Low Season in Nuevo Vallarta

Our kids loved the pool and beach, so we lived there. We also drove up the coast to El Anclote, a clearer beach with a more local feel. Kayaks are available for rent. There are shops, malls, and many small restaurants available all over the bay if you prefer to leave the resort. Sayulita is a 35-minute drive up the coast and offers surfing lessons and a more authentic Mexican feel.

Quick Tips:

Warning! The pool towels at MP must be turned in each night or you will be charged 300 pesos per towel.

Boat trips, snorkeling, and diving can all be found at Punta de Mita. Sayulita offers surfing and fishing opportunities.

Comercial is a cheaper grocery store than Wal-Mart.

The rainy/low season isn't that bad here. Rain was only at night, and there were fewer people everywhere we went. It was HOT during the day.

Best Way To Get Around:

Taxis are everywhere but expensive, about one-way to PV from the MP. Buses (without A/C) are also available for a few pesos but do take longer. Once you get to PV, walking is a good option. You really can't walk anywhere from the Mayan Palace other than their small convenience store.

Best Things Nearby:
The beach, Puerto Vallarta, Punto de Mita, grocery stores, and a golf course

Best Things About the Resort:
Private beach (very few vendors), huge pool, friendly staff, and ocean-view rooms

Resort Experience:
The hotel is on the ocean, with expansive grounds. We asked for ocean view and had a two-bedroom unit in blue tower, which was a hike to the pool, but once there, it didn't matter. The pool is clean and huge, with shallow areas for kids. The private beach is clean and stays shallow for quite a ways.

We had breakfast and lunch in the room. The furnishings are dated, but we weren't in the room much. The beds are comfortable. The kitchen has two burners, a microwave, and a small fridge. Restaurants are expensive, so we avoided them. Buses or taxis are easy to take to Puerto Vallarta, where there are groceries and restaurants. It is a fun week in the sun!

• Unit Type: 2 Bedroom
• Activities: Very Good
• Amenities: Very Good
• Unit Satisfaction: Very Good
• Family Friendliness: Very Good
• Service: Excellent

This is a pleasant restaurant/bar on the Playa de Los Muertos beach in downtown PV. Attire is anything from beach to casual, although swimsuits were a little out of place. They had attentive waiters and a short wait for food. I had grilled red snapper, which was excellent, with vegetables and a potato on the side. My wife ate filet mignon, which was also done well. A large piece of flan for dessert ended a romantic evening without the kids. The total bill was less than $50. Going a little later is better, as the beach is less crowded and the view of the sunset on the bay is unobstructed. If you sit close to the beach, the vendors will all stop at your table.

This park is also called Sea Life, but the sea life here is not worth the price of admission. The sea lion show was funny due to how pathetic it was. The dolphin show was better. We skipped the exotic bird show. There are "dolphin experiences" available for a fee.

About half of the slides were operational when we were there, maybe due to the low season. We did have fun on a few of the slides, and the little kids liked floating around the lazy river. A snack bar and ice-cream stand are available. It’s probably not worth the money, but a good break from the hotel.

Sayulita is a 35-minute drive up Mex 200 from Nuevo Vallarta. It is outside of the bay, so the waves are bigger. The city is very small and has the feel of a Mexican fishing village. The beach offers surfboard rentals, sales, and lessons. There are also boat trips available.

The beach is beautiful, without all of the high-rise resorts. However, starting about 10 yards out, there are large rocks instead of sand. We thought about using our boogie boards, but decided that being dashed on the rocks wasn't worth the risk.

1. Getting there: We drove our minivan from Mexico City in a little over 10 hours. It is a beautiful drive through rolling hills and the road is good until you reach the coast. Tolls are steep at about $85 each way. The airport is obviously more convenient, but having a car was nice.

2. Parking: Valet service is 250 pesos weekly, plus tips. Public parking is a good 10-minute walk from the hotel.

3. Check-in was very friendly, and the staff spoke good English. We said no to a timeshare presentation right then and were not asked again. Ask for a room you want. The red and yellow towers are much closer to the beach and the pool than the blue tower. However, the view from those towers is obstructed by palm trees. We walked about 10 minutes from our room to poolside.

4. Pool towels: You must turn them in EACH night before 8:30pm or face a 300-peso-per-towel fine per day. It’s not the friendliest policy.

5. Grand Mayan vs. Palace: Grand is more luxurious and exclusive. Palace and Sea Garden are less so and available for Grand guests. Contrary to some reviews I read, Palace guests are NOT allowed to use the Grand pools or other facilities. If you are an owner (not RCI), you may have more privileges.