Sunday, January 9, 2011

The first 24 hours in Puerto Vallarta

Nice resort here at Plaza Pelicanos, with friendly staff, but not as well organized as I'd expected. We've got a strong smell of ozone or paint or something in our condo, and after 24 hours and three requests, the problem hasn't been fixed. Also, we're missing spoons and bowls, which we checked off on the inventory sheet, and they haven't been resolved either. However, the weather is lovely, the sunsets beautiful, and the sound of the waves relaxing.

You've heard of high pressure timeshare salesmen? We waded through a throng of them at the airport on the way to our taxi. And last night, while shopping for groceries at the supermercado, we were approached by two inside the store! One sat near the ATM machine, and the other helped us find peanut butter. We told both of them we already had an appointment for today with the company we already have points with. Neither was happy.

Today we upgraded our points for new benefits that will allow us to stay longer at the places we love as well as being more generous to kids and friends who might want to travel. These sessions are always tiring. We'd agreed to say no, but Art was impressed with the increased flexibility we'll have now, so he says I should say he talked me into it! One of the incentives was a gift of the all inclusive feature, optional at this resort, which we now have for the rest of our stay.

Tomorrow we'll take a bus to the main part of town and then walk. On Thursday we plan to take a regional bus to a town an hour north of here to visit a friend of mine who, since her retirement last year, has moved here with her husband for eight months of the year. We're still considering parasailing and zip lining, but less so as I think about the heights involved.

8 comments:

Teresa Evangeline said...

I have no idea what zip lining is, but if it's used in the same sentence as para-sailing, it must be an adventure. Have a great time!

Linda Reeder said...

I coundn't help but notice, as I scrolled down to add a comment, the juxtaposition of zip lining and #1 of your previous post "I'm not 30 anymore". Hmmmm.

#1Nana said...

I think the husband and I are the last couple in the US to not have a time share. It's not that we're so good at resisting a good sales pitch, but rather that my husband can't even tolerate the pitch so we never sign up for the free gifts or cheap stays in condos. Have a great trip...it snowed again today here!

Arkansas Patti said...

Enjoy your stay and why not zip line? Think that is a bit better than para-sailing though fear of heights would make me a spectator for both.
Have fun--hope that part of Mexico is safe.

DJan said...

The sound of the surf and the warm breezes do sound lovely. But the heavy duty sales pitches sound awful. And Nana, you are NOT the last couple in the US, we don't have one either, and are not likely to. It snowed about four inches here yesterday and I got lots of great pictures. But it ain't Puerto Vallarta! (sigh)

Jennifer said...

Art promised to put some sunshine in his pocket and bring it back for us. I'm looking forward to that! And I vote for para sailing. =)

Jenn Flynn-Shon said...

I will be living vicariously through your story of this beautiful and tropical destination ah! Sounds amazing & a perfect polar opposite to your last journey in the snowy woods huh? Never considered a timeshare but maybe they're worth a look! Have fun :-)

Deb Shucka said...

I hope you have many memorable adventures before you come home, and that you allow yourself to step over the discomfort line at least once.