Cinco de Mayo Extended: Mexico’s Many Festivities

One of my favorite things about Mexico is there is ALWAYS a celebration of some sort. In the past two weeks alone, we have had Dia de los Ninos (Children’s Day), Primero de May (Labor Day), Dia de la Crux, Cinco de Mayo and Dia de la Madre (Mother’s Day). Each holiday elicits a fiesta: parades, fireworks, shows on the plaza, or a day off of work. On any given day, you could be driving down the street and stopped for a small parade crossing the street and not even be sure why.  

In addition to all of the holidays, there always seems to be a festival of some sort. There are film festivals, art festivals, and (most importantly) food and wine festivals. One of the greatest festivals of the year, the Atruism Festival, was held this past weekend. 

The best thing about the Altruism Festival is that that the proceeds support more than 20 local non-profit organizations. The next best thing is that more than 40 local restaurants donate food and drink to the attendees. For 400 pesos (that’s about $32 US), you can eat and drink some of the finest foods in the Vallarta area. Restaurants like Barcelona Tapas, Café de Artistes, River Cafe and Daiquiri Dick’s each have a table set up and selections from their menu available. Desserts from Pie in the Sky and other fine pastry shops are offered, and all beverages (water, beer, wine, tequila, etc.) are included. We attended for the first time this year, and all of the food was delicious! 

After we sufficiently stuffed our faces, we were entertained for over an hour by local dancers and a show by the crew of Rhythms of the Night. As with all festivities here in Puerto Vallarta, the evening ended with a fireworks show (we see fireworks here every single night and it never gets old).

Before the end of the month, we have Restaurant Week, the Wind Festival and one of the biggest holidays of the year here, Puerto Vallarta’s Birthday on May 31^st. To top off the festivities, the weather is absolutely perfect this time of year. So, pack your bags & come on down, or book your trip now to attend next year’s Altruism Festival! We will certainly never miss it again!

- Stephanie Watts, Destination Expert

To join the festivities click here or call 1.844.258.8144 to speak to a Destination Expert!

The Mexico Tourism Board: Reaching New Heights

Wow! I’m impressed. I know that the Mexico Tourism Board has been working overtime in the past couple of years to create a campaign and a platform that is both inviting and professional. You may have noticed a few tempting TV ads or colorful magazine placements aimed at educating you about “what you’ve been missing” in Mexico. Well, I recently came across their updated website:  http://mexicotoday.org/, and I’m thrilled. 

Not only is this site beautiful, informative and organized, but it’s in English! Are you wondering about current events in Mexico? Curious to hear from the locals? Need travel ideas? The website breaks it all down, clearly and concisely, via categories such as Culture, Economy, Environment, Mexico & The World, and Tourism. Great articles, like “SanMiguel de Allende- the most beautiful town in Mexico?"  or “World EconomicForum on Latin America- Highlights” will help to make you a better informed tourist, businessperson or citizen of the world. Check it out and let me know what you think!

Fun Day in Puerto Vallarta

Recently we had the opportunity to book the Marea Baja Villa in Puerto Vallarta.  With that reservation we were provided our own private tour of Puerto Vallarta and it was awesome! Most of the tours have a lot of people in a stuffy bus or van. We were in our own Suburban with our personal driver/tour guide visiting some of the places most tours wouldn’t go to. For example he took us to a little ice cream shop that makes homemade ice cream pops. He also took us to the best markets in town to pick up our souvenirs.

The Marea Baja Villa was amazing. We had our own private beach to swim in the ocean or a pool that overlooked the ocean to swim in if we wanted (see picture below).  

All the bedrooms were very comfortable and well kept. The villa had a nice flat screen TV and a big stereo system so you could listen to music while soaking in the pool or in the kitchen while eating.  One of the bedrooms had a Jacuzzi tub with a window that had an awesome view of the ocean. My personal favorite though was the food. The Villa provided us with Julia, our own chef. After our tour was done we came back and had the best guacamole I have ever tasted with pico de gallo and chips. That night she made us an amazing three course candle lit dinner with the sound of the ocean in the background. It was one of the best meals as far as atmosphere and taste I have ever had. 

If I am in Puerto Vallarta again this is where I will stay!

- Happy Couple, Puerto Vallarta Couple's Retreat 



Celebrities in Mexico

If you follow us on Facebook or Twitter, you have surely  seen several posts regarding celebrity visits to Mexico.  You can thank me for that.  HA!  I am a bit of a celebrity gossip junkie.  But, what I’m really trying to do is show the world that they don’t have to be afraid to travel to Mexico.  In all honesty, one is more likely to experience criminal activity in NYC or Houston, TX than in the resort towns of Mexico.  Some of the more popular locations for celebrity vacations include Punta Mita and Cabo San Lucas.  Everyone from the Kardashians to Lady Gaga, George Clooney and Stacy Keibler, even the President’s daughter can be found enjoying time in Mexico.  So, what are you waiting for?  

Visit www.mexicandestinations.com or talk to one of our Destination Experts 1.844.258.8144 to book your celebrity vacation today!

