Wednesday, September 18th 2024

"I'm a travel junkie who's hooked on deals from airports that start with Y."



2017
2
October
Looking to Rent a Car in Puerto Vallarta? Any Tips or Recommendations?

Question:

Profile picture of Chanel

Chanel

Does anyone have any suggestions for renting a car in Puerto Vallarta? Is it worth it, or should we just use taxi's and shuttles? We're staying at an airbnb in south PV.

Humans say...

Profile picture of Jeannett

Jeannett

OMG. You could not pay me to drive in PV. The old town and south of the river have all you want. You can walk everywhere you need to go and maybe take a taxi to the odd dinner if for some reason you can't walk a few blocks.

Profile picture of Jeannett

Jeannett

Splurge in a taxi to Sayulita for a day. We also take a city bus to Boca De Tomatlan for a day drip. If you want pool time get a day pass at the Tropicana and hang out there for a day.

Profile picture of Lisa

Lisa

I would just take the bus or taxis

Profile picture of Derek

Derek

Sixt.com.mx
About 10 bucks a day

Profile picture of Chanel

Chanel

What kind of insurance do you get for $10 a day?

Profile picture of Derek

Derek

I always believed I had insurance under my credit card as Mexico is in North America and your card should cover all of mainland north america. Although someone at one company told me that mexico is not in north america....ah....ya...it is. Check with your credit card provider and read the fine print

Profile picture of Chanel

Chanel

Interesting! And you think it's safe to drive in PV?

Profile picture of Darsh

Darsh

We just took cabs. The system is great with city divided into zones and fixed rates to go from one zone to other. The most expensive cab will be the one from the airport to your first destination since the cab union at the airport wants to make money. Once in the city it is cheap.

Profile picture of Cindy

Cindy

i would never drive in mexico especially puerto vallarta!

Profile picture of Chanel

Chanel

That's how I'm feeling, but wanted to get get some opinions on it.

Profile picture of Jeannett

Jeannett

Dii Gee exactly.

Profile picture of Derek

Derek

I used to drive mainly from from Airport to Sayulita and all the grocery/supply stops in between. Went up the coast couple times. Had one issue after i picked up some friends at airport i passed out some cold beers for them to drink( welcome to Mexico and totally legal there as long as the driver is not drinking). Cop was merging beside me and pulled me over and was going to take me in for a breathalyzer and have my vehicle towed. Paid him $100 to F.O. and save the hassle. Always be prepared to bribe in case of a shakedown....its a way of life for the cops there.

Profile picture of Jeannett

Jeannett

Derek you need to get extra insurance in Mexico. They have their own special way of handling accidents if they happen

Profile picture of Derek

Derek

'Special way'. Lol. Good luck negotiating a settlement should there be an accident. There are articles on this online. No amount of insurance will help you. Be prepared to pay pay pay gringo. Heaven forbid you are involved in a motor vehicle accident causing injury or death....you would never get your passport back and be able to get out of the country until the family of the injured party is satisfied that they have been sufficiently retributed for their loss

Profile picture of Charline

Charline

Their bus system is pretty good. We just used that the whole time. Their car rental insurance is crazy expensive

Profile picture of Jamie

Jamie

The buses are great, walking is safe. Don't be fooled by being told car rental is cheap. It is not. Your credit card insurance does not cover the liability portion of the car rental. For a week of rental, with all your insurance, will cost you about $400 a week. If you're willing to risk your level of insurance, then I'm sure you can find lower deals...just think about it though. If you are in an accident due to someone else's negligence, good luck getting your costs covered. I go to Puerto Vallarta alot. I usually stay in Old Town and I can walk anywhere within minutes. If I want to go further afield such as the Botanical gardens or Walmart or the Marina, I take the bus

Profile picture of Chanel

Chanel

Good to know! We're staying almost in Mismaloya!

