Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

From ATL to Mexico! Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is the airport I fly out of 90% of the time. I booked a round-trip ATL-PVR ticket for 20,000 points through Virgin Atlantic. “Why through Virgin and not Delta, directly?” Sometimes, the ticket cost is cheaper through a partner airline than the leading airline.

I packed a carry-on for my 4-night stay at The Westin Resort & Spa, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The 4-hour direct flight went by fairly quickly. One movie and some much-needed time spent looking out of the window later, we were landing in Mexico. It was my first time in Mexico, so I didn’t know what to expect. As I exited the airport, I headed toward the Uber location. A pedestrian bridge crosses over the street to meet your Uber driver. Uber drivers cannot pick you up directly in front of the airport(arrivals), but they can drop you off at departures.

The hotel was near the airport and cost less than $10 via Uber. Upon checking into the hotel, I was upgraded to an ocean-view room with a whirlpool on the balcony. The room was nice and clean, but there was a massive gap between the door and the hotel hallway. I learned to place a towel on the floor to prevent flies or insects from entering the room.

After walking through the resort, I wanted to find somewhere to eat. I took a short walk to Marina Vallarta to see if I found any restaurants interesting enough to eat at. At the time, nothing seemed to grab my attention while walking around. I didn’t get far initially because the clouds looked like they were bringing rain. It started to rain as I returned to the resort, so I stopped at one of the on-site restaurants, La Cascada. Usually, I like to skip dining at on-site restaurants, but due to the rain, I decided to see what was on their menu. I ordered chicken sliders with fries and a frozen margarita. The food and drink were delicious, and the total came out to less than $25.

After dinner, I noticed the rain had cleared out for the evening. I walked the hotel grounds to check out the pool and cabanas. It was still a little humid outside, as August is a low-rainy season, so I didn’t stay outside long.

The following morning, I received a complimentary breakfast at El Palmar Restaurant. After breakfast, since the sun was out, I walked about the property again. The pool and beach area looked lovely. I love how palm trees always add a little razzle-dazzle to my travel experiences. Later that day, I decided to head back to the Marina and walk around. The Marina is full of restaurants, shops, and various services. You can get a massage, dine in, book excursions, grab a snack from a store, or walk around and enjoy the scenery.

On day three, I took an Uber into town, which was MX$200, equivalent to $11. I came across a restaurant, The Blue Shrimp, which was a great choice. After ordering and indulging in a few dishes and drinks, I conversed with a guy behind me. After I paid my tab, I went and sat with him, and we enjoyed more drinks as time passed. One of the top reasons I love traveling solo is that you’re more inclined to make new friends or meet new people by yourself. The staff at The Blue Shrimp were amiable and spoke English. We had such a great time that we met again at the restaurant for drinks around sunset the following day.

We decided to grab some food from Los Molcajetes, about a 5-minute stroll from The Blue Shrimp. Los Molcajetes is a cash-only restaurant, but you can pay in USD or Pesos. The restaurant has an indoor-outdoor feel, and though it was raining then, we did not have to worry about getting wet. Their food was incredibly affordable, and the staff was friendly and welcoming. That night, a live singer played a guitar, which made the last night of my stay more enjoyable.

Tips:

• If you’re loyal to one airline, check their partner airlines to see if you can get the same flight for a cheaper price.
• Familiarizing yourself with the native language is never a bad idea. I.e., Greetings/Well wishes.
• Do NOT rely on Google for business hours.
• Ensure any ATM you use is trustworthy and in a public place.
• Do not buy any “paraphernalia” outside of a legal business.
• Most importantly, always be aware of your surroundings and keep your belongings close! Lastly, always make sure you have enough money to get HOME!