I've been trying to get to Mexico for my birthday for three years now. Finally this year I plan to go over Thanksgiving week. I had decided on Puerto Vallarta - but my travel style is to stay in a small unique place - and explore different restaurants, entertainment, shops every day and night.

Sadly - I can't find a travel partner this year. I don't think PV would be a good place to do my exploring alone.

Shall I still go but change my location? Is there somewhere I would feel safe exploring day or night alone? Or is there some spectactular, affordable resort or inn somewhere where I could lounge for a week between the resort and the beach and not feel too bad that I can't explore a lot at night.

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

Im not familiar with PV but I just got back from Cancun and it would be perfectly fine to go alone, plenty of fine hotels there: JW Marriott, Ritz Carlton and others, all Americans there, not too foriegn at all.

I've been to PV solo 3 times and have walked all over town at all hours I feel much safer there than I do in my home city, both day and night. You can choose to do as little or as much as you want to do. There are many excursions that go as a group and you can meet great people that way. There are inumerable shops, restaurants and clubs where you are welcome. There are many types of resorts, Mexican style hotels and boutique hotels and B&B's in the area. I will be going back solo in Oct., but will be meeting a bunch of internet friends there.

I do not know your age (but if you are in your twenties or early thirties) but I would not recommend either cancun or puerto vallarta if you are travelling alone (unless you are travelling with unlimited money and like to 5 star it everywhere and can't miss creature comforts).

I would recommend going to a place where there are more "travellers" than holidaymakers. These sorts of places are much easier to meet people at than conventional holiday resorts such a Cancun.

Near Oaxaca (SW Mexico) there is a place called Zippolite which is very chilled out. Some of the people there are a bit "way out" and there are some hippies there who smoke a bit of dope. But you do't have to partake f you don't want to. If this does not put you off I would consider Zippolite as it is fantastic beach with excellent seafood restaurants, no hotels (just small beach shacks although there is a more upscale place run by a Swiss/Mexican couple at one end of the beach). But I would do some research through Lonely Planet before setting off.

Alernatively, if you are not feeling so adventurous and do not want to hang around with travellers chilling out on a beach smoking dope, drinking Corona and eating fresh fish you could consider Tulum.

In Tulum you get a wider range of people. There are more older people there but there are still young people as well. There is also more in the way of activites.

Both these places are cheap, certainly more so than either Puerto Vallarta or Cancun.

I would recommend Playa del Carmen. It seems to be a haven for single people, even females. Its a very safe there and very friendly. Although the town is growing in leaps and bounds, it still has a small town atmosphere. Its very easy to meet people and make friends there. Please post if you want more info

Hi,

I went to PV last year for my honeymoon, we stayed at a small all inclusive called the Premiere Hotel & Spa. It was beautiful, very art deco and funky looking.

we met 2 people traveling by themselves. The staff was great and I can't wait to go back.

The only drawback it is a hotel not a big resort. We ate out and at the hotel.

Check out their website, the hotel is a five minute walk to the Malecon (downtown). I am a slow walker and I did it 2x a day.

A great recommencation.

Happy birthday.

I have never traveled alone but I can assure you that I would recomend P. Vallarta there is plenty to do and I found it to be very safe. I have been there many times and have met many people that traveled there every year alone. I too am going thanksgiving week
but this year we are staying in Nuevo Vallarta I think that would be too far from town for you. The Premier Hotel sounds perfect it would be close to town you can walk and it being a small hotel instead of a resort would be more personable. Good Luck!!! Any more questions please email @[email protected]. I would be glad to help.

I travel to Oaxaca City regularily, alone and with my family. We meet lots of females traveling alone from all over the world and they are having a great time. Oaxaca City and the surrounding area are generaly quite safe. There is an incredible ammount of culture in this area. You may want to consider this possibility.

thank you thank you for the advice! I will be 31 - and I am somewhat the adventurous type - I like to hang with the natives and seek out the "un-americanized" crowds. All of this advice is helpful!

I would head for Oaxaca City then as Dude suggests.

From there you could visit Zippolite or maybe Puerto Escondito, a surfing area, should you want to go to the beach. Obviously there are many more beaches than these two in the Oaxaca area.

Oaxaca is a vibrant city and I think yo will feel you are in the real Mexico much more than in Playa, Tulum, Cancun, Acapulco or Puerto Vallarta.

I would look at thorntree on the LP.com site and cosider getting a copy of LP's Mexico guide (or similar).

If you want a variety of things to do P. Vallarta is the place like I stated in my previous reply Look on the web site trip advisor for the Premier Hotel & Spa it is a small hotel and the staff is very friendly!!!! My daughter who was your age went to P. Vallarta a few times although not alone but with a girlfriend. She loved it. I am sure you will meet people there. Keep me posted. my web site is [email protected]

I do not think you will meet that many people in Puerto Vallarta if travelling by yourself.

This is because Puerto Vallarta is a large resort full of families and groups. Many of the people holidaying in Puerto Vallarta will not have done much travelling and most will have done little independent travelling. many will think you a little strange for travelling by yourself.

In the less touristy populated places (such as Oaxaca you wll meet more sole independent travellers.

Type La Manzanilla in your IE browser for info on the Costa Alegre, a plce you might really like!

I LOVE PV and can highly recommend it for what you are looking for!

I'm single, female, 40's, and have been to Puerto Vallarta 15 times - probably half of the trips solo. It is an extremely safe, friendly and easy place. I walk anywhere any time of the day and have never had ANY type or problems.

You can meet plenty of people if you want to, but I recommend staying in the Old Town neighborhood (south of the river) which has lots of smaller Mexican hotels under $50USD/night and the wonderful busy local beach of Playa Los Muertos.

The families are more apt to stay in the resorts which are way on the north side of downtown.

Email me direct if you'd like some websites of various hotels of 'charm' that I know and like.

[email protected]

I agree with Suze. If you do decide to go to P. Vallarta please let me know I am going there the same time with my husband and another couple and I would love to meet you and help you with anything you need to know.

I have been to P.V. with my husband and also by myself. When I was alone I did not feel unsafe at anytime or anywhere. Everone there is very kind and friendly. Please do not let going alone discourage you. I love P.V.!

to xmas girl if you want to email me personally here is my e mail [email protected] I will be glad to give you some more info on P. Vallarta if you need it. Good Luck and Happy Birthday in advance.

In rereading this thread, I wanted to post a bit more, mostly in reply to the several posts by Nylon and his/her bad opinion of Puerto Vallarta.

PV most certainly *is* the "real Mexico". Though you might have to walk a few blocks away from the beach and into a neighborhood to see it.

And it has a brilliant El Centro and Southside of town with lots of single travelers and low cost hotels (150 peso for a simple room with fan and private bath, or 300 peso for a 3-star with gardens & a pool).

Now I will agree if you flew in, went directly to an all-inclusive 5-star resort and never left it, you would not experience the true flavor of PV ... but it certainly doesn't have to be like that.

I did PV on my own but stayed AI at the Holiday Inn. I met plenty of people to go to town for dinner, go on day trips, etc. I never felt nervous or unsafe. To add...I went when I was 21 and I am female. Never felt threatened, except by slimy Americans and Canadians, not by the locals!
Megg