Monday, October 13, 2014

Expanded Wheelchair Options for Puerto Vallarta Beaches

Beach wheelchair rentals in Puerto Vallarta and Nuevo Vallarta is turning out to be a lot of fun and very rewarding. We meet the most awesome people and are truly blessed to provide such a wonderful service. We are expanding our product list. These are our current products and who we think they are best suited for.

1. We have several De Bug beach wheelchairs. This chair is super comfortable and moves across the sand easily. I think this is a great chair for the occasional user. What I mean is someone who gets stuck in a cast just before or during their vacation, someone who is having a knee replacement in Mexico but still wants to enjoy the sites, someone who walks around okay, but has trouble on the sand. The chair is easily pushed by anyone regardless of previous chair pushing experience.

2. We have the Hippocampe beach wheelchair. I think this chair is pretty unique and is probably not for everyone. However, the person who wants this chair would not be happy with any of our other products. The Hippocampe is very low to the ground. It makes it perfect for children, or for adults that are able to self-transfer to the beach, kayak, jet ski, etc. It would be difficult to get to the low chair for elderly or others who are used to using their legs to help. The chair has interchangeable tires so you can self propel or relax and let someone else do the pushing. It also has a front tow rope so pulling is another option. It is a slick looking sporty chair. I think the athlete with limited mobility is the perfect person for this chair. It breaks down easily so you can take it with you for jungle or cobble stone. Definitely for the young and/or active.

3. Our newest addition to the beach wheelchair product line is the Sand Rider. It is similar to the Hippocampe in its sporty look. It has the big balloon tires, which you can push yourself on hard sand (although you get sand on your hands) and it is super easy to push across the beach. It is different because it is not so low to the ground. That makes it much easier for people of all ages to get in and out of the chair. It doesn't fit through all standard doorways, but breaks down easily for traveling to other locations.

That's it for the beach. We have a couple of different power chair options

1. We have the Porche of wheelchairs and I mean it was actually designed by Porche. Alber Adventure is a luxury chair beyond compare! This chair is not designed for the beach, but is ideal for traveling around the resort area in style. It is all terrain so it can take the downtown area much better than other power chairs. It is not light weight however so just won't work on the sand. This chair has all the bells and whistles; turn signals, horn, head lights, etc. This is a chair you can feel like you are on vacation while riding around.

2. The Invacare Proto and
3. The Rascal are pretty similar in their benefits and would be a personal preference as to which was preferred. I think the same client would be happy with either chair. Both are comfortable and allow for riders up to 300 lbs. Both maneuver small spaces pretty well. The chair on the Pronto is more padded, but both are equally comfortable. Either of these chairs would be perfect for running around the resort or down to Starbucks at Paradise Plaza.

We've also added walkers to our product line. I had no idea it would be such a popular item. We have the heavy duty version with a seat and brakes. Clients up to 300 lbs are no problem for this model.

Since delivery and pickup are included with all rentals (3 day minimum rental) you can choose the mobility device that is perfect for you. Let's say you decide the Adventure luxury chair is right for you, but one day you want to go from Paradise Village to Bucerias by way of the beach. Don't hesitate to ask about 1 day beach wheelchair rentals. If they are not rented we are happy to accommodate.

Most of the chairs come with accessories as well. Don't forget an umbrella and cup holder to enjoy your day to the fullest.


Thursday, September 18, 2014

We got our Hippocampe Beach Wheelchair to Vallarta

It finally arrived. We've been anxious to see this beach wheelchair in person. We've talked to some people who have used the Hippocampe, but nothing is like seeing it for yourself. At Beach Crossers, we want to have products that meet the needs of every person with mobility limitations. We have a friend who lost his legs in Afghanistan. He is very physically fit. I mean in the Olympic athlete kind of way. We had him in mind when we selected this chair. It has wheels that are wide so that they can go on the beach, but it is still self propelled. It has interchangeable balloon tires if you want to be pushed or pulled along instead. It is low to the ground, for easy transfers to the sand, a kayak, or maybe a jet ski. It also floats. That means he could wheel himself right into the water, swim for a while, and then wheel himself out again. Of course there is a rope on the front so someone else could pull him out as well. It is super cool! I hope he comes to Vallarta soon to try it out. It seems like it will be a great option for children as well. Being low to the ground is a plus. It also packs away into a travel bag that will fit easily into the trunk of a car. Do I sound like an info-mercial?We are happy extremely with our DeBug wheelchairs and find them so easy to push across the sand. For most people, that is going to be just the thing. I think people who end up in a cast right before or during their vacation will like that option best because they are so easy to maneuver. However, it is nice to have an option for those that would rather push them self. We've chatted with a few people who spend their lives in a wheelchair and 100% of them said they would rather push for themselves. We will have to get the new beach wheelchair down to the beautiful Vallarta sand and give it a try. Will be tweeting some pictures!

