10 ways to act like a local (totally my own opinion)
1. Watch where you walk. The sidewalks and cobblestone are more deserving of your attention than the other distractions. If you want to look at something else. STOP and enjoy the sights.
2. Ditch the closed toed shoes. Unless you are in the gym, let your feet enjoy the tropical adventure.
3. Get a massage. Locals get massages regularly. It's inexpensive compared to other parts of the world and you will be better for it.
4. Go to the beach when you only have an hour. Sunset and a cold drink are worth the time.
5. Walk! Take your time and enjoy it. It's about the journey as much as the destination.
6. Relax. If the store isn't open yet, wait. If the car cuts you off, let them go first, if you have to wait in line, people watch. Just relax.
7. Eat dinner for less than $5 USD. You can choose almost any cuisine and make this happen.
8. Say hello. Okay, Buenos dias/tardes/noches would be better. People talk to each other here. People talk to strangers. It's not creepy. It's polite. Say hello to the people you pass on the street.
9. Ditch the bracelet when you are away from the resort (there are instructions on YouTube that tell you have to take it off and on.)
10. Don't cross in front of moving vehicles. Pedestrians here go BEHIND the car as it goes by. Don't stop for that pedestrian either. They are likely to run into the side of your car as they are actually timing their steps in order to step out directly behind your car. Now, on the other hand. There are plenty of tourists in Vallarta that will step out in front of you, so watch out for them.
Life in Vallarta is a treasure. Enjoy it, share it, become it.
Beach wheelchair and mobility device rentals Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Making Puerto Vallarta and the surrounding area accessible to everyone. Visit our site at Beachcrossers.com
Thursday, December 8, 2016
Friday, September 9, 2016
Hot and Humid Vallarta
Wow, it's hot! Okay, the temperature is only 81F/27C with a high of 88F today. Don't let that fool you. We have 89% humidity today and it is stinking hot already at 10:00 a.m. So, I'm inspired to write this "What to do when it's too hot" blog.
There has been a lot of questions floating around the Puerto Vallarta forum lately about what to do when it's so hot outside. Well here are a few of the favorite answers.
1. Catch a movie. Most movies release in PV in English first with Spanish subtitles. The movie theaters are pretty cool. You might even need a sweater. The food at the movie theaters in Mexico is definitely a step above what we find at a typical theater in the states. Many have service to your seat, but most have great buffets that you can take your tray (with arm attachment) to your seat. It is great quality and selection. All of the movie theaters I've visited in Vallarta are wheelchair accessible.
2. Starbucks. Every Starbucks is cooler than it needs to be. The coffee is great, the wifi is free, and you can usually find someone to visit with if you are interested in learning something from the locals. Most of the Starbucks are wheelchair friendly. The one on the north end of the Malecón is not.
3. Casino. Puerto Vallarta has many casinos. All of them have the air conditioning set at a cool temperature. This might not be the most cost effective way to escape the heat, but it is definitely an option. Many of the casino's have the sports competitions on TV. Buy a drink and hang out in front of the TV for a while. Hopefully the game goes your way so you can keep cool. If a casino is not wheelchair accessible, they are going to pick you up and help you inside. I think most of them are accessible.
4. The Costco cooler. Yep, it is a favorite of the locals on a hot day. You can wander in there just long enough to be happy to get back out in the heat. Definitely accessible in Vallarta.
5. The mall. The biggest option for a cooler day. You can search out whatever interests you, or just hang around in the comfy seats and people watch. The mall is a great place to go to cool down. And as a bonus, there is usually inexpensive ice cream cones to be found on a hot day. All of the malls in Puerto Vallarta and Nuevo Vallarta are accessible. There is plenty to see and a wheelchair is not going to slow you down one bit.
Now, it is worth mentioning before you head to the beach, that it may not be the best place to cool down. You may find some nice ocean breeze, but don't expect the water to be refreshing. Often times the water is just as warm as it is outside. You will be wet and overheated both in and out of the surf. So, even with a beach wheelchair, you might not find the beach the best place to cool down. Some of the resorts (Paradise Village for sure) have accessible pools. They are hard to find in the area, so ask that question when making your reservation.
It is important to stay hydrated, but water alone will not do the trick. You will need some electrolytes. There are several choices including Gatorade, mineral water with added salt (Penafiel orange is my favotite), and various other options. Stay hydrated, stay in the shade, and get out of the heat from time to time.
