Downtown Hotel Advice Wanted

This board is so informative!!! We are going to be going to PV in six weeks. Right now we are looking at either Tropicana or Suites Emperador.
We would like to be within walking distance to downtown. Any personal experiences in regards to these hotels would be very much appreciated!
We want a hotel on the beach with an ocean-view balcony. Are there any other hotels that we should consider??? Thank you!

These hotels are in the Old Town/Zona Romantica area, you are about 10-15 mins. walk to the Malecon and the downtown area. Old Town is a great area to be in. Lots of everything.

Of the two hotels mentioned, I would lean toward the Tropicana. They are both good though. Another beachfront option is the Playa Los Arcos in the same area, or the San Marino Plaza. Of those two, I think I would go with the Los Arcos right now (San Marino just underwent an ownership change). I have stayed at the SMP, and the rooms are great, especially the ocean view balconies, but with the ownership switch I have been advised that the service may not be what it used to be.

For another informative board for any additional information try:

http://pub69.ezboard.com/ftodopuertovallarta

Happy travels! :)

Yup been there! stayed at the suites Emparador for three weeks in Oct 2001.
Had a suite overlooking Los meurtos Beach, kitchenette on the balcony.
The first room they gave us ( also a suite with Beach veiw #309 I think) had a leak through the ceiling from the bathroom above into the shower stall and down the wall behind the sink.
This made the room smell musty and we only stayed there 3 nights before we had them mnove us. But move us they did with a minimum of drama and the rest of the stay was great.
The waiters were a little wierd about sitting under their palapas on the beach unless you were ordering food, but no problem if you were eating or drinking. Beer there was the cheapest on the beach 10 pesos each! Nice people, great location, clean the only down side was the pool was off site across the street at a nother hotel (villa Mercedes) Be carefull if you need a wake up call, we had a boat booked for fishing and a wake up call for 6 Am. we awoke by accident and when we got downstairs we found the front desk attendant asleep at the switch LITERALLY!
all told it was a great deal and I would go back there.