Puerto Vallarta for Xmas?
 

We have been searching for a place to go for 2 weeks in late December as we always take a family vacation over the holidays. We are all geographically dispersed all over the US and this is an opportunity to rest, relax, have some fun and re-connect with each other. We are 1 grandmother in pretty good shape for her early 80s, 1 50+ mother, and 2 young adult girls in their early 20's.

We have looked Costa Rica and decided that might be too physically challenging for the grandmother, both in terms of travel as well as activities. We have been to PV before, but are concerned about the weather, safety, and crime. Will it be warm enough to swim in the ocean & pool? We are considering a condo rental in the Olas Altas area right on the beach near the Rio Cuale (Vista del Sol on Aquilles Serdan). We have stayed here before 15 years ago and were very satisfied with the location then. Is it still safe for 4 women to walk around at night? We never needed a car, and are not planning to rent one. The girls and I would take day trips to the jungle, horseback riding, sailing, etc. A day to Buerias, Destiladares, etc. My family is fearful to go based on crime reports we all have read. Am I not afraid because I have been there before or are they being unduly reluctant? Fodorites are well experienced and well traveled, would you do this? Thanks!

Your media has overblown the situation in Mexico, as you know, good news doesn't sell. News reports aren't necessarily accurate.
No problems at all here, just keep in mind, that at Christmas time there are many National tourists and a few thieves come to town, because it's rich pickings. So watch your handbags.
This last December was very cool, as was the water, next December ?
¿Quien Sabes?

You should k early as there is double pressure, by both Mexican & gringo tourist by the Hordes.
Next to Manzanillo PV is the safest towns in Mexico.

Just returned from PV, and we felt completely safe out on the street at any time of day or night.

I was there a year ago in January and the weather was great. The ocean was warm enough, but there were a few days when it was too rough to go in.

Christmas time is lovely in Puerto Vallarta. Very festive with decorations and lights.

Yes I believe the city is still safe using a minimum amount of common sense (I have often traveled there alone). Yes it is safe to walk with a group around downtown at night.

Your family needs to notice the locations of the "crime reports" you all have read. The incidents aren't taking place in PV or anywhere near there.

Personally speaking yes I would definitely do the trip you describe.

PV is wonderful at Christmas and New Years and it is the busiest time of the year so if you are going to reserve something in PV for that time frame it would be best to do it now. Stewbear is over blowing items. PV is perfectly safe especially in the Romantic Zone which is where Vista Del Sol is located as there are tourist police, along with the other regular police agencies, not to mention there will be a very strong military presence for the Christmas holidays. The violent crime rate in PV is very low. It is probably lower then the cities you live in. It is perfectly safe to walk around the Old Town area just use common sense. Always try to walk in groups and avoid darkly lite areas just as if you were at home.

We look forward to seeing you during the holidays.

James
http://www.puertovallartarentalsnow.com

I am truthfully not fearful of crime as we take precautions and are not "tourist stupid". However, I worry about whether/not it will be warm enough in late December. I realize there is no guarantee but we froze in the Caribbean in 2010 and I would hate to spend so much money for the same weather essentially. Thanks!

If you are truly concerned about weather than I might suggest you check out Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa another 400 plus miles farther South for perfect weather. "Cold" weather there is highs in the low 80's lows about 70.
Now PV most likely will be fine. I went every year from 1986 through 1998 only once hitting cold weather in December. The Peddlers cleaned up selling Serapes which we all wore laying on the beach. Even then it made it into the low 70's most days. Since then I am there about every 3 years with no problems.

I was in Nuevo Vallarta back somewhere around 2003. My brother and I stayed at a little place called Villa Veradero. I highly recommend it. It's definately not flashy, but it is located next to a large wave break. That made near Villa Veradero very calm. The water in front of the 5 star places, like the Mayan Palace, was too rough to swim in.

Thanks Tim, but we have stayed before in the Olas Altas area near the Rio Cuale and really liked it. We like "action" and it was a perfect location, right on the beach with a nice rooftop pool and yet right in the heart of the city. We didn't need a rental car.

I think your plan's great but would suggest securing the condo reservation sooner rather than later. Those are very busy weeks in PV (2nd only to Easter). And places book up &/or raise their rates substantially.

We are looking at Vistas del Sol primarily because we liked the location 15 years ago. Is it still nice? It's to the left of the Rio Cuale off Aquilles Serdan. Any place else we should look? We like the hustle/bustle of the city, particularly Olas Altas and the ability to be at the beach, but within walking distance of everything in the city.

Is public transportation still decent? We are thinking of day trips to Bucerias, Destiladares, etc. and we took a public bus, no problem. We are planning to make our decision this week, as I realize Xmas books up fast. Thanks!

The biggest (and I do mean BIGGEST) difference you will notice right in that part of town is they tore down the beautiful old walled Molino de Agua hotel and put up a ginormous condo development on that lot.

While I would still recommend the 'south-side' and the Olas Altas area, you are going to notice many many changes to the area from 15 years ago, that's for sure.

Yes public transportation is still decent.

