bobnsofi
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Posts posted by bobnsofi
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Medano is only busy in one small area. It is most interesting visually to be near that area. If you prefer total peace and elegance, have the water taxi drop you off at Hacienda (the first resort). Browse the beautiful resort grounds, use their beach chairs, pay $$ for their food and drink, and there will be very few vendors at this location
this satellite image below is old, it is now an extremely nice newer resort
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No rules, here is the thick of the scene
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xtreme zip line Vallarta is a great overall 4+ hour tour. Bug Spray, long sleeves/pants (those bugs are fearless bitters that last for a month), and skip the 20 second slide if you are not light in body weight, its the few extra pounds that cause you to slam you around HARD. Thin folk glide right through the slide
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suggest bug spray (long pants & sleeves) for the no-see-ums
and skip the water slide at the end (too radical... not fun... dangerous)
they actually put you in a hockey goalies mask with a face shield for the slide, for good reason... surprised the cruise lines allow that water slide
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In the Mexican Riviera, jewelry is best had in Puerto Vallarta, a very artsy area that specializes in custom pieces.
Suggest posting in tripadvisor (sister forum) for advise here => http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g150793-i46-Puerto_Vallarta.html
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metamorphosis - angie
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Mazatlan, suggest nearby stone island for affordable beach play with all the usual beach play options, including horses (rustic, dusty, sandy, cheap). Or, El Cid resort ($8 taxi each way). El Cid has all the usual beach play options, and pools, showers (clean, more $ to eat and play, pay as you go).
The Mexican Riviera has a lower quality snorkel, yet is very popular in Cabo (off a boat tour),
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There are so many resorts, in so many ports and extreme price ranges, and none with hundreds of acres of jungle... come to mind. Cruisers know hours long port visits, Trip Advisor forums keep a closer watch on overnight resort visits (you are better off asking there)
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Mazatlan, nearby rustic Stone Island Beach (sandy beach play, affordable horses), or $8 taxi to El Cid resort (pool and beach play, cruisers are always welcome, pay as you go)
Cabo, large boat tour, or small panga boat tour/water taxi to lovers beach and/or medano beach. Get tender ticket early or WAIT HOURS TO GET OFF
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Cabo - $/3 pp each way water taxi ride to Medano Beach, Mango Deck or The Office are more like Paradise Club Beach in Mykonos, than Paradise Beach in Cozumel... but there many lower profile beach spots nearby. Hacienda Resort beach is very quiet, expensive, posh
Puerto Vallarta - $6 cab ride (yellow cab outside the cruise terminal) to Malecon, stroll beautiful beachfront walk 1/2 mile south to Los Muertos beach (stop along the way at Cheeky Monkey or Oceano for free internet & $1 cool drink). Many choices on Los Meurtos Beach. Then at 5pm LOCAL TIME, $4 taxi up to Casa Isabel happy hour (2 for 1), and epic views and ambiance
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Find a Pulmonías Taxi (go out the in terminal in gate and bargain for $20 per)
go up to the Playa Bruja beach front Cafe' (15 miles north), then start back, along the beach and marina, stop at El Cid, and places that interest you
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Suite.. You will likely have tender preference, USE IT, to save 2+ hours
City tour... Cabo is small and relatively young, with mega resorts surrounding in this desert region
Snorkel... Snorkel is typically done by boat, and boats leave as early as possible, yet snorkel is tiring and is better with 14 year olds, done last. Snorkel is not epic in this area, yet is better (& easier) than PV or Mazatlan, and this DEEP water ocean area can be calm... or not so calm
most folks walk the marina area, shop, eat, drink, and visit places like Cabo Wabo
Many folks do Panga boat tours to lovers and medano beach
there are MANY tour hustlers right near the tender pier if you would like to brave them.
We rent a car at Avis (KB6) after a short panga water taxi ($3/pp) over to Pueblo Bonita Rosa mega resort (Avis is in the lobby). The roads in Cabo are some of the best in Mexico
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yes, if you have the desire, and the cash, there are open air massages in each port, easily found
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do not recall any posting on this topic
there are 2, quite far from the ship (in Nuevo Vallarta, $20+ taxi each way), we have driven by each before, both are newer.
