Pam & Frank Sullivan

Pam and Frank Sullivan

Status: Couple

Employed or Retired: Semi-retired

Where did you live previously? Wimberley, TX (between Austin and San Antonio in the Texas Hill Country)

When did you move to Vallarta? July 1, 2012…we’re newbies!!!  We’ve been coming to Puerto Vallarta for 15 years renting in the North and South Shores and every place in between.

What part of town do you live in? Hotel Zone

Why did you decide to move to Vallarta?  We have been in the Group Tour and Travel Industry for 20 years. We traveled 15 days of every month to other countries and found ourselves comparing everywhere to Puerto Vallarta. One day, we realized…there were no other places like it! This was “HOME.”

What other places did you consider? We considered Sydney, Australia and Santorini, Greece.

What were the main reason(s) you moved here?

1. The people. I grew up with the Mexican culture and always wanted to live in Mexico. It is a “romantic” country where music still has a melody, the food is “creative”, the prices are still reasonable, and above all the locals still believe in formality, manners and kindness.
2. The “ritmos” (rhythm) of Banderas Bay. Five minutes of watching the Bay at sunset will convince you that life is too short to worry about the small stuff. You come here to enjoy life….Sunset on the beach and a cool Margarita is a great reminder everyday!
3. Quality health care was high on our list. Yes, Mexico has state-of-the-art hospitals with “real” qualified, experienced doctors! Imagine a doctor who spends more than five minutes with you and actually takes an interest in you and your health!
4. Some even visit you at home! I have traveled to Mexico for major surgery before and can say from experience the care has been excellent. Medical Tourism is a growing industry here with the high costs of health care in the US.
5. Exploring everything Mexico has to offer. We have our adventurous spirit back…I feel safer here than in the US. The media has economic motives for keeping you from traveling abroad and wanting you to stay in the US. Being in the travel industry, we know most countries are safe as long as you follow some basic common sense rules…Mexico is no different.

What are the top (3) things you have learned that you think might help someone moving to Vallarta now?

1. Don’t expect to instantly “love” your new Mexican lifestyle. We moved here in the slow season and know it takes time to adjust to new cultures, meet new people and find our way here. In October, everything changes…the city becomes vibrant with people, activities, festivals, art, music, and whales! If you are thinking about being a “full time Vallartan” make sure to come in September when the city and weather are at the lowest and slowest month. We were told horror stories about the heat. Imagine our surprise….The evening summer showers here in PV are a delight and a spectacle to watch! It’s not near as bad as we were told. It’s still sunny all day (80s-90s) with warm breezes. (FYI: In Texas, summer season got to 106 degrees, hot and very dry!) Also come to PV during “high season” so you get the perspective of all it has to offer! The weather is like Hawaii October-May! If you need perfect weather year round, take your vacation in late August and September and go some place cooler or visit family (since they need an excuse to come visit you in Vallarta!)
2. Don’t expect this to be the USA. Things are done differently here. Be thrilled when things go right the first time. Laugh and practice patience when the “system” confounds you. Be kind to the locals. The locals appreciate your business, help you often, and will always start off kind to you. Bad manners and “attitude” will get you a “no comprende” look and indifference to your needs. They practice the “do unto others” rule here.
3. “Si, Si, Si” means “I don’t understand a word you’re saying”. Be specific or find someone who speaks fluent Spanish to help you if it’s really an important issue. Try to learn the language; though we have gotten by with broken Spanish and a lot of hand gestures! You would be suprised how many locals speak or understand some English.