Puerto Vallarta Rentals Blog

The fabulous country of Mexico is steeped in history from the time of the Aztecs to the time of the Spanish conquistadores. When you travel here for your vacation, Mexico will show you its best. You can visit the ruins of Aztec cities or bask in the warm waters near the golden Mexican beaches.

The ancient cities of the Aztecs are a wondrous sight to explore. As you climb the many steps you are taken back in time. You can imagine the streets that are filled with the well dressed nobles in their rich clothing with their gold and gem studded jewelry. On your Mexico trip, you will see the vendors selling their wares at street side stalls. Look up at the pyramid shaped temple and you can see the well armored ceremonial guards standing on each side of the main temple steps.

For a lovely beach side Mexico holiday, you will have golden stretches of beaches with the warm Pacific Ocean to play in. Here there are many water sports that you can do. From scuba diving to swimming or even water skiing. You can take a boat out for a relaxing time of deep sea fishing. You can also just relax by the hotel’s pool and drink pina coladas and the ever necessary tequila shots. Get out the salt and lime, or you could just go it straight.

There are a great many different places that you could go on your %keyword2%, it will be able to cater to all your needs. From Cabo San Lucas, to Puerto Vallarta, to Cancun, and even to Cordoba, Monterrey or Mexico City. It all just depends on where you want to go for this Mexico vacation, it can you offer you a host of other glorious places to go to as well. You can’t do all this in one go but you can come back again and again to enjoy your Mexican experience.

Then you’ll be wanting to visit the many bazaars and stalls that are a part of the Mexican culture. You can come away with great bargains, and a feeling of contentment for having bought the perfect little rug to put next to your bed. Along with the perfect piece of pottery to give your mother, the perfect wall hanging to give your grandmother and let’s not forget the perfect sets of jewelry that seemed tailor made just for you.

You can enjoy your vacation in Mexico in style and go back home well satisfied that your trip was all that it was cracked up to be. In Mexico you will find a little gem of a country just waiting for you to explore it. And that’s what will keep you coming back again and again.

Did you know that Puerto Vallarta is tucked away in the middle of the Bay of Banderas, in the Mexican pacific coast? There you will find a gorgeous tourist town rapidly becoming one of the most popular holiday spots in the world. I didn?t know that Puerto Vallarta is reported to be the most repeated holiday destinations on earth. By that, they mean that more people return here for a second, third or more holidays than any other place they go.

Puerto Vallarta is alive with a buzz of international tourism, drawing huge numbers from the US and Canada as well as a growing European influx. Entering from the north you pass the airport and the first area of interest you will come across is the Marina. The area got its name, most obviously because it is built around docking facilities for thousands of boats of all descriptions from canoes, kayaks and jets skis to tour boats and multi-million dollar yachts. Continuing along highway 200, now narrowed to the main street, you enter the Hotel Zone. This area of course is where you find a lot of hotels, many familiar American names and some Condos Puerto Vallarta. The beach here is gorgeous and you will find some great dining.

Cross over the bridge and you enter Centro. Here you will find shops too multiple to describe? jewelry shops, art galleries, clothing stores, more time share offers than you can believe, souvenir shops by the score, restaurants with just about any kind of food you taste buds desire. This is the most diverse area of town. On the right you will find the ocean with terrific views from one tip of the bay to the other while on the left the street is lined with shops. Check out the wonderful collection of statues all crafted from bronze, stone and concrete that adorns the wide sidewalk known as the Malecon. Meander the side streets for hours and you will find delightful little discoveries guaranteed to satisfy your hunt for an unusual gift. If you get a chance take in the Art Walk, happening every Wednesday, a casual stroll of the many art galleries in this area complete with snacks and a drink offered at participating galleries. Just look for an Art Walk flyer, you will find them at shops all over this area.

