First long stay in PV
 

This will be our first time in PV for 2 and a half months. On previous trips we were in AI (Zona Romantica) and were not concerned about daily staples. We are aware of the Wal-Mart and others but seem awfully far to go for groceries. Are there any foodliners, wine stores, clothing stores and the like, closer than past the Marina area. Would appreciate your input on this matter or should we think of staying near the Marina area instead ?
Thanks all.
Roger

Roger, I'm not clear from your post, what part of town are you staying in this time? Are you in Zona Romantica again?

We are not anywhere for the time being but from our experience would really prefer the Zona romantic.

OK. Yes there are loads of stores closer to the Southside (zona romantica) than The Marina. No need to worry about that.

Since Rizo's supermercado closed on the Southside the closest full service grocery store is Ley's in el Centro on Ave Mexico near-ish the Buenaventura Hotel.

But in Zona Romantica there are all kinds of places to shop. There's a new wine store on B. Badillo. There's La Playa liquor store on Olas Altas. There are OXXO convenience stores in every other block. There's Los Mercados which is an excellent new addition near the old Rizo's location with a fantastic deli (Mikey's), a wine store, a bakery, and a product store in the same courtyard.

There's many places for fresh fruit, off the back of trucks or stands along the sidewalks. Guadalajara Pharmacia as a decent grocery section with baked goods and some fresh produce, and deli. There are small shops selling fruits and vegetables.

So that's my long winded way of saying you don't have to go back to the Marina or shop at Walmart when in PV.

Wow, I am happy to learn that Suze, I thought for a moment there that we had to live in the Marina area, which is really not what we wanted. I am also suprised to learn that the Southside is the Zona Romantica area. I always thought that the Soutside was, lower that the Old city.
Thanks a bunch, I have noted these services and will find our way once we get settled in... that in itself will be a bit of a challenge as we are booked at Posada de Roger for a few days until we find the right condo for our tastes.
Once again Suze, thanks.
Rohelio :)

Not sure why this is a concern as my residence in Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo is a 30 minute trip from the main Supermarket but I go once a week taking a couple of hours. Lots of Tiendas near by for pick up items. PV is much the same.

The South Side has been renamed several times, Zona Romantico, Yuck ! and Old Town, which it isn't, downtown is much older.
One of the best places to shop, which Suze didn't mention, is the Central Municipal Market on Lázaro Cárdenas at Camachin. This is where the locals shop, most everything you'll need.
The liquor store on Basilio Badillo is Vinos America at # 284 - very good prices.
Los Mercados is at Aquiles Serdan #265 http://www.losmercadospv.com/index.php
This map can help
http://vallartainfo.com/vallarta-southside-map.html

I've stayed at hotel Posada de Roger at least a dozen times over the years. It's a sweet little place to arrive, and get your bearings. Friendly staff, clean and basic. Nice sunny rooftop pool. If you end up staying there more than a few days you might want to ask for a small frig for your room (it was 50 peso/day last time I did it, maybe a bit more now).

The neighborhood names are confusing and a bit up for grabs.

El Centro = downtown (north of the Rio Cuale)
Zona Romantica = southside (south of the Rio Cuale)

People use the term "Old Town" to mean different things, some mean downtown, some mean downtwon + southside together... and basically it's not even all that old, hence further confusion.

The true neighborhood names would be to actually use the official names of the 'colonias'. The southside area is called "Emiliano Zapata". See this map for the colonias of PV:
http://www.pvscene.com/3519/the-colo...erto-vallarta/

We used to frequent Playa del Carmen (every winter until last year), months at a time. Everything we needed was done by foot. We were at the tiendas and supermercados (Walmart, Mega) almost every other day. We are in our 60s and do an awfull lot of walking. I loved Playa for that reason and am hoping to apply tis same formula in PV. We also took the bus or colectivo for out of town trips but never for groceries, it takes the fun out of it if you need to take a cab or bus to restock on provisions.
I am most gratful for the answers herein and will certainly use your advice.
Muchos gracias a todos... :)

You can find everything you need on foot right in the neighborhood. No problem with that plan.

