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Hotel Review

Buenaventura Grand Hotel And Spa

 


Based on 43 reviews

Overall Impression: #3 of 39 hotels in Puerto Vallarta.
Quality vs Price: #6 of 39 hotels.
Food / Restaurants: #8 of 39 hotels.
Beaches: #9 of 39 hotels.
Families: #17 of 39 hotels.
Couples: #21 of 39 hotels.

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Traveller pictures (1)

Traveller picture - Buenaventura Grand Hotel And Spa

Travellers Reviews

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 Good time

Great service, spotless hotel, pleasant staff and proximity to town and airport make up for the average food. We always found something to eat, but, occasionally it was repetitious. An ice cream machine would have been a nice treat. Bar by the beach was fun, but a few small tables and chairs would have made a more relaxing atmosphere as the bar stools were not the most comfortable. Again, great service made up for these small things.
If you want a fun, intimate hotel with personality - this is a good pick.
If you are looking for an upscale experience - go somewhere else.
If you want to mix with the locals - here is your opportunity.
The beach doesn't compare to the soft sands of the Caribbean - the water is somewhat wilder and sand is grittier. Beautiful mountain backdrops and terrific sunsets.
The usual local sellers on the beach - but a friendly "no thanks" is all you need for them to leave you alone.
We did a lot of exploring ourselves - renting a car, taking local buses and water taxis and always felt safe. My husband and I wouldn't go again, because we like to go to new places each time, but I would recommend it to friends.

Susan
St. Catharines, ON
Stayed at hotel Buenaventura Grand Hotel And Spa
du 2012-03-25 to 2012-04-01 (7 days)

 Great Location

very comfortable for older couples. Quiet and cozy.

Serge L Hamel
Kingston, ON
Stayed at hotel Buenaventura Grand Hotel And Spa
du 2012-02-24 to 2012-03-02 (7 days)

 Loved It

Great Service. Close to town. Will likely choose this as our next stay rather than the other hotels we have stayed in in the past due to it's close proximity to town. Love that you can order lunch from the a la carte menu to your beach chairs all day. Wonderful staff. We paid too much because we went during reading week- my only complaint. (Think it is lame that local travel agencies upcharge students just because it's our only possible travel week).

Shannon
Edmonton, AB
Stayed at hotel Buenaventura Grand Hotel And Spa
du 2012-02-19 to 2012-02-26 (7 days)

 Excellent holiday

I will continue to stay at this property every year I go to Puerto Vallarta. The hotel staff treat you like kings and queens. Satisfying your every need. Food and drink is plentiful and a huge variety. I feel like I'm going home each year.

Wilma A Chartrand
Winnipeg, MB
Stayed at hotel Buenaventura Grand Hotel And Spa
du 2012-01-20 to 2012-02-03 (14 days)

 Not for me again

Hotel was OK but sucked in to see their new hotel which was susposed to be 90 minutes, took a full day and this was a fractional ownership (Timesharing. When said NO the sales person got mad and told us off. Would not provide rewards that we agreed to for reviewing the susposed new hotel. They try to scam their customers with this proceedure. Would not stay at this hotel again as they wasted one of our 7 days

Me
Rosedale, BC
Stayed at hotel Buenaventura Grand Hotel And Spa
du 2012-01-04 to 2012-01-11 (7 days)

 Buenaventura Hotel Portavallarta Mex.

Excellent Hotel Wonderful Meals

Great Bars & everything was all inclusive---no suptises

John Coulthart
Swan River, SK
Stayed at hotel Buenaventura Grand Hotel And Spa
du 2011-12-30 to 2012-01-08 (9 days)

 Buenaventura - A Solid 2.5-3 Star

The Buenaventura is in an excellent location if you want to stay in a smaller hotel on the beach within easy walking distance to everything downtown.

Overall, the hotel is clean and is good as a hotel base.

Do not expect this to be an "all inclusive" vacation resort. As a Canadian tourist, you should be booking this hotel with little intent to eat or hang around here all day. We knew this as we have stayed here before, we like the location for going out at night, we consider the food option a throw away. This is a budget hotel and for $600-$700 a week it is worth it for just the airfare and hotel room.

We ate dinner out every day and went on lots of day trips to nicer beaches around PV (Bucerias, Sayulita, Las Caletas, etc). The beach at this hotel is OK but not very swimming friendly. The hotel has managed to rope off a small section of the beach for guests so vendors cannot bother you, a big plus for guests.

