Destinations

On our vacation in Puerto Vallarta we took Los Veranos Canopy Tour. My kids chose the company because they advertise exotic animals. They are a very professional company and we had a great time with the zip line tour. This is a unique tour where you are zipped from tree to tree over the jungle canopy. The company has various pick up spots all around Puerto Vallarta. They are located about 25 minutes south of town.

They have a nice restaurant and a little building that houses two different types of monkeys. You’re able to get into the cage and feed them. In addition they have a deer and some animals that looked like raccoons without the masks. Up by the bar they have tarantulas, a lizard and two toucans. They also have a Burmese Python that they wrap around your neck. Off the restaurant they have two water slides into the river below. After doing the zip line trip, you’re welcome to hang out as long as you like. They have vehicles that back into town every hour. The zip line was fun and a work out. I highly recommend it.

That Sunday, we went down to the Dreams resort to check it out. We had arranged for a day pass for the family. We checked out the Standard, Jr Suite with Jacuzzi and a Suite. The rooms were spacious and festively decorated. The beds were firm, but not too bad. The Jr. Suites’ Jacuzzis are located on their balconies. The Suites and Presidential Suites have small pools on their balconies. Dreams has 5 restaurants I believe, plus a makeshift snack bar. They do not take reservations for their restaurants. If it’s full, they’ll give you a pager. I liked this because then you don’t have to plan out your meals right when you check into your hotel. I don’t like deciding that I want to have a certain type of food and then be told their restaurant is booked up for the next week.

They have a spa, but it’s not as impressive as the Marriott’s. However, I did take a pressure shower in their spa and they are fantastic. Dreams is an all inclusive resort, but they charge to use the internet in the business center and for full bottles of wine. Everyone I asked at Dreams, loved the place. They were very happy. My family enjoyed the property also.

A final note. We flew down on Alaska Airlines and as usual we only took carry on luggage. It’s a good thing we were not going back to Seattle. When the flight from Puerto Vallarta lands at the international terminal, you need to go to customs and then go over the the domestic terminal while they tow the plane over there. If we had bought Duty free liquor, we would not be able to bring it in our carry on for the flight to Seattle. Those who were continuing on had to put their duty free in their checked luggage.

As I tell people, one of the best parts of the trip is going where it’s sunny and warm knowing it’s cold and rainy back home.

I just returned from a long weekend in Puerto Vallarta. We stayed at the Marriott in the Marina. I basically chose that hotel for the beds. Since, I sleep on a waterbed at home, I cannot sleep on a concrete slab in Mexico.

The Marriott is nice, with spacious rooms. They have a beautiful spa and many fantastic treatments. Also the hotel has a large lagoon style pool with swim up bar, Jacuzzi and a volleyball net. For dinning options they have a Sports Bar, Japanese, a deli and two Continental restaurants. One is located inside near the bar and one is out near the pool. They have a kids club with a small playground and wading pool all to their own. Of course they have the mandatory business center, meeting rooms and even a car rental desk in the lobby. The staff was very friendly and efficient.

We all enjoyed our stay at the Marriott. Its also a great place for a short stay many airline personnel lay over there. A cab from the airport will run you about $15, but the return cab ride will only run you about $4.

Be careful of the gauntlet of Time Share people on their way from baggage claim to their transfers or cabs. Just keep walking.

About a block and half away is the Marina area with lots of restaurants and shops. There is also the obligatory Time Share salespeople wanting to give you free tours in exchange for putting up with their sales presentations. You have a full compliment of cuisine available at the Marina and some local restaurants just off the Marina Boardwalk.