If you are in a wheelchair, make sure to have your personal fan and an umbrella. Beach Crossers has both available if you rent from us.
Even in the hottest season, September and October in Vallarta, it is a beautiful place with so much to see and do. You will find good discounts from airlines and accommodations as well making this an affordable time to visit.
Just remember to plan for the hot, humid Vallarta summer.
There has been a lot of questions floating around the Puerto Vallarta forum lately about what to do when it's so hot outside. Well here are a few of the favorite answers.
1. Catch a movie. Most movies release in PV in English first with Spanish subtitles. The movie theaters are pretty cool. You might even need a sweater. The food at the movie theaters in Mexico is definitely a step above what we find at a typical theater in the states. Many have service to your seat, but most have great buffets that you can take your tray (with arm attachment) to your seat. It is great quality and selection. All of the movie theaters I've visited in Vallarta are wheelchair accessible.
2. Starbucks. Every Starbucks is cooler than it needs to be. The coffee is great, the wifi is free, and you can usually find someone to visit with if you are interested in learning something from the locals. Most of the Starbucks are wheelchair friendly. The one on the north end of the Malecón is not.
3. Casino. Puerto Vallarta has many casinos. All of them have the air conditioning set at a cool temperature. This might not be the most cost effective way to escape the heat, but it is definitely an option. Many of the casino's have the sports competitions on TV. Buy a drink and hang out in front of the TV for a while. Hopefully the game goes your way so you can keep cool. If a casino is not wheelchair accessible, they are going to pick you up and help you inside. I think most of them are accessible.
4. The Costco cooler. Yep, it is a favorite of the locals on a hot day. You can wander in there just long enough to be happy to get back out in the heat. Definitely accessible in Vallarta.
5. The mall. The biggest option for a cooler day. You can search out whatever interests you, or just hang around in the comfy seats and people watch. The mall is a great place to go to cool down. And as a bonus, there is usually inexpensive ice cream cones to be found on a hot day. All of the malls in Puerto Vallarta and Nuevo Vallarta are accessible. There is plenty to see and a wheelchair is not going to slow you down one bit.
Now, it is worth mentioning before you head to the beach, that it may not be the best place to cool down. You may find some nice ocean breeze, but don't expect the water to be refreshing. Often times the water is just as warm as it is outside. You will be wet and overheated both in and out of the surf. So, even with a beach wheelchair, you might not find the beach the best place to cool down. Some of the resorts (Paradise Village for sure) have accessible pools. They are hard to find in the area, so ask that question when making your reservation.
It is important to stay hydrated, but water alone will not do the trick. You will need some electrolytes. There are several choices including Gatorade, mineral water with added salt (Penafiel orange is my favotite), and various other options. Stay hydrated, stay in the shade, and get out of the heat from time to time.
If you are in a wheelchair, make sure to have your personal fan and an umbrella. Beach Crossers has both available if you rent from us.
Even in the hottest season, September and October in Vallarta, it is a beautiful place with so much to see and do. You will find good discounts from airlines and accommodations as well making this an affordable time to visit.
Just remember to plan for the hot, humid Vallarta summer.
Wednesday, July 20, 2016
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Taking a Wheelchair outside of Vallarta
I wanted to write about some of the small towns we have visited that make great day trips from Vallarta. We've been looking around at places to take our clients who cannot get out of their wheelchairs to walk. It's been an interesting adventure, and it will continue as we explore this beautiful Banderas Bay.
One of the first towns that we took clients to was San Sabastian de Oeste. It's a beautiful town that is just far enough up in the mountains to be cooler than the summer heat in Vallarta, but near enough that it can be enjoyed for a 4 hour tour. We picked up our guests and headed to Las Cazuelas in El Colorado for breakfast. This is definitely my favorite Mexican restaurant. The food is all from Grandma's recipes and you won't find anything more authentic or unique. If you're a foodie, you need to try this place. We had a leisurely breakfast, enjoying the sights and sounds of rural Mexico at it's best. There was a lot going on at Las Cazuelas. If you stop here, don't be surprised if you have to wait for a table. It's very popular with the locals.