Continuing south from the Malecon you will cross another bridge, over the River Cuale into Zona Romantica. I guess you could call Centro and The Malecon the center of this city. Zona Romantica is the heart, the magic, if you have not by now fallen in love with this town Zona Romantica will win you over. Here you can find the best Villas In Puerto Vallarta!. Taste the flavors of Mexico at a variety of eateries, from roadside vendors where you can eat for a couple dollars to local Cenadurias, all the way up to five star North American style fine dining experiences on the beach. Don?t be afraid to explore here, both on a culinary level and on a cultural level. Try some local dishes like pozole, molcajete, fried cheese tacos, mahi mahi, it?s all delicious. Let one of the small sidewalk cafes or bars lure you in with offerings of great service, fabulous food and just a plain magical experience.

Above Zona Romantica on the hillside you will find lots of foreign influence again with beautiful villas and condos owned primarily by foreigners and ex patriots most of which can be rented.

Puerto Vallarta is no longer just a cute little Mexican town. It has grown into a diverse, culturally rich tourist destination making its mark proudly on the map. As world commerce grows and travel becomes more and more accessible to the masses Puerto Vallarta has kept pace and in many cases surpassed others as the place to be for your next exotic vacation. Go online and reserve your Puerto Vallarta Rentals you?ll be glad you did!!

Mexico is getting another beach resort on its Pacific coast.

President Felipe Calderon says the resort will boast 7 miles of beach, a marina, golf courses, hotels and condominiums.

Calderon says it will create 78,000 jobs, attract 3 million tourists a year and generate $2.8 billion annually.

Calderon calls the development in Escuinapa, Sinaloa, the most important tourism project in 25 years.

The president said Monday that the government will provide about US$500 million to build the resort. Private investment is expected to come up with nearly US$7 billion.

Mexico’s economy relies heavily on tourism. The country draws millions of visitors each year to beach resorts like Cancun and Puerto Vallarta.

Puerto Vallarta has a lot of natural beauty and charming resorts that makes their visitors to make a bee line for them.

Puerto Vallarta is one of the most seductive and elegant resorts in Mexico that captivates visitors? attention by the fantastic entertainment or they may even find this place to be a private hideaway. Blended with new and old architecture, its original pueblo remains intermingled with modern and luxurious beachfront resort.

Luxury hotels and shopping centers have sprung up north and south of the original town, causing Vallarta to become bigger, having a population of 250,000 without losing its beauty and charm. A graceful cathedral stands beyond the cobblestones streets with a welcoming atmosphere.

The ?Ecotourism? activities of Puerto Vallarta are becoming more famous ? from mountain biking on the foothills of Sierra, activities such as whale watching, ocean kayaking, and diving with huge mantas in Banderas Bay. Lots of pristine coves are accessible only by boat and the mystical Huichol Indians in the high mountains of Sierra Madre still live in virtual isolation, with an effort to protect their centuries-old culture from other influences.

Puerto Vallarta was never the ?sleepy little fishing village? that others would proclaim. The bay of Puerto Vallarta has a wealth of natural beauty, glorious sunsets, friendly people, world-class sport fishing and great cuisine, not to mention its first class resorts, shopping places, waters for scuba diving and sailing. Puerto Vallarta?s Bahia de Banderas serves as the gorgeous playground; it begins where the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific Ocean meets, forming one of the largest bays in the world and the largest in Mexico. Punta Mita extends to the beautiful bay of flags directly from the north (near Sierra De Vallejo Ranges) to the Cabo Corrientes (situated in the lower ranges of Sierra del Cuale Peaks).

Punta Mita is one of the most attractive beaches in Puerto Vallarta, located in a small fishing village that offers spectacular scenery and water – sport venues. On the other side lies the Marieta Islands providing exceptional activities like snorkeling, scuba diving and even whale – watching. Heading south towards the city is Bucerias, a pretty beach community and fishing village in cobblestone streets with sandy coves.

