Many people refer to Puerto Vallarta as "the new Acapulco," meaning that this seaside Mexican resort city is full of the same kind of excitement, sights, and pleasures as the legendary Acapulco did in its heyday. Over the decades, unfortunately, Acapulco has suffered from overdevelopment, which has somewhat spoiled the once fine quality of its beaches and the serene, laid-back and friendly atmosphere it once had.
Luckily so far, this has not become the fate of Puerto Vallarta, though it certainly never lacks for vacation rentals, restaurants, or entertainment. As this once-tiny fishing village has grown, Puerto Vallarta has preserved its natural beauty and romantic charm. In fact, this resort city is a popular destination for soon-to-be-married couples who want their wedding to take place in beautiful, exotic environs.
Puerto Vallarta Vacation Rental Choices
Puerto Vallarta has four areas in which you can reserve your vacation accommodations: the downtown or "hotel zone," the Marina Vallarta, the Southern Zone, and Nueva Vallarta, or "new Vallarta." Each area offers a variety of hotel choices, from luxury resorts to discount vacation rental deals right on the beach. It's wise to choose the zone not only according to what price you can get on a hotel, but also according to your particular interests. For example, if you're an avid snorkel, the best diving waters are in the Southern Zone. If your dream vacation is to spend most of your time putting on the course rather than splashing in the waves, then you'd probably want a hotel in either Nueva Vallarta or Marina Vallarta, which each have 19-hole golf courses.
When we hear the word "vacation rentals," most of us automatically think of expensive luxury hideaways. This can certainly be the case, but by no means is it the rule. In fact, vacation rentals can be a surprisingly economical way to enjoy a package of services that make you feel like you're in the lap of luxury without spending extravagant amounts. The fact is that there are more discount Puerto Vallarta vacation rentals than ever before, and they're doing great business among travellers who want to experience the thrill and adventure of exotic travel, but need to stick to a budget. In many cases, these vacation rentals have purchased a chunk of land on which they can bundle many services, thus controlling costs and passing the savings onto their guests.
For example, besides standard hotel accommodations, many discount resorts in the Caribbean offer pristine beach areas, gardens and wooded areas, natural jogging tracks, state-of-the-art gymnasiums, recreation areas, libraries, computer labs, bars and restaurants, small movie theatres, and live entertainment venues. Since many families travel with children, special kid-oriented playgrounds, activity centres, and childcare facilities are commonly available. It should be mentioned that, as many of the most popular Puerto Vallarta vacation rentals are meant also for foreign vacationers, guest security is an issue that they take very seriously. As such, they offer 24-hour security personnel to safeguard the property effectively, yet without creating an oppressive presence. They also offer accurate information and helpful advice to their guests who plan on leaving the resort to visit nearby areas.