Apparently this was my eighth trip to Puerto Vallarta and John's seventh trip. You could say we like it there. It is true. We hope to retire there or at least stay for a few months each winter once we reach retirement.
Our flights on American Air were OK. Couple gate changes in Dallas seem to be par for the course. Once we landed in Puerto Vallarta, the immigration line went quickly, but the customs line was unbelievably long. It snaked all through bag claim and back up the long hallway back to immigration and back again. They need to speed that up a tad or space out flight arrival times a bit more. Or we will try to avoid arriving on a Saturday during high season. But since the airline lost our bags, we did not have to lug those through the customs line. Luckily, the bags were delivered to the hotel and waiting for us when we returned from dinner. I had packed sandals and a skort in my carry on bag, so I was OK anyway.
I forgot to take photos of our room, but we were in room 148, second from the front on the right side of the superior rooms tower. It had two double beds, but they said they did not have anything else available and it was fine. This room was a bit bigger than the king bed rooms anyway and we still had a nice ocean front view. And moving is a pain in the butt. We stopped at the pool bar for our first Pacificos of the trip.
Next, we stopped at Bar La Playa for a couple drinks. Still a good place!
Since our arrival day was also our 11th anniversary we had made reservations in advance at La Palapa for dinner. We had a nice table right on the sand and the tuna appetizer to start.
red snapper filet for John
La Palapa shrimp
key lime pie for dessert
And some sexy coffee for desert as well. Gotta love some flaming coffee on the beach! We also got some comp glasses of champagne for our anniversary from the manager, which was very nice. The food and service were both excellent, as always.
After dinner we went back to the hotel, collected our bags from the bellman and unpacked. We were wiped out from being up since 3am for our 6am flight.
Sunday morning we made a beeline for Coco's Kitchen for breakfast. I had noticed a few mixed reviews online, but I am happy to report the food and service are still great.
Vallarta omelet for me
The cornbread is great!
After breakfast we took a walk, made massage appointments, sat by the pool for awhile and got massages at Venus Moon Southside massage. The massages were just $1300 pesos for both of us for 90 minutes. About $33 each. SO cheap. And very good massages also.
After our massages we went to Los Muertos Brewing for a late lunch. The lunch special was great and a good deal at $75 pesos for a slice of pizza (cheese, pepperoni, Hawaiian), fries or salad, and beer or soda. After lunch we headed back to the hotel for awhile, showered up and headed out for happy hour.
Our first stop was La Chacalaca bar for happy hour. Good margaritas! Next stropped at Devil's bar along the river. It was a good spot for sunset and it is always interesting to sit along the river. Next, we had a drink at Cafe Roma. I am happy to report the mango margaritas there are still good.
We had dinner reservations at No Way Jose. It was probably good we had a bunch of advance reservations because everywhere was packed all week. Puerto Vallarta was hopping this year for sure.
table side Caesar salads!
chiles en nogada - stuffed poblano peppers
chicken fajitas for me
Sexy coffee for me for dessert! I do love all of the tableside things at No Way Jose!
After dinner we stopped at Twisted Palms for a nightcap. I believe I sampled a variety of chocolate martinis from the menu.
Monday morning we headed to La Palapa for a day on the beach there. Breakfast is pictured above. We had made reservations when we were there on Saturday. Also, they have changed their beach club fees this year and not for the better. Now you pay a $200 peso fee on top of whatever you spend on food and beverage. Perviously, there was no fee as long as you spent a certain amount on food and drink.
fish filet with ajillo sauce
seafood enchiladas
After getting showered up from the beach we went to the new Monzon Brewery to sample the fare.
beer sampler flight- some good ones
We decided to finally try Melissa's restaurant for dinner. It is a cute little place and pretty affordable too. Lots of seafood on the menu.
We both had the shrimp three ways. Very nicely sized shrimp and plenty of food.
After dinner we walked just a bit up the hill to Miriam's Sauce and Spirits for a couple drinks. This is a cocktail and small place place owned by Miriam Flores, who gives some popular cooking classes in town.
The cocktails were definitely in the craft cocktail category and everything we tried was very good. We really enjoyed chatting with the bartender Alice and she told us all about the different classes they offer. I think after that we walked along the malecon back to the hotel and called it a night.
