Friends and I (girls, late 20's) are looking towards either PV or Cabo for a spring vacation. Looking for insight to help us decide on a destination and where to stay. We'd prefer an AI just for convenience sake. We'd like a hotel that's close to town so we could walk to the bars/clubs/shops. We are not looking for a wild, party vacation but we would like to meet people are own age and be able go out at night. Also, we are pretty flexible on dates... is going in a particlar month recommended by anyone? Thanks so much!

I love Puerto Vallarta and it is exactly what you describe. I enjoy the combination of tourist things but that it is also a normal Mexican town too. It has all you could possibly want for bars, clubs, shops, galleries, restaurants, tours, activities. Personally I would not go with an all-inclusive because the food is so wonderful and not expensive all over town.

Do look at a map before booking a resort or hotel, there is a newer Cancun-ish development called Nuevo Vallarta that has lots of nice places to stay, BUT it is an hour from El Centro. I advise to stay walking distance to downtown either in Zona Romantica/Old Town or The Hotel Zone. Best weather in PV is from November thru May.

Thanks for the info... we will definitely look into non-AI's... do you have any hotel suggestions?

Molino de Agua
Tropicana
Playa Los Arcos
Casa Andrea
Hotel Rosita
Suites Emperadora
Hotel Eloisa
Hotel Rio
Hotel Posada de Roger

are all nice places to stay in town. normal hotels though not resorts. the list goes from high to low price range approx. all have websites.

I second all of the above. Stay in town. You will meet more people and not be spending time on a bus or taxi.

I recommend the Sheraton it is withing walking distance to town and a very nice hotel in fact I am leaving on Saturday to go there. However I don't recommend all inclusive the restaurants are great and you would miss trying all the different ones in Town on the beach or in the mountains. Have fun whatever you decide.

Ditto to Suze. Sheraton, although nice, is out of the main drag area. Stay in old town or if you want to be on the Malecon go to Rosita (North end of Malecon)But not a good beach. Personally, I think you can't go wrong in Old Town (Zona Romantica/Los Muertos Beach). Playa Los Arcos is on the beach, pretty reasonable. But there are many others. The restaurants are half the fun, choose a different one daily. Walk, walk, walk to everything from old town! Xmas/New Years is usually crowded. Prices are higher this time of year. I'll be in Cabo in April for a more laid back vacation, reading, lay around, etc. For agencies to help in places to stay I first recommend Wendy at Inside Vallarta Villas, then Roger at Vista Travel or Vicki who owns DoinitRightinPuertoVallarta.