The Friendly Vallarta

The name of the resort says it all...Friendly! Every where you turn people were smiling , joking with the vacationers, giving hugs on hellos and goodbyes. They like to talk to you, to find out about where you are from, about your family. They will also tell you about their lives too. They workers at the Friendly are what makes that hotel nice to stay at. The building itself is older but is always clean. As the day goes on you are always seeing someone cleaning. There is no litter anywher [... read more]e. They wash the pool deck late at night and again early in the morning. The food was limited in variety but what was supplied it was very good. Food service was offered on the beach same as drinks and once again the empty plates and drinking glasses were removed immediately. The water pressure in shower was very limited and sometimes would be either very hot or very cold. There was only one chair in the room, we did ask for another but unfortunately never got one which meant one of us was always lying on the bed to watch TV or read.

Excellent Family Resort

Smaller Resort that included friendly staff and great food. Wouldn't recommend the spa but otherwise it was an overall great stay. We'd hoped for a slightly more progressive entry beach but it was still very clean and well kept. Very family friendly with lots of things to do.

Very nice resort

We liked very mach but we wish you would have more fruit available other wise we love that, staff was a massing very friendly and was very clean we wood be back any time . This is our third time in this resort and we like the city and locations

FRIENDLY VALLARTA

The staff working at the resort are very friendly. We liked the heated pool and the hot tubs, they were kept very clean. You do have to reserve a chair before 7 am around the pool. The room was very clean and facing the ocean. The food was so so. Almost every day they had nice size shrimp for buffet. We had hamburger one day at the grill by the beach and it was cold and dry and the bun was dry. Never tried it again. The pizza was awesome with a thin crust. Tried the Ranchero Grill first  [... read more]time the beef was good the next time it was so tough could not cut it even. It would be nice to have some days nice steaks. All in all there was a variety to choice from. The resort is well located close to everything. One of the nicest hotel we have been to. Definitely will be back!!!!!

Excellant Resort

Very clean everywhere,Food was very good with a good selection. All staff were very friendly and lived up to the name. Had no downfalls that all three of us could find. Would go back again. Had lots of entertainment.

Wonderful Time!

Hotel is very nice, very clean and tidy. Staff are super friendly always going the extra mile to accommodate your requests. Food was a little repetitive but you could always find something to eat. The wait staff was always on the go with the drinks to the 3 pools, hot tubs and beach area. Grounds were beautiful including the banana trees! Always something to do - zumba classes, water aerobics, mechanical bull rides, kayak lessons, Spanish lessons, etc. The resident peacocks were always a t [... read more]reat.

Amazing Resort

Hotel is very nice "rustic", very clean and tidy. Staff are super friendly always going the extra mile to accommodate your requests. Food was a little repetitive but you could always find something to satisfy. The wait staff was always on the go with the drinks to the pools and beach area. Grounds were beautiful including the banana trees! Always something to do - zumba classes, water aerobics, mechanical bull rides, kayak lessons, Spanish lessons - always something.

Great staff

We were very happy with our stay. There were a couple minor things like being told we had a king bed but found it was two beds pushed together. We didn't get a fridge in our room either. Those were our only complaints and they are pretty minor. Beach was awesome, food was great and the staff were fantastic. We would definitely come back! The location was a huge bonus as well, within walking distance of lots of shopping and resturants.

The best marigold puerto vallerta exotic hotel

Clean resort and the staff is friendly who will go out of their way to try and solve any issue you may have. Lots of Canadians stay at this hotel and lots of regulars. My only cautions is that this is not a hotel for young singles as the crowd is mainly adults 50+ and some families. It can be difficult to find a chair at the public beach by the hotel.

Small and intimate resort

Friendly is a small resort in the heart of the hotel zone in Puerto Vallarta. The staff quickly becomes family-especially "Double Double" (Sergio) who served us in so many areas of the hotel (waiter at breakfast, lunch & supper and beach drink service). It's easy to feel like you are at your second home here! There were only two drawbacks that I need to mention: very uncomfortable lobby seating and continual construction noise. I assume the new pool will be ready to go soon but the couches and [... read more] chairs in the lobby desperately need to be updated! All in all, we spent a good 8 days at Friendly!

Very nice resort

This resort would definitely be on the top of my list to use on my next trip to pv. The best food as far as all inclusive resorts I have ever been to and I have 22 others to compare my opinion on. Just the reg buffet and snack bar took away any reason for me to need the a la cart. The staff are on the ball respectfull pleasent and very helpfull But the only negative I can say about the resort is they are not very smoker friendly, I vape but it's treated just like smoking, so a small area in [... read more] the lawnchair area and out front of the hotel before the reception area and on your balcony. No other public areas so if you were partying by the pool and wanted a dart you had to go out of your way to do that. Again not the end of the world, but not the first resort to go this way and won't be the last. But otherwise definitely a very good expirience.

