Grand Decameron Complex Bucerias Trademark: 5th time back for 1 month stay

This is our 5th time back to the resort. We stayed a full month, which in the end was not long enough, for us! This resort has many returning guests some up to 20 years and many that stay 2-3 months. A sign of a consistent, valued resort by many of us. I have written several in-depth reviews of this resort, which are posted on trip advisor, so I will just highlight some of changes and give a quick overview. Everyone’s expectations can be very different and so in order for you to be a [... read more]ble to read our review you can understand what we look for in our vacations. We look for a nice beach, mature adults not a lot of party people, friendly atmosphere, clean hotel, controlled smoking areas. A variety of food selections, and various extra items such as bikes, boogie boards etc. As well as quick access to the countries culture. The town is within walking distance of the hotel, lots to discover and great options on restaurants. It is our understanding the hotel is under new management and it was very apparent that the staff were on edge through this trip. We were happy to find many of our favorite staff members, still remained at the resort even with the new ownership, we even met a few outstanding new ones who have joined the Decameron team. We still received the same amazing and friendly service as we have come to expect from this resort, although many of the staff seem to have limited English skills. Give them time and in a year they should be up to speed. In the meantime It was very challenging to order your eggs how you want them cooked as this staff member english understanding was very limited. She really tried. However, often we had to get someone to translate or simple hand gestures worked at times. We mainly ate in the small restaurant by building 5, except at dinner time. The grounds are kept in tip top shape; you can see the gardeners working hard every day to keep it looking amazing. No hummingbirds this year which was a bit of disappointment. The hotel has several zones set up, the quiet adult pool area, which is very quiet, no kids and no loud music. The rest of the pools can be more active. They do monitor it to ensure the kids and loud music is kept in control. They have some work to do on the smoking rules. It was not uncommon to see people smoking right under the no smoking signs. It was kind of disappointing as many of them were fellow Canadians, who should be accustomed to limited smoking areas. The day to day staff do not enforce the rules and you do have to ask management to do something about it. It was very frustrating through the vacation, especially when trying to eat our meals, enjoy beach or pool time. They put out ashtray around the pools which suggests that smoking is open to the pool area. They need to designate a smoking pool area in the adult zone as we found we had to move often. The same on the beach, as well with folks simply dropping their butts on the beach where can be washed into the water. The food was acceptable but they do have some work to do on it. A bit different this year with the management changes. Most of the meats were in a lot of sauces. There is always options and variety. Plenty of fresh fruit and veggies. Each night they have a different theme in each of the large buffets. Last year they offered more carved meats this year we could only find that option at dinner in Flamingos. They do offer A La Cart meals which are worth going to. The Italian is the most popular. Many people line up very early in the am to book these. By early around 6 AM. You can only book for two nights and can only book for parties up to six unless you bring another person with you. The bookings start at 730 and they do get you through the line fairly fast. Also you have four choices in dinner sittings. Wifi is not available throughout the resort. It can be slow depending on how many folks are using it. There are two spots, however the one by the main check in desk seems to be very buggy this year and you could not stay connected. They have upgraded their TV channels, however not many Canadian channels which is a big disappointment, given that the resort is primarily Canadians and Mexican folks. We were there during the grey cup and it would have been nice to watch in the sport bar on the resort. We did go across to the local sport bar and had great food drink and an enthusiastic crowd. Great fun! Hubby went back often to watch the hockey games. The beach is wonderful for those that like to walk, you can walk for miles and miles, keeping in mind at that time of year it has a bit of slant. The waves were higher than normal this year, so many folks really enjoyed boggie boarding! You can get them for free at the sport shack, they also offer Kayaks and you can sign up for a fun short sail. The beds are very hard! We did request a fridge for medications but was never fulfilled. We had to continue to get an ice bucket to keep things cool. This year they did not clean up the beach as well as they have done in the past, not sure why this is the case, this could be improved. Keep in mind that the beach loungers are plastic and after a time can get uncomfortable, many of us simple bring or purchase a blow up lounger which work great! Often people leave them behind for the next person to enjoy. You can get your blow up filled in the small store or at the bike rental. For a small fee, sorry not sure what it is. They have also changed to small water bottles in the rooms rather than the large once, being focused on the environment seems like another poor contribution. It is best to bring your own drinking glass, especially if you wish to have a straw as they do not have any straws in the resort. Which is great! This year they moved from plastic disposable glasses to washable ones. Lots of folks ended up with stomach issues, including our group, we are speculating that is due to them not washing them well enough. After the second week the cups disappeared and the disposable ones were brought back. Given so many folks were sick this year, far more than in our previous visits. I think they could perhaps add some hand sanitizers, or even better bring your own. Several people in our group got sick and had to visit the resort doctor. They loved her and she really took great care of them. This is also a fee service. Given we were there for a month, I wanted to go the gym every day to bike. The bikes were broken and in very poor condition. I would have used other equipment but I have mobility issues and that is the only piece of equipment I can use! I am hopeful they will address this for next year. Sometimes we booked dinner late (8:30) and we did find that we need a snack late afternoon, unfortunately none of the bars offer any snacks. I think offering some tortillas and salsa might be a great upgrade. The safe in the room is recommended, you need to know it is an extra daily charge. It is important to also budget tipping. The staff work hard for very little pay and the tipping helps them out a lot. It does go into a pot for them to share among each of their teams. If you plan for it you won’t get tip fatigued. Canadians do not leave loonies or toonies, they are useless to them. Peso is best but dollars also work. US or Cdn. We did find a lot more grumpy people this year as well as some new cultural folks that were not that friendly. So it did change the atmosphere somewhat. We heard Air Transat has added new routes which may reflect the differences. We booked our trip with Trip Central, with Air Transat, we will be back again next year. Jenn Black our travel agent was outstanding, as she is every year.