Our first and favorite customers ... so far!

I decided to write a little about our first customers, Jason and Jennifer Lind because they were and continue to be such a blessing to us. You can read their review on Yelp, if you can find us there. You have to actually search for Beach Crossers, because if you search for beach wheelchairs Vallarta nothing comes up. Maybe in time that will improve. Anyway, they thought they had a beach wheelchair lined up for their son (who has never been mobile) months before their trip. It turns out that their travel agent was wrong. When they thought they arranged a chair there weren't even any beach wheelchairs in Vallarta. During that time when they thought they had a reservation, we started up Beach Crossers. So when they found that they didn't have anything arranged they started looking and came across our website. They were so happy to find us and we were so happy to have someone find us. It worked out perfectly. If the agent hadn't been mistaken, they would have found that there were no chairs in Vallarta and probably would not have looked again at a later date. We delivered their wheelchair to RIU Palace in Nuevo Vallarta and met the nicest family. They used the beach wheelchair every day and were kind enough to send us pictures of their vacation so we could see the smiles on all of their faces. We have a few pictures of the family on our website and I think they posted a couple on Yelp as well. Since heading home, they have sent us information about the company that did their airport transfer, written an awesome review, and kept in touch. They have been actively promoting our business in the Midwest! We are so thankful to have met the Lind family. Sometimes starting a business can be a struggle, but Beach Crossers has built in the intrinsic reward of helping people. That is so rewarding that there is no hesitation to keep jumping hoops. Because, as Mahatma Gandhi said, "A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history." We are going to change lives!

Importing Beach Wheelchairs to Vallarta

So, we've been working to get our wheelchair rental business off the ground and I've shared some of the many obstacles and hoops we've jumped or are still jumping through.  Customs was a hoop we hadn't anticipated. So, the name of our company is Beach Crossers. We have a few wheelchairs that belonged to us before starting the business since both Mom and Grandma used wheelchairs. If you've read previous blogs, you know that traveling with Mom in her wheelchair was the inspiration for us to start this big adventure. We want to help people get to the beach in Puerto Vallarta and Nuevo Vallarta. That is why we were shocked to pay 36% in customs fees to bring wheelchairs into Mexico. And here is big news to us. You pay that fee on the tax and shipping for your merchandise as well! So, for example, let's round off some numbers and see how this works. We have a shipment of beach wheelchairs coming from DeBug in Florida. Let's say it's invoiced for about $4000.00 USD. Florida tax rate is ??? let's say about 8% so that is added to the invoice as (I'm not the math teacher in the family, but ...) I get $320 in tax. Then you can add the $1200 for shipping and you get a total of $5,520 that you get to pay duty on. At 36% that comes to $1987.20 added to the cost of getting the wheel chairs into Vallarta. I thought it was strange to pay duty on tax and shipping, but the really weird thing is that there doesn't seem to be a formula to tell you how much you will have to pay. It seems to depend completely on what the custom's officer thinks of the chairs. One custom's agent says, "Oh, wheel chairs don't get charged duty" and another says "those are a luxury item". It turns out that you can be charged from 0-140% duty. Maybe there is a formula somewhere, but we can't figure it out. On the other hand, we've been charged about 36 percent on each of our shipments. Needless to say, that significantly reduces the number of chairs that a start-up company can have for starting up!!!  Not surprising, we jumped from the black to the red without blinking. We'd been told that it would happen, but we hoped it wouldn't happen in such a big way. Of course, we ordered chairs based on how much capital we had and even left a little cushion. But, the chairs are arriving and we are finding ways to cover the additional 36%. Our custom's agent tells us that if we have a "medical permission" that we won't have to pay duty. What is that? No one seems to know. My guess is that it is for the patient, but the custom's form says you don't have to pay duty for a personal device anyway, so maybe that's not it. We continue to push forward through the many obstacles because we believe this is a good thing for the people who live in Vallarta and those that visit. We have already helped a few people and it is a huge blessing. Therefore, we carry on.

