suze

hey no advertising no spam allowed

Stewbear

Thought I'd let you know Suze that I had the same trouble at Banamex here in Guanajuato. Tried two different locations to no avail.
So went to Bancomer with zero problem spitting out the dinaro. Got 17.65 pesos per dollar.

andrews98682

I'm going in three weeks. I can't wait. I just got my new Chase ATM card with the chip. I hope it works there.

Stewbear

As I wrote Andrews mine works Every where except Banamex including other banks & at The Mega Super Market.

suze

andrews, Just have a back up plan (take some USD &/or peso with you, have a charge card, etc.) and go to the ATM machine early in your trip to make sure it's going to work for you! Have fun in PV!!

andrews98682

Yeah, I'll have cash and credit cards and travelers checks. It's just a little easier if the ATM works.

suze

Travelers checks won't do you much good in PV, unless your hotel or apartment is willing to accept them.

andrews98682

I would only use the travelers checks in an emergency, like if my credit cards got stolen or something. I don't see why the hotel (Marriott) wouldn't accept them if I needed to cash them. But whatever.

cabron

Travelers Checks are dinosaurs, The American Express office here closed about 10 years ago. You'd be lucky to find anyone to cash them. BTW I use Banamex all the time for ATM, my Banamex card has been chipped for many years.

suze

Certainly you can ask your hotel, just saying that TCs aren't commonly used or accepted in PV any more. Last time I used them was over 10 years ago at a B&B that only took cash (but would accept TCs).

Stewbear

Not disagreeing with you Carbon but it would not accept mine w/chip at two different locations. Perhaps their own is accepted but not my Chase. Two other banks I tried it was no problem so I guess no mas Banamex por Mio.

maried11

Hi Suze,
I don't know if you remember me but I had a question for you about the Escondido condos and wondered if you could help me. I didn't see a message system here, maybe there is? You gave me great advice on PDR and I got room 217 and loved it, so hopefully you can help me here.
Thanks
PS: Great report.

suze

hi Maried11, yes I remember you from TA. What's the question about el Escondido condos? Happy to help if I can.

(there is no message system here on Fodor's, but I will reply here.)

Star1derful

Hello Suze. U will be going to PV 6/30-7/4 for the first time. I want to be centrally located to as much as possible: restaurants, shopping, nightlife. And then not to far from the beach to check it out. I have been recommended playa los arcos thus far.

suze

Hi Star1~

Yes Hotel Playa Los Arcos is a fine choice for a mid-range hotel on Playa Los Muertos (beach) in the Romantic Zone.

But honestly there are loads of different hotels that fit the description of:

<<to be centrally located to as much as possible: restaurants, shopping, nightlife... not to far from the beach...>

You could also look at The Tropicana, Hotel Posada de Roger, Hotel Rosita, Hotel Encino, San Marino, Buenaventura, to name just a few more.

I got home only last night from another wonderful two weeks in PV & always stay in the "Romantic Zone" where Playa Los Arcos is located. I have never stayed at that hotel, only because I have other favorites, but walked past and looked at it daily.

barbarashimer414

Thanks for posting! I have been thinking about visiting PV. Would you consider it safe there? How are the beaches?

suze

for barbarashimer414~

Yes Puerto Vallarta is "safe". There is zero issue with visitor safety in that area.

The beaches are Pacific coast style. PV sits within The Bay of Banderas, a huge ocean bay. So not the white sand calm turquoise water of the Caribbean by any means. More like California beaches.
Just Google-search under the words "beaches puerto vallarta" and all kinds of images will pop up.