Breezy water runs down from the mountains next to R?o Cuale, which flows through the heart of the town. Fantastic public sculptures, the malecon, adorn the chief harbor street, bordered by lively restaurants, shops, and bars. The malec?n is a crowd-puller for both locals and visitors. Anybody could go for a stroll on the broad walkway to take in an ocean breeze, watching the multihued sunset, or a moonlit or enjoy seeing a perfect wave. Fantastic malec?n sculptures line the seaside?s boardwalk.

Among the ones on display are the notable works of Ramiz Barquett, the ?Nostalgia? crossing from Carlos O?Brian restaurant. It gives a romantic moment for couples while gazing out at the bay. On the southern side is the sculpture group at the Rotonda del Mar, in the vicinity known as Fantasy by the Sea are samples of sculptures, mostly chairs created by Alejandro Colunga, the famous Mexican artist. These passionately created sculptures are largely series of a massive octopus head that serves as a trimming on a chair; the other bench has two giant ears for backrests, which always seemed to draw a crowd. Near the main square is the Boy on the Seahorse sculpture, an image that has come to represent Puerto Vallarta. Don?t fail to spot the fountain across from the main square; the three bronze dolphins seem ready to leap right into the bay. Other controversial figures down the length of the malec?n are Sergio Bustamante?s & Mathis Lidice?s version of the march of time, the contentious ?Ladder to Heaven?, found across Hotel Rosita at the northernmost edge of the malec?n.

The town of Puerto Vallarta has too many things to offer, both from the best of the country?s natural beauty and an authentic dose of its vibrant culture, to hotels of all classes and prices, having over 250 restaurants, a sizzling nightlife, and enough shops and galleries to tempt even jaded consumers.

Puerto Vallarta is located in Mexico, bordering the Pacific Ocean. In English Puerto means Port, hence it is called Vallarta Port. The major economic activity of Puerto Vallarta is Tourism. Tourism contributes to around 50% of the state economy. The major tourism season is between November and March. Puerto Vallarta Villas have become a popular weekend destination as well as vacation targets for many Americans. The increases in tourists have given rise to clubs, resorts, condominium, hotels and rental apartments. There is one for everyone?s budget. It is a tropical delight with warm sea breeze and remarkable beaches just a few meters away from your hotel doorstep. The night life is very active with number of pubs and night clubs rapidly increasing in this place. It is advised to rent Puerto Vallarta condos for comfort. Experience the snorkeling, scuba diving, eco parks, golfing, fishing boats and many more thrilling pleasures. You have to be there to feel it. One of the most popular tourist locations is the Marina, where you can see a huge whale statue shaped by Octavio. The attraction is mainly due to the docking facilities where thousands of boats are berthed ranging from a canoe to a multi-million yacht. Puerto Vallarta has grown immensely, taking its prestigious position on the tourist map. The place is conveniently connected by air and land to enable sightseers to reach the place quickly and easily. Puerto Vallarta rentals could be made simple by Puerto Vallarta Rentals website. Their excellent rentals service is beyond comparison. The website contains innumerable information about the place. Their effective search engine and rental services make planning very easy. They cater to tourist worldwide through their online reservation system. Their professionalism and dedication to their customers has assigned a special position for itself in the tourist world. Puerto Vallarta Rentals can make your Mexican holiday an unforgettable experience to cherish all your life.

Rob and Mary Ladner pictured their dream retirement as a sailing trip around the world. But everything changed when they cruised into the big, balmy bay of Puerto Vallarta 10 years ago.

Seduced by swaying palm trees, colorful markets and cheap beachfront housing, the Ladners dropped anchor. The couple bought a corner condominium in a master-planned community 1,500 miles from their native California, but with nearly all the amenities of home.

Crossing the border to find a better life, the Ladners are in the first wave of what some are comparing to a reverse migration flow.

With 76 million American baby boomers hitting retirement age over the next two decades, experts say as many as 8 million may choose to live out their golden years in Mexico.

