Archive for August, 2009
What Happens When Tourists Cruise To Puerto Vallarta Mexico?
Puerto Vallarta Mexico has become one of the most popular tourist resort destinations in the world. Because Vallarta is located along the Mexican Riviera on the Pacific Ocean a substantial portion of these tourists arrive by boat; the majority in large cruise ships however many come in their private yachts.
Ten years ago a cruise ship would arrive in Vallarta every other day. At certain times during the “high season” of November through May when the average temperature is 73F with virtually no chance of rain cruise ships would arrive two days in a row.
Five years ago the popularity of cruising and specifically cruising to the Mexican Riviera reached a point where you could find a cruise liner at the Puerto Vallarta Marine Terminal almost every day and sometimes a second cruise liner anchored in Banderas Bay. Passengers from the anchored ship were then shuttled to shore by small tenders.
Two years ago you could count on at least one cruise ship every day in Vallarta and often find another one or two ships anchored in the bay. The traffic was so heavy at the Marine Terminal that the authorities in Vallarta started construction on the new Maritime Terminal.
Construction of the new Maritime Terminal in Puerto Vallarta was completed in early 2007 thus tripling the cruise passenger capacity. Today you’ll usually see at least two cruise ships docked at the Maritime Terminal and frequently three. Cruising to Vallarta has become so popular that there are times during the “high season” when a fourth ship has to anchor in the bay! With an average of close to 2000 passengers per ship this results in anywhere from 4000 to 8000 tourists arriving daily by cruise ship.
As a side note of interest the Puerto Vallarta International Airport was recently quadrupled in size in order to accommodate the flights that are arriving and departing all day everyday.
Now that we have a feel for the volume of cruising tourists arriving daily in Vallarta by commercial cruise liners let’s consider those arriving by private yachts.
Ten years ago Puerto Vallarta was the home to a beautiful 400 slip Marina for private yachts ranging in size from 30ft to well over 100ft. There was also a marina in Nuevo Vallarta with 380 slips for smaller boats up to 30ft long.
Due to the recent demand for additional slips larger slips and yachting related services a number of significant new marina construction projects have been undertaken; some of which have been completed some currently under construction and some still in the planning stages.
For example the beautiful Nuevo Vallarta Marina now has nearly 250 slips for yachts ranging from 30ft to 120ft long. The modern 50 million Marina Riviera Nayarit located in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle is approximately 40 complete with nearly 400 berths for yachts ranging from 30ft to 400ft. Fonatur Mexico’s National Tourism Development Trust has planned a 150 slip marina in their Phase 1 development program just north of Punta de Mita. These marinas will increase the moorage capacity from 400 to well over 1200 private yachts thereby tripling the total volume of tourists privately cruising to Vallarta.
Okay now that we have a feel for the growth of the Vallarta area and the volume of tourists cruising to Vallarta let’s explore just what happens to these tourists as they arrive in Paradise.
As the tourists disembark from the commercial cruise liners or their private yachts they are first greeted by the friendly faces of English speaking Mexicans. Because the local economy is based solely on tourism almost everyone is now speaking some degree of English and therefore communication is never an obstacle in Vallarta. Friendly faces as revealed in the Conde Nast survey of its readers where Vallarta was voted the friendliest resort destination in the world.
Of all things those arriving by cruise ships first see a Sam’s Club a Mega WalMart and a huge new modern shopping center; probably not what they would expect to see in a sleepy little Mexican fishing village! They soon discover that Vallarta is no longer sleepy or little in that its population has exploded to 350000 inhabitants and is projected to reach 600000 by the year 2015.
Unfortunately those arriving by cruise ships are generally allowed only about eight hours in town before the ship cruises out on its journey to the next Mexican Riviera port. While in town they are given many options in the way of city activities and tours. Some opt to play golf on any of the seven magnificent courses; others might want to take a four hour deep sea fishing trip or play tennis on any of the hundreds of tennis courts. Some take jungle safaris ATV trips through the Sierra Madre Mountains or go whale watching snorkeling or swimming with the dolphins Those less ambitious tourists take sight seeing bus tours through the city and then into the fine neighborhoods where the multimillion dollar haciendas and villas are nestled among the hillsides overlooking Banderas Bay.
The majority of these cruisers merely catch one of the thousands of taxis and head into town for a day of strolling along the Malecon by the beach shopping the many boutique stores or dining in any of the hundreds of fine restaurants.
Regardless of what the cruisers do during their short stay in Vallarta they are all treated with dignity respect and friendliness and therefore are eager to return for a longer visit the next time. The taste of Vallarta is so addictive that in all probability their next visit will be by air and will last for a week or longer.
Those that come in their private yachts generally stay for longer periods of time. In fact the quality of life is so great in Vallarta that many of those fortunate individuals who could afford to live anywhere in the world have just docked their yachts in Vallarta and made this their winter residence. After all Mexico was recently ranked the top retirement destination in the world by International Living Magazine and Puerto Vallarta is considered by many to be the most desirable city in Mexico for retirement.
