Between the following resorts - which do you think is the best option?

SPG - (not the Westin) - midprice

Westin - midprice, though higher than Sheraton

InterContinental Presidente - cheapest

Marriott Casa Magna - most expensive

I don't believe there are any Hilton properties down there?

I'm heading down for a 3-day weekend in March with a girl (who is just a friend - so the room will have 2 beds, not 1 ) and we're looking for a good place to relax and read on the beach (or by a pool) during the day, and get wasted drunk at night. It would be nice to be near other things as we are not renting a car & will have to rely on taxi service or public transportation for everything.

From the pictures, the Westin & Marriott look the best - but I know next to nothing about their location (is this anything like CUN where there's a specific hotel zone?). I'm more interested in doing a brand name (quality guaranteed, generally & of course, the points!) resort if possible...

Thanks in advance!

Marriott is by far the best. Followed by Westin, IC, and Sheraton.

Is your goal to collect points? If not, check out the Fiesta Americana.

Note that all of these places are in the "zona hotelera" (sort of like Cancun) so you need to take a short (10 min) cab ride downtown to get wasted. Puerto Vallarta has a much more concentrated downtown area than Cancun.

Also, it's a shame when the hotel screws up on your double bed request and you're "stuck" with a king.

Thanks for the tips! Points aren't completely necessary - but I'm able to spend points for the Marriott or for the Sheraton or Westin if need be - but I think the rates are relatively reasonable & I'm using miles for us to get there and I have about a $600 budget for the actual lodging (for 3 nights - from another source, not my own pocket). I know someone at IC who can get me an employee rate if I ask nicely enough - so that's why that one's in the mix. I'll check out Fiesta Americana - how would you rate that one relative to the rest?

It's a crying shame when the hotel makes that mistake - and in the original reservation, that mistake was made - however, as I'm picking up the tab on the airfare & hotel - she wanted to make sure she wasn't obligated to "pay" me back for it in non-monetary ways, and I told her she definitely wasn't - so I had to go back & change my reservation to ensure the mistake wasn't accidentaly made - of course, who knows what'll happen at checkin!

The nicest beach is at a resort called Dreams ( the old Camino Real) .....it is an all-inclusive so you might save a bit of money on your drinking........

Best one of them all, IMHO, and will probably be a touch less than Marriott.

If you're looking for more PV recs, do a search in this forum as I've written quite a bit over the years -- I'm a part-time resident there. Alternatively, shoot me a PM.

Thanks for the tips - Dreams looks like its out of my price range for the two of us for 3 nights.

UNITED959 - I've read most of your other posts in this forum on PVR - thanks for all of the info!

we loved the Westin PVR. stayed there last winter. I wrote a very long review in SPG forum, but didn't put it in there. I will try to find a link.

if you've got SPG points, try for the 50% off rack rate deal.

ok, here's the link to my review from last year: http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthrea...=649906&page=5

Two other places you may want to consider are Grand Velas and the Riu Nuevo Vallarta.

Both are in Nuevo Vallarta and are all-inclusives (an aspect I'm not crazy about since there are so many great restaurants in PV), they are newer resorts on great stretches of beach.

These are about 25-30 minutes (cab) away from downtown PV.

The SPG50 rate isn't available for my weekend...the cheapest rate I can find is AAA at 199/night.

Ic is best.

Both the Marriott and the Westin are walking distance to the Marina area which has minor shopping and around 8 restaraunt/bars. Avoid at all costs the time share solicitations. (Especially Mayan Grand)

We are booked into the Casa Magna in April on a 5 night rate including transfers of slightly more than $600 booked with Costco. That said, unfortunately, March is Spring Vacation and rates increase significantly. The pool at the Marriott is quite nice, albeit not very deep. For the drunks, they do have a swim up bar.

The last time we stayed at Casa Magna, we booked via Priceline, so give that a try.

Westin is just down the street also at the Marina. Before the Camino Real became Dreams, it was the only property in PV where we would stay. It was great when it was part of Hilton, the tower on the right with your back to the bay is the best of the two. The beach is great and private. It is about 2 km south of the city. The other properties mentioned are at the Marina which is just south of the airport and north of the city. Taxis are readily available. Lots of good restaurants in town.

Grand Velas is approx $1000/night

We stayed for a week at the Marriott about 6 or 7 years ago.

Out of our 10 or so trips to Mexico, this was by far the worst place we have stayed at. I can't comment on the other places mentioned but the atmosphere, location, ambience, rooms, food, and service were all unpleasant. I would not stay there if you gave me the trip for free.

For what type of accommodations?