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I note here some handy gay travel tips, ideas and friendly vacation advice for the gay and lesbian traveler planning to visit Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Some of these travel topics are covered in greater detail on some of the other Gay Guide Vallarta pages such as at Tourist Info and Services, so I often simply summarize or else refer you to them. This page has grown so perhaps the vacation tips are not as "quick" as they used to be.  Gay Travel Tips & Advice in General - Spirit Journeys, one of the more interesting gay travel sites out there which hopes to "create opportunities for you to grow mentally, emotionally and spiritually; to create environments where you can feel safe enough to 'step outside of your box' and live a freer, more joyous life...." has some great general tips & ideas for gay travelers that I might briefly summarize some of and add a bit to in parts for gay men and women on holidays in Mexico: Don't act like you are better than the people here, for example don't be a demanding or ungrateful tourist; show some respect for local customs and points of views; be patient when things don't 'go right' as it is a bit slower here and a good thing too; learn a few words of Spanish, use them and you can be sure people in Puerto Vallarta will appreciate that effort; pay attention to your surroundings when out and about; it might not be such a good idea to go home with someone you just met at a gay club or on the gay beach, or maybe so, listen to your intuition and perhaps get to know people a bit first; smile, a lot! hey, you're gay you're fabulous and you're on vacation and that's something to be happy about, eh?!  (This page has expanded in detail quite a bit beyond my original intentions, sorry) Airport Pickup - Discovery Vallarta and Diana's Tours recommend this gay-friendly VIP transportation service from the airport to your hotel, condo or villa. Please be sure to read the information and instructions on the webpage completely. Price is $20 for a taxi for 1-2 people; a van is available for larger groups at $10 per person. Your representative will be standing just outside of the automatic double glass doors after you pass through customs, and have a sign with your name on it. Auto Rentals - Go to this Services page for the PV auto rental information Beaches - Banderas Bay (Flags Bay) is one of the larger natural bays in the world, approximately 500 square miles, and has some 30-40 miles of great beaches to enjoy - visit here for the Puerto Vallarta gay beaches on Los Muertos beach and here for other beaches in Vallarta and Banderas Bay. Business Hours - Most stores in town are open from 9am or 10am until 8pm to 10pm, but some of them do close for an hour or two between 2pm-4pm for lunch. Some public offices work continuously from 9am-5pm and close after that. The stores at the shopping malls such as at Galerias Vallarta, Plaza Caracol, Plaza Las Glorias, Plaza Marina and Plaza Genovesa generally stay open continuously from 9am-10pm. Climate - Close enough to be considered a tropical paradise, gay Puerto Vallarta has moderate temperatures throughout much of the year. The average high temperatures in this central Pacific coast part of Mexico are 80-85°F in the winter and 85-92°F in summer. November to May is the dry season, with very little rain, the sky relatively cloudless and the nights mild, e.g. a good time to plan your vacation. Rains begin in mid-June and continue sporadically through late October. Learn more here about Puerto Vallarta climate-weather that includes a chart of monthly high and low average temperatures and precipitation. Consulates - Trouble in paradise? Go here for Puerto Vallarta important phone numbers. American U.S. Consulate: Kelly Trainor, Consular Agent. Paradise Village Shopping Center Paseo de los Cocoteros, Locale L-7, Nuevo Vallarta. Tel: 222-0069, 223-0074, after hours: 01-333-268-2145. U.S. consular office hours, Mon-Fri, 8:30am-12:30pm. Canadian Consulate: Lyne Benoit, Consular Agent. Obelisco Building, Locale 100, 1951 Ave. Francisco Medina Ascencio in the Las Glorias Hotel Zone. Tel: 293-0098, 293-0099, fax: 293-2894, after hours: 01-800-706-2900. Office hours, 9am-3pm.

Drinking Water and Food - Purified water is available in all Puerto Vallarta restaurants, hotels and bars, which also use purified ice as well. It's advisable to drink at least 4-5 glasses of water a day to help prevent dehydration. I would advise against drinking the water from the tap unless your accommodation has a purified water system. You can be pretty confident that food in city restaurants is washed in purified water and/or properly cooked. Go here for more detailed info on Puerto Vallarta water and food.