To sum it up; what happens when tourists cruise to Vallarta is that they often become so infatuated by the climate the scenery of mountains and ocean the people the cleanliness the safety the available activities and the overall quality of life that they either return as soon as possible or they just stay joining the other 50000 North Americans that have made Puerto Vallarta their retirement home in Paradise.
About the writer: Jim Scherrer has owned property in Puerto Vallarta Mexico for 24 years and resided there for the past ten years. The mission of his series of 27 articles pertaining to retirement in Puerto Vallarta is to reveal the recent changes that have occurred in Vallarta while dispelling the misconceptions about living conditions in Mexico. For the full series of articles regarding travel to and retirement in Vallarta as well as pertinent Puerto Vallarta links please visit us at Puerto Vallarta Real Estate Buyers Agents
Using Family Camping Tent – Creative Way To Cheer Your Kids
If your children often complain of boredom the thought of going on camping can almost make them jump with joy. Camping brings to mind the pictures of campfire hot dogs smores and sleeping under open starlit night sky. All these can pump even an exhausted teenager with tremendous excitement. Normally the idea of camping is associated with vacations that may not be possible frequently considering everyones busy schedules. However getting innovative with your camping gear can enable you to enjoy a fun excursion without even leaving the boundaries of your backyard.
Which student in this world would not want to celebrate his/her completion of school education. If weather allows it may be a great idea to celebrate under star lit night sky by putting up your camping tent in the garden outdoors. It can turn out to be a fun experience and a much needed break for all the members of the family. You can light the campfire with the kids no longer needed school papers to symbolize the conclusion of school education. Throw in the common camping food like hot dogs marshmallows hamburgers etc. and it will become an experience to remember and repeat.
If you have a single child who gets charged up with the idea of camping you can make his/her birthday an everlasting memory by setting up the camping tent to sleep over after party. In case the safety concerns regarding campfire bother you too much you can always refrain from it and set up all the food in the kitchen or an outdoor grill. Your little one as well as his/her friends will have a memorable time together.
Another special occasion to pull out your camping tent is fourth of July. It is normally mid summer at that time of the year and a camping tent can be a great place for kids to unwind. Even while everyone gets busy with fireworks in the evening kids can enjoy themselves watching all the display from the comfort of their camping tent. You will no longer need to worry about them wandering all over the house.
In summers an impromptu sleep party arranged outdoors with the help of your camping gear can also be a great way to break away from normal routines and have a fun weekend. Thus your camping tent can provide you with much more value than you bargained for when you bought it just for occasional trips.
About the writer: Abhishek is an avid Camping enthusiast and he has got some great Camping Secrets up his sleeves! Download his FREE 84 Pages Ebook “How To Have An Unforgettable Camping Vacation!” from his website http://www.CampingGuru.com/768/index.htm . Only limited Free Copies available.
Travel: Travel And Cruises – Searching For Love?
Nostalgic but she is gone? No arms to hold no eyes to stare at loveless or maybe brokenhearted? Do not be too hard on your self. Take a break stay away from the so busy city streets free your spirit and meet new people.
Go cruising down the smooth blue waters of the earth. Explore love the way nature tells it. Your sentiments will surely fade away feelings of resentments will change into the excitement of meeting a new mate.
Through cruises for singles there are organized cocktail parties games group dynamics oneonone dining and an access to their singles chat site where one can get to know other singles. This is a venue for meeting new people and a prospect partner in the future. All you need to do is drop off your hesitation and actively participate n the process of matchmaking. Romance blooms in the most unexpected places right
These are three of the most popular Singles Cruise:
* 7 Night Greek Isles Cruise
You could sail from Venice Italy to Bari Italy same with Santorini Mykonos and Corfu Greece and Dubrovnik Croatia. Spend money from 1622.
* 7 Night Hawaiian Islands Cruise
For 1990 or more one is able to join the singles cruise to Hawaii. It sails from Honolulu to Kauai to Maui.
* 8 Night Exotic Western Caribbean after Thanksgiving Cruise
In just a cheap 749 or more one can have at his hands the marvelous Western Caribbean Cruise.
Cruises for singles were created to cater the needs of the single community of individuals in the world. If you are just willing to spend some amount sincere time pure intentions this project must continue going to school.
Not only socializing activities is being stressed but also single cruises prepare activities that would enhance skills like teamwork selfconfidence and establishing of good intrapersonal relationship. The cruises for singles prepare sports activities. Professional cruise directors are the ones who organize these activities. Lectures and other worthwhile sharing of thoughts are also significant parts. Indeed not merely allfun.
Deposit commonly ranges from 250300 and all are charged according to double occupancy. Actually couples do not stay on the entire ship but they have one common spot where they mingle and try love searching.
Most people who have experienced joining the cruise are working professionals from mid 20s to mid 60s.
There is this sparkling hope that somebody meant for them is on board they try cruising the Singles. This is a way of traveling and finding love both at the same time.
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