Melia Puerto Vallarta

My husband and I went here for our honeymoon, and it was amazing! In the notes section, I told them it was for our honeymoon, so when we got there, they had upgraded us to a beachfront suite (we had purchased the cheapest room), and had a complimentary bottle of champaign waiting for us, as well as the room and bed scattered with rose petals. The room was very clean, and the bathroom and shower were amazing - large and beautiful! All of the food we had was very good! The Italian restaurant that requires a reservation was not great, but it was decent. The best was the Mexican restaurant for dinner - AMAZING FOOD! The service was excellent, especially since the waiters were receiving no tips. They always offered to push my chair in for me and lay my napkin on my lap - I was spoiled! The all-inclusive drinks were also very good, they used medium- or high-quality alcohol, and never skimped on it. All of the staff was very friendly and would even remember your face and what you typically liked to drink. They really made an effort! The pool, which is supposed to be the largest in Puerto Vallarta wasn't that large, but it was big enough. It did get a little more crowded during the weekend, though. Everyday they had fun little games you could play for a chance to win prizes, and the shows they had every night were decent, especially for being free. The beach was beautiful, with the only downside being the people trying to sell things, but most of them were nice and wouldn't bug you too much if you said no. I highly recommend not buying from them, though, as their goods are usually over-priced. For shopping, go into town to the market. Never take the first offer, they always start high. The city of Puerto Vallarta is very pretty, especially the boardwalk along the beach. There are many art sculptures that are a lot of fun and very beautiful. If you do go into town, don't take the bus - it only costs about $10 for a taxi, and it is much quicker. Definitely make sure you pay for transportation to the hotel ahead of time, and in the airport, don't talk to anyone offering free rides. They will try to sell you something, and waste an entire day of your vacation.

Melia was a great place to spend a relaxing vacation last year (Nov 2009). The buffet and restaurants gave us enough variety while we were there. We ate well. The all-inclusive deal was great because it meant we need not leave the resort which was perfect for us because we had a 3-year-old in tow. We did spend one day going to town on the bus. Riding the bus turned out to be very economical and easy with a bus stop close to the hotel. Also across the street on the side where the boat slips are, there are many shops & places to check out. They are easy to miss because from the street it doesn't look like there is anything there except condominiums. There was a good dive shop within walking distance down the street where I could go for a day of diving. My wife checked out the spa next door which was a little more economical than the one on the resort. We didn't see much of the shows due to our toddler so I can't comment on the entertainment. Staff were generally friendly. They tried to interest us in the vacation club or whatever they call it but were still friendly when we refused. Pools were very nice. Plenty of shallow areas for small kids. We didn't spend much time on the beach.

My husband and I and our 3 children stayed at the Melia the last 10 days of July. Overall it was an enjoyable vacation, but I would not stay at this resort in the future. We checked in and handed the front desk a voucher for a free room upgrade which we were told we could not use. Our shower was not in operating order and had to be fixed in the evening just before dinner when all 5 of us wanted to take showers. My son's bunk bed sheets were soiled and had to be changed at 10:00 PM the first night we were there. Housekeeping would never leave us 5 towels each day, so we had to ask each afternoon for more towels and washcloths. Our kids enjoyed the beach although it was difficult to relax and enjoy with the locals constantly trying to sell us their goods. The pool was nice, we enjoyed the food and the nightly shows. Overall, our stay was enjoyable, but average. It was nothing spectacular.

This resort might not have all the bells and whistles of a new resort but it is a very good deal for the value. The resort beach is nothing to write home about... small strip of sand. However they do offer kayaks which can be used to navigate to other beaches. (a 1.5 hour paddle will take you to a small fishing village and nature reserve full of birds.) The staff was incredible. Tip the maid a couple of bucks for beyond excellent service. Alcohol selection were good but study up on your shots and mixed drinks as they don't know how to make many. DO NOT TAKE A TAXI FROM THE AIRPORT. Walk out of the airport section and grab a taxi. Much cheaper and no airport drama or time shares.