My husband and I are visiting Puerto Vallarta right before Christmas and need help picking a hotel. We are looking for something close to the beach or on the beach since we like to get into the water and play around...we also like to be close to a place that has options for restaurants, strolling, people-watching.
As long as the place is clean and kept-up we're happy. We don't care for large hotels with hundreds of guests on the premises. Casa Dona Susana has floated to the top (they have suites or rooms with a balcony available) and I also have a beach-front condo rental possibility on Los Muertos beach.
Help please!!

Forgot to include that I am looking for something under $130/night.

Dona Susana is a good choice imo. It's an old Mexican style hotel that has been recent refurbished. I haven't stayed there but I have toured it. Plus you get have access to the pool & beachfront facilities at Hotel Playa Los Arcos (same owners).

Nothing wrong with a condo on Los Muertos either!

The Tropicana Hotel on that same beach is another you might want to take a look at.

This part of PV has everything you as asking for with loads of wonderful restaurants, shops, strolling, people-watching possibilities.

Any other questions, feel free to ask. I think of Vallarta as my home-away-from home. -suze

Thanks Suze - Tropicana looks very attractive. I will check it out too. What is your opinion on the canopy ziplining trips I am reading about? Or trips to Yelapa or other beaches by boat? We like to snorkel but are not divers.

We went the second week of December last year. We stayed at the Los Arcos Hotel. The beach there during our stay was not swimable. It was red-flagged and the surf very rough. The Casa Dona Susana is down the street and not directly on the beach. Guests have privledges at the Los Arcos. Their pools were nice and one was heated, so we spent more time there.

As for location, it was excellant. Withing walking distance to the Maceleon, shopping, resturants and bars. We loved Andales.

Check out Vallarta Adventures or Bestday.com for day trips/excursions. We didn't do the zip line, but went to Marahuitas (didn't spell that right) and Yelepa. The waterfalls were ice cold and the vendors more than annoying. For snorekling, the water was cold and cloudy not very good compared to other destinations. Also went to El Eden and Chinos. Really great food at their restuarant.

If your interested we have pictures of our trip at:

http://community.webshots.com/user/kvrlvn

You were close It's Playa Majahuitas. and Chico's Paradise?

Thanks KVR for the tips.

Any other question, feel free to ask. Also I would encourage you to book asap because PV is typically very busy over the holidays.

I've stayed in numerous hotels and apartments all around Puerto Vallarta (lived there for a few months while working 2 years back). I returned last year in both February and in April. In February I stayed at the Hola and in April I stayed at the Fiesta Americana. I know that the FA is a 5+ star but I would recommend the Hola every day of the week and twice on Sunday

I'm with you, slowtrav1, in that I don't care for excessively large hotels and when booking the Hola I read numerous reviews that it was small, etc. but the people were super friendly and that makes your trip. Let me tell you it was amazing. The staff is beyond anything I've ever witnessed (and I have a string of vacation years under my belt), so incredibly friendly, the beach is the best on the strip, far enough away from the marinas and flood centers so you don't get dirty water and it's a short walk to some main downtown restaurants. If you don't want to walk, the bus outside the hotel takes you there in less than 3 minutes.

I've also stayed at 4 other hotels in my time there and I'll keep recommending the Hola....oh, and it's at a good price too!

Hope that helps!

PS The ziplining tour is awesome, but book the morning trip, otherwise it gets SOOOOOOOOO busy after 10am that you'll spend the whole day there. If you do the early run, you'll be done by 10am and you can go back to your hotel by noon or organize another tour.

Cheers

I made my booking at Casa Dona Susana - before I read the recommendation about Hola. Oh well, on my next trip. In the winter, is it safe to head south for a good beach for some swimming and relaxing in the water? I have read that beaches ot the north are good for surfing...