Bringing kids to Puerto Vallarta... is PV kid friendly?

Short answer - YES!

We always hear concerned parents wondering if Puerto Vallarta is safe enough to bring their kids along with them when they travel and we say absolutely! Honestly, many locals will go out of their way to make you feel welcome with your young ones, grabbing high chairs in restaurants and having kid friendly menus, offering reduced rates for children on different activities, there is no reason not to bring your kiddos along. Family is incredibly important in Mexico and you’ll see three or four generations enjoying a stroll on the malecon or having a nice dinner at a local restaurant, there is even a day devoted to children called Dia del Nino - much like Mother’s Day or Father’s Day where the children receive gifts!

Entertainment Ideas:

Build sandcastles on the beach or go for a swim at Playa Los Muertos.
Puerto Vallarta has a zoo where they can even feed some of the animals!
What kid doesn’t like pirates? Take them on board the pirate ship in PV.
Enjoy your accommodations pool - some places even have pool toys provided.
Do your kids love horses? Take them into the jungle and ride horses to a waterfall.
Swimming with the dolphins for older kids will be an experience they won’t forget!
Kids love a thrill, why not take them zip-lining? They will be laughing and squealing with joy.
Want to go to a water park, there is one in PV with 10 water slides and a lazy river.
Walk along the malecon, there is loads of entertainment for young and old alike.

Travel Logistics:

If you are thinking of traveling with small children to Puerto Vallarta but the idea seems downright overwhelming, let us help! Many rentals are kid friendly, some will provide pack-n-plays, highchairs, cribs etc. If they don’t, you don’t have to bring all of that with you. There are companies where you can rent everything you could ever need for your kids and it comes at very affordable prices. Activity tables, baby swings, bassinets, booster seats, car seats, bed rails, cribs, strollers, foam mats, diapers and wipes, beach toys, life jackets, it is all available to order online and have delivered to you. If you want a night out, there are excellent babysitters who will watch your children for a couple of hours while you enjoy a date night. Having shops like Walmart, Sam’s Club, and Costco make stocking up on groceries very similar to how it would be at home. Items that are gluten free, lactose free etc are becoming more common in case your kids have any food allergies, it is easy to pick up diapers, wipes, etc. at those shops or pharmacies around town.

So bring the whole family to Puerto Vallarta and enjoy paradise!

How does calling work while I'm on vacation in PV?

So you are on vacation in sunny Puerto Vallarta and you want to brag to your friends and family back home about how great of a time you are having. We approve. How do you go about it? Well of course there are a number of apps out there like Whatsapp or Skype, Facebook messenger, Facetime, etc that you can use to text or video chat back and forth, but sometimes you just need to make a good old fashion call and you can’t connect to Wi-Fi or maybe you are trying to call somewhere local to make reservations for dinner or to go on an adventure.

Check with your provider, some carriers like AT&T have a $10 a day international pass and you only have to pay the daily fee for the days you are abroad! If you are on the T-Mobile ONE plan you can get texting and unlimited date in over 200 countries and Mexico is one of them! One thing to remember is you may want to keep your phone on airplane mode so you don’t rack up a nasty roaming charge if you don’t decide to do one of these phone plans.

Some people recommend bringing an unlocked phone to PV and having a sim card installed. The sim cards are cheap if you do want to go that route and it won’t take more than 15 minutes to set up. This would make sense if you plan to make a lot of local calls but won’t be at your accommodation. Telcel and Movistar are the two big cell phone carriers. Today there are so many restaurants, cafes and places around town do have free Wi-Fi you can use, and of course if you book accommodation with Vacation Vallarta, all of our properties do have Wi-Fi too.

Here is the logistics of making phone calls:

If someone will be calling you (say at the villa you are staying at) from the US or Canada, you will need to have them dial the necessary international access code, then 52 (which is Mexico’s country code) the area code, and then the rest of the number. PV and Nuevo Vallarta’s area code is 322. 

