Sheraton Buganvilias Resort Vacation Club

We stayed here in February 2009 in a one bedroom through an RCI Exchange and had a good time. Unfortunately, our unit had no balcony, but it did face the ocean and had windows that opened to allow us to hear the waves.

Our unit was clean and tastefully, but rather simply decorated (although the prior occupants had left their luggage in it when we arrived!) Sofas are futon-like sofabeds and are firm, as is the bed in the bedroom. Nice bathroom, but the shower was spraying onto the ceiling too. No dishwasher or range in the kitchen, just a medium sized fridge, stovetop burners, sink & microwave. There was a free in-room safe and an internet cafe off the lobby (450 pesos for unlimited PC & broadband use for the week). A small dining table and four chairs were in the dining area.

The resort amenities are as good as you'll find ANYWHERE, and are fully shared with the adjacent Sheraton Hotel. Grounds are expansive, lush, and well-maintained. The beach is small though, and filled with gravel/stones; we did not go swimming here. If you like hanging out at a large, luxurious poolside setting then this is the place for you!

The resort location is in a very convenient to downtown (old area) Puerto Vallarta - only a 10 - 15 minute walk or a 30-40 peso taxi ride (depending on where you go in downtown). The bus also stops in front of the resort and goes everywhere. There's free surface parking if you have a car, and there's also a Thrifty Car Rental on-site.

Our only real complaint was the constant harassment to buy a timeshare; but that can be minimized by rudely avoiding the ever present sales staff.

Just returned from a week at the resort in December. Nice enough, but won't be inclined to go again. The beds were way too hard for my partner's liking, but I like a hard bed, so fine with me. Our first morning we woke up to cockroaches in the bathroom. Several LARGE ones. We of course complained to the front desk and were immediately moved to another room, where we never saw anymore. We were told that the fumigation is supposed to happen after each room cleaning, and we were charged for it on our final bill, but apparently it didn't happen with the first room. The restaurants were ok, the drinks devoid of much alcohol (at $6 a pop!). Over all it was clean, the staff was friendly, the hotel in decent repair, but nothing to convince me I'd want to make another visit. The one really nice perk was the distance to downtown PV. Very walkable from the hotel and we went almost daily.

We stayed here in Mar.07 and had a blast! The room was modest but very clean (I'm a germaphobe so this is a huge deal to me). We had a balcony that overlooked the pool on the timeshare side. It's beautiful. The grounds are lush and green and both pools are awesome, trust me, I spent 8 days lounging in them! The staff is extremely friendly. The only advice I have is bring your own liquer. We took 5L of rum into Mexico with us and people thought we were insane! But when the drinks are $8 each, why not just make my own. So the only thing that was on our bill at the end of our stay where the snacks that we bought poolside. The shrimp and guacamole are fantastic! Have fun and I hope this helps.

We spent a week here in November 2006. After waiting and waiting after check-in time for our room to be ready, we finally accepted a first floor room with no balcony. Its window faced away from the resort property toward the empty beach next door. It was actually rather nice. Like being on our own island!

The pools were very lovely indeed. They were doing some sort of reconstruction on the beach with lots of large earth moving equipment. (They should be done by now!)

All the furniture is on cement bases. Should have low maintenance fees, if they only need to slipcover the cushions to redecorate. Not a bad idea.

Downtown was a good stretch of the legs but doable. One can always catch a taxi back. The dry season arrived while we were there, making exertion much more enjoyable compared to the high humidity days we had at first.

We were given a corner Imperial Suite. It was lovely - beautiful views from the huge balcony and a large kitchen (although the stove was very slow to heat up). With only two of us, we didn't use the dining table, but it does seat 8. The maids were great - they even left the kitchen towels folded in different shapes each day. The beds were firm - uncomfortable to me because I'm used to soft mattresses, although many would probably find them fine.

The hotel itself (we stayed in the club/timeshare area, but all amenities were available to us) offered some nice features. We only hung out by the pool with the waterfalls, but there was a second, noisier pool also. The beach is a tad rocky, although still walkable with bare feet. They had some chairs out on the beach for people to lay in, but most people seemed to prefer hanging out by the pool. The next hotel to the north had a much nicer beach and even had parasailing ($45). However, the beach was quite crowded with a pretty young mix of people.

The service was spectacular everywhere we went. The timeshare pushing was annoying, but after insisting that we were students without our husbands with us, they left us alone. They still gave us the member discounts on a day cruise and the Mexican Fiesta, however.

The spa was fabulous - $85 for a 1 hour massage and 1/2 hour facial package. The masseuses were as good as any we've encountered in the states.

The restaurants that we ate at in the hotel were good, although not really Mexican. We encountered karaoke at one of the bars in the hotel, which they apparently have every night. The only downside was they only had about 20 english songs with many more in spanish.

The location is as good as you can get - within walking distance of downtown and a grocery store (MEGA). We ended up taking taxis pretty much everywhere, only because we were lazy, and only paid around 35 pesos for each trip. A few of the trips were 40 or 50 pesos, but those locations were a bit farther than most. Remember that you don't need to tip the cab driver unless he gives you spectacular service that you feel deserves extra money.

Both my friend and I decided that if we come back to PV, we are definitely staying at the Sheraton again.

We just got back from a wonderful week Feb 11- 18, 2006. The resort is so beautiful but the beach is pretty rocky in Vallarta, although it is very pretty to look at it.

