Playa del Carmen versus Puerto Vallarta?

Question

Or even riviera maya. We need to stay in our limited student budget -- but want a unique cultural experience in the city as well as beaches. Any suggestions would be appreciated :) thanks.

Answer 1

I would go for Vallarta..... I've been to both places and I just fell in love with Vallarta since the very first time I went there. The Mexican feeling is way stronger, the architecture is really typical of the country, people are friendly and there are nice things to do there, even if the beaches are not as beautiful as they are in the riviera maya.

Playa is a way too small village (not much to do there, and about half of the town is italian!!! There are many foreigners living there, especially europeans) and the main attraction isn't the town itself but the hotel zone, which is expensive and located in a separate area (i.e. not next to the village but a few KM away). Playa itself is not a very expensive town, but the surroundings ARE expensive (water/theme parks, archeological ruins) because the cancun/Riviera area has become very touristy and the prices have gone up quite a bit (food, lodging, tours). Vallarta is not as crowded with tourists yet so you can still find very affordable lodging and not outrageous prices for most tourist attractions, food, etc. Many more local people and culture in Vallarta, because the riviera maya has become a very much USA-like place. Activities are somewhat different in both places so it also depends on what you want to do and see....... have a nice trip wherever you decide to go.