Puerto Vallarta ???

Salty Springs · Salty Springs's Garage

About a year ago I posted asking questions about Cancun and you all were very helpful.Although that trip fell thru we are going to Puerto Vallarta in April.Anything positive or negative to say besides "It's Mexico".My BIL arranged a villa on a golf course,so housing is taken care of.Any don't miss or stay out of's would be helpful.
TIA
Dave

yellowperil · 11:51 AM

Night of the Iguana filmed there and there abouts. Burton and Taylor, great movie.

Sorry this doesn't really answer your question, back then probably safer.

GWN7 · 03-27-2016, 09:29 AM

If your down by the marina keep a eye out for gators. Cartels like to rob banks and set busses on fire but that doesn't hit the news much. Don't want to scare the gringos away. Horse back rides in the jungle is a stay away too. Unless you want to donate what you have to a couple guys with machine guns.

Seahawk · 10:24 AM

Apparently, Guadalajara won't do

Old SD reference, sorry. It has been so long since I have been down there that the only worry then was drinking the water.

Enjoy.

https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/alertswarnings/mexico-travel-warning.html

masraum · 03-27-2016, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GWN7

If your down by the marina keep a eye out for gators. Cartels like to rob banks and set busses on fire but that doesn't hit the news much. Don't want to scare the gringos away. Horse back rides in the jungle is a stay away too. Unless you want to donate what you have to a couple guys with machine guns.

Really? We did that years ago (maybe 10) and had no problems. Have things changed that much.

HIGHLY RECOMMEND --> for dinner at sunset Le Kliff Puerto Vallarta Restaurant – The Best Restaurant in Puerto Vallarta

There was another thing that we did that was kind of fun, zip lines in the jungle.

Another outing that we did was a jeep drive from Puerto Vallanta up into the mountains and back. We went through Sayulita, great little town, and we stopped at a Tequila brewery that showed you the old fashioned way to make the tequila and let you sample and purchase. That was pretty fun. Probably even better since the guide was in our Jeep (me, the missus and the guide) and I was driving. It was mostly a very interesting and educational trip.

Salty Springs · Salty Springs's Garage

Jeez Sounds like I better find a way to get my pistole in my carry on. Sounds like we better head for the marina,I've got gators in my backyard here.

Seahawk · 03-27-2016, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Salty Springs

Jeez Sounds like I better find a way to get my pistole in my carry on. Sounds like we better head for the marina,I've got gators in my backyard here.

If you are referring to my link to the State Department web site, I never went anywhere without referring to it or getting a briefing before the interwebs. I wouldn't dream of going out of the country without a cursory review of the potential threats in the areas I was visiting.

Again, enjoy Puerto V. but do so with some intel. Or not. Your call.

1975porsche · 1975porsche's Garage

Heading there also April 4th

LakeCleElum · 03-27-2016, 02:20 PM

Malecon (Boardwalk) is great. Especially in Old Town, south of the river. Lot's of outdoor restaurants where you can sit on the beach. I hate the endless vendors peddling their wares, but once you get past that; good times. I never swam in the bay due to stories of sewage. Not sure if that it still true, but the rooftop pool on our hotel had a great water view of the bay...

motion · 03-27-2016, 02:27 PM

I've been all over Mexico and honestly, I don't know why anyone goes there. Its fine if you stay inside your resort, but everything goes to $hit a block from the front gates. Too many horror stories. I've been going on and off for 30-something years.

Craig T · 03-27-2016, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by masraum

Really? We did that years ago (maybe 10) and had no problems. Have things changed that much.

HIGHLY RECOMMEND --> for dinner at sunset Le Kliff Puerto Vallarta Restaurant – The Best Restaurant in Puerto Vallarta

^^^^ Right on! We had a wonderful dinner at Le Kliff.

So many paranoid and negative comments on Pelican lately. Sure, if you go down back alleys in Puerto V looking for hookers and drugs, you'll find trouble. I've been to Puerto Vallarta twice in the last six years, both times with my wife and daughter. I never once felt we weren't safe. The fishing is awesome. A day trip south has some of the best beached and surfing in Mexico. Kite surfing, scuba, windsurfing, shopping.

The most fun we had was a jungle horseback riding trip. We were crossing rivers on horseback that I wouldn't swim on my own. We had a blast. I didn't see a single machine gun toting cartel member.