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Renting Wheelchairs in Vallarta

Starting an international business has a lot of hoops, but the satisfaction that we get from renting the chairs makes it more than worth the hassle. Our first rental was to a nice young man named Zach. I hope to have pictures soon. Zach is 19 years old an non-mobile. He used the beach wheelchair every day during his stay at RIU Palace in Nuevo Vallarta. We were so happy to provide that opportunity for Zach and his family, Jason and Jennifer. They were the perfect first customers.  Today we had a phone call from a man who has a family coming to Puerto Vallarta next week. Two family members are non-mobile. He was hoping that the site he found on the Internet was true and that there really were beach wheelchairs here in Puerto Vallarta. We can't wait to make their visit so much better by providing the beach wheelchairs. Today was the best of all. We were in the lobby of Paradise Village after the member's party and there was a nice family from California in the lobby with their mother in a wheelchair. We so wished we could have gotten our Mom to the beach that we had to offer the chair to these lovely people. The chair wasn't rented this evening anyway. When the daughter commented "I might just cry" I told her I thought I was going to cry first. It is so very satisfying. Beach Crossers may just allow us to live in this paradise, help others, and have a secure retirement. What more could a person ask for?

Friday, May 30, 2014

Rentals in Puerto Vallarta

We've been looking for a long term rental in Puerto Vallarta. There are several good sources of information. Craigslist has a good variety of tourist and local rental options. It's a little confusing because you can't tell if the prices are in dollars or pesos, but after opening each page you get that information. There are several rental companies in PV that have a good variety of rentals. We've found some great options at Vistalegre.com.  They seem to have the most long term rentals in the downtown area. The best source for cost efficiency seems to be the mano y mano online classified ads. They have the most rentals and definitely the most outside of the tourist areas. If you're looking for an authentic experience then that is a great option for information. We haven't rented anything yet. So far we have been comparing neighborhoods and amenities. We're looking for a place where we can store our wheelchair, have 2-3 bedrooms, off street parking, walk-ability, and ideally a pool. It's a long list, but we have found several great options. We're going to wait until we get to PV in a couple of weeks and start looking at the properties we've got on our list. I will add that our friends in vallarta have told us a couple of neighborhoods we are not allowed to look in. Top of the list is Ramblases. They didn't say why, but indicated that they wouldn't let friend or family move into that neighborhood.  That's good enough for me. The difference in price between monthly and annual rentals is huge. Usually as much as 1200 monthly is as low as 500 per month annually. Definitely worth looking at a year's lease. However, be prepared to pay for the entire year up front and in cash. I'll add to this post after we actually rent something.

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Wheelchairs in Puerto Vallarta and Sayulita

Beach Crossers will be bringing beach wheelchairs

to Sayulita and it is not a moment too soon. Sayulita is difficult by wheelchair. We took Mom and some friends to Sayulita for the day and it was really difficult to get around. We had to go inland a block or two and back to the beach, and inland a block or two and back to the beach, etc. There was no way to get her to the chairs that were on the beach with umbrellas and the restaurant owners didn't want us using a table if we weren't ordering. You can only drink so much before you need to move on and moving on was a big challenge. The beach is beautiful and watching the surfers is a great way to spend the day. We ended up carrying Mom and her chair down to a table that some friends had reserved for the day. Unlike Puerto Vallarta, no one offered to help. Since Mom was small and her chair was light we were able to manage. Also, once the sand was more firm, she was able to walk a little with help. That isn't the case for a lot of visitors. I really love Sayulita and enjoy spending a day there once in a while, but with a wheelchair it is a struggle. Wheelchairs are certainly not part of the young active lifestyle at Sayulita, but we have friends who regardless of having legs or not, would love to spend time experiencing water sports at Sayulita. It's nice to know we will be able to help them accomplish that experience soon.  Here's a picture of our young friends surfing, or more accurately trying to surf. They actually did pretty well for their first try. There are plenty of surf coaches around and reasonably prices too. You can rent boards, teachers, beach chairs, and about anything else you need to make your day enjoyable. Sayulita is a definite must visit if you are in the Vallarta area.

Friday, April 18, 2014

Wheelchairs in Puerto Vallarta

So I've been writing about several of our experiences in Puerto Vallarta and Nuevo Vallarta, but I thought I would take a little detour and write about our experiences traveling to Banderas Bay with Mom in her #wheelchair. She passed away in January, but was the primary reason we started Beach Crossers in the first place. We spent our much of our lives at the beach and it was heart breaking that Mom could not spend the last part of her life doing the same.

First of all, there is the flight from the states. We fly from a small city in Washington State where your only destination choice is Seattle. From Seattle, of course you can go to anywhere in the world, but you have to get to Seattle first. At our little airport, you have to walk (or wheel) out to the plane and climb about 6 steps to board. Mom had lost use of her hamstring, so one of her legs had limited functionality. She was able to climb a few stairs and going up was easier than coming down so she managed this without assistance. Friends who have less mobility have to get a lift into the plane and a transfer chair once on board. It's not fun, and can be exhausting but with Puerto Vallarta waiting on the other end it is worth the struggle. Once in Seattle, you wait for everyone to leave the plane and reverse the process. We usually fly Alaska Airlines and have been mostly satisfied with the assistance we've received. They usually have someone waiting at the gate to pick Mom up in an airport wheelchair. They escort us to the elevator and to our departure gate. They handle most of Mom's bags, stop by the ladies room, and even #Starbucks if you ask. Usually great service,although the one time she flew by herself she did not get the same quality of service as she got when my sister and I were along to advocate for her.