After our wonderful breakfast, we made our way into San Sabastian. We were able to park at the police station right near the town square. Unloading the wheelchair wasn't a problem. We had visited the town earlier and checked for accessibility. We learned a valuable lesson. Looking around for ramps and passable thresholds is very different than riding around in a chair. The sidewalks and square were pretty accessible. Unfortunately, getting across the street from the square to the sidewalk was difficult cobblestone. We had a nice visit, but I don't think I would recommend it for wheelchairs. Not yet anyway. They seemed to be making improvements to all of the walkways that included consideration for wheelchairs. Maybe soon.
So, in an effort to be more prepared and more aware, we packed the scooter into our wheelchair accessible "Blanca" and headed north. We went as far as Guayabitos. We stopped at a few road side venders along the way, just to see if they were accessible.
Well, there were a couple that were accessible. I rode the scooter through the aisles without any problem. The restrooms were not accessible, but I'm not sure someone visiting Mexico for a short time needs to be exposed to the rustic restrooms of a roadside fruit stand. There is a very nice OXXO just up the road with an accessible restroom if needed.
When we got to Guayabitos, the first thing we noticed was the pace of life. It was hectic. There were buses and taxis driving around like a big city. The beach was nice, but unless there is something unique to Guayabitos I can't imagine taking our clients there. It is a beautiful town, don't get me wrong. It's just that it has the big city feel that you can get in downtown Vallarta. The next stop was Lo de Marco. I've heard and read a lot about this little town and was hopeful that it would be a good destination. They have a great cultural presence in the area and host a number of events. The beach was beautiful, the accessibility not as much. It would be a nice day trip for someone who has no physical limitations. From there we headed to San Pancho/San Francisco. I'm still a little confused on where it is San Pancho and where it is San Francisco. They seem the same place to me. Perhaps the town is San Francisco and the beach is San Pancho. I'm not really sure. Anyway, we had been there once before and I loved the ambiance. If you've been to Sayulita then you know the hustle and bustle of a tourist beach. It is packed with venders selling everything from surf lessons (we recommend Patty) to chairs and umbrellas for day use. It's very Bohemian with artists and surfers aplenty. It is not accessible with a standard wheelchair or power chair. With a beach wheelchair you can visit Sayulita. It's a great day trip. You still won't be able to get into the galleries, but there are plenty of street artists. Well, San Pancho feels like Sayulita must have been 20 years ago. There are still artists and surfers, but the number of venders is small and they aren't selling you a piece of the beach to use for the day. The streets are tile instead of cobblestone making them passable for any wheelchair. The sidewalks generally have ramps at the corners and they are ramps that you can actually use. There are a few ramps in the middle of the block here and there where there used to be a step that were passable, but it was nice to have someone at the back of the chair for an assist. I have to commend the town for putting ramps almost everywhere that used to have a step. I really had no problem getting around this town in the scooter. We stopped for coffee at a corner coffee shop. It had counters at a good level for the wheelchair. I couldn't go inside, but had no problem ordering from the sidewalk and enjoyed the hand rubbed wood counters. It had a good selection of barista brews and even had coffee ice cubes for the iced drinks. There was a book shelf and games for customer use. It was a cute place I would definitely visit again. We had lunch at the Italian restaurant "Toscana" which is owned by a man from Italy. I mention that because, like Sayulita, San Pancho is very international in it's population and food choices. I've been to Italy and I have to say that this was very Italian Italian food :) Oh, and "a portion of bread" is a basket enough for the table. We each ordered one LOL.
After lunch we headed for the beach. I remembered from our previous trip that there were ramps down to the beach, but didn't remember what was at the bottom of the ramp. There are two restaurants at the beach. The one on the right has some seating at the square that you can get to in a wheelchair and a couple of tables sidewalk level in the square. The restaurant on the left has a section of the bar that you can reach with a wheelchair. Neither one can you get to a beach side table with a wheelchair. If we were able to take a beach wheelchair along it would work well here. There are a couple of reasons that we love San Pancho and will recommend it to our clients. First, it is very different than Vallarta. If you're going to take a day trip to another beach, it should be something a little different that what is in front of your resort. The people and atmosphere of San Pancho and welcoming and beautiful. Second, it is the most accessible destination we have found. There are very few places you can't get to. Getting inside the small stores and galleries is not possible, but the shops are so small that you really can look at most of the wares from the doorway.
