This property is in Nuevo Vallarta ,which is quite a distance from downtown. We chose it for that reason, and because it is on the beach. A 20-minute taxi ride will get you into town easily, or for the more adventurous, you can ride the bus with the locals for the equivalent of $0.10. It's more time consuming but much more colorful, and it runs every hour and stops right across the street from the resort.

Because we visited during value season in June, this all-inclusive property was a steal for what we received. Drinks flowed all day from three outdoor bars, plus there was a stocked bar in your room to make your own. There are several restaurants, including three buffets, one grill, and one specialty restaurant that requires reservations (get in line early to reserve). The food was good, but after 4 days or so, we started going into town for some meals to get a bit of variety. (There are excellent seafood restaurants on the Malecon that are very reasonable.)

There are lots of activities at this property, and I'm sure you can find something to your liking on their schedule, but we chose to read by the pool (a luxury we rarely have at home). Besides, with never-ending pina coladas, cervezas, and sunshine, why would you want to leave the pool deck? In the evening, the staff puts on a show, which is usually lame but entertaining nonetheless. Then the disco opens for late-night fun.

The rooms were very clean and comfortable, but the noise in the hallways was a real problem. (Due to the marble floors, everything echoed, so late-night revelers and early rising families sounded like they were at your door). The service was good for the most part and outstanding at the front desk on the several occasions when we needed assistance.

Overall, if you're used to the lap of luxury, five-star, and people fussing over you, this is not for you. However, if you expect quality, cleanliness, and affordability and like lots of choices but can go it alone as well, the Riu Jalisco would meet and probably exceed your expectations. Oh, and if you're coming with children, be forewarned that there are two pools and kids are only allowed in one. In that way, folks who are vacationing without children have their own space to enjoy away from the youngsters.

We had booked the Riu due to a bargain recommmendation. Many 20-something young marrieds also must have been told the same, as were quite a few college-age, non-travel-savvy party animals. (My favorite moment of jaw-dropping incredulity was watching one such apparently non-frequent flyer while she applied her eyeliner with a half-gnawed eyebrow pencil -- sharp shards on one side of the lead -- during plane takeoff.) There also were many families who felt as if their precious Chloe/Terrance didn't need to follow the rules (such as adults-only in the adult pool). This was the last week before Mexican children returned to school; there were also innumerable Juan Carlos/Anna Marias who apparently had never been taught how to wait their turn in a restaurant food queue (a trait also shared by their parents).

And, at some point, the bartending staff must have been told, "If my Chad/Leister wants an alcoholic drink, dammit, give it to them!", because the drinking age seemed to drop to an extremely low level once in the resort. Other than that, there were the sun worshippers with leathery, thick skin, as well as people so white (at least for a day) that you would've sworn that they had crawled out of their cubicles that morning.

• Unit Type: 1 Bedroom
• Activities: Good
• Amenities: Poor
• Unit Satisfaction: Fair
• Family Friendliness: Good
• Service: Good

First room: the telephone was missing, there were no covers on the bed, a broken and Pepsi bottle had been mopped up, leaving the stone bathroom floor slippery - but with the broken glass still all over the floor. When we discovered additional broken glass in the shower and that the security latch was broken off, I advised the front desk that I was uncomfortable with that room. They upgraded us to a suite, but the suite had its own problems that we discovered later: mysterious leaks in the bedroom and bathroom ceilings, the bathroom light fixture hung loose where the water dripped through, half of the smoke alarm was missing (water had flowed through it and it had fallen), and the ceiling fan didn't work (water dripped through the ceiling fan - if the power switch was on, it made crackling noises and smelled of burning wires). We reported this as a fire hazard, but it was not addressed.

In both rooms, the drawer pulls were broken and the furniture was very worn, surprising for a hotel built only in 2002.

The suite was at the end of the southern wing of the hotel, overlooking the outdoor stage and disco. All musical venues presented at the Riu Jalisco were TOO LOUD in the audience, normal conversation was impossible. Musical pitch and key were disregarded, and the only consideration was that the music be at an extreme volume. And it was: the outdoor show went on until 11pm, the disco until 2am - we know because we couldn't sleep until they were done. Then, since the suite abutted one of the all-tile stairwells, we would be treated to the drunken shouts of the disco revelers as they clambered up the stairs to their rooms.

Other problems: the Jacuzzi jets and fountains did not work at all in the adult pool, so the pool was warmer than bathwater. Waiters and bartenders would advise that their ice was purified and safe to drink when it was not. Quite a few beach and pool lounge chairs were broken by kids using them as trampolines, but the chairs would not be removed - one would sit on them and find oneself sinking to the ground.

I do not so much fault the staff at the Riu Jalisco, but the construction and maintenance of the physical property is severely lacking.