Hello travellers! I’m wanting to go to the Puerto Vallarta area for 10 days in March with my 9 year old son. I’m looking for recommendations for accommodations that are affordable, safe, easy to get to restaurants etc and ideally near a beach. A pool on site would be perfect. I’ve done lots of all inclusives before but want to try something different. I also don’t want to spend hours travelling from the airport to the final destination so that’s another consideration. Thank y… See more

I stayed in Cruz Roja. 15 blocks to beach but cheap bus ride

Paradise Village. Close by in Nuevo Vallarta, walking distance to a little mall and there is a market one day a week. The beach is fantastic.

We have stayed in many air b and bs in the romantic zone. Tons of restaurants and walk to beach. Tropicana and San Marino hotels are on the beach. The hotel zone between the airport and romantic zone is also great. Beautiful beach and groceries and restaurants there too. Grand Venetian has vacation rentals and is like staying at a resort.

Lisa agreed. Many great places with pools

North of Nuevo is Bucerias. Not a resort, but a town with loads of great restaurants and a beautiful beach. About 30 mins from PVR airport. Be careful with anything more than a block from the beach as the 2-4 blocks away places might be up a steep hill (first block or 2 is flat)
Bucerias has grown a lot of the last 10 years but is still a great place to visit

My recommendation is Mismaloya. South of PV. Particularly Casa Iguana. Beautiful little authentic hotel a few minutes from the beach. Also close to the zoo. We took our 3 year old a few years ago and she had the best time.

We stayed there but were eaten alive by invisible insects. The itch was so bad we wont go back. There are about 10 restaurants in Mismaloya but meal prices were higher than in PV

In old town there are a few cheaper places a block up from the beach. Casa Rosa was one we stayed in.

I’ve gone a few times with my daughter, including at that age. My favourite is old town/romantic zone, you can find affordable Airbnbs and smaller hotels there. Close to everything you need, lots to see and do. I recommend Yelapa and San Pancho for day trips, but depending what you’re into you could easily spend 10 days just wandering the neighbourhood.

Grand Venetian is all suites (rentals and owned). A bunch of private pools and a private beach. Prices are very similar for places in the same area and a taxi/uber to airport or downtown are $6-$10 CDN. 100% recommend

I agree that Bucerias is a good choice, if you can find something.

We really like the Grand Venetian condos.. you can rent them through air bnb or vrbo. It's in the hotel zone but there are a bunch of restaurants including one in the complex, a mall, a movie theatre and a food court style place all in close walking distance. Easy 15 minute Taxi or uber to airport and Romantic Zone. 4 swimming pools and it's right on the beach.

Tropicana

Hotel Playa Los Arcos right on the beach in the heart of the old Town. Can't find a better, more convenient place. Walking distance to everything

Frank I agree! Playa Los Arcos is wonderful. A nice family run hotel, great staff, pools, right on the beach. We love it there.

We stayed at the RIU Vallarta, not sure how much it is now as everything has gone up

Check on Flipkey. I have rented from there a few times