Arrival and departure,  Check in time is 3:00, please let us know your exact arrival time.  Check out time is 12:00.  The Arrival Information Form  should be printed out, filled in and then faxed to the villa at least 2 weeks before arrival.  It includes flight data, beverage selection and sleeping arrangements.

 Money,  Dollars are widely accepted but at less favorable rates.  A credit card (e.g., VISA) will get a fair exchange rate.  It can be used in most restaurants, the grocery market, automatic teller machines and for cash advances in pesos (the Banamex branch downtown is the most convenient).

 Staff,    Silvestre, the house man, is the primary contact, normally his hours are 8:00 to 4:00 when the villa is not occupied; 8:00 to 12:00 and then 4:30 to 8:30 when the villa is occupied.    A gardener and three maids are on the property from 8:00 to 4:00.  Unless it is your arrival day, Sunday is the staff's day off, although  they will come in when so requested.  Gratuities are up to you.  Silvestre will distribute the gratuities to the staff if you prefer, according to our formula which assigns more weight to him and to Mari, the cook.  Angelina, the laundress, may be able to do a very limited amount of personal laundry depending on the size of the group, ask her.  When we are asked about tips we say that good service warrents $10.00 US per guest per day and excellent service $14.00.

Water,  We have been told that Vallarta's water tests better than San Francisco's (by a San Francisco native), never the less, locally purified water is provided in every kitchen and bathroom.

Meals,  The cook (with helpers) prepares dinner (or lunch, but not both, unless you have made special arrangements) and breakfast.  Silvestre is your concierge, he also tends bar and does your marketing unless you prefer to do your own.   The cost of your food and beverages is extra (and transportation costs to shop for them).  Silvestre and/or the cook will do your shopping (in pesos), they will provide you with receipts for all expenses.  They usually shop in the late morning after determining that day's menu.  The first morning Silvestre will present the receipts for the cost of first nite's dinner and the initial stocking of the refrigerators/bars.  If you made a food deposit and it did not cover this, you will make up the difference and advance him at least enough pesos for that day's food etc. unless you want to accompany him to market with your credit card (shopping can be very time consuming in Mexico).  Traveler's Checks are not usefull unless you accompany him.
         Use our food and beverage menu to identify your preferences to the cook.  Larger groups can order 2 entrees but the kitchen is not equipped to prepare separate orders for each guest.  Domec XA is a respectable Mexican vintner (especially the Cabernet) and usually a variety of decent california, Chilean and Spanish wines are sold at Mercado Rizo.  Champbrule is a good Mexican sparkling white wine.
         Unless something specific is requested, breakfast is from 8:30 to 10:00.  Silvestre will prepare cocktails in advance and/or will come back early to tend bar each afternoon.  Dinner will be served at the time and for the number of persons  you designate, but not later than 8:00 (this makes a 14 hour day for most of the staff) unless you have paid an event fee ($10 US per person).  You may mix and match items or improvise as you wish subject to the availability of ingredients at the market.

Local Transportation,  A car is not necessary at Casa Angela, however a rental car for a few days is the most convenient way to get to know Vallarta and environs.  You can print a copy of a map of the immediate area of Conchas Chinas. Taxis are inexpensive. They take about 5 minutes to get to the villa when called from the Camino Real Hotel, tel # 221-5368.  If Silvestre is not available and the taxi dispatcher does not speak English, say "Casa Angela, arriba de Ocho Cascadas y en frente de Casa Caracol", and then watch the street below from one of the patios on the north end of the building in case he gets lost.
         The fare from downtown (from the river cuale) to the house is $35.00 pesos.  The fare from the highway (Conchas Chinas market , El Set restaurant, etc.) is $15.00 pesos.  Taxis add $5.00 pesos to the fare when they are called to the villa.  Taxi drivers do not expect tips.
         Public buses run every 10 to 15 minutes on the highway at the bottom of the enclave (an 8 minute walk), to downtown to the north and to Mismaloya and Boca de Tomatlan to the south.  The fare is $3.50 pesos either way.  From downtown the fare is $3.50 pesos go to the airport or the marina. The 25 minute walk to downtown is most enjoyable along the beach or the old road to town (cross the highway at the northern entrance to the enclave, go half a  block toward the bay and turn right at the "T" onto Calle Santa Barbara).

