Planning to spend about 3 nights in PV on my own before meeting the rest of my family in Sayulita. Can anyone suggest lodging options in Zona Romatica-cheap is good. Safe is better.
Thanks

I've beent to PV three times by myself and always felt safe. The last time a couple of years ago, I stayed in the location you want to stay in. I stayed at the Hotel Eloisa for $70/night. It was just fine with a small rooftop pool which I really enjoyed.

If you want really cheap and very basic try the small local hotels on Madero. $25-30USD. Hotel Azteca, Villa del Mar, Ana Liz, etc.

For 3-star I like: Posada de Roger, Hotel Rio, or Hotel Eloisa. All have pools, with great locations close to both Playa Los Muertos and El Centro, and websites and internet reservations available. $45-70USD.

I am not aware of any problem with personal safety in PV (I've spent alot of time there solo).

alice, i notice you've posted this question several times now. if there are any details or specific questions we could help with, feel free to ask. i'm very familiar with that part of town.

suze-
Mainly wanted to cover my bases and wasn't sure if the solo traveler or latin america forum would be best.
Info from all folks replying has been very helpful. I think I'm between Eloisa and Posada Roger at this point. I've read on some other sites that the area around Roger can be a bit loud-as in major street traffic well into the late night and early morning. Also the interior rooms at Eloisa are dark and dreary-according to some...

What are your thoughts?

Unfortunately no one but me reads the solo traveler board, i think -lol!

Yes both those things are true...

One side of Posada Rogers is on Vallarta an extremely busy main street, also it backs onto the block where Senor Frog disco was built a few years back so those rooms are noisy in a different way. I request 201 or 202, 301 or 302, which are small but light and airy behind the mango tree and on the left side of the courtyard as you enter the gate/patio reception area. Those are my favorites when I am alone at that hotel. Also the A/C is very noisy, so you can drown out other sounds that way!

Honestly, all of Old Town is simply a pretty noisy place. And I won't even get into the rooster, live music in restaurants, mariachi bands, etc.!

I have only visited Eloisa not stayed there but some interior rooms are incredibly gloomy. Maybe ask for one either with a balcony or a view to avoid the inner core? Those interior rooms had no windows or maybe there were windows but looked out only into the hallway (i think?) like a couple I saw (peaked in during maid's cleaning) that were terrible.

I apparently got an outside room at the Hotel Eloisa. There were windows and opened up to a view. For $70 I wasn't expecting the Ritz. It was perfectly fine for what I was looking for. Just ask for an outer room.

Dori, sorry if I sounded too hard on Hotel Eloisa (in re-reading it kind of sounded that way to me and I certainly didn't mean it). It's a great hotel in a great location. I've only not stayed there myself because Posada Rogers has always been about $20-25USD cheaper. I'd like to try Eloisa sometime, especially in one of their rooms with kitchenette.

No need to apologize. It's not like I own the place Another plus to the hotel, it had a very diverse international clientle and not just american/canadian package customers. I found it to be quite safe and quiet and really enjoyed the rooftop pool.

Same at Roger's... i think it takes a bit more adventuresome visitor to stay in this part of town, in these kind of hotels instead of the mega-resorts. I've always enjoyed the people I've met, both Mexican locals and tourists, in this neighborhood.

Dori and suze,
Thanks to both of you for the info. I haven't traveled alone in a while and so I'm a sponge for information.
Don't suppose either of you have any ideas on how to get 7 people from the PV airport to Sayulita...I'll be meeting the rest of my group at the airport after my solo sojourn. A couple of type A's are involved so if this detail is handled before they arrive that would be lovely. I've read about the yellow cabs, the white cabs and the buses-the latter NOT being an option with my mother and copious luggage involved.
TIA-

Plan A: In your situation I would spring for a van from the airport. You buy tickets at the clearly marked regulated taxi window/booth before you exit the airport lobby, prices are set by zone, they assign you a vehicle... just be sure to get a van large enough for everyone and the luggage. Yes, taxis from the airport are more expensive, but in your situation I think would be worth it.

Any other airport option involves going to the bus station and/or leaving the airport and trying to negotiate with a couple of local yellow cabs to make the trip.

Plan B: Possibly in your 3 days you could figure out another alternative. I've gotten good advice and assistance from the front desk staff at hotels. Maybe there's some way for you to hire a private van that would be allowed to drive you to the airport and pick up the rest of your gang (I'm not sure but it might be worth asking around).

Beware any "information" booths or free jeep rentals along the streets offering free transportation, they are likely timeshare sales in thin disquise.