“And even if just a percentage of those come, that’s a significant quantity,” said Sergio Due?as, president of the Mexican Association of Real Estate Professionals.

U.S. retirees are expected to flock to nearly every region of Mexico. Already, retirees are venturing into previously undiscovered fishing villages and colonial pueblos.

Mexico’s cost of living for American retirees is an estimated 30 percent cheaper than in the U.S. Parts of the country offer an easygoing existence that many retirees say is a world away from the bloody headlines of Mexican drug violence.

Ken Harbour, a San Antonio native and retired pharmaceuticals salesman, moved to Puerto Vallarta 15 years ago. Since then, his $150,000 beachfront condominium has tripled in value and he’s seen very little to make him nervous.

“All the time we have friends who say, We just read about six guys getting their heads cut off,’ ” he said. “But how many people were shot or killed in Houston or Dallas last night? It’s just a much easier-going lifestyle here. It’s a lot less stress.”

Other retirees find a fulfillment in Mexico that they never expected when they first arrived. Robin Loving Rowland and her husband left Austin three years ago, buying and remodeling a home in the colonial city of San Miguel de Allende in central Mexico for $120,000.

Rowland loved the dramatic architecture and the near-perfect climate, but said her life took on new meaning when she began volunteering at a nearby orphanage for girls.

“When I lived in Austin, I couldn’t think of any other place in the world I would rather live,” said Rowland, a retired public relations specialist. “But we don’t miss it a bit. … We could have retired in the U.S., but we would have been pretty bored.”

Real estate agents say Mexico tends to attract retirees who want to remain busy as they grow older.

Stretching retirement dollars

“Mexico is for the more adventurous, people who don’t want to wind down,” said Alex Urrutia, sales director of Luma, an upscale development near Puerto Vallarta. “It takes away the typical idea of retirement. It’s more like a permanent vacation.”

An increasing number of retirees on fixed incomes see Mexico as the best way to stretch their retirement dollars.

Richard Schwartzkopf, 68, and Bonnie Graham, 60, rent a comfortable two-bedroom house in a traditional Mexican neighborhood in Puerto Vallarta for just $300 a month.

Schwartzkopf, a retired metal finisher from Oregon, lives off of his monthly Social Security check. Graham, a retired Red Cross worker in Vancouver, Canada, lives from a modest pension.

“We know all kinds of people,” Schwartzkopf said on a recent afternoon as the couple shopped at Puerto Vallarta’s recently opened Costco grocery store. “People with money and people just getting by like us.”

But retirees on limited budgets need to do their homework when it comes to healthcare, experts say. Medicare benefits don’t extend into Mexico and while many private Mexican hospitals compare favorably with the level of care in the U.S., private insurance can be expensive, said David Warner, a University of Texas public affairs professor.

One option is buying into Mexico’s inexpensive social security system.

“(It’s) not necessarily a bad option,” he said. “The Mexican government has a history of setting up primary-care facilities that are pretty good in these retirement areas.”

Experts say the retirement boom ? more than 100,000 American retirees are believed to live in Mexico ? is due in part to the growth of the network of real estate agents and lawyers aimed at helping retirees to navigate Mexico’s complicated homebuying laws.

Mexico, where most real estate transactions are carried out in cash, has largely been immune to the mortgage crunch in the United States. It has enjoyed a stable, slow-growing economy for the past 15 years and is in the midst of a home construction boom.

But despite the rosy long-term projections for Mexican real estate, experts say a combination of border violence and the economic slowdown in the U.S. is making for a tough year.

With a miserable market in the U.S., some potential retirees are having trouble selling their American homes, while others are becoming more conservative with their money, real estate agents say.

And worries over drug violence has particularly hurt sales at retirement havens in places like northern Baja California and south of the Arizona border, said David Collins, director of the consulting group Active Living International.

At the same time, retirement destinations in the interior are seeing unprecedented investment, fueled in part by an influx of retirees from Canada, which hasn’t suffered the U.S.’ housing meltdown.

