.jpg)
Staff of the lesbian-owned Apaches bar. (Photo by: Ed Walsh)
Psst.
Don’t tell anybody, but the Bay Area’s most popular foreign gay destination is on sale.
Puerto Vallarta is thirty percent off. You can thank the weak peso. And thanks to competition from Mexicana Airlines, combined with lower fuel prices, airfares are also way down.
Mexicana began nonstop service between SFO and Puerto Vallarta in December. I had the pleasure of taking one of their flights recently and the coach-class service was a notch above coach class on other airlines. Their meals are still free and they also have free booze and soft drinks even in coach class.
Now to the prices. You can easily find a roundtrip fare to Puerto Vallarta from SFO for less than $350. And you will be pleasantly surprised by the prices once you get to PV. Since the summer, the value of the Mexican peso has plummeted. During my visit in July, I was getting a little less than 10 pesos per dollar. But in December, I got more than 13 per dollar. That means that prices in Mexico are 30-percent off.
Gay Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta is by far Mexico’s most popular gay resort destination and it is not showing any signs of slowing down. A study by the San Francisco gay marketing company, Community Marketing, found that Puerto Vallarta was second only to London as the most popular foreign destination for gays from the US. But you would get little argument that Puerto Vallarta has London beat by a wide margin for those of us living on the West Coast. The flight down south to the resort town on Mexico’s West Coast is a about three and a half hours.
The newest kid on the block in PV is the Blue Seas Resort and Spa. It opened this fall just north of the traditional but unofficial gay beach, the Blue Chairs Beach. The resort is right on the beach and it has effectively expanded the gay section of Los Muertos Beach. The resort is first-class all the way. Winter rates start at $158.
A room at Blue Seas Resort and Spa.
(Photo by: Ed Walsh)
If you are on a more limited budget, you can’t beat the Hotel Mercurio. Its high season winter rates start at $94. Hotel Mercurio is perfectly situated just a short 5 minute walk from the beach and easily walkable to all the gay nightclubs in Puerto Vallarta.
Pool at the Hotel Mercurio
(Photo by: Ed Walsh)
For a touch of home, check out the San Franciscan Resort and Gym. It’s owned by one-time San Francisco resident David Rhodes. Rates start at $130 plus a 5-percent resort fee. Rhodes recently opened a comedy club in his resort.
.jpg)
Pool at the San Franciscan Hotel and Gym
(Photo by: Ed Walsh)
The Vallarta Cora hotel, also known as party central, is for men only. Its rates start at $95. You can hang out there 3pm-midnight for its expanded happy hour for just $5.
The Vallarta Cora Hotel
(Photo by: Ed Walsh)
If you want to save even more money, keep in mind that the low season in Puerto Vallarta starts in April. It’s not uncommon for hotels to drop their rates by as much as 40-percent off the high winter rates.
Alejandro Lamas, bartender at the Plasma bar
(Photo by: Ed Walsh)
The fabulous and upscale Club Manana and Paco’s Ranch (fomerly Club Paco Paco), continue to be the most popular gay nightclubs in town. The Blue Sunset Rooftop Bar overlooking the Blue Chairs Beach is a must-stop at sunset.
.JPG)
Pool at Club Manana, Below: Club Manana by day.
(Photos by: Ed Walsh)
.JPG)
The variety of places to eat in Puerto Vallarta is endless. You can eat from a street vendor for a couple of bucks or you can sample from a number of the city’s upscale eateries for a lot less than you would pay in the Bay Area.
For authentic gourmet Mexican food, check out El Arrayan, It is a favorite of San Franciscan Gary Beck, who is a part-time Puerto Vallarta resident and has literally wrote the book on Puerto Vallarta’s restaurants. Beck’s Best is a great honest guide. He takes no free meals and calls them like he sees them. It can be ordered through www.cafepress.com/vallartaguide
Carmen Porras, Owner, El Arrayan
(Photo by: Ed Walsh)
Puerto Vallarta has one of the best gay guide’s you will find anywhere: www.gayguidevallarta.com. It is a must for any gay visitor to the city. The guide’s maps are invaluable.
Bay Area resident Bruce Whipperman is the author of Moon Book’s excellent book on the city that also includes the Nayarit and Jalisco Coasts. You can find Moon Puerto Vallarta in bookstores and online. It includes a lot of valuable information for gay travelers.
Last but not least, check out my multimedia blog on Puerto Vallarta, www.edwalshtravel.blogspot.com
Comments
Great article. As a frequent visitor to PV, who just got back from a week at Hotel Mercurio (I always stay with the guys at Mercurio...they're the best!) I can tell you it's true! PV is on SALE! 13 pesos to the dollar! Best exchange I've ever gotten in Mexico. The reporter for this article clearly knows his way around PV, too. El Arrayan restaurant is not to be missed.
Once again a fine well-written piece by Ed Walsh. I live part-time in PV and run 2 Yahoo message boards on travel and living there. It is refreshing to read an article so truthful and upfront. Congrats!
grb
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!