Before booking any hotel in Puerto Vallarta, I highly suggest you contact me for hotel information. The reason being:
1). Location: you do not want to get a hotel located in the northern part of Puerto Vallarta. A half an hour past the airport is an area called Nuevo Vallarta. All this area is is a bunch of hotel and timeshare condos. It is a good 45 minute ride to the city of Puerto Vallarta without traffic, and anyone who is a regular visitor to Puerto Vallarta knows traffic is a bit-h, especially on the road to and from the airport. All your travel search engines such as Expedia, Orbitz, Travelocity, Booking Buddy, e.c.t. show there hotels as Puerto Vallarta, but this includes the area of Nuevo Vallarta.
2). Many of the hotels are not guest friendly. Infact, many of the hotels will not even allow a taxi driver to come to your room.
3). Many of these hotels are all inclusive, which ultimately means no guests.
4). Depending on the time of year, and what your needs are, you can find a condo on Craigslist much cheaper than the cost of a hotel room, and you get all the amenities of home, and have no worries about if you can bring guests back to your living quarters. In the past year, I have rented several nice condos in the Los Muertos Beach area, and in Zona romantica for friends, as well as myself, for as little as $55.00 dollars a night, and these were beautiful units. Again, if this is something you are interested in, feel free to contact me and I will help you secure a good property.
5). Generally speaking, vacation packages consisting of air and hotel are the cheapest way to go, but for someone who might be traveling by car or bus, or someone using a comp airline ticket, the condo route might be the way to go. The same goes if you plan on being in Puerto Vallarta for over a weeks stay.
6). As I have posted before, I have stayed at the following properties, which are locally owned, so they do not make the travel search engines, but I would recommend as economical places to stay:
*****A). Hotel San Carlos, it is on the street called Constituion #210, which is approximately one block to the Rizal supermarket, and only 3 blocks to the Los Muertos Beach, which is one of the most popular beaches for locals in Puerto Vallarta. The rooms here are actually suites with kitchenettes, cable tv, and air conditioning. The suites are actually quite large. It also has a pool area, and the neighborhood is safe. The suites cost about $50. to $60.00 dollars a night, and of course it is guest friendly. This is a bustling area so you can find many shops, restaurants, street stands e.c.t. Here is the telephone number and email contact information. Dialing from the United States you would dial 011-52-322-222-5484 or 011-52-322-222-6230.
[email protected] or
es.geocities.com/henry6008pv/SANCARLOS.htm
*****B). Azteca Hotel, Madero 473 is the street. This is about 3 or 4 blocks from the Hotel San Carlos, and 6 blocks from the beach. One block from this hotel you can find some prostitutes hanging out in front of a hotel called Erendia. They are usually there about 5 or 6 in the evening, to about 8 or 9pm. Room rates are about $25. to $30.00 dollars a night, but there is no air conditioning, only ceiling fans, but because of its location, the rooms are kept cool. I am attaching a link from travel advisor so you can read the reviews of this place. It also guest friendly.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Re...ific_Coast.html
*****C). Hotel Posada Roger, Basilio Badillo 237 is the street it is on. This place is in a super location, only 2 blocks from the beach, and about 2 blocks from the San Carlos Hotel. It is guest friendly. Connected to it is one of the best breakfast restarants in all of Puerto Vallarta, Freddys Tucan. Room rates are about $50. to $60.00 dollars a night, and the rooms are equipped with cable tv and air conditioning. It also has a pool area. In this particular area of the city you will also find bars offering Corona and Pacifico beer for 15 pesos, which is about $1.00 dollar a bottle at the current exchange rate of 15 pesos to the U.S dollar. Again, I will post a link to the Travel Advisor for you to read the reviews.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Re...ific_Coast.html
Hotels I would recommend that are offered on the travel search engines such as Expedia, Orbitz, Travelocity and Booking Buddy, with the exception of Hotel Eloisa, which I had previously recommended:
Casa Dona Susana: Super good location, approximately a half a block at the most from the beach. I have stayed here on a couple of occasions, and found it always to be girl friendly, but the last time I stayed there, the front desk clerk gave me somewhat of a hard time. My suggestion is to just slip the security guard 100 pesos and you will have no problems.
Hotel Eloisa: I was recommend to this hotel, but my experience was not a good one, as I had booked the european suite, and when I tried to check in, they tried to put me in a dump of a room. I refused to accept the room, and called Expedia, whom I had booked it through. Expedia refunded me my total amount, and gave me a coupon for $100.00 off on a future booking.
(As stated in an above post, the San Marino no longer allows guests in your room, so do not frequent this place).
Hotel San Marino Plaza, this is a girl friendly hotel that sits right on the beach, and is just a fabulous property. I stayed at this hotel on my last stay to Puerto Vallarta and it was pleasant. I have no complaints. The best part is the beach in front of the hotel is really nice, and the hotel provides you chairs, unbrellas, and has kayaks e.c.t. available. Posted below is the travel advisor reviews.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Re...ific_Coast.html
****A couple of years ago I stayed at Hotel Rosita, but I am told it is no longer girl friendly. I will try to confirm this on my next visit.
****Another hotel I will checkout before giving it a review on here is the El Pescador. I am familiar with this property but will stop in to find out if it is guest friendly.
In closing, you will find that most of your 3, 4, and 5 star hotels are not guest friendly. I highly suggest you check with your booking agent regarding this, if you expect to have visitors to your room. In years past, I have always booked a hotel room for two people, which eliminated any problems with bringing a guest up to your room, but times are changing, and now many hotels throughout the world, will now make you sign your guest in at the front desk, and that will be the only guest THROUGHOUT your stay who will be able to go to your room. Once she leaves, you are out of luck, as far as having another guest visit you, or stay with you. Again, clear this up at your time of booking.
If I can be of help to you in anyway, in securing a property, or in helping you enjoy a hassle free vacation, send me a p.m, but only if you are willing to contribute back to the forum, so other future travelers to Puerto Vallarta can learn from your experiences.