This is for Suze, or anyone else who cares to chime in:

I am thinking about summer 2026 and the possibility of renting a condo (or house) with a great pool where I can swim laps. I looked for a couple of hours at rentals in Huatulco and in San Miguel, and in Zuhuatenejo (lived there a long time ago) but options seem pretty limited. We would rent for month, or longer--July and maybe June or August as well.

I began looking at Vallarta, where there are so many places for rent, with views and pools.

Before I go much further, if anyone has any idea for another town or resort in Mexico that would be great for a summer rental, please let me know.

If we decide to do this, and decide upon Vallarta, I should know where to look. I have not been to Vallarta since the late 1960s, so I'm sure it;s changed some since then!

Zona Romantica or Conchas Chinas seem to be the areas with many rentals.
Is Punta Mita even worth considering--or Nuevo Vallarta?

We would like: A luxury condo with one or two bedrooms; good kitchen; new-ish building with gym; water view or beachfront. Most important is a pool long enough to swim laps.
Budget is generous and can stretch to a luxury rental, within reason.

We do not care about nightlife or bars.
We will go to restaurants on the nights I don't cook at home.

Our days might be spent with me swimming laps for an hour. Then I would go to market on some days, to buy food or snacks.
Partner needs to have sea view and a good gym in building. (He is old; I am not old).
***He also must have access to US baseball games on tv. This is non-negotiable. Are those available on Mexican tv, or with the MLB app--does anyone know this?? (Otherwise the whole deal is off)

Rest of day would be lounging around, swimming in the bay..wasting time on internet. I can keep myself busy.
Night--go out to eat.

Question: Which area should I be looking at?

Another important question: Conchas Chinas seems to not be walkable to markets and many restaurants. Is there UBER in PV? Or easy taxi service?
About how much would it be by taxi from CC to a good selection of restaurants? If the rides are pretty cheap, I don't mind taking taxis to get around.

I'm not set on Vallarta, so if there is another area, hopefully in Mexico, that I should consider, I'm ready to look.

I speak fluent Spanish and love Mexican food. Partner does not, and I know he can find anything he wants to eat in Vallarta, so that's a plus.

Not considering Baja California or Caribbean right now....

What's PV like in the summer----I'm sure it rains some but if I can swim we don't care too much.
Is summer low season for foreign tourists and more a summer destination for domestic tourism?? (The fewer people around the better for us)

Two buildings that look nice are The Reef and Pier 57...but I'be only looked for an hour, so there must be many more..again, must have long pool for laps.

Thank you. Special thanks to Suze--I'e read your reports here and on another forum about PV,, for years, but never had the idea of visiting until now...

Found another building in PV that looks nice, although high up on a hill:

AVALON

Looks like two pools long enough to swim.

??

I know Puerto Vallarta well (have been going for 3 decades, usually once or twice a year). Was just there last month for two weeks.

Absolutely you can find the things you are looking for there. I stay in Zona Romantica. Correct that Conchas Chinas is not walkable (it's along a very busy highway that would not be safe to walk on even if the distance is not that far). Taxis, uber, in-driver, private drivers are all readily available.

What month of "summer"? June was already pretty darn hot, humid, the beginning of rainy season. By July and August it is usually brutally hot.

Look at https://www.pvrpv.com/ which is a well-respected local rental agency with lots of properties they manage.

Avalon would not be my pick. Not about the hill but it is on the far (not city) side of the extremely busy highway. I prefer to be somewhere that is easy walking right outside my door.

Look at Selva Romantica. They have an incredible infinity pool there. But all the modern new-builds have them... usually on the roof. Places like Oceana, Pacifica, Nayri Life, Pier 57, D'sire, Zenith, all the "V" properties, the three Pinnacle properties. Just naming off places around Zona Romantica.

Let me know if you have other questions. suze

https://vallartainfo.com/vallarta-so...-old-town-map/
https://vallartainfo.com/conchas-chinas-map/

These maps are super helpful. click up and down to move around the various places around the Bay (of Banderas)

buena suerte!

Thanks, Suze..I knew you were the one to ask. I've been reading your posts on PV for as long as I've been on Fodor's, which I can't believe is now 20 years!

I saw the thread TA that you wrote during your last stay. You really know the city.
Ok..I know it will be very hot, but July and August, maybe June, are the months when I am looking to rent. That's the only time I can convince my partner to go..

Remember that we don't care so much about being in the middle of the action....more important, a lovely space with good design in a pretty new building. Two bedrooms would be ideal but one is ok, also.

