From the airport, you can take a ~20 minute Uber or taxi to your hotel. Taxis cost about $25 USD. Find the Authorized Taxi stand right before the exit and request a taxi from there. You’ll pay in advance, either cash or credit card. As soon as you exit the arrivals area, many people will approach you asking if you need a ride. Just say no and find the authorized taxis. You can also pre-arrange airport pickup and someone will be waiting with your name on a sign. The company we recommend for that is VallartaIncentives.com.
We recommend using Uber or having your hotel call you a taxi. We used Uber the entire time and most trips were less than $5 USD.
We recommend taking Mexican pesos out of the ATM at the beginning of your trip to avoid unfavorable exchange rates when using USD. You should be able to use any ATM to withdraw with a minimal fee - just make sure to tell your bank. You can also get them from your bank in the US before you go. While many places accept credit cards, some stores, taco stands, etc. only take cash. It’s also helpful to have cash for tips. If you are planning to use your credit card, make sure your bank knows you're traveling.
Prepare for heat! The highs during the day are typically in the mid-80s and it can be quite humid. There is typically very little rain in May. It usually only drops to the low 70s at night time.
We're not having an actual wedding ceremony, but there will be speeches and toasts during the sunset cruise!
The standard tip in Puerto Vallarta is 10%. PV’s economy is almost entirely supported by tourism, so generous tips are very much appreciated! :)
Yes, PV is considered one of the safest towns in Mexico. It’s actually ranked as significantly safer than most major cities in the US. As always while traveling, be aware of your belongings, wear your purse cross body and don’t put it on the back of your chair, and keep an eye out for pickpocketing. We also recommend being very careful at ATMs and avoiding walking around alone at night.
Yep, they use the same outlets as in the US, but not all locations have 3-prong outlets. If you need to use a 3-prong outlet, you can bring a 3-prong to 2-prong converter or ask your hotel if they have 3-prong outlets.
PV’s water is actually generally safe, but we still recommend being careful since it would be a big bummer to get sick. If you have a sensitive stomach, you may want to be careful with salads, ice in your drinks, or brushing your teeth. Your hotel will likely provide bottled water and you can easily buy a big bottle to refill at a store. There is a convenience store chain called OXXO that’s all over the city and sells big bottles.
Unfortunately, traveling these days comes with risks of both last-minute cancellations or having to quarantine while traveling. For this reason, we highly recommend getting a travel insurance plan that covers COVID-related expenses. We recommend searching for plans on squaremouth.com which is an insurance comparison chart. You can filter by "Coronavirus Pandemic".
We've been very cautious regarding COVID and would like to make sure this weekend is as safe as possible for everyone attending. Everyone who has been invited is vaccinated and we're asking that all attendees receive the maximum number of boosters available for their age group. All of the events are scheduled to be outdoors. Closer to the actual date, we'll send out more details regarding masking, testing, etc. depending on the COVID situation at that time. Fingers crossed! :)
We highly recommend extending your trip if you’re able to! Puerto Vallarta is a really relaxing city with amazing food and views. Personally, we think 2 nights is too short! :)
You will fly into PVR airport. It’s an international airport and has direct flights from the Bay Area, NYC, SEA, and several other airports.
Yes, all Americans are required to have a passport to enter Mexico. It is typically recommended that you make sure your passport is valid for 6+ months after you return from your trip. Passport renewal times have been particularly slow lately, so make sure to check your expiration date and renew if necessary.
If you are planning to work remotely, keep in mind that wifi in Mexico is not the most reliable. We recommend asking your Airbnb for a speed test and reading reviews for cafes, hotels, etc. We also stayed at a coworking hotel in Sayulita, a small, hippy surf town about 1.5 hours outside of Puerto Vallarta. Feel free to reach out if you'd like more details.
Given that all flights (not just to Puerto Vallarta) are currently very expensive, we recommend booking flights well in advance. You can also set price flight alerts via Google Flights. As many of you know, Dani loves using credit card points for travel. Feel free to reach out if you’d like her advice on the best credit card to open to get free or discounted flights for this trip.