My husband and I own a one bedroom at the newer Villa del Arco in Cabo San Lucas; therefore, we typically go to Cabo, but, this year, we decided to try another city in Mexico and felt Puerto Vallarta would be a good option since we could stay at one of two sister resorts there (Villa del Palmar or Flamingos). Also, my parents' home resort is at Villa del Palmar in Puerto Vallarta and, although they have not actually BEEN there in 8 or 9 years, they have fond memories.

When I called to book our week, the person at UVC attempted to talk me into booking at Flamingos. She said because we owned at Cabo, we'd probably like Flamingos better than Villa del Palmar. In hindsight, she was likely right. But, we wanted to stay a bit closer to the action for our first visit to Puerto Vallarta.

Before we left, I, too, read the reviews on this resort and was a bit concerned because it sounded like our experience might be hit or miss.

As it turned out, that is pretty much how it was.

First off, although we know to walk right past the timeshare vampires at the airport in Cabo, we were a bit confused at the Puerto Vallarta airport because there were people standing around looking like they were representing Villa del Palmar (beneath signs of the resort). On not one but TWO occasions, we got stopped by one of these ghouls and in both instances, they out and out lied to us about when our transportation would be there (50 minutes) and tried to suck us into signing up for their timeshare's presentation. I'll say in general that putting up with these folks and their constant come-ons and sales pitches can be amusing at times, but, after awhile, it gets quite irritating. So, like we do in Cabo, we tend to smile sweetly at them, say nothing except maybe a "No, gracias", and sail on by.

Of course, our transportation was waiting for us right outside the area!

And, that is another thing; if you are staying at Villa del Palmar, don't bother with the pre-arranged transportation (they don't even do transportation from the resort back to the airport). It cost us $13/per to get to the resort whereas it was a $8 cab ride back to the airport (my understanding is that it is a bit more expensive to take a cab from the airport to the resort, but, certainly not $26!)

Ok, so, we arrived at the resort. Since we did a Wed-Wed week, it really was not very crowded (note: this was a definite plus on travel side as well; the airports were not as crowded, we had zero delays/problems with our flights, etc.) As we are Gold Members, we were able to walk up to the Gold Member desk and check right in (no waiting).

This is where I always get frustrated. Being a Gold Member with UVC is supposed to mean we get the best room available, even if it's a larger unit than ours. This has never happened to us yet, in fact, we typically have a few go-arounds before getting a room we want. The good news is, for the most part, they are willing to let you look at several rooms before you accept one and check in.

This time was no exception. We got there and found we'd been booked into a room in Building 6 on the 2nd floor (near the hot tub/La Cucina). My husband told them we wanted something in either Building 1 or Building 8 (the two closest to the beach) and higher up. The check in lady let us go look at a room in Building 1 on the 4th floor; but, it looked out at the pool, not the beach AND it was a studio, not a one bedroom. So much for the upgrade bit! We went back and asked for something else; then, her manager (we supposed) leaned over and said something to her in Spanish. After that, we were simply told the room they'd put aside for us was the best available. Given that the resort was about 1/2 full, we really found that hard to believe, but, by this time, we were tired and wanted to unpack and get a margarita, so, we accepted the original room.

After we did this, we were ushered over to the concierge to get our Gold Card (we get this automatically being Gold Members). We knew what to expect; they'd give us the card, tell us somethings about the area and resort (some of this was actually very helpful), etc. Then, we'd get hit to attend a "Member's Meeting" so we could "Get questions answered about our membership". Well, we got tricked into this once in Cabo as this "Member's Meeting" turns out to be yet another presentation in the hopes that you'll elect to upgrade your unit size or your season. We'd already decided that we were NOT going to do this; even if it meant money and such because we HATE being hit up for stuff we don't want (or intend) to do. If we were younger and needed the money, we might, but, as you get older, your time becomes more important than a few extra bucks here and there. But, hey, if other people chose to do it, all the more power to them.

Anyway, we told "Elaine" no; it was amazing how many more times she attempted to get us to say yes to this "offer" (round trip transportation to their other resort, the "meeting", then $250 in cash and more of a discount with the Gold Card). I almost felt sorry for her, but, we were resolute!

We lasted three nights in the room. On the 2nd morning, the toilet stopped up and overflowed. Always disgusting when this happens. I will say that they got a maintenance person out there very quickly to fix it, then, a maid to clean the floor. Although this room was "ok" (clean enough but, as my review title suggests, just sort of "old and tired" looking), the issue became our next door neighbors who were chain smoking in their room (apparently smoking is not allowed in the rooms although there is no signage posted to this effect) and out on their lanai. This meant we got a permanent wafting of smoke into our room/lanai.
By Saturday morning we'd had enough of this so I marched down to reception, explained the problem, and we were given another room with no hassle at all.