Craig T · 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by motion

I've been all over Mexico and honestly, I don't know why anyone goes there. Its fine if you stay inside your resort, but everything goes to $hit a block from the front gates. Too many horror stories. I've been going on and off for 30-something years.

I know this stuff happens, but I've never seen it. Just last April my friend and I towed his Myers Manx from Pasadena to his house in Las Cabos, dropped it off and drove back. We never encountered anyone but kind people. We stopped and surfed, slept in the back of his truck on beaches, and never had one threatening moment.

Three years ago we drove motorcycles from San Diego to Mike Sky Ranch and down into san Felipe. Again, no problems. I've been to San Miguel, K38< and Calafia countless times surfing over the last 10 years...and only one time we got in trouble, and it was with the police...Because we got drunk and starting racing my Bronco around on the beach.

Stay out of the neighborhoods, stay out of dive bars, and don't go looking for drugs and hookers and you'll be just fine.

Jandrews · 03-27-2016, 04:20 PM

Yep...we were there a few years ago. Took the kids downtown, ate at restaurants, took a random cab back at night - no problems. Took a dive boat over to Mismaloya - no problems.

Honestly, I hear about all of this fear of the Caribbean, and with little kids, I certainly worry about it being reality. But we go somewhere down there every year and have never had any real problems. A few "sketchy" experiences we wouldn't necessarily have encountered back home, but the fear certainly seems overblown to me.

All that said, hearing "Beirut Boy" (Motion) say that "everything goes to schit" a block from the resorts, has me re-thinking. If that dude is not comfortable in Mexico, I sure as hell shouldn't be traipsing around with my family there!

JA

motion · 03-27-2016, 04:41 PM

hahahaha Beirut Boy

I can only speak from my own experience, and those of friends. I have had so many run-ins with Federales, cops, etc, and so many instances of theft and violence down there, including one buddy being killed while we were on a 5,000 mile motorcycle trip. Knowing what I know about the relative safety of a lot of the world, I rank Mexico near the bottom. I would NEVER take my family there, and have no desire to visit again. I stopped going around 11 years ago for good. I've even had 20 hour layovers in Mexico City and refuse to leave the airport. IMHO, the entire country is filled with thieving people who are out to take advantage of the gringos or any other visitors. I just do not care for their culture and choose not to support it with my tourist dollars. Your mileage may vary, of course.

There are many other very nice places with great resorts, beaches and weather, such as Hawaii, Florida, various islands in the Caribbean, etc., that are far, far safer and offer a wide range of adventures.

Jandrews · 03-27-2016, 04:56 PM

He has spoken. And wow, those are some real, tangible examples that are way, way too close too home. While I like to form my own opinions, your comments certainly carry some weight. We did the same thing in Cabo (explored, did some diving, etc...), no problems.

But we have been focusing more on the Caribbean lately...just wondering it if is much better. We did Turks and Caicos last year, and St. Croix this year for Spring Break. St. Croix is of course U.S. territory. We also did Puerto Rico and really liked it.

But point taken on Mexico...damn. I would love to hear some more details of your experiences there. Unfortunately, many will read your comments and say, well, sure, if you are looking for trouble, you will find it, and dismiss your feedback as something that could never happen to them. Only through hearing about specific details from real people do the "facts" ever really come out. I have this debate with one of my buddies frequently, and he is in your camp. But unlike you, he can't cite any specific incidents (other than a friend of his getting held up at gunpoint on a golf course in Dominican Republic).

Care to share more details? I completely understand if you don't or can't.

Thanks,

JA

billybek · billybek's Garage

Was there last April for a week.
Cheap flight, all inclusive. Good food at the resort. I walked a lot out of the complex and never had a problem. Took the local buses for way less than cabbing around never had a problem.
I was there when they had the bombings and what not.
I was glad my family wasn't with me.

GWN7 · 03-27-2016, 05:22 PM

One of my old bosses married a gal from there. When he retired they moved back and live like kings on his pension. That's how I heard about what happens.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdovgKgpf00

Gang violence in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico worries Canadian tourists | CTV News

And the horseback robbery happened to a group that left just ahead of friends that were there last year. Seems it's been going on for years.

https://www.tripadvisor.ca/ShowUserReviews-g150793-d524318-r57541132-Rancho_Capomo-Puerto_Vallarta.html

Craig T · 03-27-2016, 05:34 PM

Motion, you should run for office. There are some guys here with deep crushes on you.

