For Dawn from Susan: don't know Amorita but I've seen both the other two.<BR><BR>Casa Corazon is up a steep flight of stairs overlooking Playa Los Muertos (main town beach). It's a pretty place but I thought a bit pricey for what it is & doesn't have a pool. The other thing I know is~ I saw an ad the place was For Sale when I was down December 2001. Don't know exactly how that could/would effect the place.<BR><BR>Quinta Maria Cortez is amazing (have you checked out their website?). Friends stayed there and we had a tour of the place, seeing any of the rooms vacant at the time. It is a very dramatic place, big on atmosphere. What a dream (and I do mean in your dreams!) home should be. Lost of mosquito netting, kooky art, tile, great colors. Most (all?) the rooms have kitchens. It is fairly expensive and has only the tiniest little pool. It also is right on Playa Los Muertos, towards the south end. BUT the downside is there has been a huge construction project going on directly behind it for a couple years. I know they were having a big problem with dust and noise! This might be finished up, but knowing the pace of things in PV I wouldn't count on it.

Hi,<BR>We are going to PV for the first time June 8th. We are staying at at the Westin in the Marina, we chose this hotel for many reasons but one we were told it is located on a beach. Now I have herd differently. We were also told it is very easy to get anywhere via taxi or bus, and that town was 12 minutes away including the public beach Los Muertos. Is that true we are not looking for a vacation that keeps up cooped up in a resort only, we want to experience the town and the beach. How far are the southern beaches that are great for snorkeling? and do you have to rely on a tour to go to yelpa? or can you just go your self? Thanks for any info you have<BR>Lynne<BR>[email protected]<BR>

Hi Lynne, the Westin is about 25min by bus from Los Muertos, probably more right now as Easter traffic picks up.<BR>For details on getting to Yelapa see:<BR>http://vallarta-info.com/yelapa.html

For Lynn~ Well.... half of that's true. YES it is easy and cheap to get places in PV using bus or taxi but NO way is it 12 mins. from The Marina all the way down to Playa Los Muertos!! I'd guess more like 1/2 hr+ local bus or 15-25 mins. by taxi.<BR><BR>To experience the old part of town and the beach, as you mentioned you wanted, I'd sure recommend a different hotel & location. On the flip side, the hotels closer to and IN town are not the major chains (like the Westin, Marriott, Sheraton, etc.) if that's what you're set on, more independent, often Mexican owned, small to mid size but certainly lovely in their own way.<BR><BR>To get to Yelapa on your own you catch a water taxi boat (40 mins. bumpy ride) at the pier in the middle of Playa Los Muertos.<BR><BR>There are formal activities tour boats going out to Los Arcos for snorkeling. Beaches to the north about 1 hour around Punta Mita are very beautiful but I don't know about snorkeling for sure. PV is generally not known for "great snorkeling".

If you're looking for good snorkeling, you will be disappointed. I typically vacation in the Caribbean, and there's just no comparison -- the water is colder, murkier and not smooth.<BR><BR>That's not to say I didn't love PV... it's just not a good snorkeling destination. But, to snorkel there are really two main spots. Los Arcos is to the south (near Mismaloya) but the snorkeling is not very good at all. I stayed at Camino Real, which was about 10 minutes north of there, if that. You can go to Mismaloya beach and arrange for a small boat to take you to Los Arcos (only a few minutes from there). <BR><BR>The snorkeling at Marietas Islands was respectable, and you can arrange a tour boat trip out there.<BR><BR>However, there is no decent snorkeling right off any of the beaches.<BR><BR>But if you are looking for a hotel with a great private beach, you can reconsider and book at Camino Real. The hotel was very nice, with a great beach and very close to downtown and to Los Muertos beach (5-10 minutes. I spent 8 great nights there. A friend of mine stayed at the Westin and complained about the lack of beach (although he said the pool area is very nice).

I am going to PV for the first time in June - Does anyone have any information regarding the Riu Jalisco in Nuevo Vallarta? I am desperate for any pieces of info from anyone.

WEll after hearing and then confiming with the hotel Westin that there is no beach we have booked with another hotel.Our travel agent has recommended Universal Vacation club Villa del Palmar, it is listed as a royal gold crown hotel by RCI standards is anyone familiar with this hotel it is in the hotel zone I am told.... can't find ANY Info on it anywhere.<BR>Thanks [email protected]

Villa del Palmar is definitely in the hotel zone. I have walked by it but have not been inside. You can find lots of websites with photos and information on the net, just type "Villa del Palmar Puerto Vallarta" and you will get results. Be sure to wear your "thick skin" as this resort is time share (but then again, so is the Westin) so you will have lots of annoying timeshare tricks. This hotel is on the beach, but you will still need to take a bus or cab to downtown but this is a very short ride, $3 US by cab, 50 cents by bus. Have you booked yet? If not, my recommendation for a hotel would be the Camino Real if you have no kids with you, and the Krystal if you do have kids with you. Krystal is in the Hotel Zone and the Camino is south of town. Camino is a much nicer hotel and has better service, but a little on the laid back side for kids. Probably the best beach in PV is at the Camino, and it is an easy cab ride from town. The Krystal has wonderful pool areas and the main pool is huge and right on the beach. Molina de Agua looks like a great hotel right in the middle of town (have walked through the grounds there 4 or 5 times but have not stayed there) but again probably not the greatest for kids. It is right on the ocean, but I can't remember how the beach is in front of the hotel. The pool is not right on the ocean like it is at the Camino and Krystal. So, there is my "two cents". I love PV, I am sure you will also.

