Puerto Vallarta

For an easy one or two week get away from Vancouver I think Puerto Vallarta is one of the best spots you could choose. The charter airlines offer non stop flights of 4 ½ hours and even if you have to make a connection it is still not a long flight.

There is a huge choice of accommodation. The major hotel zone is just north of the town near the airport, there are lots of great smaller properties in town and further north Marina Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit offer other choices.

I stayed at the San Marino in town because it’s close to the nightlife and beaches I enjoy. The San Marino is a smaller 3 star Mexican hotel with some quirks, there was a cracked tile in the bathroom and it took a couple of tries to get a TV remote that worked so if these are things that are going to drive you crazy then it isn’t the spot for you. What it does have going for it is a great location right on the beach, it’s smaller size and a feeling that you really are in Mexico. I always upgrade to an oceanfront room for an extra USD$20.00 per night, the sound of surf breaking on the beach right under your balcony is one of my favourite ways to go to sleep. Also being right in town the other rooms can be noisy.

Besides lying on the beach and shopping there are tons of things to do. I took a day trip cruise that included way too much tequila, lunch on a beach and a donkey ride up to a beautiful river swimming hole. One other highlight was a great morning spent on horseback. As in all countries colonized by the Spanish there is a thriving equestrian culture and riding in the hills, on Guapo a retired Mexico City police horse, was a very exciting experience.