Finding a place to stay in Huatulco can be difficult because of the rush of tourist activity. A common alternative to staying in a high priced hotel or resort is to find a one of the many local Huatulco villas to rent. These villas are privately owned and rented out to tourists visiting the area on business or vacation.

Huatulco villa rentals can be found easily online. Sites generally contain searchable listings of all the available villas with their seasonal pricing. Aside from cost, a typical listing online will also include multiple photos of the villa rental as well as information on the size and amenities provided on the property.

Vacationers looking for a particularly special place to stay should consider the Camino Real Zaashila region of Huatulco. The villas here are part of a much larger hotel/resort arrangement. While it is part of a large resort, the villas are built in such a way as to provide a sense of relaxation and privacy.

Before you set off for your vacation you should educate yourself with the exchange rates so that you will be able to properly budget your money. Normally you can plan on one American dollar equaling 10 Mexican pesos but you should be sure to double check those figures before you begin your vacation. You should get yourself a small calculator and convert money on it a few times while you are in your hotel room before you venture out into the marketplace and go out to see other attractions. This way you will be absolutely what you are paying for everything.

You will also want to want to familiarize yourself with Mexican tipping customs. This way you will know whom you should be tipping and who you should not be tipping. For instance cab drivers generally do not expect to be tipped however you should tip grocery store baggers. Knowing the tipping customs will be a big help to staying within your budget.

Always be sure to check travel websites when you are planning your trip, as you never know what kind of great deals you will be able to find. Many times when you make reservations for hotel rooms and airfare you can get a package deal and a nice discount.

Mexican vacations can be a lot of fun without you needing to spend a large amount of money. All you need to do is take the time to plan properly and enjoy your getaway.

Photo by: Jeinny Solis S.

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.

The first thing that you need to consider is the date you would like to plan your trip to Mexico. You should know that Christmas and Easter are two extremely popular times for tourists to be visiting Mexico. Hotel owners and other merchants are well aware of this and will always raising their prices during these peak travel times. So if you were working with a small budget you would be well advised to avoid planning a Mexican vacation during this time of year.

By choosing to travel to Mexico during an off peak time of the year you are going to greatly improve your chances of being able to get much more affordable rates. Even if you travel immediately after one of these peak times you would be surprised at the significant reduction in travel prices that you can get. Traveling to Mexico in late spring and early summer are great choices for budget travelers as you will be able to get major discounts and you will also find that a good portion of the main tourist attractions will be less crowded. This can really make for a much more enjoyable vacation.

Photo by: Keith Flores

When you think of Mexico, you probably think of Acapulco and Cancun, however you may be surprised to hear that Puerto Vallarta is the second largest beach resort in all of Mexico. Additionally, it has a much shorter flight than Cancun of Acapulco, usually with only one connecting flight. Unlike other resort beaches in Mexico, specifically Cancun, you will not find the typical spring break party goer in Puerto Vallarta. Instead you will have the time to appreciate the city’s historic district, complete with the charm of old Mexico. You can visit the zocolo, or city center, and marvel at the locals who set up their shops in the square. Besides the obvious tourist knick knacks, you will also find a large selection of handcrafted items, including hammocks, blankets, and jewelry.

Whilst there is so much to see and do in Puerto Vallarta, its beaches still provide as the main attraction. If you are looking for a beautiful, white sand beach vacation than look no further than Puerto Vallarta. Some suggestions for accommodation include the Villa Premier Hotel and Spa, the Marriot Casa Magna Puerto Vallarta, and the Plaza Fiesta Beach Club, all of which are the most popular resort which offer getaway packages.

Photo by: Jim Goodrich

The first of the lesser known cruise destinations is the Pacific Ocean islands. These include Tahiti, French Polynesia, and Hawaii. If you are planning to take a cruise to any one of these locations, you can expect beautiful weather, beautiful white sand beaches, warm sunny days, and perfect evenings, ideal for stargazing. For many, Tahiti and French Polynesia are further flights than Hawaii or the Caribbean, thus you can expect lighter crowds, perfect for a romantic getaway or even just for some relaxation,

The second of the lesser known cruise destinations is the Mexican Riviera. For those of you who do not know where the Mexican Riviera is located, it is the west coast of Mexico, where the beautiful weather and sunny days make it the perfect destination. Much of the Mexican Riviera cruises leave from ports in California, making it ideal for anyone living on the west coast. Even better, you may not need to even get on an airplane. Some popular destinations in the Mexican Riviera are Cabo San Lucas and Peurto Vallarta, both of which you have probably heard of.

Photo by: Heather Sorenson