Grand Decameron Complex Bucerias Trademark: Had a great time!

Lots of restaurants to choose from and very good food! Staff incredibly friendly and rooms sparkle clean. Very satisfied overall for pretty much everything. Would recommend this hotel to anyone. The only drawback is how farsi the hotel from downtown but not much we can do ha ha. Happy New Year!

Iberostar Selection Playa Mita: Amazing resort!

This is the fourth all inclusive resort I have stayed at and by far the best. During our stay in December 2018 we enjoyed the nightly performances, delicious food, walks on the beach, and exceptional service from the staff. We were a large party (~33) with young children and we felt very welcome and accommodated. Would definitely recommend this resort.

Secrets Vallarta Bay: Secrets Vallarta Bay

This is a great resort. It was our second visit to this location. The food, staff, and grounds are all top notch. We had a perfect room with a fantastic view from the 9th floor. The resort does have music playing until 11:30ish on many nights. If you like to go to sleep early then bring some ear plugs. The music didn't bother us but it might be an issue for some.

Krystal Grand Nuevo Vallarta: nice place

nice place everything very close, clean , nice room, ocean and beach beautiful, food very good . only complaint was check in was very disorganized and took way too long ( 2 hours ) Close to 3 differant towns , cabs very reasonable and very accessible, overall great vacation spot!

Grand Decameron Complex Bucerias Trademark: Pleasant Staff

Nice resort with great beach access. Variety of food was decent except that the tastes were often bland. Fruit was fresh and plentiful. Deserts were well crafted but again lacking in distinct taste. Staff were friendly, grounds well maintained. Maids were accommodating and rooms were well cleaned. Not enough time was taken during check-in to explain services and entertainment. Too few options for those with food allergies and not enough food services staff were were trained to assist with aller [... read more]gy alternatives. Not recommended for celiac guests.

Tropicana Hotel: Great Location

One of the few hotels in the romantic zone on the ocean with their own palapas which is super convenient. Staff are friendly and rooms are just fine for the price. Whenever we are in PV we always stay here and it's never let us down.

Grand Decameron Complex Bucerias Trademark: One of the best resorts

I have gone to this resort 7 times and would return Other than a request for the third floor all our expectations were met and that was dealt with immediately This resort is large and kept clean and everyone including the grounds keepers are friendly and helpful Mats of choices for food

Grand Decameron Complex Bucerias Trademark: Nice Resort

Visited for the first time after being away for 5 years, previously been here 4 times. Food - ranges from bad to really good and it depends on what night and what location you eat at. Find the La carte restaurants better than buffets. The Buffet by section 1 really bad. Loved the Italian and Japanese restaurants, Brazilian good too, but if you say no they only come around once for each type of meat. Do not have pizza, it is awful, not cooked and plain. We even asked for it to remain in th [... read more]e oven for a few more minutes but they would not do it. Reservation system for dinner in the carte restaurants really sucks. I am on vacation, I don't want to get up at 7! All the pools are good, we mostly stayed at the adult only one but did visit the others. Hate how people reserve loungers early in the morning then don't show up to use they until 2 or 3 in the afternoon. Beach - nice, lots of room, ocean can be a little rough. The waiters in the restaurants and bars are extremely courteous, and pleasant, really want you to come back to their sections. Wifi is only in the lobby areas but then again we were on vacation so really did not use it much. Rooms are basic and clean. They are musty smelling, bring air freshener with you, I have done this in the past. Biggest complaint is that there are no fridges in the rooms, (I forgot about this when I booked). I checked with Air Transat and they said they would put request on the file for our check in. I also sent an e-mail to the hotel (twice) requesting the fridge and explaining why we needed it. (Medication that need to be kept cool and taken 3 times a day). We did get a fridge on the second day but it was very stressful until then, wondering if it would be OK or not. (sitting on ice can make it too cold) Found that the evening show are not as good as years ago but still worth going to. Do need a bit more lighting in the seating area before and after the show. Would go back as you can get a great deal here!

Grand Decameron Complex Bucerias Trademark: Good resort.

I like this resort because of it's proximity to Bucerias. Easy to go to local shops and restaurants. The staff is pretty good. The food has gone downhill. Booking for the a la carte is absolutely ridiculous! One 7:30 a.m. booking location so you have to be up and over there by 7 a.m. at the very latest to hope for a restaurant reservation.

