Puerto Vallarta

Hey this is relevant to my interests too! I'm going to Puerto Vallarta in August with my family and fiancée, we're staying at the Occidental Grand Nuevo. I'm not sure how off the reservation we're planning on going but if something is must-see I'm sure we can make the trip.

My fiancée, dad, and mom are all fluent Spanish speakers so any locals-only places would be cool.

@connorbush, @JonT I've been twice, many years ago. First time I stayed at Hotel Buenaventura - one wing was under construction, so great deals on the finished portion. I remember great service, the pool next to the beach so we could swim and have drink service in either. Amazing pina coladas with fresh pineapple and coconut - and a half-day horseback ride in the hills (wooden saddles, much butthurt). Many galleries and shops in town, and the usual resort water sports.
Second trip we stayed with friends who were renting there. They still had discos there, I remember one called City Dump. We took a boat excursion to the an offshore island, Yelapa, where they make their own moonshine-type strong tequila. (Just looked it up - raicilla, between 100 and 180 proof). It was quiet and undeveloped, but as I said, this was a long time ago.

You'll just have to decide whether you want to watch the sunset from the roof or the beach. (We still say "roof or beach?" when we have to make a decision with no down side).

Currently there is a tremendous amount of violence in the Puerto Vallarta area, they'll tell you that it has trailed off after the huge shit that went down in early May of this year, but the fact is it has never stopped - don't stray too far from the "tourist" areas too long after dark (but, this could be said as good advice for most anywhere - even places here in the US - had you walked three or four blocks from the White House in the wrong direction just a few short years ago you'd know exactly what I mean, and it still isn't great). If you head for the mountains be really careful if you go for a hike and take a reputable local guide recommended by the hotel. 99% chance this stuff will never touch you or be an issue and they (those bent on violence) tend to do everything they can to avoid involving tourists (it really is a "don't bite the hands that feed you" kind of mentality), but be generally aware of your surroundings- just maybe a little on your toes more than a couple years ago. I have friends that keep an apartment there and they say it is getting worse this summer. They've had a few shootings within a block or two of their apartment where prior it would have been unheard of to be that close.

My favorite things about Puerto Vallarta - swimming with the giant mantas in Banderas Bay and one of my top ten meals of all time at the River Cafe. If you're going in August, the River Cafe will be serving octopus for breakfast (no shit - check their Website - octopus festival is all month).

Have fun! Be safe!

Don't go snorkeling. The water is not very clear and it's not worth the boat ride. We enjoyed snorkeling at the resort swimming area and we didn't have to waste half a day. We stayed at a Dreams resort back in the day, but it looks like it has a different name now. http://puertovallarta.ziva.hyatt.com/en/hotel/rooms/suite.html

We really enjoyed our day trip to watch whales in the bay and spend a sunny afternoon at Las Caletas, the private retreat of the late director, John Huston. It was a beautiful day, like a vacation in the middle of the vacation.

To the people that are planning on going to Puerto Vallarta: This is a fellow native Texan who, for work reasons, comes and goes to Mexico almost every single week.... (Its not as bad as it sounds since its about a 2 hour drive from Laredo Tx to Monterrey Mex.)
I love Puerto Vallarta, but if you would like to go to a nicer beach, rent a car, drive to NUEVO Vallarta... its really near from puerto vallarta and since almost no one knows about it, everything a tad cheaper and cleaner.
Look for a "palapa" or a club, they will charge an admission fee which will allow you to use their commodities and relax on the beach... they will offer you an "all inclusive" admission also, that will include food, drinks and BOTANAS! (tip not included)
so yeah, visit Mexico, its not as dangerous as people portray it to be, but be on the safe side: avoid driving at night, leave your laptop, money, passports, ETC on your hotel safe, and use your credit cards as much as possible, if it gets stolen you can freeze it.
People there are on the lookout for "gringos", they have an eye for it: Its like when I took a cruise for my honeymoon and when we arrived to Jamaica, every single guy over there said to me "Hey American, come come, I have joint for you"
I guess that leaving the ship with my cargo shorts, crocs (dont judge me,they are comfortable), sunglasses, camera and my TEXANS shirt was not a good idea.
Hope this helps out!

I have advice specific to the Riu, but not Puerta Vallarta. Actually, it's a menu-hack:

The Riu will give you a breakfast menu you can hang from your door and so they can conveniently deliver to you in the morning. The menu has all sorts of check boxes for ordering. Ignore them.

Towards the bottom is a box labeled "Notes" or "Special instructions" or something like that. This is the canvas where you will create your breakfast masterpiece. Write in your breakfast fantasies. They will (try to) make them come true.

An omelet sandwich on a lox-covered bagel with a carafe of passion fruit juice and a side of pineapple cut into a giant spiral? Why not?

3 hardboiled eggs and strips of bacon laid out into a smiley face pattern? Child's play (not the horror movie, which my wife was an extra in, BTW).

But really, I look at this as a unique opportunity for you. Because you can write in anything... such as:

"Breakfast Octopus"

As always, pics or it didn't happen.

Man, Puerto Valletta is out go to destination. We have been 3 times in the last year alone. It's too bad you aren't going around the holidays, or February/March. That's when the whales come to have their young. It's amazing.

I don't know about Riu Palace, but the sunset Plaza hotel is one of the best we have stayed in. I've never had such awesome food at an all-inclusive, or anywhere for that matter, as I did there. The service there is top notch and you can often get deals for under 120 a night for the suite. If you stop there ask for Javier and tell him Stephen the it guy sent you.

Attractions, youll find better deals outside of your resort. Especially fishing. The city tour was cool, but long. Anything snorkeling or scuba diving is really good there. Oh and beware if you do go out to shop for anything...someone will try to sell you on a excursion/timeshare presentation. If you aren't interested, don't try to make small talk or act differently they will hound you like crazy.

If you like Al pastor tacos....ask any driver of a cab to take you to El carboncito, it's this hole in the wall place that's open late. Get the quesadilla it's basically a soft taco and some of the best street style tacos ever. Pepe's tacos is okay, not great. If you ask a cab driver where they best tacos are..they will say pepe's, but trust me Carboncitos is where you want to be.