From the moment we arrived until the moment we left, the staff at the Vallarta Palace bent over backward to make sure we had an excellent time. Their goal was to make sure we enjoyed our stay and would come back to that resort, or other Palace resorts, and they met that goal. At first we were worried that we would feel pressure to attend a time-share presentation (as they do direct you a "guest services" desk that does try to sell you on the presentation), but once they figured out we weren't interested (they approached us twice) we were never bothered with it again. Our room was great, and very comfortable, but could have been larger (we were on the concierge level). We made use of room service most nights, and they were prompt and very courteous. The grounds were impeccably clean and the staff at every level made sure we were having a good time. The only problem with the resort was the lack of nightlife available. Each night they had some sort of show/music put on by the staff or a house band, but it was much more of a family atmosphere and was lacking for a younger crowd (we are in our late 20s). Because they are further from downtown, there is a bit of isolation as to nightlife. Aside from that, we would recommend the Vallarta Palace, and are considering their other resorts for our next vacation.

Overall a great stay. Stayed in September 2011 and the resort was empty! It literally felt like we had the place to ourselves. Here are the highlights: Pros: 1. Location. Right in the heart of town for shopping and restaurants. The boardwalk is a good 10-minute walk, but not a bad walk at all. 2. VERY friendly and responsive staff. 3. Food is excellent. 4. Vanity separate from bathroom (helpful when 2 people are trying to get ready at the same time). 5. Pool area had sunscreen, books, and magazines available for anyone to use. Cons: 1. Balconies are not private. You can literally reach out and touch your neighbors on their balcony. Lucky for us, the resort was empty, and we didn't have any neighbors, but I would imagine during busy season, it might not be ideal. 2. Pool was dirty with bugs, leaves, and other debris. 3. Standard room is a little on the small side, but overall a nice room. 4. Bathroom and vanity are a little older-looking. 5. Elevators are really small. Barely enough room for 4 people.

The staff was very friendly. The drinks ran aplenty and were definitely stronger with tips. The food left a little to be desired. Most of the breakfast and lunch buffet food was barely room temperature. The food would've been much better if they just kept it warmer. The beach at this resort was much bigger and better than the neighboring resorts. Beach chairs are limited however, and it is key to get up early and throw a book or magazine on the chairs to stake your claim for the day, which is a nice excuse to get up and watch the sun rise. The room was a little musty the first night, but the maid staff kept the room very clean.

My wife and I chose this all-inclusive resort because of cost and because we booked very late (2 days before our 7th anniversary) . The resort was comfortable and the staff friendly and helpful. As all-inclusive, the resort included drinks, food, snacks, and pool-side service, but the food was boring and repetitive. As a precaution against other people not staying at the resort from walking off the beach and onto the resort and ordering whatever they wanted, we had to sign credit card-like receipts every time we ordered something no matter how small. While it's understandable why they do it, it still becomes a nuisance when all you want is a drink and to be on your way. The hotel is down beach from a river opening into the ocean and by mid-afternoon, the water is brown from the silt coming from the river. Not "dirty" per say, but not the clear blue swimming waters we're accustomed to in our years vacationing in Mexico. By morning, the beach is as clear as any, though. A big plus was that we were a $5 cab ride to downtown and the the airport. As mentioned before, we went for our anniversary and wanted some quiet time, but I have never seen so many children at a resort in my life! This resort has all the basics of a decent all-inclusive resort, great pool, small beach and is perfect for young couples with kids to experience as a first-time trip to Mexico, but we will be opting for somewhere a bit more on the quiet side next time.

We've stayed at over a dozen all inclusives around MX & the Caribbean & we often choose to stay @ Riu's but picked the Marival this time based on the reviews for families & we were happy with our decision. Our first impression of the resort wasn't fabulous. We got handed off to a timeshare rep @ check-in but after we declined his offer, no one approached us again. The resort is attractive but doesn't have the "wow" factor that some newer resorts do, & when we walked into our room, it did smell a little musty & outdated, and the fridge is stocked with bottled water only. All that being said, our opinion of the Marival changed quickly as we became more familiar w/ it. We had a 2 bedroom suite w/ the master upstairs, 2 balconies with ocean view & 3 bathrooms - definitely much better than the option we had considered (2 basic hotel rooms for 6 of us). The resort layout is great because it is spread across the beach rather than 1/2 mile deep like many are so you can see & feel the ocean from wherever you're at. We typically schedule activities off the resort but this time, the kids (4 & 5) didn't want to leave - a variety of kid-friendly pools, an awesome beach and even mini-golf & swingsets. The buffet was ok. The specialty restaurants were good. The hotel staff was pleasant but no one really went out of their way for us. There wasn't much night life which was ok for us this trip w/ the kids but I wouldn't go there for a couples vacation. Overall, a great resort for families!