This room was in Building 5 on the 5th floor. It was a tad bigger and brighter but the A/C ran constantly. It was either off or on.
Also, there was an incredible amount of mold on the bathroom ceiling. It is VERY humid in Puerto Vallarta, much more so than Cabo; we noticed everything constantly felt damp and limp; the bed linens, the pages of the books we were reading, the tile floor. Obviously, this is not the resort's fault, but, it was a tad off-putting to always feel "slimy".

Anyway, it was interesting to me how we couldn't get a room higher up when we checked in, yet, as soon as I complained about another guest, they moved us!

Our only other disappointment, really (other than it just not being as nice as Villa del Arco in Cabo where everything is brand spanking new, Italian tile, marble, wrought iron, etc.), was we opted to eat in for the Prime Rib Night on Sunday (normally we would not have done this because we like to explore restaurants in the town but we both unfortunately got a bit sick from "something" and were not as adventurous as we usually are).
I would NOT recommend this. For $38 per person, you get either salad or soup, the prime rib, potato, vegetable, dessert and either coffee/tea. For $28, you drop the soup or salad, dessert and the coffee/tea. We opted for this because neither of us wanted dessert and coffee/tea. Well, my mashed potatoes were INSTANT (I definitely recognize this flavor from my long ago starving college student days) and the meat was not cooked to order. Also, there was probably no horseradish in the sauce.
It took forever to get our meal so we ended up with a complimentary dessert; some sort of frozen apple tart (like Sarah Lee or something) with vanilla ice cream (the ice cream was good!)

Ok, those were all of the "misses", here are the hits!

We found all of the staff to be extremely helpful and friendly. No one ever pestered us for a tip. In particular, the guys at the pool were just great (Daniel, Eduardo and Julio in particular). Because we were not feeling great, we spent more time at the pool than we would have otherwise. The pool area is extremely well maintained and kept up. The water was bath water warm (not freezing like some resort pools). We had snacks by the pool on three occasions; nachos, guacamole and a hamburger. All were really tasty. We didn't think the drinks were watered down at all, in fact, the margaritas (on the rocks) packed a powerful punch. We were usually around to take part in the pool's happy hour from 4-5 (two for one but you don't get a Gold Card discount on those drinks).

The sports bar near the pool was ok, too. This is where we went right after we checked in for a margarita...kick a$$! Real strong. Maybe not a good thing for all people, but, we appreciate a good drink. We ate there twice; the food was fine. For whatever reason, we both really liked the refried beans there!

We had breakfast a few times at La Cucina where they have a huge buffet. We never partook of this, though; neither of us can eat enough to justify the cost. So, we ordered off the menu and the food was more than decent (if a little slow in coming); in particular, the breakfast burrito. Watch out for those $2.50 cans of Diet Coke (Coke Light), though! Ouch.

I agree with other posters that the beach area in front of the resort is a bit sorry. We sat out there one afternoon because there were no chairs by the pool (by the way, as with other resorts, fellow guests have a tendency to "reserve" chairs by throwing their towels on them for hours on end; this is supposedly not allowed, but, I've never seen anything done about it). Sitting out on the sand was ok; the service was not as good, though and you have to put up with the people on the beach trying to sell you their various wares. They stay behind a line, but, if you happen to look up from your book, they'll catch your eye and start waving their stuff around. Now, I understand this is how they make their living and I actually bought one of the beach dresses for $20, so, it didn't bug me but it might bug some folks.

We did go to Soriana ( a big grocery store few blocks to the right of the resort twice and agree the prices are superior to the on-site market. Plus, the bakery is fantastic. We also went to Wal-Mart on another occasion but didn't think it was worth the cab ride (we were not buying fresh produce, otherwise, we probably would have because Wal-Mart does have an amazing produce section). My husband got caught in a conversation with a ghoul promoting his restaurant in Wal-Mart, though!

Ease of transportation was one of the best things about Puerto Vallarta. Cab rides are usually $5 to go down to the Malecon, a bit more if you are going to Old Town or further. $8 to get to the Marina or airport. The bus is easy to take and cheap BUT when we were there it was very hot and humid and my husband almost melted on the short ride down to the Malecon, so, we never got back on a bus. We probably would have taken it more often had it been cooler.

We enjoyed the Malecon area; the sculptures/statues are something else (if a bit out of place). I was sort of turned off by the dirty ocean water down there, though.

We hit one or two flea markets where they have the usual come-ons and cheap stuff. I particularly got a kick out of the designer sunglasses (Ray Bans, D&G, Dior, etc.) that had "Made in China" printed on them. But, hey, most of them were from $10-$15 depending on the vendor, so, what the heck.

Based on reviews from other posters, we had a few beers at Cheeky Monkey ($1 beers, great view of the Malecon/water, cool breeze). We also stopped at Pipi's one afternoon for their famous table-side made to order guacamole and were both duly impressed with both it and the margaritas. We had lunch one day at La Dolce Vita right there on the main drag; we hadn't read any reviews on it but we got a 10% discount with our Gold Card so figured why not. It was fine. The stand-out by far was Cilantro's, where we had dinner our final night of vacation. We'd highly recommend this place. For breakfast one morning, we took a cab to the Marina to eat at Mr. Cream Pancakes and Waffles; very good selection of breakfast food.

I'll post separate reviews of these restaurants.

My husband and I have discussed this, and think IF we ever go back to Puerto Vallarta, we'd definitely stay at Flamingos. Although it is further from the Malecon, etc., we'd prefer to stay at a newer, fresher, resort. Plus, we've heard the beach is much better there.

Villa del Palmar should use some of the maintenance money that they receive every year from its members to work on upgrading their units. The resort's best asset is definitely its employees.

We took our family of 6, including 3 teenagers, to Villa del Palmar June 15-22nd . For our first time in Puerto Vallarta, we wanted to stay in town to have easy access to activities, restaurants etc. We had the same problem with check-in I'd read in other postings...they didn't have a two-bedroom available, wanted to put us in the building on the main road etc. We eventually took two studios overlooking the pool for the first night, then were moved to a great two-bedroom oceanfront with an enormous patio for the remainder of our stay. The condo was clean (enough, for Mexico) and the daily maid service was great. The pool is very nice, but if you are looking for great beach, you will be disappointed. Most of the properties including ours have a very small, somewhat rocky beach with little or no waves. We really enjoyed having the supermarket Soriano's just 2 blocks away. The service at the resort is very good and employees were friendly and helpful. We were looking forward to the daily activities at the resort, but they were almost non-existent. The beach and pool volleyball were totally disorganized, we didn't see one salsa or water aerobics lesson, etc. My kids usually join the resort activities but in this case the scheduled events simply did not happen.

On our second day we went to the Flamingos timeshare presentation. We all had a great buffet breakfast, the kids went to the gorgeous pool, and my husband and I did the 90-minute presentation. It wasn't too painful, and we happily took our gold card, plus $250 cash, and spent the day at the Flamingos beach, which was wonderful. Great surf, great service, an easy day including free transportation.

One day we had the concierge at the Villa del Palmar arrange a charter boat for snorkeling - 8 hours for $220. After 4 visits to Mexico, I've found we spend the same or less money doing things on our own, and having a more personal experience. We spent the day snorkeling at Los Arcos and other little alcoves in very clear water with lots of variety of fish. The boat anchored at Las Animas beach for lunch, which was great. We saw a boatload of snorkelers being herded (with whistles) out of the water and back to their boat, which made us glad we were on our own clock with our own boat.

We did the canopy tour at Los Veranos, which we all loved. Even though we were in the dense rainforest, it was very hot & sunny. Going in the morning helped us avoid some of the heat and all of the crowds.

On our last day, we took a 1-hour trip by van ($80 each way, and next time we'll do the bus for $2 per person) to Sayulita, a beautiful beach up the coast known for its incredible surf. Each of the beach restaurants rents its own chairs & umbrellas and offers beach-side food service. We rented boogie boards for the day and spent hours in the water, and watching the incredible surfers. This was by far the best beach day and it made our hotel beach seem even more dismal.

As for restaurants, our favorite was Si Senor, a beautiful and authentic Mexican place. We dined at sunset on the beach at Las Palapas restaurant, which was much fancier and pricier than we had expected. We would have had the same gorgeous sunset with a more family-friendly menu at any of the other boardwalk restaurants. We did the beach party at the hotel, which a lot of people recommended. We thought the food was very mediocre and unless you drink a lot of alcohol, it was not worth the money or the experience. Our lunches on various beaches were terrific - fish tacos and the freshest shrimp we've ever had.

If we return to Puerto Vallarta, we'll probably stay outside of town in the Nuevo Nayarit or even Sayulita.

