Puerto Vallarta or Manzanillo?
 

Hi everyone –

I'm going to San Miguel in October 2014 and decided to make it over to the Pacific Coast before going home. I've narrowed my choices to Puerto Vallarta or Manzanillo via a combination of convenient flights out of San Miguel (Leon) and flights I can get from the coast to go home on points.

Never been to either location. Have visited Cancun/Play del Carmen and Los Cabos. I'm female travelling solo – and while I'm no longer interested in the night life, I do prefer a location that's close enough to daytime activity that I can walk or take a short cab/bus somewhere if I want to. Mind you, I may end up lying by the beach with a book.

Any preferences one over the other?

Thanks much!

I don't generally go on about safety and crime but there was recently some news about crime rates in PV. So you might want to do some research from that perspective before making a decision.

What crime rates in PV, I live here and haven't heard anything, what's Your source?

Manzanillo is a commercial port town with some tourism in the back bay and just north of the town. Vallarta's business is nearly 100% tourism, but if you stay away from the most popular tourist areas, it's very pleasant and has beautiful jungle covered mountains coming down to the beach, on the south side of the bay. More information here http://vallartainfo.com/index.html

I have been female/solo to Puerto Vallarta over a dozen times (20+ trips since the early 90's). There is no recent new about crime rates in PV, I don't know what the first post is talking about.

Vallarta has everything you are asking for, but I've never been to Manzanillo (or know anyone who has) to compare. Pretty much everyone I know who goes to PV falls in love with it. It's a vibrant city with a nice mix of local "authentic" Mexico feel and tourist ammenities. Shops, restaurants, galleries, a great town for walking around (besides laying by the pool reading a book, watching sunsets, hanging out on the beach).

If you decide to go & need help figuring out a place to stay, just ask.

Apologies for the misinformation. I was clearly wrong. I'm sure it's first time someone's been wrong here and I'll try to do better in future.

It's just an odd thing to post about if you don't have any facts.

Thanks everyone. This is helpful.

In defence of MmePerdu, I've heard some reports in the media of crime in PV as well, but that hasn't been a deterrent for me. It's been reported in our local media more zealously because there've been Canadians who've been affected by it. From my perspective, it's just something to be aware of and not put yourself in a situation that could be regretful. Same with any city you travel to.

Any other suggestions are welcome.

Thank you, SMac. I so appreciate when well-mannered people turn up.

It's not bad manners to question it when people give incorrect travel information here. I'm still waiting for a link about the "crime rates" in PV.

In Fact Manzanillo is statistically the safest city on the Pacific coast not that PV is unsafe because it is safe also.
A single gal probably would be happier in PV although Manzanillo has IMO better beaches & most assuredly much less touristy.
In fact it's central business area has a few t-shirt shops & that's about it for visitors.
If you decide on Manzanillo I highly recommend La Posada on again IMO on the best beach, lovely grounds & pool with possibly the most beautiful common room (for relaxing, meals, drinking etc) in Mexico. Rates come with a full cooked to order breakfast. Coffee pot is on all day & the drinks both hard & soft are on your honor.

There's been so much inaccurate reporting from North of the Border, we residents tend to be a mite sensitive.
In the 25+ years that I've lived here I've heard of about 4-5 Canadians who were the victims of serious crime, like being killed, and in 2 cases the perpetrator was another Canadian! The others were involved with drugs, except for one innocent, not a very bad record for a town of 350,000, how's your home town ?

I heard about some increased crime in PV but it wasn't real recently, I think it was within the past five years. I think I've also heard it about Mazatlan, also, but that the worst was really in Acapulco (and of course, Guerrero state).

here are some news reports FWIW just since 2008, I think there are more than cabron knows about, although most tourist deaths are due to accidents like drowning or something, of course

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/05...n_3306841.html

http://seattletimes.com/html/localne...tml?prmid=4939

http://www.mexicovacationawareness.c...duanelang3.pdf

http://kfor.com/2012/03/15/okla-nati...g-in-mexico-2/

http://abclocal.go.com/story?section...ula&id=6656575

http://www.colorado.edu/news/release...rding-death-cu

Wow. So appreciated. Just wondering Stewbear – I'm not sure what IMO is? And Suze – if you have some suggestions on where to stay in PV, that would be helpful too. Either place is still a toss-up for me, but I can be pushed either way.

(IMO = in my opinion)

Sure I have lots of hotel information for Puerto Vallarta. What kind of a place are you looking for?

here are really simple basic hotels still in the $30/night range. Budget hotels with a few more amenities (like a pool and restaurant) in the $50-60/night range.

Beachfront hotels, condos, high-end resorts.

Do you want to be right in town, walking distance to everything (that would be "southside" or "centro") but there's also the Hotel Zone, the Marina which is 10-20 mins. from town with fancier places to stay, or even out in "Nuevo Vallarta" which is where the mega-properties and All-Inclusives are mostly located about 30-40 mins. north of PV.

Thanks Suze.

IMO, I'm not really interested in the all-inclusive hotels. And I think the 30-40 minutes north of town would be too far.

Preferably somewhere closer to town, so I can stretch my legs and explore. Take a few photos. As for the hotel itself, perhaps beach front, or something with a nice pool. I know I do like to have someone bring me a cocktail if I'm lounging pool/beachside.

Is that helpful, without being too vague?

Suze is the real expert for central PV & beyond. She will not steer you wrong.

Yes add a couple Christina, even though one is only missing, still a very small number, as I said, compare to your home town.
For a beachfront hotel in town:
The Rosita northern end of the Malecón, downtown
Hotel Playa Los Arcos on Los Muerto Beach
Tropicana same beach
there are also some vacation rentals in the area that are quite economical. Here's a map of the south side of town.
http://vallartainfo.com/vallarta-southside-map.html

None of the places I stay have poolside service ;-) I either make my own cocktails (apartment/condo) or walk across the street to the corner store for a cold beer or down to the restaurant for a margarita to-go in a plastic cup (hotel).

For beachfront (agreeing with cabron above): Tropicana or Playa Los Arcos for the south-side (dubbed "Zona Romantica" in recent years). Or in Centro look at: Hotel Rosita, El Pescador, Buenaventura/Villa Premiere.

The place I have stayed most often is Hotel Posada de Roger. I think it is more basic than what you seek but the website is an honest look at the place. Very clean, friendly, well located a couple blocks from the beach.
http://hotelposadaderoger.com/

My most recent three trips I've rented a condo from:
http://www.vallarta-getaways.com/rent/
and found them excellent to work with.

For more high-end Casa Magna Marriott in The Marina is a very nice property but about 15-20 mins. from downtown.

Thank you everyone. This is really very helpful. I love forums such as this where people are happy to pass along their knowledge and experiences of the area. I'll definitely be looking into all the suggestions.

You're most welcome. As you get further into your planning I'm happy to help with more specifics, if it turns out downtown PV is where you're headed.