Sports & Entertainment,  For a fee tennis courts can be reserved at the Continental Plaza is (tel 224-4360 ext 500) and sometimes the Camino Real.
         There are three golf courses in the area, the closest is near the marina. Its total charges for 18 holes are $120 US (including cart & caddie).  The telephone is 221-0073
         Water skiing, parasailing, jet skiing, catermaraning, wind surfing, etc. are available at all the major beaches in Vallarta,  Bungee jumping 2 miles to the south.
         There are a variety of beaches: (a) the two major resort strips to the north of town; (b) the active local favorite, Los Muertos, with lots of cafes restaurants on the south edge of town; (c) the quiet, beautiful Conchas Chinas beach at the foot of the hill; (d) the "big surf" beach on the way to Punta de Mita in Nayarit; and (e) the native beaches at Mismaloya, Boca de Tomatlan and Yelapa .
         You can get a water taxi to Yelapa from Boca de Tomatlan if you are adventuresome and do not want to take one of daily commercial tours that depart from the marina.
        If you do not have a car, Conchas Chinas beach is about a twelve minute walk down the hill (unless if you discreetly take a shortcut down the stairway at Ocho Casadas).  Use the quaint restaurant at the extreme south end and/or ask Silvestre for an insulated bandoleer to keep six beverage cans cold.  To get there exit the southern entrance to the enclave.  About 60 yards north of it (toward town) and across the highway is Calle Easy (Easy Street), a modest street that turns back to the south as it goes about 150 yards to reach the beach where there is parking and a stairway immediately on the right.  The road goes on along the shore to the restaurant.  On the south side of the restaurant are the Lindo Mar codominiums which have an elevator up to the highway and a taxi stand.  The fare up to Casa Angela is $15.00 pesos.
        Fishing boats can be chartered from the marina for trips outside the bay where the big game fish are more plentiful.  Smaller boats for trips inside the bay (fish-swim-picnic) can be chartered at the pier in town.  Prices are negotiable in town, a fair price for a boat for four is $25 US per hour.
         Two readily available local publications, Vallarta Today and Puerto Vallarta Lifestyles, provide the details on a host of other actives; hot air ballooning, horseback riding, jungle touring, bull fights on Wednesdays, house tours, etc.

Shopping,  Mercado Riso on the river Cuale is the closest (with the widest inventory) supermarket.  It is the one Silvestre uses.  It is more "local" than the newer Gigante and Commercial on the north side of the city and the Ley in the center of town.  There is a good fish market across the street from Riso as well as in the large Central Market (bazaar) across the river from Riso.  Conchas Chinas Market on the highway between the two entrances to the enclave has a modest selection at convenience store prices.
         There is a huge variety of hand crafted items for sale in Vallarta as well as outlets for all popular "designer" products.  The Central Market (bazaar) is the most concentrated group of vendors of hand crafted goods.  Do not hesitate to bargain with them.  The traditional shops do not normally bargain.

Restaurants,  All the major hotels (14 at last count) have one or more good restaurants.  There are literally dozens more in town, almost all are moderately priced compared to the US, some are very inexpensive.  Waiters do expect tips.
         Some favorite restaurants are: Barcelona for Spanish food overlooking town (our favorite), Puerto Nuevo for seafood in a local atmosphere, Le Bistro for Mexican-American food in a romantic atmosphere, Chef Roger for good French Swiss food, Trio, Circo or Cafe des Artistes for continental food, La Olla for basic Mexican food, Maxmillian's for Austrian food, La Palapa for dining "literally on the beach".  The two publications have more complete listings.  We have been told several times that Mari's food is the best Mexican cooking in town.

Hotels and Night Life,  While Conchas Chinas in general and Casa Angela in particular are relatively quiet and secluded, Los Muertos, the Malecon (boardwalk) and the hotels to the north are very active, day and night.  There are at least 5 discos, including a Hard Rock Cafe and a Planet Hollywood.  Refer to the current issues of the local publications for details.

