Suggestions for Mexico-Puerto Vallarta or Playa Del Carmen??
 

I'm finishing grad school in Aug and planning a trip to celebrate. Group: 6 to 8 people, in late 20s and early 30s, boys and girls, all friends, non married. Looking at last week of August for 6-7 nights. None of us are a huge fan of all-inclusive. We may be able to do the pool/beach thing about 2 days, otherwise like to be active, explore, not scared to interact with locals, try random food, etc. probably involve good amount of drinking some nights?

Most posts I have read on this forum involved family or older travelers, so my question is: do you think either of these places in Mexico is a good place for my group? Which is better? Will it be too hot? relatively, we live in VA, so in Aug, it will be high 90s and humid at home. Better to get a villa/condo or multi hotel rooms?

I'm personally leaning towards PV b/c I'm interested in the town and culture. Where would be a good place in PV for this group?

sorry for lots of questions, Please help!

I love Puerto Vallarta. There's a very active forum over on Trip Advisor you can read up there too. PV is perfect for the group you describe. Loads of non-AI resorts and hotels to choose from. Plenty of activities and places outside PV to explore.

August is VERY hot, humid, and the rainy season (although most often the rain is at night, sometimes with thunder and lightening).

For a first trip to Vallarta, I think it's easier to go with a hotel, instead of a villa rental. But both are good.

I'd go to Cozumel, Mex,. I've been to many Mex locations and find this island to be the best, It has good cool summer breezes, great (the best) snorkling, great night life, and some nice tours to the mainland Mayan ruins. The locals are friendlier than Cancun and far fewer tourists. The east side is beautiful and a great place to relax, you stay on the west side. Many villas are available as are condos, condos cheaper. I'm looking for a villa next year for my extended family, but it looks spendy.

I think you will enjoy either vallarta or playa del carmen. I think Vallarta has a little more of the Mexican ambiance so to speak. It is more of a "pueblito". Playa is a little more "hip". Playa is definitely young, but if you are looking for culture Vallarta is more interesting. You should probably also keep in mind that the sea is nicer in Playa since it is the Caribbean.

Good luck

They're both wonderful. For a group your age, I'd choose PDC. A very fun place. They're both Hot at this time of year, PDC may be just the tiniest bit more comfortable temperature/humidity wise.
Check out villas sacbe or Luna Encantada condos.

Keep in mind that the risk of a hurricane is far, far greater in PDC at that time of year.

Go to Occidental Grand Xcaret in Playa Del Carmen. Went last June with my girl. It is an all-inclusive, but included are tickets to Xcaret theme park next door. We snorkeled in underground caves there and it was awesome. Also saw a traditional Mayan show, shopped in the town of Playa Del Carmen, and drank until our hearts were content. The only lower point was the food at the restaurants in the resort...6 out of 10.

(but they don't want an all-inclusive)

Do you need a resort? Or is a regular hotel OK?

For local-style hotels in PV... I recommend The Tropicana, Dona Susana (see Hotel Playa Los Arcos website), Hotel Eloisa, Rosita, or Los Cuatro Vientos.

You could also look into renting a condo.

If you want a resort, like with restaurants, entertainment, multiple pools they are definitely available too (but I am not personally familiar with them).

Puerta Vallarta and Playa del Carmen are very different places. The former is an older city, but now has many modern facilities. The town center, with its beautiful walk along the ocean, is lovely. The local market is a wonderful place to people-watch and buy all sorts of things, including handicrafts. Playa del Carmen sprang up for the tourist trade just within recent years. As far as I am concerned, it is nothing more than a tourist trap, with cruise ships dropping off hundreds of passengers daily in season. We've stayed at a small complex nearby several times over the years and have watched the dramatic change in the town. PV wins my vote!

thanks everyone for your comments and suggestions. I did think about it being the hurricane season. We are OK with local hotels, prefer it over resorts or AI. I like PV for the culture and the caribbean side for the beaches and snorkling. A friend suggested Cozumel as well. I have much research to do ;)

Although Playa del Carmen has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years, it is still a Mexican town.

When we started going there, there were still an array of fishing boats tied up along the beach.

It has definitely changed, but it's still a fun town, with lots of hotel/bar/restaurant choices.

The beaches and water are beautiful.

I've never been to Puerto Vallarta, I would like to visit, the city sounds awesome. But, I don't think the beach can compare, and you certainly won't have that wonderful, blue Caribbean water.

It just depends which is more important to you, beach or more Mexican culture.

Hey Suze,
since you are a PV expert, do you have any thoughts on the Sheraton or Buenaventura? I like the location of Buenaventura, seems like a fun place, rooms look nice.
I also like Playa Los Arcos? let me know what your opinion on these places is. Thanks!

