Arriving by air and taking a taxi:  Be sure to completely exit the customs area, as there is a time share promotion counter that will probably offer you all kinds of deals. Avoid them and head straight to the official taxi booth by the exit to the street. Two colorful girls in the booth will vie for your business. The fees and cabs are the same, so go with either, it doesn’t matter. You pay the driver and the driver is stopped at the exit at a control booth. The taxis at the airport are all regulated and the prices are fixed. Just give the driver the address: PORTOFINO CONDOMINIUMS, Marina Vallarta, right next to the Marriott Hotel. It’s a 5-minute ride and the fare is currently Ps. 150 (about $12 US).

Picking up a car:  All the major car rental agencies are at the airport and the pick up is very close. It’s best to reserve a car on the internet before you arrive and it is also cheaper. Taxis are plentiful and cheap, so you only really need a car if you want to take side trips. Downtown is 3 miles away, a $5 taxi ride and there is a taxi stand, as well as a bus stop right outside the main gate. And you can always rent a car after you’ve arrived.

Driving to Portofino:  There is only one way to exit the small airport, so follow the road; it veers to the right (south) towards downtown. You will immediately see the Plaza Marina Shopping Center on your right, where the large super market Comercial Mexicana is located. There are many cafes and small stores around the Plaza, but no restaurants. Continue down the main road, heading to town. Stay on the access road to the right of the main road. A 1/2 mile down, at the Plaza Neptuno, take a right, onto the Paseo de La Marina, at the huge bronze statue of a whale and Neptune on the rooftop. You will be on a very wide tree lined avenue, with the golf course on your right and the Yacht Basin to your left. About 1/2 mile down this avenue it will veer right at an abandoned shopping plaza, in front of the Marriott Hotel. Take the next left and drive up to the PORTOFINO gate.

Entering Portofino:  Tell the security guard you’re going to either unit 406 South (4th floor - 1 bedroom, Tel 209-0073) or to 1002 South (10th floor - 3 bedroom, Tel. 221-3035) and that Teresa Flores, the housekeeper is waiting there for you. They may call the unit first. Take the elevator and go left to your unit.

Stocking the unit:  The units are completely furnished and ready to use. Linens, towels, beach towels, soap, dishwasher soap, pots and pans, video library, some books, CD’s, games (chess, cards, backgammon, checkers, puzzles). If you wish, Teresa can stock the refrigerator with essentials for you (beer, milk, snacks, fruits, bottled water, eggs, bread) so you have that for your first night. Just fill out the attached form and get it to us at least 7 days prior to arrival. She will present you with the ticket stubs from Walmart to be reimbursed. In addition, the extra fee for this service is $25 US. Please pay her upon arrival, so we keep the accounts clean.

Teresa:  She will meet you at the condo and check you in, review the inventory list and help you settle in. She is most friendly and eager to help in any way she can. You will enjoy dealing with her. She and the Property Manager, who are both on call 24 hrs/day can be of great help to you and are delighted to be of service. There is no charge at all of this service. If you wish to tip Teresa at the end of your stay, by all means do so. She will be most grateful.

Maid service:  Teresa will clean the unit for you mid week and change the sheets and towels. One cleaning per week is included in your rental and that also includes the exit cleaning. If you wish additional days of service, she will provide that at $15/day for the 1 bedroom and $20/day for the 2 bedroom. You can make those arrangements with her upon arrival

What to bring:  Toiletries, sun lotion, bathing suits, a toothbrush, and tennis gear. A hair dryer is in the bathroom, as well as an ironing board and iron. The kitchen has most of the spices you will need, salt, pepper, olive oil and vinegar. The kitchen sink has a special tap for ultraviolet carbon filtered water.

Money exchange:  If you forget to exchange money at the airport, don’t worry. Everybody takes US $ here, so you can go to the Exchange Booths in the Marina or the banks at Plaza Marina or downtown.

Current:  It’s all 110 v. just the same as in the US, so you do not need any converters or special plugs or adapters.

Telephone and fax:  Each unit has a private telephone, fax and answering machine. From the US, #406 South is (011-52-322)209-0073 and #1002 South is (011-52-322)221-3035. Local calls are free and if you make any long distance calls, please use your calling card. If you dial direct, we will have to charge you $.75/minute. Jot down all your long distance calls please. If anyone needs to reach you, they can dial the unit directly. The Portofino Administration number is (011-52-322)221-2226, Teresa Flores can be reached at (011-52-322)224-3443 and her cell (011-52-322)889-2536. My email is deanmross@hotmail.com and I am always in touch with Teresa and the Property Manager.

Internet:  Both units have wireless high speed internet and it’s easy to hook up. Instructions are in the unit. There are also free computers at the Business Center by the main gate.

Condo instructions and information:  A welcome book, full of suggested activities, maps, restaurants and tours and a list of all relevant phone numbers is in your unit. Please read through it!

First night dinner:  The Marina Yacht Basin is 1/4 mile away, an easy walk and there are scores of sidewalk restaurants and convenience stores, bordering the 400 plus yacht slips. The closest food is at the Marriott Hotel, just to your right as you exit. Next closest is the Velas Hotel, to your left as you exit. Both hotels have an indoor restaurant which is semi casual and a very attractive casual beachfront restaurant - great for romantic dinners or sumptuous breakfasts. You can also walk to these from the beach. It’s a 5-10 min. walk at most.

Parking:  One spot is allotted to each unit. You can park anywhere except under the covered garage.

Keys:  Teresa will give you a set of house keys. There is a $50 charge for lost keys, so be careful please!

Maximum occupancy:  1 bedroom is 4, 3 Bedroom is 6. No pets, sorry.

Medical:  We have a 24 hr. English speaking doctor on call and the Amerimed (US style hospital) is 1/2 mile away, in the Marina. Doctors do make house calls here!

Children and the beach:  There is a grass playground with swings by the pool and also a shallow fountain pool for them to play in. And of course there is the huge beach. It’s 150 yards WIDE, from the sand by our infinity pool to the waters’ edge and then it stretches for 4 km. and it’s then about 80 yards wide. Bring hats, sun lotion and beach toys (you can always get those here at the Marina convenience stores).

Beach umbrellas and lounges:  There are plenty of lounges and shade by the pool and some thatched shaded “palapas” and lounges out on the beach reserved for guests. Just walk down and use them.

Puerto Vallarta information on the web:  There are many sites, but this is our favorite - www.virtualvallarta.com

Well, I can’t think of anything else! The important thing to remember is that you are in an absolutely beautiful surrounding and our entire staff is ready to do everything to make your visit a memorable one. Please email us or call us if you have any questions about any of this. We will be in touch with you well before your arrival date to coordinate your arrival and make sure everything goes smoothly for you.

PLEASE EMAIL OR FAX THIS TO US AT LEAST A WEEK PRIOR TO ARRIVAL.

Names of all guests and ages and arrival dates:

Unit reserved:

Arrival date, time and flight in formation:

Departure date, time and flight information:

Request for food stock to be purchased for you prior to arrival (there is a $25 fee for this):

Any special requests or information we may need: