We stayed here in a1 Bdrm unit for two weeks in Nov 2009. We are owners in the TShare company that includes this property plus others....
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We stayed here in a1 Bdrm unit for two weeks in Nov 2009. We are owners in the TShare company that includes this property plus others. This was our first time to this property. Location is nice...20 minutes north of airport - 30 minutes into downtown Puerto Vallarta.
Resort is beautiful - nice rooms, great pool area, nice beach. Rooms are well furnished - everything you need including coffee maker (bring Mr coffee style filters with you from home), washer/dryer. Daily maid service...tip early in your stay for best results. All rooms have view of Banderas Bay. Rooms include roomy balcony with cushioned lounge chairs as well as table and chairs (1 and 2 Bdrm).
Beach out front is supposedly 17 miles long...didn't walk it all to verify, but you can walk a long time in either direction without interruption. Very nice beach...surf wasn't bad when we were there...very swimmable - some local vendors but not as bad as other locations in Mx and they are all very friendly. Long walk (for me...about 2 miles/30 minutes north) to nearest non-resort beach bar/food - place called Karen's - good food.
Staff was very helpful and personable. Front desk worked with us to accommodate a change in our scheduled stay with no problems. Concierge made a number of excellent restaurant suggestions. Pool wait staff was fun and friendly...of course over two weeks you may need a cervesa or two :) Keep an eye on happy hour specials around pool bar and sunset bar.
Resort offers an all inclusive option but we didn't sign up for it. We like to go off campus for most of our dinners. Nice restaurants on site...as guest you have access to restaurants nest door at Villa La Estancia. Try the pool bar there for a change of pace for lunch. La Casona is good upscale steak place. There is a very small, limited market on site. Better yet, there is a big Mega Store a short distance away...a walk for some, a taxi for most. Take an hour and stock up your kitchen the first day you arrive at the Mega...
There are nice restaurants in Bucerias (70 peso taxi one way) and surrounding area. We recommend Mark's Bar and Grill, Aduanto's (on the beach) and Sandrini's. If you need to follow your local sports team there is an excellent local (don't be put off by the outside looks - tons of expat's gather here) sports bar called YoYo Ma's...they've got satellite, big screen HDTV's we were able to catch Viking/Packer football game on a Sunday afternoon ... best margarita we had entire visit.
In La Cruz (bit further north) we liked Frascatti's.
In downtown Puerto Vallarta (200+ peso taxi each way) we can heartily recommend Café Des Artiste - sit outside for the view...outstanding food...bit of a foodie place. For touristy mexican try Pipi's in downtown. Don't bother with the Marina in PV...it's dying.
Enjoy