Does anyone have any information about the Mayan Palace? Can't figure out how close it is to downtown, etc. Also any general advice on PV--we are going there for the first time at the end of May (for our honeymoon) and are interested in fun, romantic things to do/see.

Molina de Agua has TWO pools, one in the middle of its courtyard/gardens, and the other newer and larger one IS right on the beach (thru black wrought iron gate/fence). The beach directly in front of the hotel is not so great for hanging out, most people would walk about 5 mins. south to the main local beach called Playa Los Muertos.<BR><BR>This is a gorgeous genuine Mexican resort style hotel right in the very heart of old town PV. You can walk to everything within minutes. It is unique and a class apart from standard huge chain hotels.

Lynne,<BR>I always stay at the VDP. I love the resort. They just complete renovations there within the last 2-3 years. Yes it is a time share but if you are nice about it and say your not interested they pretty much leave you alone. If you haven't booked yet with your travel agent, I would suggest you take a look at www.timesharelink.com which is a company in Texas called ERA Stroman who offers buying/selling/renting of timeshares for the actual owners. In other words I guess you can call them the middle man. I use these guys all the time and then just book my flight seperately. Just to let you know that the prices listed are not set in stone you can make them an offer, all they can do is say no. Even if they say no, I find it is still cheaper than getting a package deal thru a travel agent. I am leaving in a week for there and I saved about $250 by booking thru ERA.

Message for Susan (or anyone who knows)<BR>Do you have the website address for Quinta Maria Cortez? I did a search but could only find general hotel info/reservation sites, not a specific one for only the hotel.

for Anne-Maria. Quinta Maria Cortez website is: www.quinta-maria.com<BR>

Stay at Camino Real in the Club Section!!! <BR>Its great. Not overdone, great service that knows no bounds! <BR>Eat at Los Milagros for Great Mexican! Also, Tapas Barcelona and River Cafe are good. Avoind La Palapa at all costs.<BR><BR>Enjoy

Any more details on Camino Real, Molino, Casa Andrea, or Quinta Maria would be appreciated. Cannot decide between the above.<BR><BR>Joe--what kind of rates did you get for Camino Real and did you book directly?<BR><BR>Thanks

Message for Joe. Why avoid La Palapa?

For Fran regarding 4 hotel choices~ Maybe I'm repeating myself, but I'll try to get it in a nutshell for you (from my point of view). These places are all very nice but couldn't be more TOTALLY different from each other. Hard to second guess which you'd like best.<BR><BR>Camino Real is a more normal high-end resort and it is a 5-10 mins. taxi ride from the south end of town. All the others are in or very near "old town". Molino de Agua has a great Mexican atmosphere, central location, on the ocean and river, in an old walled mango grove, gorgeous gardens, 2 pools. Extremely nice rooms and suites, best are ocean front (not ocean view) $75-150US. Casa Andrea is a lovely peaceful small place, more B&B style (no televisions, phones, A/C in room) and each has a balcony kitchen, 1 block from the beach, like staying in a private home. Beautiful plantings, pool, central courtyard, $70-100US. Quinta Maria is has a crumbing dusty movie set kind of look. Great decor. Some strange room layouts (bathroom walls not all to the ceiling, lots of different levels, etc.) Right on the beach. $130-$235US.

Another consideration, Camino Real far tops the list of these hotels for cost. Guidebook listing $235-$350 in season.<BR>

I guess we all have had bad restaurant experiences, even at great restaurants, and Joe must have had one at La Palapa... <BR><BR>but I thought La Palapa was outstanding and surprisingly underpriced based upon the upscale, gourmet meals -- breakfast, lunch and dinner ... and beautiful presentations.<BR><BR>The restaurant's interior is also very impressive and I thought the service was great. And as for breakfast and lunch, I thought it was the best place I went. <BR><BR>But don't miss Las Cazuelas for dinner... best Mexican food I've ever had -- that good! -- and great atmosphere. It's about $30-35 per person, and well worth it. Very traditional.<BR><BR>After spending 8 nights at the Camino Real, I would recommend it to anyone. The short cab ride to town, the private beach and the lack of time shares are all plusses.<BR><BR>I booked with Camino's US 800 telephone reservations. I tried online booking and calling the hotel directly, but they all offered the same rate.

Brad, I agree about Las Cazuelas for great food and wonderful atmosphere. I hate to speak negatively of La Palapa because I know it has a great reputation, but my husband got violently ill after eating there. I think he got a bad piece of seared tuna. Yes, it can happen anywhere!