Of couse there are much safer places to visit than Mexico, places with better beaches and better cultures. All I'm saying its, most people's experiences in Mexico are not of violence...and most people's impression of Mexico comes from the evening news who sensationalalize everything.

I hear people say "They know a guy" stories of Mexico all the time, yet most of it is bu!!s#it. Puerto Villarta is the subject and Puerta Villarta is a relatively safe place for a family vacation.

masraum · 03-27-2016, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jandrews

He has spoken. And wow, those are some real, tangible examples that are way, way too close too home. While I like to form my own opinions, your comments certainly carry some weight. We did the same thing in Cabo (explored, did some diving, etc...), no problems.

But point taken on Mexico...damn. I would love to hear some more details of your experiences there.

We went to Puerto Vallarta (technically, the resort was in Nuevo Vallarta) I think about 10-15 years ago, then a few years later, we went to Cabo San Lucas, and then a few years after that we went back to PV. On the first trip we went to Le Clif, and I think we may have gone to downtown once, but didn't do much else. On the second 2 trips, we did much more, using trips available for arrangement through the resort. The zip line was hosted by a company called Vallarta Adventures. We also did a trip through the resort where they drove us to a place to ride horses, the driving trip to the mountains, and a few smaller local trips. In Cabo, we walked from the resort to downtown. I think we also walked way the hell down the beach to a restaurant (ended up being a much longer walk than we expected). We never had any problems or felt unsafe. I think the first time, the kids were 13-14, and so on. We didn't let them wander off by themselves other than within the resort.

motion · 03-27-2016, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jandrews

He has spoken. And wow, those are some real, tangible examples that are way, way too close too home. While I like to form my own opinions, your comments certainly carry some weight. We did the same thing in Cabo (explored, did some diving, etc...), no problems.

But we have been focusing more on the Caribbean lately...just wondering it if is much better. We did Turks and Caicos last year, and St. Croix this year for Spring Break. St. Croix is of course U.S. territory. We also did Puerto Rico and really liked it.

But point taken on Mexico...damn. I would love to hear some more details of your experiences there. Unfortunately, many will read your comments and say, well, sure, if you are looking for trouble, you will find it, and dismiss your feedback as something that could never happen to them. Only through hearing about specific details from real people do the "facts" ever really come out. I have this debate with one of my buddies frequently, and he is in your camp. But unlike you, he can't cite any specific incidents (other than a friend of his getting held up at gunpoint on a golf course in Dominican Republic).

Care to share more details? I completely understand if you don't or can't.

Thanks,

JA

I feel more comfortable in downtown Johannesburg, South Africa, than roaming around a lot of cities in Mexico. I guess it strikes me that traveling with one's family is very, very different than just traveling around as a dude. Dude's generally aren't messed with. A dude with a wife or family becomes a much better target. I learned this the hard way just a few months ago when I let my wife go shopping on her own on the fringes of Istanbul. She came back to the hotel an hour later and has been traumatized ever since. Nothing bad happened to her, but it could have been very bad. I learned my lesson. When it comes to family, I'm not taking any chances. I've taken her to some pretty rough places, but have never felt any duress or alarm.

A buddy of mine got whacked by a truck on our motorcycle trip there 11 years ago. 3 of us went down, but only 2 of us made it back home. It was a rough deal, for sure. I should have died about 10 times on the road down to Cabo, but somehow survived. I've also seen many, many gringos die on the roads in Mexico, with no chance of receiving emergency services. They really don't care about that stuff down there.

I rolled a new SUV near Mike's Sky Rancho a long ways back, was injured and fled to San Diego for medical treatment in my buddy's truck. My SUV was taken, stripped to the frame and held hostage until I turned myself into the authorities for imprisonment while they investigated the accident (there was a lot of blood at the scene). Yeahhhhh right, LOL. That was an expensive accident for me. I could go on and on.

I'm not trying to talk anyone out of anything, but I just feel there are better, safer choices than Mexico for family vacations. Until they, as a culture, get over their fascination with drugs, violence, death, corruption, etc, and clean the place up, it will always be a $hithole to me.