There are 2 pools at the hotel, both relatively small with no deep ends...maximum depth is around 5 ft...the smaller of the 2 pools has a volleyball net up all the time. We noticed the pool water to be much more cloudier than normal with lots of film floating on the surface. We suspect they are not cleaning the pool properly on a daily basis or the skimmers are not working properly...I would not let a child dunk their heads in these pools (ear infection hazard for sure).

We've been to this hotel before and it is beginning to slip a little from last year.

The bathroom grout is getting a bit worse. Be aware that there is a really bad sewage smell rising up through the shower floor drains (you must put a bowl/plate over the floor drain to keep the smell down along with having the bathroom fan run 24/7...the hotel seems to be aware that they have a major problem with the drains and the sewage smell but they can't solve it, they often dosed ours with a strong bleach/fabric softener concoction but it never lasted more that a day). Many of the hotel bathrooms don’t have enough room for the toilet so you have to sit on angle to do your business.

The food overall is average to poor...breakfast is great but lunch and dinner is a mix of very local fatty pork stew dishes, greasy burgers, maybe some oily chicken and few vegetables (very few veggies at this hotel overall...this hotel does not present a dining option for those that eat somewhat healthy...whatever veggies are offered are heavily salted). Not much in the way of eating options at this hotel beyond pork stews. They serve beef tongue stew for breakfast once a week.

This hotel primarily caters to local Mexican tourists (especially on the weekends...the hotel is booked solid with local families from Guadalajara on 3-4 day weekend trips) so the food options are catered to local tourists. Be aware that obesity in Mexico is a major problem and this hotel's dining options are not helping that problem.

Be aware that on the weekends, the local families make a ton of noise all night long in the hallways and they often leave their doors open so families can visit each other. Be prepared for a lot of noise in this hotel. Bring earplugs (it was funny how most of the Canadian tourists all had bought earplugs).

This hotel is only for families with small children. This is not a hotel for singles of couples wanting a getaway. 75% of guests are families with infants and small children.

Overall, as a small hotel on the beach, this place is solid. If you want a resort or quiet getaway, you will have to stay elsewhere. The staff at this hotel are great, they work very hard and for very long hours...tip them well. The internet is very spotty, do not count of having good internet access in your room.

Family of Three
Toronto, ON
Stayed at hotel Buenaventura Grand Hotel And Spa
du 2011-12-09 to 2011-12-23 (14 days)

 Buenaventura Review PV

Buenaventura met all of our needs. Very clean.

Linda L Plunkett
Victoria, BC
Stayed at hotel Buenaventura Grand Hotel And Spa
du 2011-12-10 to 2011-12-17 (7 days)

 Hotel review

We were very happy with our stay at this hotel. Access to the beach is great. We would come again to this hotel.

Gerald Delamont
Cold Lake, AB
Stayed at hotel Buenaventura Grand Hotel And Spa
du 2011-12-03 to 2011-12-10 (7 days)

 Stay at Buenaventura

Staff was outstanding. Food was average. We are beer drinkers and the beer was undrinkable. had to buy beer outside resort and bring it in. Not impressed. Complained but nothing was done. Definitely not going back.

Darryl Colllister
Calgary, AB
Stayed at hotel Buenaventura Grand Hotel And Spa
du 2011-11-27 to 2011-12-04 (7 days)

 Wonderful experience

Buenaventura is a wonderful low-key resort located walking distance from downtown puerto Vallarta. The service staff here are amazing, and will cater to your every need. Clean, safe and organized, this is a great spot for a worry free vacation. Popular with locals, Buenaventura has a wide selection of food and drinks, as well as simple scheduled daytime activities and a spa on site. We have no complaints about our stay here, the only thing we could mention is that they advertised a swim-up bar, but there isn't one. Perfect resort for a calm relaxing worry free vacation, and very close to town!!!

Tanned and happy
Sooke, Br
Stayed at hotel Buenaventura Grand Hotel And Spa
du 2011-11-06 to 2011-11-13 (7 days)

 Great time.

Clean. Friendly staff.

Steven Falk
Winnipeg, MB
Stayed at hotel Buenaventura Grand Hotel And Spa
du 2011-04-02 to 2011-04-09 (7 days)

 Correct mais pas plus

ok mais très bruyant et chambre très mal insonorisée... à déconseiller à ceux qui ont le sommeil léger...

