Dieuwer

I will be traveling solo
Any suggestions for a hotel with huge pool? I like my daily lap-swimming.
I prefer nice over rundown.
Also, it is a plus if it is within walking distance to restaurants and bars.

Dieuwer

No one?

goteed1

Take a look at this place. I have never stayed there, but it gets a lot of love on Trip Advisor. Location is right in the center of the Zona Romantica, with all the bars and beaches. It's a 3 star place but they have nice pools and right on the beach. They have some sister properties in the area with pool access as well.

For pools and niceness and location, this is probably as good as it gets. If you wanted to go a little further from the center of town, Hilton, Hardrock, Hyatt etc all have shiny brand new resorts, but it would be short taxi ride to get to the center.

http://www.hotels.com/ho230681/los-a...203z018193.d.c

tatterdema

Cant you do your laps in the ocean? There are not many hotels in the South Side that have big pools. At least what I would consider lap pools. I like the Tropicana, but some people consider it run down.

Dieuwer

I'm considering staying at the Fiesta Americana. Seems to have a large pool and be close enough to the nightlife.
Marriott, Westin, Hardrock, etc. are all too far away.

carlosdca

That Fiesta Americana is halfway between the Airport and South Puerto Vallarta where all action is.
It is not walking distance (well, 45mins walking) to the gay beach (Blue Chairs) or the gay nightlife in south pv. So you will need to take cabs.
If you are going to take cabs anyway, why not pick the hotel you like the most regardless of location?

If you really want to be close, the only option is hotels without large pools or condos in the center of town. I stayed at a condo (no ocean view) a few blocks from Blue Chairs and it was super nice and modern. Since it was not Ocean View, it was DIRT cheap!!

Dieuwer

I am going during New Years. Nothing is "dirt cheap".

carlosdca

It was dirt cheap relatively speaking (compared to an ocean front place). It is the same any time of the year.

Is $175/night dirt cheap?

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/2554065...%2F2015&s=rRc5

I am not recommending that particular one, but there are several others listed on airbnb for new year's week.

Dieuwer

Looks nice, but I have no experience with airbnb.

tatterdema

I have to agree with Carlos. Fiesta is not really reasonably close to the gay nightlife, and personally I would consider it "run down" compared to the others you mentioned. I think you will have to choose which you would rather have. A great, large pool, or close to nightlife. If you only go into town at night for a few hours, then spend the whole day at the resort, then one of the resorts in the hotel zone, or Marina would work. If you want to be in the thick of GAY, for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, stay in the Southside and give up the lap swim idea.

I stayed in the hotel zone my first visit, and if I had to do it again, I would never go back. For me it was my worst nightmare come true, with children, college kids playing beer pong, exercise classes in the pools, fanny packs, time share sales, bad talent shows, ugh, everything I hate about vacation. The Southside is somewhere I would live.

Airbnb is just like everything else. Do your homework and you will be fine with it. I noticed you are traveling alone. Just keep in mind that you will not be able to take anyone you meet back to your room if you stay in a hotel or resort. You will if you stay in a condo booked on Airbnb or VRBO....

Dieuwer

How about the Sheraton?
Good points about families with screaming kids and obnoxious Spring-breakers. Did not think about that.
Another problem is the 7-night minimum that almost every condo is requiring. I am staying 5 nights only.

Dieuwer

La Terraza Inn looks pretty decent. Anyone stayed there?

tatterdema

I have never stayed there, but had a friend that did for a month. He liked it. It is a good location. Very quiet at night, but very close to the beach and nightlife. It is right across the street from Tropicana where I normally stay.

tatterdema

Here is an option also. I am pretty sure they allow guests, and the price over NYE is very reasonable. No lap pool, convenient location, steep climb to get to it, adults only. It used to a pretty nice hotel, but it has changed ownership since I was last in it, and the reviews seem to be all over the place. I noticed your post on Tripadvisor, maybe someone there can give you a better idea of what kind of shape it is in. It has gorgeous views.

http://www.booking.com/hotel/mx/amac...ability_target

http://www.hotelamaca.com/en/index.html#

DavidDTW

I stayed at Tropicana and liked it too. Wouldn't consider it run-down, more like nice but nothing special.