Once at the villas, a taxi downtown will be approximately $5 USD. Fares are determined by a "zone" system, so there are no meters in the cabs. (This caught John off-guard at first, but rest assured that the drivers know their zones and are honest in their pricing.) Meghan and John highly recommend using Puerto Vallarta's excellent taxi network during your stay. The staff at the villa can call cabs for you, and they are plentiful everywhere else you may wish to go.
Renting a car is another option, but can be expensive. You will need to include insurance with your rental, as most credit cards and US insurance agencies don't cover you in Mexico. Shuttles to the rental car station are available right at the airport. Puerto Vallarta streets are in generally good condition. However, in the Old Town and on the way to the villas, the roads are cobblestone, windy, and steep. Make sure to specify an automatic transmission, if necessary.
Money
Mexican pesos come in bills and coins. The bills come in 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500 peso denominations. There are also 1, 2, 5, and 10 peso coins. The summer exchange rate will likely be about 12.5 pesos per dollar, or 100 pesos per 8 dollars. The casual way to estimate the exchange rate is to simply drop a Zero from all prices you see; aka, pretend like a 100 peso dinner is really 10 dollars. You'll still be amazed at the prices you're paying, and when you get home and realize you only paid 8 dollars, you'll feel smarter than Warren Buffet. The reverse is also true: if a cab driver requests 200 pesos for his fare, and you give him 20 dollars, you'll both be leaving with smiles on your faces.
Passports
You will receive a document on the plane called a Multiple Immigration Form, or FMM. After entering the country, you will need to keep the green slip of paper with your passport, and return it when you leave.
What to Expect at the Airport
When you touch down, you'll be led to Immigration. There are bathrooms here that are very clean, if you need one. You'll show your passport and have your FMM stamped and returned. After Immigration is the baggage claim. Claim your bag, then get in line for Customs. Here you'll need to put all your bags, including carry-ons, through an x-ray machine. Once you're through, you will push a button to determine if you'll be randomly selected for additional screening. Green means "Keep moving." Red means "Stop, we have more questions." (Think of it like a game show: we've never hit red.) The whole process typically takes about 40 minutes.
Welcome to Mexico! You'll pass by Duty Free (in case you want to pick up a drink to share!), and then on through the interior greeting area leading to the exit. Here, you will see a lot of nice people who are offering rides, tours, and hotels. Whatever they say, walk past them all, unless you're interested in attending a time-share meeting. Keep walking towards the exit, and leave through the doors to your right. This is where the white and yellow taxis are lined up.
Once you're outside, it's OK to announce that you need a ride; grab a cab, and tell them you're going to "Conchas Chinas." They will stop by a kiosk and you will pay for the ride in advance. We will email everyone maps to help guide your driver to the villa. Your ride will probably take you through Old Town, which is great. If you need to stop at an ATM, ask your driver and he will happily wait for you. Then he will drop you off at your villa, where you will be greeted by the staff and your vacation can begin!
We think the chaos is part of the fun and love the energy once you land. We hope you do too.
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