Dress/Clothing - The people in Puerto Vallarta dress casually. Most of the year can be spent in shorts and T-shirt, except perhaps for the winter months when it might be long pants in the evening as the nights can be a bit chilly, down to 58-65 °F. Upscale restaurants will expect you to wear long pants and a casual or dress shirt for dinner, though dress shorts are common in most places in the late spring-early autumn. At the Puerto Vallarta gay beach, Mexican gay men are much like their American counterparts and will wear speedos or swim trunks. Straight guys here are rather modest and wear swim trunks or shorts at the beach.

Travel tips: For the late autumn, winter, and early spring months (November-April, the basic 'high season' of tourism here) my advice would be: Bring lighter clothing for the sunny warm days - most people spend their days at the beach or out and around town, so shorts, bathing suits, speedos, tank tops, t-shirts are the norm; at night it's shorts or long pants, dress or casual shirt perhaps even a light sweater or jacket for the cooler weather at night. Most guys who go out later on to visit with friends, drink and dance wear shorts or jeans and a light shirt. For summer months and early autumn (May-October): It is humid, sunny and hot weather during the day-time and still fairly warm throughout the evening, so it's casual and cool light clothing at the beach and also out to dinner and dancing at night; an umbrella from June through September is a good idea as there's often rain at night-time. I would suggest bringing several pairs of shoes and sandals for any time of year. And remember the 8-50+ SPF sunscreen, year round, as the sun is quite strong here south of the border.

Drugs - Drug offenses may be risky business in Mexico. Mexico's anti-drugs laws for those that sell in quantity are generally more reactionary and ridiculous than those of the United States, though I think Texas and some of the Southern states take the cake. Under Napoleonic law in Mexico you are guilty until proven innocent. If you must, be extremely discreet; if you are caught you may be deported, have a prison term or have to pay a fine (depending on the type and amount, etc). Police occasionally stop and frisk locals and tourists checking for drugs, though this has become rarer over the years, to my knowledge. From what I have heard and read, penalties can be rather lax in Puerto Vallarta, though I wouldn't bet my liberty on it. The police have also been known to extort money if they find drugs on you. Travel tip news: Decriminalization laws regarding the personal possession and use of fairly small amounts of marijuana/marihuana (5 grams, about 3 joints), cocaine (500 milligrams), LSD (0.015 milligrams), heroin (500 milligrams) and up to 40 milligrams of methamphetamine were passed by the Mexican Congress and signed by President Felipe Calderon in May-August 2009. These small amounts must be clearly intended for "personal and immediate use" and will not be criminally prosecuted. Selling drugs is still illegal. My impression is that the local police in Puerto Vallarta don't spend much time or energy worrying about small time use. Portugal's drug decriminalization policies are the best and most progressive in the world; Spain and Italy have also decriminalized personal use of drugs, and my advice is that the United States should end its absurd and counter-productive anti-drug policies and follow suit, immediately. It would certainly put an end to a lot of the drug violence on both sides of the Mexican-American border.

Electricity - Same as in the U.S. and Canada, 110 volts, 60 cycles, although many places in Puerto Vallarta will not have three prong electrical outlets. So bring along an adapter if you need one for your appliances.

Family Life - Mexican life centers around the family. You'll find Mexicans more devoted to their families than people are in America. Parents and elders are treated with respect and children are generally well loved and cared for. Many Mexican gay or bisexual men will not be out to their families as this is still a catholic and rather conservative country in many ways, though things are changing. Children will often live with their parents until they marry or leave the hometown to live in a larger city. Many gay Mexican men in Puerto Vallarta are from other parts of the country where they have left their hometown in search of employment and/or to come out here in a more accepting social atmosphere.