Puerto Vallarta's First Annual Salsa/Mambo Festival

This weekend marked the 1st annual Salsa/MamboFestival in Puerto Vallarta. The event included exhibitions, workshops and nights of dancing that would blow your mind. A friend of mine, here in Vallarta, is a salsa instructor, and she invited a few of us to join her at “White Night” at Senor Frog’s (mind you, I haven’t been in Senor Frogs since spring break 20 years ago). So, we got all dolled up in our sassiest white attire and hit the town. What we witnessed and experienced, I wouldn’t have missed for the world. Remember the initial dance scene in Dirty Dancing? Well, it pales in comparison to a full-on salsa experience. The second the music started, the dance floor was jammed packed. A couple of us sat back and just watched in awe. Salsa is kind of like swing-dancing, but sexier. The footwork, the spins and twirls and the swinging hips were spectacular. There were several exhibition dances throughout the evening from local professionals. My favorite was a group of kids, ranging in age from 5-9. They were fantastic! 

Exhibition dancers at the 1st Annual Salsa Mambo Festival

I consider myself a decent dancer. I’ve got rhythm and can pick up a dance step pretty easily. But, I was humbled when I was asked to dance (it’s a couples thing, so the ladies have to wait to be asked to dance). The footwork is fast and if you miss a step, you’re all over the place. Lucky for me, my partner was patient and excited that I wanted to learn, so he taught me a few basics and by the end of the song, I was twirling around like I knew what I was doing. And now, I’ve got the salsa bug! I can’t wait to take some lessons. When the festival comes around this time next year, I want to be on that dance floor and know what I’m doing.  

- Stephanie Watts, Destination Expert

Best Restaurant in Puerto Vallarta?! My Vote

Photo taken from www.barcelonatapas.net

We have said it before and it just keeps getting better. Puerto Vallarta is home to some of the best restaurants in the world. With so many options, it’s hard to narrow in on just one. But, I’ve risen to the challenge (I know, poor me) and I’m ready to cast my vote. Barcelona Restaurant, located right downtown on the corner of Matamoros and de Octubre, boasts a hilltop location with panoramic views of the beautiful Bay of Banderas. My suggestion: bring a group, bring a camera, order lots of yummy sangria and try everything! If you aren’t familiar with tapas style serving, you can expect small portion sizes of the most savory dishes, with something to excite every palate. Seriously, I have yet to try a dish that I don’t like. You will relish in the food, the drink and your charming company, yet you will find that you cannot help but periodically lose yourself in the smell of the fresh salt air and peaceful tranquility of the ocean.     

- Noelle Michaud, Destination Expert

Don’t like Tequila or Guacamole? Me either!

Everyone gives me a hard time for living in Mexico and not liking tequila or guacamole. I know it’s odd, but I’ll admit that I’ve always been a fairly picky eater. I grew up in a “meat & potatoes” household, so for about the past 20 years I’ve been trying to expand my horizons by trying different genres of food. Unfortunately, I have a texture issue with some things and avocados and guacamole fall into that category. As for tequila, well, I think many of us can say we’ve had a bad experience with tequila at some point in time. When I uttered the words “I’m never drinking tequila again,” I meant it. 

So, what does one eat if not the fundamentals of a Mexican diet? The answer:  A LOT! There are countless restaurants in Puerto Vallarta, offering a diverse selection of cuisine. Here are some of my favorites:

La Cigale: Crossing the threshold of La Cigale, you will be instantly transported to the streets of Paris. In the short time this French Bistro has been open, it has become a favorite of locals and visitors alike. The menu includes traditional French Onion soup, escargot and ratatouille. The wine list is extensive and the desserts are scrumptious. Tip:  You should make a reservation.  It’s not a very big place and its popularity guarantees a wait if you don’t have one

Barcelona Tapas: If you are looking for a place to celebrate a special occasion, Barcelona Tapas is the spot. This rooftop restaurant overlooks downtown and the food is spectacular. Spanish tapas are small, appetizer size portions, which is a great way to have a little bit of everything on the menu. Some of our favorite selections are baked goat cheese, spicy garlic shrimp, paella, and of course, the sangria. Tips:  Plan on dining around dusk so you can watch the sunset and catch the nightly fireworks around 9pm.  Daily lunch promotions are available from Noon-4pm. 

La Posta: Located right in the heart of downtown, along the malecon, is La Posta a Restaurante Italiano. La Posta offers a casual atmosphere and one of the best pizzas in town. The homemade ravioli is one of my favorites and the risotto is tasty as well. Tip: Pizzas are only 65 pesos on Mondays. 

View of Daquiri Dick's outdoor patio 

Daquiri Dick’s: The award-winning Daquiri Dick’s has been a favorite for 40 years. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, guests can dine on the outdoor patio or on the beach. The menu can be characterized as Mediterranean/Mexican cuisine with an Asian influence. Their roasted red pepper salsa is unbelievably delicious…I could just sit, eat the chips and salsa and skip the main meal!  Tip: Daquiri Dick’s makes their own pastries so be sure to stop by for Sunday brunch.