I keep thinking about going to Puerta Vallarta and/or the Yucatán, and I'm thinking about it again. I have some questions:

What time of year do you go? How's the weather when you go? I'd like to walk a good deal, but it's hard for me to walk when it's really hot.

How are the crowds when you visit? If I went on December 27, would it be hard to get hotel reservations? I'd stay for two weeks.

I have gone in many different months. My current favorites for Puerto Vallarta are either May or November. PV is pleasant pretty much from Nov thru May. It's only really hot in the summer-time/rainy season, so avoid June thru Sept and you'll be OK.

Christmas holidays are a very popular time and hotels jump there rates significantly. So it's not that you couldn't get hotel reservations, it's that you'll may almost double most places than if you went pretty much any other two weeks.

For example one condo building I love a lot rents for $395/wk from May thru Oct. But Nov thru April they get $795/wk for the same place. And most places Easter & Christmas would have another $100 surcharge on top of that.

I guess I'm the "other "

And I only know Puerto Vallarta (and a bit about the Baja). I've never been to the Yucatan.

We've been to the Playa del Carmen area during the end of December. The weather was great. Not too hot, but plenty of sunshine.
As stated, prices are close to double at that time of the year.

We've gone to the Yucatan (not Cancun, except for airport) in mid-September/early October, a shoulder season with good values for flights and accomodations. We've had nearly perfect weather (no rain, hot but not overwhelmingly so) over several years' of 7-10 day trips. Inland, seeing the Maya sights, is hotter and more humid than the coast, but we have rented a car with ac to retreat to after walking, and there is always a cenote nearby to have a refreshing swim. Lots of interesting cultural sights and ruins to see, and natural areas with wildlife to visit.

If you could wait and go just one week later, would definitely drop the overall price of your trip significantly. January is a nice month in PV, not crazy crowded, sometimes even 'cool' by local standards.

If you do choose Puerto Vallarta I can help with hotels or apartment rentals there.

I know for the 'other side' www.locogringo.com is a website people like.

Thanks for the answers. My scheduling problem has to do with my German classes, though I am only sitting in on them.So it's not like I have to worry about grades.

Maybe I can just go in November and miss a couple weeks of classes. I can bring my books and do some German while I'm sitting around.

Loco gringo!I like that!

Suze, a while ago you gave me the name of a place you liked. Do you remember what it was?

Toured the Yucatan area several times as I have friends that live there, so go there for a few weeks every year.

It is no great information to add that during December January the prices are higher.

If for no other reason, those darn Canadians flock over there and raise the prices.
( I wish they would stay home and freeze.!!)

However, the weather during this time is just right.

I was there at the end of January/February this year and it was
75 to 88 F.

Peg, I went to PV once over New Year's--yes, it was not as inexpensive as other times and a bit more crowded, but the weather was perfect!

I've gone several times (once to Puerta Vallarta, several times to Mayan Riviera) and always at Thanksgiving. I work so don't have a lot of vacation time so that's why I do that, as most of that is holiday time, but it's a great time to go, anyway. The hotel rates are fairly low as they haven't risen yet for the holiday period (Christmas and NY is very expensive as well as popular Springtime), and it is past hurricane season. Weather is great. Of course it can still be hot in that area all year but in the evenings, I've even had to wear a sweater sometimes, and it's breezy. So maybe down to 65. Daytime has ranged from maybe 80-90ish.

Those are popular tourist areas where I've been, so they are always crowded (Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Puerta Vallarta), and since I haven't been at Christmas I can't compare the crowds, but I know the hotel rates are lower so I presume it isn't as crowded. I would avoid the holiday period if I were you, that you are planning, ideally. I don't know your class schedule, I don't go for two weeks so just do Thanksgiving to the next Monday. Maybe going just after NY would be okay, when holiday crowds have left.

I've been to both Puerto Vallarta 7 times, usually in the fall and the Yucatan over a dozen times since 1999, usually in May when it is very nice, not crowded, good breeze and sea is usually pretty calm. Never been over Christmas except twice to PV, it is very expensive during that period of time. Best times to go are spring and fall.
I've always had a car, or my travel buddy does and I pay my share, and have also used locogringo.com many times to book my condo or non-AI hotel, very reliable and the owners live right down there in the Akumal area. Have a good trip.

I think I'll just skip class for two weeks in November. My family would be unhappy if I went at Thanksgiving, so I don't want to go then.

I'm just taking one class because I want to improve my German. I don't get a grade, so taking two weeks off won't really make a difference for me. Unless my teacher really objects to my missing class, and I doubt that she will.

I'm still trying to decide if I should stay in PV for a few days and then go the the Yucatán.

Who knows? I may just chicken out again.

If you go the first or second 2 weeks in November, that should be a good time to go in terms of prices/crowds and weather.

<Suze, a while ago you gave me the name of a place you liked. Do you remember what it was?>

Are you asking about hotels/apartments?

Probably I would have mentioned my go-to budget hotel - Hotel Posada de Roger www.hotelposadaderoger.com. It's a very basic Mexican-styled hotel 2 blocks inland from the beach in the 'Zona Romantica', rooms ~$50/night.

But you can get very nice apartments for not much more. Look at www.vallarta-getaways.com under the Unique Old Town Rentals tab for ideas.


<I'm still trying to decide if I should stay in PV for a few days and then go to the Yucatán.>

Peg, NO, definitely not. You should pick one for this trip, and the other for another time. They are no where near each other, and offer somewhat similar experiences, so that doesn't really make any sense and would be a lot of extra money, hassle, time wasted imo.

I've been in PV the past 3 years the first two weeks of November (earliest arriving on Halloween last year, which was fun because you're there for Day of the Dead) doing it again this year, same timeframe.

Thanks for the advice, Suze. I had wanted to be in Mexico for Day of the Dead, so I will arrange my trip so that I'm in PV for the Dia de los Muertos.

I will also take your advice and just stay for two weeks. I'll check out the places you suggested. I took Lonely Planet's suggestions for two hotels on my recent trip. My experiences in these places confirmed me in my desire to stay in comfortable rather than cheap hotels.

Peg, I know most of the accommodations in Old Town PV. If there are other places you are interested in (from your guidebook or other) I'm happy to comment on them too, if you post here.

I can also help you with Day of the Dead events and activities (look at my profile pic, it's from out around town, last year at that time).