Fodor's Guide Tips - From an old Fodor's on-line guide page: "Puerto Vallarta is Mexico's prime gay destination. In the Zona Romántica (South Side - Romantic Zone) especially, mild displays of same-sex affection are common, and some gay-owned hotels, bars, restaurants, and beach clubs are no-holds-barred. These gay-oriented businesses are the place to ask about any blatantly anti-gay establishments in PV and beyond. In general, Mexican same-sex couples keep a low profile, and foreign same-sex couples should do the same. Outside the Zona Romantica, two men might have a hard time getting a cama matrimonial (double bed), especially in less sophisticated hotels, although for women this shouldn't be a problem."

Forums and Message Boards - There are a number of Pto. Vallarta forums and message boards that might be helpful to the gay traveler: the Puerto Vallarta Mexico Forums-Bulletin Boards as well as the PV Net Puerto Vallarta Alternative Lifestyles forum; also the two at All Vallarta Message Board for Puerto Vallarta and Puerto Vallarta Scene Forum - these two are the best of the lot in my opinion, and can be quite lively as well as being informative.

Further Interest - For some gay vacation planning and ideas on where to go and what to do and see in Puerto Vallarta, check out the new Puerto Vallarta Annual Events calendar listings, the Special Events on the gay calendar page, Things to Do in Vallarta on the more Activities page, and this Yahoo travel page, Things to Do in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Probably the best overall Puerto Vallarta entertainment calendar of daily events and happenings is to be found at the Puerto Vallarta PV Scene (PV events, entertainment, art). I would recommend considering such things as: taking one of the Puerto Vallarta gay cruises; the Marietas Islands or whale watching with Oscar Frey; a getaway to Yelapa or Sayulita village; a Mexican Folklore and Tequila Tour; going sightseeing downtown taking in the Cathedral and the malecon with its many sculptures and statues, lovely ambience and nearby restaurants, Vallarta art and shopping-stores.

Geography - Located along Mexico's Pacific coast, about halfway between the United States border and Guatemala, Puerto Vallarta is a few short hours by plane from West Coast cities and the Southwestern states. Here for a map of Mexico

Going Out - Do be generous if you go out with a Mexican national or have a date. It's commonly expected that the person of higher social wealth will pick up the tab and show generosity in other ways. Generally speaking that would be you, dude. So don't expect to go out Dutch unless it's already established or the other guy is of a equal or higher economic status, meaning Mexican upper middle class or above.

Gyms and Spas - Still gotta work out those pecs and abs in paradise? Acqua, Pump Gym and The Fit Club are close to most South Side-Zona Romantica locations. The Puerto Vallarta Gold's gym in the hotel zone in Plaza Las Glorias is pretty much the largest, most popular and best equipped work-out place in Puerto Vallarta and popular with the gay guys too. Gold's would be a 10-15 minute taxi ride from the South Side. Check out more information on Puerto Vallarta gyms.

Holidays - Here are the main national and religious holidays in Mexico: New Years Day - January 1; Day of the Three Kings - January 6; Constitution Day - February 5; Ash Wednesday; Benito Juarez's birthday - March 21; Semana Santa or Holy Week goes up until Easter Sunday, and then Semana Pasqua or Easter Week is the following week; Labor Day - May 1; the Battle of Puebla - May 5; Mother's Day - May 10; Independence Day - September 16; Day of the Race/Dia de la Raza - October 12; President's State of the Union address - November 1; The Day of the Dead - November 1-2; Revolution Day - November 20; Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe - December 12 (there are twelve consecutive days of Virgin of Guadalupe celebrations in Puerto Vallarta, from December 1-12); Christmas Day - December 25.

