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 Vallarta Living
World Class Shopping in Puerto Vallarta
Shopping in Puerto Vallarta goes far beyond buying souvenir T-shirt and vacation keepsakes. In fact, shopping could be Vallarta's biggest attraction - and with most shopkeepers speaking English, prices in pesos and attractive exchange rates, it's easy and rewarding to explore your options...
 If shopping is your bag, Puerto Vallarta is a paradise where you'll always find something to surprise, amaze and delight you. There's no one specific shopping district in the Banderas Bay area . . . you might find what you're looking for in a tiny shop, boutique or art gallery on a back street - or in a large department store at one of the area's modern shopping centers.
On Calles Libertad, Juarez and Morelos, small shops selling traditional Mexican apparel, folk art, and beachwear juxtapose with art galleries and boutiques offering original art, pottery and designer clothing at prices that are sure to make you "shop 'til you drop." And as far as shopping malls are concerned, Plaza Marina, Plaza Neptuno, Plaza Caracol and Paradise Village are packed with specialty stores selling clothing, jewelry, original art and home decor.
But for many savvy shoppers the real fun begins when haggling with beach vendors, at street-side stands and in flea markets. Haggling is a common practice in Mexico, and in most cases, if you offer to pay about 40% less than the asking price, you'll end up paying somewhere between the initial amount and your counter offer. The only rule of the game is to maintain mutual respect while wavering between impulse and indifference.
The stalls and kiosks along Cuale Island, in the Municipal Market and at the Pueblo Viejo Artisans’ Market are also popular with visitors on the lookout for vacation souvenirs at bargain prices. The owners of these shops are always ready to bargain, so take an unhurried look around, fall into the temptation and buy, buy, buy!
Shopping in Puerto Vallarta has a somewhat different focus for residents and long-term visitors than it does for tourists - centering more on every day necessities and all the "must do" chores of daily life. Unlike most other resort destinations, you can find stores and supermarkets all around Banderas Bay that cater to locals rather than tourists.
On almost every street you'll find stores selling hardware, furniture, kitchenware, appliances, groceries, and just about anything else you can possibly imagine. Most stores stock international brands in addition to regional products at reasonable prices. And, if you just can't find what you're looking for - there's always Sam's Club or Walmart . . .
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The Last of the Obsidian Artifacts in Puerto Vallarta
 Jim Scherrer
Obsidian is located in a number of regions throughout the world; basically anywhere there is a volcano in the vicinity of water. In Mexico, the Trans Mexican Volcanic Belt extends from Puerto Vallarta on Banderas Bay all the way to the Gulf of Mexico.
Three Things Before Buying Cuban Cigars
 June Beezy
You know what I think is the best place for cigars? It is the cool and calm country of Cuba. Cubans have been rolling the best Cuban cigars in the world for hundreds of years. It is part of their history, their culture, their lifestyle. Just like each country has one thing they are totally fond of, for Cuba it is cigars.
Mexico's Tax-Free Shopping Incentive
 Greg Brosnan
Wary of losing much-needed cash from recession-battered Americans, Mexico for the first time is dropping its sales tax for tourists. The move is aimed largely at keeping working- and middle-class Americans flocking to Mexico's pristine beaches and Mayan ruins.
Jalapeño and Jan's PV Shopping Spree
 Patrick Harrison
Jan Helgeson, winner of Tropicasa Realty's "Name Our Mascot" promotion, takes Tropicasa Realty mascot Jalapeño on a shopping spree at LANS Department store. Here's what Jalapeño had to say about the experience...
Skeletons, Earthenware and SpongeBob Piñatas
 Gregory Dicum
For those with a serious love of shopping, and on the lookout for deals — especially on artisanal goods like pottery, ironwork, glass and furniture — it’s worth leaving the calm elegance of Tlaquepaque for the exuberant chaos of nearby Tonalá.
Hunting for Chocolate This Easter?
