Hey guys, now that I'm in Southern California, I want to take a trip to a Mexican resort for a long weekend. Are any on the West Coast of Mexico more gay friendly than others? Or is there one spot you like better than others for no particular reason? The vacation packages seem pretty reasonable, but I'd rather have some feedback from guys that have been there before deciding.

Thanks.

Ummm, you're in So Cal. You're already in Mexico. wink

[ July 12, 2003, 01:18 PM: Message edited by: AU Tiger in LA ]

Puerto Vallarta is VERY gay friendly on the south side of town where the gay beach, hotels, and bars are. That part of town is also frequented by straight people, and there are some big straight party palaces like Senor Frog's, but you'll see gay guys everywhere in the shops and restaurants. The south side is the very quaint oldest section of the city with cobblestone streets, and is not near the huge modern all-inclusive resorts on the north side. A Google search for "gay Puerto Vallarta" will turn up lots of info.

I was shocked at just how Gay PV was! It was great! Gay beaches, day cruises, bars, hotels, villas and restuarants etc. Lots of info at this site:

http://www.doinitright.com/index.shtml

Hey! The hubby and I just got back from PV this week!

Anyway, I highly recommend Puerto Vallarta (especially in the off-season, during the summer - much less crowded, apparently). There's plenty of gay bars and whatnot (Club Paco Paco being the biggest - good DJ, nice rooftop bar), but the real reason to go? The food. Every restaurant we hit was better than the last, with special praises due to Los Xítomates, where we both had one of the best meals of our lives.

PV is relatively cheap for a great beach vacation, and it's tempting to go during the off-season when it's even cheaper. However, the off-season is also hurricane season! I've heard that August-December can be fairly rainy there. Last year they go hit really hard by a hurricane in October, and shortly thereafter by an earthquake. Some re-building is still going on, and some of the beaches haven't yet been restored to a user-friendly sandy condition (but the gay beach has!).

Dallas is my favorite Mexican resort.

DallasUNC, if you are "chumming the waters" for PhillyFan, that ought to do it! wink

Cute, so cute!!

- - - - -

My "dream Mexican vacations":

*Baja (California)
*Guadalajara [to see the famous mummies]
*Cancun

Bluebird, I think the mummies you're thinking of are in Guanajuato, rather than Guadalajara.

By reputation, at least, Puerto Vallarta is the gayest of the west coast resorts.

So when is a good time to go to PV? I have been thinking of it for the end of September because I thought the rainy season was now.

I've been to Cancun, Guadalajara, Mexico City, and Acapulco. I enjoyed Acapulco most because I felt it was an authentic Mexican resort and was very gay friendly. Cancun was aesthetically appealing because of the white, powdery sand and beautiful blues of the water; however, it was a bit too commerical and there were waaaay too many Americans there for me.

PVR is the most gay friendly Mexican resort town on the Pacific coast. Cabo San Lucas is a huge straight party town, just up the road is San Jose Del Cabo is pretty laid back. My personal favorite is the Ixtapa/Zihuatenjo area, very low key and not as touristy as the bigger resort cities tend to be.

If you are looking primarily for Gay hotels, and gay related activities, I would definitely stick with PVR.

Theo, I echo your feelings about Cancun. I knew going to the place that is was Americanized, but I still was shocked at how much and how bad upon being there. But, the sands on the beach was just incredible. So soft, like baking powder, and the coulour of the water was simply gorgeous. I would still like to go back though.

Cancun is the only place in Mexico I've ever been. That was in 1985 before it caught on as a Spring Break destination and when fewer than half the large resorts that line the beach had been built. Since then there have been a few hurricaines blow through and do substantial damage. They've obviously rebuilt. When I see it on TV now, it looks much bigger and more sophisticated - and more crowded.

I loved the beach. One of the most beautiful I've ever seen. We took a cab down the road past all the hotels, hopped out, made our way through the brush and had a beautiful deserted stretch to ourselves. I get the impression you can't do that anymore. I don't think there is an unbuilt stretch of road anymore.

We visited a spot called The Black Sheep. Then the only gay bar in town. As soon as we walked in the bartender sent over two guys to join us. They were ours for the night. Very hospitable to say the least!

We stayed at the cheapest hotel we could find. It was in the town, not on the strip. It was built around this bizarre sort of aviary. There were peacocks and cockatoos, and all manner of fauna running around the grounds.

A marimba band played by the pool every afternoon just outside our window.

We took a plane to the nearby and spectacular Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza.

I remember being as sick as I've ever been for about 24 hrs. I always wondered if that would make me immune should I ever go back?

I just had to dig up this old thread to say... In 48 hours I'll be on a jet to Puerto Vallarta! Yay!!! It's 8 degrees here now, with another snow storm predicted for Sunday. And I'll be spending a full week of lounging on the beach in a canvas chair with a good book, an umbrella for when the sun gets too strong, cute waiters bringing me iced buckets of Coronas, and a small camera to discreetly take pictures of cute guys on the beach. Hubby and I are going staying in a beach-front condo about 1/4 mile down from the gay beach. I. Can't. Wait. It's so fun packing for a PV vacation... Let's see, I'll take this tank top and that tank top and these shorts and those swim trunks. Oh, and don't forget the Speedos! It doesn't take a big suitcase to pack for PV.

Okay, I'm done gloating. Anyone else going to Mexico, or anywhere else for a winter getaway?

[ January 29, 2004, 01:56 PM: Message edited by: maxallen ]

Hey, Maxallen, my partner and I vacation there every year, during the holidays. You're stayting in a fun area. If you have time, have dinner (or lunch)at a place called Cafe de Olla. It's close to where you're staying and the food is outstanding. It's not dressy and it's not too "touristy". Have a great time and travel safely. :cool:

I was hesitant about taking a trip to Mexico before I went for a week a couple of weeks ago. The authoritarian government and pervasive military presence put me off.

But I'm glad I went now. The Anthropological Museum in Mexico City was fascinating for it's preservation and explication of the rich pre-colonial history of the country. Constitution Hall's murals by Diego Rivera are fantastic as well as almost fantastical and the cactus garden stunned me with the variety of plants that survive and thrive in arid terrain.

After two days in the City we went to Oaxaca - a wonderfully preserved colonial Spanish town that has become somewhat of an artists destination. I had my favorite meals there at a Mexican fusion restaurant popular among tourists.

The local delicacies of grasshoppers and mole (a mixture of 20 to 30 ingredients depending on the cook and the local Native American culture of which there are a surprising number, it always includes unsweetened chocolate) did not sit well with me but the a brew made from Maguey (or Agave - an aloe-like cactus plant) called Mezcal is delicious. It's about 38% alcohol so drink with care.

A day trip to Monte Alban was my first encounter with pre-colonial ruins on such a massive scale. It left me marvelling at how such an advanced culture could have fallen so easily to the Spanish. But I soon realized that despite many historians dwelling on human sacrifices and bloodthirsty intertribal wars, the native american population never developed the weaponry of Europeans that made large scale killing easy, not to mention new diseases which were used as a biological weapon against the natives. They are a relatively peaceful people and I suspect have been so more often than not throughout much of their history.

Don't miss the Cultural Center, a converted convent adjacent to the Cathedral of Santo Domingo. Only begun in 1994 it could become a primary draw for the region with the educational garden still under construction.

We are planning a spring trip to Cancun. We are mostly going so I can Scuba dive, and I really want to see the Mayan ruins.

I do have a question about Cancun though. I know it is very Americanized, so I assume it is pretty safe for gay tourists???

I know most gay people usually go to PVR, but I wanted to try something different, and the diving is not that great on West Coast of Mexico.

Any tips for Cancun would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

Mike

Right on, maxallen! Have a great time.

And again - I cannot recommend Los Xitomates restaurant enough. Seriously - do yourself a favor and go! It's located at 570 Morelos St. in downtown PV (phone number is 222-1695). wink

Sportinlife, I would definitely like to do a cultural tour of Mexico sometime, like you did. I've been to Monterrey on business, and loved it. But this week in PV is all about doing absolutely nothing.

Last year we stayed at Blue Chairs, and we had a wonderful time but felt we over-paid for the rooms. You can get a 2-bedroom condo for just slightly more than a regular room at Blue Chairs. We're staying at Plazamar condos, right next to the little plaza/park area in the heart of the Zona Romantica. It's close to many of the restaurants and bars (Paco Paco!) and just a short walk to the pier where the day cruises leave, and a little further down to the Blue Chairs beach. We will definitely make a point to seek out Cafe de Olla and Los Xitomates. We might have eaten there last year. We ate at some great restaurants, but I don't remember their names.

They're predicting snowstorms in KC on Sunday and Wednesday. I'm soooooo glad I won't be here.

Well, we left sunny Puerto Vallarta this morning after a 7-day stay, and returned to 15 degrees and 12 inches of new snow.

Besides being a great gay-friendly area, the old section of PV is truly a dining aficionado's dream. It felt so great to once again be embraced by the city where everyone smiles, and is happy and relaxed. Non-PV veterans should please forgive me for the long post, but we had so much fun I wanted to give a blow-by-blow account of our great vacation before I forget...

Saturday night arrival: We ate late at El Torito, having great Mexican food -- enchiladas and burritos and the like. Then we went to Club Paco Paco right next door, and proceeded to get drunk and watch the go-go boys take their clothes off.

