Last Minute Puerto Vallarta
 

My trip to Peru next week has been cancelled due to an injury that will make hiking and climbing impossible. So now I am looking for a place where I can relax in the sun for a bit.

I've always wanted to go to Puerto Vallarta, but know little about it.

Can anyone recommend a reasonably priced place to stay on or very close to the beach? The Westin, Marriott and Sheraton all have surprisingly good rates (around $125) but it looks like the beach around there is not good.

Which beach is best for relaxing and swimming? And which area is best to stay?

I personally like the south side of town and Los Muertos beach, but there are no big hotels in town, of the ones you mentioned the Sheraton is closest to town. If you don't mind a smaller Mexican style hotel, I would suggest Playa Los Arcos which is right on the beach and within walking distance to a plethora of restaurants and bars. Hear's a map
http://vallartainfo.com/vallarta-southside-map.html

The Intercontinental is south, away from town, but on a beautiful beach. We loved it. ,the bus ride into town was easy and only 15 monites or so.

The places you mention are the hotel chains out in the Hotel Zone. Casa Magna Marriott is a very pretty hotel, but it's in the Marina which is a good 15 mins. out of downtown.

As above, I prefer things either in Centro (downtown) or best yet the South-side ("zona romantic") even though they aren't as fancy, it's a much nicer atmosphere there in my personal opinion.

I think Playa Los Muertos, the main public beach on the south-side is the best for swimming and relaxing, and eating and drinking at the beach bars there.

The Tropicana and Playa Los Arcos are the hotels that are beach-front in that area. There are also lots of apartments and condos for rent (look at www.vallarta-getaways.com under Unique Old Town rentals, if you're interested in that).

And do check out the maps mentioned in the first post here. They will help you get your bearings.

Cabron & Suze advice is excellent especially if you have trouble getting around as lots of good cafes in Los Muertos area. Go for it & enjoy!

trebex, If you have more question, please ask. I've been going to Vallarta regularly for 20-some years now.

Thank you. The two things I'm looking for are to stay on or close to a beach that is not terribly crowded and to be in walking distance of some cheaper local places to eat. Where would this be?

Unfortunately those two things just don't match up in Puerto Vallarta.

The place to stay to be in walking distance to the largest selection of fantastic local food is either downtown (Centro) or south-side (Zona Romantica). But the main beach there (Playa Los Muertos) is an extremely popular (therefore crowded) one.

You might be OK with your original idea of staying somewhere more upscale like the Sheraton or Marriott, and just plan to use the busses or a taxi to go into town for meals.

Thanks again. How is the beach around the Sheraton and Marriott? And is there anything in walking distance from there?

The Sheraton is somewhat closer in, I guess you could walk downtown from there if you were in the mood. There are also places right in "The Marina" where the Marriott is located, but it's a more high-end tourist area there, definitely not a local residential neighborhood like you find downtown and south-side.

I only know the beach at the Marriott (Alaska Air put us up there one year when the plane couldn't get out) and it's nothing special. Just a straight stretch of sand out behind the fabulous pool area.

It's hard to describe but this area just isn't as "charming" or looking like "old Mexico" as the part of the city on either side of the Rio Cuale (look at a map, it's the river that cuts through downtown). Hotel Zone and Marina is more modern. Old Town (Centro/southside) has more the red tile roofs, black wrought iron railings, cobblestone streets, dripping pink bouganvilla... like you imagine Vallarta looking like.

Ok, so I've booked my flight to PV. Now the question is whether to stay in the Zona Romantica or near Playa Los Muertos. Or two days in one and two in the other.

What do you think?

the question is whether to stay in the Zona Romantica or near Playa Los Muertos

trebex, Playa Los Muertos IS the beach IN Zona Romantica. They are the same place.

Ah, not sure why I wrote that. What I meant to ask was whether to stay in the Zona Romantica or in Bucerias....