Charley B.
Yelp
There's a lot to like about this all inclusive resort.
There's also enough to make you scratch your head.
The resort itself is two hotels that make up five or six buildings connected by a trolley. You can intermingle between them, however each hotel has some perks that are only available to its residents. It's a bit confusing, but there's enough other options, so you won't mind.
I split a small apartment-style space with family. The space came with a master bedroom and an offset bedroom. Both rooms were large, well furnished and came with a private bathroom, shower and an abundance of closet space. We shared a sizable kitchen with a refrigerator, dining and living space. It was the perfect size. Small enough where we were close, but large enough where we weren't on top of each other. My favorite amenity was the jacuzzi on the balcony, which offered a perfect ocean view.
I loved the swimming pools. Some were only available to the specific building's residents, however the public ones were something else. You can lounge, soak up some sun, make friends, keep to yourself and everything in between while enjoying a spectacular view of the Bahía de Bandera and the Puerto Vallarta coastline. We saw whales! You can walk down to the local beach and wade into the ocean, too.
Resort employees are close by. They're happy to help you find a poolside chair or two. They'll also make sure you have access to all the food and beverages your heart desires. Don't be shy. It's all inclusive.
I wasn't able to enjoy the following because of some prescheduled family activities, but I wanted you to know about the local adventures available through the hotel's concierge service. These adventures include a rainforest hike, kayaking in the bay, whale watching and more. Most are included in your hotel reservation, however some come with an added charge. If this sounds fun, please reach out to the hotel staff. They'll be happy to provide more information.
Moving on, as much a I loved what I described above, and there is a lot to love, I also felt fairly frustrated.
We were sold on the resort's world class restaurants.
I'm not sure that's what we got.
The food menu at the pool included hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken tenders and Gringo nachos. No tacos or Mexican street food.
The breakfast buffet, while expansive, had limited options.
The steakhouse overcooked its steaks.
The Italian restaurant, while nice and visually stimulating, took forever to cook and serve our food. Our dinner lasted over two hours.
Adding to the examples above, I was really hoping for some local authentic Mexican meals. Unfortunately, they either weren't available or I couldn't find them.
What I ate was good, but it could have been better.
I was expecting more.
We also had trouble scheduling transportation.
I was transferred four or five times trying to schedule transportation from the airport. We finally got everything figured out, which I'm thankful for because it was a big help, but it took almost a half hour.
Then I had trouble checking in. My dad, who I share a first and last name with, made the reservation. Even though he listed that I was also staying in the room and arriving a day later, the hotel got confused and wouldn't let me in. I explained that my dad had called ahead twice to make sure there wasn't any confusion, but unfortunately, it became an issue. I finally convinced a manager to speak with my dad to clear everything up. Later, once I made it to the room, we got a couple of calls from front desk, who was trying to verify who was staying in the room.
Deep breath.
Things happen.
I think the resort could have been a little more on it and responded more respectfully, however in the end it all worked out.
My dad kept his wits about him and was able to get everybody on the same page.
Then we all went out and had a good time.