first timer needs help

thanks for the advice Big Guy

Go for Playa Los Arcos, excellent location and you can walk everywhere, no problem.
Flamingo Vallarta is in the Marina area, near the airport. Villa del Palmar Flamingos is in Nayarit, about 30 to 40 minutes from downtown Vallarta, roughly 150 pesos each way by cab,

Flamingo Vallarta (Marina) is about a 40 to 50 peso cab ride from downtown, or 4 pesos by bus.

And as the other person said, the only people at the airport offering a hotel deal is a time share rep- and the deal is not a deal.

Thanks bzy1inpv,
Los Arcos it is. Many thanks for the information.