Sitges or PV

[JMan]

Where do you recommend to try first…Sitges or PV?   I’m looking for relaxation, but also some fun!

Edited December 28, 2024 by JMan

[+ Vegas_Millennial]

1 hour ago, JMan said:

Where do you recommend to try first…Stiges or PV?   I’m looking for relaxation, but also some fun!

If one lives in North America, then Puerto Vallarta should be a less expensive journey.  If one lives in Europe, then Sitges should be a more economical journey. 

Both are pleasant beach towns with plenty of gay nightlife.  While Sitges offers a nude beach and the refreshing Mediterranean, Puerto Vallarta offers gay strip clubs and cabarets in addition to the handful of gay bars.

[pubic_assistance]

3 hours ago, Vegas_Millennial said:

Both are pleasant beach towns with plenty of gay nightlife.  While Sitges offers a nude beach and the refreshing Mediterranean, Puerto Vallarta offers gay strip clubs and cabarets in addition to the handful of gay bars.

Agreed.

Sitges is a laid back beach/bar scene.

Puerto Vallarta has a greater variety of debauchery available for sex tourism.

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

I'll take Catalonia. 

Sitges is much more interesting, prettier, unique.  Better food.  Laid-back gay scene.

PV is great, don't get me wrong, but it's turning into a gay area of almost all white faces.  It doesn't feel like MX anymore, which is why I've moved on from going there and opting for places that feel more authentic. 

PV prices reflect the mass amount of visiting gueros as well. 

[pubic_assistance]

1 hour ago, BenjaminNicholas said:

PV is great, don't get me wrong, but it's turning into a gay area of almost all white faces.  It doesn't feel like MX anymore,

This is the net result of any tourist destination becoming successful... it starts to becomes more commercialized and less like its authentic self....and yes full of people who don't live there. (White or otherwise).

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

6 minutes ago, pubic_assistance said:

This is the net result of any tourist destination becoming successful... it starts to becomes more commercialized and less like its authentic self....and yes full of people who don't live there. (White or otherwise).

Agreed and it's even more reason to keep exploring.

It's why I remain enamoured with Mexico City.  It's way too big to ever become entirely homogenized.

I can be surrounded by Spanish speakers the whole visit, never hearing english once.  I love that.

[pubic_assistance]

1 minute ago, BenjaminNicholas said:

Agreed and it's even more reason to keep exploring.

Although I personally am on YOUR team @BenjaminNicholas. I know that MOST Americans will prefer more of a "safe space" experience in their destinations.

English spoken, familiar customs and food choices. Thats why PV is becoming the Disneyland of Mexico. Tons of US and Canadian tourists looking for their comfort zone.

[+ Vegas_Millennial]

1 hour ago, pubic_assistance said:

Although I personally am on YOUR team @BenjaminNicholas. I know that MOST Americans will prefer more of a "safe space" experience in their destinations.

English spoken, familiar customs and food choices. Thats why PV is becoming the Disneyland of Mexico. Tons of US and Canadian tourists looking for their comfort zone.

Most of the gay bars in Puerto Vallarta will be filled with English-speaking Canadians and Americans.  In contrast, most of the gay bars in Sitges will be filled with English-speaking Brits.

[mike carey]

4 hours ago, Vegas_Millennial said:

Most of the gay bars in Puerto Vallarta will be filled with English-speaking Canadians and Americans.  In contrast, most of the gay bars in Sitges will be filled with English-speaking Brits.

And how exotic that is!! All sorts of incomprehensible dialects!

[pubic_assistance]

19 hours ago, Vegas_Millennial said:

Most of the gay bars in Puerto Vallarta will be filled with English-speaking Canadians and Americans.  In contrast, most of the gay bars in Sitges will be filled with English-speaking Brits.

I wasn't endorsing Sitges as being anything resembling what it once was.

For many tourist destinations: its success is also its downfall.

 

[+ Vegas_Millennial]

22 hours ago, Vegas_Millennial said:

English spoken, familiar customs and food choices. Thats why PV is becoming the Disneyland of Mexico.

I went to Disneyland in California earlier this year.  I heard more Spanish spoken in the Disneyland park announcements and by the park patrons than I heard spoken in Puerto Vallarta.

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

13 minutes ago, Vegas_Millennial said:

I went to Disneyland in California earlier this year.  I heard more Spanish spoken in the Disneyland park announcements and by the park patrons than I heard spoken in Puerto Vallarta.

Fastest growing segment population, as well as language 👍

[+ Vegas_Millennial]

On 12/30/2024 at 9:43 AM, BenjaminNicholas said:

Fastest growing segment population

In my observation, Latin men have been mostly show-ers, not grow-ers 😁 

[mikeyspark]

On 12/29/2024 at 11:21 AM, BenjaminNicholas said:

Agreed and it's even more reason to keep exploring.

