Anybody gone to Puerto Vallarta and not stayed in an all inclusive resort?

[Bootleg11]

My wife and I are about due for another "beach" vacation. We generally go with a few other couples to an all inclusive, post up at the swim up bar or on the beach and just drink for 4 days.

As much as I like drinking and lounging around, I want to go to some beach bars, eat at some places that might make me sick and not lay on the beach and bake all day. I need some culture on these trips. Our last trip I tried to leave the all inclusive in Jamaica and go hang out with some of the bartenders up in the mountains...wife wouldn't let me go. She thought it was unsafe.

Anybody been to Puerto Vallarta? I've been doing a lot of research of YouTube and it looks safe enough. Thought maybe we could set up base in PV and explore some other small beach towns from there.

 

[RedSavage]

Have been there once, probably about 15 years ago. That was right as it was being built out basically. The resorts were fine and not a ton of them at the time but the surrounding areas were VERY poor. We did go off the resort...we never felt unsafe but at the same time that may not have been our finest decision. My understanding is that whole area is built off of cartel money so the cartel ensures that the resorts are safe for tourists. I'm not sure what the surrounding areas are like at this point

 

[Bootleg11]

Have been there once, probably about 15 years ago. That was right as it was being built out basically. The resorts were fine and not a ton of them at the time but the surrounding areas were VERY poor. We did go off the resort...we never felt unsafe but at the same time that may not have been our finest decision. My understanding is that whole area is built off of cartel money so the cartel ensures that the resorts are safe for tourists. I'm not sure what the surrounding areas are like at this point

Thanks, yeah doing some research...the tourism has spilt into the neighboring beach towns all the way up to Rincon de Guayabitos (about an hour north of PV). I think it's grown exponentially since 15 years ago.

 

[DrinkItIn]

I've been there multiple times. We love it. I've never stayed at a resort, though. We have always rented an Airbnb/VRBO.

It seems to be an older crowd and not a younger crowd like you might get in Cancun. Seems like lots of Canadians go to Puerto Vallarta lol.

If you go, take a boat taxi to Yelapa and spend half a day or a day there.

 

[Bootleg11]

I've been there multiple times. We love it. I've never stayed at a resort, though. We have always rented an Airbnb/VRBO.

It seems to be an older crowd and not a younger crowd like you might get in Cancun. Seems like lots of Canadians go to Puerto Vallarta lol.

If you go, take a boat taxi to Yelapa and spend half a day or a day there.

Was looking into a day trip to Yelapa or Quimixto...looks awesome

 

[slattimer]

My wife and I are about due for another "beach" vacation. We generally go with a few other couples to an all inclusive, post up at the swim up bar or on the beach and just drink for 4 days.

As much as I like drinking and lounging around, I want to go to some beach bars, eat at some places that might make me sick and not lay on the beach and bake all day. I need some culture on these trips. Our last trip I tried to leave the all inclusive in Jamaica and go hang out with some of the bartenders up in the mountains...wife wouldn't let me go. She thought it was unsafe.

Anybody been to Puerto Vallarta? I've been doing a lot of research of YouTube and it looks safe enough. Thought maybe we could set up base in PV and explore some other small beach towns from there.

The wife's uncle has made several trips and loves it there, I'll see what I can dig up from him.

 

[KidsSeeGhosts]

Friends' parents moved there near permanently year round. He goes down there 2-3 times a year (and he is fucking loaded). You should be fine on safety, but just be mindful of normal MX things

 

[Kaladin]

went there a long time ago and the resort we stayed on was really nice. outside the resort was kind of a dump in some places but kind of nice in other spots. did have some sketchy run-ins with the cops and i had a taxi driver one night who seemed funny but also mentally unwell and he drove us out into the country and i thought he was going to murder us but then we made it back into town.

i spoke to a girl who was living on the resort next to us and she told me that a few nights before she was arrested by the cops and thrown in jail. she said that a drunk white girl in the cell next to her got gang raped by all of the police officers.

i had fun there and i'm sure its changed a lot since i was there. it was sketchy though.

 

[Rise to Power]

My wife and I are about due for another "beach" vacation. We generally go with a few other couples to an all inclusive, post up at the swim up bar or on the beach and just drink for 4 days.

As much as I like drinking and lounging around, I want to go to some beach bars, eat at some places that might make me sick and not lay on the beach and bake all day. I need some culture on these trips. Our last trip I tried to leave the all inclusive in Jamaica and go hang out with some of the bartenders up in the mountains...wife wouldn't let me go. She thought it was unsafe.

Anybody been to Puerto Vallarta? I've been doing a lot of research of YouTube and it looks safe enough. Thought maybe we could set up base in PV and explore some other small beach towns from there.

I have a place there - feel free to DM.

PV is consistently ranked as the best scene for arts, restaurants and cultural diversity in all of Mexico.

There are a lot of amazing resorts in the area but to truly experience PV you have to get off the resort.

The urban legends about crime and cartels are entertaining.