The Royal Suites portion of the Pallidium Vallarta offers an extremely nice vacation with its suites, pool and restaurant on one side of the resort. The rest of the resort is very accessible and fun, with an adults pool on the opposite side of the resort from the Royal Suites and the main pool in the middle. Three additional restaurants besides the main buffet, however only 2 were open at any time while we were there in Feb 2011. The resort was less than 50% full which made it easy for any reservations.

The resort was good for the price paid. If you are expecting the ritz or some 5 star suite then this is probably not the place for you. We were here for a 3 day quick getaway and it served its purpose nicely. The convenience to the stores across the street where you can buy snacks and souveneirs is a nice thing and the location on the beach is an added bonus! The only thing to my dislike was the activities. There is not much to do, its very very small compared to most resorts i've been to, and the things to do are extremely limited ON the resort. If you are ok with sitting by the pool and swimming up to the bar, reading, etc all day then great. They attempt to have activities by the pool but the participation is few. There's only one bar & restaurant (the swim up bar is accesible even if ur not in the pool)...At night they open up another room that is a restaurant that you must make reservations for but it was fairly empty). I would however recommend eating there b/c it was delicious! This resort is perfect for older couples but we are in our late twenties so though the view and everything was beauitful in terms of scenery, i would probably stay somewhere more happening with a nightclub/more festivities and a younger crowd. There was a suites resort next door that seemed to have club parties at night and the music was going all day. Yayy!

This resort is beautiful, family friendly, and has delicious food! A couple not so great things...rooms are outdated. Only one set of elevators for the whole resort, so you end up walking up lots of stairs if you're staying on the sixth floor. Also LOTS OF KIDS, even for me...and I have a kid. So if you're looking for a nice quiet resort, this is not the place. Also gets VERY CROWDED on weekends with lots of locals so the service is not the greatest. One day we came down to breakfast and the line was backed up almost to the fountain with people waiting to eat...not good. Otherwise its a great value for the money, beautiful beach and resort area.

My husband and I just returned from our honeymoon at Grand Velas. It was simply magnificent! The resort is breathtaking! The staff are friendly, professional and bend over backwards to make sure you are happy. The pool is breathtaking and the restaurants are all above average in quality and selection (even the buffet!). I am not sure we were even there an hour before we started making statements like "when we come back..." You do have to be thoughtful each day as you need reservations for the restaurants and must reserve chairs at the pool or risk not having one. Cabs are easy and cheap to the airport and to Puerto Vallarta. There are lots of things to do at the resort and surrounding areas. My only (tiny) disappointment is I love to dance and there was no opportunity to do that at the resort. But clearly I wasn't too bothered because there were lots of places nearby yet I chose to stay at the resort. Overall the atmosphere is quiet and restful. The restaurants were romantic and the all-inclusive element couldn't be beat. If you want a party scene, this is not your place. But if you want a beautiful, upscale place to relax and feel completely pampered, book it!!

This resort was simply amazing, not only was it comforting and relaxing but it gave us everything we wanted and more. I would definitely recommend the All Inclusive- whatever the extra expenses are, it will pay for itself and more! The food was Great, the People were all so very nice and kind, the resort is beautiful and clean and the beach is amazing! The only negative comment I have is the location. Depending on what you are looking for, Nuevo Vallarta is about 25 min from Puerto Vallarta, so if you are looking for a crazy trip, wanting to get wild I would look into staying closer downtown in the Hotel Zone. However, if you are looking for a relaxed, peaceful vacation with good drinks, food, and people to be with ( workers at the resort or your friends) I would come here!! One neat thing is there is a town Bucerias, within walking distance only 10 minutes away. There are many great restaurants and areas to shop here- if you want to get away from the resort, this is a great place to go! There were families, couples, and groups of friends all at this resort. Everyone so very nice and welcoming. We will definitely be coming back to stay and looking into more resorts linked to this one in other cities ( Cabo, Cancun, etc...) Good price for an AMAZING vacation!!