See and contact them here => https://www.google.com/maps/place/Hotel+Riu+Jalisco/@20.7352764,-105.3249796,4260m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!1m2!2m1!1sriu+puerto+vallarta!3m1!1s0x0000000000000000:0xb718b9faa72aedba!6m1!1e1?hl=en
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Mazatlan - El Cid, pay as you go, don't bother contacting, just show up ($10 taxi each way)
Sounds like your "Beach Resort Getaway" is at Tesoro = tranquil cove
Tesoro is best choice for less $, or just go to the beach there for FREE (rent a chair and umbrella, lots of food, drink, things to see and do)
Mazanillo - Tesoro - ($10 taxi each way) - best beach, lots to see and do
Mazanillo - Las Hadas - less to see and do ($10 taxi each way)
Mazanillo - Karima Palace - $$$$$$$$ - ($10 taxi each way)
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Yes, it is right near the cruise pier
Best to plan a drive away adventure after the sail fish, as it is always very hot, and not so nice near the cruise pier
Below as seen from the cruise pier (center left in pic)
a bit closer
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After many MANY cruises on Carnival, it seems there are LESS AND LESS free ship board activities that include an increase in heart rate.
Find that a nice and FUN FUN FUN ship board free activity that increases the heart rate helps us to FEEL GREAT. It would seem that folks that feel great would gamble more, smile more, thirst quench more, and repeat cruise more.
Just got off a 6 day Carnival Cruise. Could not believe the lack of fun free ship board activities that include an increase in heart rate.
Seems the Activity Personnel rarely provide FUN FREE ACTIVE ACTIVITY, and if they do, it is for 20 mins Max. If the activity folk are so busy with Bingo, perhaps a waiter working the buffet would love to lead a 20 min. line dance class. ANYTHING!
Thinking:
Pool Side Line Dancing lessons 3 times a day.
Pool side Zumba twice a day.
Adult pool volleyball, or pool floaty noodle play, or pool nurf ball catch once a day.
Seems inactive cruisers love to watch and cheer free active activities, and smiling active cruisers order cool drinks. Seems bored cruisers watch TV in their cabins.
Anyone else share in this point of view?
Anyone else feel this point of view is out of line?
Anyone else can suggest easy free fun heart rate increasing activity ideas?
Anyone from Carnival monitoring this Blog want to chime in?
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The place to ask these Q's are the sister site trip advisor forum. Many of those forum folk, live and golf daily in your ports, but they know much less, than all of us, about cruising. These are sister forums, so this site encourages you ask Q's there also
Baja => http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g150769-i82-Baja_California.html
Pacific Coast Mexico => http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g150786-i45-Pacific_Coast.html
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We returned 12/20 last Sunday
Yes the seas were a bit rough on 2nd to last day rounding Cabo (usually calm)
Last day was bright and sunny (usually rough and cloudy)
Seems likely conditions would change daily, as porting in Cabo Day 3 was calm, brilliant... a spectacular sunny day
The movement in modern cruise ships is so slight, seems not worthy of concern to us.
Have fun
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Many folks are repulsed by Beach Vendors. They are easily handled, yet prey on intimidated cruiser beach goers. To most of us, they are part of the people watching show, easily handled (do not look at them or their items, wait till they are near and approach, a quick POLITE FIRM SOFT SPOKEN "gracias, no", then look away and don't look back. We advanced folks look at their items, and then from a distance, once eye contact is made, a negative shake of the hand, and stop looking at their items. The worse thing you can do is nervously buy something thinking that they will stop. They will circle like vultures and prey on your fear of them, in their mind, help you to overcome your fears of them and provide you with their terrific items (Mexican people are actually very kind and love bing helpfull)
La Paz - Playa La Tecolote - 5 miles opposite diretion from town (skip town, no bueno) here => https://www.google.com/maps/place/Club+de+Playa+el+Tecolote/@24.3363844,-110.3167382,283m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x86b02b5ae044086d:0x83588a463749438e!6m1!1e1?hl=en
Cabo - water taxi to Medano Beach ($3+ each way, plus $1 pier use ticket - keep ticket for return)
PV - $6 taxi to Malecon, beautiful 1/2 mile walk to Los Muertos beach (or $10 taxi ride). Stop on your Malecon walk at Oceano Bar (next door to Cheeky Monkey, $1 beers, $1 giant Margs, $3 giant home made basket of chips w/a large salsa bowl, beautiful upper level ocean and Malacon Views.... Then 5 PM LOCAL TIME (ships time is usually 1 - 2 hours earlier), $4 taxi ride up to 2:1 happy hour at Casa Isabel (google it, a !!! WOW !!! place)
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Did not reply, but do recall your prior post
Yes... no problem for an experienced cruiser
check 4 giant bags (you pass them, and 4 $1 bills, to a porter in the vehicle drop off point.