Sunday: Went to the beach, and then later we joined the straight crowd at Senor Frog's to watch the Super Bowl. Paid $30 each for open bar and all-you-can-eat, and got so drunk on margaritas that we had to leave in the third quarter and finish watching the game in our condo.

Monday: Went to the beach all day, then started drinking at Blue Chairs' beach happy hour, then went up to the roof top to continue drinking. We got drunk. Hmmmm. On the way back to the condo, we stopped in at the poolside bar of Vallarta Cora (behind the Oasis), where clothing is optional. We opted out. Of our clothing, that is. Did I mention we were drunk? We (hubby and I and our two traveling companion buddies) swam naked in the very warm heated pool and got way friendlier with each other and a bunch of strangers than I ever thought I would. Then, thoroughly sloshed (and clothed again), we somehow made our way back to the condo building, trapsing through all of the sidewalk cafes along Calle Olas Altas at the height of the dinner hour, and then went to Burros Bar on the beach for dinner. I think it was pretty good, and I think we got kicked out.

Tuesday: Nursing 4 hangovers, we slept late and then walked to the Malecon for a little shopping, and then I slept in the sun by the rooftop pool of our building. That evening we went to Drag Queen Bingo at Blue Chairs, and had a G.R.E.A.T. dinner at the Kit Kat Club. Then we called it a night.

Wednesday: We did a horseback excursion with a really cute guide, Juan. Went into the mountains from the Conchas Chinas neighborhood, and swam in some mountain streams among caves and waterfalls. That evening we had dinner at one of the Italian restaurants on Olas Altas, where I had great chicken cacciatore. Then we went to Los Amigos bar for a couple of rounds, and then to The Palm where we watched a great performer sing and play the flute and sax in a very fun, jazzy style.

Thursday: Beach day. All day. Then dinner at a canivore's dream, the restaurant for Atkins dieters, Asaderos. It was wonderful. I added a salad to round out my meal, which is presented as a huge cutting board piled full of meat straight off the outdoor grill, for the whole table. Ribs, chicken, beef, sausage, with grilled onions and peppers and tortillas.

Friday: We took a cab out to Le Kliff restaurant for lunch. This truly must be the most amazing and spectacular setting in the world for a restaurant, clinging to the edge of rocks and cliffs like the Swiss Family Robinson House on steriods. We had lobster and shrimp while overlooking the crashing ocean waves. But in the end, we saved the best meal for our last night in PV, at El Brujo in the east side of the Zona Romantica. It looks like just another of the many tiny family-run restaurants in the neighborhood, but the wonderful food is prepared and presented in a manner suitable for the finest restaurants in the world. The chef is a real treasure. Eight of us had two rounds of drinks, awesome and unique appetizers, and orgasmic main dishes for around $150 US, including a 20% tip. Incredible.

Saturday (today): Time to go home.

I should add that we had great breakfasts in the neighborhood restaurants every day (huevos rancheros, yum), and snacked our way through lunch most days (except Friday). I must have gained 10 pounds.

Time to start planning for next year. Maybe we'll make it two weeks.

[ February 07, 2004, 07:50 PM: Message edited by: maxallen ]

Slut.

Glad you had such a great time.

Thanks JiP! It was kinda slutty, but oh-so-fun.

I added four pics of me in PV to my Yahoo photo album. Here's the link. No, no naked pics from Monday's drunken antics, and no shirtless pics. After I saw the jelly roll around my middle in the beach pictures, I vowed to hit the gym again next week after having laid off from working out ever since Thanksgiving. I'll add some more PV pics after I sort through all them on the CD I got from Wal-Mart's 30-minute photo developing.

[ February 08, 2004, 02:31 PM: Message edited by: maxallen ]

Max I clicked on the link before reading What a disappointment!! wink

PV is such a fun place. Four of us went a couple of years ago right after Thanksgiving, and we had such a blast that week. I can't wait to go again. There is just too much to see and do in a weeks time! I did get to para-sail, we did the 1/2 day gay cruise and we went on the gay hot springs trip.

I really did get jealous, sorry Max, reading about your trip and being stuck here in the snow while you were gone! Glad you had a great time though.

This is near Puerto Vallarta. Good if you want to get away from it all:
http://www.verana.com/

Puerto Vallarta Pictures! I added some beach pictures and others from PV to my Yahoo photo album. The Blue Chairs Beach picture is the main gay section of the beach operated by the Blue Chairs hotel, which is the 6-story white building in the left background. The Bingo picture is from the weekly drag queen bingo game at Blue Chairs' roof-top bar.

TomFord, that place is stunningly beautiful. Thanks for the link.

[ February 15, 2004, 06:22 PM: Message edited by: maxallen ]