One of the first towns that we took clients to was San Sabastian de Oeste. It's a beautiful town that is just far enough up in the mountains to be cooler than the summer heat in Vallarta, but near enough that it can be enjoyed for a 4 hour tour. We picked up our guests and headed to Las Cazuelas in El Colorado for breakfast. This is definitely my favorite Mexican restaurant. The food is all from Grandma's recipes and you won't find anything more authentic or unique. If you're a foodie, you need to try this place. We had a leisurely breakfast, enjoying the sights and sounds of rural Mexico at it's best. There was a lot going on at Las Cazuelas. If you stop here, don't be surprised if you have to wait for a table. It's very popular with the locals.
After our wonderful breakfast, we made our way into San Sabastian. We were able to park at the police station right near the town square. Unloading the wheelchair wasn't a problem. We had visited the town earlier and checked for accessibility. We learned a valuable lesson. Looking around for ramps and passable thresholds is very different than riding around in a chair. The sidewalks and square were pretty accessible. Unfortunately, getting across the street from the square to the sidewalk was difficult cobblestone. We had a nice visit, but I don't think I would recommend it for wheelchairs. Not yet anyway. They seemed to be making improvements to all of the walkways that included consideration for wheelchairs. Maybe soon.
So, in an effort to be more prepared and more aware, we packed the scooter into our wheelchair accessible "Blanca" and headed north. We went as far as Guayabitos. We stopped at a few road side venders along the way, just to see if they were accessible.
Well, there were a couple that were accessible. I rode the scooter through the aisles without any problem. The restrooms were not accessible, but I'm not sure someone visiting Mexico for a short time needs to be exposed to the rustic restrooms of a roadside fruit stand. There is a very nice OXXO just up the road with an accessible restroom if needed.
When we got to Guayabitos, the first thing we noticed was the pace of life. It was hectic. There were buses and taxis driving around like a big city. The beach was nice, but unless there is something unique to Guayabitos I can't imagine taking our clients there. It is a beautiful town, don't get me wrong. It's just that it has the big city feel that you can get in downtown Vallarta. The next stop was Lo de Marco. I've heard and read a lot about this little town and was hopeful that it would be a good destination. They have a great cultural presence in the area and host a number of events. The beach was beautiful, the accessibility not as much. It would be a nice day trip for someone who has no physical limitations. From there we headed to San Pancho/San Francisco. I'm still a little confused on where it is San Pancho and where it is San Francisco. They seem the same place to me. Perhaps the town is San Francisco and the beach is San Pancho. I'm not really sure. Anyway, we had been there once before and I loved the ambiance. If you've been to Sayulita then you know the hustle and bustle of a tourist beach. It is packed with venders selling everything from surf lessons (we recommend Patty) to chairs and umbrellas for day use. It's very Bohemian with artists and surfers aplenty. It is not accessible with a standard wheelchair or power chair. With a beach wheelchair you can visit Sayulita. It's a great day trip. You still won't be able to get into the galleries, but there are plenty of street artists. Well, San Pancho feels like Sayulita must have been 20 years ago. There are still artists and surfers, but the number of venders is small and they aren't selling you a piece of the beach to use for the day. The streets are tile instead of cobblestone making them passable for any wheelchair. The sidewalks generally have ramps at the corners and they are ramps that you can actually use. There are a few ramps in the middle of the block here and there where there used to be a step that were passable, but it was nice to have someone at the back of the chair for an assist. I have to commend the town for putting ramps almost everywhere that used to have a step. I really had no problem getting around this town in the scooter. We stopped for coffee at a corner coffee shop. It had counters at a good level for the wheelchair. I couldn't go inside, but had no problem ordering from the sidewalk and enjoyed the hand rubbed wood counters. It had a good selection of barista brews and even had coffee ice cubes for the iced drinks. There was a book shelf and games for customer use. It was a cute place I would definitely visit again. We had lunch at the Italian restaurant "Toscana" which is owned by a man from Italy. I mention that because, like Sayulita, San Pancho is very international in it's population and food choices. I've been to Italy and I have to say that this was very Italian Italian food :) Oh, and "a portion of bread" is a basket enough for the table. We each ordered one LOL.
