Overbooked

The hotel was good and the staff were great but the hotel booked a company seminar that put up to 4 adults in a room. We were told there were 1000 people in the group for a hotel with 270 rooms. The good thing is they were out all day. In the morning they overloaded the breakfast buffets until 8am so if you wanted breakfast at this time you lined up for it. We went after they left for the day but by then the buffets would be out of things like bacon and one morning bread. This should not happen. [... read more] In addition they closed the al a carte restaurants, I guess due to the crowds they could only feed this number buffet style so we had to endure buffet dining all week. The food was OK but Similar every night. They did have a taco only restaurant buffet restaurant but with tacos being offered at the other buffets for lunch and dinner I really didn’t see the purpose other than to feed the large crowds. The lobby at night was packed and turned into a frat party wth these seminar guests chugging tequila out of bottles bought at the local store, so I think not all of the company seminar group did had bar access. They also brought cases of beer to the beach after the day time seminars ended. As for coved policies we had to sign a waiver that we would wear a mask in common places but this was not enforced at all and only a few people in the large company seminar group wore one. We left the lobby early every evening as we did not feel comfortable/safe with the large groups of people. In addition all the services were overwhelmed at night. The very good coffee bar was a 30 min line up at night.

Exceptional Resort

The Friendly Vallarta was everything the name implies. All staff were more than willing to assist in all of my needs. The food, location and the size of the resort was much better than anticipated. A very private oasis but outside within walking distance to the stores and restaurants. I will defiantly go back. Thank you for a wonderful vacation.

Still in Love with this Resort!

Amazing staff, food and one of the cleanest resorts you'll ever come across. Smaller in size but big on customer service. Lots of fun activities for all ages. Almost all rooms are ocean view as long as you get a higher floor. All 3 buildings have their own elevators. Some ground floor rooms are wheelchair accessible with ramps going up to the sliding terrace doors. They are constantly cleaning everything. Never had as much as a mosquito bite! We needed a fridge in our room for meds and they ca [... read more]me through for us. The only thing I would change is the Japanese restaurant: open it for supper & change it to tapanaki style. The Azul ala carte needs better furniture ie: more comfortable chairs and dressier linens.

Friendly Vallarta- Nice Clean Resort

Friendly Vallarta is a nice, conveniently located all-inclusive resort close to Walmart and downtown PV. The staff is very friendly and accommodating and the resort is exceptionally clean. We stayed in a room on the north side and on the second floor and it was large and clean. Beds are comfortable and the room faced the next door resort building so it was very quiet. That's a big deal because this resort is very noisy. There are speakers blasting on the beach, pool area and in the lobby.  [... read more]I found it a bit tiring when you wanted a quiet place just to talk and relax. The beach area is very nice and we didn't have too much trouble getting lounge chairs but we were there in May so the off season is beginning. One problem is that the resort could invest in more umbrellas. The adult pool area could easily use twice as many umbrellas. The Azul and Frita restaurants served great food and highly recommend them but the buffets were so so. They had difficulty getting or keeping food hot. If you eat at the buffets ensure you arrive early because they shut down at 10 pm without exception, even if people are lined up for a table. One buffet server lost her ladle as she was trying to serve me food when another worker started cleaning up her area at 10. If you like your beer they serve 2 types of Corona beer but not in bottles. The drink servers were great and tried to make any type of drink you wanted. Overall we recommend the FV and can say we enjoyed the week we were there.

Friendly Staff and Great Location

The best things about this resort: - the staff are all very anxious to ensure everything is good and that you are happy. Any issues are taken care of immediately. - everything from the rooms, to the public areas, to the pools and the beach, are kept very clean. - location is great (right on the beach, close to airport, downtown and other areas). - the food in the 'reserved' restaurants was excellent. - staff ensure rules are maintained (i.e. adults only in the adult pool). Areas that co [... read more]uld use improvement: - information was inconsistent and confusing - regarding resort activities (reservations were required, then not required, start time was 8:30 pm, 6:00, 7:00 and finally 7:30 pm., etc.), and restaurant names were different in the brochures we were given. - the food menu did change slightly in the 'open' restaurants, however, most items were always the same.

Resort

We all have a very good time at the Friendly Puerto Vallarta .The staff was very friendly and any thing you wanted or needed they where very happy to help you .I would recommend this resort to anyone .

Friendly Vallarta

This resort was great. The staff were accommodating and friendly. Rooms were well appointed, clean and well maintained. Food and beverage choices and quality were in keeping with the 4 star experience. The only frustration was trying to change currency and lost and found inquiry, had me running in circles.

Wonderful resort!

Everything was great Great food, great service, clean rooms, very friendly staff. Loved the activities and live entertainment. This was my first time here and I would definitely come back and invite all my friends.

Everything was as expected (second stay)

Friendly Vallarta is as its name depicts, staff are helpful and go out of their to accommodate the guests. There have been several changes, a designated smoking area on the beach, you are not to claim a lounge chair all day, and addition of restaurant as well as a snack bar. The hotel has an older customer base probably due to repeat stays. Entertainment is offered each night at the theatre which is a bonus if you do not want to go to town for night activities. We could not find a tour group [... read more] to accept the voucher offered by Tripcentral, I am not sure where the indicated tour groups are located in PV.