then you walk on with 4 more giant bags. you go right your cabin and stuff the 4 walk on bags under the bed (you could even check all 8, they do not count, or keep track, you could drop 4 off, and drive around the circle and drop 4 more off to a different of the many MANY porters. If ya really want to stick it, drive up, drop 4 off early at 11 am, do some near port errands, have a snack, and them show up to board with 4 more to the porters, that way you luggage arrives at your cabin at different times, so you do not clog up the hallways. massive luggage is many cruisers default, so ya really just blend in)
Stuff 4 under the bed, and place 4, 2 along each side of the bed
when you port in pv, walk off with the giant bags like ya own the ship.
when ya return to ship, walk on with the giant bags like ya own the ship. If they ask you, say calmly with conviction, that you are returning to the ship. If they ask why, tell them that you own a home in PV and are bringing your clothing and items aboard now for the cruise. You could even make many different trips with a single bag. The ship usually has 2 gangways, so you could vary your return (your return to ship in pv is the most difficult of this otherwise easy venture). You could bring the empty suit cases back on board 1st, and then make multiple trips with loaded smaller carry on cases (easier for the ships crew to check for contraband, a loaded taxi will wait for $15/hr).
upon departure, put all 4 giant bags in the hallway the night before arrival (crew delivers them ashore) and pick them up post customs.
End of story, no problem, we could make this happen with our eyes closed.
re-boarding in pv is the small hitch in this plan, as the Mexican Check and Ships Crew are not used to large suit cases returning from port, AS YA WOULD STAND OUT, AND THOSE FOLKS LOVE TO BURN THE TIME OF STAND OUTS... THEY FEEL LIKE THEY ARE DOING A SUCCESSFUL ASSIGNED JOB.
Think'n return with empty large bags, and then use multiple carry on trips, over many hours, to bring items back aboard. If anyone asks, you could state that you love drinking Mexican beer and browsing ashore, and equally love the ship board food and bathrooms (cruisers typically hate Mexican rest rooms, and love free cruise food)
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!!! 1ST CRUISE !!!
!!! YIPPEE !!!
Ok... Quality of life... a well reviewed tour here or on tripadvisor for a private tour beats a dusty hot street haggle with a middle man for an unknown experience (more than likely, a lesser quality experience)
Time in port is VERY LIMITED... a dusty hot street haggle with a middle man and other delays can be extremely time consuming (they call it a "Mexican Minute" for good reason)
Your friends and family... a dusty hot street haggle with a middle man can be extremely unpleasant for your timid friends and family (they were all excited before, and now... all you see is fear in their eyes)
The Experience... In many ports, after a dusty hot street haggle with a middle man, they take your cash, and put you in, what's left of a, 1983 Chevy van conversion that doubles as affordable housing at night. You may sit there sweating for an hour+ as they try to fill the van (a Caribbean specialty, with a slight exaggeration, to make the point).
On the bright side... Ocean and weather sensitive tours might be best committed to upon arrival... knowing the seas are calm and the skies are clear. A windy angry white capped surging ocean is not an option for us to whale watch.
So your best bet is to research and plan, in advance, here and tripadvisor (sister website, extremely valuable forum advise). Try to book a tour, yet don't actually commit to pay, if at all possible, until you arrive (a credit card reservation can many times be reversed); and your chances of having a pleasant and most affordable experience in the short time frame allowed are optimized.
Rookie Cruiser... We took ships tours for the 1st few cruises. They are most enjoyable, and a very good way to meet and learn from seasoned travelers, and perhaps an important part of the cruiser lifestyle education.
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La paz.. either beach day easterly (town is west, forget touring the la paz town) or snorkel tour with whale sharks (cruisers love it)... Loreto walk nice town
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Just there recently. rented a scooter. seemed the same as years past. no major car rental agencies. jeeps available to rent
best day passes pv
in Mexican Riviera
Posted · Edited by bobnsofi
great beach ≠ no vendors
option a
walk to Krystal, enjoy less vendors
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Krystal+Puerto+Vallarta/@20.6495859,-105.2416575,1019m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x0000000000000000:0x3a3c378fc59af914!8m2!3d20.6479775!4d-105.2398027?hl=en
option b
take a yellow taxi outside cruise terminal to Los Muertos Beach ($8)
enjoy lots to see lively beach, and lively vendors (we prefer b)
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Muelle+de+Playa+Los+Muertos/@20.6007432,-105.241157,508m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x0000000000000000:0x882ebcec1babc084!8m2!3d20.6004888!4d-105.2393655?hl=en
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