Puerto Vallarta Hotel/Resort Help Please
 

Hi all,

I will be going to Puerto Vallarta for the first time with my husband over Christmas for 5 nights. It's also our first time in Mexico. We would love somewhere really lovely to stay (but at this late stage availability is limited). Would like 4-5 star with ocean views but walkable to shops and restaurants. Would like a resort feel but not all inclusive as we love to go to local restaurants, and prefer somewhere that's not as likely to be overrun with children.

The ones that I've been looking at are Sunset Plaza Beach Resort, Signature by Pinnacle, Westin Resort or Sheraton.

Some of these look like mammoth resorts and I prefer a more boutique feel but think I'm being too picky and I really don't understand the locations so any advice greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance

<Would like 4-5 star with ocean views but walkable to shops and restaurants.>

That's tricky in Puerto Vallarta because the more high end resorts are out in Nuevo Vallarta, a build-tourist stretch out to the north of the city.

Pinnacle by Signature is a brand new fancy condo building. It's not a "resort" per se but is in an excellent location in "Zona Romantica" (also known as south-side, because it's south of downtown PV). It sits high up on a hill overlooking the popular beach area of Playa Los Muertos & Olas Altas. I would pick that #1 of those you mentioned.

I would suggest also look at Villa Premiere, it's in the hotel zone but closer in to Centro (downtown).

Garza Blanca on the beach way at the very south end (past Playa Los Muertos) is another high-end place.

Sunset Plaza, Westin, Sherton are out in the Hotel Zone/Marina area (back towards the airport) so not in the heart of the city, but a close taxi or bus ride away.

There are some really unique boutique hotels like Quinta Maria Cortez or Casa Isabel if you are flexible with your requests.

As far as not understanding the layout of Vallarta, I think that's *really* important because it is quite spread out and has a very different feeling from one area to another. Look at the great maps at www.vallarta-info.com for a good overview.

You had best hurry. PV is a mad house at Xmas.

Stewbear makes an excellent point! Because you are traveling in only two weeks AND over the holidays you might want to make a list of any 5-10 places you'd be willing to stay at and contact each to see about availability for your dates.

You're going to be very lucky to find something at this late a date, but good luck. I would suggest Casa Isabel, Hacienda San Angel or Rivera del Rio.

For Xmas we usually rent villas an hour away from PV, but last year we were ideally situated right in town (in lower Conchas Chinas, a 10 minute walk south of Los Muertos/Zona Romantica). It was less crowded than in years past, not at all a madhouse, except for midday on Los Muertos.

I'm not a fan of high rise Nuevo Vallarta, which lacks character and soul. If you're up for a more authentic experience, consider renting a condo in Conchas Chinas (on vrbo, homeaway or airbnb). This is the time of year when people cancel, so you might find some good beachfront possibilities.

Check out http://www.casaamorita.com/
A true beauty high on the hills. Lovely, Lovely suites, nice pool & a super view IF she has a vacancy.