Boarding in Seattle is much easier as the jetways allow for wheelchair transfer right to the door. Now Mom also used oxygen on the plane. That has been difficult at times, but I'm going to stick with the wheelchair for now.  Getting to the restroom on the plane is difficult. Mom considered wearing a protective undergarment to avoid the problem and would go without any fluids for hours before the flight all to avoid the trip to the restroom. In the interest of her health and comfort I promised to assist her as needed. Timing is key to the success of the bathroom visit. The beverage cart cannot be between you and the bathroom or you will never get there. Mom would slowly make her way down the isle while I carried her oxygen concentrator along behind. The flight crew will let you know when it is a good time to make that trip if you ask them in advance and if your bladder allows you to go when they think it is convenient. Mom's oxygen would drop significantly during this trip and even dipped into the 60s one time. It was very frightening for me. It is hard to take adequate time for recovery when there are people waiting for you to get out of the way.

Once in PV, the experience starts to improve. There is a very helpful man waiting at the gate with a wheelchair that stays with you throughout the entire process. They pick you up, push you to immegration, continue to baggage claim, through customs, and out to your transportation. They help with every step of the process. They don't just push you along, they help you with every part of the process. They speak English fairly well and take courtesy to a level that was lost with Ward Clever sometime around 1950 in the United States.

We always rent a car, so Mom and I waited at the airport while Sheri headed to the car rental to pick up the car. This actually worked out nice and we enjoyed a Starbucks while we waited. There is an advantage to renting a car in that there are actually designated "blue" parking spots around downtown. On the other hand, the way people park right up against your bumper makes it very difficult to get the chair in and out of the trunk at times. People are very helpful though and usually someone will come along and stop traffic or help lift the chair out at an awkward angle.

Getting around downtown is still a bit of a challenge. The Malecon area is completely accessible these days and there are even ramps that go down to the beach. With the beach wheelchairs from www.beachcrossers.com (a little self promotion) you can cross the cobble stone streets and head to the beach without any problems. However, in Mom's transport chair it was definitely a challenge maneuvering downtown.Once you are away from the new Malecon area, the ramps are small, steep, sometimes at awkward angles, and sometimes there is a telephone pole in the middle of the ramp. Even in the Malecon area there are ramps that lead down to the street that align with cobble stone instead of pavement. The pavement is just a little bit to the left, which isn't a big deal if you're walking, but it's a challenge on wheels. Some of the shops are difficult to get around and many of the restaurants have a couple of steps up. If you are willing to accept help, the employees will pick you up, chair and all, and lift you into the restaurant. It's an adventure, but the people are genuine and it is nice that they get the opportunity to help.

We took Mom out on a trip to the Marietas Islands on a Vallarta Adventures excursion. The staff lifted her and her chair onto the vessel and spent the entire day pampering her. When the dancing started she was right in the middle of things.

Once at the Marietas you have the option to head to shore for some beach time. That was not an option for Mom, but they did a great job of pampering her while the more able passengers did some kayaking and snorkeling. I most appreciated that the captain traveled close to the island so Mom could get a look at the Blue footed boobys since she couldn't go on the excursion. The weather didn't allow us to get very close and whether or not she actually saw the blue feet was up for debate, but when we enlarged her pictures there they were on the rocks so she could say she saw them in person and that was worth all of the effort. 

We took a trip to Caletas in the daytime and the young men carried Mom and her chair across the stone walkways, not to the first beach, not to the second beach, but to the third beach because that is where there was a shady spot. Sheri and I went snorkeling and when we came back Mom had a coconut milk at the table. Turns out the guy that cuts the coconuts came up and gave her a lesson on how the whole process works. She also got to meet the parrots up close and personal. What she wanted to do was go up and see the orchids, which was definitely not an option. Sheri and I hiked up the orchid trail and took pictures of the two orchids we saw. I'm glad we didn't try to get Mom up there. 

One of my favorite excursions was the Lluxury Sailing. We were all pampered on that trip and although the bathroom was a challenge for Mom, the rest of the trip was mostly sitting and enjoying the time on the water. It was beautiful. 

Another challenging place was Chicos Paradise. There is no way to get a wheelchair down those steps without being carried. Mom chose to walk down and it was a slow difficult trip. She survived though and had a wonderful lunch watching the rock diving demonstration. 