After lunch we headed for the beach. I remembered from our previous trip that there were ramps down to the beach, but didn't remember what was at the bottom of the ramp. There are two restaurants at the beach. The one on the right has some seating at the square that you can get to in a wheelchair and a couple of tables sidewalk level in the square. The restaurant on the left has a section of the bar that you can reach with a wheelchair. Neither one can you get to a beach side table with a wheelchair. If we were able to take a beach wheelchair along it would work well here. There are a couple of reasons that we love San Pancho and will recommend it to our clients. First, it is very different than Vallarta. If you're going to take a day trip to another beach, it should be something a little different that what is in front of your resort. The people and atmosphere of San Pancho and welcoming and beautiful. Second, it is the most accessible destination we have found. There are very few places you can't get to. Getting inside the small stores and galleries is not possible, but the shops are so small that you really can look at most of the wares from the doorway.
Monday, June 20, 2016
Beach Crossers Gives Back.
People are so kind and gracious in their support of our Beach Crossers mobility rental business. Our customer's often give us a bonus because they "want to support what we're doing." This week, we went to buy a scooter that we found on Craigslist in Tuscon. We were road tripping a second accessible van down to Vallarta. The owner of the chair had just lost his Mom a month ago. He listened to our story and then gave us part of our money back along with a shower chair and some cold drinks for the road. This kind of generosity happens often. We are so thankful for the donations of money and equipment that have allowed us to keep our costs low and be able to give back to the community. We always recognize the smiles on peoples faces when we have given them something special, but we don't always realize that it has become part of who we are as Beach Crossers. Lately, we've had some good reminders of that so we wanted to share a few of our stories.
From the beginning we have donated use of the chairs to people who couldn't or wouldn't have ever dreamed of going to the beach again. Amazingly, there are people who have lived right here in Vallarta for 50 years that have never been on the beach. We often see families carrying loved ones with mobility problems from the pavement to the sand so they can sit on a towel and enjoy the sunset. The first time we gifted the chair, we had only one chair in Mexico and were staying at Paradise Village. We were sitting in the lobby when a lovely woman in a wheelchair checked in with her daughter, son in law, and grand daughters. She reminded me of Mom. I told Sheri, "We're giving her the chair." She laughed and said, "Of course we are." We approached the family and told them we weren't selling anything, but wanted to let them use the beach wheelchair for the day. They were pretty sure we were scamming them at first, but finally decided that we were legit and took the chair. They were to return it to our room at dark. When 10:00 rolled by, I started getting nervous, when 11:00 came along I started making calls. It turns out that they had walked down the beach, gone into the pool, dipped in the hot tub and then gone back to the beach. The daughter said that her Mom was having the time of her life. She and I cried together. Sheri and I knew from the beginning that this business was always about Mom. This was the first time we saw that commitment in action. Mom would have loved that beautiful woman in the wheelchair and would have been proud of us for helping her to the beach.
This became a normal practice for us. We look around and try to find someone to loan the chair to. I wish I had a picture of the first woman, but here is a beautiful picture of a gentle man who we loaned the chair to. He was sitting by the pool with his son, daughter-in-law, grand children, and great grand children. I would guess he was in his 90's. He was non-verbal and no one in the family spoke English. I did my best with Spanish and gestures and got the point across that we wanted to loan the chair to them so they could take "Abuelo" to the beach. His smile was priceless. The family took tons of pictures and insisted that we be in their photos. It was so much fun and so rewarding to see his smiling face. He gave us the "it works in every language" thumbs up and waved excitedly to us as we were leaving.
We still love this game and on days when we aren't busy or if we are staying at Paradise Village with family or friends, we take a beach wheelchair and look for someone to gift it to for the day. Try to imagine how fun that is.
We have had the opportunity to help with World Access Project for the last 2 years. Here's a link to some information about their project https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYX7aXoDtfY
Richard Dennis is the founder of the organization. They bring wheelchairs to people in the area, teach them how to use them, put on a sports camp, and bring them to the Malecón. That's where we come in. We have our beach wheelchair at the Malecón and shuttle people to the beach. The first year that Sheri was in Vallarta by herself. She had help from some of our friends and was able to shuttle most people to the beach. The second year, Sheri was in the states and I (Terrie) was in Vallarta for the event. I recruited help from friends once again and also put the word out in the Facebook community. With the extra help, we were able to get people not only to the beach, but a few actually made it into the bay for a swim.