I recently went to Playa for the first time. I loved the trip! I was there during October so it wasn't super crowded. I would definitely recommend it to people in their early-mid 20s. If you do go, definitely check out the fire dancers at the Blue Parrot. The night life is really fun and there are some pretty good restaurants in the town as well. I really enjoyed eating some traditional Mayan fare at Yaxche.
Also, make sure to visit the ruins of Tulum, but bring your bug spray! There is an eco-beach nearby that is definitely worth visiting.
On the drive from Playa to Tulum, there are many cenotes along the highway. They are spots where the underground rivers break the surface and you can stop for a refreshing swim.
Hope you have a great trip, wherever you choose!

One more thing, I stayed at a little hotel that was right in Playa. The owners are expats from San Fransico who live in Playa now. It was adorable and the front desk staff are locals who are so helpful. The hotel was called the Luna Blue, Hotel and Garden. Its pretty no frills but clean and comfortable.

For JYK~ I like the location of Hotel Playa Los Arcos by FAR the best of those 3 you mention. That's the area where I always stay so what I'm most familiar with. That hotel also has two other sister propertries nearby (Los Arcos Suites and Dona Susana) that share their beachfront ammenities. I think this may be the most "lively" hotel on your list and the closest to the "action".

The Buenaventura is a very pretty hotel (I think considered a wee bit nicer than PLA) and not too far north into the Hotel Zone as to be inconvenient. I've walked there on several occasions when out & about in El Centro. I've only peaked in to the lobby and common areas off the street, but it looked nice and the staff has always been friendly.

I know another poster here who likes the Sheraton very much (hopefully Butsey will chime in). For me it's too far from downtown for my own personal preference, but sounds like an other solid hotel pick.

I don't think you could go wrong with any of these 3 places.

There are few very negative reviews about BV on TripAdvisor, so I was a bit skeptical. We just need basic rooms so I shouldn't worry about bait-n-switch, but still..

Forget PV! There is no comparison with Playe Del Carmen. PV is dirty, nasty,and overrun with "hawkers" trying to sell you their cheap goods every 5 steps you take. They even aggressively approach you at your table in a restaurant! The town is poor, run down, in disrepair, and we did not feel safe. We will never return.

Have to dispute another poster. Unless it's started in the last 12 months, cruise ships do not drop off clients in Playa.

I'm in my mid30's, single, and female and went to PV for the first time in March. I LOVED it. I did not think the city was dirty or rundown, nor did I ever feel unsafe. I was also never approached by hawkers selling their wears while eating. I was, however, approached by people while I was lying on the beach, but a polite no thank you sent them on their way.

PV is full of culture, wonderful people, and fantastic food. I can't wait to go back for another trip.

I stayed at the Marriott in the Marina which was a great hotel, but I would not recommend it for your group, as I think it's a little too isolated for what you're looking for.

JeanH writes: "I've never been to Puerto Vallarta, I would like to visit, the city sounds awesome. But, I don't think the beach can compare, and you certainly won't have that wonderful, blue Caribbean water."

And I have never been to Playa del Carmen; my daughter sings Praises of that Beach Resort.

Like beanweb24, we stayed at the Marriot Resort in PV. It was nice: Peacocks (PavoReales) wandering the grounds, even inside the Hotel, and a concession offers parasailing.

One thing concerned me: it looked like (at certain times of day) the municipality discharged wastewater into the ocean a mile or so from the Hotel/Resort. It made me swim only in the swimming pool to avoid any harmful pollution. I wouldn't go back.

That trip we stopped in Guadalajara (Jalisco) for a weekend: high point of our visit was a Bailé Folkloric performance Sunday AM at Teatro Degollado (buy tix early, like Saturday). Another was a Saturday PM stop at Plazuela Mariachi. It was my birthday so I got treated to a performance of las Mañanitas

"municipality discharged wastewater"
That's absolute rubbish, the sewage plant in Vallarta returns water into the Rio Ameca, that is cleaner than the tap water in Mexico City.

JYK If you're leaning towards P.V. I would highly recommend the Sheraton it is a huge resort and the pools there are right on the beach. The beach there is really not that nice. However at your ages you can all walk into town from there. It's a really nice hotel I go twice a year. Food is expensive at the hotel but you ar so close to everything you can eat anywhere. Everything is close by. Good Luck

Thanks, I think I really have narrowed down to Playa Los Arcos, BV and the sheraton.

Frankie, cruise ships have for years dropped of cruisers at either Cozumel or Calica. Normally the Coz folks stay over there but the Calica port is just south of Playa and PDC gets HEAVY traffic from them.