P. Ysebaert
Montreal, QC
Stayed at hotel Buenaventura Grand Hotel And Spa
du 2011-03-26 to 2011-04-03 (8 days)

 Above and beyond

This is an absolutely fantastic hotel,extremely clean, many tasty food choices, beds and linens are very comfortable. All staff extremely professional and eager to cater to your every whim! The wait staff are absolutely incredible and exceeded all of our expectations, look for Jorge, and Daniel you won't be disappointed!!!The beach is good but you are unable to swim in the ocean due to undertow, which is O.K. because the pools are only a few steps away. The location to the Malecon is perfect you can walk there in 5-10 min. Many things to see right outside the door of the hotel or within a short walking distance. We will absolutely be back to this hotel!!!!!!

Kimberley Garchinski
Fairy Glen, SK
Stayed at hotel Buenaventura Grand Hotel And Spa
du 2011-03-04 to 2011-03-11 (7 days)

 Buenaventura

This was our second time at Buenaventura and we would definitely stay there again.

D. Kelly And Family
Victoria, BC
Stayed at hotel Buenaventura Grand Hotel And Spa
du 2011-03-04 to 2011-03-11 (7 days)

 Sunshine

Hotel is walking distance to everything in central Puerto Vallarta

G
North Vancouver, BC
Stayed at hotel Buenaventura Grand Hotel And Spa
du 2011-02-19 to 2011-03-05 (14 days)

 Very Nice

Great place, best service ever! If there was a Buenaventura in other cities I would go to them also!

Richard Hansen
Blackie, AB
Stayed at hotel Buenaventura Grand Hotel And Spa
du 2011-02-25 to 2011-03-04 (7 days)

 Wonderful vacation

We had a wonderful vacation at this hotel. The food was great, the staff were friendly and eager to help, the location was fantastic. We definitely want to go back. The only downfall was the noise during the morning hours 2-4 am from people partying and talking loudly in the hallways without any regard for those sleeping, but this only happened a few days and it was because the hotel was completely booked. The staff offered to change our room to a more quiet location and put a guard in the hallway to make sure the noise level was kept to a minimum.

Bianca
Calgary, AB
Stayed at hotel Buenaventura Grand Hotel And Spa
du 2011-02-22 to 2011-03-01 (7 days)

 Buenaventura Hotel

most enjoyable. Have only great memories from the cooks to the gardeners to the bar staff, waiters and chamber girls!!!!!

sunshine girl
Calgary, AB
Stayed at hotel Buenaventura Grand Hotel And Spa
du 2011-02-05 to 2011-02-19 (14 days)

 Arpenteur geometre

excellent service clientele, personnel tres avenant

Normand Dube
Montreal, QC
Stayed at hotel Buenaventura Grand Hotel And Spa
du 2011-01-31 to 2011-02-07 (7 days)

 Terrific staff at Buenaventura Hotel

Airport transfer right to hotel quick, friendly and efficient thru Westjet Vacations. A pleasant surprise when walking thru unassuming front entrance from busy street..a gorgeous front lobby with walkthru to tropical gardens to pool and beach beyond. Were greeted at front desk with welcome marguerita, given upgrade room, pleased with clean tile floored room with balcony and large tile shower in bathroom. The kingsize bed was very comfortable, and we could see the ocean and coconut trees from our balcony. The main buffet restaurant was an open courtyard, with fountain and palm trees..quite charming, and we were very impressed by the friendly staff, who introduced themselves to us at every meal. We also enjoyed the open air Sunset Restaurant, where we enjoyed very good alacarte dining. The other Brazil steakhouse was okay..plain interior and the food okay..too much meat for me, but service again wonderful. Great pools, beachside bars, terrific drinks and poolside buffet. We really enjoyed the Mexican Friday nite buffet and show, and the whole place seemed to have more of a Mexican feel than other resorts I have stayed at..indeed, several Mexican families stayed over the weekend. The locations was also fabulous...just a walk along the beach to the Malecon, no need for taxis. Loved the gorgeous sunsets every day. A smaller hotel, close to the beach and Malecon..very Spanish and friendly...would definitely stay there again.

Judith Koe
Summerland, BC
Stayed at hotel Buenaventura Grand Hotel And Spa
du 2011-01-27 to 2011-02-03 (7 days)

 Two very happy customers

We have been going to Puerta Vallarta for 12 years now. For the last 10 years we have stayed at the Buenaventura. It is like our home. Each year when we return they say "welcome home". They tend to our every need while we are there and we will continue to stay there, year after year. The food, location and staff are all rated a 10 in our eyes. You won't be sorry if you stay at the Buenaventura.

