Where to stay in PV ??
 

I am a bit overwhelmed about selecting accomodations for my upcoming honeymoon in Puerto Vallarta. I think I want to rent a condo rather than stay in a hotel for both value and privacy reasons. My fiancee and I would like a place on the beach, and close to town (walking distance). Do you have any specific recommendations ? And do you prefer resorts over private buildings ?? Thanks.

Hola and Congratulations! <BR>How nice to spend your honeymoon in PV! <BR>I was recentkly at a wedding at the beach, Mismaloya Beach, at sunset, very romantic. The honeymooners stayed at the Condominium builing right on the beach. I believe that summer rates are at 80.00 US per nigh per one bedroom/one bath condo. Gorgeous view. Just a bit far from PV. Need more info, let me know.

We stayed at the Marriott for $58. per night. Ask for the entertainment rate. It's a bit far from the centre of downtown but it's beautiful. <BR>

My family stayed at the LaJolla de Mismaloya on Mismaloya Beach last year. We enjoyed it alot. It's an all suite resort (1 or 2 bedrooms), a couple of restaurants, shops, wonderful free-form pool, lush landscaping, tennis etc. True, it's not within walking distance to town, but it is close to several wonderful restaurants. We had a great time there. E-mail me if you want more info.

We returned from a short R&R trip to PV May 1-4 and stayed at the La Jolla de Mismaloya. While I agree that the grounds and pool are beautiful, the location is not walking distance to town, it is a 20-30 minute ride by cab or bus-the poster wanted a location close to town. Also we felt the service, particularly at the reception desk, was not up to par for a 5* hotel. When checking out, our bill was 7000 pesos. We ate no breakfast or lunch in the hotel,only 4 dinners. Stocked our own water and beer in the minibar. No tours, etc. charged to the room. No explanation nor itemized bill was given to us (and we had to leave to go to the airport). <BR> <BR>People we met at the hotel who had been there for a week or two mentioned that the bars were serving drinks to kids, one of them about 16 passed out by the pool. I am wondering if the management has changed, and possibly they should be reinspected by Leading Hotels of the World. I certainly would not recommend this hotel to anyone other than for having nice rooms and beautiful grounds, but so does the Marriott, which has better service, room prices, and is closer to town (although not walkable, sorry Tripp).

Sorry Jammie, I have to respectfully disagree about the La Jolla. <BR> <BR>We are going next Friday for our 7th trip to PV, and our second stay at the La Jolla. It has one of the best beaches to be found in PV, and the restaurants (El St and John Hustons)were fab, with the exception of El Patio, which is average. The drink prices are high, but the lush atmosphere is worth it. We felt very secluded. We received a very itemized bill at check out, and it was all in order. Perhaps their computer broke down when you were leaving. You should have questioned it more carefully. We didn't see any drunk teenagers running around. I cna't imagine where their parents were, but since you only have to be 18 to drink, someone should have taken responsibility for them. Actually I dont remember hardly any young people. It is not a spring-break kind of hotel. <BR> <BR>If you can afford it, stay a night or two in one of the presidential suites (ask for the top floor). They are magnficent! <BR> <BR>Anyway, I dont think you would be sorry if you stayed there or at the condos next door. There is also a catamaran moored right at the resort (the Discovery I think), that will pick you up right from the beach so you dont have to go to the Marina to take a cat trip. The travel desk even arranged private drivers and vans for us to do our own excursions into the jungle. <BR> <BR>My take on the Marriott: Very beautiful, but extremely Americanized. <BR>It usually seems to be half empty whenever we visit there. We flew down for a weekend to book a conference for my husband, and got a guided tour. The suites are luxurious, but as I say, I felt as if I had not left the states.

Hi Linda, <BR> <BR>You won't get any argument from me about how beautiful the hotel is, how nice the rooms are, how pretty the pools are (although I could do without the "Bingo" everyday) and the gorgeous beach. <BR> <BR>Indeed I made the reservation based upon the reviews it had gotten on Preview Travel, in guide books, etc. <BR> <BR>The restaurants are excellent also with the exception of the Italian one. El Patio is OK for casual. Another couple I met at the pool said the Italian restaurant used to be excellent but to skip it (they were repeat visitors and had eaten there the night before)this time. <BR> <BR>The drunken teenagers departed shortly before we arrived. There was several large parties of them, from high schools, with chaperons who were also drinking or turning the other cheek. This was during Spring Break and several other couples we met told my husband and I this story. I can even overlook that, because underage drinking is common in Mexico. <BR> <BR>My argument lies with the management and especially the front desk people. When we checked in, the clerk kept asking me in a loud voice how much we paid for the room (we bought a medium-priced air/hotel package, so I had no idea). This was presumably to determine what floor and tower I was entitled to in my room assignment. I have already mentioned that although we requested an itemized bill we did not receive one when checking out and we had to leave to catch our plane. However the lady in front of me at checkout was going over adjustments and credits on what she told me was her third itemized bill. This to me does not indicate good service. <BR> <BR>We went mainly to relax this trip rather than do a lot of activities like I normally like to do. However we did take a taxi to Boca de Tomatlan and then take the water taxi to Las Animas (take DEET, I didn't and was scratching for a week afterward). This costs a lot less money and is more fun than the "Booze Cruises". You can either take the public taxi for 40pesos (have to wait until they get 10 people) or we took a private taxi for 400 pesos. We were also going to rent a panga for fishing but ran out of time. <BR> <BR>Again, my argument is NOT with the hotel itself, but with its current management or at least its front desk staff. <BR> <BR>I am normally a pretty easy to please traveler, this is the first time I have been disappointed in a very long time and I have traveled in the US, Hawaii, Mexico, Costa Rica and Europe. I have stayed in places from Econolodges to Ritz Carltons, and nice hotels to ones without a private bath so I am not a very picky person. <BR> <BR>I am glad to enjoyed your stay and I wish mine had turned out as well.The end just left a sour feeling in my mouth. <BR> <BR>Jamie <BR> <BR>PS - I am apparently not the only one who feels this way, check out Frommers message boards, there is a similar post from someoone else who stayed there just before I did complaining about many of the same things.

Get a copy of B. Whipperman's Pacific Mexico Handbook. I'm at www.choice1.com/villamontana.htm <BR> <BR>adios! <BR> <BR>mexicodan

I love puerto vallarta and have never stayed in a resort (15 trips later!), the activities and all-gringo atmosphere would make me nuts.<BR><BR>Personally, I recommend the &quot;southside&quot; of town, past El Centro, and over the river. When you mention privacy &amp; condos together, note most of the beachfront condos in or near town are simply high-rise hotel-style buildings.<BR><BR>I wouldn't stay way out at Mismaloya simply because it is *not* walking distance at all.<BR><BR>Take a peek at Casa Andrea and Molino de Agua, two very romantic settings in Old Town PV. www.casa-andrea.com &amp; www.molinodeagual.com