Homophobia - In spite of the many advances and changes in consciousness in the last ten years or so, social, economic and psychological conditions are difficult for many Mexican gay and bisexual men as homophobia is still widespread. (See Law and Custom page for more information). In a word, the culture is almost uniformly heterosexually dominant, macho and sexist (a very broad generalization indeed). Sexual stereotypes and gender roles are still pretty rigid, as in most Latin cultures, but this too is changing. Many Mexican gay men that I have met here have gone to live in the US or Canada. In general for tourists and visitors to Puerto Vallarta it's unusual indeed to hear or read of reports of any type of harassment or violence based on perceived sexual orientation. Puerto Vallarta is known for its tolerance and local people appreciate our business, generous tipping and support for the local economy, even if some may not personally approve of our 'lifestyle'; hence so many businesses advertise trying to attract the gay dollar or 'pink peso'. In all of Latin America only Ecuador and Mexico, since 2003, have nation-wide protection against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. In December 2009, Mexico City legalized same-sex gay marriage and as such became the first and the most progressive gay-friendly city in all Latin American. That's what happens when a truly progressive Left-wing party, the PRD, runs one of the largest cities in the world. Read some of the most recent developments in The Queering (or Not) of Latin America - by Bécquer Medak-Seguín.

Internet Service - There must be at least a twenty or thirty cyber internet places in Puerto Vallarta now, running anywhere from 10-30 pesos an hour. Click here to find out about some of the Puerto Vallarta internet cafes and places to connect.

Inviting Someone Home - Most of the regular hotels in Puerto Vallarta that I know about won't allow you to bring guests or friends back to your room. That's one good reason we have our own Puerto Vallarta gay hotels, guest houses, bed and breakfasts and gay-friendly condos and villas here. I think that besides being a somewhat homophobic policy by perhaps targeting gay men more than straight tourists, i assume that their main concern is for the security of the guests. If you are going to stay at one of these straight Puerto Vallarta hotels, why not call or email them and ask what the policy is beforehand. The age of consent in Mexico is 18 years old. Check the federal voter registration ID if in doubt about his age. Use your discretion if you have someone over to avoid problems. And remember, it's a poorer country and we are in a deep recession so it's a good idea to keep your money and valuables such as wallet, watch and rings out of sight. Assuming that you had fun, do be generous though in helping out your date and vacation friends. I am sure they would appreciate any assistance you can offer.

Language - The official language in Mexico is Spanish, same as in most of Latin America (with the big exception of Brazil where the official language is Portuguese, and some nations where French is spoken). You'll likely find that a high percentage of people locally and especially those in the tourist industry speak English. Puerto Vallarta restaurants, hotels and condominium buildings have staff that are usually fluent in English and sometimes in a bit of French. People in Puerto Vallarta will appreciate you learning and using even just a few words of Spanish as a sign of respect for their language and culture.

The Malecon - The Puerto Vallarta malecon is the seawall walkway or boardwalk promenade that stretches the length of downtown Vallarta from the New Malecon which begins at the pedestrian bridge over the Cuale River on the South Side all the way to the Hotel Rosita on the north end. Near the south end of the main stretch of the downtown Puerto Vallarta malecon is the large outdoor amphitheater and Los Arcos-the Arches, where many open-air activities and entertainment attractions occur, such as folklore dancing, live music, cultural events and the popular nightly clown shows. Here's a page with many Puerto Vallarta malecon pictures. There are a good number of lovely statues, great sculptures and interesting local artists at work along the mile long boardwalk. The downtown boardwalk is particularly popular from sunset up until around 11pm. Half the town dresses up and turns out to stroll on weekends, especially Saturday and early Sunday evenings. The Puerto Vallarta malecon can also be a good location to make friends, so check it out.

Marine Nature Sanctuaries and Wildlife - There are two National Marine Parks/Nature Reserves in Banderas Bay, one at Los Arcos (The Arches, a park since 1984) and the other at the Las Marietas Islands. Both are popular places for snorkeling and scuba diving adventures. In order to protect the bird and aquatic wildlife, no walking, camping or fishing is allowed in these natural reserve areas. During the summer months, seven of the eight species of marine turtles in the world lay their eggs on beaches in Mexico. These endangered turtles, their nesting sites and their eggs are all protected by law. Humpback whales winter in Banderas Bay every November to March, along with many dolphins and giant mantas. You may wish to consider a Las Marietas snorkeling and whale watching tour with the folks at Ocean Friendly or Vallarta Adventures, one of most well known Puerto Vallarta tour and activities companies. As Bird Watching - Puerto Vallarta, Mexico notes, there are over 300 species of birds living in Puerto Vallarta and the surrounding areas, quite a number of beauties.