But if you want specifically to go to a Walmart or Sams Club type of store, then you'd need a bus, taxi, or car, because they are way on the other side of town (back nearer the airport).

The closest full-sized full-service grocery store is Ley's, as already mentioned. You can walk there (let's say from Posada Roger, in about 20 mins. or so). But it would be one LONG walk back hauling your groceries. I'm not sure why taking a local bus (6.5 peso) would take the fun out of it(?)

Puerto Vallarta is a much larger city than Playa del Carmen.

That Colonias map isn't any good at all. There's no Colonia called Gringo Gulch or Remance, many are missing, not a very reliable site.
Downtown is Colonia Centro up the hill behind it is Colonia Cerro, El Caloso (my colonia) is misplaced as is Las Peñas.
Sorry, but I hate mis-information :)
No need to go all the way to Ley's Supermarket, You can get all your groceries on the south side :)

We're currently in PV for a month, staying on the south side. We do go to Ley's about once a week. Even though I'm in Mexico, I want bread, not just tortillas, and I haven't found what I'm looking for anywhere else (good quality whole grain).

We're finding it hard to do much cooking, with such wonderful and affordable street food everywhere you look.

The greengrocer on the corner by the municipal market and Mikeys in Los Mercados has artisian bread of all types. All on the south side.

Cabron, OK now that's funny about the map.

When I mentioned the colonias (and googled and linked the first map I found) I thought I was *agreeing* with what you always post about the names like "zona romantica" being bogus, and the colonias actual Mexican names being the official and correct designation!

<<You can get all your groceries on the south side>>

How about telling us WHERE exactly that might be???

I know what you mean JeanH, when we were in Playa we were able to find everything we were used to. Yes, I love Mexican food and even speak it very well, this said, on long stays I like to be able to eat whole grain bread, good bacon, maple syrop and good cold milk found in the cooler. WE DID find all of these in Playa (even the maple syrop)... I just love Mexico for their way of life, their culture and friendliness but I still enjoy good home cookin... especially when my wife makes it... :)

<<I like to be able to eat whole grain bread, good bacon, maple syrop and good cold milk found in the cooler.>>

You can find all that (except maple syrup) easily in Puerto Vallarta. Just not a problem.

You never know Suze, we found (really not looking for it)our maple syrop at Wal-Mart in Playa. This was the authentic syrop from Quebec, Canada. There were 2 small format bottles on the shelf and so we took both. Unfortunatly, we never saw it on the shelf again. But I am relieved to read that we can get most of this stuff in PV. You know it's mostly for breakfast and lunches as we eat out most of the time for super.
Thanks again my friend...

PV (pop. 250,000+ is larger than Playa (pop. 149,000). You can find pretty much anything you need there.

Do you have a plan for how you are going to find a condo after you arrive? Are you still planning just to walk the streets?

You got it Suze, We book 1 or 2 nights at Posada de Roger then it's the old walk around... Mind you, I have quite a few addresses in my pocket such as Plazamar condos, Selva romantic, Vista del sol, Rodriguez st. and several more. If that doesn't work then I start looking for Se Renta signs. I have done this for many years in Playa and it worked every time. People dont believe me when I tell them that I arrive in Playa without any place to stay. Of course this is Playa, not PV, I am hoping that PV will yield the same results as Playa. The payoff of course is the cost and more obviously you get to visit the condo and negotiate before you pay anything. Should you know of anything that might be free in early Feb, please let me know. We dont mind stairs and enjoy walking, don't smoke and have no pets.
I appreciate your help in these matters Suze, you are very kind...

I did buy some artisan bread at Mikey's, but, it was really expensive. The decent whole wheat loaf I bought at Ley's was half the price.

