Montagus Return to Mexico (Los Montagus Regresamos a Mexico)

We're here! We spent the first four nights in Puerto Vallarta (PV), and then took a five-hour bus-ride to Guadalajara (GDL) yesterday. It takes about an hour longer to travel from PV to GDL as it takes from GDL to PV because GDL is about 5,000 feet in elevation. I think we enjoyed Puerto Vallarta a good deal more this time than we did last year -- I suspect this is mostly because we hardly ever left the beach, so it was very relaxing.

Our hotel was the Crown Paradise, and was perfect for the kids. Our room had a nook off the main room that contained a bunk bed and a trundle bed for the kids. The hotel is older: one of the first in Puerto Vallarta, we were told, but since we don't ever spend much time in the room, it really only matters if we have a bed for everyone and a place to shower.

The Crown Paradise Hotel is located near the marina, so we got up close and personal with a cruise ship. Having never been on a cruise, we were all amazed at how enormous these ships are.

The food was fine: good enough by all-inclusive standards. The main restaurant is situated right on the beach, so the view was splendid. The beach vendors are not permitted to come up to the building, so we could eat in peace.

The best amenity at the Crown Paradise for the kids is the Pirate Ship Water Park. It has slides, waterfalls, climbing structures, and pools of varying depths -- fun even for the adults! This resort is definitely family-focused, as evidenced by the kids' drink menu posted at all the bars.


That nearly completes my report on Puerto Vallarta, but I do have one last item to report later today or tomorrow. Let's just leave a little teaser and say that Trent and I decided to take one for the team and subject ourselves to an experience neither of us found pleasant. It's a must-read for anyone who ever visits a resort town!