Is this a nice place to go for a relaxing vacation- spending days by the pool and beach, doing much of nothing? Would you recommend an all inclusive hotel- or is it better to not do it that way. What hotels would you recommend for "doing nothing" waking up in morning, having breakfast and rolling out to beach/pool? If not AI, are they near restaurants?

We are planning our first trip there. From the many posts I've read on this board, PV sounds like exactly what you're looking for. If you read some of the past threads on PV, a lot of your questions will be answered. Good luck with you vacation plans!

This is a lovely area . But ..... do keep in mind if you are looking for long stretches of quiet , pristine beaches ...? This is not the place .

I have been to PV several times now, and have loved it every time. It does not have the perfect water that Cancun does, but it alsoi doesn't have as many drunk college kids as Cancun. It is a beatifull village type town, I think it is the best for what you are wanting. the only place that would be better for peace and Quiet would be Zihuatenejo, but more expensive down there. For quiet hotels look to be south of PV, but not tooo far south as the constant taxi rides tot own will get annoying. Stay away from all inclusive. The best part about PV is finding great little dining spots. Eating hotel food 3 times a day is no fun!

Put 'Puerto Vallarta' in the search box up top here. There are loads of great, lengthy threads about PV, from a number of regular posters who know the town very well and love it dearly.

Personally I would not go All-Inclusive since there are so many good restaurants, but that would mean staying in or near town.

If you really just want to "veg" you might be happy with a resort out in Nuevo Vallarta (1/2-1 hour north of the airport rather than south of town) & where you will miss all the fun of shops, galleries, restaurants, bars, activities in El Centro... but will give you the relaxation you describe.

For specific hotel or resort recommendations, we'd need to know the level of service, type of place you are seeking. There are small local hotels for >$50 and high end resorts for $200+ and everything in between. Literally hundreds of choices.

Thge posters are correct, there is lots of information on Puerto Vallarta.

All Inclusive or not is a personal choice and a factor in what you want to do.

Since you want to just have breakfast and lay around the pool and beach, then perhaps the All - Inclusive would be best for you.

The Sheraton is a good spot because from here you get the best of both worlds.
1. You can do the all -inclusive or not.
2. You can laz around a nice pool and beach, but of course there are many other people along the beach.
All beaches in Mexico are not private..so no Resort Owner can own the beach that he fronts.

3.You can walk from the Sheraton to downtown to the famous boardwalk (Malecon)which you should not miss.

Lots of eating places here.

4. If you do not do the All- Inclusive then being close to downtown would be better.

5. If you are at a nice resort near the Marina or Nuevo Vallarta...then as suze said you have about a 45 minute bus ride to downtown.

6. If you are going to do the All- Inclusive, then almost anyone of the nice 4-5 star resort would fit your bill.

There is no "perfect " spot.

Once you are a bus ride away from downtown, I do not think it matters whether the bus ride is 30 minute or 40 minutes.

Read faithie's report on Yelapa. a more secluded beach resort....she just returned from there a few weeks ago.

Also direct any specific question about Puerto Vallarta to suze ... she can answer any and all of your questions

Percy