Puerto Vallarta

It's a safe area of Mexico, and also even the people who try to sell you crap, 'vendors' is less aggressive here. I have done about 2.5 months total in PV (two separate trips). Airbnbs are plentiful near the centro and december 5, more expensive in the romantic zone and even more expensive in Sayulita. But central PV is pretty cheap, even inland from Hotel Zone is nice and cheap. Roads and walkways are narrow and horrible. Internet is OK. If you stay in PV central, the beach isn't so great for swimming, it's rocky and dirty. The nightlife is mostly in Sayulita with a little bit also in Romantic zone, not much else. The noise, the traffic, music, and construction of many streets are LOUD. It is a loud place most of the time. Also, unlike CDMX, many places will not take credit card.

I love Puerto Vallarta except now because it is rainy season and I cannot go out as often. Currently going for 3 months here now. It is a small city with a beach town vibe. The Malecon baywalk is the center of action so you can try to stay a few blocks away from it so you can walk around the baywalk if you have to but still have a quiet time. Airbnb is relatively affordable, taquerias are everywhere, Internet is moderate, relatively safe than most cities in Mexico. During weekend, I go on a hike, go to the beach or waterfalls around PV. You can also try to do a weekend visit in quaint Mexican towns such as San Sebastian del Oeste or surfing beachtown like Sayulita and San Pancho. They said that Puerto Vallarta is the gay capital of Mexico because you see a lot of gay-friendly establishments in Zona Romantica. But the diversity and options here is fairly low. The only con I have with PV is the roads and the very few international food options. Most international food options here are either Italian, Chinese or Japanese-Hawaiian. Walking down the road feels like walking on a rocky dry riverbed.

For the most part, pretty amazing. The beaches are usually not overcrowded, and the natural scenery is pristine. It's very walkable, and there are tons of great restaurants on nearly every block with reasonable prices. I came in mid-November, and it was still uncomfortably warm and humid then, even at night, so beware if you struggle with heat. The evenings started to get cool and pleasant in late November/early December.

This is Mexico, so I was expecting it to be gritty, but it was worse than I had imagined. The infrastructure is in desperate need of repair, and the cobblestone streets make the traffic very loud. If you live on a busy street near the beach, the traffic noise will be unrelenting. I found the locals to be a mixed bag. Many were genuine and warm, but others were standoffish and seemed desolate.

There's a cultural quirk in Mexico where blasting music is a norm. I'm 36 so probably more sensitive to this now, but it was very grating. Music blaring everywhere -- from cars, speakers on the beach, bars and clubs. Loud music at clubs is obviously fine, but the level here is just insane.

I was surprised to see that commonly abused prescription meds can be bought over the counter in pharmacies all over PV -- xanax, vicodin, ritalin, etc. This was a plus for me because I believe I have an undiagnosed case of ADD, and being able to buy Ritalin really helped me focus on my work and stay tidy. Obviously, I discourage anyone from buying these drugs for abuse. Always use cash at the pharmacies. They say they are going to charge your card in pesos, but then they charge in USD with an absurd exchange rate.

I ended up getting salmonella or a stomach parasite and was the sickest I had been in 10+ years. I resisted going to the doctor for a while, but when I did, I was amazed with the experience. Total cost for the consultation and meds was around $35 without any insurance, and the doctor was very kind. Don't be dissuaded by my experience, though. I believe I just got unlucky. No one else I talked to experienced anything similar.

The sunsets are spectacular, and the alcohol is cheap and ubiquitous. If you do not look Mexican, be ready for people to try to sell you something dozens of times a day. When you arrive at the airport, ignore everyone who offers help and take an Uber. I made the mistake of saying "no thanks, I'm taking an Uber," to which the guy responded "then come over here, and my friend will show you where to find it." Then I ended up in a ridiculously long and pushy sales pitch that involved a ride to my Airbnb, a time share presentation, etc. The Uber pickup area isn't really that hard to find. You take the exit, walk across a pedestrian bridge, and turn left.

Overall, definitely recommended, but only for the winter. I cringe to think of the heat in the summer.