10 days in Puerto Vallarta

We rented a private condo for our 10-day stay. All the private units and most of the hotel rooms here are completely remodeled. It has the best beach in the Hotel Zone and a great pool. It is very easy to catch a cab or bus from here and go anywhere. The hotel and grounds are very clean, and the bar service is out of this world. The two guys who work the pool area should be given an award. They are super-fast and friendly. We had a private condo, so we didn't eat at the hotel, and there were too many great places to eat buffet food. The hotel has gift shops, a car rental, a tour company, sports, a salon, a small gym, and a computer center. The kid's activities seemed numerous, but they were kept in their own area, away from the bar and main pool. They also have an adults-only deck with a small pool and four hot tubs.

Most evenings, and especially Sunday evenings, on the Malecon brings tons of street performers, vendors, and food stands all up and down the street. We saw mimes, robots, people stacking huge rocks in unbelievable ways, and lots more, it's worth checking out on a few nights while you are there.

There is great nightlife for all ages. It has everything, from fine wine bars, martini bars, and small mom-and-pop margarita bars to huge clubs that stay open till 6am. There are many venues for live music, too.

This is one of the best places to fish. Lots of options, from huge boats to little pangas. You can fish for marlin, tuna, sailfish, dorado, wahoo, snapper, and many others. There is also a freshwater lake for bass fishing within half an hour of Puetro Vallarta.

Don't waste your money on cabs in Puerto Vallarta, the bus system is an adventure in itself. Only 45 cents takes you about anywhere you want to go. After you pay the driver, he gives you a ticket that is verification that you paid the fare in case an inspector comes on the bus. Be ready, because they don't wait for you to sit down, and all the drivers race each other to the next stop. It's all quite hilarious.