Fra_Diavolo

Thanks, suze, I'm thinking on it. First plan as you know was to split time between PV and SMdA, so I didn't think a condo would work for a short stay. Now I'm thinking I might add time to PV, skip SMdA, and head to Mexico City instead.

Living one half block from a major construction site just now, I will want to be well away from noise on vacation. The friend I mentioned above stays in an area just above the Zona Romantica -- would that be Centro? Budget, as I said in my other post isn't too much of an issue, say $300 US per night max for a hotel. Assume a condo would be less and less is always better!

suze

hmmm... When you say "above" do you mean north - yes that would be Centro/downtown. Or if you really mean above like up the hill more like behind, that's probably Conchas Chinas.

Oh $300 is a huge budget. I never give more than $100/night but I am down off season in May/Oct/Nov. And condos are more $$ than the hotels I stay at, but I guess that can go either way depending how nice a condo & how nice a hotel.


<I will want to be well away from noise on vacation>

then you don't want to go to Puerto Vallarta! Period I am only slightly kidding. It's not just construction, PV is one very noisy place. There's always something going on. Garbage trucks, local buses, construction projects, street repairs, tree pruning, boom boxes, live music, the guy with the tuba and his sidekick with the snare drum, to be well away from noise is pretty much not possible.

annhig

There's always something going on. Garbage trucks, local buses, construction projects, street repairs, tree pruning, boom boxes, live music, the guy with the tuba and his sidekick with the snare drum, to be well away from noise is pretty much not possible.>>

suze - what a brilliant description - I can hear them all now.

that's exactly what I imagined Mexico would be like.

Weekender

If anyone is even considering staying at the Casa Dona Susana, by all means, get a room with a balcony facing the street. A number of friends and I stayed there in January and the interior rooms were terrible. Windows such as they were opened to a brick wall and our clothes all reeked from the mustiness of the rooms.

Fra_Diavolo

I just mean construction noise! Right now the Turk's are knocking down their old cultural center (about 20 floors). I get to hear endless pounding from the air hammers (sounds like machine guns in the morning), then the crash of falling steel support beams, scrapings as the Bobcats collect the rubble and dump it -- lovely. Very dangerous work, I think.

Looking for a place within short walking distance to restaurants and shops, maybe a decent bar, and not up too steep a hill. Views are good.

Thanks, I appreciate the help.

Slw

Suze, we are also planning a February trip to PV, partly because of your descriptions! We generally prefer to stay in condos because we like to have a little more room than a hotel room and fix some of our own meals. You mentioned to Fra_Diavlo that you could suggest some condos and I would also like your recommendations. Our requirements are an ocean view, beachfront or close and walking distance to town "stuff". Budget is up to $150/day. I eat a lot of local food wherever we are but DH does not so it is good to have options!

suze

$150 is low for a beachfront condo in February. The places I typically rent are all up top the steep hill overlooking Olas Altas.

But I think the most helpful is I can just give you the two property managers I've worked with. You can look yourself at their websites to get an idea of what things are like, prices, calendar availability. Then check back with me about your short list and I am happy to give you the pros and cons (location, construction nearby, if I have stayed there or been in the building, etc.).

www.vallarta-getaways.com I work with Saskia thru her I have stayed at El Escondido 4 times and love that place. But it is a very small complex and WAY up top of a steep hill and with lots of steps inside the building so may not work for you. She manages quite a few other units around, so do take a look at the website.

www.puerto-vallarta-rentals.com is Jeff Musto aka "PV Kid". I have rented thru him at Vista del Sol when my sister was with me so we could afford a 2-bedroom place. He also has quite a few at Plaza Mar. These two buildings are side by side on the south end of the Malecon so ocean-views but not directly on the sand.

www.pvrpv.com is one I have not used myself but it's a good one because they have a huge inventory and very good sort and search features to get an overview of general availability and prices for any given dates.

suze

HOTELS: Every place I stay and most that I've mentioned are right in the heart of town, so all have bars and restaurants, shopping, galleries, theater, etc. nearby.

