I am sending my parents to Puerto Vallarta for their 40th anniversary this January. They have never been, so I would like something nice, but since I am the only child I am the only one paying for this and I am moving in Feb., so I need something in my budget of about $150 a night or less. I have looked on Expedia and I see some hotels are in PV others are in Nuevo Vallarta??? Is this area nice/better? My parents are in their 60's, they will probably spend a day or 2 at the beach, and the remainder traveling inland and visiting local areas. So...I would like something clean, safe, tropical, but not overrun with kids. Ideas? Suggestions?
Thanks in advance.

I have never stayed out there but the hotels in Nuevo Vallarta are more Cancun resort style and are located anywhere from 1/2 to 1 hour drive outside the city of PV.

Will your parents be interested in walking around town, exploring within the city? If yes I would suggest a hotel in the "Old Town" sometimes called Zona Romantica in the tourist information. The Tropiana Hotel is reasonably priced, right on the beach, in a very good location. It's not a resort like with activities and such, but a nice mid-range hotel.

You might also look at the 3 properties of Hotel Playa Los Arcos, there's one hotel right on the beach, and two others nearby.

This is a great part of town (if you look at a map of PV it is "south of the river&quot. So to answer your question I guess some people would call Nuevo nicer, but I call staying right in PV better!!

Neuvo Vallarta is 30 minutes out of town and thus very expensive and time consuming to come in to town very often. Outside of hanging out at their hotel or resort they will find little to do that far out.

Puerto Vallarta and hotel zone can be very busy, so is opposite problem. We stayed last jan at the Marriott Casa Magna in the marina area and found it the best of both worlds! You were about 10-15 minute ride from PV so was relatively inexpensive to take taxi, was really quiet when you wanted to be away from town and yet had some of the best restaurants options in PV. The restaurants are located around the marina (beautiful place to walk with great yachts to look at and sportfishing charters if desired). Marriott was extremely clean, beautiful grounds,great service (go with breakfast option if you book it is a smorg to die for). They are extremely expensive at hotel for drinks, snacks, etc so we bought a cheap foam cooler at Walmart (5 minute bus or cab ride) and bought alcohol, coffee for coffee maker, snacks, etc. Marina area is the best of both worlds I believe and we would definitely stay there again. You will find all inclusive options out that way as well but food is so great in PV it would be a shame to limit one's self. Barcelonas Tapas in PV (fantastic view and in residential area) is a must visit, the greatest food tapas ever and extremely well priced! Hope this helped

Thanks for the respones. I need to find something in towards PV, from what it sounds like.
Yes, suze, they would be interested in walking around and visiting the city. That leads me to my next question, do you recommend they rent a car?

I have never rented a car myself, and you really don't want one for within downtown because there's loads of traffic and parking's not pretty.

But if they plan on "traveling inland and visiting local areas" they might want one to do that, with more freedom than a bus or tour would give.

For exploring downtown, my advice is to stay downtown (El Centro or Old Town).

The Marina is very spiffy, if that is more their style and Casa Magna Marriott is a very nice property. You can walk to things in the Marina certainly, but you'd need to take a taxi or bus to get downtown from there.

Definitely Old Town!! Your mother might like the House tour sponsored by the Friendship club, they provide a bus for tours of some expensive homes with fabulous views -about a 4 hour excursion. Also I would check several rental agencies, such as Tropicasa, or Vista Travel and try for a Condo in Old Town You may get lucky in your price range even though it is high season. Traffic is a mess getting from Old Town going north to Bucerias and I doubt for a week trip your parents would enjoy driving. The bus trips to close towns such as Sayulita, and Guayabitos for a day excursion is very easy. The bus is only $7.00 per person leaving from the Central bus station (take a taxi to get there.)