Rooms at Westin Puerto Vallarta
Jan 21st, 2008, 08:37 AM
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Rooms at Westin Puerto Vallarta
My family of 4 is staying at the Westin Puerto Vallarta for Easter Week using my well-earned points. The hotel has assured me they have renovated their rooms but has anyone stayed there recently that has first hand knowledge of their 'renovated' rooms? Last year we stayed at the Westin in St. Maarten and loved their new modern rooms.
Feb 18th, 2008, 05:50 PM
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HI, Maggy,
We're back from the Westin Puerto Vallarta.
I'm not sure what exactly you're hoping for in terms of renovations, but for us the rooms were very nice. Our rooms (2 for our party) seemed up to date and not tired or in need of renovations and nicely and brightly decorated. They were standard sized (not oversized) but adequate for our family of 5 and all of our bags. The bathrooms are beautiful, and the heavenly showers and beds were just that.
The grounds at the Westin are beautiful, and the hotel itself open, airy, bright and colorful and very pleasant and inviting.
The beach is nice, but not the open long expansive blindingly white, bright turquoise we've come to love in the caribbean. We still enjoyed it though, and we loved the fabulous views all around from our room of cruise ships and fishing boats coming and going, ocean, palm trees, mountains.
An overall very pleasant stay for our first time in PV. We were pleasantly surprised by how safe we felt and how tourist friendly the locals were. Many speak good English, but they do appreciate if you try some spanish.
Hope you enjoy your stay as much as we did.
We're back from the Westin Puerto Vallarta.
I'm not sure what exactly you're hoping for in terms of renovations, but for us the rooms were very nice. Our rooms (2 for our party) seemed up to date and not tired or in need of renovations and nicely and brightly decorated. They were standard sized (not oversized) but adequate for our family of 5 and all of our bags. The bathrooms are beautiful, and the heavenly showers and beds were just that.
The grounds at the Westin are beautiful, and the hotel itself open, airy, bright and colorful and very pleasant and inviting.
The beach is nice, but not the open long expansive blindingly white, bright turquoise we've come to love in the caribbean. We still enjoyed it though, and we loved the fabulous views all around from our room of cruise ships and fishing boats coming and going, ocean, palm trees, mountains.
An overall very pleasant stay for our first time in PV. We were pleasantly surprised by how safe we felt and how tourist friendly the locals were. Many speak good English, but they do appreciate if you try some spanish.
Hope you enjoy your stay as much as we did.
Feb 19th, 2008, 07:44 AM
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Stephie,
Thank you kindly for your message about the Westin. I'm glad to hear the rooms and bathrooms are nice and that the hotel has an airy feel. There are so many mixed reviews on that property I was starting to think it was going to be a disappointment. Did you try any restaurants that you particularly recommend? How about the zip line tour? We are thinking of going to Las Caletas for a day trip and Los Veranos has a zip line tour that was recommended from a previous poster.
Any suggestions are helpful. Thanks again!
Thank you kindly for your message about the Westin. I'm glad to hear the rooms and bathrooms are nice and that the hotel has an airy feel. There are so many mixed reviews on that property I was starting to think it was going to be a disappointment. Did you try any restaurants that you particularly recommend? How about the zip line tour? We are thinking of going to Las Caletas for a day trip and Los Veranos has a zip line tour that was recommended from a previous poster.
Any suggestions are helpful. Thanks again!
Feb 19th, 2008, 08:21 AM
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As far as the mixed reviews you've heard, it could be due to isolated bad incidences or unmet expectations. If someone is high maintainance they might not be happy anywhere. I try to keep that in perspective. We've stayed at many awesome hotels all over the US and other parts of the world, and we were perfectly happy with the Westin and found it met our expectations very well. There was one day when none of our bathroom supplies or coffee were replaced. I left a nice note in spanish and some cash on the bed. They were all replaced in double that day, and a message was left on our phone asking if we received everything we needed and what else they could do for us. We thought the service and the food we ate at the lobby bar and poolside restaurant were very good.
Yes, we did a zip line tour with El Eden and loved it. It requires a lot of hiking up steps between lines, but was well worth it and very exhiliarating.
We also took a day trip to Las Caletas with Vallarta Adventures (may be the only group that goes there,) and had a blast. Customers were offered all you can drink beer and mixed drinks or soda on the way there and back - they come around and refill continuously. And we saw whales and a giant group of dolphins right up next to the boat on the way out - totally unexpected. The lunch at Las Caletas and the staff on the boat and at Las Caletas were fabulous. They will entertain you on the way back on the boat. We snorkeled and kayaked while at Las Caletas and met all of the resident animals/birds. We would highly recommend it.
We only touched on the flea market and malecon/old town area, and I wish we had taken more time to stroll and take it all in. I would recommend not rushing through old town. I think it's one thing that sets PV apart from so many tropical/beach desitinations - so many of them are limited to beaches and resort experiences.
One restaurant I would recommend is Victor's Place at Marina Vallarta - about a 1/2 mile walk from the Westin. We discovered that with every acoholic drink order you get a complimentary shot of tequila (not that we needed all of this, but it was a nice touch.) You also get a small cup of khaluha and cream over ice at the end of your meal (instead of a dinner mint I guess.) We saw the owner bring for himself a shot of tequila to drink with his customers at various tables, including ours. (I wonder how many of these he can handle in one night!?) They have live music seranading the tables, and it was always busy. The food was good, but the atmosphere was the best thing.