Suze, can you help me figure out - the condo we have been offered is a north-west view. Would that be the Bay dead on the area to the left or those Molino de Aqua condos you described? Thanks!

Hopefully Cabron will stop by this thread. He lives in PV.

From a glance at a map (vallarta-info.com) from where Vista del Sol is marked to the north is the Molino Condo development and to the west, the Bay.

suze - You are so right about the "biggest" change being that huge condo complex where Molina de Agua used to be. We stayed at Molina many times in the little cottages they had ... I remember well the swimming pool that was away from the beach, as well as the monkey they kept there - its name was Chona, as I recall. Also the ancient banyan tree with the hammocks coming off it like rays from the sun, and the horses walking along the beach. So sad it's gone, but that was old PV, and now it's getting harder and harder to find that same charm.

I did OK with nearly two decades of "changes" that gradually happened in Vallarta which I have witnessed. But what they built on the old Molino de Agua site truly broke my heart.

Agree Suze. The Grounds, little cottages & the feeling of serenity can never be duplicated.
Progress? BAH!

My friends Ted & Gail stay at Vista del Sol all the time, if you have a NW view it's presumably on the north side you'll have a partial view of the bay, a corner would be nice but they are 2-3 bedrooms. One nice thing about Vista del Sol is the restaurant Epoca downstairs, they will even deliver to your room.

We were last there in October and we are headed back in a month ... I feel WAY more safe in Puerto Vallarta than I do in my hometown of Phoenix, AZ (I live downtown).

One thing that I think you may want to keep in mind though, Grandma may have issues navigating in Old Town/Romantica. The sidewalks are EXTREMELY uneven and require a steady footing. But no need worry about the safety, PV has (so far) been spared of the Drug Cartel violence that has been ravaging the boarder towns.

For more info safety in Puerto Vallarta ... http://puertovallartavideo.com/ummmm...-drug-cartels/

Excellent point above about 'safety' from the point of view of crooked stairs, uneven sidewalks, etc. Taxis around downtown are not expensive, so might want to use them sometimes for getting Grandma around town, to restaurants that are a distance, etc.

They are working on widening and smoothing the sidewalks on Basilio Badillo.

I always carry a flashlight in all of Mexico at night. The Walkways are often not 100%. Also just in case you need a defensive weapon which I never have.

Sure, I agree cabron. All over town, over the years, there have been HUGE improvements to the conditions of the sidewalks & streets, adding handicap accesses, etc. Still you need to watch where you're going though.

I spent Christmas in PV in 2009 and found the temperatures heavenly........but it was snowing at home. It was warm enough during the day to swim, cool enough at night that we wore light jackets.

I'll reiterate what everyone else here has said about safety in PV~use the same common sense you would use in any other city in the world. The biggest danger are the cobblestone streets, uneven sidewalks, and the timeshare sharks as you exit the airport!!

We have decided to "go for it" in light of some exciting news today (posted elsewhere). Have not yet heard we positively got the condo, but have advised for owner to send rental contract. Thanks for everyone's help! We pretty much know what we are doing as we have stayed in this same building a while ago.

Will be interested in hearing about day trips, snorkeling, tours etc. for stuff to keep us occupied for 2 weeks. We have done jungle trip and snorkeling, Bucerias and Destiladares but would always consider returning as we enjoyed those. Hopefully, Mother will still be willing (and able) to jump in using the swing rope at El Eden's tropical swimming hole like she did when she was 67. The kids have a bet on that one. She is 82 now and I say she just might. She is in pretty good shape.

Here's a list of tours
http://vallartainfo.com/tours.html

We've gone to the Botanical Gardens the past two years; it just gets better and better. Lovely grounds, stunning plants, and the hacienda and its restaurant and gift shop are truly gems. You can get there by bus ... well at least two buses, but there are tour buses, as well as taxis that can take you.

(There's also a pretty nice swimming hole on the river - !)

If you're already on the south side of town, you only need one bus to the Botanical Gardens, catch it at the corner of Aguacate and V. Carranza, see map
http://vallartainfo.com/south.html

You're probably right about only one bus, cabron. We've been staying at Punta Negra ... changing buses at Mismaloya on the way to the Gardens. Only one bus back, though.

I bet you could flag down the El Tuito bus (for the Botanical Gardens) at Punta Negra.

We were planning to put down the deposit on the condo this weekend. Here is a dilemma - we are renting from a VRBO listing. The owner claims there is no contract. An email will record our deposit (50%) and the remaining 50% will be due Dec. 1. I would like to get trip cancellation insurance (TraveGuard?), does this sound kosher? Should I insist on a contract? I am a little nervous about ensuring we have not thrown our money away - suggestions?

Are there many reviews for the condo? Does the listing show how long its been on VRBO? We've rented through VRBO and HomeAway and have paid deposits in advance without problems.

I know what you mean about feeling a little uneasy about it, though. The time we were renting a place in Paris was the time I felt the most trepidation ... and as it turned out most unexpectedly the owner of the apartment actually lived within a half hour of my home in California, and we drove over to meet him to make the deposit. Serendipity!