Bucerias, MX travel tips

Mexico Travel tips for guests at Villa Del Palmar Flamingo

Packing: Food: Bring some coffee, etc. to start or don't want to purchase there, like salt & pepper, laundry detergent, fabric softener sheets, dishwasher tabs.  We put these in zip-loc bags and pack in checked luggage.  Bring cloth or plastic grocery bags.  Stores do not provide them.  They must be purchased.  Clothing: Casual stuff, hats for the sun, light jackets or sweatshirts.

Pre-trip: Make sure you notify your credit card company that you are traveling to Mexico or a charge could get declined.  Bring one that has a no “foreign transaction fee” if you have one.  Make sure you have a debit card for getting Pesos from an ATM.  Bring some USD along, just in case the ATM does not work.  It is best to pay taxi drivers in Pesos.  Taxis have no meters.  The concierge will give you a list of costs/destination.  Don’t worry about having to speak Spanish.  More English is spoken in PVA than in Miami.

Airport and transfer:  Make sure you bring along both the time share and transportation vouchers.  Follow the instructions the transportation company gave you and you should be okay.  

Check in: It is pretty standard.  Try to pick a room on the right side (as you face the ocean) and as high as you can, to get the morning sun.  On our most recent trips our room had been assigned several days before we got there.  Our locations have not been the best, but we remind ourselves that we don's spend much time in the room.  Then they will shift you over to the concierge who will try to schedule you for an optional time share tour (see next section).  After that just enjoy your evening.  Unpack, tour the grounds and go for dinner.  See below for restaurants.

Time share presentation: It’s up to you, but if you want some good discounts on excursions you might want to think about it.  You might get a free breakfast out of it and some other free stuff.  Negotiate these things when you make the appointment.  If you sign up, do it early on your first full day.  Hint: When you hit your required time spent just stand up and say, “We are done here” and push for your voucher for the free stuff.  They will send a second “new” person over to review things again.  Voice your objection and again stand up and say you are done.  Besides, you still have to go to Walmart and enjoy the day.

Walmart: (or LaComer or Mega) We usually buy food for breakfast, lunch, snacks, beer and booze.  Just have the bellman get a cab to take you there.  It is a very short ride, but a far walk.  A Mexican Walmart is same, same, but different than a US store.  It is kind of fun.  There is a great selection of fruits and vegetables.  Don’t forget the limes for the beer.  They take credit cards.  Don’t forget to tip the bagger.  That’s all they get paid (USD okay).  Taxis are readily available there.  We usually purchase 6L drinking water jugs at the hotel store (Pimida Market).  Water is very safe, we just prefer that.  We brush our teeth with it. 

Currency Exchange: Bring some cash.  Most places take USD though.  We prefer to pay in Pesos.  The hotel gives a good exchange rate.  You can also use the ATM in the hotel convenience store. Depending on your bank there might be a foreign currency exchange fee.  There is a safe in the room.
Download a currency converter App before you leave.

Taxis:  They are inexpensive.  Make sure you pay in Pesos.  A taxi to the hotel from the airport is always more expensive than the return trip.  This is because of the airport tax.  If you are up to a little walk and adventure you can take the elevated walkway over the highway and take a local taxi to save a little $$.  The hotel will provide you with a list of charges per destination.  Tip 5%-10%.  Ubers are available at the hotel, but you must go to the street to be picked up because of the taxi union.  

Cell Phones: Check with your carrier ahead of your trip to see what plans are available.  Make sure you are logged into the hotel wifi to save data charges.  

Tipping: We usually tip the maid $100 to $200 ($5 - $10 USD) Pesos a day.  We put it on the counter each day on top of a note that says "Propina" (tip).  

Leftover provisions: You can's take it with you so you might as well give it to the maids or find another guest who wants it.  However, you must get a simple form from one of them and fill it out.  They have to throw it away if you do not fill out a form.  

Body Snatchers: That’s what we call the time share hawkers.  They are everywhere.  They will approach you at Walmart, coming out of Walmart, the airport, Downtown PVA, on the beach and in restaurants.  These guys get paid a set amount to get you to a presentation.  They will have offers of gifts and money for you to go.  That comes out of their take.  You can generally negotiate for more, but you must do that at the beginning.  We have gone to some presentations at other properties just for fun, but it really sucks up your time there.  

