I agree with your review. I went with a friend in early May, and we were given a complimentary upgrade to a room Casa 3 which was oceanfront on the ground floor. We didn't seem to have an issue with housekeeping, but I wasn't exactly looking at my watch the two nights we were there. We slept in and used the coffee shop in the lobby for breakfast. And I can confirm that the Diamond credits can be applied to other F&B venues. We ate at the beachfront restaurant both nights and had good meals.

We also used Uber from the Hilton in Puerto Vallarta up to the hotel and the hotel's van service to get back to the airport. Unless you've pre-arranged travel back to PVR, I'd recommend using the hotel's service. Even getting to the resort using Uber was a bit dicey, both from PVR to the Hilton in town and from the Hilton to the Conrad.

For those unaware, at PVR you have to pass the gauntlet of taxis and pre-arranged transportation companies to get to the Uber pickup point, which is just off site at the public bus stop. It's along the highway, and if you don't look local the taxi drivers and shuttle services know EXACTLY where you're heading and persistently try to dissuade you. Even at the Uber pickup point there were multiple taxis that passed by asking how much Uber was charging and offering a price match. On the ride up to the Conrad, we lost mobile service before we got to the hotel, and the directions to the Uber driver had him enter on the back side of the complex. Security was yelling at him, saying he should have entered off of the public road at the other entrance. He had to explain himself, but we weren't requested to give our names or show ID prior to the second gate at the forecourt of the Conrad. At those price points, you can afford their car service.

I agree that it's a great use of certificates, and I also wouldn't pay the cash rates.