In Zona Romantica, you'll find a nice mix of gay-friendly options. If
you're on a budget and seek a clean, comfortable, and friendly gay
property in the center of the action, check into the 28-room Hotel
Mercurio, which is just steps from many gay bars and restaurants (and two
blocks from the beach), and offers compact but pleasant rooms and a
youthful, social vibe - there's always plenty of frolicking going on
around the pool, and the staff is super-friendly. PV's famed Blue Chairs
Resort is a six-story hotel right on the gay beach - the location couldn't
be better, but the property underwent some major management changes
recently, and it remains to be seen how this will affect the quality of
the place.
An intimate gay B&B with a stunning view and a quiet location in the
upscale Conchas Chinas district just south of Zona Romantica, the lovely
Arco Iris B&B is run by helpful owners Ran and Thom - the latter is a
expert chef who whips up amazingly tasty breakfasts each morning. This
elegant hideaway, just a 10-minute walk from the beach, comprises three
smartly furnished units, each with sweeping bay views. Amenities include
an eight-person Jacuzzi and a theater room with a 70-inch-screen, plus
satellite TV and free calls within North America.
Puerto Vallarta is also home to one of the most alluring, dramatically
situated gay resorts you'll find anywhere, the stellar Casa Cupula, which
excels as much for its stately accommodations as for its friendly,
knowledgeable, and charming staff. The main building comprises six rooms
and two unbelievably lavish suites, and owner Don Pickens also rents out
two cozier but still comfy rooms in his adjacent villa - these share a
patio with unparalleled views of the city and Banderas Bay. Casa Cupula
has also developed the world's first gay condo hotel - these seven
residences adjacent to the inn are currently under construction and for
sale (for full or fractional ownership). Facilities - for the inn and the
condos - include a well-stocked gym, a pool, and a large open-air lounge
with adjacent computer room. The property, which tumbles down a hillside
high above Zona Romantica, is a 10- to 15-minute walk from the gay beach
and the many bars and restaurants. But once you've spent a little time
relaxing here, away from the crowds and in full view of Puerto Vallarta's
stunning shoreline, you may find it hard to leave this romantic resort.
Andrew Collins is the
author of Fodor's Gay Guide to the USA and as well as numerous other
guidebooks.
Puerto Vallarta is also home to one of the most alluring, dramatically
situated gay resorts you'll find anywhere, the stellar Casa Cupula, which
excels as much for its stately accommodations as for its friendly,
knowledgeable, and charming staff. The main building comprises six rooms
and two unbelievably lavish suites, and owner Don Pickens also rents out
two cozier but still comfy rooms in his adjacent villa - these share a
patio with unparalleled views of the city and Banderas Bay. Casa Cupula
has also developed the world's first gay condo hotel - these seven
residences adjacent to the inn are currently under construction and for
sale (for full or fractional ownership). Facilities - for the inn and the
condos - include a well-stocked gym, a pool, and a large open-air lounge
with adjacent computer room. The property, which tumbles down a hillside
high above Zona Romantica, is a 10- to 15-minute walk from the gay beach
and the many bars and restaurants. But once you've spent a little time
relaxing here, away from the crowds and in full view of Puerto Vallarta's
stunning shoreline, you may find it hard to leave this romantic resort.
The Hunk