Collins said that retirees headed far from the border tend to feel safe. “They think, This is an enclave away from the violence and danger,’ ” he said.

Remote areas lure Americans

Some American retirees, both those seeking an authentic Mexico experience and those on the eternal quest for affordable paradise, have moved into ever more remote areas, far from the nearest Wal-Mart or airport.

About 70 miles north of Puerto Vallarta, the tiny fishing village of Chacala has become the latest hot spot for American and Canadian retirees.

Chacala has bumpy dirt roads and just a handful of rustic restaurants, but it also has one of Mexico’s most picturesque bays, dramatic jungle scenery and lower prices than Puerto Vallarta.

“So many more people are more comfortable (with Mexico) than they were 20 years ago,” said Rod Rosile, a Chacala resident who left San Diego 12 years ago and now sells real estate north of Puerto Vallarta.

Rosile initially bought a home in the nearby surfing haven of Sayulita for $11,000. He promptly watched home values skyrocket and moved up the road to Chacala when Sayulita got “too busy.”

A few years ago he bought one of the first homes in a new Chacala subdivision for about $250,000. That home nearly doubled in value and Rosile now lives in a luxurious beachside home worth about $500,000.

While such success stories are becoming harder to find as housing values climb in Mexico, Rosile said possibilities for cheap paradise still exist in remote areas.

Rosile believes the rejuvenating effects of Mexico will also begin to lure younger Americans in larger numbers.

“Most of us give up so much of our lives (in the U.S.) ? we get up at dawn and work through the day and I was just tired of that,” he said. “The Americans I see coming here are not just the retirees, but the younger people who say, I’ve just about had it.”‘

Puerto Vallarta Rentals

One of the best investments you can do especially if you?re living in Mexico or you just want to have a place there is in Puerto Vallarta Villas. This is a place you can go if you want to enjoy your dream vacation or if you want to retire. You will never regret in staying in some Puerto Vallarta condos as the place is so amazing, so beautiful. The beaches are so calm and relaxing. You can enjoy the exciting cultural events they offer, fine dining and who of course, shopping!
There are plenty of investments choices to choose from. There are Puerto Vallarta villas, Puerto Vallarta Condos Puerto Vallarta Homes. These properties are perfect investment in Mexico. Like what I?ve mentioned, there is wide range of properties to choose form. If you?re single or couple, newlywed couple, you can but the Puerto Vallarta condos. These condos are a bit smaller than a traditional home. This is ideal for single, no children, or just a couple because you don?t have to pay for something you?re not going to use.
If you want something to go and visit on a seasonal basis or whenever you want to take your vacation, what you can buy is one of the villas in Puerto Vallarta. In this way, you have something to visit and a place to stay when you?re on vacation.
Puerto Vallarta Home is the answer if you want a bigger space to stay in, larger vacation home wherein you and your family can enjoy and have fun. There are also Puerto Vallarta Rentals if you just want to rent.
Puerto Vallarta is really the best way to invest and at the same time have your dream vacation. Properties here would not only suit your needs but also would definitely match your budget. You can check pvrpv.com for more information about gay Puerto Vallarta properties.

Puerto Vallarta was once a quiet fishing village, but ever since it served as the backdrop for John Huston?s 1964 film ?The Night of the Iguana,? starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, the sleepy seaside town has grown to become the blockbuster resort that it is today. This longstanding popularity only seems to be increasing among both tourists and retirees, and as a result, Puerto Vallarta’s real estate market is thriving.

Many foreigners looking to retire in Mexico have chosen this seaside town for its beautiful scenery, its small size and the relative ease of conducting day-to-day life with limited Spanish required. Interest among international buyers is so great that almost all real estate agencies quote prices in dollars.

About Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta, west of Guadalajara
Located on the Pacific coast, the municipality of Puerto Vallarta occupies 502.19 square miles and has a view of the beautiful Sierra Madre mountains. With its estimated population hovering around 300,000, the city is the fifth largest in the Mexican state of Jalisco.

