Marina Area of Puerto Vallarta

Best Things Nearby:
Downtown Puerto Vallarta, the Marina area with shops and restaurants

Best Things About the Resort:
Spacious units, meandering pools, lush, manicured lanscaping

Resort Experience:
This was an RCI exchange to a two-bedroom at the Westin – WOW. The resort sits on the point at the edge of the marina and the Bay of Banderas. The grounds are lovely -- lush landscaping, four free-form pools, and the beach is typical for this area of Puerto Vallarta -- a small cove, calm water, and brown sand.

Upon check-in, we tipped the reservationist and requested a high floor close to the bay. It was worth the two-hour delay in checking in. We had units 1089/1090/1091. The middle unit (a studio) was the common area -- living room, dining room, and kitchen – with no balcony. Both lock-off hotel units had a large foyer, bathroom with double sinks and shower/tub combo, a large bedroom with king bed, and a jacuzzi tub on the balcony, along with a table and two chairs -- very private feeling, very romantic. This particular floor, in the building closest to the ocean, was special in that there were plantings on the balcony and a palapas-type overhang for the roof, providing shade. It gave the room a very tropical feeling. The rooms seem due for renovations -- pine cabinets, fuschia ceilings and headboards -- a little dated, and the heavenly beds (remember, this is a Westin) are not here yet. The marble floors feel great when barefoot, the units are spacious, and there is complimentary daily maid service.

The four beautiful shallow pools meander along the property. There is a swim-up bar, poolside waiter service, use of hotel facilities, and vendors on the beach, but it’s too much of an American feeling for me. Beware: you are charged for floaties in the pool ($10/day) and umbrellas on the beach ($10/day). There are no palapas, but you can find shady spots around the pools under palm trees.

This is a full-service hotel with restaurants, bars, health club, and a spa. There were a few conventions booked at the hotel; therefore, many of the areas around the pools were often set up for luncheons and outdoor dining in the evening. We did not eat at the restaurants, but reports were good.

Transportation from here is convenient -- cabs to town cost $4, the bus across the street is 40 cents, and you can walk to the marina shops, bars, and restaurants. Evenings are quiet; the only live music we heard was during Sunday brunch. The marina is quiet, and to me, it is a better option than spending the evening at the hotel; it's less expensive and more stimulating. Please don't miss venturing into town. Lots of activity there -- restaurants, bars, shops, mariachis, discos, and very pleasant people.

Definitely one of the better exchanges in Puerto Vallarta, but venture into town for the flavor of Mexico.

• Unit Type: 2 Bedroom
• Activities: Good
• Amenities: Very Good
• Unit Satisfaction: Excellent
• Family Friendliness: Very Good
• Service: Very Good

My all-time favorite for years -- I look forward to sitting at a table in the sand, the water lapping nearby, the beach torch lit, and the stars and moon shining above while we have grande margaritas and grilled shrimp. We usually choose to visit here on our first night because it really gets us feeling relaxed and on vacation.

What a surprise this time around!! I hardly recognize the beachfront. The boardwalk has been totally rebuilt since the hurricane, and the casual restaurants are now very chic--the menus are "haute cuisine," with martinis instead of grande margaritas. Even the guests were all dressed in stylish Mexican Riviera casual.

Live, quiet jazz every night and wandering musicians play for tips between sets--either on the beach or in the restaurant. The food was superb!! Shrimp and vegetable tempura, pan-seared scallops, coconut shrimp, and snapper in lime beurre blanc was available, along with ice-cold martinis and flaming coffees.

Don't miss the old photos of Puerto Vallarta in the hallway leading to the restrooms. Even with the renovations, I still prefer to sit on the beach. The cocktail lounge is very comfortable--no one leaves--so get there early or be prepared to stand while sipping your drink and enjoying the music.

Who could ask for more, except to visit one more time?

This is another favorite haunt of ours. We always visit at least once and always for margaritas and fajitas. It’s a very, very casual evening. All the cab drivers know where it is; if you're walking, it's a couple of blocks from the Malecon--just ask.

This is a very busy restaurant that doesn't take reservations. It's always crowded after 6pm, and the place is buzzing. You can wait in the bar area, probably standing while you have a Grande Margarita or a cervesa. The margaritas come in all flavors and are delicious!! Hopefully your table will be near an overhead fan because it does get very hot. This is a good place for groups--with large portions that make for easy sharing and fun, seasoned waiters.

Fajitas are one of their specialties and come with chicken, beef, shrimp, or even a combo.

As a first-timer, you'll definitely find it great, but unfortunately, we are comparing it to past years. It has always been very touristy--that's not always bad--but it's always fun. But no longer is the guacamole made fresh at the table (unless you pay extra). The portions are still ample, but the service seemed to be fast-food fashion--"eat and run," so that the tables can be turned over.

Strolling musicians no longer play. They walk in, but if no one is willing to pay for the music, they leave. To us it's no longer the "fun" that we remembered. It's not a tourist trap, the value is good, the food is great, and the margaritas are the best--tell them not to use Sprite. Hopefully our last experience is not the norm for Pipi's now. It probably was just too busy.

The Westin Hotel has a spa and also a tent set up on the beach for massages -- a masseur offers a 30-minute back, neck, and shoulder massage on a seat by the pool area for $35. The Westin Vacation Club was promoting a 30% discount at a spot across the street (instead of at the hotel -- I wonder why???). Although we did not want to hear the "timeshare update," we did want a massage.

This "parlor" -- it's not a spa -- only offers massages (no pools or steam) and is diagonally across the street from the hotel, between the pizzeria and a restaurant. Four of us made an appointment for a 75-minute couples' relaxing massage for $40 per person (without the discount). There are two rooms -- each with two tables, soft music playing, lights dimmed, and incense burning. The rooms are decorated with angels, candles, and flowers, and flower petals are strewn on towels and counters.

