LeastP

How was your visit?

fed planner

so-so. The property and people were great. The food was meh for us (we’ve been to other AI in MX with better). My wife is celiac and there really weren’t many options (again other properties handled this much better) or even an effort to assist (other than one restaurant manager who did her best, but had limited options). Concierge missed the mark with a birthday cake that could not be eaten (and they were aware of the gluten condition).

And after I answered the survey when home the manager replied but after we responded back it has been silence from them.

Also no resolution from the property or the Diamond desk on a solution to paying for the first night we were no shows. This happened last year at another property and they graciously waived the night we missed due to cancelled/missed flight. I get it but they basically didn’t even want to discuss it. I asked to speak to a manager while there and was denied that opportunity.

I think this could be a great resort if management would let their people do what they do best. Rather unfortunate.

We also had a terrible experience one night in the Italian restaurant with a screaming child that was allowed to continue to scream throughout the evening. We left before finishing our meal as a result. This isn’t to be a commentary on parenting but it just tainted an already iffy stay for us.

We don’t plan to return, unfortunately.

edit: and I’m 4 nights from lifetime (would have been only 2 to go with that first night). Oh well, I’ll hit LTD in early Feb.

coolmuke

Any suggestions for airport transportation? I have 4 check-ins.

jmd001

Not really recommendations, just a couple of data points from earlier this month (YMMV):

• Don't get stuck in the gauntlet of "salespeople" (for condos, timeshares, resorts, etc.) as you exit the terminal.
• Took one of the "authorized taxis" from PVR to the hotel. Charged it in Pesos (455, as I remember). Appeared on credit bill as 23.17 USD.
• Note that Uber is not allowed to pick up on the airport property. As (confusingly) described, the pickup point is a couple of hundred yards (meters?) over a bridge from where you exit the terminal.
• Was told that Uber is allowed to drop off at the terminal. Tried to use Uber to get back to PVR, but none available when needed. However, started a "dummy" booking the day before (just to see if it could be done), and there appeared to be availability.
• Took a taxi arranged on the spot by a doorman at the hotel. Paid 300 Pesos in cash to cabbie (i.e, significantly cheaper the "authorized taxi" from PVR).

tkcdao

Anyone have a idea of their previous upgrade experience with diamond status?
I booked a base room (partial ocean 2 queen) and if they tend to offer any suites or just the next room cat up

bamboola

You will have access to the Club Lounge on the 13th floor. The concierge team will book dinner reservations for you at all the restaurants. You will get a 15% discount at the spa. That's about it.

Booking a base room will get you a room on a higher floor with no palm trees blocking your view. As a LTD, I booked a Master Suite, and it was not easy to argue for a one-category upgrade to the Governor Suite.

jmd001

For our stay in Dec 22 (as a Diamond), I booked a "standard room" using points. Upon a arrival, we were escorted to the Club Lounge on the 13th floor for check-in. (Nice touch.) Was told we were getting a 2-category upgrade, but it was nothing more than a room on a higher (i.e., 11th) floor (definitely NOT a suite) ... and (disappointingly) it was in the South Tower (rather than the North Tower, where the Lounge is located; you have to go down to the lobby level to go between the two towers).

tkcdao

Sounds like I'm gonna have to pay for a upgrade for a suite given the chance of diamond upgrade =(