Tourism is the largest industry in the area, followed by agriculture and fishing. Puerto Vallarta is the second most visited resort town in Mexico and welcomes 2.2 million tourists annually, according to Visit Puerto Vallarta Mexico, an online guide to the city.

The city?s official slogan, ?where Mexico comes to life,? rings true to John Youden, founder of Puerto Vallarta’s real estate multiple listing service, Multi List Vallarta, and owner of Vallarta Lifestyles Publishing Group, he said. ?Puerto Vallarta is a Mexican town that became an international tourist destination. Los Cabos and Cancun, for the most part, were planned destinations,? he said. Puerto Vallarta has a lot of Mexico to offer, according to Mr. Youden. ?Its downtown central area with its plaza and Malecon offers something truly unique. It is also very close to Guadalajara, Mexico?s second largest city.?

Puerto Vallarta was ranked in NuWire’s top five Mexican real estate markets in 2008. In 2000, Puerto Vallarta sold roughly $50 million in resort real estate, which is defined as property purchased by retirees or as a second home, according to Darryl Bowie, the general manager of Coldwell Banker La Costa Realty. Million-dollar homes were rare and there were only a few large scale developments. In 2007, resort real estate sales reached $500 million. There were condos selling for $2 million apiece and homes garnering a hefty $5 million, according to Coldwell Banker La Costa Realty.

As of summer 2008, there are more than 100 developments around Banderas Bay, making Puerto Vallarta first in resort property sales in Mexico. Punta Mita, one of the better known developments, has Four Seasons, Ritz Carlton and St. Regis Hotels and two Jack Nicklaus Signature golf courses. “The whole area is booming, from Rincon de Guayabitos in the north to Mismaloya in the south,” Bowie said.

The major property buyers in Puerto Vallarta are Mexicans, Americans and Canadians and mostly they come looking in one of three categories, according to figures from Coldwell Banker La Costa. Some are seeking full-time winter homes. Others are looking for a second home that can also double as a rental property. Many are looking to retire in Puerto Vallarta.

“This year, with the sub-prime crisis, election, price of oil and other economic factors, we have seen a noticeable drop in American buyers and a noticeable rise in American sellers. The Canadian buyers have really stepped in with a strong dollar, however, as the oil-based inflation woes make the news, even the Canadian buyers are being more cautious than usual,” Bowie said.

Those who are looking for properties under $250,000 but want amenities such as a pool, beach, security, view and proximity to downtown are finding a market where prices are much higher than they expected, according to Bowie. The market under $400,000 is strong, especially in the condo sector. However, sales from properties valued between $500,000 and $1 million are not doing as well. “At this price range, buyers are faced with a major investment decision and when the economic indicators are all screaming ‘buy gold, inflation is looming, oil is going higher, cash is king, the sky is falling,’ they put the dream on hold,” Bowie said.

“The $500,000 to $1,000,000 market seems to be softening at this time, with a desire toward either less expensive condos in the $300s or very high-end condos and villas, typically over $2 million,” said Wayne Franklin, president of Tropicasa Reality. The top end of the market is doing quiet a bit better than any other portion of the market. “This makes sense because economic fluctuations affect high profile clients less,” Franklin said.

The paperwork and real estate language used during property transaction may seem similar to those used in the United States but international buyers must remember that similarity does not translate into sameness. They must research every turn and ensure all procedures are completed in accordance to Mexican law. Generally, property purchase involves a bank, a lawyer, a real estate company and a public notary, according to Mexonline. Transactions that are not within restricted zones don’t need to involve banks. Read more bout Mexican real estate law in our article The Myth of Mexican Property Ownership.

