Just got back from vacation last night and had a blast in puerto vallarta! The Westin has its ups and downs. I am the ultimate hotel snob, so my idea of a fantastic room normally differs from other people. The room was just ok, not horrible- but not great...hated the floors, bed was clean (which is very important), bathroom was just decent. Leave your de-humidifier on when you're out and about (it is very noisy) or by the end of the day, your bed and clothes will all be very damp. The pool(s) were EXCELLENT. Love the swim up bars, and we hung at the activities pool the entire time, water aerobics, pool volleyball, and other games were a blast! If you like your quiet time, there are other pools to choose from. Nikki Beach Club had a great ambience, but drinks are over priced...I suggest running across the street to the convenient store and snagging a bottle or two and mixers. The beach is not the best....dirty. The staff were all very helpful and friendly. Just a hotel down (The Mayan Palace) has a great restaurant, and for more casual dining, "tacos and beer" across the street has the best shrimp burrito!

Starting 10/14 my wife, children 8 & 5 and myself stayed stayed at the Westin in Puerto Vallarta. We had a great time but most likely would not go to PV again. It is getting too crowded! Next foreign beach trip will be Saint John, VI or Grand Cayman but I better save ALOT more money! Below are the hi-lites of this trip.

POOL, POOL, POOL and MORE POOL. With two small children that swim like fish, this place is perfect. We played pirates around the palm tree islands at night while swimming from one end of the pool to the other. We mostly stayed by the quiet pool between the kids pool and the activity pool. Plenty of places to lay in the sun or get some shade.

Location! I know some people do not like the restaurants around the Marina to but for price and convience with two kids it could not be beat. Victors, the Argentine Steakhouse and MR Cream were great. Also Fajita Banana has great portions for the price. The timeshare people can get on your nerves but I just stayed super polite and worked on out nicing them.

Fishing! I did not get my sailfish but 3 good size Dorado were fun to catch especially the 30 pounder on 25 pound test. Be careful who you book with. I recommend Vallarta Adventures, Capt Pete runs it. He is very reputable. He can arrange other boats beside his own, Dos Amigos, but only on Dos Amigos does the mate cook your Dorado on a skillet, give you fresh bread, onions, hot sauce and COLD BEER!

Daytrip to Punta Mita! Had a driver, Ramon, arranged by Capt Pete take the 4 of us by van to the El Dorado Restuarant. It is right on the best beach I have seen on the Pacific Coast of Mexico. Kids got to play in the mild surf with a huge chocolate lab that wanted to play fetch in the surf with his chew toy. What a love! OK fish taco, too.

Fiesta at the Krystal - Major fun for all! Kids got to beat on a pinata and the wife had to gargle tequila. Pretty funny! The food was OK for a buffett. Drinks were weak but having the kids with us made that a good thing. Book this directly with the hotel to save some money. Kids under 6 are free but the tour companys do not tell you that.

I see folks complain about the Westin. Here are my comments:
1 - I will say I have stayed in nicer hotels but NOT with the same view. Yes the rooms are humid but I do not know how you could eliminate that. We kept the AC going and it kept the room OK.
2 - Complaints about debris in the pool. FOLKS those are REAL PALM trees. Every morning I drank coffee and watch groups of workers clean the pool and lounges.
3 - Price for food. OK, this they have right but the Marina is 5 min away. We spent as much on lunch poolside as we did for dinner at the Marina. I got over the sticker shock by remembering the 15% food discount Costco gave us and the conveience of not having to leave the pool.

Two extra notes,
1- if you want a sports bar, hit the Marriott for Champions. COLD crinks and huge portions. GREAT BIG REUBEN!
2 - Hit the WalMart SuperCenter the first day in town. Get a cooler and buy alot of drinks. It will save you a bundle. Take the bus there for 4 peso's(40 cents) and take a cab back with all your goodies for 40 pesos($4). Hit the bakery in Walmat for some great breakfast treats. Also get coffee and small round filters for the hotel coffee maker since $4 is alittle steep for my money first cup.

We stayed here on spring break 2005. Not only was the general area of P.V. gorgeous, but the hotel was also. I was completely taken aback by the view from the lobby as we were checking in. You could see the ocean glistening between the huge coconut trees and feel the breeze whipping through the open air lobby. The hotel corridors were also open air, giving the property a very tropical feel. I don't think there was an exterior door one on the property which was very welcoming. The pool was amazing. It was huge and wrapped around the grove of coconut trees but you could always find a place that felt cozy and 'your own'. The rooms weren't particulary luxurious but very 'old mexico' cozy. Juccuzi on the balcony was very nice. Showers were fabulous. The two restaurants on-site were excellent but a little pricey when you're there for a week. However, the hotel is located so close to town that for five bucks (or less if you want to take the bus, which stops in front of the hotel) you can take a taxi into town and eat at many more less expensive places, as well as world class restaurants located around the downtown area. The hotel is not far from about anything you would want to see in P.V., perfect location. Service from the staff was excellent. Would go back in a heartbeat!

I selected the Westin in PV because I've always been very happy with Starwood/Westin Hotels. My boyfriend had never been to Mexico and I wanted to ensure sure he had a luxury experience. However, the Westin did not provide that experience. The staff was kind but the hotel and its cleanliness very disappointing. Our room had horrible mold & mildew - so badly the paint was peeling off the walls and the lamp shades were discolored with visible mold. There were in-room dehumidifiers in addition to fans and an air conditioner, that ran constantly & loudly – having to empty the heavy, smelly dehumidifier several times a day is not the type of stay I envisioned. I asked for another room and the staff nonchalantly told they would come clean the room again. Perhaps the whole hotel has this problem so they knew moving me was pointless? My entire stay the pool desperately needed sweeping and cleaning – I barely wanted to get in the water. My friends stayed at the Marriott just a few hotels from us. Their hotel and guest room was clean, bright and lovely. Plus their beach was nicer. I will never select a Westin hotel on name alone. There are many great Starwood properties but this is NOT one of them.