Profile picture of Jamie

Jamie

The bus from there comes right into town

Profile picture of Jeannett

Jeannett

Chanel oh that far south.? That's not walkabout old town south of the river. If you are more than 1 K past Casa Anita Hotel it's a taxi back and forth. Maybe 200P each way each time from Misma to PV I think. Also can wave get the bus that runs back and forth to La Boca. It goes by mismaloya

Profile picture of Jeannett

Jeannett

Chanel too bad you're not actually in PV old town or romantic zone. Totally different experience. Not much going on in misma

Profile picture of Chanel

Chanel

That's fine, we have family that live in El Nogalito!

Profile picture of Hardeep

Hardeep

I've walked everywhere except when we went to Sayulita. We took a bus there.

Profile picture of Bruce

Bruce

i would never drive in PV

Profile picture of Laurel

Laurel

All I can say is have lots of cash on you if you make a driving infraction! And they are easy to make. (even if you don't) The police have the power, and they can always use extra cash.

Profile picture of Susan

Susan

collectivo is so cheap and easy to take

Profile picture of Jennifer

Jennifer

Pretty sure PV has uber now too

Profile picture of Dave

Dave

Was told that with "full coverage" insurance in Mexico, you still have deductable which is calculsted at 10% of the value of the vehicle...could lead to an expensive ride!

Profile picture of Ron

Ron

Taxis for sure! DO NOT drive in Mexico!

Profile picture of Peter

Peter

Suggestion: Forget this idea. Would not recommend to any tourist.

Profile picture of Lisa

Lisa

We rented a car in PV because we had to drive 2 hours north to our accommodation. We used Enterprise and paid the full insurance charge (3rd party liability is required in Mexico), but it was well managed and turned out well for us.


A.I. says...

AI Profile Pic

Is Renting a Car in Puerto Vallarta Worth It?

When staying in Puerto Vallarta, whether it's in the south or anywhere else in the city, renting a car can be a convenient option for getting around. While taxis and shuttles are readily available, having your own car gives you the freedom to explore the area at your own pace and on your own schedule.

Benefits of Renting a Car

  • Flexibility to come and go as you please
  • Ability to explore off-the-beaten-path locations
  • Convenience of having a vehicle readily available
  • Potentially cost-effective for longer stays or larger groups

Considerations for Renting a Car

Before deciding whether to rent a car in Puerto Vallarta, there are a few things to consider:

  • Cost of rental, insurance, and gas
  • Parking availability at your Airbnb and around the city
  • Driving in a foreign country and navigating unfamiliar roads
  • Availability of public transportation options

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, the decision to rent a car in Puerto Vallarta depends on your travel preferences and itinerary. If you plan on exploring beyond the immediate area of your Airbnb or want the convenience of having your own transportation, renting a car may be worth it. However, if you prefer to rely on taxis, shuttles, and public transportation, that can also be a viable option.

Regardless of your choice, Puerto Vallarta offers a variety of transportation options to suit your needs, so you can enjoy your stay in this beautiful destination.









People That Liked This Page Also Liked:

tags for this post You may also want to check out pages that were tagged with:

Be The First To Know About The Next Amazing Deal!

Head to the Ydeals Alerts Page where you can choose to be notified by e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, or RSS Feed the moment an amazing travel deal from your city is found.

Setting up alerts allows you to be one of the first to see a new deal, before it sells out.

And don't worry, alerts are only sent when it's truly an amazing deal.

Like Our Site? Follow Us!

Subscribe to Our Feed!

Comments from Facebookers

Comments from Everyone Else

Become a trendsetter and be the first person to make a comment on this post!

Comments are automatically closed 30 days after the post is made.










Join the Facebook Group!
    What happens when over 500,000 Canadians...

    * crowdsource the best travel deals

    * offer up their unbiased travel advice?

      Join the group for your city and find out!



(click 'Join Group', at the top-right, when you arrive)



Follow the deals on Twitter!
      Follow Twitter for the latest deals and       updates from your city...



(click 'Follow', when you arrive)




Follow the deals with RSS!
      Follow the deals from your city with your      favorite RSS reader...