 Patrick Harrison
What is Easter without a chocolate bunny? For a truly gourmet Easter basket, stop by Puerto Vallarta's favorite chocolate shop, Xocodiva, for delicious Easter eggs, chocolate-covered marshmallows, and dark, milk and white chocolate bunnies.
2008 Huichol Festival at Plaza Caracol
 PVNN
Don't miss your opportunity to get a glimpse into the rich ancesteral customs and cultures of Mexico at the Festival Indigena Wixaritari 2008, which is now taking place at Plaza Caracol and will continue through March 15th.
And the Winning Name is...
 Patrick Harrison
Over 275 names were submitted to help name the Tropicasa Realty Mascot, and the winning name is... Jalapeño! Congratulations to Jan Helgeson of Billings, Montana, who won a $1000 USD shopping spree at LANS Department store.
New Tropicasa Realty VIP Card Unveiled
 Patrick Harrison
Buy any home, condo, lot or villa through Tropicasa Realty and you'll receive a VIP card valid for a 10% discount to some of Banderas Bay's favorite restaurants, designers, furniture stores and services. Discounts are valid until Nov. 1, 2008.
 Interior Decorating - Vallarta Style
 Laura Gelezunas
Whether you've just bought a new home in Puerto Vallarta, or have lived here for years and are thinking about redecorating, you'll find unique and unusual interior design and home decór items at Banderas Bay Trading Company and The Annex.
Win a $1000 USD Shopping Spree at Lans
 Patrick Harrison
Tropicasa Realty is celebrating its 10th Anniversary in Puerto Vallarta so from now through February 15th, you could win one of many great prizes, including a $1000 USD shopping spree at LANS Department Store, by entering the Name the Tropicasa Mascot Contest.
Gift Ideas for Latin Music Lovers
 Ramiro Burr
Only a couple of weeks left to finish shopping for family and friends before Christmas. Need some gift ideas? Here you go.
Beta Sigma Phi Annual Christmas Bazaar
 Sue Fornoff
If you haven't started your Christmas shopping yet, you won't want to miss the Beta Sigma Phi Annual Christmas Bazaar this Saturday, where you can find wonderful gifts for everyone on your list, while helping out the Special Needs School in Bucerias.
Dangerous Curves in Puerto Vallarta
 PVNN
At last, quality Plus Size swim wear for women can be found in Puerto Vallarta! Now open downtown, one block from the Juarez parking garage, Curvas Peligrosas offers Miraclesuit, Jantzen and other quality swim wear labels in (US) sizes 14 to 40.
Gifts That Give
 Laura Gelezunas
Get a jump on your holiday shopping by stopping by Epoca Restaurant on November 23 and 24 for the Gifts That Give sale, which will exhibit and sell folk art produced by local women. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to an emergency aid fund.
Puerto Vallarta Baby Gives Parents a Break
 PVNN
Puerto Vallarta Vacation Baby, the first company of its kind in the Banderas Bay area, provides families traveling with infants and toddlers with a full range of baby products and equipment for a safe and sane holiday.
Biblioteca Higuera Holiday Fundraiser
 Pamela Thompson
Get a jump-start on your Christmas shopping and help support the Children's Library in El Pitillal at the same time! With Christmas just around the corner, you won't want to miss the Biblioteca Higuera Holiday Boutique Benefit on November 26th.
Talk About Shop 'til You Drop!
 Denise Derameé
Everyone has heard the age-old expression Shop 'til You Drop, but Encore Boutique owner Mikki Prost gave the phrase a whole new meaning when she offered Puerto Vallarta shoppers "all you can put on your body for $200 pesos" last week.
Glaze of Glory: Decorating with Pottery
 Jessie Milligan
With its dazzling color and intricate designs, Mexican Talavera-style pottery can add a splash of brilliance to your home and garden. Here's how.
Wedding Dress Tips for Beach Brides
 PVNN
Destination beach weddings are so popular these days - and why not? After all, what could be more romantic than getting married on a white sand beach right at your tropical honeymoon destination?