It's why I remain enamoured with Mexico City.  It's way too big to ever become entirely homogenized.

I can be surrounded by Spanish speakers the whole visit, never hearing english once.  I love that.

I'm seeing more gays go to Oaxaca now. Anyone else?

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

5 hours ago, mikeyspark said:

I'm seeing more gays go to Oaxaca now. Anyone else?

Oaxaca has always been a popular place amongst travelers who know MX well.

I'd also recommend Merida, Guanajuato, Isla Holbox, Morelia, La Paz and Monterrey.

The food scene in Oaxaca is insane.  Absolutely worth visiting just to eat three meals a day.

[mike carey]

13 hours ago, BenjaminNicholas said:

Oaxaca has always been a popular place amongst travelers who know MX well.

I'd also recommend Merida, Guanajuato, Isla Holbox, Morelia, La Paz and Monterrey.

The food scene in Oaxaca is insane.  Absolutely worth visiting just to eat three meals a day.

I second Mérida and Guanajuato, although my experience there is very dated, and is as general tourist destinations, not the array of interests usually discussed in this forum.

[sydneyboy]

I’ve been to Mexico but not PV and I have been to Spain (Barcelona) but not Stiges. One thing is certain Spain is safer than Mexico.

 

 

[CuriousByNature]

12 hours ago, sydneyboy said:

I’ve been to Mexico but not PV and I have been to Spain (Barcelona) but not Stiges. One thing is certain Spain is safer than Mexico.

 

 

I've never felt unsafe in Mexico, and I've been there many times.  And to many parts.  In my experience, if you dabble in things that can get you into trouble, the risks are higher no matter where you travel.  I've found that if you use common sense, have a fair understanding about your surroundings, and act respectfully towards the local population, the risk of danger is greatly reduced in the majority of travel destinations.

Edited January 12 by CuriousByNature

[+ Vegas_Millennial]

15 hours ago, sydneyboy said:

One thing is certain Spain is safer than Mexico.

My experience was the opposite.  Mexico escorts were much more likely to insist on using condoms.  But my research sample size was small.  I intend to do more personal research with a larger sample size in the future.

Edited January 12 by Vegas_Millennial

[Colton]

How “gay” is PV?  I know it’s a cruise port so I imagine that crowd is mixed.  Are the hotels a mix of straight and gay Americans, or mainly just gay?

 

Trying to figure out if saying you are going to PV for a few days “outs” you.  
 

Also, is Sayulita worth visiting for a day or two?

[cany10011]

20 hours ago, Colton said:

How “gay” is PV?  I know it’s a cruise port so I imagine that crowd is mixed.  Are the hotels a mix of straight and gay Americans, or mainly just gay?

 

Trying to figure out if saying you are going to PV for a few days “outs” you.  
 

Also, is Sayulita worth visiting for a day or two?

Believe you will see a mixture of couples, gay and straight, old and young, soI doubt it would "out" you... perhaps staying in Zona Romantica next to the strip bars Wet Dreams or Club 69 might out you, but otherwise I think you will be fine and will enjoy yourself. I liked Sayulita, might be worth a day visit, typical small beachtown... but it's (i think) very overtouristed. Believe north of that might be better for quieter beaches. You'll have fun

[pubic_assistance]

20 hours ago, Colton said:

How “gay” is PV?  I know it’s a cruise port so I imagine that crowd is mixed.  Are the hotels a mix of straight and gay Americans, or mainly just gay?

P.V. is a popular tourist destination for everyone. It's not a gay ghetto. However, there IS a big gay presence in the Zona Romantica (the old town) and there are a couple hotels that cater to gay men. I stayed at Casa Cupola years ago. It's more upscale than The Blue Chairs Resort. (Which is a little trashy for MY taste). Haven't been there for years but i have friends who still go every year and they say it's still the best place in town for quality service while being able to drag home an escort (or two).

[CuriousByNature]

In reading through the various posts here I realized that even though I've been to PV and stayed near the Zona Romantica, I never knew it was a gay destination.  I suppose I must be more oblivious to things that others notice easily.

[cany10011]

There’s a great article in today’s NYT about the magical allure of PV. 

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

On 2/20/2025 at 12:24 PM, Colton said:

How “gay” is PV?  I know it’s a cruise port so I imagine that crowd is mixed.  Are the hotels a mix of straight and gay Americans, or mainly just gay?

 

Trying to figure out if saying you are going to PV for a few days “outs” you.  
 

Also, is Sayulita worth visiting for a day or two?

PV is really fucking gay.  

It's so gay, it's Marvyn Gaye.

But seriously, other than CDMX, PV is likely the most outwardly gay and gay-supportive city in all of Mexico.