Puerto Vallarta: Some Specific Questions
 

Hola,

My husband and I are planning a trip to PV and we would love to get some advice from you all. We will be staying in the Gringo Gulch area on the Rio Cuale for 3 (max 4) days.

What time of year do you think is better; July or November (Thanksgiving)? I'm holding out for some great last minute deal for a flight...any suggestions? Do great deals come up during either of these months, and where should I look besides Kayak.com?

Where can one find great inexpensive shopping? Flea markets? Best place to buy good tequila, xtabentun, and handicrafts?

Grocery stores in Gringo Gulch? Food markets?

What are your favorite cafes (i.e.; coffee and such)?

Top 3 restaurants? I'm thinking El Arrayan, The Red Cabbage, and Trio??? How is the restaurant at the hotel called Hacienda San Angel...is it worth it for the beauty alone?

What time does the water taxi come back from Yelapa to PV? We might want to visit, but not stay over night? Are there any other similar secluded beaches that aren't too far from PV?

Where do you drink your favorite margarita? The real kind with fresh lime juice, not the sweet ones from a machine :)

Lastly, where to go for live music; latin, jazz...?

Thank you all so much in advance. I guess there were more questions than I thought!

~Tara

November will be much better weather than July. Summer is the rainy season and it is particularly hot and humid.

Thanksgiving is a very popular time to travel so I am fairly certain you will not find a "great last minute deal" then. I book my tickets directly with the airlines (from Seattle either US Air or Alaska are my best options).

That's a long way to go for only 3-4 days imo. By the time you arrive and get settled in, it will be time to leave already. Can't you at least go for a week?

The nearest grocery store to that area is Rizo's supermercado just south of the river and in off Vallarta (street).

All the margaritas are wonderful! Everyone makes them from the local limons (tiny limes) that they squeeze fresh. I'm not even sure what you mean by a "machine"?? You'll be hard pressed to find a bad one anywhere, though prices do vary by the type of place you're drinking in.

Thanks suze!

In regards to the margaritas, I am speaking of the frozen ones that swirl around in a machine and are dispensed from it. You can find them in many places.

I wish we could go for longer, but my husband is a teacher and he only has off those 4 days for Thanksgiving in November. We could go for a bit longer in July, but is the weather all that terrible? Are the nights cool/breezy enough?

Thanks again,

Tara

Tara... Well, I would not call it "terrible" myself. But it IS Mexico in the summer. No, the nights are not cool or breezy either one!

Sorry I've never heard of or seen those machines you mention for making margaritas.

...which probably means you're safe on not seeing them in Vallarta -lol!!!!

CyC's is a bar on Playa Los Muertos (beach) that often has live music at happy hour. Great spot for watching the sunsets.

Use to be that Thanksgiving was a "secret" in PV but alas no more. Still a great time to go with warm weather, lots of flowers ^ everything green. A group of us would meet each year ( in the 80's early 90's) at Los Cuartro Vientos. Gloria would allow us to take over the kitchen cooking a turkey & all the trimmings. A group of about 25 would attend. Great Memories.

stewbear, Funny you mention that, I'd forgotten, I had Thanksgiving dinner myself one year at Chez Elena. A fancy rolled, stuffed turkey dish and fixings.

topping

The water taxis you catch down at the pier on Playa Los Muertos are like regular taxis in that you can negotiate your times and prices directly with them.

My personal favorite beach is El Anclote out at Punta Mita, about a 1 hour bus ride north from downtown. I hear Destiladeras is nice too, but have not been myself (yet).

Water taxis have fixed prices, you may get a bit off for a round trip.

July is not good for your short stay.
A fairly new place is said to have good margaritas for only a dollar, its called Cheeky Monkey. They are on the Malecon about midway, upstairs. Look for the sign. The owner reportedly is the son of the proprietor of "A taste of Italy" who is on Olas Altas in old town.(That is next to Daquiri Dicks.) The venders on the Los Muertos beach and the river cuale flea market are good bets for shopping.