Puerto Vallarta Forum (PV Bulletin Board)

Jennybean (Apr 26, 2004 09:50 p.m.):
Considering you will be there with a group, the Los Arcos Suites sounds like a good idea to me, because it has a kitchen. You still get all the privileges of the flagship Playa Los Arcos as well.

These hotels aren't the Four Seasons but from friends who have stayed there I understand they are clean and the staff is great. And you certainly can't beat the location - right in the heart of the south side, close to everything.

Check them out on the web at www.playalosarcos.com - click on Los Arcos Suites.

mrmike9 (Apr 27, 2004 01:19 a.m.):
I agree with Jennybean completely. I have stayed at all three Los Arcos properties and I think that the suites is your best bet for 4 people because the rooms are bigger. You're just around the corner from Playa Los Arcos so you're still close to the beach. Also Los Arcos Suites is a lot quieter than Play Los Arcos where there is a lot of street noise.

Jennybean (Apr 27, 2004 11:08 p.m.):
Hi North Star - your indication that you would like a view would change my recommendation. I had recommended the Los Arcos Suites based on your original post indicating that beach front may not have been as important as other stuff, and because you had kids I thought a kitchen might be nice for you to have (fridge for cold drinks and snacks, cooking facilities for breakfasts/lunches, coffee maker for morning coffee, etc). But as you've indicated you'd like a view for your lengthy stay then I'd say stay at the flagship property. A friend who stayed there a while back indicated Room #3 (I think) was one of the nicer ocean view rooms.

If beachfront with a view and a pool is a factor for your lengthy stay, you might also want to consider the Tropicana, just a bit further south beachfront on Amapas. They have undergone a considerable renovation and the new tower rooms are VERY nice. Good pool too.

Just some more food for thought. (-:

susana (Apr 27, 2004 11:57 p.m.):
You have picked a great part of town, just finding who can accomodate you best will be the trick. The 3 Los Arcos properties, Gaviotas & Hotel Eloisa (some rooms with view), Vallarta Sun Suites & Hotel (no view but nice and in the neighborhood); Tropicana, and the Emperadora might be worth contacting too. Olas Altas & Basilo Badillo (street names) are a perfect location with tons of activities, shops, reasonably priced restaurants, and the busy local beach of Playa Los Muertos.

bzy1 (Apr 28, 2004 11:56 p.m.):
North Star,
Booking with the hotel direct does not mean you will A.) get a better rate. B.) Get a better room C.) get a reservation at the time you want.

Right now, 99% of the hotels are not renting their Christmas/New Years weeks as they have not set the prices and because they sell blocks of rooms to places like this site, Travelocity, Expedia, and other travel agencies.

In all tourist areas, there are expos held each year where agents and hotels come together to buy and sell space. Say a hotel has 100 rooms, they try to sell blocks of rooms to as many different agencies as possible, maybe even as high as 80% of all their rooms. If the agency (cies) do not sell ALL of their rooms a couple of weeks out, they revert back to the hotel to sell.

Think of it this way. If you are a manufacturer of shoes, you do not just sell your shoes through your company, you look for people to sell your shoes for you. The more people placing orders and selling your shoes is what you want, same with hotels. They would rather pay companies a commission to sell their product than to pay staff, promote and do all their reservations in house.

I know some hotels that have certain rooms that they cannot even rent themselves as they have blocked them out for other companies that have been highly successful renting at them 100% year around.

Instead of dealing direct with a company, just do a good search onthe hotel name and see what other places/agencies are selling it for. You will see a difference in price, especially of one company sells a ton of rooms for them. The more an agency sells for a hotel, the better contract they get, this rates will be different for agencies, the hotels itself, and for last minute sell offs.

Oh, most Christmas?New Years rates are not out until summer, if not later.