After reading some of the reviews here I was a bit nervous about staying at VDP. However, a friends had said it was great, so I was hoping for the best and wasn't disappointed. I took note of tips from other reviewers and here are some good tips and notes that will help ensure that you have a good stay at this nice resort and understand what you can expect:
Email the resort ahead of time to confirm your reservation and make any requests (I do this no matter where I go). Ask for mattress pads - they really helped. We asked for ocean view, but there aren't many units that have wide, direct views. I would imagine they are reserved for owners. We traded an upscale Marriott timeshare for a 2 bedroom through Interval. The first unit we got was huge but the balcony overlooked the roof of the bar. We and immediately requested a change very politely - if you are rude or aggressive, they may not be as helpful. If you don't like the answer you get from someone, ask someone else! We found the staff to be excellent overall. We moved to a smaller unit the next day (still 2 bdrm) in a building that overlooked the beautiful pool, had a washer/dryer (yeah!) and had a slim but nice view of the ocean and the city lights. Perfect!
IMPORTANT tip: request a room on an upper floor in in buildings 5, 6 or 7 - they have better views and appear to be somewhat newer. There are dehumidifiers on the balconies of the rooms in buildings 1 & 2, so I think they are older. We had no dehumidifier and didn't need one. No smell, very clean and well maintained. There were drips of clear water upon occasion from certain sports on the ceiling. Must hav been from AC condensation. I turned the AC off for a while and it stopped. No big deal. I did not critique the rooms in terms of whether they could use a fresh paint job or new caulk. I have stayed at high end hotels that could use a face lift, too. This is an timeshare resort not The Ritz. However, if you are put in a room that overlooks the road, the "quiet" pool and/or has a solid wall balcony (as opposed to iron railing), you are in the Villa del Mar, not the Villa del Palmar. VDP is pricier and newer (although by no means new), so ask for the property you reserved.
We tipped the maids a couple bucks each day and got great, prompt cleaning (even dishes). Minimum wage in Mexico is $5 a day, so tipping gets you great service! Take advantage of 2 for 1 drinks at the bars between 4 and 6 and do not shop at the onsite market. The Soriana is about 2 blocks away and much, much cheaper. Food at the resort was mediocre, but surprisingly the pizza at Cucina was good. Good restaurants in PV: Si Senior (somewhat $$), Pipi's (moderate $ - good for kids) and Fredy Tucan for breakfast. There is a guy on the beach who is cooking up terrific shrimp and fish tacos on a grill - go right when you hit the beach and it is just past the Holiday Inn. There is another beach bar past that, too.
Upon check in, we were told our room was not ready and we needed to talk to our "personal concierge." We knew this would be the pitch for the timeshare pres at VDP Flamingo, and we had decided in advance that we would do it. We wanted to see the newer resort and get discounts/ incentives. If you want to do it, hold out for what you want, as far as incentives go. You will get the Gold Card (15% off of everything at the resort, excursion discounts and coupons for restaurants in town). We also got a day long snorkel cruise to Yalapa for $41 for the 4 of us ($10.25 apiece!). Unfortunately, we didn't get to take the cruise because of the weather, but they refunded our money. Did I mention that June is rainy season? It rained 5 days out of 7 :( The Flamingos timeshare presentation was painless - awesome breakfast, our guy was really cool and it lasted less than 90 minutes once we told him we were not interested. That resort is really beautiful and you can hang out there for the day at their pool and beach, if you want, but Nuevo Vallarta is too just far from town so we would never stay there. Be sure to get them to include (in writing) free cab fare both ways.
A word about timeshare presentations. You will get hit up everywhere you go, all over PV. We heard this will change soon and they will not be able to use outside vendors to hawk timeshare presentations, but for now that just the way it is. If you don't want to go just say "no gracias" and get over it. You are in Mexico, so you will be happier if you have a positive attitude and realistic expectations. BUT whatever you do, do NOT go to the timeshare presentation at the Princess Mayan/Grand Mayan. It was a total nightmare! We were paid $300 cash to go and were totally abused by the jerks who works there. Simply horrifying and really not worth it for 3 hours of hell. I filed a formal complaint with Wyndham who owns that chain.
Overall, a great time at VDP and we would definitely go back!

Got three bedroom ocean front suite. Very nice room and view. House keeping kept room in order daily. Had one issue one second to last date. Hotel advised that we had to vacate room as they had reserved it for someone else. The hotel was quite rude about it all and forced us to move to one bedroom suite far from the ocean. They were not very friendly about their mistake and didn't seem to care much about our concerns. I will not allow it to ruin my trip as we did not stay in the room much. The regular room was really nice and we were treated nicely the rest of the week though.