I never watch. It's way to intense for me. 

Mom's favorite restaurant was Pipis where the chili rellenos are amazing. It's located about 3 blocks up from the Malecon on Calle Pipila. Again, there is a problem with a couple of steps up, but they are so very accommodating and Mom was gracious enough to accept help. Pipis is a favorite of the northern visitors. The portions are huge and the margarita's are not short on tequila. Either plan on some left overs, or share a plate with a friend. The guacamole they make at your table is seriously as fresh as you will find anywhere. They take all of the fresh ingredients and mix them together in a stone bowl as you watch. You decide how much spice to add and then they leave it with some fresh chips. Often times they have brought us a second appetizer "compliments of the house" which have all been uniquely delicious. Not a genuinely Mexican meal, but as far as Tex-mex it would be impossible to beat. However, the tequila is genuine, so don't plan on driving once you leave there if you have a drink. Most of the guests have trouble walking out of there and their conversations are a lot louder than they were when they went in. The baked ice cream is amazing. Definitely one to share with the entire table.  

So many wonderful memories. 


Saturday, April 5, 2014

Time Share Presentations Vallarta

Puerto Vallarta is famous for time share presentations and not in a good way. Thankfully, things have changed for the better in the last few years. The first encounter you will have with timeshare sales is at the airport. When you get off the plane you will go through immegration where they verify your passport/documents. From there, you will go to baggage claim, collect all of your bags and follow the crowds to the customs area. You load your bags onto the X-ray machines and push the button. It is a ramdom selection process. If you get a green light, you are free to go on your way and to your destination. If you get a red light, you and your party (you only push the button once per group) will take all of your bags over to the table where they will open them and search. We have gotten red twice. They did a cursory check of the bags and asked us a few question, "any meat products or produce? Where are you staying?" and such. It was pretty painless although watching all of the groups that got green lights brisk past us was more painful. Once you pass customs there will be bellmen that will help with your bags. I recommend you take advantage of the hospitality, but remember that most of these gracious people work for tips alone. Whether or not you accept assistance the next stage is where you will be bombarded by time share salespeople disguised as many things. This is called "THE GAUNTLET". There are two sets of sliding glass doors EVERYONE in this are is selling timeshares. They pretend to be car rentals, resort representatives and other things. They aren't. This area is designated for timeshares. If you prearrange a tour or are not interested, stay in the middle, don't make eye contact and keep walking until you get through the other glass doors. It's not as far as it feels and if you get through without being snatched you can feel a true sense of pride. You can get the best tours by prearranging a presentation before you get to PV. If you are interested in owning a time share there are a couple that are honest and not overly pushy. We are extremely happy with our purchase at Paradise Village. It is not the newest resort but it is continually upgraded. The maintenance fees are less than half of some other resorts because the owner has no debt. He owns the property outright. Our brother owns at Flamingos and is very happy there. It is a bit more expensive but has some interesting accelerated use options. I would stay away from the Mayan properties.  We went to a presentation there and ended up calling our attorney. What they offered was not what they delivered. They were extremely hard sell and we were there 4 hours instead of 90 minutes. I know many people who have had similar experiences and sales people who left there because they were instructed to lie to customers. We have one family member that owns there and if you decide it buy you will want to ask about the use of the property. They sell you the Grand Mayan, but only let you stay in that building every 5 years. Each building has different outside areas and you can't crossover. So, if you are interested in doing some activities , make sure you know what you want to do before you get there. Some of the better tours (and topics of another blog are #Rhythms of the Night and the #Pirate Show. Some of the not so good tours are The City Tour and The Jungle Tour. My favorite was the luxury sailing and the trip the the Marietta's. Truly spectacular.

About owning a timeshare. It is an investment in your vacations for years to come. It's a way to lock in prices for many years. We are extremely happy with Paradise Village and the exchange company #Interval International. They will ask you what's important in a time share and when I purchased I never would have said trading power but since Paradise Village trades so high sometimes we get two or three weeks somewhere else for the week we trade. Usually we just use our weeks in PV so trading wasn't something we needed, but it has been a nice benefit anyway. My suggestion is that you add up all of the costs of the purchase (including maintenance fees) and divide by the number of years. If it seems like a fair price for a vacation and you can afford it, then it is the way to go. You get a lot of benefits that aren't immediately obvious. Otherwise, don't give them a reason that you're not interested. They have any answer for everything. Just say, "I'm not interested" "I'm just not interested", then get your gifts and go.