You're given a few relaxing minutes alone before the masseur and masseuse enter. They always manage to find knots in your back and shoulders that you weren't aware existed -- then on to pressure points in your neck and scalp, even reflexology on your hands and feet. There is time for all of this, and it is very relaxing.

A very enjoyable part was the aromatic tea bags placed on your eyelids, the cool cream applied to your face, and then another head massage with gentle tugging on your hair. When it was over, he softly whispered "Thank you," and let us rest for a few more minutes with the tea bags still covering our eyes.

We all came out with smiles and went on back to our jacuzzi on the balcony of our two-bedroom unit to watch the 6:30 sunset -- we had timed it perfectly. We highly recommend this -- the advantage being that everyone can enjoy it simultaneously, with no waiting for your partner to have his massage. The staff is very professional, and the setting is romantic and calming. Wish we could do this in the States for the same price.

Another place to consider is a couples' massage on the beach at Paradise Village resort in Nuevo Vallarta. It is $95/couple for a 50-minute massage. This is a small, air-conditioned building on the beach, with mirrored glass to give you privacy. We liked the idea of going back to our jacuzzi for sunset. Either way, you'll love it.

Marina Vallarta is the area just north of Puerto Vallarta, bordering Banderas Bay and very close to the airport. A new cruise pier accommodates two ships and commercial vessels (tour boats, fishing fleet, party boats, etc.), and shops in the area are open when cruise ships are docked.

Hotels along this section of the Bay of Banderas are a mix of All-Inclusives, international name-brand hotels (Marriott, Westin), European-plan hotels, and timeshare resorts built 15 to 20 years ago. Condos line the golf course and marina area. The center of activity is the nice-sized marina filled with pleasure boats. Restaurants, shops, bars, and small spas cater to vacationers from early morning to late night. It's quiet, but pleasant, with restaurants of all types: Mexican, Italian, French, seafood, sushi, Chinese, and Nouvelle American. If, to you, vacation means discos and lively nightlife, you'll have to go downtown.

The beaches are cove-like, with rocky piers separating the hotels. You can't easily walk along from hotel to hotel -- sometimes you can only access a particular resort from the roadside. Most guests swim in the pools, rather than the ocean, and snorkeling is near non-existent. Pools are large, mostly shallow, and all of them are along the ocean side, which makes them appealing, restful, and inviting. The beach sand gets softer and whiter as you go north, towards Nuevo Vallarta and Punta Mita.

Buses are the least expensive way to travel -- every ½ hour or so, you can travel to Puerto Vallarta for about 50 cents; it’s a 20-minute ride. If you want to go to Nuevo Vallarta, you must take a bus toward the downtown area first and change for NV -- confusing???? You must exit the Marina area in order to get to the highway that connects PV to NV. Last run for buses is about 11pm; otherwise, cabs are plentiful at all hotels and take you to town for $5, and about $8 for Nuevo Vallarta.

The Marina area's flavor is "vacationers" as opposed to the authentic Mexican experience that you get in Old Puerto Vallarta, once a fishing village. You must go to town to experience the hustle and bustle, crazy driving, discos, markets, Mexican bartering, a walk along the malecon, superb restaurants, lovely boutiques, mariachis, the quiet river area (Rio Cuale), the renovated area at Los Muertos Beach, and the friendly people. Plan to spend a couple of evening there -- it's fun and inexpensive, compared to US prices.

One day in port on a cruise ship - What to do and how to get around is a major topic of discussion.

SHORE EXCURSION: If your stay is short and you want to be totally escorted - the cruise line excursions, although expensive are probably for you.

CAR RENTAL: If you are more adventuresome, renting a car gives you lots of freedom - My recommendation is to pre-book prior to your cruise. We found a National car available at the airport, just a short cab ride away for less than $20 a day including tax, without insurance. We chose to pick it up at the Sheraton - a 30¢ bus ride away. The problem with the hotel pick-up is that you have to wait for them to deliver the car from the airport - even though we had stated a pick-up time. But the hotel is a beautiful place to while away a 1/2 hour or so - or PV Internet is just across the street to let you check your e-mail (see other entry).

Check with your credit card company to see what insurance coverage they provide in Mexico. If you refuse this coverage, National requires a $5,000 hold on your credit card until you return the car undamaged. Make sure that your limit is high enough - and they do not accept debit cards for payment.

Most of the driving is on highways. If you have to get through town, I suggest that you take the loop to bypass the city—traffic there is very slow and parking is a problem in the city. Roads are well marked, and outside the city parking is not a problem. The hotel car rental desk closes at 5pm. We returned the car to the airport and they provided a complimentary ride back to the pier.

BUS: Really adventuresome?? Busses run every minute or so. If you miss one, another is just around the curve. For about 30¢, you can get from the cruise pier to downtown. Exit the marine terminal and turn right. Wave down any blue bus that says "Centro." Pay when entering and pull a cord when you are ready to exit.

If you prefer to head to Marina Vallarta or to Nuevo Vallarta, cross the street to Wal-Mart and Sam's Club. On the street you will see a bus "dispatcher," tell him where you are headed and he'll direct you to the proper vehicle. These fares are about $1.20 each way, and will take about 20 minutes to the marina and 45 minutes to Nuevo Vallarta. Lots less expensive than a $20 cab ride.

Headed to the Mismaloya area - You'll have to take a blue bus headed to "Centro" and get off at the last stop - the terminal. You can ask there which buses go to Mismaloya, or you may spot one that says "Mismaloya" - another 30¢. The busses are reliable in that they come around often, but the traffic is usually what makes the trip unpredictably longer. Plan to do less than more, time goes so quickly that you never seem to do all that you plan.