pulledporky

Restrooms are fine at Lety's. They cater to mostly US/CAN and ex-pats during the week, they know what you expect. They put out a bad product and they're out of business.

If you like coconut, keep an eye open for an older gal selling macaroons from a large plastic box (Tupperware type). Delicious.

if you can get off the boat by 9, walk the blue line into town and go see the church and the Mercado. Then take a pulmonia (or walk) back to the water taxi to SI. Some culture in the morning and some shrimps and beers in the afternoon. That's a great day right there.

As Goober says: "Forge on and enjoy".

There are at least 3 water taxis to SI. If you go out the port gate and go right about 1/2 mile there is one that will take you across where there is a trailer pulled by a tractor. My rec: If you go out the port gate and go left about 2 blocks the water taxi there will drop you off near the end of SI. From the SI dock you can walk left about 10 minutes down the beach to Lety's (as laid back as you want to get) ) or pick any of the other palapa eateries. I drank Pacificos so can't comment on the cocktails. Shrimp were top notch tho.

Use google maps and you can see the layout.

I don't know about glass blowing companies, but in the past there has been a guy in a booth right on the docks in Puerto Vallarta that does glass blowing.....

Yep, he was there last week making all kinds of stuff. Sitting next to him was a guy hand rolling cigars.

Moms in a transport chair, so no bus for us. What's the approx taxi fare for cabs, out on the street, to the Malecon? Where would be the best place to be dropped off?

If you walk out the terminal gate go left to the main road where you'll see a Pemex gas station on the corner. A yellow cab there will cost about $8USD TO Hotel Rosita, the north end of the Malecon. Or, as soon as you walk out the gate you will see a bunch of light beige/cream colored taxis. They charge about $4 per person, but might be easier for mom.

Taxis are everywhere in PV and extremely reasonable (always agree on a price BEFORE you get in the cab).

I wouldn't mind if it wasn't for the fact that I'm also due to be shaken down at Disneyland on the same trip - and that one makes Las Caletas look like an absolute bargain!

Yeah you're going to drop some bucks at Disney. Let me throw out a few on-the-cheap options.

Cabo we just walk around town a bit, eat tacos at Tacos Gus, margarita at Monkey Busines, maybe a beer at Captain Tony's then head back to the boat.

Mazatlan follow the blue line outside the port gate to the big square, maybe a 10 minute walk. From there it's about two blocks to the Cahedral, then another two blocks to the Mercado. From there walk ( or hire a pulmonia) back to the water taxi terminal. It's about $2 round trip to Stone Island. Walk down the beach to Lety's and spend rest of the day there.

In PV take the bus (or taxi for about $6-8) to the Malecon. You can wonder around there for most of the day, eating, lounging, shopping, or just laying on the beach.

I like the way you are all open, rather than closed minded. Personally, I think that defines someone's age more than anything. I've now been 50 since September and recently celebrated my first senior discount. The poor bar tender was amazed that I was excited and said you are the first person who has ever celebrated a senior discount. I say why not celebrate your age (and the associated perks) instead of being ashamed of it?! I worked hard to become the person I am today and I choose to celebrate those 50 years instead of try to pretend some didn't happen.

True story......

We live about two blocks from where I went to high school. They are having a play in the auditorium so my wife and I walk down to the school to watch the play. There is a probably 15 year old in the booth selling tickets, I walk up and ask for two tickets. The young gal replies "would you like the senior discount?" I looked at her and said "Thanks, but Its been 35 years since I was a senior in high school!"........then it dawned on me :rolleyes: Guess that was my first senior moment.

How do we get to Letys and Stone Island ?

 

Bryan

Easy. In mazatlan when you get off the ship you'll ride a tram to the terminal. Walk out the gate to the main road and go left a few blocks. There is a gravel road slightly to the left that leads to the water taxi, maybe 100 yds. They'll drop you off at their dock on SI. Walk across the berm and down the beach about 10 minutes.

If you use the link provided above by Anniesusie you'll see a map with a dotted line leading into the ferry area, this is where the water taxi is. From there look directly to the right and you will see a small dock sticking out from the shore, this their SI landing.

(If you look above the water taxi stand you'll see two large fuel storage tanks, and above that a brownish colored building adjacent to the road, this is the cruise port terminal. The tanks are about halfway).

As a side note, if you enjoy a cold brew, when you come back to the terminal there is a big green gazebo in the patio area that will fix you right up. It can get very crowded a few hours before departure. Pretty good free wifi if you need it.

First time we went was in September. HOT doesn't describe it. Had a great time but won't do that again. I remember being on our aft balcony in PV, night time, raining, humid, warm, fireworks up on the mountain, no shirt, ice cold beer, blessed.

Now if that was the only time I could go?......great weather, a little warm, but great.

Has been a great investment for us

Yep. I remember people were saying don't buy it just for the OBC, but I did anyway (at $21.49/share there wasn't a tremendous downside). Still reaping the benefits.

Wish they were all this good.

Where do you get on the ferry? and how long is the trip from the cruise port? Chairs? and many more questions, i am sure!

No ferries that I know of except for the excursion barges. To get to the water taxi walk out the terminal gate, make a left and go about two blocks. Slightly to your left is a gravel road maybe 100 yds to the taxi booth. Maybe a three minute ride across to the other side. Get off the water taxi and walk straight over the ridge to the beach. Turn left and pick a spot. We like Lety's which is down the beach about a ten minute walk. Look at google map and you'll get the layout.

