bzy1

To the Aussies :)

You will love Dreams in PV, a great beach, nice food for an A/I and great drinks. An awesome way to spend the day! You could also check out the beach in front of Lindo Mar Hotel and La Playita restaurant there if you want to order Al a Carta but I would go to Dreams.....vacation are meant for splurging a little!

To gomexico- I watch the Semernat website often- no different readings than California or Galveston, Texas, if anything, better.

Did you know there is like 20 sewer rats in Chicago for every person that lives there? Do you have that on your Chitown tourism website? :)

I do not think gomexico has ever been to Vallarta but I can tell you that the water clarity will always be brownish at the mouth of the river in the rainy season.

On a side note, I have compared the water sample levels here are we are even better than most samples collected from Long Beach, California! (They often have to close beaches in California in the rainy season so DO NOT think this is a Mexico thing)

So, if you want to see some beaches, here are some recent photos:

This is Plya Conchas Chinas just south of the Romantic Zone, right by the Lindo Mar hotel: http://i.rentalo.com/images/Puerto-Vallarta-Villa-p7_232367_7205476l.jpg

This is also Conchas Chinas by Villa Celeste: http://www.gayguidevallarta.com/Lodging/Images/483_20071003161611_l_copy4.jpg

This is from the pier at Los Muertos: http://z.about.com/d/gaytravel/1/0/0/6/-/-/Gay_Beach_Puerto_Vallarta.jpg

Las Caletas beach: http://www.louisfuqua.net/caletasnoone.jpg

Dreams Vallarta: http://z.about.com/d/studenttravel/1/0/G/L/puerto-vallarta-beach-south.jpg

The coast along Garza Blanca: http://virtualvallarta.com/puertovallarta/bm.pix/a298~s600x600.jpg

Beach/cove at Yelapa: http://casagraceland.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/yelapa-beach2.jpg

There have been many rumors about the Marina WalMart being closed but no one knows for sure what the truth is except the most valid rumor is that it will become a casino. Sam's will NOT be closing.

The vanilla at Walmart in the "food/baking" section is mainly artificially flavored, they do have real vanilla in the souvenir section by the clothes. Vanilla beans are not sold at WalMart. There is a vanilla shop 2 blocks past Starbuck's on the Malecon that is at the bottom of the parking garage that sells vanilla beans as well as Rizo's supermercado that sometimes sells vanilla beans/pods at the front dest walk in.

Star Gazer,

Do you mean Deck 12 next to Sam's Club right across from the ships? That is not a hotel but a slow moving condo complex. Or do you mean Tres Mares which is at the point of the Marina by the Westin? It was supposed to be three towers but so far only one is mostly complete and again, it is privately owned condos, not a hotel.

Ok, so I was in WalMart this morning and ran into a group of people in search of closed toed shoes. They decided to go on the Outdoor Adventure and a few of them didn't pack any shoes other than flip-flops or dress shoes. So, I showed them where the water-shoes and tennis shoes were, where the booze was:) and where to find the best souvenirs... and one souvenir I forgot to mention before is cajeta.

You need to buy either cajeta candy (like glorias or the round ones that are kinda like a little sandwich) which are goat milk caramels or you need to buy goat milk caramel in a squeeze bottle. Great stuff! Google cajeta if you are not familiar with it and you'll find out more about it, uses and recipes. Awesome on ice cream!

The new WalMart in Nuevo Vallarta on HWY200 on the way to Flamingos opened last week.

The WalMart across from the cruise ship dock is still open and will not move to the MicroPlaza on Fco. Villa for at least a few months. As far as I know, Sam's Club is NOT moving.

If WalMart does close and move, the rumor is it will become a casino, but we shall see, this is the land of rumors :)

The closest place to the cruise ship dock, similar to WalMart is Soriana, and it is just two blocks away and on the same side as the maritime terminal. Check it, nice store!

You can buy an prescription medicine anywhere in Mexico without an prescription UNLESS it is a narcotic. No narcotics can be sold with out prescription by a MEXICAN doctor- so U.S./ Canadian narcotic RX's are not valid. As well, all meds such be purchased in a normal supply amount, such as 30 to 90 tablets....not 500 or 1000 :)

FYI: Mexico does have a minimum wage and it is evaluated and released in January of each year. Whoever told you there is not a minimum wage is pulling your leg. Minimum wage varies by the job and the "zone" you live/work in Mexico. As well, there are very strict labor laws, and employees receive social security and IMSS/medical.

I was just at WalMart yesterday and they had these cute little giftsets of 10 miniature bottles of different/flavored tequilas for 180 Pesos, about 15 US.

They are in the souvenir area towards the back, but who knows, they move stuff around in that store daily, you may have to hunt:)

"So, where was the cottage cheese???????????????"

It's in across from the milk. Right at the beginning of the cold case closest to the main aisle. :) Seriously. Just in case anyone is looking for it! BTW: Not long ago, you would not have found cottage cheese here, nor many brands/types of cheese like sharp cheddar or Gruyere. They are not Mexican.

SDPadreFan,

That is different, that could have been because of permits, etc. I was just pointing out that in Mexico, with Mexicans, WalMart is not known as the "Evil Empire" and does have different labor practices.

WalMart also has the generic drug program, similar to the U.S.... many RX drugs are 39 Pesos or less. Not all items are available. You can purchase any NON-NARCOTIC drug without an RX in Mexico, at WalMart or any farmacia although WalMart usually has the best price.

If you do not know the Spanish name, you can google most drugs and find the English/Spanish names or at least Latin name. Be sure to write it down to show the pharmacist.

I get a generic Lasix and it is 11 Pesos for 20 tablets, so less than $1.00 US Dollar. On the other hand, band names and new drugs are often about the same price.

While WalMart may look the same as your neighborhood Walmart, they do stock many items you will never find back home as well as things you would. It has a huge selection of Mexican items, from food to housewares and souvenirs, candy, nuts and good prices on liquor, as well as a well stocked farmacia. Typical labor politics do not apply here as the Mexican labor laws are quite different and WalMart de Mexico adheres to them.

On cruise days it is busier than normal but if you need to restock or buy something you forgot, it is easy and convenient to do so there. There is also a money exchange (with not the best rates) and a couple of ATM machines. They accept US Dollars (not Canadian) and all cash back is in Pesos as required by law, so please do not ask for US Dollars back in change, it's not a bank and they do not "carry" US Dollars, they just have on hand what each cashier has exchanged. They do not accept $100 US bills nor does Sam's Club.

This is a great place to pick up candy, salsas, spices and other Mexican food stuff that you cannot always find at home and at great prices. Mexican oregano is awesome and so are the cinnamon sticks. Some people like the chocolate para la mesa which is small blocks of chocolate which is melted down and mixed with hot milk to make Mexican hot chocolate- good stuff in the winter! (Found in the coffee area by the chocolate- La Abuelita is the most popular brand)