Wonderful resort

We have been to this resort 3 times and the name fits this resort to a T. The staff are amazing. Food is very good and there is always something to do for everyone What makes it unique is the staff who actually care about you and actually remember you.

DISAPPOINTING ROOMS

We were assigned a room with no balcony and looking out the window with a building wall. They said it is nice and quiet here. So we went to the front desk and were told if you want an ocean view you have to pay more per day. I paid $1500 for one week and they want more money. It's only a 3 star hotel. Will definitely not be back. They give you the worst room so you can pay more for an upgrade. Must say people working at the resort are very nice. We ended up with a room that has a balcony with  [... read more]a big palm tree in front of it but at least can open the doors for fresh air.

Disappointed

We have been to this resort at least 5 times previously and always had a great experience. This time however it was NOT great. The hotel is undergoing construction and the beach restaurant is being rebuilt. The result was that the resort has one less restaurant at present. When we arrived on Wednesday in the afternoon the other two restaurants were closed for dinner and the only one open was on the mezzanine level and you needed to sit through a program in order to eat. There were bright constru [... read more]ction lights shinning directly at our windows making it difficult to sleep. There was constant construction noise during the day as well. With the beachfront restaurant closed, the previous most enjoyable evening dining on the beach was cancelled. Our room had a water leak from the bathtub and so after showers the floor was extremely slippery. The staff were very friendly and outgoing. Unfortunately we will most likely not go back to that resort given this latest experience.

Great Location

Hotel was nice location on the hotel zone. Walking distance from shopping,dining, nice beach etc. also bus and taxis very easy to get. Our room was basic but very clean and comfy, no fridge, bar etc. They did ask us if we would like to upgrade for $35US per night, we declined as we don't spend much time in our room. Also required us to give credit card for 1000 pecos for damages which we would get back when we left. Hotel food was pretty good for the most part we found out that if you ask for th [... read more]ings they amazingly appear like bacon, good guacamole etc. Very friendly staff, pools were very warm. Staff will bring you a chair, umbrella or table and place it where you like on the beach which was nice. Lots of activities to do at the resort. Must have been the time of year we went (just after Easter) lots of local families on vacation there. Lots of kids in pool until late at night. Luckily there was an adult pool. Met lots of Canadians. Not a quiet resort often loud music thumping and often two conflicting speakers. Overall, I still think it was good value for the money and we would return in the future.

Very efficient and friendly Hotel

I had an amazing time at the Friendly Vallarta, they had very great food and entertainment. Rene is a very hard working and friendly beach attendant. I have now stayed there 6 times and looking forward to February 2019!

Friendly staff

Reasonable and satisfactory. Rate it fair. Food is ok. Enjoyed evening entertainment. Location is great. Rooms are clean. Bathrooms seem old and in need of updating. Furniture in rooms are dirty.

Awesome Friendly Resort

The employees were very friendly and helpful. The rooms were very clean. The grounds and the pools were kept in very good shape. The dining and meals were very good. The shows and activities were very entertaining. We had a wonderful experience.

Amazing

We had an amazing stay at the resort. The staff was amazing, the grounds were beautiful. The food ahhh so yummy. Lots of activities, we brought my 90 year old grandmother and she also loved it. Can't wait to go back❤❤❤

Great Resort

This was my second stay and everything was as good as the first time Great staff, very clean and food were all great. I found no negatives about this resort. Would go back again. Definetely would recommend to friends.

5 star staff!

Had a great week. We were a little worried when we found 3 teams of young soccer players staying there but they were all so well behaved it was a pleasure to see them having fun at the resort. We had our first trip there in January 2017 and decided to go again in November. After going to many resorts in different countries we were surprised at how many people we ran into that bragged about the number of times they have been to Friendly Vallarta..5, 10 and even 18 times. The food is great, an [... read more]d there's always something special going on around the resort. The resort definitely lives up to its name 'friendly'. The staff are always helpful & smiling an go the extra mile. We had a few issues with our room and they had them all resolved the day after we arrived. Don't expect a five star resort, but if you want comfortable with 5 star attitude this is the place to stay!

Home away from home!

This is our fifth time to Friendly and we are never disappointed! As they say "welcome home " This is our first time going in September which was a different experience. The town is quieter and the weather is very hot! We were so glad to have that beautiful new adult pool ! It has that huge hot tub and long pool for swimming! All the staff want you to relax and enjoy ! One day for instance I was at the beach restaurant and asked for guacamole well Double Double heard me and said he would go an [... read more]d get it for me ! He told me to go back to the pool and he'd bring it and sure enough he did ! I love the coffee bar , my favs are frozen coffees and espresso is to die for. All our meals were delicious with a great variety. It certainly is the time for fresh pineapple, I have never tasted fruit like that before. All the staff from waiters to cleaners are warm,lovely people. We did notice not as many activities but that is to be expected, they was always something going on ,you could be as busy or as relaxed as you wanted ! Again thank you friendly for all your smiles and service , can't wait to come home again !