LRobs

Wrapping up my 2nd stay here, the first was pretty recently after it joined Hilton and several things have changed since then and other things are still changing. As a diamond, we were upgraded to a room on the 13th floor. All non-suite rooms are the same so the only 'upgrade' is the higher floor. We were offered an upgrade to a Governor suite for $300/nt but declined. We traveled with 3 other couples/families who were all diamond. One was given a room on the 3rd floor. Aside Any room around floor 4+ should have an unobstructed view of the sea, which is really, really lovely. The views at this hotel are much better than at the Conrad Punta de Mita.
Service was reasonably good. Food is hit or miss. The breakfast in the club lounge was quite awful but the breakfast buffet at the main restaurant was quite good. The refried beans were some of the best I've ever had, and I live in Texas. Oddly, the only bacon is at the omelet station so you have to wait in line for it. They also had a scratch-made tortilla/quesadilla station at breakfast with a slow moving line but worth the wait, in my view. Lunch at Cocomar was fairly good for things like ceviche. Dinner at the Italian restaurant had comically slow service, it took almost 2 hours to have dinner. Service at the sushi restaurant off the lobby was also very, very slow but considering it was at an all inclusive in Mexico, the sushi was surprisingly decent. Like I wouldn't seek it out but it was good under the circumstances. The best meal we had was definitely Mexican night which is on Fridays I think. Great food, great service, and lots of fun.
The bars start closing at like 8p, 9p, 10p, 11p, and then finally the lobby bar closes at 1a. The lobby bar is a weird vibe for people to be getting wild late into the night, I found it weird that was the final bar to close and it was quite busy at 11:30p as it is the only option.
Guests with club lounge access get "top-shelf" drinks at in the lounge from 6-8p which includes things like Jack Daniels Single Barrel and Johnnie Walker Black. It was unclear to me if you could get these at any bar that had them by virtue of your wristband but only the club lounge and lobby bar has those I think. We went to the Martini bar (closest at 11p) and it wasn't really better equipped for Martini-making that any other bar. They didn't have Lillet Blanc to make a Vesper, for example, and seemed to lack traditional Martini garnishes like blue cheese olives or lemons. The bartender did cut some lime peel into my Martini for me. All I am saying here is that the names of the bars don't mean anything, they are all just the same bar in different places.
Highlights:

• Amazing view throughout property and from every room on floors 4+
• Reliably decent availability on points where a 5 night stay will get you over .5cpp typically
• Decent food for an AI
• Excellent beach
• All bars have name brand liquor like Bacardi, Ketel One, etc included
• Can order room service in the web app

Lowlights:

• Smaller rooms than, e.g. the Conrad Punta de Mita
• Unlike other high end hotels in the area there were not trained falcons scaring off the small birds so grackles and crows would swoop in and try to steal your fries
• Incredibly slow service at the featured restaurants and for room service (at (9:30a scheduled room service lunch for noon, arrived after 12:30)
• Small bathrooms, very narrow toilet area, shower door has no seal so water leaks
• Maid service was spotty, towels sometimes not restocked, floor kind of sticky, etc

Overall it is a decent redemption in a beautiful setting. We were looking to book 4 rooms for 11 people all on points and during peak season (holiday weekend during whale season) so hard to beat that.

Zeromus-X

Quoting this part with a bit of a strange question I'm hoping you can assist with.

We stayed at the Vallarta Riviera last trip and had a blast -- my only complaints being really that the pool area was pretty dead (could use some music, and when music was present, could use some louder music) and a bit dated. We drink most of our meals on vacation at the pool and aren't huge foodies, I think we only made it to the breakfast buffet each morning and the Italian place one night, the rest was room service. We were looking to step it up a notch and check out the Conrad this time, and got what I feel is a decent deal on it via AmEx FHR and being Diamond (about $450/nt plus food/drinks). That's still going to put it at more than double the price of the Vallarta Riviera when you factor in food and drink cost at the Conrad.

You mentioned the rooms were bigger at the Conrad and I'm guessing it was less busy there too. Any other comments based on your experience at both properties to compare them? We can afford either property, but I'm worried we'll be disappointed with the same overall experience for 2.5x the cost if we aren't taking advantage of other services (golf, etc) that Conrad offers.

frenchie2

I see on Hilton site that the rate is 80K points per night, for even up to 1, 2 or 3 and even up to 4 people! Is that true? will they charge additional for the 3rd and 4th person at resort? Cash rate did change based on the # of people in the reservation.

srikrishna84

I just made a Reservation with Points and AMEX Night as well and the phone agent told me i will be charged for the 10 yr old child. Anyone knows if there is an additional charge for the 10 yr old? The Hilton website does not list anything when making a points reservation. Just shows 80K Points

mrstraveler

Bumping...have an upcoming stay and also would like to know which tower North or South is the better option?

jmd001

If you will have access to the Exec Lounge (e.g., Diamond), I suggest the North tower (where the Lounge is located) because there is no connection between the two towers above the lobby level. Otherwise, no recommendation either way.

kylew

Since this resort is all-inclusive, what are the advantages/reasons of having an executive lounge?