Telephone,  The same telephone line is shared by all levels, 221-5293, from the US; 011-52-322-221-5393.   Dialing instructions for calls within Mexico are in the front of the Puerto Vallarta telephone book.  Local numbers are 7 digits long all starting with 22.  Nuevo Vallarta and Bucerias are in the state of Nayarit so are not local calls.  Long distance and especially International telephone calls paid for in Mexico are VERY expensive.  The easiest and least expensive way to call the US is to use an AT&T credit card by dialing 01-800-462-4240 and giving the US operator the credit card # number and the number you are calling.  To call outside Mexico collect, dial "09" say you are calling "por cobrar".  Any local billing for long distance telephone calls will deducted from your telephone/security deposit.

Emergencies,  The two publications identified above have complete lists of all emergency services
         There is a part time police station at the south entrance to Conchas Chinas. The emergency police phone # is "060". The tourist police patrolling in white uniforms speak some English.
         Probably the best Hospital in town is also the most convenient, Medasist  It is at the corner of the highway into town and Manuel Dieguez Street, on the opposite side of the highway from the gas station about 100 yards closer to town,  The telephone numbers are 223-0444 and 222-3260.
          There are two doctors that practice there, speak English and are well respected in
the expatriate community:   Dr. Carlos Munguia;  his office tel # 223-1401
                                           Dr. Guadalupe Lewgot;   her office tel # 223-0444

General,  All prices herein are as of August 2001.  Pick up a copies of the most recent issues of Vallarta Today and/or Puerto Vallarta Lifestyles to get up to date information on all the facilities and resources available in Puerto Vallarta.
        Across the street and down the hill from Casa Angela is Ocho Cascadas, a landmark condominium that all taxi drivers and delivery men know.  If you can not communicate, show the driver one of the Casa Angela maps or Map of Conchas Chinas.  Do not leave valuables around, lock them in your room if you do not want to carry them.
         All the information herein is subject to change without notice.  Casa Angela and Nurbel Partners accept no responsibility or liability for loss of property and/or death or injury to any occupant or occupant's guests.  Occupant (renter) acknowledges and accepts these conditions by making the final rental payment before occupancy.

Security Deposit and Damages,  Long distance phone charges, unpaid charges for occupancy in excess of the published limits and damages beyond fair wear and tear will be deducted from the security deposit before it is returned (immediately after the last phone bill is received which can be as long as 60 days after departure).  The food deposit will have been reconciled with Silvestre the first morning.

Getting to CA;  by taxi,  CA is in Upper Conchas Chinas.  Rinconada de Conchas Chinas only has 3 houses on it.   When approaching the top of Ocho Cascadas from the North (from the city), tell the cab driver to turn left onto Rinconada de Conchas Chinas just before reaching the upper entrance to Ocho Casadas, a well known timeshare.

Driving yourself, drive thru town from the airport (PV is a long thin city along the bay).  Leave the city on the Hiway to Manzanillo (the only one out of the South end of PV).  About 3/4 of a mile from the Pemex gas station at the edge of town, just after the sign for
Conchas Chinas beach, take a left into  the development (there is a bus stop and
a sign for Ocho Cascadas there).  The street goes up a hill and then turns to the
right almost 180 degrees, take the first left 20 yards after the turn.  300 yards
later take the next left.  75 yards later take the next right.  100 yards later take
the next left onto Rinconada de Conchas Chinas.  CA is 50 yards up on the right.  You
will only see the gate and the name plate down at the road, come up the driveway

Here are 2 sets of instuctions in Spanish for a cab driver, one or the other will work:

1)  Subiendo Ocho Cascadas y casi enfrente es la clle Rinconada de Conchas Chinas.  Casa Angela es por la parte de arriba.

2)  Quando acercando la entrada arriba de Ocho Cascadas de la ciudad, 50 metros
antes de la entrada, da un vuelta a la izguierdo sobre Rinconada de Conchas
Chinas.  50 metros mas a la izquierdo esta la porta de fierro por la casa.  Hay
azulejos con #100 y con Casa Angela.

When renting the apartments separately,   Maid, gardening and Jacuzzi services are included when apartments are rented separately.  Cooking and/or butler services can be hired daily as required (and available) through the houseman.  There is no access to the swimming pool.