barbara

i am planning a trip with my husband and four other couples to puerto vallarta in feb 2003. out travel agent recommended la jolla de mismaloya. can anyone tell me anything about the hotel and the ai option? i have heard that the beautiful beach might not be so beautiful and the rooms need to be redecorated. has anyone been there recently? thanks. barbara

PV

I have never stayed there (and I go to PV often) but think there are defintely better choices. (Has your travel agent stayed there themselves recently? Often their recommendations depend on commissions not actually knowing the best places from experience.)<BR><BR>Camino Real has its own nice beach, is about 10-15 mins. outside of town to the south and has a great reputation. Or if you want to be in town, right on Playa Los Muertos (main local beach) are: Tropicana, Playa Los Arcos, Molino de Agua, etc.<BR><BR>Only an opinion, but I would never choose an AI-option in Puerto Vallarta because there are so many great restaurants to choose from, and AI hotel food does NOT generally have the best reputation. Again, I have no specific facts about Mismaloya's setup.

Barbara

I stayed there about 10 years ago which won't help with the property itself, but my biggest complaint was a river that emptied into the small bay the hotel sits on. It was used for refuse and who knows what else and tainted the water so that I wouldn't let my kids swim in the ocean.<BR>Just something to consider.

havkhones

Playa Los Arcos. I was there in April of 2001. What a fantastic place to stay. We had breakfast most mornings in the hotel restaurant on the beach, which was fantastic and the other couple of mornings, directly across the street.<BR><BR>There are restaurants galore in the area around Los Muertos beach, and we managed to eat at a different one for every meal but two. We went back to Brasil twice to gorge ourselves.<BR><BR>An AI is not the way to enjoy PV.

dan

I stay at the Hitel Tropicana in south downtown PV on Los Muertos Beach. A big old Mexican owned hotel that has great service, beach and location.<BR><BR>Amapas #214<BR>Fx: 01152-322-26737<BR>Ph: 01152-322-20912<BR><BR>adios!<BR>mexicodan<BR>www.mexicomexico.info

LordBalfor

My take on the place:<BR><BR>http://www.epinions.com/content_30321315460<BR><BR>Associated photos of the resort and surrounding area can be found here:<BR><BR>http://community.webshots.com/user/lordbalfor<BR><BR>An e-mail acqauintaince by the name of Margaret L'Ecuyer (who lives on the bluff above Mismaloya Bay) has posted these photos of the beach destruction last year (and subsequent reconstruction). You can see them all here:<BR><BR>http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4292155269&code=2365352&mode=invite<BR><BR>Whe reever you decide to stay, enjoy your visit. PV is terrific (espcially the Romantic District south of downtown).<BR><BR>Ken <BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>

Kathy

Hi! Just a quick note to you - the resort is offering a 15% commission on all room rates right now. That is why your agent recommended them. Aside from that, the resort is still very beautiful even though their beach has been damaged from that awful event last September - the beach has never recovered. Their rooms are very nicely appointed. For the price, I think that you can find better accommodations elsewhere - Camino Real, Costa Vida (condos), Fiesta Americana, Westin, Marriott, etc. - although no matter where you stay in February, it will be pricey since that is PEAK season in PV. Hope this helps!

south for peace of mind

Personally I prefer anthing south on the beach (Mismaloya, Camino Real, etc.) NOT "The Marina" or "The Hotel Zone" i.e., Marriott, Sheraton, Fiesta Americana because it is SO overdeveloped in that north part of PV more towards the airport from El Centro (downtown).

alisa

Does anyone know the condition of La Jolla's beach now? Is there a quick drop off? Is is rebuilt now? Any help would be appreciated.

LordBalfor

Alisa: If you e-mail me I can send you the 3 latest photos I got from Margaret (she sent them to me August 3rd). I just noticed that they've apparently changed the rules on imagestation.com to require viewers to become members before viewing the photos on the site. It's really too bad. Margaret's shot were really fascinating but most people won't want to signup just to see them.<BR><BR>Ken