Massage - Briefly here are names and contact numbers for some of the massage therapists in Puerto Vallarta who are gay: Edgar, cellular: 044-322-138-7794; Gerardo Dico, cell: 044-322-134-2816 and gedico8@yahoo.com.mx; Martin Mendoza (Blue Massage), Tel: 222-6034, 223-2292, cell: 044-322-888-7511; Leonardo Tejeda, Tel: 223-4784, cell: 044-322-294-2565; Osiel Echeverria Bercian, since 1990, cell: 044-322-278-0955 and 044-322-110-1143; Pepe Avalos, cell: 044-322-120-9093 and acapepe@hotmail.com. For further info on Puerto Vallarta massage-spas

Medical Insurance - It sometimes happens that people on vacation have medical emergencies from accidents or an existing medical condition. I would strongly advise that you check with your insurance company to verify that you have international coverage that will cover you while here in Mexico. Your best bet is to purchase a good traveler's insurance policy. These policies are much more widely accepted in the area than your personal private insurance. Remember too that in Puerto Vallarta neither Canadian Government nor U.S. Medicare coverage are accepted. Pamela Thompson at Health Care Resources would be happy to assist you in finding the proper type of coverage for your vacation. Puerto Vallarta Health Care Resources is a multi-faceted and independent resource network that offers multiple no-charge and minimal-charge services and invaluable info to the residents and visitors. Pamela handles referrals, medical tourism, home care services and insurance. Tel: 222-9638, Cell phone for Pamela Thompson: 044-322-107-7007. Remember, medical decisions can only be made by a blood relative unless otherwise indicated with legal papers (or their consular agent).

Money, Banks, ATMs - The national currency of Mexico is the peso. Dollars are readily exchanged at Puerto Vallarta banks, hotels and any casa de cambio/money exchange house. Most businesses will accept dollars. Please be sure to count your change whenever exchanging money or paying the tab. The current exchange rate fluctuates around 11.2-12.0 pesos per US dollar at the banks and exchange places and this rate changes daily. Here for more info on money. You may want to buy a money belt to carry your cash underneath your clothing while on vacation in Puerto Vallarta. The best exchange rate comes by withdrawing money from an ATM located at a local bank, shopping mall or large supermarket.

Natural Resources - Water, arable land, food and electricity are valuable and sometimes scarce resources in a third world country such as Mexico. Please help to conserve Mexico's natural resources by turning off lights, overhead fans and the air conditioners before leaving your hotel, condo or villa for any period of time. The government and people of Mexico put considerable effort and materials into the tourist areas such as Puerto Vallarta (and Cabo San Lucas, Cancun, Ixtapa and Mazatlan, to name just a few) to keep them clean, safe and up to international standards. And please think twice about using those noisy, polluting jet skis or ATVs.

On the make - Travel advice: Use caution when taking anyone home with you whom you have just met and don't know. Try to avoid putting yourself into a risky situation. Perhaps it might be a good idea to get an opinion of one of the waiters at the gay beach or gay night club as to whether your friend or date is reliable. If you do go home with him, take good care of keeping track of your personal possessions and valuable belongings, especially your wallet, watch, credit cards and jewelry. And then have a good time!

Passport and Tourist Visa - For U.S. citizens, proof of citizenship and photo identification are required for entry into Mexico. A U.S. passport is the simplest way. Keep your passport or other citizenship documents in a secure and safe place in your Puerto Vallarta condo or hotel. It may be a good idea to scan or photocopy your passport and drivers license and then send them to yourself in an email or bring copies with you in case the originals are lost or stolen. For the most recent State Department Consular Information Sheet for Mexico. More info about your visa or passport?

