AI or EP??

My husband and I will be going to PV this spring. We have been on several Carribean vacations and done both AI and EP. We like the relaxation of having an AI but also like exploring. Can anyone give us some good advice on what is the better experience? Also, what hotels are best? Right now we are looking at Marriott for EP and Riu Jalisco for AI. If we do EP we want to be withing walking distance of restaurants. Any help would be appreciated!!

Thanks!! Ali

You are cheating yourself to stay the entire time at your hotel in PV. I have stayed at the Marriott 3xs and it is a great hotel. Cab rides are about $3.50 USD each way if I remember correctly. Say nay to AI unless you go out for dinners. PV is too beautiful and has great restaurants/sites, friendy people. AI is for Jamaica, Dominican.

Thanks for all the great advice! I think we are going to book EP at the Westin, we found a great deal and it seems like a good location.

It looks like this is definitely a debated topic on this board! I still think we are going to go with the EP, the difference between AI at the Golden Crown Paradise and EP at the Westin is only about $500 for the entire package, but I think if we did AI we would feel guilty eating out more than a couple of times and the Westin was given higher ratings in the research I did. When we went to the Riviera Maya with friends it was worth it to get AI because of all the drinking but I think for just the two of us we would have more fun exploring and trying something new every day (especially since the restaurants seem very reasonable). One final thing, does anyone know if the Westin or any other resort offers just breakfast packages? We did that once before and really liked it. Thanks again!

Hi guys! How are you doing?
Hope to see you when you come to town:)

When you exit the Westin, look across the street to the \"boat yard\". There is a big chain link gate and a guard booth and a sign that says Opequimar. Just go to the revolving gate, go through and tell the gate guy \"Desperado\" or he will charge you a 10 peso per person boat fee. (this is a fee for the people who park their boats here)

Walk down the road between the parked (dry docked) boats and head to the water, right there on the left is Desperado. They have \"bar\" seating and water view seating (looking at the gas dock)...

Easy to get to once you know where it is and SOOOO worth going to.
The menu is pretty funny as well, and the joke about the tips (Tanya) is about my friend who worked there years ago...the menu alone is worth reading!

Have fun, enjoy, see you on a Friday night!