Puerto Vallarta – Dolly Travels

Puerto Vallarta - Dolly Travels I have not been very active with my blogging, as I can see. It has been four months since I posted anything. Of course, I have not been traveling, either. Now I am once again in sunny Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, so I want to share the lovely weather with all of you. Yesterday, Sunday, Susan and I went into the downtown area of Puerto Vallarta. We tried to attend mass at the old venerable Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe. However, the church was packed, so we stood inside for awhile, but the crowds and the heat inside became too much for me. It is a beautiful church, with a lovely park right in front. The church was built in 1883. I could not find when the dome was constructed, but it was sculpted by an artist names Carlos Torres, who made it from local terres stone. The large dome is a crown for Our Lady. After leaving the church, we walked along the Malecon, the seaside promenade. There were lots of people out, enjoying the balmy weather. Later, we tried to find a restaurant where I had enjoyed delicious shrimp tacos on previous visits. We walked along the stalls of the market the line both sides of the little island that sits in the center of the river just before the river empties into the sea. This little island, called Isla Rio Cuale, is known for being where Elizabeth Taylor had a home while filming the movie, “Night of the Iguana”, with Richard Burton, here in Puerto Vallarta in 1964. We did find the restaurant and I enjoyed shrimp tacos one more time. This restaurant sits with its back toward the river. The place was full when we got there. The owner asked us to sit and wait, offered us a drink while we waited. Soon he came from the back of the restaurant with a table, then chairs and made a spot for us right at the front of the restaurant. I was quite impressed with that service. We walked around town a bit more, then caught a bus back toward our hotel. I was happy that our bus was not one of the rickety ones that we saw as we waited. We were able to ride to WalMart for the equivalent of 35 cents per person. At Walmart we did some grocery shopping, then returned to our hotel by taxi, for the cost of nearly $3, but it was worth it to not have to carry our groceries on the bus. WalMart, for your information, seems to be where everyone shops. There is a Sam’s Club next to it. Apparently, there is a Costco in town, also, but I certainly didn’t need to go to those big stores. This morning, we enjoyed one of my favorite breakfasts of all time. Fresh papaya and pineapple, with a little squeeze of lime for accent. Now we will go lay by the pool for awhile, then enjoy some fish tacos later. I will say “Adios” for now. I will write again on another day, but I do suspect my news will not be anymore exciting than this post, as I plan to just relax, let someone else do the cooking for me and enjoy the balmy weather. Dolly

By Dolly Goolsby – Full Story at Dolly Travels

Jalisco Gay Travel Resources

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Gay Puerto Vallarta: A Perennial Favorite

Gay Puerto Vallarta Brought into the tourism spotlight by famous Hollywood celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, and offering a broad range of gay bars and nightclubs, gay-owned restaurants, hotels, stores, services, and entertainment that established the destination in a league of its own, it is no wonder Puerto Vallarta has been a favorite among LGBT travelers for decades. In recent years, the Puerto Vallarta Tourism Board, the entity responsible for promoting the destination in the US and Canada has partnered with the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, GMHC and the International Gay Lesbian Travel Association to promote the destination to the LGBT market. In 2014, Puerto Vallarta became the first Mexican destination to participate in a World Pride with its Noche Alegre event during the World Pride celebrations in Toronto; and in 2015 the tourism board became the first destination to sponsor the Human Rights Campaign on a national level.

Full Story at eTurbo News

Jalisco Gay Travel Resources

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Mountains of Puerto Vallarta – Globetrotter Girls

Puerto Vallarta - Dani To be completely honest: I didn’t want to spend my last few days in Mexico in Puerto Vallarta. I wanted to stay in San Pancho or in Sayulita, which are both smaller beach towns north of Puerto Vallarta, and where I had spent my birthday. But because the season was just about to start in San Pancho most cafes were still opening at unreliable hours (if it all), and I needed wifi to get work done. In Sayulita, there were a few places I knew I could work at (with okay wifi, but still not great speeds) but struggled to find decent accommodation. Since I had several deadlines looming over me, I decided to do what seemed the most reasonable: to return to Puerto Vallarta, which I knew had a much bigger selection of available accommodation and great wifi. As much as I loved the vibe in the smaller beach towns, sometimes the digital nomad has to put work first, especially after a slow month in November. And after a couple of days back in Puerto Vallarta I realized how much I actually liked the town that had seemed like a big resort town at first. Yes, there are casinos, golf clubs and cruise ships. Yes, there are giant all-inclusive resorts. But there’s also the Old Town, the Zona Romantica, with cobblestone streets, with ornate churches and bright pink bougainvillea trees that form a perfect contrast to the whitewashed colonial houses.

By Dani – Full Story at Globetrotter Girls

Puerto Vallarta Gay Travel Resources

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Villa Encantada – Gay Friendly Puerto Vallarta Vacation Rental Villa

Villa Encantada Periodically we’ll feature one of our properties here to let our readers know about some great gay friendly places to stay: Experience ultimate luxury in our large, 5,000 sf villa in the Conchas Chinas Hills. This new, five bedroom, five and a half bathroom villa is in the upscale Amapas area, where you’ll find some of the most beautiful vacation rental homes in Puerto Vallarta. Villa Encantada is in the middle of a vibrant, tropical jungle, and has panoramic Banderas Bay views. It’s also a great place to watch the sun set from the wide pool deck. When the days are hot, you can cool down in our gorgeous turquoise blue pool, or relax with a drink at the outdoor bar under the shade of the palapa. Villa Encantada is a great place for families or a group of friends, with 5 elegant bedroom suites, each with private bath, wide balconies, a large sitting room, and a complete staff that make this house a tropical paradise. Villa Encantada is close to downtown Puerto Vallarta in the Amapas/Conchas Chinas hills. We offer an open air paradise where you can enjoy the warm ocean breeze and the tropical evenings. The villa is filled with colorful, vibrant art, and the wide open spaces complement the house’s decoration, making this a fantastic vacation destination. The home was just completed in 2006, and was designed by Arturo Ramos, a well-known PV architect. Three of the guest rooms have kingsized beds, one has a queen bed, and one has two queen beds. The entire villa has beautiful, warm hardwood doors and windows, and the bedrooms all have a/c. The pool and spa are both solar heated, reducing electricity use and carbon output. The villa also has satellite TV, telephones (with free calls to tyhe United States), and housecleaning, cooking, and house staff services six days a week. There’s also a fully equipped kitchen, Barbeque, movies, games and high speed wifi access. For the perfect vacation in gay Puerto Vallarta, stay at Villa Encantada.

See the Villa Encantada Expanded Listing on Purple Roofs Here

Gay Friendly Bed and Breakfasts, Hotels, and Vacation Rentals in Jalisco

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Gay Guadalajara – A Must-Visit Destination

Gay Guadalajara The first thing that almost everyone asks when they hear you’ve just got back from Mexico is, “Was it safe?” Apparently so, seeing as we’re still standing! Our standard answer is, “Yes of course.” We then try to resist the urge to show them the Facebook album named ‘Gay Guadalajara’ – because then the next question is usually, “Guadala-where-a?” Unless your geography is better than most, you may well be asking yourself the same thing. Guadalajara is Mexico’s second largest city, with 4.5 million inhabitants – second only to mega-metropolis Mexico City, at 20 million – and it’s also the capital of the state of Jalisco, which lies mid way up the country’s Pacific coast. Not your usual holiday destination? Perhaps not for Brits – but tourism from North America is big business to Mexico. Many head for coastal resorts, including Puerto Vallarta, where gay and lesbian tourists have been flocking for decades. But Jalisco’s main city also attracts its fair share of visitors.

Full Story at Gay Times

Jalisco Gay Travel Resources

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Casa Cupula: Gay Puerto Vallarta Hotel

Casa Cupula Periodically we’ll feature one of our properties here to let our readers know about some great gay friendly places to stay: Casa Cupula is a 22 room luxury boutique hotel located in the exclusive Amapas neighborhood of Puerto Vallarta, close to the gay beach, bars, restaurants in the “Zona Romantica”. Since opening in 2002, we have become renowned for excellent personalized service, uniquely designed beautiful rooms, and ample facilities to spread out and relax among beautiful tropical foliage. Enjoy gourmet Mexican cuisine at Taste Restaurant at Casa Cupula, one of Vallarta’s finest destination restaurants. Whether it’s room service, a private dinner under the stars, or a hosted private party or event, you’ll appreciate the quality. Stay in shape with a workout at Pump Gym & Spa, or relax with a massage in our spa treatment room or in our steam room. Casa Cupula is gay owned and operated and we are delighted to welcome members of the LGBT community and friends to this special place, where you can be yourself and rejuvenate while taking in all the wonder of Puerto Vallarta’s extensive attractions. Puerto Vallarta is well beyond “gay friendly”, having been known worldwide as a famous LGBT destination since the 1960s. You can stay at any mainstream hotel or a condo, but Casa Cupula uniquely offers a sense of community and enrichment that is often missing from day to day life. Many guests have met friends at Casa Cupula who have become friends for life, returning year after year. Our staff is the best part, treating each and every guest as a friend to help you get the most out of your vacation. Our concierges know gay PV because they ARE gay PV. We’re pet friendly and technology savvy, with everything you need to stay connected and entertained from wifi to Apple TV, USB ports and Bluetooth iHome radios. At Casa Cupula, we treasure uniqueness and diversity. We embrace each individual guest as a friend, no matter who you are or where you come from. Casa Cupula offers sophisticated amenities to make your stay relaxing and indulgent. These include:

  • Casa Cupula’s Dream Bed with: – Thick Pillow Top Mattresses and fluffy mattress covers – 400+ Thread Count Cotton Sateen Sheets – Reading Lamps – Extra Pillows (both feather and synthetic) – Blankets
  • Air Conditioning and Ceiling Fans
  • In-room Mini fridges
  • Oversized Fluffy Towels
  • Luxury bath amenities by DAMANA*
  • Bathrobes and slippers**
  • Hair Dryer
  • Coffee Makers
  • Large room safes for laptop/camera
  • USB plugs
  • Free, high speed WiFi Internet
  • LED TVs
  • Cable TV
  • iHome Radio with Bluetooth
Vista Rooms also offer:
  • Apple TV with free Netflix
  • Home Theater with BlueRay DVD
Suites also offer:
  • Dolce Gusto Capsule Coffee Machines
  • We pamper our Suite guests with added benefits during regular, peak and holiday rate periods*
  • Voucher for a la carte breakfast each day (excludes beverages)
  • Free upgrade from regular to VIP transportation (one round trip up to 2 persons)
*Not included during “saver” and “super saver” rate periods or with discounted rates or Travel Deal rates.

See the Casa Cupula Expanded Listing on Purple Roofs Here

Gay Friendly Bed and Breakfasts, Hotels, and Vacation Rentals in Jalisco

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¡Hola, De Puerto Vallarta – Dolly Travels

Dolly Travels Our friend Dolly is on the go again, this time in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico: Buenas Tardes, Now I must switch to English. I have exhausted my Spanish vocabulary. Frank and I decided we needed another vacation; therefore, we flew down to Puerto Vallarta on Friday. We arrived at our hotel around 6:00 p.m., after spending almost 2 hours going through Immigration and Customs. The lines were long, but progressed smoothly. No one seemed to be upset or angry. Eventually, we retrieved our bags, ran the gauntlet through time share salesmen and found our taxi. We arrived here, at Club Regina, in time for Happy Hour. Our timing is impeccable. The hotel sits among lush green gardens, palm trees and swimming pools. At the western edge of the property is the Pacific Ocean. The setting is so peaceful and relaxing, although the buildings are painted white with bubble-gum pink accents, interspersed with bright yellow accents. I think that design is to keep the guests from getting too bored. After we got settle into our room, Frank and I walked down to a bar to have an evening cocktail. Frank could not get a martini, as the bar did not stock vermouth. We settled for a glass of Chardonnay each, as the bar did not have Pinot Grigio, either. Hmm. This could be a long week. We did have a delicious seafood dinner, though, and as we were both tired, we turned in early for a good night’s sleep. Yesterday, we went into town. The concierge told us we could get a taxi to town for about 100 pesos, which is a bit under $6.00 US. I asked if there wasn’t a bus that went to town. Yes, there was. We found the bus, paid our 7.50 pesos. ( 45 cents US). Not that we are cheap, but I thought the experience of taking local transport would be interesting. That it was. The buses run every 15 minutes, and are an efficient mode of transport, but we had to hang on tight, as the young driver weaved his way through traffic. Oh, to be young and fearless. We made it to our destination, though, safe and almost sound. Our destination was the Malecon, which is a one mile, 12 block promenade that borders the sea. This esplanade is traffic free, flowers and trees planted in a median all along the route. There are many sculptures in this area, as well as some innovative sand sculptures. Eventually, we reached the southern end of the Malecon. We knew there was an excellent restaurant nearby, and we found it. We went into an almost empty restaurant, as it was about 4:00 p.m by then. The waiter was very gracious. We told him we had been there before, several years ago. He was pleased that we remembered his restaurant and that we came back. After our late lunch, we then caught a bus going back toward our hotel. Another adventure. We got off the bus this time at Walmart. We wanted to buy some groceries, so we didn’t have to eat out every meal. Of course, our grocery bags were so heavy when we left, we got a taxi back to the hotel, for a cost of less than $4 US. We bought a papaya, a pineapple, some little limes, a couple of pastries, to make our breakfast this morning. The fruit was so delicious…we have enough papaya to last the rest of the week. The rest of our day was spent just being lazy..we watched football…(.hey, did the Seahawks get lucky, or what?) later, I went down to one of the pools. Nothing like floating on my back, looking up at palm trees and wispy clouds to relax the mind. We are having Happy Hour in our condo, then we will go down to a restaurant for dinner. Maybe. We have fruit, bread, cheese and wine here. Who could ask for anything more. So I will say, Adios, till next time. More adventures to come, I am sure. Your traveling blog writer, Dolly

By Dolly Goolsby – Full Story at Dolly Travels

Puerto Vallarta Gay Travel Resources

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