 

[InTheDeed]

Friends' parents moved there near permanently year round. He goes down there 2-3 times a year (and he is fucking loaded). You should be fine on safety, but just be mindful of normal MX things

Is your friend a Duncan? I’ve stayed in that area, south of downtown. It’s very nice and safe. Took our kids, I took a few solo walks, no issues. Can’t speak for downtown though.

 

[Lfaller23]

My wife and I are about due for another "beach" vacation. We generally go with a few other couples to an all inclusive, post up at the swim up bar or on the beach and just drink for 4 days.

As much as I like drinking and lounging around, I want to go to some beach bars, eat at some places that might make me sick and not lay on the beach and bake all day. I need some culture on these trips. Our last trip I tried to leave the all inclusive in Jamaica and go hang out with some of the bartenders up in the mountains...wife wouldn't let me go. She thought it was unsafe.

Anybody been to Puerto Vallarta? I've been doing a lot of research of YouTube and it looks safe enough. Thought maybe we could set up base in PV and explore some other small beach towns from there.

Best part about our trip to Jamaica in October was the dinner we had at a local restaurant up in the hills off resort. Also played street soccer with some local kids.

 

[Milo-of-Croton]

Hotels in down town Tijuana are very affordable and lots going on. Walking distance to bars and dance clubs.

 

[Fitzjess21]

Stayed at the Hyatt Ziva, and went into town via taxi. Never felt unsafe at all. Walked the Malacon and it was cool.

 

[greybeardedchild]

Hotels in down town Tijuana are very affordable and lots going on. Walking distance to bars and dance clubs.

The donkey show is a must-see for the ostentatious tourist.

 

[Wasatch Husker]

We have gone down a few times. We usually grab a condo off of VRBO in Nuevo Vallarta at Villa Magna. Great pools and right on the beach. Very safe area - gated to get into the area. Nice condos - good kitchens. Easy to use Uber and go into PR. We have rented bikes and rode into Bucerias. Hired a driver to take us to Sayulita - a fun little surfing town. Vallarta Adventures is great to book any excursions through. I recommend the taco tour, but pace yourself. Incredible sunsets.

 

[Kaladin]

We have gone down a few times. We usually grab a condo off of VRBO in Nuevo Vallarta at Villa Magna. Great pools and right on the beach. Very safe area. Easy to use Uber and go into PR. We have rented bikes and rode into Bucerias. Hired a driver to take us to Sayulita - a fun little surfing town. Vallarta Adventures is great to book any excursions through. Incredible sunsets. View attachment 50480

I think that’s where I stayed when I went there way back when

 

[tman87]

We have gone down a few times. We usually grab a condo off of VRBO in Nuevo Vallarta at Villa Magna. Great pools and right on the beach. Very safe area. Easy to use Uber and go into PR. We have rented bikes and rode into Bucerias. Hired a driver to take us to Sayulita - a fun little surfing town. Vallarta Adventures is great to book any excursions through. Incredible sunsets. View attachment 50480

Love your avatar pic - one of my favorite places, along with all of south Utah. Incredible landscape in S Utah and N Arizona.

 

[Wasatch Husker]

Love your avatar pic - one of my favorite places, along with all of south Utah. Incredible landscape in S Utah

Loved Moab pre-Covid. Too many people discovered that area when they were all flocking to be outside. Was a fun town. Zions Canyon down in St. George is pretty spectacular.

 

[tman87]

Loved Moab pre-Covid. Too many people discovered that area when they were all flocking to be outside. Was a fun town. Zions Canyon down in St. George is pretty spectacular.

The last time I have been to Moab was actually Aug of 2020. I was only there one day, however. I did notice that it seemed be busy, and noticed some new housing builds going on south of Moab, although I did not have time to look extensively. Moab is a place I have long thought would be great to settle to, but with kids/family/business etc where I am now in MT, it is not so easy to pull up roots.

I do absolutely love southern Utah including Zion - all of it. I have considered St. George as it is booming the last I looked (online) and from what I have heard. But again, making that move means pulling up roots, which as you probably know is not always the easist to do, especially when I have an established construction business where I am at now.

I may go down to Moab and take a week and do the entire S Utah, through N AZ (monument valley then across N AZ then back up to S Utah) loop again. Would like to go solo as I did this back in 2013 solo and sometimes going solo, especially to areas like the landscape of S Utah offers where hiking and exploring is much easier to do on my own, and take it all in again. Will see if I can carve out the time this spring to do it. It is honestly getting warm enough down there now I could do it, but could get caught in winter weather at any point, too. I will be camping it most of the time, so late March/early April seems about perfect for that. I like to do unplanned adventures - just go and figure out where I will stay each night day of. Just typing this out gets me more enthused, lol.

EDIT: Sorry to hijack the thread, OP. I have not been to PV - my parents have several times and I want to go sometime - but again, I have hijacked and my apologies.

 

[Bootleg11]

Hotels in down town Tijuana are very affordable and lots going on. Walking distance to bars and dance clubs.

In college we used to drive down to Del Rio TX and cross over into Acuna. Some of the best memories I have from college was in border Mexican towns. Not safe anymore.