BeniciaChris

My girlfriend & I are heading back to PV in Jan for 2 weeks. Its our 4th visit there. Everytime I say we need to explore more than just the downtown. Does anyone know a guide-driver that we could hire for a day or 2. We will be staying at the Krystal. Thanks in advance-Chris

JPinBC

Here are two that get good recommendations - I have not used either, but I know others who have, and they were very happy with the services provided.

Private tours with Tony Sanchez
http://vallartainfo.com/tony.html

Private tours with Astrid van Dam
http://vallartainfo.com/tours/astrid/tours.html

cabron

Be adventuresome and use the busses, with a good map you can do it on your own. If you get lost on a bus, just stay onboard, it will return to where you got on.
eventually
It's also very, very cheap.
http://vallartainfo.com/map.html

suze

My thought when I saw this post was same as cabron above, to use the busses. I've been both south and north of PV that way, and it was fun, and cheap, and not difficult.

Only one time I used a driver which was good too. We just arranged thru the front desk of the hotel, the clerk and his brother also drove a taxi & took us around for a 1/2 day informal tour of the area.

JPinBC

"Does anyone know a guide-driver that we could hire for a day or 2."

Just responding to the question asked.

We have never taken a tour or used a guide -- we walk and use the local buses as well, plus, use the free services and information provided at the Tourist Office, downtown (for maps, brochures, walking guides, and etc.).

BeniciaChris

Thank you so much for your answers. We have taken the bus's but find we only go downtown. I want to explore some little towns. We get down there & are so relaxed we just hang out by pool. If I have someone lined up it may give us the boos we need. Will contact the ones you suggested-Chris

suze

I'm not against the idea of hiring a driver because if you get a good one they'll tell you about the area and suggest places you might not have thought of on your own (plus get you up from the pool and moving -haha).

But busses DO go to 'little towns'. You just need to ask someone for directions for where to catch it and which bus specifically to take, say if you want to go down to Boca or up to Bucerias or Punta Mita or wherever. Busses do go those places too.

cabron

Busses are there for the locals, so the tend to go everywhere, for out of town see:
http://vallartainfo.com/puerto-valla...rt.html#demita

BigBlue

What about if you're 75 years old and walk with a cane and have artificial joints? Buses still work? I think not.

I have the same question about hiring a car with driver and it looks like, from the above, that there are limited options known to Fodorites posting here. Thanks to JPinBC for the links to Tony and Astr . They are oriented to large groups from cruises and are quite pricy.

We have often found that people come across a good driver and are willing to pass on contact details. I was hoping for the same here.

suze

<<limited options known to Fodorites posting here>>

BigBlue~ There are only a couple of us regular posters at Fodor's who live in or travel to Puerto Vallarta.

If I knew a good driver I'd certainly be willing to pass it along. But I don't. Because I use the busses.

If I have your question, I'd read the PV forum over at www.tripadvisor.com. It's much more active than here. Plus look at these two websites:
www.vallarta-info.com
www.allvallarta.com

And ask at your own hotel's front desk for recommendations.

bzy1

Actually, Astrid specializes in small groups and says that all over the Superior Tours website. He van or Jeep are very comfy and she or Azael are great to work with, especially if someone needs some extra help. I send friends and family and clients out with them all the time and everyone has only had positive comments. Contact her for more details.

BigBlue

bzy1, I posed my direct situation to Astrid with specific dates and she replied only with the offer of the van at, I think, $240 per day. No mention was made of a Jeep and no offer was made at a lesser price. Perhaps the dates I had in mind presented conflicts for her. As there are only two of us and I think we can do far better on price, I took a pass.

pino72

Try Raul Covarrubias Jr. [email protected] Cell phone is 044 322 11 644 19 I've used him to take a group of four out to one of the golf courses from Centro, but I know he and his son will do tours.

JEDA

I recomend email Dante he has contacts in Puerto Vallarta and can give you private, personal treatment around Vallarta. From picking you up from the airport to taking you 1 hour drive to other small towns around PV. He works around your budget and he is supper friendly. this is he is email [email protected]
tell hem that Louis & Shannon are your friends he will remember us.
Good luck!

BeniciaChris

This is tooo weird that this came up today as I posted this 2 years ago & my friend & I are leaving this Sat for 2 weeks in |PV. Thank you so much JEDA I E-mailed Dante I told him you rec'd him.
I have my bags packed!!!