Our trip was too short! Hope you enjoy yours!
Yes, we did a zip line tour with El Eden and loved it. It requires a lot of hiking up steps between lines, but was well worth it and very exhiliarating.
We also took a day trip to Las Caletas with Vallarta Adventures (may be the only group that goes there,) and had a blast. Customers were offered all you can drink beer and mixed drinks or soda on the way there and back - they come around and refill continuously. And we saw whales and a giant group of dolphins right up next to the boat on the way out - totally unexpected. The lunch at Las Caletas and the staff on the boat and at Las Caletas were fabulous. They will entertain you on the way back on the boat. We snorkeled and kayaked while at Las Caletas and met all of the resident animals/birds. We would highly recommend it.
We only touched on the flea market and malecon/old town area, and I wish we had taken more time to stroll and take it all in. I would recommend not rushing through old town. I think it's one thing that sets PV apart from so many tropical/beach desitinations - so many of them are limited to beaches and resort experiences.
One restaurant I would recommend is Victor's Place at Marina Vallarta - about a 1/2 mile walk from the Westin. We discovered that with every acoholic drink order you get a complimentary shot of tequila (not that we needed all of this, but it was a nice touch.) You also get a small cup of khaluha and cream over ice at the end of your meal (instead of a dinner mint I guess.) We saw the owner bring for himself a shot of tequila to drink with his customers at various tables, including ours. (I wonder how many of these he can handle in one night!?) They have live music seranading the tables, and it was always busy. The food was good, but the atmosphere was the best thing.
Our trip was too short! Hope you enjoy yours!
Feb 19th, 2008, 04:16 PM
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Stephie
Would you mind answering a few questions about the Westin?
Did you find it crowded, particularly at the pool - I have some concerns that the Westin Regina timeshare complex that shares the property (I think) may lead to crowding?
Did you use the gym and, if so, how was it?
Did you see the Marriott CasaMagna and could you make any comparisons (pool, beach, general atmospher)?
Thanks much
Would you mind answering a few questions about the Westin?
Did you find it crowded, particularly at the pool - I have some concerns that the Westin Regina timeshare complex that shares the property (I think) may lead to crowding?
Did you use the gym and, if so, how was it?
Did you see the Marriott CasaMagna and could you make any comparisons (pool, beach, general atmospher)?
Thanks much
Feb 20th, 2008, 09:07 AM
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Golfin, When we were there (just last week) it was not crowded. We were able to find a chair when we wanted by the pool, but we generally spent our time on the beach. There are signs stating that reserving chairs is not permitted, but I saw towels and books set on chairs early in the morning anyway. I can't speak for how crowded it is at other times of year, but it never felt crowded to us.
I did not use the gym. I am a runner, and while I did consider working out there, decided it wasn't worth paying for an inside workout when I could just run and walk the beach outside.
I did during one of my morning runs check out the Marriott grounds and beach area. I decided that while the Westin was wonderful, I would choose the Marriott should we return to PV. There is a much longer, larger expanse of beach in front of the Marriott, surfing sized waves crashing into it! The grounds and lobby areas were gorgeous, airy, and very inviting. The Westin with its 4 meandering pools has Marriott beat in that regard, but Marriott's pool was no slouch. It looked lovely, and I would love to stay there, but they are both excellent beautiful properties.
I did not use the gym. I am a runner, and while I did consider working out there, decided it wasn't worth paying for an inside workout when I could just run and walk the beach outside.
I did during one of my morning runs check out the Marriott grounds and beach area. I decided that while the Westin was wonderful, I would choose the Marriott should we return to PV. There is a much longer, larger expanse of beach in front of the Marriott, surfing sized waves crashing into it! The grounds and lobby areas were gorgeous, airy, and very inviting. The Westin with its 4 meandering pools has Marriott beat in that regard, but Marriott's pool was no slouch. It looked lovely, and I would love to stay there, but they are both excellent beautiful properties.
Feb 29th, 2008, 04:43 PM
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I recently returned from a week in PV at the Westin. We had a great time, and the hotel was excellent. The room was large and clean, the staff very helpful and friendly. The pools were great, and the beach was nice (as far as PV goes).
We never ate there since the food isn't amazing. The marina has some cheaper and better food, and cab rides into town (centro or zona romatica) are cheap (60-70 pesos), for amazing food. I would highly recommend el Arrayan (mexican), Trio (upscale but reasonable), and Daiquiri Dick's (great fish sandwich for lunch).
Good luck. I definitely recommend the Westin. I would eat elsewhere since there's a lot of amazing food in PV, but I'm sure the food isn't bad.
We never ate there since the food isn't amazing. The marina has some cheaper and better food, and cab rides into town (centro or zona romatica) are cheap (60-70 pesos), for amazing food. I would highly recommend el Arrayan (mexican), Trio (upscale but reasonable), and Daiquiri Dick's (great fish sandwich for lunch).
Good luck. I definitely recommend the Westin. I would eat elsewhere since there's a lot of amazing food in PV, but I'm sure the food isn't bad.
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