Those rooftop pools that you mentioned: I know almost every condo has a pool on the roof, but I need a long pool where I can swim laps. It does not have to be an Olympic pool, but some of the pools I see in some condos look pretty small.....

Do you know if American baseball is available on tv? If it's not, the partner will refuse to go.

How much would a taxi cost from--let's say, Conchas Chinas to Romantic zone?

How about the REEF and PIER 57--do you happen to know those buildings? Or ORCHID??

Remember we don't need to be out and about every day....just lounging around and swimming and I am ok with a taxi to wherever I want to go. We might have to shop at Costco so I can buy things that the partner will like, but that's ok...I just need to find a really great place that he will agree to rent...

Important question: For a month-long rental, would I be better off going through an agency, or looking at Air B&B??

Editing this to say that I am now in contact with the rental agency you recommended.....I had a chat and they will send me some ideas..I will post any if they look good. I need to find out about my partner being able to watch baseball. The agent suggested a Firestick but I have no idea how that works..

Absolutely I would go through an agency. My experiences (the past 3 trips) with PVRPV have been flawless. Especially since you don't know the city or the buildings. Unless you have a VERY specific recommendation for an owner from AirBnB or VRBO I would definitely not go that route.

I'm just not sure you actually want to stay in town. And that is what I love and know. There are always lots of people around, any time of year. That's why there are so many great shops, restaurants, bars, bakeries, shows, theater, art galleries, etc. etc.

You can swim laps at the Selva Romantica pool. Just put the words "infinty pool Selva Romantica" into a search engine and a bunch of photos will pop up.

As far as the TV thing, that's all I can say... mine was so darn fancy I didn't even use it. Huge TV with two remotes. Ask your hub if he would know how to manage them. But for sure you can watch American sports in PV. Whether at home or out and about like at the various sports bars.

I will be honest that I am not your best recommendation for "pretty new buildings". You wouldn't have this problem, but for me places like Pier 57 took out an entire city block of funky authentic B&Bs (Casa Andrea which I stayed at 3 times), family residences, small local shops. So for me, I won't rent a the shiny new-builds but that probably would not matter to you, as you never saw town in the old days

You don't have to shop at Costco. You can find everything you need walking distance in Zona Romantica. But if you want to taxi all the way back to Costco you certainly can.

The Reef is way outside town on the highway to the south. Using Google maps (just put in the name and then a well known place in town, I use either Daiquiri Dicks or Hotel Posada de Roger) and you will see the location. Nothing wrong with that, but you won't be walking anywhere. There is also local bus service in addition to taxi, uber, etc.

Pier 57 guess I already commented on. It's a bright shiny new building for sure, that displaced many local residents. Hopefully they were well compensated -lol!

People swim laps at Vista del Sol in the morning. Great location, but old-school design, again not the modern you are looking for. And all 2 bed/2 bath.

I looked up Orchid. Again you are down the highway (south). Don't know anything about it, can't remember seeing it mentioned (I am mostly on Trip Advisor for Puerto Vallarta).

That might be fine for your stay, I can't tell. I just personally would never stay anywhere I needed transportation to... well... go anywhere

About PVRPV. Just tell them your pool criteria. They know better than I do. Stellas property management in my experiences with them.
Because thinking about even my Selva Romantica suggestion, which is the largest and best pool I know of personally... traditional open-air Mexican architecture low-rise, medium-sized gated complex, made up of a handful of smaller buildings.

Selva Romantica sounds great!
That's awful about the destruction those new condos cost...I'm beginning to get a little turned off, and the locations do not sound great...

I got in touch with the agency you recommended so will see what they send me to look at.....I had a chat on the site and the guy, Alex Hernandez, said he will get back to me with a few ideas.
I applaud you for being honest..unlike some people (not speaking of anyone here) you are not claiming to be the one big expert on the entire city!!

Thanks again..I will keep you posted on how the search goes....

I have never used PVRPV by phone but I would certainly trust them. I've just found a place i felt comfortable with (but I know the neighborhood so understand it is different). and reserved thru them online. Very simple procedure.

What I feel like I am no help with is if you want to stay on the far side of the highway not in town but a place with a view over the ocean. I know of a few favorites on the south short but they are certainly not "luxury". Hotel Mousai is a 5-star place to the south up the hills with views and high end accomodations

I won't be any help but perhaps the idea of going out to Punta de Mita might fit your idea better than staying in or even near PV? For sure Punta de Mita has luxury places like Four Seasons, St Regis, Conrad, et al.

eks, I was in PV for a wedding in November. I stayed in Conchas Chinas (post-election I really just needed to relax in a location that felt tranquil with a great view; I've been to PV several times in the past, though had not been in years). Taxis and Uber super easy from CC. But as you know, I'm quite the walker and did go into town on foot a couple times. So it's doable if not exactly desirable.