Phone - Ask at your hotel room or condo building before making any long distance calls, as phone calls can be quite expensive, up to several dollars per minute. Even if you use your own calling card, you may still be charged a connection fee. I would advise purchasing one of LadaTel phone cards available at many stores, for 50-200 pesos, which will supply 7-30+ minutes depending on what time of day you call. Rates usually go down after 7pm and all day and evening Saturday and Sunday. Many emergency and important Puerto Vallarta phone numbers are listed here.

Population - Estimates vary but most sources I have read say that the city of Puerto Vallarta has somewhere around 250,000 residents. Wikipedia Puerto Vallarta quotes the 2010 census with the city population at 178,000 inhabitants, while 255,000 people live in the greater Vallarta municipality, and I assume that figure includes such population centers as Pitillal, Aramara, Las Juntas, Coapinoli and Bobadilla - basically just about everyone from Boca de Tomatlan to the Nayarit state border. The local english newspaper the PV Tribune called the population at one time at 300,000 people. From what I have seen the entire Banderas Bay area, including everything from Yelapa and Quimixto on the South Shores to Nuevo Vallarta, Bucerias, La Cruz and Punta de Mita on the North Shores, and inland from Mezcales up the valley to San Juan etc. must now number somewhere around 350-400,000 residents or more. There are now upwards of 105 million people in the entire Republic of Mexico, and about 1 million ex-patriate Americans who live at least part of the year in the country.

Puerto Vallarta Safety - Puerto Vallarta is a relatively safe beach town, especially in the tourist areas such as downtown, the north-side hotel district and the South Side where most Puerto Vallarta gay nightlife spots, restaurants, and gay hotels are located. I advise using the same safety precautions you would use in traveling to any other foreign country or new city: don't wear expensive jewelry; keep valuables and your passport in the hotel safe or stashed away in your room; avoid making withdrawals from an ATM at night; and carry around only a reasonable amount of cash. Be particularly aware of your possessions at the Puerto Vallarta gay beach and when you invite someone home. I've walked in many parts of the city at different times of the day and night and felt safe. However, I sometimes have received reports of corrupt police working alone or in tandem with transvestites/hustlers to rip off tourists. Travel tip: If you ever get stopped by the Puerto Vallarta police here's some advice: never stop in the dark, but step into some lighting; always get a truck number from the police vehicle; it is of course unlawful for them to search you without cause or to take money, watches or jewelry from you; report any wrong doing immediately to the hotel, restaurant or club owners you were in or are staying at; and if necessary contact the local Canadian or American consular agent.

Thomas Dale & Associates, a global investigative and security firm, recently released a study in May 2011 commissioned by the Puerto Vallarta Tourism Board which concluded that Puerto Vallarta "is one of the safest tourist destinations for international and national tourists." Overall the study found that visitors to this popular straight and gay vacation destination felt safe and continue to visit Vallarta a number of times through their lives. There were many interviews with tourists, consular agents, ex-patriates, hospital and health care professionals, taxi drivers and gay business people, among others. As I would have expected from my personal experiences in the US and here, the Puerto Vallarta Safety study said that "the number of negative events involving foreigners or non-foreigners is fractional" compared to the large ex-patriate resident community population size and the approximately 1.5 million American and Canadian visitors that come on holiday every year to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. So please rest assured that in all likelihood your vacation to Puerto Vallarta will be relaxing, enjoyable and safe.

Sales Tax - Starting January 1, 2011 there is a 17% federal tax (IVA) automatically included in all your store purchases, tour and cruise tickets, restaurant and hotel bills. There is an additional 2% local tax on your hotel stay, which is used by the government in 'tourism promotion'. So total sales tax starting in January 2011 will come to 19%. Food and grocery items as well as medicines are not (yet) taxed by the federal government of Mexico.

