Mexican Vacation Recommendations Please

[Portia]

My teenage daughter, my sweetie and I are discussing a 7-10 day trip to Mexico during SRJC’s Winter Break 12/23- 1/16.

Our goal is to relax, rejuvenate, swim in warm water - and perhaps practice our limited Spanish. Of course we are on a budget and don’t want to spend long hours in transit. We would like to stay in a pleasant house where we can cook fresh food and easily walk to the market.

Advice please. Thanks in advance.

Portia

[rbulwa]

Portia,

I can recommend the village where I spend my winters, Chacala, Nayarit. It is between Puerto Vallarta and San Blas, about two hours by bus south of the P.V. airport. There is a population of only about 500, but there are perhaps 150 rental rooms in the village, many with cooking facilities. There is also a rather expensive all inclusive health spa if that is your cup of tea. You can easily purchase vegetables and fresh fish nearby. The beach is sandy and safe for swimming, there are several inexpensive restaurants along the beach, and rooms cost from $20 to $50/night, depending on location and view. There is no night life, unless you like to sit around a beach fire. Trini teaches Spanish classes, there is fishing and whale watching (many humpbacks nearby that time of the year), and internet is also available at the library and Coco Bongos cafe. There is a website that shows many of the houses and small hotels where you can stay: https://chacalabudgetrentals.blogspot.com/ and I would be happy to tell you more over the phone. I am here in Sebastopol, 823-2154

Bob



My teenage daughter, my sweetie and I are discussing a 7-10 day trip to Mexico during SRJC’s Winter Break 12/23- 1/16.

Our goal is to relax, rejuvenate, swim in warm water - and perhaps practice our limited Spanish. Of course we are on a budget and don’t want to spend long hours in transit. We would like to stay in a pleasant house where we can cook fresh food and easily walk to the market.

Advice please. Thanks in advance.

Portia

[Shekeyna]

My teenage daughter, my sweetie and I are discussing a 7-10 day trip to Mexico during SRJC’s Winter Break 12/23- 1/16.

Our goal is to relax, rejuvenate, swim in warm water - and perhaps practice our limited Spanish. Of course we are on a budget and don’t want to spend long hours in transit. We would like to stay in a pleasant house where we can cook fresh food and easily walk to the market.

Advice please. Thanks in advance.

Portia

Call Sue Navarra at Viva Adventures
regarding her place in Playa del Carmen at (707) 545-6786.
I have seen pictures of the place and it looks beautiful. I also know a few people who have enjoyed a vacation there.
I hope you have a memorable vacation.
Blessings,
Shekeyna
:sun:

[donallan]

Portia and all. . .

I agree with Bob, that Chacala is a great place. Fabulous. Bob, you said "two hours south" of Puerto Vallarta, and you meant "north" (I know you knew that). The blog that Bob offered is the best of its kind-- it has great descriptions of all the little places to rent in the town, and links to some other blogs about Chacala, and how to get there. It sure has grown up since I first discovered it many years ago. Chacala is one of the first out-of-the way and reasonably priced villages as you get away north from Puerto Vallarta (which is a great airport to fly to, easy, close, and a gateway to lots of other towns). PV is cool, too, just more upscale, like a great beach theme park full of Americans and Canadians run my Mexicans. It has great food, and its sweet spots, like El Centro, the old town. (Stay away from the hotel strip, and package deals).

The fancier place in Chacala that Bob mentioned is called "Mar de Jade," and I just happen to be taking a group there in January, so here is a plug (everyone is invited!!):


"Five Agreements to Make Love Come True (https://www.joydancer.com/events/romance_workshop.html) " a week-long workshop in conscious relationship, on the Mexico beach in Paradise. Mar de Jade, 90 minutes north of Puerto Vallarta, on Mexico's beautiful west coast, with Allan Hardman, Toltec Master in the lineage of don Miguel Ruiz, author of The Four Agreements and others.

January 27 - February 3, 2007. Limited to 18 fortunate people; couples and singles.

The web page about the week is here, including a link to many photos of Mar de Jade and the area: Joydancer Romance in Paradise --"Five Agreements to Make Love Come True" (https://www.joydancer.com/events/romance_workshop.html)
The week includes transportation to and from Puerto Vallarta airport, all meals and lodging, the teachings, total personal transformation, and lots of warm sun, beach, whale watching, and relaxation.
Early-bird discount ends December 15.


OK, back to my thoughts: Your dates are the busiest time of the year in Mexico. My travel agent is telling me that flight availability for our trip is getting scarce already. Hotels are full, prices are raised, the beaches in Chacala are packed with Mexican families visiting and camping for the holidays and northerners with their RV's. It is a beautiful time of the year, and you need to know where you are going, and reserve ahead. I once spent 3 hours in a taxi in PV at that time of year trying to find an empty hotel room. I know names of $50 hotels in Puerto Vallarta, on the beach, if that appeals.

Don't let me discourage you-- just plan ahead, and be prepared to share the beach.

Another possibility is a bus ride SOUTH to Barra de Navidad. Great town. It is growing up fast, too. Used to be full of Sonoma County folks at Christmas, haven't been for awhile. There are lots of web connections to see Barra. Maybe someone can write about Barra here.

I hope you have a great time. You will beat me by a few weeks! If I can help, call, I love to talk about Mexico. 528-1271, Santa Rosa.

Oh, here is a link to an article I wrote for Share Guide many years ago: A Guide to the Little Known Getaways on Mexico's Tropical West Coast. (https://www.shareguide.com/mexico.html)

FUN!!

Allan Hardman
www.joydancer.com (https://joydancer.com)

[dladams]

I have not been here, but recommended by my folk dance teacher, Marilyn Smith. Owned by her sister Sharon Smith: www.mexicancountryvilla.com

Deborah


My teenage daughter, my sweetie and I are discussing a 7-10 day trip to Mexico during SRJC’s Winter Break 12/23- 1/16.

Our goal is to relax, rejuvenate, swim in warm water - and perhaps practice our limited Spanish. Of course we are on a budget and don’t want to spend long hours in transit. We would like to stay in a pleasant house where we can cook fresh food and easily walk to the market.

Advice please. Thanks in advance.

Portia