Our first trip to mexico and we weren't too impressed with Puerto Vallarta in general. The costa club was decent just what you would expect for $700 each for a week AI. We never got sick from the food, never had anything stolen and the service other than the bar was good. The bar was disappointing, any drinks that came off the 'gun' all tasted like tequila and the line ups where horrible. Worst of all the whole hotel shut down at 10 pm. The hotel was full for Christmas with people from central mexico and there was a few other Canadians. It was a clean place to stay with decent food. For a young couple it was good enough to get away from the snow.

We went all inclusive with Noli tours through itravel2000 we went 2 ppl from edmonton,alberta with medical for 1450.00 for 7 nights, good place to stay. Staff very friendly, although a few of them only speak spanish, it was good. Showers were a little cool sometimes, but alright. Clean rooms, can hear sometimes your drunk neighbours rolling in, but other than that alright. The buffet is ok, but mostly ate out as we were off the resort most of the time. The time shares poeple are little bit of a nuisance but that is how they make their living, don't be fooled,if it is your first time to Puerto vallarta, they sit and wait as soon as you get through customs on the other side and ask you what your plans are, if you dont have anything planned and want to go, they give you gifts, but you wanna play them ask for american money they will give up to 400.00 US. Our trip was good and our stay was good, would go back to Costa Club Punta Arena. Nothing high class, but clean and friendly.
Tanya&Gerald

My wife and I spent a week at the Costa Club, from Nov. 27 to Dec. 4. We knew that it was rated a two or a two-and-a-half star 'resort', depending upon which site one checked. And for a two or two-and-a-half star place, it was just fine, thanks. One gets, as you know, what one pays for. Our total cost, for the two of us for one week at this all inclusive, was right around $1,300 CDN. How could we lose? Especially when it was -25C in Edmonton and blowing and snowing! What we had in Puerto Vallarta at the Costa Club were blue skies, sunshine and +32C for the entire seven days we were there.

It always really intrigues my wife and me when we read all the negative comments about resorts such as the Costa Club. Gotta remember - it's a 2 or 2.5 star, after all! They don't hide that fact on any of the sites we checked. What some of these reviewers expect from a 2 or 2.5 star is beyond us. And yes, we've stayed at 4 and 5 star resorts throughout Mexico. So we do know what very, very good and/or outstanding mean, too.

Back to the Costa Club, though. Really pleased with the location - a 20-minute walk to downtown, to the Malecon and to old Puerto Vallarta. The traffic along the main road on which the Costa Club's situated is very heavy and, of course, noisy. But, 50 yards inside the Costa Club's grounds, one would never know there are buses and cars and trucks and motorcycles roaring past the front gate. Tranquil and serene on well-maintained grounds.

Rooms - just fine, actually. Always clean and well-prepared (when we did or when we didn't leave a 20 peso tip). It's a place to sleep, right? Beds - hard, yes. But we've never stayed anywhere in Mexico where the beds aren't hard. Box springs don't exist in Mexico. Or, do they? Anyway... Hot water - never a problem. Plentiful. Food - very, very good and lots of it, during all three meals. The Italian a la carte - very, very good.

The pools - nothin' wrong with them. Clean the whole week we were there. Staff - generally quite friendly and helpful. Appreciated when we spoke Spanish to them.

The only two drawbacks to staying at the Costa Club (neither of which the resort has any real control over) are first of all, the beach - extremely rocky and the water drops off very quickly to a bed of boulders, And, secondly - the two high-rise condos / apartments / structures that have never been completed, that are falling apart and that are on the beach just outside the Costa Club's property. They are a major eye sore and obviously take away from what would be a terrific view from the Costa Club's pools. Not the resort's fault. A shame.

But, once again, for two people for a week at an all inclusive for $1,300 CDN, sunshine and +32C...how could we complain? Anywhere's better than Edmonton, or anywhere in Alberta for that matter, when it's -25C, snowing and blowing.

My husband and I went with agroup of 10 friends and we all had slightly different experiences. Ours was horrible and would not go back.. After 2 days, you were sick of the barfee. Most of us had the runs from the food. Breakfast was usually Ok. By the last day, I refused to eat there. We had hot water 1/2 of the time, Maid service occasionally. I would stongly recommend tipping the maids as a must, to get any service. When the toilet overflowed (with dirty water) there was not a plunger to be found, or assistance from maintanence after 8pm. The beach was only so-so, as was the pool. If you are only looking for a place to sleep, you will be all right. Don't forget your Immodium...we all used it during our stay. We do not have high expectations but we did expect something more.