The lobby alone is worth a visit- a wide platform stairwell is surrounded by Koi ponds and impressive rock formations leading to the pool.  There’s a comfortable cocktail lounge here and a game section with everything from pool to foos ball.

The room was beautiful- large, very nicely decorated with comfortable beds and a full kitchen.  We also had a jacuzzi tub which worked for a little while and although they offered to send someone to fix it, they never showed.  Oh well, we got to enjoy it once   We had a great balcony which was spacey but not really private- A few ladies next door were caught spying on my fiance after he was out of the shower and became our frequent fans!

The pool was beautiful, located on a patio above the beach.  There was a fun slide off a rock formation but it was not turned on for the full duration of the pool hours so we unfortunately never had the chance to try it.  The pool opened at 9 AM and closed at 9 PM-  the slide was on from 11 AM to just after 6 PM- quite disappointing.

The staff was very friendly and helpful.  Service for poolside cocktails were fast once we started a tab.   Valet parking cost us around $3 USD a day and was well worth it.  They were fast getting our car and always helpful as far as providing information and directions.

We checked into our resort- which I’ll describe better in my next post. We checked in using our debit card to pay for the room (roughly $240 USD for 2 nights,) only to later discover a mistake was made and we were charged $600 USD at check in, and then $240 for the room when we checked out- a total of $840 USD. We were told the $600 was meant to be a “hold” for an open tab, and that the $600 would be returned to our account in “1 to 3 months.” Obviously, this was pretty shocking. For future Royal Villa Resort guests- don’t use your debit card at this resort!

Mazatlan itself was beautiful. It was much larger than Puerto Vallarta and sprawled out, and it certainly had a different feel to it. Since we only planned to stay in Mazatlan for 3 days, we decided to hire a taxi to give us a tour. It cost us $35 USD and included all the major areas of town, starting with the sunset from a very high peak. We went to the marketplace which was filled with vendors pushing souvenirs. We picked up a few small items before heading to old town. The parks here were absolutely beautiful, surrounded by well-maintained historic buildings, churches, and patio restaurants. We came back here the following day for daylight photos.

The Shrimp Bucket was our choice for breakfast. We dined with birds. No, I’m not joking- there were pigeons and sparrows on and off our table, under our feet, and flying over our heads. It was great.  Oh and the food was fantastic and surprisingly cheap.

Casa Manana’s rooms were cute and very clean.  Beds were hard but that’s typical of Mexico.  We really loved our balcony which looked out over the pool and the ocean.  We had a fantastic sunset from this point and made it a point to run upstairs to the rooftop terrace for a few photos.

Did I mention Casa Manana’s oceanview room was only $58 USD?   There was also free wireless internet and they offered simple conveniences- such as when I realized my phone card was low and asked where I could buy one; the receptionist pulled out a handful of cards and asked which kind I would like saving me a trip into town.  I love when they think of the little things!

Highlights:

Guestrooms are luxuriously decorated and feature ocean views overlooking a private beach.

The Starwood Spa Collection spa is on site ready to pamper you.

The Westin Resort featured 4 palm tree lined swimming pools.

Location: Oceanfront, Marina Vallarta

Where to book:

The Westin Resort & Spa Puerto Vallarta

Resort Amenities & Area Attractions

For your convenience: Sony TV, Safe Box in every room. Late checkout available.

Specialty: Unique entertainment is scheduled almost regularly, including dancers and other performance artists. There is also a resort disco where you can dance the night away and a variety of activities on site including land and water sports.

Known for: Fiesta Americana has great facilities for meetings, groups and conventions meeting in Puerto Vallarta. They are known for their elaborate and unique “crawling” swimming pool and jungle-like landscaping.

On site: There are 2 restaurants, a snack bar, 3 bars, 24-hour room service, and a magnificent free form swimming pool with a swim-up bar and jacuzzi.

Where to book:

Fiesta Americana Puerto Vallarta

 On site resort amenities:
* Boutique Shops
* Business Services
* Car Rental
* Concierge
* Currency Exchange
* Laundry / Dry Cleaning Service
* Meeting Rooms

* Parking
* Physician on Call
* Massage
* Sauna
* Manicure / Pedicure
* Facials
* Swim-up Bar

* The spectacular pool area is rimmed by tropical palm trees
* Live Music
* Lobby Bar under 1000 foot palapa
* Chulavista Restaurant
* La Hacienda
* Pergola

A modern marina is within walking distance as is the Marina Golf Club. Multipurpose meetings rooms are available for events such as business conventions, receptions, weddings and private functions.Our business center provides wireless Internet,video conferencing, photocopy,email,fax and secretarial services. Whether business or pleasure, you will find Velas Vallarta a unique retreat that captures the beauty, spirit and splendor of Mexico s finest oceanfront setting. Enjoy your stay and feel at home at Velas Vallarta.

Where to book:
Velas Vallarta Suite Resort

The hotel itself is decorated in luxurious Mexican decor, featuring vivid tiles and bold fabrics.  With the right degree of ambiance, guests are invited to relax and indulge on their vacation with family and friends, or that special someone.

Palladium Vallarta was designed specifically with the surrounding tropical foliage in mind.  All buildings, structures and views are integrated with the vegetation making this resort a true tropical paradise.

Where to book:  Palladium Vallarta Resort And Spa

220 standard rooms are available, all recently renovated with ocean views and private balcony.

European and All Inclusive Plans are offered. Two kids under twelve free.

Main pool, children’s pool, 2 lighted tennis courts and fully equipped fitness center.

On site: 2 restaurants, 4 bars, nightly entertainment and daily activities scheduled. Room service is available from 7:00 am to 11:00 pm.

It is approximately a quick walk to or taxi drive to downtown Vallarta and the famous Malecon boardwalk.

Where to book:
Holiday Inn PUERTO VALLARTA

Plans: Hola Club & Spa is known to offer the best all-inclusive program in the area. For those planning to stay in, Hola Resort’s All-Inclusive plan is a great option.

Location: Just 10 minutes from Vallarta’s International Airport and 5 minutes to downtown, this resort is located in the heart of the hotel zone.

About the property:  The resort  is beachfront, located north of the Malecon and consists of 3 buildings, 218 rooms and 4 suites.

There is an impressive main pool as well as a children’s pool, outdoor jacuzzi, game room, well-lit tennis court, 3 on site restaurants, lounge in the lobby area, and a snack bar. There is also a travel agency located near the lobby for your convenience.

The resort’s greatest feature though, is the 19,000 square foot Grand Spa that includes every pampering option imaginable. This includes a professional beauty salon, massage, manicures, pedicures, and countless other beauty treatments. There is also a state of the art fitness center.

Groups & Events:  There is also a 12,000 square foot Convention Center with 5 meeting rooms to accommodate different capacities, up to 600 people.

Children and Family Activities: Hola Puerto Vallarta Club & Spa is a child-friendly resort. Along with the children’s pool, there are also children’s activity programs, and a game room.

On site shopping includes a lovely boutique, tobacco shop featuring fine, hand-rolled cigars, and souvenirs.

For your convenience: 24 hour front desk, handicap rooms and facilities, free parking, meeting and banquet facilities, fully equipped gym, satellite television, currency exchange on site, car rental desk, on call doctor, bellman, late check out available, luggage storage.

Where to book: