If you don't see the navigation bar on the left, click here Home | Why Choose DIR | Places to Stay in Vallarta | Bed & Breakfasts | Condos | Gay Accommodations | Villas | Specials | Holidays in PV | Looking for a Flight to PV? | Agents Only click on any of the pictures for a better view! LOOKING FOR A FLIGHT TO VALLARTA? CLICK HERE FOR AIRLINE TICKETING 101 - OUR TRICKS AND EXPLANATIONS ABOUT AIR TRAVEL TO VALLARTA ABOUT PUERTO VALLARTA (pronounced is "PWHER-toe vah-YAHR-tah) - Those "in-the-know" call it "Vallarta" Puerto Vallarta is a MAGICAL tropical paradise located on the Pacific/West coast of Mexico in the NorthWest corner of the state of Jalisco – kinda/sorta half-way between Acapulco & Mazatlan. The Vallarta that I present to you is a quaint, colonial seaside village with cobblestone streets & red tiled roofs, smiling/helpful locals & some of the BEST restaurants I’ve experienced (& honey – having lived in San Francisco for 17 years & being a travel writer that’s been around – I’ve experienced A LOT of restaurants!!). Vallarta’s surrounded by the rugged tropical jungles of the Sierra Madre Mountains (facing East) & Banderas Bay (Mexico's largest natural bay)! Vallarta’s the SAME latitude as Hawaii giving it similar LUSH tropical jungles & similar weather - EXCEPT it’s been forever since a hurricane’s ventured into Banderas Bay!! And which Caribbean, Florida, Hawaii – heck – even Cancun & Acapulco & even Cabo destination can boast of that!?!??! Yet Vallarta’s 1-1/2 hours closer to us than Hawaii, is a LOT less $$ & is MUCH more MAGICAL!!! The heart of REAL Vallarta is divided by the Rio Cuale. MY (& this is only MY perception) favorite area is a place of many names - everything from the Playa los Muertos (beach of the dead – yikes!) to Old Town (later in our info referred to as OT), Playa del Sol, South of the Rio Cuale " & the latest - "Zona Romantica" (it’s far from what I'd call "romantic" but hey, I’m just toooo literal for my own good)! My favorite - "SouthSide" as it sounds sooooo cool (aren’t most areas with "south" in them THE areas – SOMA, South Beach?!?!)!! SouthSide is an area where you’ll find a good balance of locals, Nationals, tourists, gay, mainstream, families, honeymooners, singles, young & old (& young at heart!) coming together – something for EVERYONE!!! You have MANY condominiums, some VERY rustic/budgety National hotels, gay hotels & B&B’s (bed & BREAKFAST for those that don’t know!) & just a smidgering of more rusticy villas. If you’re looking for quiet & peaceful vacation, just a couple of minutes south (& an easy $2.50 taxi ride!) experience Conchas Chinas – the "Beverly Hills" of Vallarta, Garza Blanca, Punta Negra & other areas along the Gold Coast! Like centrally located areas throughout the world – SouthSide offers you the general sounds - roosters, trucks shifting gears, shore breaking waves, mariachi’s, etc within it’s 11 block by 5 block radius. You come to the SouthSide area for a mixture of action & charm!!! Whether it’s world class restaurants, water sports, parasailing & jetskiing, chocolate dipped frozen bananas from Choco Banana, dance clubs open till dawn, unique shops – you’ve got just about everything you could desire here!!! Take a bus (yes – it’s VERY SAFE & only 3.5 pesos!!) 30 minutes south, through the tropical jungles, along rugged windy roads that sometimes hug the water’s edge to the VERY charming fishing village of Boca de Tomatlan where you can sit under a palapa (a palm leaf umbrella) & eat a whole fish roasted in garlic & rice & beans for under $5!! Then hire your own panga (a small boat that can comfortably seat 8) or take a water taxi to Yelapa, an artist colony & special place (I have VERY special memories of my times in Yelapa [even the time when I was bucked off a horse & broke my tailbone!]) where all the power is run by generators or solar, where you can horseback ride or hike through the jungles up to one of three waterfalls or sit on the beach & do nothing!!! 15-45+ minutes north of Old Town/SouthSide & Downtown is the mainstream, mega touristy resorts just like the ones you have in most major vacation destinations – the Hotel Zone, Marina & Nuevo Vallarta (some people like this & that’s ok as we’re ALL so unique & special but TRUST ME [& yourself!!], Vallarta is VERY SAFE, the people are WONDERFUL & the food is FANTASTIC!! Our site promotes UNIQUE Vallarta & to those people wanting something special cause they KNOW THEY DESERVE SPECIAL!!!). These areas are a far cry from the charm & WONDERFUL people of REAL Vallarta that you’ll ESPECIALLY find South of the Rio Cuale!! Puerto Vallarta's permanent population is approximately 350,000 with 2 million + visitors annually. I don’t go into the history of Vallarta as I feel the past is the past & though we get to learn from it – it’s important to let it go & live in the Here & NOW!! Besides, there are some great sites out there that do a good job with the historical info, including this one: www.frommers.com/destinations/puertovallarta Here we give you the Magic of REAL Vallarta!!!

Condos | Villas | Bed & Breakfasts | Hotels | Gay Stays Puerto Vallarta is a MAGICAL tropical paradise with wonderful locals welcoming ALL people!! Whether you're a couple, single, gay, mainstream, just buds, relatives, honeymooners, co-workers, a corporate incentive group or a business meeting we have something special for you! Wonderful Locals! Cobblestone streets! Awesome sunsets! Romantic! Safer than most cities in the US!!! Fun Nightlife or Chill & do Nothing! Restaurants that rival SF & NY (full meals $3-$10+)!  Amazing lightning shows over the bay June-Oct. Watersports Great shopping & LOTS of activities! Tropical rain forest/jungle (same latitude as Hawaii but 1-1/2 hrs. closer & a lot less $$)!  ALL this at a fraction of other destinations' prices! LOTS TO CHOOSE FROM: Doin It Right - in Puerto Vallarta has over 250 Villas, Condos, Corporate & Spiritual Retreat Properties + 7 Gay & "Straight-friendly" Properties (something for everyone!!): Villa Renting: It can be VERY affordable & you deserve the pampering, don't you? Visualize having your own cook preparing you the delectable dishes of her region & your houseman serving you drinks by your pool in your own villa [based on property]! Villas are great for a romantic getaway, group of friends/family, club, corporate retreat, sales incentives team, Spiritual Retreat+) Basic Villas (no staff) start as low as $100/night & go up to $3,200+/night for THE BEST. Condos range from $40-$450+/night (beachfront start at $70/night Value Season). From THE BEST to moderate! To check the current peso/dollar exchange rates, click here: Universal Currency Converter at Airwise.com (will open link in a new page) EXTRA SPECIAL SERVICES FROM DIANA'S TOURS & DOIN IT RIGHT - JUST FOR OUR CLIENTS! One of the things we PRIDE ourselves on MOST with Doin it Right-in Puerto Vallarta is providing THE MOST & BEST EXTRA Special Services JUST for YOU because WE KNOW YOU DESERVE THEM & you want to make this a VERY SPECIAL & memorable vacation!!! We don't do generic & we don't have average people working with us•taking care of you!! We have the BEST because YOU DESERVE THEM!!! The key people we have assisting you IN Vallarta speak English & Spanish some even speak French!! They're here to take care of YOU!!! Vallarta Virgin Drive-By Grounding Greet Orientation (VVDBGGO): You're Greeted at the Airport by a representative of Diana's Tours who will have a sign with your lead persons name on it & as they drive you THROUGH down (not around the backside of town as the taxi's often do), your host &/or driver points out the clubs, "Restaurant Row", the beach, special shops, info on Vallarta & they'll even stop at a Casas de Cambio so you can change your $$ to pesos at a place with GOOD exchange rate (if you request it). This SPECIAL Service is GREAT for 1st timers (VV's - Vallarta Virgins!) as it helps you feel grounded & protects you from the time-share/taxi deluge!!! This is NOT considered a "taxi" service but in fact a "Specialized?Customized Service!! Your driver can often organize tours, etc. for you (based on driver in Peak Season). Start your trip off RIGHT!!! Rules & Details click here AIRPORT TRANSPORTATION: The ONLY taxi's that can pick you up at the airport are those Airport Taxi's. The price FROM the airport into town is almost/more than double that of going back from town to the airport. The reason for that is that airport taxi's are air-conditioned, cleaner, in better condition (including better shocks usually!! Shocks are VERY RARE IN town!!!, drivers tend to speak better English I've found & are usually uniformed & they're UNION plus they have a special Airport Tax that they pay upon departing (FYI - MANY airports throughout the world are MUCH higher FROM the airport to town than reverse). REGULAR AIRPORT TAXI'S - A taxi with no tour/conversation to Muertos is now running about $20/US$ (180 pesos) FROM the airport to town. CHEAP WAY TO GO FROM THE AIRPORT TO TOWN - You can schlepp all your luggage & exit East/Left out of the airport, through the parking lot, over the overpass that goes over the new highway & catch a city taxi. Our service is NOT JUST a taxi service! These are Special Service for YOU!! (click here for pricing & more details) Airport Transfer: You're either greeted at the airport with a sign with your name on it OR go to a select taxi booth & turn in your voucher for a taxi ride into town to your accommodations. NO tour - NO additional stops. The PLUS of this is they KNOW where you're going + you don't get attacked by the hords of time-share & taxi people (this was even a bit intimidating to me which just doesn't happen!!). The company we use is not on commission base (hence they're not in a rush to get back to the airport to pick up more fares!!) so you're ride is usually MUCH nicer!!! (click here for pricing & more details) FREE/Discount COUPONS!!!!: OVER $75 (for our gay clients, $50+ for our straight/mainstream clients) in FREE drink at various bars & restaurants, 15 minutes FREE internet time at the Net House www.vallartacafes.com, discounts off various gay & mainstream tours, tour guides, restaurants, gym, jeep/car rental, massages, a cool Doin it Right Rainbow Pen & MORE COMING!!! "Vicki Skinner's Doin it Right-in Puerto Vallarta" & the "PV-PS/Puerto Vallarta Purple Sheets" Guides!!! ""Vicki Skinner's Doin it Right-in Puerto Vallarta" is THE publication on Unique Vallarta with the MOST extensive & detailed Restaurant Guide we've EVER seen (20 pages!!), PLUS our Restaurants - By Type (6 pages), Important Info (11 pages), Calendar of What's Happenin' (17 pages), Vallarta Nightlife (16 pages), Unique Vallarta (16 pages), Shopping (6 pages), a list of Outdoorsy Things To Do (12 pages), Know Before You Go/Things to Bring www.DoinItRight.com/KnowB4UGo.shtml , Things for Kids to Do (10 pages), Tipping (3 pages), our Food Info Guide (10 pages), Things to do Outside of Vallarta (9 pages), Ways to Give/Help the People of Vallarta, list of Tours you can pre-book & MORE!! The "PV-PS/Puerto Vallarta Purple Sheets" is THE non-advertising guide on HONESTLY Gay-Friendly Vallarta!!! (if a business is not listed in either of our guides there's a good chance the owner is ACTIVELY involved in the small [though nonetheless there - just like in San Francisco, New York or your town!] anti-gay group [which does NOT effect the tourists!!]. Trust me, I KNOW who they are!!!!!) This over 130 page guide is now e-mailed to you as an MSWord attachment so you can delete the info that's not relevant to your desires &/or make the font work for your eyes. This valuable "MUST HAVE" guide is FREE to DIR Accommodations Guests!! Welcome Fiesta (WF): A bag of tortilla chips, a bowl of salsa, a bowl of guacamole (in season), a bottle of tequila & margarita mix, a few beers/cervesas, a few sodas, a few pieces of fruit awaiting your arrival!! (click here for pricing & more details) Pre-Arrival Marketing: Arrive in your condo or villa to have the fridge/cupboards filled with goodies you've selected*!! (click here for pricing & more details) Your Own Private Cook: Have a cook or chef prepare you the delectible dishes of their region &/or her specialties, food for heath-conscious people or gourmet dishes in the privacy of your condo or villa!! (click here for pricing & more details) Special Deliveries?: Flower, Gift, a Welcome Bottle of Tequila or Wine, Cake or Balloon Delivery. Need something special delivered?!?!?! We have businesses that can take care of that. (click here for pricing & more details) Pre-Reserved Tours: Guarantee you have space on the tour(s) of your choice (REALLY important in Peak Season!!). We'll notify Diana's Tours who will reserve the tours for you & arrange to get the tickets to you!! Trip Planning - Outside of Vallarta: Let Diana's Tours help you plan a trip outside of Vallarta. $23+ Service Fee (pre-paid in advance) Local Contact IN Vallarta: We're blessed to work with a WONDERFUL Land Operator in Vallarta to take care of you - Diana's Tours. Whether it's booking tours, restaurant reservations, contacts, or a friendly face - they're there to assist you our clients! Check out our accommodations listings and extensive Puerto Vallarta resources, and reserve your bit of this magical paradise today! Check it Out! We're a Netscape "Editor's Choice" Site! (click here to see what Netscape says about us!!) CURRENT LOCAL WEATHER: If you don't see the navigation bar on the left, click here Home | Why Choose DIR | Places to Stay in Vallarta | Bed & Breakfasts | Condos | Gay Accommodations | Villas | Specials | Holidays in PV | Looking for a Flight to PV? | Agents Only If you need to contact Vicki Skinner directly: 1-800-936-3646 1-941-486-0505 Agents@DoinItRight.com Let us design your webpage for you!