Stubborn mother..planning a trip to Puerto Vallarta! Please Help!?

we're planning a trip to mexico (Puerto Vallarta) but my mom says that its cheaper just to get there and find one then to go on expedia.com to find one because only the main chain hotels put their service on there and the more quaint family-owned business which are cheaper dont put their hotels up on travel sites. im pretty sure they would put their hotels on travel sites because thats how you get the most business, but she says its not true and she insists that i ask my aunt who lives in mexico to do it for us, but the thing is my mother never helps. ive been trying to plan this vacation since january, all by myself! what should i tell her? does anyone know about hotels in general? please help!

how the heck is an advertising website suppossed to help me?

Im with your mom on this one - sorry . I like just winging it. You get alot better prices when you get a local to put you in the right direction. I usually ask the cab drivers when I land.
Leave your bags in the cab , have cash in hand and you will get a better dea in my experience.
Cash for one talks. Easier to bargin with a human face to face. Luggage still in cab thats running and cash in hand - well now thats leverage.
The reason they are not on the the travel sites is $$$$. you have to pay for that service. Now comes a gringo with cash and I got empty rooms - lets talk gringo.
I again agree with mom - your aunt could really help out in this situation.
Relax - vacation is supposed to be relaxing - moms got that down pat and you sound stressed.

The "family owned" hotels that don't have a website are probably not places you would want to stay. Even the smaller hotels have websites & are able to give you a few pictures & prices.
I would not just show up & expect a room. Puerto Vallarta has become a major destination for many different countries. When the Americans & Canadians aren't there, the Mexicans from Guadalajar & Mexico City take over the city.
There are many great websites to find a hotel/condo. Don't risk your trip to save a few bucks.

she is correct You'll be bettrer off finding a place after you get there, and you'll be able to look at the room & be sure it's what you want. I live in Manzanillo, it's farther south a few hours
go check out a web site called WWW.gomanzanillo.com also "tom zap" they speak about barra & manzanillo but you may want to concider going there, PV has a LOT of crime & corruption.

In a way you are both right! Some smaller places have listings online, but most don't. Unless you are going at Christmas or Easter, I would suggest you book a night or two and then wing it.

The article below, while it is written for Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, applies equally well to PV. Yes, it contains advertising, but the tips are valid.

Hi nice girl,
Maybe if you tell me the dates you want to visit Vallarta and the type of accomodations you are looking for.............

Write me a line, I live here in Puerto Vallarta.
I am an architect and have a big big family visiting twice a year so I know places where they can stay, some of them are very rich but others not, so there are several choices for you.

Best

I would go through a travel agent then. They have more resources for places to stay. Also, I wouldn't take the chance just showing up and trying to find a place to stay. You might wind up wasting a lot of time and wind up in a dump.

Good luck.

Hi
篓Juts book everything before getting to vallarta and you will find better deals online then just showing up at a hotel.

Have fun

http://www.thingstodoinvallarta.com/

you can get better deals if you wait till you get there.I've found some Mexican hotels that were ten dollars for the night. By law, room rates must be posted by the front desk. go in the hotel, and look for the room rates--usually about the size of a 3 by 5 card (sometimes framed; sometimes not). the downside to this method is that you may have to burn a little shoe leather going from one hotel to the next.
Another option is to check tripadvisor.com (see the link below) because, that will show you prices and the reviews of other travellers.

I think that expedia very expensive. At least I have found this to be the case when looking. I also think your mom is right in the fact that you might be able to find some good deals when you are there- but thats no guarantee and I like to know where Im going when I get there...sense of home somewhere. Depending on what season you are going you might not want to risk it. Im Canadian and we can find some good deals at sunquest.ca. If you are not Canadian though that wont help you much. I have emailed hotels in the past and some will answer you and some wil not. Try that if you have time
Adios!!

OK I guess it depends on how YOU prefer to travel...do you like hole in the wall type restaurants and hotels(often cute and clean but lacking many amenities) or large resorts with everything at your fingertips. I like to have somewhat of a definate plan at least as far as my flights and accomadations and wing the rest. So I prefer to book my stuff ahead of time at least the first time I am visiting a destination. I just got back from PV and stayed at two differnt hotels...one was a huge resort and the other a hole in the wall at the marina. I have to be honest when I am on vacation I like a little luxery.

Hotwire.com has awsome deals and Tripadvisor.com is where you can read reviews from all differnt types of travelers.