I should add, PDC is still my favorite vacation destination location although it gets busier every year! Either PV or PDC is great, I've been to both but the beaches are many times over better in Playa. Nothing compares to the Caribbean. Which ever one you choose, I'd recommend NOT going the AI route. There are so many better options in either locale.

thank you, jette. I was wondering if cruise ships had started to dock in PDC!

We've been to Playa twice and PV once. We did stay at the Playa Los Arcos on PV when we went. It's a nice small budget minded hotel. If you chose it, make sure you get a suite otherwise the room is very small and the bathroom is tiny. We did the AI plan for $150 total for the both us for 4 nights. Totally worth it in drinks and the breakfast buffet alone.

Between the two, I prefer Playa over PV. 5th Street in Playa is the atmosphere you are probably looking for. We went to PV in Decemeber and it was practically dead. We found the atmosphere more geared to the elderly. Might not be that way all the time, but that is what we experienced. The time share people and vendors were the worst we have ever experienced in any destination we've been to. The beaches are very subpar to Playa. We couldn't even use the beach in PV when we went.

Personally, I wouldn't chose Playa or any of the surroundings areas in August. We've been 3 times in an August/September and it was so hot and humid, and we had to grit our teeth every trip to see if we could actually go because of the hurricanes. We lost out in 2005 to Cozumel and ended up somewhere else. We will not plan trips there anymore during that time frame.

Also be careful of the a hotel you pick for Playa if you are interested. Many are around 30 minutes outside of the acutal town, which is why there are so many all inclusives. I highly recommend the Royal Playa del Carmen in Playa. Though it is an AI, 5th Street is 5 minute walk. You'll get the best of both.

I felt that Playa had more things to see and do off the resort than PV. We just returned from a second trip to Cancun and we've been to Cozumel 3 times. For a party atmosphere we prefer Cancun. For a relax get away, we prefer Cozumel. If you interested e-mail me and I can provide you with our trip reports and pictures.

JYK,

Do yourself a favor and check out www.playa.info. Someone on this site recommended it, and we found so much great information! We are going in 4 days. Check out the Forum there, and you will see Trip reports posted with MANY pictures, so you can get a really good feel for the place.
~Chilepepper

I don't doubt PDC has better beaches, etc. I am very worried about the hurricane season however. This is my first real vacation in 3 years!! I'm also possibly going to Cancun in Feb/09 for wedding, so I think I'll stick with PV for this trip. Thanks everyone again for your inputs.

Hi, does anyone know anything about the Hola Resort in Puerto Vallarta? I have heard mixed reviews. I am going down in October to get married. Also, does anybody know of any affordable and reliabe wedding services? Thanks

Mexico Guru ofers a free, helpful quiz at <http://www.mexicoguru.com/asktheguru.php> where you can plug in what you want to do and check off your favorite interests, activities, environment, lifestyle, and etc..

The web site covers over 50 distinations, and the quiz is quick and easy. It's great for zeroing in on exactly the right place and for helping to answer the age ol' question: Location A or location B?

PV has the edge because of hurricane risk. Also, PV has some really, really great restaurants with tremendous views. PV also feels less touristy, if you stay closer to town or south of it. Stay south of town for better beaches with mountains as backdrop. Many resorts are now in Nuevo Vallarta or Nayarit, which is quite a drive/bus ride north of town. The old town feel of PV is great...walk along the river with lovely cafes and shops in town. Great excursion to remote beaches south of town (can't remember the beach name, but serious fun boat ride there and Gilligan's island feel once there, with hike to waterfall that you can do on your own, not with an obnoxious "guide.")

If other things are equal in your mind between the two, you may want to consider the airfare. If you are coming from the east coast of the US, the fare to PV is usually more expensive.

I used frequent flier miles to book to PV. It was about $650 to PV (b4 fees/taxes) and $550 to cancun or cozumel. really not much difference. My group has shrunk a bit but we are excited about PV. still deciding on a hotel.

Feel free to post your short-list of PV hotel/resorts you're considering, if you want some opinions on them.

One of the biggest things to take into consideration is location. The resorts in Nuevo Vallarta are newer and larger, but are a 30-45 mins. drive from central PV. There's nice hotels in The Marina district (Marriott, Westin) which is about 15 mins. from town. Then the Hotel Zone, El Centro/downtown, and the south-side (aka "Zona Romantica"). Further south Dreams and a few other resorts sit along the coast in that direction.

Have you ever considered Isla Mujeres??? (island off of Cancun - but WAY different than Cancun). More traditional feel to the island - quaint, friendly. Lots of great exploring - small island. Rent a golf cart and explore the whole island. Here's a great way to get a "feel" for the island (lots of great info). www.myislamujeres.com

Great local restaurants, FRESHEST seafood around (the island is a fishing village) and fun beachbars and nightlife! You will not run out of things to do in a week even though the island is small!