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Author
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Topic: What is Mazatlan like?
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Cheryl17
TUG MemberPosts: 98
From: IL
Registered: Feb 2004
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posted 03-23-2005 17:27
    
My husband and I love Puerto Vallarta and Playa del Carmen. We especially like walking around in the evenings looking for new Mexican restaurants to try. In Acapulco, we had a harder time finding restaurants and didn't feel as safe. What is Mazatlan like? Is there a walkable area that has many good restaurants? I've read that many restaurants specialize in seafood. Do most of the restaurants have other entrees (chicken, pork, etc) that are also good?IP: Logged |
Cyndi
TUG MemberPosts: 470
From: Kirkland, WA USA
Registered: Dec 2000
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posted 03-24-2005 00:51
Mazatlan is a big city - a working port and so is a bit different from the PV - I have not been to Playa so I don't know about that. There is a nice downtown area with a beautiful church and some restaurants. The resorts are in the Golden Zone which is north of the downtown area. There are MANY resturants to choose from in the Golden Zone and it is a nice area to walk in. I never have felt unsafe in the Golden Zone walking at night. They have a number of great seafood (shrimp) resturants and they also have a variety of other Mexican dishes. Casa Loma is a very gourmet place and a bit pricy by Mazatlan standards. One of my favs is Costa Marinara for shrimp. We are going in 23 days and I already have a list of places I want to eat that is longer than the number of days we are staying. Mazatlan is not overly clean. It is dusty and a bit dirty and some people are put off by that, but I don't think it is more so than PV. I find it all part of its charm. The people are wonderful and friendly. Tourism in Mazatlan has been bad since 911 and the locals are working hard to keep people coming back. I think That PV has more to offer, but I do love Mazatlan for the special qualities of its people and the fabulous beach. ------------------
Cyndi IP: Logged |
DianeH
TUG MemberPosts: 1843
From: BC Canada
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 03-24-2005 07:27
Although we haven't been back to Maz since 2000, we still consider it our favorite vacation destination.We have been to PV 3 times but still feel that Maz offers more. We enjoy the many restaurants in the Golden Zone. Yes, most will offer chicken and beef as well as seafood. Our normal routine will be to walk to dinner, and then poke around the different shops before walking back to our hotel. We have often experienced what Cyndi said - too many restaurants and not enough time! Don't be afraid to take the bus downtown and do a walking tour of the area, it is really something everyone should do to experience Mazatlan. Just writing this makes me yearn even more to return to visit. Diane ------------------
'Be not forgetful to entertain strangers; for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.' Hebrews 13:2 IP: Logged |
davilin88
Non MemberPosts: 8
From: Chico, Ca, U.S.A.
Registered: Jan 2005
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posted 03-26-2005 14:15
If you have any respiratory problems, I would avoid the open air taxis called "pulmonias" as you are exposed to exhaust. The air is much more polluted than P.V. Personally, I'll stick with P.V., just so much more character and much more to do and see. Maz. beaches are pretty nice though.IP: Logged |
marcmuff
TUG MemberPosts: 1372
From: West Sacramento, California - Owner Edgelake Beach Club (EOY) Owner Krystal Vallarta
Registered: May 2001
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posted 03-26-2005 15:35
We loved Mazatlan (more than PV). We stayed at the Pueblo Bonito at the end of the Golden Zone. We also toured PB Emerald Bay - it is nice but out of town. We loved Munchies across the street and the Purple Onion a little way down the street. I liked it because my husband is an early bird and I am a "late bird" so I could go by myself at night and sing Karaoke at Munchies. Met tons of nice people there. I have 3 or 4 albums of pictures at my webshots site (click on the URL below).
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Muriel
Check out my Websites: www.marcmuff.us http://home.earthlink.net/~marcmuff
My pictures are at http://www.picturetrail.com/marcmuff and http://community.webshots.com/user/marcmuff IP: Logged |
Hodag71
TUG MemberPosts: 19
From: Falcon Hills, CO, USA
Registered: Nov 2002
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posted 03-28-2005 17:34
We've been to both and like them both for some of the reason's other people have noted.Mazatlan much bigger than P.V. I thing it is about 400,000 people. The contrast between the hotel zone and the "real Mexico," is very evident. The ride to the airport is about 45 minutes. During that time you will see a stark contrast between the poverty of Mexico's people and the oppulance of the tourist areas. (If you never venture too far from your hotel in P.V. you might never notice it.) I also agree that the people in Mazatlan seem more friendly. Even the timeshare sale people tend to be less pushy! We stayed at the El Cid Marina in Mazatlan in 2003. It is a little removed from the "action" so we found it more peaceful than the hotels in the Golden Zone. We did like the opportunity to choose from more restuarants, so we took the free shuttle to the other El Cid in the Golden Zone when we wanted to walk around. Don't get me wrong... we really like P.V., too. We just got back from there a few days ago and wouldn't hesitate to go back. As the old saying goes... VARIETY IS THE SPICE OF LIFE.
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