Taxi fares in Puerto Vallarta
 

Can anyone tell me what I should expect to pay for a taxi from the airport to Old town, close to the Tropicana Hotel?

Approx 300 pesos for an official airport taxi.

You save money by about a third if you cross the street on the pedestrian bridge just to the of the doors to outside.super easy. I do it all th time with my 4 kids and luggage (wedont bring a lot though). Takes a few extra minutes and stretches our legs. Any savings is worth it IMO.

As the peso is approaching 21 to a dollar 300 pesos translates to just over $14 US. This would not get you much more than a block here in the San Francisco area. Slepping luggage across the street after a long plane flight just makes no sense to this Old Gringo.

So saving a third would save you $4-5. I wouldn't do it with much luggage and kids to boot, but some people would. But it makes me wonder what this place is across the bridge and why are taxis cheaper there? If it's because they aren't official taxis, that's another issue. If it's because the airport fare is a fixed rate and the real rate is cheaper, I'm very surprised as I've never had that experience in any other city, including in Mexico. The airport fixed fare is usually a good deal.

This website explains this issue and makes it clearer what is going on and the problems that could happen with regular taxis at that location, but it explains it a lot better
http://www.puertovallarta.net/fast_f...taxi_rates.php

The main reason that the airport taxis are more expensive is, apart from the Federal Fees they must pay, they are prohibited from taking on passengers at any place, except the airport. So they must return to the airport empty.

" why are taxis cheaper there? If it's because they aren't official taxis, that's another issue. If it's because the airport fare is a fixed rate and the real rate is cheaper, I'm very surprised as I've never had that experience in any other city, including in Mexico."

I don't know about the place referenced.
What is meant by "real" rate?
When an official airport taxi from the airport in Mexico City to a certain posada has been, for example, 250 pesos, the trip back in a radio taxi called by the posada has been 180 pesos.
YMMV

Here is the rate chart for an official airport taxi in PV, IIRC there are a couple of ticket booths just before you exit the airport where you buy your taxi ticket.
http://vallartainfo.com/transportation/
I can't see schlepping across the street to save less than $5 especially after a flight and with checked luggage.

It is exactly 300 peso.

It is not because they aren't official taxis. It is because they are not required to pay the airport dues that the federal taxis have to.
I travel with 4 kids and luggage and going over the bridge is hardly "schlepping luggage", it's barely a walk ( and I have a bad knee and take a stroller). Takes all of 3 minutes. I like to save wherever I can since traveling with 6 of us isn't cheap:)