Grand Decameron Complex Bucerias Trademark: Wonderful resort

I love this resort and have nothing but great things to say about it. When one goes a number of times you will see the same faces, staff and visitors, this says something as there are many places to choose from so why the DeCameron? It is simple, they make you feel as though you are coming home. One of the best things that I can say about this visit is that Ricardo is BACK. He is one terrific guy and will strive to assist in any way possible. Will be back next year. Does one ever get t [... read more]ired of it? The answer is NO. Keep up the good work DeCameron. There is no other place on my list as home is home. Thank-you Ricardo for being you.

Grand Decameron Complex Bucerias Trademark: Best Holiday Ever

Had a wonderful time at the Royal Decameron Complex. I felt very comfortable there. The staff and the clientele were all so very friendly. There was a lot of choice for food and lots of fresh fruit and fruit juices. Our room was very clean and fresh. We stayed in the adult area of the complex so it was nice and quiet. We could walk to another area if we wanted action, and it was a nice short walk to the beach. The sand was very clean and we had no fear of walking barefoot. A nice feature [... read more] was that we could walk for hours along the beach in either direction of the resort. We could also walk a few blocks to town or to a convenience store. We could use the bikes for free to ride and explore, and the boogie boards were also free to use. I would definitely go back and stay longer. Excellent Bang for your Buck.

Sheraton Buganvilias Puerto Vallarta Hotel: Drama free resort

I thank Sheraton and tripcentral for a drama free, friendly environment. Everything was good. The rooms were clean with a nice view. There were different food options and everything was included. It is a little farther from malecon.

Grand Decameron Complex Bucerias Trademark: Royal Decameron

This was my 3 rd visit here. The staff was very friendly and hardworking. The food and entertainment quality went down. There was a lot of changes made to who was performing and what night. It was never what the board said. Used to be every night a dance routine now they added lame trivia night and a couples contest. Front desk staff was very accommodating and helpful. The rooms were very clean and grounds were very well maintained. They even swept the side walks and cobble stone roads around th [... read more]e complex.They need more English taught to the staff though.

Sheraton Buganvilias Puerto Vallarta Hotel: Excellent resort!

This was the best hotel in the downtown area we have experienced. Service was spectacular (room service, pool service, restaurants). Rooms are updated, grounds well kept and food amazing! Beach area is small.

Crown Paradise Club: Good value family resort

Great beach for Pv. Good but not great food. Service is just ok. Rooms are clean, modern. Grounds are nice, well kept. Wifi good in common areas, but spotty in our room. I would go again, as the price was excellent.

Secrets Vallarta Bay: Let down

The hotel has a great reputation but we thought it wasn't up to standards🤔 Pool area not very clean... room services plates left in hallways for hours which was gross. Drinks inconsistent every day. Yes they have hard working employees for sure. But we have stayed at 8 different all inclusive sin PV and we not return to secrets. Unfortunately we payed a high price for this resort and it's not a 5 star at all.

Grand Decameron Complex Bucerias Trademark: Great resort

Excellent on all counts. Very easy checkin and checkout. Grounds are well maintained. Staff very helpful and friendly. Easy to get around. Shows were entertaining. Rooms were clean. Beach was very nice and had enough chars at all times

Fiesta Americana Puerto Vallarta: Excellent service everywhere.

We got excellent service everywhere - hardworking and polite staff. Francesco (Italian rest.) made us laugh with a couple of really good jokes. Restaurans wee OK, buffet a bit better, barbecue outdoors even better, Mexican Fiesta evening was superb - food variety and prof. mariachi band. Good location: close to airport, city center/Malecon, felt safe to walk around. Beach OK, water gets deep quickly, though. Pool rather small. All rooms are ocean-view, large, clean, just a bit outdated but no [... read more] issues, all functional. Efficient check-in, check-out. At check-in our friends got their luggage in their room in two minutes, we got them in half an hour... no other issues, though.

Marival Emotions Resort and Suites Riviera Nayarit: Fantastic Resort

We stayed at the Marival Resort for one week in early December 2018. Below is some feedback: Good: Food - Was excellent Staff - Were friendly and very helpful Pools - They were heated, well designed, my family loved them. There was plenty of chairs. Crowding - The resort didn't feel full or crowded while we were there Beach - This is the best beach i've seen. The sand is soft, the water is warm, and it is very shallow far out Outdoor equipment rental Ok: Kids Club - Staff spoke engl [... read more]ish well and had a variety of activities. My only negative feedback is a few activities (ie a gorilla chasing kids up a rock wall) weren't appropriate for my young children. They also watched TV a small amount of time which I would have preferred they didn't Rooms - Well designed, but a bit older. This was definitely satisfactory, but not exceptional Bad: Sand Toys - They don't loan any out. We had to bring our own all the way from Canada Gym - The equipment was ok, both ellipticals were broken and apparently they had been broken for a while. The gym is also very poorly air conditioned.