We had our 2 year old with us and she enjoyed the pools so much, even made some friends while we were there. The pools and pool bars were very, very clean and wonderful. The full wait staff at the pools was quite a luxury. We had so much fun we just booked another week in October 2006! The staff was so nice, always smiling and helpful. The Sunday champagne Brunch with mariachi was too fun!

The resort is in the best location. It's close enough to walk 2 blocks to the Mega grocery store to the north and a few blocks south to all the PV shops and restaurants.

Also be sure to check out Barcelona Restaurant. Unbelievable views of PV and the ocean -esp great at sunset or around 9:00 PM for fireworks and the food is very delicious! One of the best restaurants in PV so you'll probably need reservations.

We stayed at the Sheraton August 2004 and absolutely loved it. We had a two bedroom unit in the original building, and had more room than in most apartments - full kitchen, 2 bath, 2nd room had 2 doubles, excellent view of the pool and down the beach. Rooms were well maintained, staff excellent, restaurant hours were a little inconsistent, but it could have been that time of year. Beach is rocky, ok for a dip, but the pools and the pool bar made up for it!

The Sheraton is in one of the best locations, in my opinion. You are within walking distance of the downtown area, or a very cheap cab ride. There is a hugh grocery store just 2 blocks away, with an excellent bakery where we got fresh pastries every day! Everyone was very friendly and helpful, never had a problem with walking anywhere, or allowing our 17 year old daughter to use the internet cafe which is right across the street. Overall, it was a wonderful trip, lots of friendly people, met lots of friendly families from all over.

This is a really pretty resort. The condo rooms are pretty basic, but much nicer than the hotel rooms inside the Sheraton Tower. If you get a studio, its great because you get a mini kitchen. Great balcony views. They have a lockoff system. One side is a hotel type room and the other is the studio with a murphy bed. Go to the expense to get both! you can bring another couple, and "lock off" for privacy. The pools are awesome, plus you get hotel services from the Sheraton. Great water fitness classes everyday. Shopping and nightlife are just a busride away. The bus picks you up right in front of the resort. Grocery is a few blocks away but an easy walk. Everyone on staff is SUPER nice and friendly.

We stayed at the Sheraton Buganvilias in March 2005. Rooms are in good shape, daily maid service is included. Partial kitchen is small fridge(a little larger than dorm size), two burner cooktop, microwave. Surprised by no hair dryer and no jacuzzi. Beds are definitely made of cement, but spa on site for massage ($60 an hour). Staff is attentive. Cost to taxi to downtown is around 35-40 pesos, so location is ok, but downtown area near many restaurants would be better. Restaurants on site pricey (870 pesos for large hot dog/fries on site, no kids menu or pricing). Very nice warm pools.

Nice, clean resort with beautiful grounds. Swimming pools are great and if you need more breeze you can sit on the chairs by the beach. Nice hot tub, wonderful fine dine restaurant, and don't miss the Sunday Champagne Brunch at the casual dining restaurant.

Only draw back was our room, which faced the mountain instead of an ocean view. This is the 1 bdrm lock off that goes with the Imperial Suite ( the ocean view side of the suite is lovely). The room overlooked the main street of Puerto Vallarta, which is VERY busy and noisy ALL the time. Only unit available so we took it, which was dissapointing. All in all, great vacation. Resort is 15-20 min walk to center of boardwalk, only 3 blks from grocery store and on main bus route, so very convenient location.

Incredible pool, prettier than the Sheraton. Full main service, very clean and kept up. Stayed in a 1 bedroom ocean front, had lockoffs to make 1 studio, 1 regular hotel room. Air conditioning amazing, full kitchen (no oven, but stovetop). $2 cab ride to just about everywhere.

Food at Sheraton pricy, but we made incredible breakfast's and generally had shrimp on the beach in the romantic zone.

This is a very nice "resort type" atmosphere. Massages available on the beach for about $20 for 30 minute.

Very pretty hotel, with incredible fully tiled pool, with various waterfalls. Highly recommend for 1st time Puerto Vallarta traveler, would stay there again.

I will be happy to try to answer any specific questions anyone has about Buganvilias. I have tried to become really familiar with the units and have reviewed the resort for TUG, spent a lot of time there in different seasons, and was there just a couple weeks after it reopened last October. I am a fan, but am also a critic.

Regarding a couple of bad raps please understand that the Buganvilias experienced a tremendous hurricane a few years ago and has completed considerable reconstruction and remodeling. Naturally, the bay was muddy from swollen streams, windows and doors were damaged causing some leaks, and general conditions were not up to snuff. Now that's all in the past

A previous earthquake devastated many condo buildings in Puerta Vallarta, but the Buganvilias held up well and remained open.

The Buganvilias was given one of the few FIVE STAR awards by the Mexican Ministry of Tourism. It has all the ammenities. The on-site Fiesta is the best we've experienced.

the beach is not useful for swimming. the food was overpriced, and the service was not consistent.

We shared a memorable family vacation the week of Thanksgiving in 1995. Everyone parasailed. We went on an all day tour of Puerto Vallarta, went to a bull fight, horseback riding on the beach and through the city. Shopping and bartering was fun.

The pool is beautiful and we have wonderful family pictures by the waterfalls.

The only complaint was the furniture at that time in the unit was not comortable. That has changed by now I hope.

Loved this resort at Thanksgiving time and iwll return next year. Shares restaurant and pool with Sheraton hotel, but condo is quieter. Ocean water seemed a bit dirty to swim but pretty to look at.