My wife and another couple (30's) had a wonderful time at this resort. It is a quaint little resort. The staff always go above and beyond to make your stay an enjoyable one. The food was good, although not a large selection. The drinks flowed all the time. Although we did not bring our children, most of the people staying at the resort do have children. We never had any problems with children running around (Of course, maybe we are use to it). It is quite a distance from downtown, so if you are more into the club scene, you may want to stay somewhere closer. This is definitely a resort geared toward families, but we had a wonderful time. It was a very good deal for the price. The view from the resort is absolutely awesome.

My wife and I had never been to Mexico before this trip and booked this hotel based on it being one of the newest resorts (opened in 2006) in Puerto Vallarta. The hotel is very well appointed, it has a grand appearance and opulent decor. Our room was modern and included a fridge, TV, safe,king-sized bed, a bathroom with double vanities and a shower with great water pressure,and a small balcony. The hotel was immaculately maintained and clean. The staff was very nice and attentive. Food was abundant from 7AM until 10:30PM at different locations on the resort grounds. There are 3 restaurants that require reservations be made between 7AM and 10AM to dine at them. You can either go to a hostess or call in your reservation. We mostly made our reservations on the way to the breakfast buffet. The resort has 2 sprawling pools (adult and children's)and plenty of lounge chairs and umbrellas for everyone. The nightlife on the resort was mostly subdued and quiet. There is a dinner theater that relies heavily on audience participation (karaoke mostly) The bars stayed open until midnight and there was an air-conditioned disco that was open until 2AM. There are trips into downtown (for a fee) that you can be a take advantage of that go to popular bars like Zoo Bar. Definitely checkout the Melacon area near the ocean walk while visiting. There are a ton of restaurants and bars and alot of sculptures and sand art along this strip.

If you're looking for a gay resort that is hopping and a bit of a scene, this is a great option. It's right across from the gay beach, the staff is friendly and the rooms have good views. I only stayed one night as I was heading to a small, quiet beach town in the north for a week, so it was the perfect balance. If I was planning a longer stay, I'd probably rather be at a quieter hotel up the beach a bit but if you want to be in the thick of it, you should consider this place.

The Royal suites grounds are very well maintained, the service at the restaurant is very good, the food is also good, except they have only one restaurant and it gets a little old., The butlers at the sections of the resort, which are two buildings are amazing, they are very professional and care for your stay and want to make sure everything is to your satisfaction. The food at the other side of the resort, which is the Palladium is actually pretty good, but they have other issues. I guess because the rates are fairly low on the palladium side, the guests i may say were messy and the employees had to work extra hard to keep everything clean. They do however do a great job with their nightly shows and for the most part were entertaining. I guess as long as you go at a slower time of the year,(not like us we went in August), it should be better, i dont think they can handle when they have near maximum capacity.

Taheima was like heaven on earth! If you are looking for a place that is quiet, beautiful, and has delicious healthy mealsTaheima is definitely the right choice for a vacation. In addition, the management takes great pride with providing exceptional customer service. The staff truly will go above and beyond for their guests. Hats off to the Taheima Wellness Resort & Spa for a job well done! I look forward to visiting in the future.

Liked the smaller footprint of the resort making the pool and beach easily accessible. Food in the restaurant was good and not too high priced. Rooms, appliances and bed need updating but not distracting. The Mayan resort complex on which this is located is a first class operation. Never felt unsafe. Very good value and will definitely go back again.

From the moment you arrive you are surrounded with luxury and first class amenities. The concierges are extremely helpful and even booked our tours and tee times in advance. When you arrive you get the feeling, that you have arrived. They say that there are those who travel and those who travel well. You guessed it, at Marival Residences World & Spa traveling is very well. This is not the loud party atmosphere type of resort, but more of a relaxing, reconnecting and soothing resort. Everything is first class and it is evident from the staff and management that they try to exceed your expectations. During our stay we were greeted by the Vice President of the resort, along with the Public Relations Manager. Both listened to our concerns and seemed to appreciate our business and compliments. You are not just a guest here you are family and treated like such. It's easy to see why this is a 5 star resort with world class amenities, service, design and comfort.