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Tequila Tasting Vallarta

Okay, so I know this is what you've been waiting for. I have always prefered tequila to beer or wine, so it was a no-brainer that tequila tasting would be on the agenda when we got to the tequila capital of the world. We ended up with a free "city tour" after listening to a time share presentation (which is the topic of my next blog). The city tour was pretty pathetic actually. We got picked up from our hotel in the South and traveled all of the way across town to the hotels in the North to pick up passengers. We stopped at a mess of resorts where we waited for the passengers to join us. The driver encouraged us to get off the bus and take a look at the resorts since we would have to wait 10-15 minutes before we departed. Weren't we surprised when two hours later we drove right by our resort and started the tour. Okay, so needless to say we were a bit frustrated by that point, but nothing that a good eduction about tequila couldn't remedy. There are a lot of places where you can do some tequila tasting including downtown on the Malecon. They will even give you some education on the tequila making process. You can also take a trip out to Tequila, Mexico if you want to say you've been there. In all fairness, I have not been out there, but now that I've spent 5 summers in Puerto Vallarta, I don't feel the need to spend a whole day driving to Tequila to get the same tour I can get just Souh of town. We have a few of our favorite artisen locations. The names change depending on which family member is running the place each year, so I'm going to give you directions to one instead. Head South to Mismaloya. Before you cross the bridge there is a road to the left. It goes up or down. Take the down side. There are some pretty big speed bumps, so be cautious. You will know you are on the right road because there is a statue of a giant crocodile on the right side. The road drops down and then heads up again. After it heads up it takes a turn to the left. Look for the distillery parking area on the left as you head up the hill. Tour buses do stop here, so although the road is probably more rustic then you see back in the states it is plenty passable. The reason I like this place is that they actually distill tequila right there on site. You get to see all parts of the process except the harvesting of the blue agave. Although most of the resorts and tourist areas have some blue and/or green agave as part of the landscaping, it actually absorbs too much salt from the sea and isn't used for distilling. All of the agave comes from inland near Tequila or Guadalajara. The artisen tequilas really are much better than then mass produced, but you will pay for that taste. Well worth it for a bottle of nice sipping tequila. Some of the artisen distillers still use ovens to bake the Agave, some use pressure cookers. There is a subtle difference in the taste. If you are a fan of silver or white tequila then this will probably make a bigger difference. I prefer aged tequila. The biggest difference to me is the type of barrel it is rested in and how long it spends in that barrel?  Sound familiar? It is the same distinction for a good wine. When you're tasting, make sure you ask what type of barrel it was aged in. This will help you determine your personal preference. Most are aged in oak from Scotland, France, or the US. My personal preference is the French White Oak. I can pick it out of a line up of tequilas. It just has a smoother taste for me. Everyone has different tastes though, so you will need to determine what you like best and don't be surprised if it is different than someone else in your party. The server will have you try silver, reposado (rested a short time) and anejo (rested a longer time). I love a good anejo, but if I can get a reposado that was rested in French white oak I am even happier. I don't know who bottles for Costco, but the Anejo is as good as anywhere else, even as a sipping tequila. Ask the server to taste the same agedness from different barrel choices, then try differrent agednesses (is that a word?). Okay, now for my favorite tequila samples in town. There is a store on the Malecon that I think has about the most knowledgable servers and doesn't even bring up time shares. Some of the stores have servers that get commissions from restaurants, time shares, taxi drivers, zip line companies, etc. and will make your tasting experience less than fun. Which it should be fun. Afterall, you are drinking for free!  Oh, did I mention that Costco samples alcohol?  If you're lucky they are sampling tequila, but the rum samples are good too. So other than their knowledge and lack of pushiness, I like this store because it is where our local friends go if they want an upscale tequila, they offer a multibottle discount, and they bubble wrap for packing. The store is on Libertad. There are two stores across from each other. The one on the North side of the street is the one I'm talking about. They have a better variety of flavored tequilas than any other store. My personal favotite is the guanabana tequila. That is what I bring home as gifts for everyone and what they request year after year. And, NO OTHER STORE SELLS IT!!! Other stores sell infusions but not this flavored tequila. They also have a cave rested tequila that is exceptional and is about the same price as the artisen tequilas. They will let you taste until you need a designated driver and answer questions tirelessly. They remember us from year to year and are never pushy. You can always drop us a note on twitter @beachcrossers, on facebook @beachcrossers or on Google+ @beachcrossers or stop by our website at beachcrossers.com and send me a personal note to terrie@beachcrossers.com. I'm happy to answer questions. 

