Hi and please ignore \"fred\" - he is not a normal poster on this board and certainly does not represent the others! Anyway! Many good areas in PV...the southside (Old Town) is very popular - more your \"typical\" Mexico and a bit less touristy with many sidewalk cafes and unique shops and restaurants. Good beach too. If you want the best beaches, then check out
Nuevo Vallarta or a bit further north - the further north you go, the nicer the beaches are. To the south, the Conchas Chinas area things are a bit more lush and \"jungley\". The hotel zone is just that - a strip of large resorts, good beaches. Such a wide variety to choose from...sort of depends on what you are looking for!