Just returned from our 5-day trip to Puerto Vallarta (2 families, total 4 adults, four kids). The hotel is wonderful, brand new, and right on the ocean. We had booked two suites, both 1 bedroom, 1500 sqft with kitchen, two bathrooms, balcony, etc. Very nice rooms, great ocean view. We ate breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the hotel every day. the food was awesome every time. They mostly served mexican or italian menu. Both their menus were excellent. Every one was willing to help. Their kids club worked out great for us. Kids spent a lot of time there, and it was easy for us adults to sit in the restaurant with the kids center nearby, so we could watch over the kids. We spent a lot of time swimming. They have multiple pools, mostly 4ft deep, and one pool that is about 2ft deep for the smaller ones. We would have enjoyed the vacation more if we knew spanish and could mix better with the hotel staff and the local crowd. Taxi stand and bus stops are right outside the hotel. A nice massage place (shaddai) is also right outside the hotel, and much cheaper than the hotel spa. Good massage. I wished the hotel had some activities to keep their guests more entertained. The hotel is medium size, not one of the sprawling huge resorts. The beach is small, so if you like big beaches, you may be disappointed.

Stayed for 10 days in March 2011. First room was very old and beaten up. Asked for another room, and next day able to move. Second room a bit better, except the hotel is very old and there is no sound insulation between the rooms. You can hear every word from next room. Staff was very friendly and hard working. Amenities are not so good as in similar resorts. Pool only one, water was clean and warm, there is very small beach not possible to enjoy to swim. Food was very good, varieties limited, drinks selection also good. Wifi which you need to purchase extra is a joke, very slow and expensive, $10/Day. Overall it was good experience for the money. But I do not think I'll be back, there are many better choices around

La Tranquila Breathtaking Resort Spa & Beach Club, Punt de Mita If you want a new, nice, quiet, gorgeous and relaxing place to stay, then I highly suggest this resort. The resort Butler Concierge, Richard, was professional, attentive, helpful, genuine, friendly and outstanding in the service he provided us prior to and during our stay at La Tranquila, Punta de Mita. He arranged for a car to pick us up at the airport, which was done in style. We were offered a cold wet towel and bottled water and escorted past the time share and transportation vendors into a clean, new accommodating car. The 45 minute scenic drive to the resort was comfortable and smooth. The private property of the resort was secured within gates and guarded with staff. Construction of the remaining two towers continues as the resort is open for business, but the noise is very low and overpowered by the ocean and property piped pleasant music and did not impact the enjoyment of our stay. This impressive resort is luxurious, clean, extremely modern upon entering the open-air as we entered the well designed lobby. Already, we are being addressed by names and check in was easy and fast. The resort is currently under priced in my opinion– almost too good to be true. The resort overall and our room could be rated 5 stars. Our suite was on the top floor with a private balcony overlooking the many swimming pools and ocean, awesome view of the well kept gardens too. There is a plunge pool on the balcony which was quite refreshing after hanging out on the beach all day. I enjoyed the Jacuzzi jet powered bath tub and 7 head shower head shower stall. The maids kept our suite impeccably clean and tidy. Occupancy is low as they haven’t been open even one year yet and have only recently hooked up with travel sites . You almost feel as if you have the whole place to yourself. Staff was very accommodating and at our beckoned call. The only drawback to this beautiful place is the fact that because it is still under constructions it still faces growing pains. Our door/housekeeping bell kept going out ringing coninuously and the patio doors wouldn’t lock but Moses was there immediately to repair these minor flukes. The fridge overheated and there were no in-room mini-bar items; no movies in-room; and the restaurant is limited in selections – especially Mexican food selections. However, response time was very fast for anything we asked for including extra towels, soaps, room service, ice, etc. We had an entire pool to ourselves and the many pools are not small by any means. One could swim laps or simply relax on the negative edge overlooking the ocean. The beach directly in front of the resort is lined with many intimate jet air-temperature Jacuzzis, each housing tiled lounged chairs where you can hang out for the day. Another option is to set up under the palappas or umbrellas where staff brings you snacks and drinks. This resort is so remote, we never saw one beach vendor anywhere. You can take a nice walk in both directions along the beach and the ocean is swimmable at any point, no rocks to contend with as is the case in Puerto Vallarta. My husband enjoyed his workout in the gym which has about 6 machines and free weights, plenty of bottled water and towels. There is also a plunge pool just outside the gym room for a refreshing post-workout dip. We’ve traveled the world and must say that this resort is, even while construction is going on, one of the most beautiful resorts we’ve stayed at, including a long list of Four Seasons and Ritzs. The setting is near an estuary, where the river meets the sea and a golf course. We were told there will also be tennis courts on the property which we look forward to, being avid tennis players. We will be staying here again. The food is the only thing preventing me from giving this resort the full 5 Excellent Rating. There are two restaurants on the property, however, only one is open at a time. Breakfast and lunch are served at the Snack B