Bartering:  Any vendors on the beach or market will barter with you.  It’s mostly crap and it is everywhere.  However, we have gotten some nice jewelry from the vendors who set up around the pool on the evenings of the show.  There is a small market in Bucerias.  A taxi will drop you off there.  If you walk north from there along the road next to the beach, you will find some restaurants good for lunch.  They don’t look like the type of restaurant you are used to, but they are safe and the food is great. 

Shows: We recommend that you go to the Rhythm of the Night.   It is a very nice evening.  They take you on a Rum cruise across the bay (can you say Dramamine).  There you will have a nice dinner and see a good show.  Bring a jacket; it can get cool later on.   The hotel has a couple of shows each week that are included in the buffet.  Forget the buffet, go out for dinner and watch the show from your balcony when you get back.  

2 for 1 specials: There is always a 2for 1 happy hour at all times at the hotel.  The location just changes.  That’s the only time we get margaritas there.  Speaking of margaritas, they are the real deal in most restaurants, but can be large, pricy and strong.  Beer is real cheap at restaurants.  Be adventuresome and have a glass of tequila after dinner in Bucerias.  Go for a good brand of Anejo Tequila.  Anejo is not a brand but a type.  It is the best for sipping after dinner.  Anejo is for sipping (neat), Reposito is for shots, Blanco is for mixing.  

Restaurants near the hotel in Bucerias/La Cruz:

 #1 - We would recommend going to Dugarel Plays in Bucerias the first night out on the town.  It does not look like much on the outside, but it is the real deal.  Dugaral’s as well as most restaurants in Bucerias are CASH ONLY.   They serves seafood or traditional Mexican food.   Flaming coffee is a great way to finish your meal.  Dugarel's is owned by Rubin.  He sometimes doubles as a waiter.  We like Luciano also.  

In Mexico they will not automatically bring you the check.  Just raise a hand to get the waiters attention and say, "la cuenta por favor".  (Check please)

It’s easy to catch a taxi in Bucerias.  Just take an adventure and walk south (left as you face the ocean) towards the hotel and you will come to the city square with the Catholic Church.  Watch your step.  Sidewalks need a lot of repair.  Walk up the square towards the highway and you will find the taxi stand.  If you go out to dinner early enough and get back in time you can take in the show at the hotel.  There are a couple of theme buffet nights that include a show.  Fun, but a little cheesy. 

#2 - ToscanaMia #1 on Trip Advisor for Bucerias.  Need I say more.  Either go very early or get a reservation.  Concierge can do that for you. 

#3 - Mar-Y-S0L - A great seafood and MX food on the beach

#4 - Adauto'sOn The Beach – Eat right on the beach.  Plastic tables and chairs, but who cares.  Again Seafood or Mexican.

#5 -Mezzogiorno - Another great Italian restaurant, near Dugaral Plays, beachfront seating.

#6 – Frascati – Make sure you go here. This Italian restaurant is in a community called La Cruz, which is just up the coast.  A lot of Canadians and Americans live here.  They are in the Marina above the local Yacht Club.  There is another restaurant above it called La Peska, www.lapeska.com which is seafood. Might be worth going to

#7 – Karen’sPlace– We have been here once.  Good continental food.  You can walk there on the beach from the hotel for happy hour.  It’s on the beach side of some condos.  I wanted to buy one of them, but Cindy would not let me.  She said that I had too much tequila.  (update 2019 - Still wish we had bought it.)

Bellmen:  Ask them for a recommendation of restaurants also.  They are a great help. TIP THEM WELL and often.  Our favorites are David, Luis, and Edwardo.  Greet them for us.

Day Trips:

Sayulita – This is a surfing/Arts community a 20 minute taxi ride from the Hotel.  It is a nice late morning trip with Lunch.  There are a lot of art galleries.  The beach sand is black.

Puerto Vallarta (main city) – This is a 40 minute taxi ride.  We usually go one afternoon and evening.  It’s good for shopping and walking.  The best market is along the river.  For dinner I would recommend Cafedesartistes, but bring extra $$$$.  It’s exceptional.  Edmundo took Cindy and I there once.  If it seems to rich, ask the bellman for a recommendation or check out another one on Trip Advisor.  Spend some time walking around the Malecon and look at all the sand sculptures.  This is the area that you should be familiar with from your trip years ago.  Taxi’s are easy to to catch.  Look for them near the Catholic Church.