We're big walkers, walking to Ley's once a week or so is not a big deal. I'm enjoying trying the various types of ham and such.

The artisan bread at Baca - the greengrocer on the corner by the municipal market - costs me 30 pesos. I don't buy it often as I bake my own.
I get my bacon inside the market sliced to whatever thickness I wish.
The only time I go to a supermarket is for something like New Zealand lamb or a very occasional trip to Toyo Foods for my oriental condiments.
Everything else I can get at the market or within a few blocks and I met friends and neighbours.:)

When we are away, we prefer shopping every other day for wine and food, not once a week like we do back home. I believe that we will fit right in the immediate area of the old city.

The locals shop every day, even the little old (87) lady down my street who walks to the market every morning.

My concern is about your plan to walk around town and find something.

The signs you will see will likely point you back to an agency anyways. Like I know that Selva Romantica has at least some units thru Vallarta Getaways. So rather than trouping around the streets, I would simply make an appointment at their office at Romy Plaza and meet Saskia or Emma and see what they have to offer. My second concern is that February is high season and good places at reasonable prices are mostly booked in advance.

Units in buildings like Vista del Sol are individually owned, so hooking up with the specific owner who probably doesn't live in PV when you happen to walk by may not be as easy as you are picturing.

If you do want to do this route, I'd suggest heading inland to the more local neighborhood away from the tourist area. Walk up into the part of town around the central market which Cabron often mentions. Streets inland past Aguacate, like Jacarandas, the area between the river and B. Badillo/Dieguez.

But if you really want something like Vista del Sol or Plazamar I'm not sure how that's going to work out on the ground.

Please understand I'm not against arriving without a plan in PV. I've got no problem with spontenaity!! I just think you could achieve the same (or better) results going online or thru an agency. 20 years ago, my answer would have been different.

I have spoken with Saskia and several other persons in that field. They are able to accomodate me with a condo that looks quite acceptable in regards to location but not in price. The amount that seems to come back frequently is 2,500.00 to 2,800.00 per month... and we dont even get to see the premises before we book. I cant help but return to Playa del Carmen and compare. Last winter we rented 2 different condos, OK, I knew the manager in the first one (Kax-xel on Constituyentes)for 1,100.00. The second month we rented in Villas del Carmen, just 4 blocks from there for 1,150.00 and these of course are in U.S. dollars. We were able to visit both condos beforhand. It seems quite clear that when you work with a rental agent on the internet you pay a whole lot more than you would in person and you dont even get to visit. I dont seem to have a choice but keep all my notes with me and walk the neighborhood. I also get the impression that PV is much more expensive than Playa... what do you think Suze ?

<<when you work with a rental agent on the internet you pay a whole lot more than you would in person and you dont even get to visit.>>

That is simply not true. Saskia's places would not be any cheaper standing in front of her in town, than online in advance.

I have never been to Playa so can't answer that question. But Vallarta is not cheap. And rents are almost double in "high season" which is part of the problem. I had paid $45-69 per night in low season, same place that rents for $125/night high season.

I'm just not picturing how this "walk the neighborhood" is going to work for you in PV. The people who are renting apartments are not at the building. You'll only be getting phone numbers from signs. Do you speak Spanish?

Maybe you should go back to Playa del Carmen?

Seriously, and I meant that in the kindest way possible.

You'll need to lower your expectations about the kind of apartment you want to rent. You can get a local-style place, away from the beach, for less. You're looking at the really nice high-end, more desirable buildings, and not liking the going rates.

I do wish you luck and I hope you prove me wrong and find some fantastic place for $1000/month by walking around PV.

As Suze says it depends on the time of year, for example, you could get this condo for $600 in the low season, but it's$2,200 in the high season.
http://vallartainfo.com/rentals/palomar.html

Wow, cute place, cabron. I might have to take you up on that... low season next year!!

Thank you kindly Cabron, I will definitly put it in my notebook...