Recommend November 2012 - (Page 46)

mexico onsitereview S E P T E M B E R 2 0 12 VIVA VALLARTA! Ultra-chic lobby bar at the adults-only Secrets Vallarta Bay. donna ray It was a heated off-screen romance during a classic John Hustondirected movie that ﬁrst thrust the sleepy ﬁshing village of Puerto Vallarta into the international spotlight. When ﬁlming “The Night of the Iguana” in 1963, the R-rated shenanigans of Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor transformed the Paciﬁc Coast hideaway’s image from provincial to provocative. Today, Puerto Vallarta’s romantic aura remains. But it’s courtesy of a drop-dead gorgeous setting, enduring Old World charm and magical atmosphere, that attracts visitors lusting to embrace all the layers making the destination so captivating. In fact, earlier this year, Puerto Vallarta registered record hotel occupancy rates. From January to June, international visitors occupied 613,854 hotel rooms compared to 590,921 for the same period in 2011. The destination also reported a 71.75 percent occupancy rate during the summer season from July 2-Aug. 19, compared to 62.18 percent during the same period last year. extreme makeover With its narrow cobblestone streets and colonial architecture, Puerto Vallarta’s historic downtown is fresh from a massive enhancement that spiffed up its iconic malecon (beachfront boardwalk) fringing Banderas Bay—its most signiﬁcant tourism investment in 20 years. PV purists need not worry. It’s simply easier to experience that authenticity keeping the beach resort destination so grounded. 46 november 2012 With mosaic pavement inspired by native Huichol Indian myths, the revered malecon remains garnished by an impressive collection of public art. Crowning nearly 20 creative sculptures is the city’s beloved symbol, the 9-ft. “El Caballito” depicting a waving boy riding a giant seahorse. Enhancements have thoughtfully maintained the promenade’s traditional feel and ﬁesta ambiance while weaving in pedestrian-friendly touches. A gleaming four miles of renovated public space extends from Hotel Rosita (downtown’s oldest) to Hotel Los Arcos. The program covers new underground lighting systems for improved safety and visibility. Additionally, sidewalks were widened in the Romantic Zone and along the popular dining and shopping street, Basilio Badillo. Other infrastructure improvements include the addition of a third bridge over the Ameca River connecting Vallarta to Banderas Bay, the new Los Muertos pier and a $5.5 million upgrade of nearby Highway 200 to make Puerto Vallarta more easily accessible. Beyond the physical, safety and security measures have been ramped up as well. “In February, we initiated a Taxi Safe notiﬁcation system allowing anyone witnessing or falling victim to a crime to report the event to any taxi,” says Guillermo Ohem, managing director of the Puerto Vallarta Tourism Board. The cab contacts its call center, which in turn notiﬁes the Police Emergency Call Center (the equivalent of a 911 call in the U.S.). recommend.com http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend November 2012

Editor's Notes
Hotel Desk: Westin Hotels & Resorts
Tour Talk: Connections by Abercrombie & Kent
Myanmar-The Place Where Time Stood Still
Portugal-Untapped Gem
River Cruising Continues to Make Big Waves
St. Barthelemy Avec Amour
This Plane is Going to Cuba
Colombia Rising
Puerto Vallarta
The Lure of Hawaii
A Ride on the Rocky Mountaineer
African Retreats in Tanzania

Recommend November 2012