When you are in PV and you need to call internationally dial 00, then the country code (1 for the US and Canada) and then the area code and the number. Always ask the place you are staying if they allow international calls. Some may have a fee associated.

When you call a cell phone in Puerto Vallarta you need to add the area code of 322 and then the rest of the seven digits. If you are calling a landline however you can skip the 322. Most places will not charge for local calls from their landlines.

Be sure to ask the staff at the property you are at for assistance if needed.

What to buy... and how to know if you are getting a good deal!

There are so many wonderful shops in Puerto Vallarta where you can find a variety of items to take back home with you or buy for friends and family. People love to bring home tequila but Mexico does have more to offer. For the baker, bring back some Mexican vanilla, it is heavenly! Coffee drinkers, get excited because some of the local coffee is amazing! Mexican blankets work wonderfully for when you are back home having a picnic. There are lots of places you can get pewter, whether it is a picture frame or a serving platter. You may want to check out Mundo de Cristal for Mexican glassware (there is more than just margarita glasses!), adorable drink stirrers, and beautifully painted ceramic dishes. There are some nice hand tooled leather items like sandals to be found as well. Hand painted tiles are beautiful and full of color and could be something fun to bring home to friends. Something guaranteed to make you smile are the small hand painted bobble head animals. If you love art, don’t miss the phenomenal galleries in PV, you’ll always remember you purchased the piece while on your trip, and if it is too large to carry on the plane, the galleries will ship it back to the states for you. Your typical souvenirs are also available in PV so if you have a magnet, t-shirt, or shot glass collection back home you need to add to, fear not, you’ll have hundreds to choose from. Check out the flea market and you can shop until you drop!

Most stores have set prices just like in the US or Canada. If you are making a big purchase (for example a piece of artwork) you may be able to get a slight discount. If you are with a big group of people and you have multiple people purchasing the same thing, you can always ask to see if they will offer any discount, sometimes you get lucky.

When buying items or services from beach/street vendors you can usually get items at least 30% off of the original price they tell you, many times even more depending on how busy of a day the vendor is having or how much of an expert negotiator you are. If you aren’t happy with the price, you can always walk away, and sometimes that can work to get a lower price as well. You’ll know when you have hit their rock bottom price because they will let you keep walking. Several places do sell very similar items but if you fall in love with a specific item, it is best to just get it then! The other thing to remember when negotiating is that $1 off you are working so hard to get will probably make a much bigger difference in their lives than yours so consider it your good deed for the day and pay a little extra. Ultimately if it is something you love and you are happy with the quality and price, then you got a good deal!

Can I drink the water!?

The answer is yes and no. The good news is Puerto Vallarta has some of the cleanest water in all of Mexico! The water is treated and purified, but that being said, the distribution system is not perfect. In many restaurants and some rental properties you will get purified water, but not everywhere. Sometimes even if there is a system installed, it isn't always working properly. It is best to ask the staff where you are, and of course when in doubt, go with bottled water! It is very inexpensive and then you know you are safe and won't risk ruining your vacation!

As for brushing your teeth, taking showers and washing your hands definitely do not worry about bottled water for that. It is more than ok for that!

One thing to keep in mind, if you are buying produce from local markets and street vendors, heck even grocery stores, take the time to clean it with more than just water! In Mexico (and other countries!) sanitary practices are not always followed from growing produce all the way through when it makes it into the hands of the sellers and then to you. There is just a lot of opportunities for contaminates, from irrigating with unclean water to fertilizing with manure, you just don't know, so a quick soak it in a few drops of microdyn solution (follow the directions on the bottle) and you'll never regret it!

Cuban Cigars in Puerto Vallarta

Yes you can purchase Cuban Cigars in Puerto Vallarta. Yes they are still expensive! If you do purchase them in Mexico, please note, you can not bring them back to the US with you so you must enjoy them on your vacation. The other thing to be aware of is counterfeits, so make sure you are doing your homework and if it seems like a too good to be true deal, it is probably a fake. Check out Casa del Habano owned by Gerry Cohen and his wife Martha in downtown on Calle Aldama. They have a good selection of Cubans and are extremely knowledgeable.