“Investors need to do their homework and work with an AMPI [Mexican Association of Real Estate Professionals] agent to make sure that they are being represented properly,” Franklin said. Buyers must review and evaluate documents of their chosen development critically to ensure that everything is as it seems. “If the investor has found a valid project, preconstruction developers sometimes offer great discounts for entry level into a development. Others offer terrific terms throughout the course of the construction. In Mexico, prices increase on developments as inventory decreases, so price escalations are typically built into the model. You may also find a developer whose sales have stagnated. They?ve reached a plateau and they need to get moving again. Being in the right place at the right time can pay off in these projects. You may be able to convince a developer to give you that ‘special deal’ on the next unit sold so that he can get sales moving again,” he said.

The next few years

Real estate agents are optimistic about the future of the Puerto Vallarta property market as new developments are planned to open the town to even greater numbers of tourists. “A new highway is under construction to Guadalajara, which will bring more visitors to the beach. This will be a huge boom for Vallarta. People will need lodging, food and want to shop and drink. All businesses will enjoy an uptick in activity, real estate and hotels especially,” said Franklin.

“The baby boomer population continues to retire with huge wealth despite U.S. economic factors. Vallarta, with its proximity to major wealth centers in the States, will continue to grow and be among one of the top vacation and retirement destination as baby boomers look for more out of life,” he added.
Puerto Vallarta Rentals

Puerto Vallarta is a popular city in Mexico that is well-known amongst travelers as one of the best resort locations in North America. The majority of the economy in Puerto Vallarata is centered around tourism so everything in the city and surrounding area is geared towards attracting vacationers. This means that there is no shortage of places to stay, things to see and activities to do. Puerto Vallarta is not only popular with travelers from abroad but locals as well. Many residents of nearby cities travel to Puerto Vallarta on the weekends.

Puerto Vallarta

With all this great tourism comes great expense as well. The resort hotels in Puerto Vallarta can be incredibly expensive. Thankfully, there are some alternate choices for people interested in staying for an extended length of time. The most popular, renting one of the many Puerto Vallarta villas is a great way to save some money. Puerto Vallarta condos are also another rental option.

Renting a villa or condo for a week will be cheaper for you and your group than staying in a hotel. You might not get all of the perks and benefits of staying in a high class resort hotel when you stay in a villa or condo, but the savings you?ll receive by renting can be put towards other parts of your vacation. With so many things to do inside and around Puerto Vallarta any money you can save on your accommodations will make your Mexican vacation that much more exciting.

The industry surrounding Puerto Vallarta rentals has begun to boom over the last few years. People are becoming less and less interested in hotel resorts which can sometimes feel stuffy and uncomfortable. By renting a homey condo or villa you can have a more relaxing and stress free vacation with you and your family without worrying about added costs and high priced things like room service and other amenities you can probably get by without.