Mr. & Mrs. Chartrand
Winnipeg, MB
Stayed at hotel Buenaventura Grand Hotel And Spa
du 2011-01-15 to 2011-01-29 (14 days)

 Good value

We enjoyed the location as it allowed us to walk off the excess food we ate. It is close to the old town and the entire way is very secure.
Food was good. Service was excellent.

Willie Hoogendoorn
Abbotsford, BC
Stayed at hotel Buenaventura Grand Hotel And Spa
du 2011-01-15 to 2011-01-22 (7 days)

 Unbiased Review of Buenaventura

The people and service were really great. I can't say enough about how good they are.

I enjoyed the morning yoga classes on the beach. Ohter resorts promise yoga classes but never actually have them. On Fridays and Saturdays they bring in live Indian music for the yoga class, which was great.

The rooms are just average and the food is, in my opinion, not good. There isn't even any Mexican food at the buffet and i LOVE Mexican food. I ate out a couple of times just to get some.

The location is really good and the pools are wonderful as is the beachfront. OVerall, I enjoyed this place a lot and I would definitely return.

On a side note, the workers do excursions with different companies on their days off to get to know the different things available. If you are going to book an excursion, ask them for recomendations - all tour companies are not alike!!

A traveller
Madison Hat, AB
Stayed at hotel Buenaventura Grand Hotel And Spa
du 2010-12-11 to 2010-12-18 (7 days)

 Amazing Hotel Incredible location

The downtown location was what first attracted me, being only minutes fr the beach and The Malecon. But the service, the food and great mix of excellent guests and the overall mood of the hotel was a vast improvement over any other hotel I've stayed at in P.V.
A 10!

Thanks Janet for your terrific recommendation!

Mark Steinfeld
Toronto, ON
Stayed at hotel Buenaventura Grand Hotel And Spa
du 2010-12-10 to 2010-12-17 (7 days)

 Rooms without a view!

The hotel has a room rating of Deluxe room with ocean view but this is not correct. The deluxe room I received was looking at a brick wall. This should be a standard room. I complained about my room and was offered a deluxe room with ocean view for more money. They had more than one couple complaining at the front desk about their deluxe rooms with no view. The hotel must not book rooms with a view and not deliver. The food was above average with good staff. Location is one of the best features of this hotel

Shain Moch
Cypress County, AB
Stayed at hotel Buenaventura Grand Hotel And Spa
du 2010-12-04 to 2010-12-11 (7 days)

 Great location

The staff were friendly and helpfull, there was very little premium international liquor to chose from as advertized. The rooms smelled very musty. This hotel is not really a four star. The food is so so, you need shoes for the beach as it is rocky at the waterline.

Steven Dow
Cultus Lake, BC
Stayed at hotel Buenaventura Grand Hotel And Spa
du 2010-11-27 to 2010-12-04 (7 days)

 Our first all inclusive

We ate the majority of our meals there mostly because it was so central. We'd come back from an adventure, walking or on the bus, have lunch, regroup and take off again.
The staff were very helpful and approachable, did not pander.
The weddings were great entertainment
and our rooms were quiet at night.
They let us use a hospitality room to change into our traveling clothes when our flight was leaving hours after checkout time.

Donna Stonehocker
Edmonton, AB
Stayed at hotel Buenaventura Grand Hotel And Spa
du 2010-11-22 to 2010-11-29 (7 days)

 Our Stay

The drinks and food were average, but we had a good overall stay.

Ana
Mississauga, ON
Stayed at hotel Buenaventura Grand Hotel And Spa
du 2010-10-22 to 2010-10-29 (7 days)

 Buenaventura Hotel

Location was great; easy walk to the Malecon, restaurants, clubs, shopping. Food wasn't spectacular but the price for this pkg was considered so overall I was extremely impressed. No gym facility though.

Elaine B
Edmonton, AB
Stayed at hotel Buenaventura Grand Hotel And Spa
du 2010-07-24 to 2010-07-31 (7 days)


Legend

Evaluation Of Hotel

  • Avoid at all costs
  • Below expectations
  • As expected
  • Beyond expectations
  • A dream come true

Monarc.ca Popularity Scale

The Monarc.ca popularity scale (#1/15) classifies all the hotels of a single destination according to the number of grades received on 5 and the total number of reviews.

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