Taxis and Buses - Jump in a cab, step on the gas and go! Cabs are cheap and readily available in Puerto Vallarta, and will cost around 30-80 pesos ($3-$8 USD) to go to most places in town. Buses run all over town every few minutes until near midnight and currently (June 2011) cost 6.5 pesos one way, about 50 cents. There are no bus transfers good for a ride on another line within a certain time frame. Here for further info on Puerto Vallarta taxis-buses

Time - Life in general is more laid back in Mexico and even in modern Puerto Vallarta. The Mexican (and Latin) concept or perception of Time is quite different from that in the puritanical U.S. and protestant Europe, where people rush around a lot, want everyone to be punctual, and seem to desire to live over-planned and over-formed lives. People in Mexico are generally late for appointments and parties - in fact it's expected. There is more emphasis on people and relationships rather than time, schedules and punctuality. The use of the word for tomorrow, 'mañana', should never be taken literally - it could mean anything from sometime in the near or distant future, to maybe not at all, or that the person is putting you or things off indefinitely without actually saying no. Mexico Adventure in their page on Mexican culture puts it well: "Life is generally relaxed and unhurried, and what can be put off until tomorrow usually is. While people in the U.S. tend to use their Blackberries, cell phones and daytimers to plan and program every minute of their lives, Mexicans prefer to live in the moment because who knows what will happen tomorrow? This “mañana” attitude is ingrained in the culture and can drive foreigners crazy, but it should be appreciated instead of scorned. Mexicans are not lazy; their concept of time is simply different from that of many Westerners." The Mexican motto might be, literally, There is no time like the Present, or even better, There is no time but the Present.

Timeshare - The sale of timeshares has unfortunately been a big business in Puerto Vallarta. On nearly all the streets of the city frequented by tourists there are timeshare stations. Salespeople will try to get you to attend a "presentation" where they will sometimes use high pressure or misleading tactics to induce you to buy their product. Unless you are really interested in buying timeshare in Vallarta, you should pass these people by and continue on your merry way.

Time Zone - Puerto Vallarta is in the Central Time Zone, same local time as Houston and Chicago. We are one hour behind New York and Miami (Eastern Time), one hour ahead of Denver (Mountain Time) and two hours ahead of California, Oregon and British Columbia (Pacific Time). Puerto Vallarta, like the rest of Mexico since 1997, observes daylight savings time which begins in early April until the end of October.

Tipping - Tipping is the same as in the United States and Canada, 12-20% for good to excellent service at restaurants. I encourage tipping for the maid at your hotel or condo or for the staff if you are staying in a villa. Wages here are quite often shamefully low (see below). My standard vacation rental advise is that the standard tip is considered somewhere around $3-5 US per day per staff person for each guest. It's also best to tip directly to the individual staff member so you can be sure they get it. Bellboys at hotels and porters at the airport etc. should be tipped, as should any masseur. Taxi drivers aren't generally tipped unless they help with your baggage, though people do tip them anyway. Many gay guys tip the reception desk staff of their condo, gay hotels and accommodations, a good practice.

Wages - Mexico is a poorer country that sometimes suffers from the scarcity of both goods and services. You may not consider yourself wealthy by North American standards but your income is substantial compared to average Mexican wages. According to recent reports by the Center of Analysis and Projections for Mexico (CAPEM) median salaries, adjusted for inflation, have lost 36% of their buying power since 1980 and the minimum wage has lost nearly 70% of its value over the same period. New minimum wage rates take effect nearly every January 1st. The minimum wage varied regionally from 49.50 to 52.30 pesos a day in 2008, about $4.00-$4.50 US dollars a day. This wage, or less, is paid to about 8 million workers in Mexico's 42 million strong workforce. Another 10 million workers live on an income somewhere between the equivalent of one and two minimum monthly wages. Wages and income in tourist areas like Puerto Vallarta are generally higher than the national average, so perhaps income would be around 250-450 pesos per day, about $22-40 USD. Imagine trying to live or support a family on this kind of salary. Please keep this in mind if you ask any local guys out for food or a drink, and when you are tipping for service in the Puerto Vallarta dining spots and to your housekeeper or maid in the hotel, villa or condo. People in Puerto Vallarta for the most part are quite appreciative of any help that is offered.