Editor’s Note: Our series on pandemic travel continues with Tony’s top tips for Puerto Vallarta. This is the second story in the series.
Traveling during a pandemic can be a challenge, but if you’re willing to make a plan and wear a mask (in some instances), then the odds increase that you’ll have a great getaway.
Let’s start with traveling to an international destination. Right now Mexico is wide-open to American’s looking for a getaway. Though I may be limiting my potential destinations by only choosing to fly Southwest Airlines, I’ll take that over the stress of trying to live through the delays and cancelations that are common with American Airlines. I will fly Southwest and rent a car to arrive at a destination before I simply book a flight on American. I’ve just been burnt too many times — i.e. flight canceled at midnight hours before a flight, delays causing a sleepover in an airport, etc.
With that in mind, my family and a few others recently traveled to Puerto Vallarta. Located on the Pacific side of Mexico, Puerto Vallarta is a beach resort town in Jalisco. Again, for us, we look for all-inclusive destinations (this includes all food, drinks, and many land and water activities) since in many cases, there will be at least 12 of us traveling together.
Our top concerns when choosing a resort are great pools, easy access to the beach and great ocean opportunities (safe water to play in without fear of heavy undercurrents… or crocodiles!). We also look for a hotel with a variety of food and dining options and rely on other traveler reviews to zero in on the best possible location for our getaway.
Since I was in Puerto Vallarta ten years ago, making our travel plans and knowing where to stay was much easier. There are a handful of rivers that empty into the ocean around the city, so it’s important to find a resort away from these rivers. Though the water all along the ocean has a dark tint (due to the freshwater), there are areas where the beach experience is better. For us, that area was Riveria Nayarit which is just north of Puerto Vallarta and only a 20-minute ride from the airport.
With such a large number of travelers, we usually book our ground transportation directly with a company before the trip. This allows us to negotiate a great price and to ensure that the driver will be looking for us. Try to never just arrive and expect to take a cab or taxi. These modes of transportation are not always safe or affordable when traveling in Mexico. I find our ground transportation by searching reviews on sites like Trip Advisor, then by visiting the websites of all potential matches. Then, in most cases, I’ll follow up with a phone call. When paying for the service, which is usually before travel, I always use a PayPal account to assure that I can get my money back in the event of a problem, and if I’m being scammed, I can limit the losses.
Puerto Vallarta is a well-known destination in Mexico. It became a hot spot for Americans after director John Huston filmed his 1964 movie “The Night of the Iguana” near the city. Starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, it’s known more for their real-life extramarital affair and the fireworks of trying to film in a location when the stars are drawing plenty of additional publicity.
It also helps that the Mexican government decided to make the city a resort destination with major improvements in the airport, highways and utilities.
Once there, you’ll find the charm of the old town and the historic La Iglesia de Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe. The church is almost 100 years old and is still used daily. Just steps away you’ll find a bustling area of shops and tourist traps offering t-shirts and souvenirs. All of the shops are locally-owned and many of the family members will be barking out their requests for you to come to see what they have. While this may be uncomfortable and maybe annoying to you, remember that these businesses must survive on tourists and it’s your opportunity to give back to the local economy. Personal note: please try to find something to invest in with the locals. Their livelihoods rely on you.
You’ll also find other opportunities to experience the flair of Mexico, whether it’s a spa treatment on the beach, golf at one of the many top courses. In most cases you’ll pay between $100 and $150 for a round of golf or a spa experience and neither is part of your all-inclusive experience.
Make sure you plan an evening for the #1 Dinner Show in Puerto Vallarta, with over 7,000 5-star reviews on TripAdvisor and awarded as Travelers’ Choice 2020! This is an experience you cannot miss when visiting Puerto Vallarta. “Deep in the heart of the steamy tropical rainforest at Las Caletas, near a crumbling pyramid, there is a mystical amphitheater where the excitement is waiting for you. As the stars appear in the sky, the spirit world convenes here in a dazzling world-class show that will take your breath away,” the website promises. By the way, it also delivers!
Puerto Vallarta is easy to get to, safe to vacation in, and mostly bilingual. So, whether you have a Spanish speaker in your party or not, you’ll enjoy a getaway to one of the region’s most visited cities. Remember that when flying Southwest to most international destinations, you’ll need to either fly out of Midland or Denver. At present, Southwest does not offer international connections from Lubbock or Amarillo, so plan to leave a day early and spend the night in Midland or Odessa before flying out before the sun rises.
Next time, we’ll look at another Pacific Coast destination: Cabo San Lucas.
