thedude

Hi. We're headed to PV in November. We'd like a simple hotel but with a decent pool and beach. We'll sit around a lot, buying bkfast and lunch at grocery store, but looking for fine dining in the evenings. Away from zillions of people is preference, but will live w/anything.

Any suggestions on place to stay?--Thanks!

butsey

Don't know any simple hotels but my choices would be 1st Sheraton close to town and they have kitchenettes available. 2nd choice Dreams great beach it's all inclusive but it's so reasonable you can still afford to go out to dinner. These two hotels seem to fit what you are looking for and I highly recommend them. If you need recommendations for dinner please email me at [email protected]

jreed

Perhaps you ought to rent a casa.We did in June and we will probably never do it any other way.We stayed in a two bedrm casa with maid,cook and private pool in Conchas Chinas.The view was awesome as was everything else.Seems far away from everything but just a short 5 minute cab ride to nice restaurants.Google "casa rentals in Puerto Vallarta".We used www.boutiquevillas.com but a ton of different companies will come up.If you get a two bedrm and share the cost with another couple its probably cheaper too.

suze

A price-range for "simple" would help me make suggestions. I prefer the Old Town instead of north end i.e., the Hotel Zone, The Marina, or Nuevo Vallarta... as closer to what I think you describe.

The 'problem' is the simple hotels are usually situated a couple blocks in from the beach. So if it must be ON the beach that limits choices a little bit.

Please post again, maybe you consider a Sheraton, Marriott, Westin a basic hotel so I don't want to mislead.

Favorites on Playa Los Muertos (beach on the southside) that fit are Tropicana and Playa Los Arcos. Hotel Eloisa is good but the pools aren't. Casa Andrea is more B&B style gorgeous casitas with great pool, kitchenettes, but 1-1/2 blocks from the beach.

All these have websites.

November is not too busy as it's not yet into "the season" and in Old Town you are unlikely to find zillions. As for fine dining, you are in luck! PV has literally 100s of restaurants of all kinds. Buy a Vallarta Lifestyles magazine which has listings of all the nicer places (Trios, River Cafe, Cafe des Artistes, etc.).

thedude

Thanks for help all. Simple Hotel: I don't mind paying $150 per night, but I don't care if it's super luxurious. Cheaper is better, but we do want beach access. Sounds like Old town is more our take. Casas? Anyone else think that's the way to go? Suze? I've read other posts about awesome dining in PV. THanks!

suze

The dining part will be a cinch once you get there, no worries. You'll simply need more time, or a return trip, to try all the restaurants.

Casas, condos, and apartments are great, but again not too many are directly on a beach within town (you can find these in smaller towns to the north like Bucerias). More likely up on the hillside above, or on side streets, or inland a bit within PV.

I'm glad I asked about price because when I hear simple + PV together I think of Posada de Roger, my favorite local mexican hotel that rents for $40USD/night!!

Quinta Maria Cortez is this amazing house made into a small hotel right on the beach, but their pool is miniscule.

Dreams (the old Camino Real south of town) has a gorgeous private beach but changed management in July and is now all-inclusive (boo!).

Molino de Agua has two gorgeous pools and large beachfront suites. A good possibility, but rumor has it the hotel is for sale so am hesitant to recommend; it would have been my 1st choice for you a few years back.

Costa del Sol are condos that often rent out right on the main stretch at Los Muertos. They might be a good fit.

Buenaventura is more a normal resort hotel in the Hotel Zone but not too far north from downtown with both beach and pools, close enough to walk or bus into El Centro but definitely not on the southside (Zona Romantica) like all the others I've mentioned.

I'm writing from the office but will check back and forward a few specific websites and correct names for what I've already mentioned.

Earl

We always rent condos when we head to PV. A couple of suggestions would be Lindo Mar Resort, about 3km south of town http://www.tradingplaces.com/ This is a very comfortable condo complex located on a very nice (but small) beach. There is a great restaurant in the complex. It is a short 5 peso bus ride to town.
We have also had great luck renting condos from Villas de Oro. http://www.villasdeoro.com/intro.htm
Hope this info helps.

travel3773

I hope this doesn't find you too late....we went to Quinta Maria Cortez in March and really loved it. The room we were in (Maria) was huge...it had a small kitchen, living room, dining area, huge bedroom, and two balconies overlooking the ocean. We enjoyed our room and hotel so much that on the first night we didn't want to leave, just walked to the nearby convenience store and picked up some snacks, sat on the balcony and enjoyed the ocean view and sounds. It was in a residential area and secluded, but a close enough taxi drive into town if you wanted to go for dinner. The pool is very tiny, but when we were there we had it all to ourselves. A really great breakfast is also included in the room rate. They have a web site, quinta-maria.com where you can check out the rooms, rates, etc. I really can't recommend it higly enough, it made our stay in Puerto Vallarta.

suze

Thanks for the current and favorable post about Quinta Maria Cortez!! I've only visited with friends who had a room there and toured the rooms/suites that weren't occupied (have not stayed there myself only because it is unfortunately out of my price range). Fantastic to hear how much you enjoyed it!

mmayor

I've found a GREAT site that offers free full color maps (in PDF format) of Puerto Vallarta and almost every other area in Mexico. Check it out!

http://www.allworldhotel.com/mexico/mexico_map.html