When it comes to paying it forward, I think these two pictures speak volumes. The young man, the picture speaks for itself. The older woman? It took almost an hour to convince her that it was not a burden or inconvenience to take her to the beach and that we didn't mind helping her from one chair to the other and back again. She had a wonderful time.
These are some examples of how your rental with Beach Crossers helps others. We appreciate your help in allowing us to do what we do.
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
Wheelchair Accessible Sayulita
Yesterday we took some clients up to Sayulita for lunch. First, let me say that I always enjoy time in Sayulita. The beach is beautiful, the people watching is top notch, the food choices are varied, and it has a great Bohemian vibe that is exciting. Yesterday, however, we wanted to take an honest look at accessibility.
We picked our clients up at the RIU Jalisco in Nuevo Vallarta and loaded 2 scooters, a wheelchair, and 4 passengers into our wheelchair accessible van. Yes, we were loaded and dragged across a few of the many speed bumps, between here and there. We were happy at how the 2 scooters fit side by side and everyone still had plenty of room.
Some time last season, we rented a beach wheelchair to a nice family who were staying in Sayulita. We met at the Mega in Bucerias, so we never got a chance to see the Debug around Sayulita. At Beach Crossers, we try to match people and chairs and knowing what the area is like is really helpful. They told us that the chair worked out really well on the uneven pavement and that they would definitely recommend it as an option for Sayulita.
Yesterday, we did not spend the day with our clients, but we saw them a number of times as our paths crossed in this small Mexican Magical City. Our clients were able to take a few steps, so here and there they would stand up and some nice people would show up to help them over a bump or down a step. That's one nice thing in Mexico, people will come to assist you without hesitation. On the other hand, there is a lot of help needed.
When we arrived in town, we pulled down a very narrow street that there is no way in the world I would have driven down, but Sheri is an expert at squeezing the van through tight spaces so she didn't even hesitate. We pulled to the end of the street, stopped right in the middle (no one was likely to come down that street behind us) and dropped the ramp. We unloaded the 2 scooters and off they went. Sheri and I drove around town a few times before heading out of downtown to find parking. We ended up parking on a dirt road that would have been passable for the scooters, but not good for them. I wish clients wouldn't take our equipment on roads like that.
It wasn't too far to walk back to town. I should have taken pictures, but as Sheri and I walked around we saw that most ramps had cars parked in front of them, or sign boards standing in the middle of them. In a town that is so parking congested I don't think this can really be helped. It was interesting to see ramps that lead down to steps, or a ramp on one side of the street and a curb on the other. There is a bridge in Vallarta like that. They call it the "Miracle Bridge" You can roll up one side and you must be healed at the top to get down the other side where there are about 30 stairs.
So, I don't think there was any area of Sayulita that I would say was accessible. With that said, we did see one restroom in the downtown that was accessible. I didn't go in, so I have no idea if there were support bars, but the door was wide enough for a wheelchair and there was no step. Like most restrooms in Sayulita, there was a $5 peso fee to use it. There is a fee for most everything in Sayulita, I don't really mind paying $5 pesos to use a clean bathroom that has paper, soap and towels, but where we stopped yesterday for $5 pesos had none of the above. We got paper and if you didn't mind reaching over the dirty dishes you could wash your hands at the restaurant sink, but there was no option for drying them.
There were many restaurant choices as most have tables in the street. The streets are cobble stone. There is some random water running in there street here and there. We haven't had any rain, so I'm not sure of the source. The traffic moving quickly so it's not a casual stroll down the street. Some of the side streets are too narrow for a car, but perfect for a wheelchair. As you get close to the beach there are some streets that have big speed bumps. I don't think it would be possible with a scooter or wheelchair, but the beach wheelchair would go over it without any problem.
Overall, I think the beach wheelchair would be a must. It would allow you to cross the small curbs, maneuver the cobble stone, and access the beautiful beach. Unless you have an all terrain wheelchair I wouldn't recommend anything else. The dirt, water, cobble stone, and random obstacles would make a visit to Sayulita frustrating.
At this time we deliver and pick up from Sayulita for a $40 fee, (that's $20 USD each trip). That is added to your shopping cart when you make your reservation.
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