I've never seen a currency exchange on a Carnival ship. So if you want to use pesos get em before you go or buy them when you get off the ship. A gazillion threads on that.

.. I was Elvis back in 20012.

It's gone from all ships, I believe.

Yes, Elvis has left the building.

I will. But I always do.

They all accept USD no problemo. Normally the street exchange rate is acceptable, but with the recent extreme change....I dunno.

Times are changing.

See if this will attach.

Yep it attached. Best coconut shrimps ever. This is at Lety's. White tablecloth but my toes are in the sand. I think this was like $9.

I love the free beach towels that are placed on the lounge chairs by the pool. But, you have to get up early, around 6:30 a.m., if you want to get any before they're all gone. ;):D:D:D

Yeah. Occasionally they leave flops or sometimes books, but definitely get there early. I've heard there's sometimes problems if you try to collect later in the day. :eek: why is that?

Hi all!.......it looks like there's a pedestrian path that we can take that will also cross over the Rio Cuale onto the Malecon from Old Town, is that correct?

There is. It kind of "dog legs" in front of Blue Shrimp. You can also walk up the river, lots of interesting kiosks.

We like to take a taxi or bus to the flea market which is located on north side of the river. There is a pedestrian suspension bridge that's kind of fun over the river. Walk south a few blocks then west back to the pier. LOTS of cool shops and "Mexico". We like cuetes y cuetes (sp?) at the base of the pier. Great place for lunch, bucket o beers, and people watch. Then walk up the malecon to Hotel Rosita and grab a cab back.

We've also done it north to south several times. Either way is better than being at work. :)

Double check that it actually is overnight instead of two days at Cabo. Big difference especially when planning excursions.

2) we are planning on the Pirate ship/beach day in Puerto Vallarta, but what should we do that's cheap in Cabo and Mazetlan?

 

Any other tips for this week long cruise with our brood would be appreciated! Thanks!

In July it will be pretty warm on the Riviera so you might consider some beach activities.

I'm a Stone Island advocate for a day in Mazatlan. It will cost you about $2pp for the water taxi then a free 15 minute walk down the beach to Lety's. Food and drink is very inexpensive and you can use their chairs and umbrellas for the day. You'd be living really large if you spent a hundred bucks for your team. You could spend a little more for horse rides, ATV's, banana boat, etc.

We're not really big on Cabo, but the ship stops, the tacos and beers are cheap and good, so we get off for a while. If the weather is not bad Cabo is very easy to walk around. Or you could grab a water taxi at the dock and ride over to medano beach. Cost is VERY negotiable for the water taxi, someone might chime in with an estimated cost.

Encourage your kids to get engaged in the ship youth programs. Half your trip will be on the ship, their engagement will give you some free time.

Wondering if they offer beach chairs and umbrellas?

If you can wait 6 weeks I can tell you for sure. But when we were there 2 years ago, yes.

yellow cabs (at the Pemex station) charge per trip. The light beige taxis INSIDE the port area charge per person. Last time I Was there the yellow cabs were $6-8 to the Malecon (I think the beige cabs were like $4-5pp). With the current exchange rate for pesos I'm also curios what the current fare is.

Any way you go, transportation in PV is pretty cheap.

absolutely nothing wrong with visiting the Walmart if you want. I've stocked up on tequila several visits courtesy of your neighborhood Walmart (in Mazatlan). If you go to Walmart in PV be careful crossing the road; it's about 62 lanes of traffic to cross ;). There's also a Soriano grocery store a few blocks from the port (same side of the street as the port). It's a fun place to visit, they also sell trinkets there. In the Walmart parking lot there is an indoor mall. Not sure what all they have there but it is a mall. The exchange rate is crazy right now (+20:1) so you might find some good deals in Walmart.

As far as churros, I've read there is a guy frying churro somewhere near the church in old town, but only in the evening. I've never seen any tho in 8 or 10 visits to PV, go figure. I have bought fresh made churros at la bufadora near Ensenada. Fresh and hot, layered with sugar and cinnamon, a little chunk of heaven right there.

Princessme, when you're docked in PV walk up on the lido deck and you'll see the Walmart across the road and a Sams club right next door. And if you look south you should see the Soriano sign a few blocks away. The closest bus stop is on the main road right outside the port, you don't need to cross the street. Pemex station across the street has taxis lined up if you need one. We usually take the bus into town and grab a taxi back (ask and they will turn the AC on).

If you use google maps you can zoom in on the port area and get an idea of the layout.

And if you find some churros, grab an extra bag.

I had a delicious shrimp jambalaya at the buffet........

That has potential. I'll keep my eyeball open for some of this. Thanks!

They have fried shrimp on the buffet when it's in the MDR. It's the panko type version.

Yep. Usually the first night, on 7 day cruises anyway. Sweet and sour sauce available with it. Pretty good stuff. Get all of it you want.

We don't bother going to the MDR that often. Didn't know they had pies . Whole pies or by the slice ? if whole, Are they served to the entire table ?

 

But really , how bad can you screw up a cherry or blueberry pie ?

Ya gotta nail the crust for a good pie.

Thanks for the info. We have shopped at the "market" right off the ship in PV. May look there again.

 

I teach in a private school in Bakersfield.

 

Kayla

Small world. Ming and Old River.