We just got home last night. Didn't want to leave!!!! One week just isn't enough. We had a wonderful time. Met up with 2 couples from Campbell River that we had visited with on this forum.

The room was nice and big with a king size bed but there are no dressers and we only had 3 hangars in the closet. Just doubled up things so wasn't a huge issue but you may want to ask for some more or just throw a few into your suitcase. The shelves worked fine for us (only 2 people) but if you were taking your children you may run out of room. We used the suitcase caddy to hold our carryon and we used that for our underwear and bathing suits, etc. We had wonderful maid service and left a variety of small gifts and $$ each day or two for them. Always had pop and water in the fridge and fresh towels in the bathroom. The only thing that was missing was some patio chairs on the deck. Didn't ask for any but if we had I am sure they would have found some for us.

We were in room 2337. Quite a distance from the beach, but we had a great view. We left our patio door open every night (with the screen closed) and listened to the surf. It was terrific! We never heard the disco once even though we weren't far from it. Perhaps on the other side of the hallway did. We found a couple of shortcuts that I will share with you. If you wanted to go to the pool or beach - continue down the middle set of stairs until the bottom level (room numbers 20--) and the path will take you right to the pool. If you take the path at the far end of the building (the one that says for staff only) it will bring you out behind the theatre and right at the lobby bar (and espresso machine). We took it frequently and never had any issues with the staff. The lobby bar also had coffee service set up for early risers, so even if you didn't bring a coffee maker (we did and used it a few times) you could still get your morning java fix. The espresso machine usually didn't start humming until 9 am. You could either take a cup up to the buffet with you or eat first and pick one up on your way back.

The Mexican Restaurant was fabulous. Remember to ask for the "special" coffee. You were able to choose a soup, the salad bar, main course and dessert. The Mediterrean (or Italian) Restaurant was also very good. You received a salad, soup, and then a choice from entree, pasta, pizza for your main course and then dessert bar. I had the fettucine alfredo and it was very good. A couple of people also had the beef that was super as well. Very tender. We were also able to go to a BBQ on the beach. They were doing some changing to the way the alacartes worked so our friends who arrived after us weren't able to take in the BBQ without giving up one of their 3 alacartes so chose not to. They also went to the Asian and found it very good. The buffet was very good with lots to choose from. But it is similar everyday so if you chose to eat a little of everything every day - you could get bored. But if you were more specific on what you ate each day - you could stretch it out over your week. The lunch menu was a bit different than the dinner. They both had the pizzas (terrific) and the pasta bar (also wonderful) but the lunch menu also included items to make up sandwiches and had quite a few salads and fixings as well. The dinner menu also included the grill which would cook up a couple of different items each night. Usually one was of a vegetarian type. I saw pork chops a couple of nights. Also there was always a wide variety of mexican dishes. Breakfast was always the same but delicious all the same. The french toast with the sugar topping was to die for!

The animation staff work soooo hard. They only get one day off a week and are at the resort from 9 am until 1 or 2 am. Quite a few of them live just off the grounds at the main roadway in a dorm-like setting with the others living in Bucerias. Granted - the shows aren't Vegas - but heck - if that was what you wanted - go there instead. We thought they were very good and thoroughly enjoyed all that we saw. Carlos does a wonderful job with the kids and they were always anxious to get the show started. Lots of times there were local talent playing in the courtyard prior to the shows. Very talented musicians. Very enjoyable to listen to and even dance to.

We stayed at the beach most days. We are from land-locked Alberta so when we get the opportunity to be in the sand and ocean we take it. As far as the red tide goes - it can happen anywhere there is salt water. It was not on shore while we were there, but it was still around. The only thing that put a damper on things at the beach were the guests who got up very early in the a.m. and put their towels on the chairs in the shade, only to not show up until around 3 pm or so. We were very tempted to use the chairs anyway until the people showed up - or just move them over a bit and put our chairs in. Only bad thing to report so we just didn't let it bother us a whole bunch.