Sunday, March 30, 2014

Vallarta Zoo

One day during our first week in Puerto Vallarta we were hanging around the Starbucks downtown. It is one of our favorite places to meet other English speakers and you can get a wealth of information while enjoying a latte. Well, at least for me who has no problem starting a conversation with perfect strangers. We visited with a man who had lived in PV for several years and discussed where we should be sure to visit. He gave us a lot of suggestions, but the one we hooked onto was the zoo. So we made another trip to the south. The zoo is very different from the zoos in the US. I don't mean that in a good or bad way, just different. Okay, so it's the same in that there are a lot of animals you don't run into daily around town, but that is about where the similarity ends. One of my favorite differences is that some of the animals are not caged at all and those that are caged can often times reach you (or you can reach them). We are walking down the first ramp and one of the first enclosures we come to is a panther area. The panther is lounging against the wires that are not quite an arms length away from us. The bars are made of re-bar that is spread about 2 inches apart. If you're getting the picture you can see that I can easily reach out and touch the panther between the bars. It was quite the dilemma and discussion. Do you or do you not touch the panther? It's right there, there are no signs that discourage it, there are bars to protect me provided I can move my hand back faster than the panther can turn over and strike. Sure, why not?  So, I tentatively reach out and give a little poke above the bottom. That same spot my house cat loves to be scratched. The panther stretches a little and seems ready for a good scratching, so ... I oblige. Where in the US could you scratch the back side of a panther? Feeling completely satisfied, we continued through the zoo. There is so much to see. At another enclosure I bravely reached out to pet the black bear. That is not something I would recommend. Evidendly the the bear woke up on the wrong side of the den because he was less than amicable. I stopped along the path after leaving the grumpy bear and not feeling the need to pet any more wild animals and was taking a picture of a beautiful large black and white butterfly. Stunning! As I was getting the perfect shot the giraff reached over the short wall and decided to take a taste of my hair. Probably not used to the blonde variety and decided to see if it was different than the darker hair. All in all, the zoo has a lot to offer when it comes to up close and personal with the critters. On the other hand, there are some unpleasant smells that come along with the experience. Again, not quiet like back in the states. With that said, I would have to consider whether or not to swim in the sea where the water washes down from the zoo. Probably not the cleanest part of the bay. Just sayin'!
As far as accessibility, I'd say not so much. The ramps are steep and if there is a little rain then they are also slick. If you could only access part of the zoo though, it might be worth it. We had the opportunity (for a fee) to hold the week old tiger kittens. There were actually a variety of babies that you could spend time with. That is priceless and could be enjoyed without all of the ramps.

Friday, March 28, 2014

Las Palmas near Puerto Vallarta

This was an interesting day. We had rented the car for the whole month that we were in Puerto Vallarta. As I said in a previous entry, everything was inexpensive that summer. So, we were able to explore the surrounding areas. One day we were driving from the south side of the bay to the north and according to our map there was this road that went around town. Little did we know that the map was not to scale. So we headed into the mountains for our scenic bypass not knowing that we didn't have nearly enough gas for this detour. The drive was beautiful with lush green tropical forests. As we climbed away from the coast we spotted wild iguanas and ripe bananas. The further we traveled the fewer vehicles we saw. After a while, people were moving on horseback instead of cars. They weren't out for a ride, they were actually using horses to go somewhere. There were children playing in yards that thought these two blonde women in a shiny rental car were quite the spectacle. They waved and smiled like the circus had come to town. As we continued to climb and the gas gauge continued to drop we started looking for any signs of a gas station. No Google maps to help us and nothing on the paper map we had picked up at the concierge. Finally, we spotted a young lady walking on the road and I used my best Spanish to ask, "Donde esta gasolina?"  She looked at me like I was speaking greek, but figured out what I wanted and pointed up the road speaking much faster than I could translate in my head. I did manage to get "Las Palmas" out of the dissertation. We headed up the road and found Las Palmas and the gas station. The woman working at the station did her best to communicate and between her patience and my limited Spanish we concluded that the pumps were broken. There was no way we had enough gas to get back to town. She managed to convey that the man was coming to fix the pumps. We waited. We had no idea how long that might be because in Mexico most people are not in a hurry. It was a beautiful day and we had our Starbucks with us, so we waited. It was only about 15 minutes before the man showed up, fixed the pumps and filled our tank for us. We were on our way. The second half of the drive was much more relaxing than the first. Having a full tank has a way of increasing the peace of mind. Las Palmas was beautiful, the people were gracious and I would definitely recommend this route for those who like a little adventure and want to see the Vallarta area that is far removed from the influence of tourism. 

