This is my 6th time vacationing in Puerto Vallarta and the 2nd time staying at Villa Del Palmar, the last time I stayed there was 20 years ago. The hotel is in a great location, it's close to the Malecon,the airport, and it's practically across the street from Walmart and Sam's Club, which is great if you are planning to save some money by stocking up the kitchen in your room. If you don't want to rent a car, don't worry, it's not that expensive to cab it or bus it $4.00 will get you from the resort to Walmart/Sam's Club and $4.00 back…..I believe it's $5.00 to the Malecon.
Upon arrival, I suggest you exit the airport and walk out onto the major street in front of the airport and hail a cab, it costs $10.00 to get you to the resort. My cousin and his family did that and it cost $10.00 total for the 5 of them. If you call the resort, which is what I did, they will provide a shuttle pickup for $14.00 a person, but it's far more economical to hail a cab away from the airport. I am not sure what the cabs that are inside the airport grounds cost, so if you choose to go with them be aware that they may charge per person. The return to the airport from the resort cost $10.00 for 3 of us.
The resort itself is nice, it's not as nice as the Villa Del Palmar Flamingos in Nuevo Vallarta but it's nice. It's clean and they've tried to update the decor a bit. My room was a one bedroom suite, in building with rooms starting with 1. If you've stayed at the Villa del Palmar in Cabo, you'll be a little disappointed with the Vallarta resort. The Cabo rooms are way bigger, more square footage. The One bedroom suite in Cabo has two bathrooms and a murphy bed in the living room and the Vallarta one has only one bathroom and a foldout couch in the living room. Our room had a flat screen T.V. but I met a family that was staying in, building with rooms starting with 3, in a studio and she said their T.V. was old and not flat.
The staff was awesome, very welcoming and attentive! From Jose Carlos, who checked us in to Bertha, our housekeeper they just made us feel at home and nothing we requested was beyond them.
I only ate at the resort once, after check in we were hungry and had dinner at their italian buffet and I was not impressed the food was okay, a little bland I thought…..it was expensive and drinks were not included. I think it was $45 a person. The bars/restaurants in the resort close at 10 p.m., so if you get the all inclusive option be aware that you will not get anything after 10 p.m.
They hold all their daily activities at the center pool and beach…..the center pool is deep, 6ft/7ft. If you have kids and they don't know how to swim, make sure you bring them flotation devices or be in the pool with them. While we were there we saw a young girl almost drown who was saved by her father or significant other. The kiddie pool, is over by the store across from the gym. The beach area is small, they have vendors on the beach, if you don't want to be bothered by vendors you can sit in a section where they aren't permitted to enter.
My husband used the gym everyday, he said it was sufficient. Didn't go to the spa so I can't say anything about it.
There is a laundromat onsite but it's expensive, to wash a load is $4/$5 and to dry the load is $4/$5. There is an attendant there that if you tip them they will take care of your laundry for you if you don't want to wait around for it to be finished.
We had a great time! And, it was economical because we had breakfast and lunch in our room and only went out to dinner a few times! Stocked the fridge with beer and fixings for margaritas and it was Fiesta time….all the time! Be aware there is no ice machine so you'll have to buy ice…..and bottled water. I don't think you can drink the tap water there but I didn't ask so I don't know.
If it's your first time going to Vallarta and you plan on going out and doing the sights, clubs etc…then don't get the all inclusive. We got it in Cabo and we still ended up stocking the fridge with beer, drinks snacks, because everything on the resort closed at 10. And, on the days we went somewhere we ate out and spent more money, so…..it didn't benefit us which is why I didn't get it in Vallarta.
Only real complaint I have are all the timeshare pushing going on over there…..everywhere you go, they're pushing timeshares! Even the Alamo rent a car rep was offering $300.00 off a car rental for the week if we went to a presentation…..it's SCANDALOUS!
Sorry, this review is all over the place,I haven't written that many…but, I hope it helps you!