Just like the name suggests, the hotel es muy bonito. When walking on la playa, one gets a feeling of what the natives must call amor. Along with the beauty of nature is paired the craftsmanship of humans. Pools reflect the ocean, thus appearing like they reach to the horizon. The stores are gracefully dispersed. The heat is bearable in a land of paradise, where flamingos strut their stuff as aerobics are held in the pool. And what ties all this together is the beautiful sunset off in the distance.

Best Things Nearby:
Not much nearby, but there is a shuttle that takes you to the heart of the golden zone.

Best Things About the Resort:
Quiet, beautiful, spacious rooms, great pools, friendly staff, complimentary shuttle, poolside activities.

Resort Experience:
We stayed at the Pueblo Bonito Emerald Bay this February. Since we are RCI members, we were able to exchange our studio in Spirit Lake, Iowa for a one-bedroom unit at Emerald Bay.

Arrival: Our flight to Mazatlan on Monday arrived at 10am. After clearing customs and the bombardment of timeshare salesmen, we hopped in a taxi. Being cheap, we though we could save money by taking the taxi to the closer Pueblo Bonito Mazatlan and then taking the free shuttle to Emerald Bay. Nope. We found out, that because of an agreement with the taxi union, the shuttle can’t take people with luggage. Oh well. We got back in the taxi and continued to Emerald Bay. We went to the front desk to check-in and, per our request, we were assigned a room with two double beds. However, it was too early and our room was not clean yet. They told us to come back around noon and it would be ready. There are three pools at Emerald Bay. The main pool area features two freeform pools and a swim-up bar. There is also a smaller, more secluded pool. The water was the perfect temperature. Waiters continuously circulate through the pool area, offering drinks, chips and salsa, and other snacks. Everyday, except Monday, the resort offers a smorgasbord of activities at the pool. The schedule varies daily, but some activities, like aqua aerobics and bingo, are offered everyday. The activities staff was absolutely fantastic! They were always cheerful and happy to be there. The activities were definitely one of the best parts of our trip. The main bedroom had two double beds and a television cabinet with drawers for clothing. The bathroom was large, expansive, and elegant. The bathroom had a bathtub/shower, large vanity and mirror, and a closet with a safe. The toilet was located in a separate closet-like room. There was also a smaller bathroom with a shower, toilet, and vanity/mirror combination. The kitchen featured a dishwasher, sink, stove, refrigerator, toaster, microwave, and coffee maker. The water in the resort is purified. The living room area was large with a pull-out sofa, television, and dining table. We did not have a balcony, but the room ends in a semi-circle with 180 degrees of windows.

Housekeeping: Housekeeping at Emerald Bay came twice daily. Once in the morning to clean the room, change the sheets, restock toiletries, etc., and again at night to turn down the beds and place candy on the pillows. The resort offers a complementary shuttle to the other Pueblo Bonito. From there you can walk to many restaurants, or take a taxi. The shuttle runs every hour. Schedules are posted at the door of the resort. The beach here was not very appealing. Although there were not any vendors, there were many jagged rocks in the water. We never saw anyone swimming in the ocean, and I’m not sure if they even allowed it, due to the rocks.

• Unit Type: 1 Bedroom
• Activities: Excellent
• Amenities: Excellent
• Unit Satisfaction: Excellent
• Family Friendliness: Excellent
• Service: Excellent

After reading many travelers mixed reviews of vacations in Mazatlan, it was with a certain amount of trepidation that I booked a week with my girlfriend Jenny. Jenny has had very little travel experience so I wanted everything to go smoothly and to have a great experience. The Pueblo Bonito Emerald Bay blew away my expectations in every respect. It was clean, the service was terrific and there were so many activities to participate in.

We started with the dreaded "90-minute" timeshare presentation which was only moderately painful and got us a free bufet breakfast and $200 worth of drinks and meals at the hotel. Well worth the two-hour investment.

The room was spotlessly clean with a great view of the large pool and ocean. The kitchenette was well stocked with microwave, pots and pans and everything we needed for breakfasts and lunches. Many travelers to Mexico have commented about uncomfortable beds but ours was just perfect.

I loved the hotel's activities program which included ping-pong, water volleyball, water polo, botanical tours of the spectacular hotel grounds, ceramic painting, blackjack, and many many other things to do. For many of the events the winner(s) received free drink coupons.

Pueblo Bonito Emerald Bay is quite distant from the heart of Mazatlan but the hourly free shuttle takes quests to the Pueblo Bonito Mazatlan which is closer to the action.

Jenny and I completely loved our week at Pueblo Bonito Emerald Bay and would recommend it to anyone... except maybe the most hard-core partiers who prefer to be in the middle of the action.

Best Things Nearby:
The resort is right on the beach

Best Things About the Resort:
The pool is amazing and there is a free shuttle to the other Pueblo Bonito Resort, making getting to town much more affordable.

Resort Experience:
The units are nice, with real beds (not cement slabs with a mattress on top, like other places in Mexico). The infinity pool is beautiful and there are plenty of lounge chairs and cabanas for all of the guests. If you prefer a little less activity, there is a smaller pool, which tends to be quieter. The service at this resort is also very good.

• Unit Type: 1 Bedroom
• Activities: Very Good
• Amenities: Very Good
• Unit Satisfaction: Excellent
• Family Friendliness: Very Good
• Service: Very Good

Best Things Nearby:
Miles of beach, El Cid Golf Course

Best Things About the Resort:
The accommodations are luxurious and top-notch. The staff is plentiful and so very attentive. Great restaurant on the premises and an adorable bar. Two fabulous swimming pools.

Resort Experience:
This is a "smaller" timeshare with only 258 units. It is built into four colonial-style buildings that are each only four stories high, so it is not the high-rise atmosphere. The halls are all open-air walkways. There are sprawling grounds with lawns, decks, sculptures, fountains, a flamingo/swan pool, and immaculate gardens. There is an on-site fitness center and full spa that offers massages. The main pool is enormous and beautifully built, featuring a bar totally enclosed by the pool, a jacuzzi that is the same, and a shelf where lounge chairs sit submerged in water. The smaller pool is also beautiful, with its half swim-up bar. There is a large jacuzzi to the side. The restaurant has nothing short of fabulous food, and there is also room service 24/7. The food at the pool bars is also just amazing. Kelly's Bar is all decorated in something out of a Humphrey Bogart movie and is a friendly gathering place. The on-site Super Deli has everything you can possibly want, including two computers with Internet access. This resort feels like a very high-end luxury spa resort, rather than a timeshare. It is located about 15 minutes by bus from the Gold Zone, but it runs its own buses every hour, dropping guests off at the Club Pueblo Bonito Mazatlan.

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