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Farther South to Boca de Tomatlan, Mismaloya and Yelapa

So after we visited Chico's Paradise we headed father south to the Botanical Gardens. It was summer and the rainy season was just starting, so the paths weren't all accessible. Even in a wheelchair you could enjoy this location. When we parked in the parking lot, I got some beautiful pictures of a humming bird. I was so proud of those pictures and they were stolen along with my backpack one day here in the states. Anyway, we thoroughly enjoyed our visit to the gardens even though it wasn't the optimal time of year to visit. The owners were expats with a wealth of information about the Vallarta area. We stopped in both Mismaloya and Boca de Tomatlan.. The beaches there are smaller and very active as this is where you catch the water taxi to head further south around the bay. The seafood here is right out of the ocean fresh. It comes in and they start cleaning and cooking. YUM!  We have since taken the water taxi to Yelapa a few times. It is a great little town. When you get off the water taxi you are right at some restaurants that are definitely for the tourists. Good food, amazing pies and plenty of service with character. However, if you want to see Yelapa you have to walk down the beach and climb the hillside to get into the town and up to the waterfall area. The falls provide some great swimming opportunities. There are bathrooms on the way up that are well worth seeking out. Once up there the bathrooms are up the hill and VERY RUSTIC!!  There area couple of homes when they locals cook and sell the best ceviche. There are a few rooms for rent in Yelapa and our brother has stayed there. He loved it!  I will say that the water taxi is not a good option for mobility challenged as you have to jump back into the boat with the waves bobbing it up and down. One one visit we all left with bruises. Of course I'm not as young as I used to be and bruise easier. It was fun taking the water taxi and we saw wild dolphins and sea turtles swimming next to the boat. It was bumpy in a fun way with spray coming over the sides just to keep us surprised. The boatman stood most of the time holding onto a rope like he was skiing. I was dying to give that a try and maybe on another day I will if I'm brave enough.

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Chico's Paradise

So, our first summer in Puerto Vallarta was amazing. I'm sure part of the allure was that there were so few people around. We rented a car and traveled all of the the outlying areas. We drove south as far as Chico's Paradise. It's a beautiful spot on the river where you can get some great local sea food. The prices are high, but there is character that makes up for it. There is a man who dives from the rocks into a small pool who draws the crowds to the railing for his show. I don't watch because, 1) I don't like the way my stomach flips when he runs and jumps off of the wet rock, and 2) I don't want to encourage his early demise. I know he's amazing, and that the tips he earns support his whole family, but I just can't watch. I do recommend when you are at Chico's Paradise that you make your way down to the river and get your feet in the water. It is a beautiful spot. We have since done the zip lining at this location a few times. One of the reasons I like this place is that they let you take your own camera. I'm always looking for a beautiful shot and when climbing the hills from zip to zip I notice things like the ocean to our right. The photographers are only interested in snapping pictures of you while you zip down the lines and don't capture the other beauty around. If I take my own camera I get great shots of both the activity and the scenery. Another great thing about Chico's is that when you zip across the river you can go right over the heads of your friends that stay behind to have a beverage. The guides are very accommodating, friendly and helpful. Check out this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Eto23dvrmA

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Starting a beach wheelchair rental business in Puerto Vallarta

So, starting an international business is a lot of work. Of course, if it was easy then everyone would do it. I"m going to discuss some of the hurdles we have encountered throughout the process and what we did to overcome them. Some of this blog will be looking back at what we did and once we catch up to the present I will continue the saga. I wish I had started this long ago because there were frustrating steps along the way that have since been overcome. I'll try to convey the hurdles and obstacles.

First came the idea. My sister Sheri and I traveled to Puerto Vallarta each summer for our summer break. We are both teachers and that allowed us to spend extended vacations in the Vallarta area. Our first summer to Puerto Vallarta was the summer following the Spring outbreak of Swine Flu. Travel to Mexico was let's just say it "cheap".  Flights were cheap, rooms were cheap, activities were cheap. We stayed at a 5 star resort for .... drum roll ... unbelievably low price of $49 per week. Yes I did say 'per week'. The resort was on the south side of the bay, ocean front, with twice a day maid service. Well, who can pass up a deal like that. Instead of staying the two weeks we had initially planned, we decided to stay 4 weeks. More tomorrow about our adventures along the road to beachcrossers.com the mobility wheelchair rentals of Vallarta.

Monday, March 24, 2014

New Blog

Just starting up the new blog. We're going to be posting the ins and outs of Puerto Vallarta. Can't wait to see how this progresses. This is me, Terrie, on my first trip to Puerto Vallarta. I went there on a business trip for my dad's business (Antioch Radiator). I think they had sold the most radiators or something for AC Delco and won a trip for one. Mom and Dad weren't interested in adding another person to the cruise at that time, so I was the lucky winner. It was totally awesome. I'm so happy that they sent me on that trip. I'll write more about the other trip they sent me on in my next post, but they certainly planted the seed of travel that grew into our new business.