstairs.

Any of the palapa bars on Playa Los Muertos (beach) for a nice place to sit and have drinks or snacks (chairs, table, umbrellas usually free with purchase of something - be friendly, tip good & return to the same place the next day, you'll be popular and welcome).

Page in the Sun and Cafe San Angel are good coffee shops nearby with light food, the 1st offers 2nd hand paperbacks in English.

There's a wonderful grocery store near you, a big 2-story place that's a great resource for all things! Rizo's Supermercado, inland from your hotel on the other side of Vallarta (I'm writing from work so don't have my map to give you cross streets, but it's a well known place).

I've always had a fantastic time in that neighborhood and never a problem associated with being there by myself.

suze

PS
[email protected] if you have specific questions I might help with... I'm happy to.

Dori

Suze, thank you so much. I've printed out your message, and I will take it with me!

JRinPV

Rizo's is at Aquiles Serdan and Constitución, see map - http://vallarta-info.com/south.html

suze

I mentioned this post to a girlfriend who has been in PV solo often too & she said she'd done tours and was comfortable being a single.

(I don't have the specifics... but last time she enjoyed a day trip in a van with a local guide & small group of other tourists up to San Blas, visited a wildlife refuge, etc.)