r/puertovallarta

Going this week with my wife and kid (3). We are doing 3 nights in AI. We are very much slow and relax type of family. That being said how much do you recommend we take with us. Also any spots you would recommend specially toddler friendly. Thanks

First trip into PV/Mexico airport in general and wanted to check in with anyone with firsthand experience recently. I need to work remote and plan on bringing 3 phones, laptop, and an e reader. I shouldn’t have any problems based on what I read online? Best place would be to put them all together in my luggage? Thanks in advance!!

Thinking of going to PV for a few days over NYE which is my 40th birthday but are pretty chill and not really looking to party. I was thinking we would do some taco tours, do Rhythms of the Night one night, beach time/ZR/etc. I think we would prefer to spend NYE going to dinner and then watching fireworks from a hotel balcony instead of being in the middle of a party. Is the party atmosphere all over and going to be going on more than just NYE and we'll be stressed out, or does this seem reasonable? Any tips on more chill experiences over NYE?

Me and my husband are moving to puerto vallarta from the USA and need basic information. We have never been there before. Mostly safe areas and how to find a place to rent. We have no kids or pets. We are not looking for a night life. Just a place to call home. We stick to ourselves.

Hi! I am looking to go to Puerto Vallarta with my husband in January. Costco has some good packages and I am wondering if anyone has used it and what their experience was.

I am wanting to do an all inclusive resort and food needs to be good!

I’m narrowing it down to
-Fiesta Americana
-The Westin
-Dreams
-Villa La Estancia

I'll keep it short and sweet. I'm a PV regular, usually spend a week or two every year but always like trying different places. The one change this year is I'm visiting in the high season (first 2 weeks of December) and I normally visit in May and September....

I've always been able to find smaller condo style places around Amapas or Zona Romantica that also have a small dip pool or something private. All I'm seeing is places that advertise pools but it's clearly a community pool and not private to the condo or house. This is a deal breaker for us and could cost the trip.

Is it because it's high season? Anyone have any smaller places that offer private pools. Price isn't as much an issue as supply seems to be. Thanks if anyone knows a place.

Conocen algún lugar donde pueda comprar y probar café de especialidad ?

Our first trip was at the end of May 2026, and we cannot wait to return. We absolutely fell in love with all things Puerto Vallarta. We are small business owners and it was our first vacation in 10 years.

We are currently looking to return around New Year's Eve for a week. Curious what the energy is like. Are there large celebrations? Or is it a more laid-back type of atmosphere?

Hey guys! So it’s not my first time going. I come down yearly to visit my family. It is however my fiancés first time. I wanted to take him to see the bioluminescent Algee at Los arcos but we are on a very tight budget. Does anyone know of any beaches we could view it from? Or any areas locally that are cheaper than 200usd for 2 people? We’re expecting so this is our last child free trip and I just wanted to make sure it was special.

Landing in Puerto Vallarta today and here solo through Thursday. First time here and would be fun to meet other guys who are also around this week.

Late 30s, based in the US, staying in Zona Romántica, and up for beach/pool time, drinks, dinner, wandering around, or checking out something fun around town.

Not looking to over-plan the trip, just figured I’d put it out there in case anyone else is solo or wants some company. Feel free to DM.

Hi, I was just wondering where all the older gay crowds hang out? Not into Industry or Studs, etc, you know what I mean. Where are the mature men? Where do old gay mexican men hang out?

First solo trip to Puerto Vallarta this Saturday–Thursday. I’m gay and want to stay in/near Zona Romántica, meet people, and have some beach/pool time, but I’m not looking for a nonstop party trip.
Currently considering Almar, The Tryst, Villa Lola, or splitting the stay and doing 1–2 nights at a nice all-inclusive since I’ve never tried one.
If you had 5 nights, where would you stay? Is Almar worth staying at vs just visiting Mantamar? And any adults-only all-inclusive you’d recommend?

I have stayed in the penthouse as a couple but am going with 2 other ladies next spring. Has anyone stayed in family suite floor 5, or La Hacienda floor 2?