Walt and Jean Smith start their mornings with coffee on the terrace. Sometimes they spy a school of playful dolphins jumping the waves. Usually, though, they watch the town awaken. Women pull tarps off small beach shacks where they’ll soon start grilling the ‘catch of the day.’ Young men joke and chat with each other before they head off in separate directions to sell their colorful wares and silver jewelry.
Later in the day, the Smiths may walk down to the malecon, or seaside boardwalk, for lunch. They know the best restaurants in Puerto Vallarta … those that are off the tourist track and where you can still get a filling lunch of fresh fish, rice, beans, and tortillas for $5 or less.
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, is one of the favored destinations for U.S. and Canadian retirees. Although it’s difficult to corroborate exact numbers, estimates are that one million American and Canadian retirees live in Mexico at least full- or part-time. The Lake Chapala area, south of Guadalajara in the middle of Mexico’s central highlands, is home to the largest concentrated population of U.S. and Canadian retirees living outside the U.S. and Canada.
When the Smiths first retired to Mexico, they settled in the Lake Chapala area, in the village of Ajijic. They bought a large property, remodeled it, and reopened it as an upscale B&B. After five and a half years as innkeepers, they were ready to retire again … for real this time. And this time they chose to live in the famous resort and beach town of Puerto Vallarta.
“Moving from one town to another is fairly typical of the retiree experience in Mexico,” says Dan Prescher, publisher of International Living magazine and the expansive website about living and investing overseas, www.internationalliving.com. Prescher and his wife have themselves lived in three towns in Mexico: Ajijic, San Miguel de Allende, and now Merida in the state of Yucatan.
“Mexico is a very easy country to live in, especially if you’ve never lived overseas before,” says Prescher. “You can drive here easily from the U.S. or Canada, it’s easy to get a resident visa here and to import your household belongings duty-free. It’s easy to start a business. And the cost of living is lower than it is north of the border. Importantly for retirees, especially, health care in Mexico is first rate and can cost 50-60% less than it does back home. While Medicare doesn’t cover you anywhere outside the U.S., foreigners can buy into the Mexican government health insurance program for less than $300 per year. There are, in fact, many perks and discounts extended to retirees in Mexico.”
The country has so much to offer, says International Living editor Laura Sheridan, that for the second year in a row, Mexico ranks #1 on the publication’s Annual Global Retirement Index.
“In Mexico, you can afford the kinds of luxuries only the wealthy enjoy up north … like a maid, a cook, and a gardener,” says Sheridan. “Whatever your vision of the ideal retirement involves … shopping, fishing, sunbathing, diving, mountain climbing, collecting crafts, visiting archeological sites, going to concerts, attending the theater, or fine dining … in Mexico you can have all this and more.”
To determine the Annual Retirement Index, Sheridan says 29 countries, are analyzed and ranked in categories including real estate costs, special benefits offered to retirees, culture, safety and stability, health care, climate, infrastructure, and cost of living.
“We look closely at the best opportunities worldwide for retirement living,” she says. “Where will the pensioner’s dollars go farthest? Which country is the safest? Where is the health care best? We give top priority to those things that matter most to anyone planning for retirement, including programs with special benefits for retirees … things like tax breaks and discounts, for example, that various governments offer in an effort to attract investment and retirement dollars.”
“This is the second consecutive year that Mexico tops our list as the best country in the world to retire to,” Sheridan says. “It’s followed on that list by Ecuador, Panama, Uruguay, and Italy.
“Keep in mind that every place has its pros and cons. And every country has pockets where living is easier … or cheaper … than another. Mexico is a good example of this. Living in a resort city like Puerto Vallarta is more expensive than living in a smaller and lesser-known town like Tepic, just a few hours north.”
The same is true of Italy, Sheridan says, where higher prices are common in the northern part of the country and near big cities like Rome and Florence. “But go south to the Abruzzo, Molise, and Campania regions and towns like Strazzari and Calitri to find the bargains.”
Ecuador, in the number two spot, may be the best-kept retirement secret in the Americas, says International Living publisher Dan Prescher, especially when it comes to real estate prices.
“On a recent trip to Ecuador,” he says, “I saw flat, buildable lots with majestic views overlooking the Pacific Ocean for $6,000. In a tidy gated community right on the beach lots are selling for $18,000. Gorgeous modern condos in high-rise towers in the Oceanside city of Manta sell for $100 per square foot. And in the highlands, prices can be even lower. How does $46,000 sound for an 1,100-square-foot penthouse with views of two volcanoes?”
This is the 16th year that International Living, founded in 1979, has compiled its Annual Retirement Index.
The United States ranks #21 and receives particularly bad marks in the area of special benefits for retirees. It scores well in both safety and infrastructure. The United Kingdom ranks at the bottom of the list at #29 – primarily because of its high real estate prices and overall high cost of living.
“No place scores a perfect 100,” stresses Sheridan. “Even Mexico, our number one retirement destination, earns a score of only 77. The best, but not perfect. If you’re trying to pick a place to retire, keep that in mind. There will be good points and bad, no matter where you go. Realizing that ahead of time will eliminate many disappointments later.”
Puerto Vallarta Rentals