We did a couple of excursions. Dale went scuba diving to the Marietas. Didn't see any big Rays but did manage to see small ones, eels, puffer fish, etc. Enjoyed the second dive better through the tunnels. We also did the Canopy tour. They were zip lines through the tree tops and then a rappel down. It was a blast. Lots of fun. Both of these were through Vallarta Adventures. We also went into Bucerias twice. The first time we took the bus. You catch it right at the top of the Palladium's driveway and it was 8 pesos each way. Some drivers are definitely more wild than others!!! The ride is an experience. There are two bank machines on the main roadway in Bucerias. We used both without any trouble. Then headed west from both of them and you end up at the beach. Then just head towards the clock tower and you come to the market as well as numerous restaurants on the beach. Shopping is a lot of fun and they will barter with you. Never pay the first price! There are also a couple of grocers near there that you can buy your liquor at. We bought there because had been told that the airport duty frees were more expensive. Actually - they were a little cheaper on some things and a little more on others.

All in all we had a wonderful time. It was our first time to Mexico. The people we met and visited with made the vacation all the better. If I can be of any assistance to anyone - just drop me an e-mail.

We went to Palladium March 5 to 12 and had a great time. Resort beautiful and really no complaints except....I began to feel ill upon landing in Vancouver after trip and by the time I got home I was very ill. I ended up being hospitalized for 8 nights and it was determined I got saminella poisoning (and the type is often from poultry or eggs). Ironically, I am a very picky eater and really stuck to the basics at the resort (unlike those I was with who ate everything). But I did ask for two eggs over medium the morning we were leaving and I recall thinking I would have cooked them more. I only ate one of them but I'm pretty sure it was the culprit and I didn't eat anything off the resort. So be warned...make sure your eggs are cooked well. In hindsight was the trip worth it? NOT as I was in hospital longer than we were away and was so ill there was real concern about what was wrong with me. On the other hand we met a family who had been to Palladium 3 years in a row as they said their kids used to get sick at other places and never get sick at Palladium. Go figure!

My husband and I were at the Palladium March 9th thru the 16th...The weather was nice 78 to 80 degrees...This was our 10th trip together...I had read several reviews before we left and was not sure what to expect...
We really enjoyed our trip...We are from Wisconsin so it was a relief to get away from our weather at home...
We stayed in building #1 and had no problems..We tipped $2.00 every day
and I also left books and magazines our insulated mugs and anything I didn't want to haul home...I left a note every day asking for extra water
and wash clothes and it was not a problem...
The beach is not very long not like in Aruba or Antigua but what the heck its a beach and not 4 feet of snow...The food was good we ate at the Mexican restaurant twice and the buffet was good not like eating our favorites at home but that was o.k. it makes you appreciate what we have
at home...
As for entertainment we never saw any of it we were back in our room by
9:30 or so every night...The staff was nice and friendly and a tip here and there goes a long way and they appreciate it...We liked being away from all the other resorts...A note...Our plane landed at 12:10 but we did not get to the resort til 3:00 the bus takes you and all the other people staying at the other resorts and our resort was the last drop off...If we go back I would take a taxi from the airport to the resort to avoid the bus ride...But it was nice to see what the other resorts looked like...
There are a lot of stairs but I didn't mind its exercise and we all need that!
Although my husband used the ramps when ever possible!
We met a lot of nice people and everyone was friendly...We like to lay on the beach so music and noise was not a problem...We never had problems with finding lounge chairs.
We were in Puerto Vallarta last year so we did not go into town this year.
As for excursions we did not do any of them...We were there to relax and that is exactly what we did...
We had a great time and would go back in the future!

My best friend and I (18), my brother and his girlfriend (22) and my parents spent a week in this resort and enjoyed practically everything about it. (03/21-03/28) we're from chicago and it was refreshing meeting sooo many canadians- especially the ones from bc vancouver!haha!!! tiki hut (snack bar) was great coz it was open till 4am, the beach was okay but too many rocks, boogie boarding was okay, atv-ing was the best, horse back riding hurt (but was romantic coz it was on the beach at sunset), the disco started out slow everynight but the more everyone drank- the more fun it got :-) the resort and grounds were beautiful, the alligators were lazy haha, and the workers at the resort were nice, shorty was the funniest (he's incharge of water activities down on the beach), beach party was fun, so was building a bonfire on the beach with friends in the middle of the night; it sucked for some of the teens who were like 17 and had yellow (kid) bracelets, coz u need the blue one to get drinks, swim in the adult pool and go to the disco at night. coming back to school in chicago was a drag, can't wait till summer now!! hope this review helps, Irena