Seeking advice re beaches at two specific Puerto Vallarta resorts, or in the PV area

[Judith Frye]

Hi everyone. We are trying to decide between the Casa Velas Boutique Hotel and the Raintree Club Regina in Puerto Vallarta. Yes, from online research I realize that the former is an upscale, adult-only, pricey all inclusive with a shuttle to a "private beach club" area; and that the latter is in the Marina area with a "nice but not very long" beach. Since my husband and I hate pools and love beaches, I'd love to get any "reviews" of the beaches at those two resorts. Or if you have a favorite resort in the PV area with a nice beach, we'd take those recommendations, too!

Just to offer something about our "gold standard" - generally we go to the Caribbean - our home resort is in St. Maarten, and we drive to multiple beaches each week when we go there. Orient Beach, Friar's Bay, Petite Plage in Grand Case are outstanding, some with waves, some without. In Mexico, we've stayed at Le Blanc in Cancun and a couple of places in the Mayan Riviera and didn't particularly care for the beaches (except Xpu-Ha beach, which was glorious). In the Nuevo Vallarta area we stayed at the Grand Mayan and while we loved the unit, we didn't particularly care for the beach - we liked the Sea Garden beach down the way somewhat better. In that area, we really enjoyed the day trip we took to Bucerias and the day we spent at the Grand Velas resort. We are fair and need shade - either umbrellas or heavy palm leaves overhead. We do recognize that the Pacific can have some lovely beaches, ie not rocky, no riptide fears or surfing-type waves, etc. As I said, all advice welcome, whether about the two we're considering or other beaches you like in the Puerto Vallarta area. Thanks so much, I love this community! Judith

 

[jlp879]

Hi there,

Of the two resorts you mention, even though they offer really different resort experiences, you're still going to be on the Marina beach for each of them. The Westin/Raintree is at the south end of that beach, and the beach for Casa Velas is just a bit north on the same beach.

Here is a short video of the Casa Velas Beach Club.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t58p0gjus1k

I'm not crazy about any of the beaches that my resort has been located on in PV, but that hasn't stopped me from going and then having day trips to Mismaloya, Yelapa or Sayulita beaches, all very different experiences.

 

[Zib]

Of all the Puerto Vallarta beaches we've seen, we like the one in Nuevo Vallarta in front of the Flamingos, 6 to 8 miles north of Grand Mayan. None of the beaches in Puerto Vallarta are what you are looking for, I don't think. But we still love going to Puerto Vallarta and Nuevo Vallarta at least once a year. But if all you're interested in is beautiful beaches, I don't think this is the area for you (tho, as I said, we love it there!!!)

 

[Judith Frye]

Thanks to both of you. I do understand that Nuevo Vallarta/Puerto Vallarta can represent a change - and be fun and different - even if the beach isn't the "gold standard" - we did enjoy our one time in the area at the Grand Mayan. I just used the 'sightings request' thread to see if I could trade into Villa del Palmar Flamingos (ie if it it would be worthwhile for me to renew my Interval membership) and thanks to the wonderful people in this community, I learned that it does seem to be available for the week we want to travel. Does anyone else have experiences with Villa del Palmar to share? The TripAdvisor reviews are positive; the TUG reviews are old. I appreciate the help! Judith

 

[california-bighorn]

A couple of years ago when we owned at Velas Vallarta we had lunch at the Beach Club and really enjoyed their beach area. True it is not the "powdered sugar" type of sand we dream about, but it was nice. We found the beaches to be nicer in Nuevo Vallarta. That being said, we also enjoyed the small beach at Lindo Mar. Trouble is, it all but disappears at high tide.

 

[judy23]

We are members there and love the resort.it is quite beautiful.you can walk for
Miles on the beach.You can walk to Bucerias a town north of there and they have wonderful restaurants.I would not recommend the all inclusive option at the Flamingo's

 

[easyrider]

We like the beaches in Nuevo Vallarta better than the beaches in PV. We like the PV beaches very mech too. They are all a nice place to watch the sun set.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

No question that the beaches in Riviera Nayarit are better than the PV beaches. The long beach that runs past Bucerias is wonderful. If you want a seemingly interminable honey sand beach, that's the place to be.