Tuesday morning we took a taxi to Mi Cafe for breakfast. This is a newer restaurant and the food was really good too. I was glad it lived up to the hype. You get a lot of food, the food is very good and the prices are low. Those fried potatoes tasted better than they looked too.
After breakfast few walked back to the hotel and sat by the pool for the day.
For lunch we walked over to Derby City Burgers. But apparently I forgot to take photos of the actual burgers. Whoops. The restaurant is in a new location, but the food is still solid.
For happy hour we took the funicular up to Residences Sky Bar for happy hour. There is an amazing view up there and the drinks were not too bad either.
view looking North
We stopped a Cuates y Cuetes for a couple beers and sunset on the beach and then went to get in line at Joe Jack's Fish Shack for dinner. We only waited 10-15 minutes, so either it wasn't that busy or we got lucky.
We started with the bruchetta of the day that was some kind of bean bruschetta, which was better than it sounded and complimentary for giving them your email information.
We shared the whole red snapper for our entree and it was excellent. Lots of food and very flavorful.
After dinner we stopped at Bar La Playa for a drink and headed back to the hotel.
Wednesday morning we headed to Memo's Pancake House for breakfast. The food and service were both excellent.
We met up with our Trip Advisor pals Scott and Rena and took a taxi up the river to Moro Paraiso for lunch and some drinks.
the margaritas really pack a punch!
garlic shrimp for lunch
After lunch, we all walked down the hill a bit to El Rio BBQ watch Gecko band play.
Unfortunately, not long after this picture was taken it started to rain. It was a bit more than just a sprinkle too. Can't say I've ever seen it rain in Puerto Vallarta in February, so that was new too.
We stopped a Que Pasa on the way back to town for a couple beers and some apps and to wait out the rain a bit.
We all stopped at Ceneduria Celia for flan. Seriously, this is the best flan I've ever had.
Then we stopped for churros outside the church in Old Town. Also amazing! After that we all said bye and called it a night as we were all dirty and exhausted from our hiking margarita adventure.
Thursday we started with breakfast at Freddy's Toucan.
Service at Freddy's Tucan was not good. It is off the list after this I think. It took forever to get our beverages and our food. The servers were not organized at all. The food, once we got it, was fine though.
After breakfast, we went for massages at Venus Moon and then spent the day sitting by the pool at the Tropicana. I should note that Humberto the waiter is still there and we also did not have trouble getting chairs by the pool even though the hotel was very full. Most people were pretty good about not saving empty chairs all day actually.
view from the Tropicana pool
We walked down to Daiquiri Dick's for lunch. Very good once again.
In Puerto Vallarta they decorate beach palapas for Valentine's day! Our hotel even had a decorating contest.
We walked down to No Se Nada and had a couple drinks on their little rooftop patio before heading elsewhere for dinner. The margaritas were very good. And you can kind of see the water from their patio. Plus, who doesn't love a rooftop patio?
Bistro Teresa for dinner
tuna appetizer
I had some sort of fish fillet I think
Bistro Teresa was quite good once again. The service is always excellent and the food is high quality.
After dinner we went over to Cafe Roma for a nightcap. They had a band playing, so it was pretty packed.
Friday morning we checked out Johnny's Diner for breakfast. I think this used to be another diner that we never made it to. The hash browns and thick bacon were excellent as was the rest of our food. This is on the permanent must visit list for us.
We spent the day sitting by the pool at the Tropicana. For lunch we walked over to Swell Beach Club and just grabbed a table. in the sand. We probably should have tried to get a reservation here for beach chairs, but sitting by the hotel pool was nice too.
I think we both had chicken sandwiches at Swell. The fries were really tasty too.
For happy hour we stopped at Babel bar for margaritas. Nice view and great drinks!
Next, we walked over to Centro and up the hill to Chez Elena to watch sunset from their rooftop bar. It is a cute hotel, restaurant and bar that has been there for many, many years.
We continued our march across town to El Carboncito for al pastor tacos.
OK, these al pastor tacos were worth the trek. Cheap too!