Grand Velas All Suites & Spa Resort Shines Among the Stars During the Emmy Awards
 PVNN
From upscale accommodations in oceanview suites to spa treatments at its world-class spa, the Grand Velas All Suites & Spa Resort Riviera Nayarit luxury vacation prizes at Melanie Segal’s Platinum Emmy Gift Lounge were a hit among the stars.
Spend the Day in Sayulita for a Different Shopping Experience
 Molly Glentzer
If you have a shopping jones and don't want to leave Punta Mita, prepare to spend big bucks. There are upscale shops for clothing, gifts, jewelry and art at the Four Seasons Resort. But for something a little earthier, take a day or half-day trip to Sayulita, a small village about 30 minutes to the north.
Free Fashion Shows at Los Arcos Hotel
 PVNN
Brigitte Coussard of Cousart Designs recently announced that she will continue to host her free fashion shows in the lobby of the Los Arcos Hotel on Olas Altas every Wednesday night at 8:30 pm - at least through the end of April.
Easter Bunnies & Eggs - Make Mine Chocolate!
 Patrick Harrison
Puerto Vallarta's favorite new store - Xocodiva - has been hard at work teaching the Easter Bunny a little Spanish. The result: a new line of molded chocolate bunnies and eggs just in time for the Easter Holidays.
Top 10 Mp3 Sunglasses
 Sunglasses Hut
What kind of people take the most interest in MP3 Sunglasses? People who enjoy listening to music, even when they are moving. With MP3 sunglasses, you don't have to bother about cords.
New Store in Bucerias Does it All Naturally
 Harold Sokolove & Sue Fornoff
Look into the small window at the shop at #14 Av. Javier Mina in Bucerias and you’ll see food items, soaps and medicinal products like in so many stores around town. But there’s something different about things at the Herbs International store.
Xocodiva Brings the "Food of the Gods" to Vallarta
 Patrick Harrison
Looking for that perfect Valentine's Day gift? The search for hand-crafted chocolates and other sweet confections in the Banderas Bay area ends with the opening of a new chocolate shop in the Romantic Zone of Puerto Vallarta - Xocodiva.
Mexican Designers Work Local Tradition Into Their Pieces
 Kimberly N. Chase
From a distance, the black woolen jacket created by fashion designer Carla Fernandez looks like a simple, ordinary blazer. The difference is in the details: bright, multicolored dots embroidered to a piece that combines age-old Indian sewing techniques with an innovative, modern cut.
These Bargains Made in Mexico
 Cynthia Mines
Handmade jewelry, wood carvings, beadwork - Puerto Vallarta holds the treasures of the Sierra Madre, and it's not all on the tourist-beaten track.
Mexican Fashion: "Global Design with a Local Touch"
 Kimberly N. Chase
A new crop of designers hopes to take advantage of Mexico's increasingly stabilized economy, which has improved over the last six years during Vicente Fox's presidency. Designers say their new businesses are finding receptive customers, both local and foreign.
Hand Made Crochet Swimsuits by UjENA
 PVNN
What are the hottest ladies swimsuits on the planet? Check out these hand knit crochet bikinis by UjENA. Sexy and unmistakably unique. Every single suit is custom made to order, just for you.more »»»
Hot Summer Fashion in Puerto Vallarta
 "...this is probably not just a fad"
Appliqués, sequins, beads and embroidery are just a few of the ornaments adorning denim this season. Join Banderas News video journalist, Laura Gelezunas, for a peek at the hot summer fashions you'll find at Simarik Boutique in Plaza Caracol. more »»»
Talavera etc.
 "...outstanding beauty and variety"
Talavera etc, located at Ignacio Vallarta 266 in Puerto Vallarta's Old Town, is a beautiful little shop that specializes in the finest handcrafted Mexican ceramic, Talavera pottery and Talavera tiles from the foremost workshops in Puebla, Mexico.more »»»
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