pookymimi

We wanted to go home for Christmas, but I can't bring myself to pay $1,800 x 3, I rather save that money for next Sardegna vacation for my daughter and I
I see we can all fly for 1 ticket to Chile, so I need help deciding on where to. I've never been in Mexico south of Ensenada, so I need a little help. I just want to rent an apartment non AI as I like to cook and go to different restaurants. We would like a nice area with beaches and hopefully a nice relaxing but fun New Years with maybe fireworks.

baldone

Your post is somewhat confusing. But you'd probably like PV better than Cabo, although PV is overrun with tourists during Christmas. As such, at this late date it will be a challenge finding a reasonably priced apartment.

pookymimi

Yeah, I was rambling on going to Chile.

I looked in PV and it seems I can find an apt from $1,500 up per week.

Stewbear

Both will be packed but I would choose PV.

suze

Puerto Vallarta has more options in what you describe (non all inclusive apartment/condo. And there are more swimmable beaches in town than in Cabo San Lucas. But either could work.

That price sounds about right because of being the holidays. Other times of year I can rent really nice 1 or 2 bedroom condos in Old Town for $495-$1225/week.

Since it's Christmas you want to get booking ASAP. I'm on the PV forum over at Trip Advisor and places are pretty much booked up. You need to get going sooner than later.

www.pvrpv.com is a good website because it has a good search filers feature and a large inventory of condos.

suze

Do know that PV is a large, spread out area. You'll see places available in Nuevo Vallarta (resort district 1/2 hour north of the city), The Marina, Hotel Zone, Centro/downtown, Old Town/zona romantica, and the South Shore.

Here are good maps to give you an idea what's where:
www.vallartainfo.com

jamie99

I've been a couple of times over Christmas and it is nice but pretty crowded, like suze said you need to book asap.

suze

Do you have at least one week for the trip? I ask because most of the condos have a 7-day minimum stay requirements over the holidays.

pookymimi

Thanks for the advice.
Yes, we were thinking 2 weeks.

suze

Do you want a condo that's part of a resort? Or just a regular Mexican-styled apartment building? Do you want to be in Old Town? Or something fancier in the Hotel Zone? Does it have to be beach-front? Need an ocean view? 1 or 2 bedrooms? Pool? Modern or traditional architecture?

I can give you some specific links to the buildings I rent in, or know about, if you tell me a bit more.

pookymimi

I would like to be in an apt 1-2 bedrooms with ocean view not higher than 4th floor. I don't know anything about towns, don't care about how it looks in the outside, not AI as I like to cook.

suze

www.vallarta-getaways.com
www.puerto-vallarta-rentals.com
www.pvrpv.com

suze

<I looked in PV and it seems I can find an apt from $1,500 up per week.>

If you want to say the names of the properties you are looking at (or give a link), I can tell you about the location, how far from the beach, the nearest grocery stores, bus and taxi info, etc.

If you can get a 1/2 bedroom condo at $1,500 for the two holiday weeks, in a central location, I would snag it. That's a good price for that time period.

pookymimi

Conchas Chinas $210 a night

pookymimi

Right in front of Amapas Beach.

suze

I'm not sure if you mean Hotel Playa Conchas Chinas or a rental in that neighborhood of the same name, but yes that's a very nice area at the south end of Zona Romantica.

Conchas Chinas covers a large area and is on a hillside, so depending which side of the highway the rental is located, could involve steps or extra walking to get to the beach. In the photos you should be able to tell how far up you by the views (how far from the beach).

pookymimi

Suze, it's a private apartment looking down the little Amapas beach.

suze

That's a pretty area. Hope it all works out for you.

I know you mentioned wanting to cook. There aren't any grocery stores down that way. You'll need to shop in town somewhere.

Ley in Centro would be the closest full grocery store. The Municipal Market in Emiliano Zapata colonia for local vendors of meat, fish, vegetables, etc. There's a Saturday morning Farmers Market in Lazaro Cardenas Plaza in Old Town (9am-2pm).

Or you could make a shopping stop on your way in from the airport at any of the larger stores in that part of town: Mega, Soriana, Sam's, Walmart, Costco.

pookymimi

I found a cheaper apartment in the Icon Vallarta complex than the one in playa amapas. Do you know anything about it?

suze

Only by location and reputation...

Icon Vallarta is a newer, modern, high-rise building in the north end of the Hotel Zone, near where the cruise ships dock. I know people who've stayed there and commented favorably about it.

Personally I don't like that part of the city and I don't like high-rises like that. For me it's too far away from Old Town/Centro, not very charming or authentic, and just not my cup of tea.

That said, depending what you are looking for, plenty of people enjoy the resorts and amenities in the Hotel Zone, so maybe it would be OK for you.

If you use the maps I linked earlier at www.vallartainfo.com you can see where Icon is located in relation to other things.