Next, we stopped for churros across the street from Ley grocery store. This is a different churro guy than the old town one. I think they tasked about the same though. And a fresh churro is really excellent! Sweet, hot, fluffy and a little greasy.
After churros, we made a few pit stops on our way back toward the hotel to break up the walk. I think we stopped at Circle Bar, Devil's Bar on the malecon and Twisted Palms.
Saturday morning we could not think of any great ideas for breakfast and we did not feel like waking very far, so we went to Coco's Kitchen.
almond French toast was quite good!
After breakfast we went to to Olas Altas Farmer's market and then went on a mission to find a nice hand held metal juicer. This mission took us to Wal Mart, which did not have them and then to Mega, which did have them.
We took the bus back to Old Town and cooled off at Joe Jack's for lunch.
garlic shrimp
shrimp tostadas
After lunch sat by the pool at the Tropicana for awhile. We showered and went to Cuates y cuetes for happy hour and sunset.
We decided to go back to No Se Nada for dinner, so we walked down there. We really get a lot of steps in on vacation!
I think their margarita special of the day was a mango margarita. Very good!
We started with the tater tots appetizer -these were amazing! Freshly made, crispy outside and chewy inside with a zippy dipping sauce.
I had New Orleans style BBQ shrimp. They were quite garlicy and flavorful.
arrachera steak
After dinner we stopped at Monzon Brewing for a beer and so John could buy a t-shirt. and then called it a day. So much walking again!
Sunday morning we went to Dee's Coffee for breakfast. We both had bagel sandwiches.
We had managed to get a palapa on the beach in front of the hotel, so we spent the day watching the world go buy from the beach. John also went to Venus Moon for another massage. I skipped it this time and read my book.
For lunch went to El Dorado. John had a burger.
I had shrimp tacos
After the beach, we cleaned up and then took a taxi up to Casa Isabel for happy hour.
Nice views from Casa Isabel
We stopped at the Swedes for a drink.
The Swedes is right next to the funicular we took up to Residences Sky Bar the other day. I think we were slightly fascinated by the funicular.
Last martinis at Twisted Palms for the trip. Sadface.
We managed to get a reservation at Bravo's, but we had to make it 4-5 days ahead of time. Popular place! For good reason it turns out. The food and service were both excellent. No wonder they are booked solid!
caesar salad
bruchetetta
jambalaya
chicken parmigiana
After dinner we went back to the hotel and sat on the balcony for awhile. I'm not sure what night it was, but one evening after we came back to the room and were sitting on the balcony this guy was singing to basically no one in the street between the Tropicana and the next building. It was so funny as he was going on and on about being Johnny Cash and quoting him and singing his songs rather terribly. We were just trying to hide from him so he would not yell at us and ask for money like he did to everyone else on their balconies or who walked by. We enjoyed the free show immensely though.
Ugh. Monday. The day we have to go back to the frozen tundra of Minnesota. Here's a somewhat amusing photos of a delivery truck in front of the Mini Super Amapas. This is our headquarters for picking up water, soda and sometimes snacks. It is right across from the Hotel Tropicana, so very conveniently located.
You will never guess where we went for our last breakfast. Well, if you have been paying attention you already know the answer. Coco's Kitchen of course. My last Vallarta omelet in Vallarta. Sigh...
After breakfast we took a walk, took some photos from they pier and headed back to the room to pack up our stuff. We had to be out of the room by noon and our flight was not until 4pm, but by the time we went to the front desk to check out and got a taxi and sat in traffic on the way we ended up getting to the airport only a little bit early.
burgers from Johnny Rockets at the airport in PVR
The Puerto Vallarta airport was packed and almost as nuts on the way out as it was on the way in. There were huge lines to buy bottled water and food and not many places to sit. Luckily, our flights were on time and uneventful as I was feeling more and more sick with a cold as the day went on. (And John had been sick all week with a bad cold as well.)
Overall, we had an excellent trip to Puerto Vallarta once again. We really enjoy going back to all of ur favorite places and also discovering a few new places too. I think next time around we need to look at booking a condo somewhere in Old Town, but I suspect we will need to make those reservations a year or two in advance.
