February 2006, by Adrian Biffen: Travel in Mexico is one of the best ways to take a winter vacation and forget about the weather at home, and there are plenty of Puerto Vallarta flight and hotel bargains to start your winter holiday. 

The central Pacific Coast, known as the 'Mexican Riviera' is a treasure trove of sparkling beaches and magnificent villas, hotels and resorts.  The possibilities for a varied and fascinating holiday are endless - you're guaranteed to have a getaway experience you'll never forget.

The art and history of Mexico are woven together into a colorful tapestry representing the drama of human existence in this region, dating from pre-Hispanic times to modern day life. Find and collect fabulous art relating to ancient tribal communities such as Huichol and Aztec native peoples, and witness the influences on the development of present day artists.

Even though we don't speak Spanish, we had no trouble making ourselves understood, thanks to the TALKING DICTIONARY and PHRASEBOOK software we installed on our Pocket PC PDA (and later our Windows Mobile WM6 Smartphone). This is so much better than trying to look up words in a book, and it's a GREAT way to learn the language quickly, so don't leave home without it! We bought the Spanish Platinum Suite package that gives you all the different packages (like talking phrasebook, dictionary, text translation, flascards, etc) for your Windows laptop AND your Pocket PC (or MS Smartphone, Sony Ericsson, Palm, etc). You can download trial versions and purchase online right here: 

Mexico is still a very affordable country to travel within, and accommodations range from budget to ultra luxurious - you can still get a very decent room for $20 per night, or you can spend $600 a night at a megaresort if you're so inclined. The people are friendly and helpful, often providing a level of service that we haven't seen anywhere else. The winter climate is superb, hovering in the 85° F range (29° C), sunny every day, with almost no rain. From Manta Rays to Iguanas, the animal life is extraordinary; the flowers and trees are absolutely beautiful, and much of the architecture is stunning.

We took our new Sony HDR-HC1 High Definition widescreen digital camcorder with us on a recent trip; it has a nice feature where you can grab frames after the fact to create photographs from the recorded footage, and most of these pictures were created this way. 

The 10:1 Carl Zeiss zoom lens is superb, and we got many close-up shots from a distance that we wouldn't normally get. The high definition video footage also plays superbly on our 10' widescreen home theater system.

Explore the Costa Azul and Costa Alegre from Puerto Vallarta

So travel along with us as we explore the Mexican Riviera north and south of the Bay of Banderas, and find out what we discovered. You'll see pictures of great little coastal towns such as Sayulita, San Pancho, Rincon de Guayabitos, Chacala, Melaque and Barra de Navidad - with all the fabulous beaches and bays in between. 

Find out where to pursue your favorite leisure activities such as snorkeling in Tenacatita Bay, horseback riding in Puerto Vallarta, or great fishing in Manzanillo. Explore the countryside and discover the beauty of the Mexican coast, and the grandeur of its interior mountain ranges, plateaus and volcanoes. 

Visit museums and learn about the colorful history of Mexico, and how it developed into the great country that it is today - and don't forget to take a trip to an Aztecan or Mayan ruin for a fascinating glimpse into the past.

You'll find tips on hotels, resorts and villas and other aspects of travel in Mexico, including currency exchange, language basics, cellphone use, driving etiquette and car rentals. Come to a place where the food is fabulous, especially the delicious seafood and abundant fruit, and the Cerveza and Tequila goes down real easy Seņor ... and won't take a big bite out of your wallet!

Enter Our Travel Mexico Site HERE