Still the same great hotel

This was the second time travelling to Friendly Vallarta, Puerto Vallarta Mexico and the resort is still an outstanding spot to go to relax, have great service and feel like you are at your home away from home. The resort is located a few minutes from the airport, so within an hour we had deplaned, got our luggage, boarded the Sunwing bus and arrived at our hotel after dropping off at two other hotels, not bad at all. The staff at Friendly go out of their way to make you feel welcome and comfo [... read more]rtable, special shout out to Sergio (Double Double), you made me laugh everyday, the service you provided at breakfast and then out on the beach in the afternoon was second to none. The beach is a little rough most days and the undertow can be very aggressive, so watch the little ones on the beach. The food is varied enough that you will always have something different to eat, at the beach bar they make wonderful pizza in a stone oven, or will make club sandwiches, or BLT's. There are three buffets for breakfast and two for lunch, the Ranchero, an Italian and Frieda's for dinner, as well as one buffet, all are good. The hotel has a sea turtle release program that was fascinating, each night they released hundreds of baby turtles into the sea and the hotel guests participated, very impressive that they are involved in the protection of the sea turtles! The location of the hotel makes it very easy to catch a bus into old Town and to the Malecon, both places I advise you to visit. The bus is only 15 pesos per couple to ride, can't beat the price, just go to the street and wave down a bus that has "Centro" on the window to get to Old Town and on the way back flag down a bus that has Hotels on the window, easy! Make sure you visit the Marina area, opposite way from Centro, lots of restaurants and bars and lovely boats docked in the marina. We walked from our hotel, but took about an hour, you can certainly take the bus here as well. You will pass the Walmart and Sam's club if you desire to do some shopping. Speaking of shopping a new and very large mall "La Isla" is being built just down the street from the Friendly, in front of the Grand Venetian Resort,it looks like it is going to be a high end shopping mall an it is scheduled to open in December. There is supposed to be a dolphin tank inside! All in all the Friendly is a great place to stay in the Puerto Vallarta area and is a very reasonable price as well. A lot of sites have it rated a 3.5, but I would rate it higher, it might be getting a lower rating as it does not have a swim up bar (but the guys will get you a drink at the infinity pool), plus there is not a disco, but there is great entertainment every night and dancing at the beach so who needs a disco?

Slightly Disappointed

2nd visit here. Service was still awesome and food pretty good. Resort caters to Mexicans. Most of the entertainment was in Spanish. Would have felt better if they translated into english. Can't take resort's beach lounge chairs onto the beach...a recent change apparently enforced by the federal government.

Okay place

Was a nice resort,food was good,needed to be more informed on the resurants ,what was happening in the various locations. The entertainment could be be improved a lot. Other then that meet a lot of great people and had a lot of fun.

Beautiful Resort

The 2 pools, beach, accomodations, service were all amazing. the restaurants were very good with exception of the Roof Top Restaurant, the food was warm to cool, not hot. The entertainment at nights on the beach was great.

A Very Nice Place to Stay!

This hotel is a wonderful place to stay while in Puerto Vallerta! The staff are so hard working and wonderful to the guests that the name of the hotel rings true. The grounds, pool and beach area are immaculate and the service top-notch. From beach chair service of a tasty shrimp platter for two to the champagne and chocolate dipped strawberries surprisingly placed in our room, who could not but feel welcomed and special!

Nice place, staff were very friendly

Smaller all inclusive, lobby and reception recently updated, rooms could use some attention. Staff very helpful and friendly. Some good entertainment, one night was a marachi band in the lobby area, another night was a violinist, both good. Kitchen staff put on a beautiful food display/buffet on beach. Had one odd event: upon arrival, had two bottles of water and a bag of chips in room. next day no water, Asked maid and got some. The next day no water. This is after leaving what we though was a  [... read more]reasonable tip in room both nights. Upped the tip amount by 10 pesos, and we started getting water. Hmmm.

Would definitely return!

We had a wonderful trip, from the flight to the resort, everything met our expectations. While the room at the resort was spacious, the bed was firmer than we like and the bathroom was in need of updating. Very clean facilities, plentiful food with menu changes frequently during the week. The staff was AMAZING and very friendly.

Above and beyond

We just spent another fabulous at Friendly Vallarta, our fourth stay with these wonderful people. The staff at Friendly are second to none and can't seem to do enough for you to make your stay enjoyable. What was really noticeable was that it was the same staff year after year. It is not uncommon to have employees here who have been here for 20 plus years. Tells you how happy they are in their jobs! The rooms and grounds are so clean and inviting it is a credit to the staff as to how they try to [... read more] make everything just right. Can't wait to get back again next year!

What we expected and more!

This was our second time to Friendly. As many before us have said, it lives up to its name! We go for the service, the small size of this resort and the food. The staff are second to none. The food for a small resort offers a lot of variety and options. Every day they're either grilling something up on the beach, or making something tasty pool side like churros. The resort is smaller and older, but they are forever maintaining and cleaning. The rooms are well kept too. My wife has a disability, [... read more] and for Mexican standards the resort is well equipped for us to get around. She spends the day using her cane, but by evening she's exhausted and she travel's by wheelchair. While the ramps are a bit steep, still pretty accessible to all areas of the resort. There's often staff standing by wanting to push the wheelchair for you. Our 4 year old son spent at least a few hours every day in the Kids Club. They do a great job with children, which allows for some of that rest you were hoping to achieve when you booked your trip! ;) If I were to criticize anything, it would be the liquor. I by no means go crazy while I'm there, but I do make frequent trips to the bar in a day. It's hot...gotta cool off somehow! The drinks they make taste good (they make some great drinks for kids too) but you can tell that the alcohol they use is of a low quality. In the end I'm okay with this because it's a 3.5 Star and to give you the level of service and quality that they do in other areas, they'll have to cut a corner somewhere. Overall, you'll be hard pressed to find a better resort rated 3.5 stars. If you want small, functional and some great service, then go to Friendly! If you're looking for a party crowd, 5 star accommodations, or perfect, new and pristine rooms, then click 5 stars on the filter and pass this one over.