Much as we like beaches, we still stay in the Marina because we like being closer to town - we do more than just soak up the sun on the beach. One nice thing about PV is the variety of beach options available - from Puerto Vallarta and extending along the south side of Bahia de Banderas, the beaches are more covelike, with dramatic cliffs.

 

[Judith Frye]

Does anyone know - are there RCI resorts in the Riviera Nayarit area with the better beaches than the Puerto Vallarta area? We'd like to be on the coast closer to Bucerias. And since I have a lot of credits to use in RCI, but I'd have to rejoin Interval in order to deposit a week and get a trade for Villa del Palmar Flamingo, it would be great if there were an RCI-affiliated place in the area of the nicer beaches of the PV/NV area.

Specific question: I'm reading on Trip Advisor that the Marival Residences has a shuttle to the beach, and that guests have a "VIP area" with cushioned chairs and good service for food and drink. What I can't tell is whether one can swim in that area or not.

Continued thanks to everyone, Judith

 

[Colorado Belle]

I've stayed at Villa del Pelmar Flamingoes twice now in the last 2years and the units are by far the nicest I"ve seen in PV/NV area....The one or two bedroom units are huge, comfy, well equipped, w/d, large terraces. Not fond of the studios though. (The 2bd is really a 1bd and studio lock off; The 1 bd is 2 full baths with a comfy murphy bed in the lr and a great king in the master.)

The beach is fine BUT it is steep. It is a long bus to PV, but a mile long walk on the beach, mostly deserted, to Bucerias. I would stay there again in a skinny minute.

BUT, you asked about beaches and this seems the most important criteria for you. So my recommendation would be to stay at Paradise Village..which is at the southern end of the very long stretch of beach that runs from the mayan to
Bucerias and beyond.

The beach at Paradise Village is very wide and flat....good for swimming, kayaking, body surfing. While the rooms aren't quite as lux as PdPFlamingoes, there are lots of restaurants, activities, tennis, a great spa, fireworks, and even the op to cuddle baby tigers (shhhh, don't tell). Plenty of palapas for shade, good staff, nice landscaping, great views in the ocean units.

Going into town is still a long bus ride, but not as long. There is a shopping mall just offsite. There are now 3 grocery stores (big ones) and a Walmart just short cab rides away from either place and even a new cinema. If the beach is your primary trigger..Paradise gets my vote.

But , as someone said, if you want to go into PV after you're done with the beach, staying at the marina is closer. Instead of the marina however, I'd probably opt for the beach in front of Villa del Pelmar and Holiday INn in the hotel zone. I'd rec'd renting a 1bd direct from owner at Sea River which is joined to the HI property and uses all the HI facilities. The beach is wide enough, sandy enough, pretty enough, swimmable and plenty of palapas.
The units are more 'moderate' in amenties but the activites at VdP in PV are quite good.

I've been in PV for the last 6 months and find that I enjoy all of the areas surrounding PV, but for different reasons. Hope you find what you are looking for!

 

[easyrider]

Does anyone know - are there RCI resorts in the Riviera Nayarit area with the better beaches than the Puerto Vallarta area? We'd like to be on the coast closer to Bucerias. And since I have a lot of credits to use in RCI, but I'd have to rejoin Interval in order to deposit a week and get a trade for Villa del Palmar Flamingo, it would be great if there were an RCI-affiliated place in the area of the nicer beaches of the PV/NV area.

Specific question: I'm reading on Trip Advisor that the Marival Residences has a shuttle to the beach, and that guests have a "VIP area" with cushioned chairs and good service for food and drink. What I can't tell is whether one can swim in that area or not.

Continued thanks to everyone, Judith

I am a Flamigos owner. What do you have to maybe trade ???

Billl