Spending the Month of January in Puerto Vallarta. 25 years ago I spend a few days in Yelapa. I had the most delicious banana and Coconut cream pies. Any chance she is still here?

Como el texto lo dice😅 Para fin de año quiero sorprender a mi pareja con unos dias en algun hotel de preferencia todo incluido en Puerto Vallarta.

Me interesa que sea un lugar silencioso y privado, no me importa pagar un poco mas a cambio de que sea un ambiente de relajación. Muy importante la parte de LGBT+ friendly ya que ambos somos hombres trans.

Igual acepto recomendaciones en otros lugares que no sean puerto vallarta siempre y cuando esten cerca de la zona. Podrian darme algunas ideas?

Like many here, I came looking to read others experiences and recommendations prior to my visit to PV. I noticed theres some recurring themes been spouted over and over and I wanted to let others know what it really is like on the ground.

1. "Tipping with USD/CAD is a terrible idea and will in fact be more of a headache than its worth for workers" First and foremost, credit card payments are just about everywhere so its mostly a mute point, but even if you want to do direct cash, not one person will mind or be negatively affected by it. The prevailing theory here seems to be that workers will have a hard time using foreign currency but unless we are talking Euros or Brazilian Reals, USD and CAD to a lesser extent can be used when needed. I did not find one worker that seemed to have a hard time getting rid of USD

2. "The airport shark tank is full of scams, avoid it at all costs". This is 100% correct. no notes.

3. "PV is mostly for Old-timers and LGBTQ" I spent 2 weeks here one in winter and one this summer. I kinda agree, unlike Cozumel that has a huge triathlon/scuba vibe or Cabo which is big on boating or Playa del Carmen which is more Milenial or Tulum which is very Yogi/rave. PV is clearly built for old timers and downtown pv is very big on the G of LGBTQ. Its easy to see when you look around your flight and you notice the average age of fliers.

4. "Going to Sayulita is a guaranteed trip to liquid diarrea". Of a group 6 of us 2 shat themselves after a day there. So Anecdotally this is correct.

5. Taxis at the airport are a ripoff/take the pedestrian bridge for an Uber. 100% correct, but it also fails to recognize how goddamn hot and humid it is when you land regardless of time of year. You are coming in a heavily air conditioned environment so the shock is absolute shit. Plus carrying your luggage over a bridge aint that easy. But it is possible.

6. "Stay at an airbnb is better than a hotel" It pains me to say this, but i think this is wrong. Particularly if you are trying to walk to the beach of have a beachfront place it seems all of the good spots are taken by hotels and most airbnbs i found where further inland. Some of them up north are in golf courses or in zona romantica but not quite on the beach like you can find in other beach towns. I can be proven wrong, but it doesnt seem beach condos are common in PV and most beach spots are hotels.

Overall i give the advice i got here a 7 out of 10. A lot of superlatives are used here just like anything online these days, so take whatever you read here, including my own writing, with a grain of salt.

Hello. Coming to visit in November for two weeks and heard that construction started recently on the empty lot next door and wondered how it is currently going, is it noisy? Dusty? Any idea how bad it could potentially be in a few months? We love staying there however are worried about noise, we like the location because it is quieter. If anyone has any other similar condo suggestions to harbor 171 we would also love to hear your suggestions. We love being right on the beach with access to multiple pools, but would prefer to be las Gloria's or towards the Malecon, don't want to go too far into hotel zone. Thanks so much!

My wife and I arrived in PV for the first time and on our way out of the airport we got talked into scheduling some excursions there. They paid for and arranged our taxi trip and to the airport, and set us up with 2 massages, 2 taco tours, 2 boat tours, and 2 bus tours for $160 USD and they gave us a bottle of tequila. Initially they wanted to charge us more but we kept acting uninterested and getting them to throw more in and lower the price. Idr what they first quoted us at.

The caveat is that we have to go to another hotel for a 75 minute tour tomorrow. Seemed worthwhile and like a great deal but after walking away I’m wondering if we got had somehow. Has anyone else done this?