For traditional-styled ocean-front hotels look at

The Tropicana in Zona Romantica
http://www.tropicanavallarta.com/

Hotel Rosita on the Malecon in Centro
http://hotelrosita.com/

Villa Premiere in the south end of the Hotel Zone
http://www.premiereonline.com.mx/home


For boutique hotels (not on a hill, most of them are)

Hacienda Alamana
http://www.haciendaalemana.com/

Casa Karma is gorgeous but it's out of town about a 5 min taxi ride to the south so not as walkable as requested but I include because it's stunning and has a bar on property
http://casakarma.net/

Quinta Maria Cortez is a stunning villa turned hotel right on the beach at the south end of Los Muertos
http://villasinvallarta.com/room-list/qmc/

suze

For both Fra and Slw, Let me know if I'm getting close and I can come up with more similar options for you ;-) suze

Fra_Diavolo

suze, thank you so much. You're really going beyond the call of duty, here!

Hacienda Alemana really appeals, though it does seem odd to have a restaurant specializing in German cuisine.

Both the Rosita and the Tropicana looked like they'd suit, though they seemed to be farther from the Zona Romantica.

On the condos Plaza Mar and Selva Romantica looked about right.

I think you must preparing for a post-retirement gig as a PV specialist!

Thanks again.

suze

The Tropicana IS in Zona Romantica/Old Town.

Hotel Rosita is up a bit more north in Centro.

Selva Romantica at the moment comes with a construction all around it warning (that's where I stayed two weeks just in May).

Plaza Mar is a great building one side with ocean views the other side with views over the plaza (which can be noisy like when we do Zumba out there at 8am -haha- or there's a big folklorique show there on a Friday night).

The German restaurant has been around 'forever' same owners. The hotel is new or newly remodeled (not sure which it's above my price range). But what's cool about it is being "on the flat" and while on a very busy street sometimes called Restaurant Row (Basilo Badillo) it's behind a wall so literally a hidden gem.

Believe me it's no problem posting... nothing I love more than chatting about Puerto Vallarta. My experience there is pretty specific (I've always stayed within a 10 block radius in ZR) so some people with similar tastes I can help, some I can't (don't know diddly about the all-inclusives in the Hotel Zone or the mega-resorts out in Nuevo for example).

Slw

Suze, this is great! Thank you for all the information. Since we will most likely be staying in a condo are there areas that you would recommend? Beach/Ocean view is essential. We are OK with being outside of PV, public transportation sounds easy and kinda fun.

suze

Well yes, I recommend the places I stay ;-) which are all within a few blocks of each other in the "Zona Romantica" Old Town area by Playa Los Muertos (beach).

Molino de Agua, Vista del Sol, Plaza Mar, Plaza Dorada, el Dorado, La Palapa, One Beach Street are condo buildings with beach/ocean view in Old Town coming south from the Rio Cuale (river at the south edge of Centro/downtown separating it from Zona Romantica).


Since you mention beach front and willing to be slightly outside PV you might look at Costa Sur or Lindo Mar which are to the south along the highway but not too far from town:

http://www.costasurpuertovallarta.com/

http://www.lindomarresort.com/

with the disclaimer, I've never stayed outside the central area because I prefer to be able to walk out my door and BE there. I go in and out 4-5 times a day from where I'm staying. So any of these recommendations are only by reputation and 2nd hand knowledge.

Fra_Diavolo

suze --


Do you know anything about this place? http://www.casaamorita.com Thought it looked appealing, though it has fewer rooms than most of the places we stay.

FD

suze

I know of it from reputation and often recommend it. I did not for you because you specifically said:

"and not up too steep a hill"

Which this place is

Fra_Diavolo

Hmmm, they left that out of the description. Thanks.

suze

You can tell by the photos... see how the view of out over the city is from up high. Also how do you feel about church bells frequently ringing?

This doesn't have to be a deal breaker. Taxis in PV are very cheap to use to get around. If you're willing to consider a big hill you can put Casa Isabel on your list.

suze

also from the guest comments page:

"There is one caveat, however. Casa Amorita is located on a rather steep hill. It can be accessed either from the road or steps ascending from the town/ocean. Either way it could be difficult for those with mobility problems. A taxi back from the beach or dinner is an easy solution."

I just knew because I recognized the view and the street name Calle Iturbide.


Fra~ As a generalization but that usually holds true in PV, unless you are directly ocean front, when people are talking about spectacular "views" that usually means because you are high up on one of the hills that surround town.

Fra_Diavolo

Got it. Thanks!

Momddtravel2

I am a more attractive, funnier, happier person when I am there.>

This made me smile. Love reading about you in PV

We are headed in November over Thanksgiving week. My husband has a work associate that is from a small beach area north of there and is having a big wedding on the beach. We will stay in that small town for 2 nights and then head to a timeshare for the week... I am really looking forward to it!