What are your top 5 favorite restaurants in PV?

Puerto Vallarta offers some of the most amazing restaurants in all of Mexico. The culinary scene has exploded in the past few years and there are so many fantastic options around the city that it is hard to have a bad meal. From Mexican to Italian, Spanish to French, Mediterranean to Thai, I mean they have it all. And it isn't just the food that is amazing. The service from the wait staff is phenomenal and the atmosphere of some of these spots is really to die for. 

I'm hard pressed to come up with a top 5 favorite but here they are:

A trip to Mexico is not complete for me until I have been to Cafe de Olla for dinner. Their location is convenient and right in Old Town, and they have been around for what seems like forever! Some of the staff has been there from the beginning and it feels like coming home when you see their faces. Prepare for a potentially long line if you don't go early, but fear not, you can order a margarita while you wait! Their seafood platter is an incredible deal and can be shared by at least two people, at don't forget to order some queso fundido con chorizo to start!

A newer restaurant to the PV scene, ok maybe it has been a few years now, is No Way Jose. I'll be the first to admit that I avoided the place when I first heard of it because the corny name, but don't let that stop you. Sit up on the rooftop and enjoy contemporary Mexican cuisine including the amazing guacamole prepared table side. They have a passion fruit margarita as one of their signature drinks that is worth a try, and their original margaritas are amazing as well. For dessert, you must order the bananas flambe (even if you don't like bananas!) because it is worth watching the small fire show that comes along with it!

A bit off the beaten track, El Brujo, is one of the great Mexican 'hole in the wall' spots down in Puerto Vallarta. It is extremely affordable and they serve truly authentic Mexican cuisine. The inside is nothing glamorous, but I have a special place in my heart for them as I remember the first time I went, they only had four small tables, a tiny kitchen, and a couple bottles of tequila behind the bar. Since then they have expanded (both the number of tables and the bar's selection) but the food has stayed true to its roots. The garlic shrimp in foil and the beef fajitas won't disappoint.

When you have had all the Mexican food you can handle (if that is even possible..) swap over to some Spanish food at Barcelona Tapas. This restaurant sits high above the malecon which offers some of the best views of the city (and quite a few stairs on the way up!) The made to order small plates are great to share with the table and you can just keep ordering until you are full! The bacon wrapped dates are downright delicious, actually everything is, so just get one of everything!

If you are up for an adventure, Ocean Grill is restaurant you can't miss! It is a bit of a trek to get there either by bus or taxi, and then by water taxi or hike, but I can assure you it is well worth it! Once you are in Boca, a water taxi picks you up and takes you around the bend to a secluded beach for a once in a lifetime experience. This IS the best margarita you will have on your trip to Mexico, I can guarantee it! You are required to make reservations and there are only three time slots a day when it is open. Not ADA or handicap accessible by any stretch of the imagination, children are not allowed, and they only take cash, but if you can,  you should go. Even the bathroom is a trip to remember!

Is Puerto Vallarta Safe?

In one word... Yes! But to expand....definitely, I wouldn’t go down there with my family if I didn’t think so! You will feel much safer in most parts of Puerto Vallarta than in the United States or Canada. There is very little crime here, and what does exist is usually petty compared to the U.S. The tourist police here are friendly and very helpful. Obviously use your common sense and be aware, and at night stay on main streets. Some people are concerned about the "drug war” in Mexico, we want to emphasize that the issue is fundamentally linked to USA-Mexico border towns and is an issue far from important in Puerto Vallarta and surrounding areas. One word of warning, do not attempt to purchase marijuana or other drugs as the police here have a vigilant “sting” program in operation and you don’t want to be in a position of bribing yourself out of jail.