Walking down the hill. By the way, you can catch the bus at the bottom.

For US baseball, probably your best option is a laptop/tablet with a VPN app, *and* a browser extension such as Location Changer (free). Bring a compatible HDMI cable to connect to the TV. We use Express VPN, they have multiple servers in most major US markets. If a certain server is blocked, their customer service will help you do a work around. The Location Changer extension allows you to 'spoof' the geomapping feature on your device, to give an IP location of your home network. We use YouTubeTV, which while not cheap, lets you DVR games/shows for playback at your leisure. No contract.
Please don't plan on swimming in the bay during the rainy season. Fugly with runoff.

Watching baseball sounds complicated. I thought it was popular enough in Mexico that MLB games would be on tv.

I have to look into the VPN for a trip to Italy this fall...that sounds even more complicated!

The agent from the agency Suze recommended sent me one in the URBAn building that looks good..I think this has a good location (??)

I found a nice-looking condo in Emiliano Zapata in the new Oceano building, with a lap pol on the roof..the pool looks perfect...do I believe the info that this is in a better location?

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/1047342...8-e774afda73c0

I'm surprised that a few that I checked were already booked for July 2026...but maybe the owners use their condos in the lower season (??)

Thanks so much to you all--Leely!--I have a ways to go on this..

{Emiliano Zapata in the new Oceano building}

That is an excellent location. But it is in a super busy part of Zona Romantica (Emiliano Zapata is the official colonia name for ZR) on B Badillo and OIas Altas (two main streets for bars and restaurants) and one block off the beach. I watched the building (and the sister building Pacifica) go up when they constructed them, from the infinity pool at Selva Romantica (haha but true story).

People swim in the Bay year round. Of course not near the mouth of where a river runs into the ocean. Not sure about that comment, does not match my experience.

Urban is a fine location but I'm just not up on all the new-builds to say anything specific about it. I have always stayed in the traditional-style Mexican places (hotels, apartment, condos).

Any condo building you'll want to pay attention to how high up you are, which way you are facing, and if there are noise issues nearby. There are lots of bars and clubs in the area so you want to make sure not to be right by one! Same even for restaurants. Like Oceana/Pacifica are across the street from Margarita Grill where there is loud music most of the time (for example) so people on lower floors have complained about that. Even outside of town you'd want to double-check if it's close to the highway and gets noise (from trucks downshifting, etc.).

Another idea... since you have a generous amount of time what about booking two places. Spend two weeks at Molino de Aqua. Then move either south or north to a quieter location for two to four more weeks?

Suze that's an excellent idea..I never even considered it.

I hope to hear back from the agent, Alex, at PVRPV. If he gets back to me, I will take a good, long look at all the places and maybe post a few options.
I asked my partner about which he prefers--lively area with possible noise, or quiet/near nice beach but distant from activities. Answer: "I have no idea."
So I'm on my own for this one!!

Even if the TV couldn't get figured out there are fun casual sports bars all over the place with a bunch of TVs. I'm sure they'd put on anything someone wanted if they had access to it. I like All Access Sports Bar on the north side of Lazaro Cardenas plaza (sparkly tile park).

Working with PVRPV I already knew where I wanted to stay so my experience is quite different than your situation. But they are an excellent company. Oh I should warn that I pay in full in advance when I book. Although I think there is a 50%/50% kind of option. So that's another gigantic difference from staying at a local hotel, where I only pay for one night or even just provide a CC number and don't pay until I check out. I am fine and confident with the pay in full ahead arrangement, because it is how I've always done it since I switched from Hotel Posada de Roger or the Emperador (budget hotels) to staying in various condos around town. I know 5 different buildings, in some of them a half-dozen different stays or units. But none (except Selva Romantica) has the pool you want and none are shiny modern high-rises.

Definitely please post if you'd like, what other options theagent comes up with. Pretty sure I'll likely at least know of them somehow, if not from personal experience.

Thanks, Suze. I see that I just got an e-mail from Alex, so later today will post some ideas. thank you so much for your help..you should open your own agency--you know the city so well!!

The idea of watching in a bar would be fine for me, or. you, but there is not way he is going to go for that idea!! Likes to sit in "his" chair and watch at home. You can see by now that there are some complications with this rental idea!!