After reading the reviews on here we decided the good weighed out the bad and to book this hotel. The resort had our requirements which were a little stricked. We wanted a seperate living room and bedroom, and a jacuzzi.
We KNEW to expect the wrong room when we checked in so when they showed us our room (honeymoon suite) we went right back downstairs and showed them it wasn't the room we paid for. They then told us it was, but they'd switch us anyway.... Which I KNOW wasn't true. So we waited another hour for the correct room. I didn't want to start the trip on a bad foot so I let that go and we did get the correct room(Jr delux suite).

The food wasn't great. Towards the end of our trip people were being taken to the hospital for ecoili or food posioning. So we were a bit nervous to eat much of anything they cooked.

We also wanted a resort with 24 hour room service. When we looked at the menu it offered 3 items after 11pm! BUT when you call to order, ask for anything and they will tell you if they have it or not. No one told us this and we learned it about half way into our trip. The latest bar is only open till 1 am. (that was a disappointment.)

There really weren't 'theme' nights. Sure the food at the buffet restuarant would have a different main dish, but not what we thought of for 'themed' nights. They didn't have the shows outside everynight that we had at the other resorts down the street.

The location was great, the place was small which was nice, and our room was perfect... But the food wasn't good, the service could have been better, and horrible varity of beverages. We wouldn't stay here again. If my kids were old enough to come with us I wouldn't stay here due to lack of kids activities, and small kids pool area. (right next to the 1 am bar, lol)

The Buenaventura Grand Hotel & Spa is fantastic. I have been there twice. Once for New Years 2008, and I just returned from my wedding/honeymoon there on April 12th. I can't say enough good things about the hotel and staff. The food was delicious, the rooms immaculate (everything is brand new), the location can't be beat (3 blocks from the main promenade/strip and about 15 minutes to the airport), and the value outstanding. I spent a long time researching many different hotels in Mexico to have my wedding, but unlike all the large over-crowded resorts in Puerto Vallarta, this hotel was the only one that had an intimate setting so that all our guests could spend time together while also offering an all-inclusive option and excellent location. We checked out some of the larger resorts like the Rio and Palace hotels, but they treated weddings there like an assembly line with a bride walking down the aisle every hour!!! Thanks to Carlos Bautista, the wedding/event planner at the Buenaventura, I was able to completely customize my wedding. Carlos was amazing and made sure that every last detail that I had dreamed about for my wedding came true! All of my 30 guests could not stop talking about how wonderful the wedding was, and they were thrilled with their stay there. I highly recommend this hotel for a vacation and especially to celebrate your wedding. Make sure you ask for Carlos! Oh... and if you need a photographer Josef Kandoll W. is exceptional!

It's true what they say...you can book your ideal hotel room...mine was the Honeymoon Suite to include a Balcony and Jacuzzi with an Ocean View and no inclusivity for $116.00 per night through Hotels.com. I did read the reviews so I was prepared for the ole' bait and switch on the room to happen and guess what it did. Not only to me but 3 others checking in when I was and to others as I was checking out. So loaded with the great information from this site I knew what rooms to look at for my 2nd choice and was prepared for a fight. If you are willing to do that on vacation then it might be worth it, if not go somewhere else where you don't have to hassle with it. Their fist offer was to wait until the rooms were cleaned so I could see them...I told them I would look at it while they were being cleaned. They took us up to a room on the edge of the building with a window, no balcony, no jacuzzi and two beds - that was a big NO. We went back down stairs and she conferred with her Manager in the back room....I really felt like I was buying a car (the back and forth until a deal was agreeded upon). She took us back up to another room which had a courtyard view and a strained view of the ocean and pool area...it had a balcony and one king size bed. She offered this with 2 days of all inclusivity of beverage and food. It was acceptable and I realized that it was the best it was going to get, so I took the offer...knowing I couldn't check into the room for 2 hours. We participate in the all inclusivity right away and I have to say the food was average to poor. They comped us internet during our wait and the Director of rooms did come chat with me and say he was sorry. Overall the hotel is very nice, the art is great, they have a current but retro 70's dark wood vibe going. The pool and the bars and restaurants and furiniture in the common areas is visually and physically appealing. The people are nice. I found them to not be as fluent in english as other places...but when in Rome, speak their language, right. Breakfast food was acceptable, lunch food was alright and dinner food in the Fancy Steak Restaurant NOT WORTH it....one of the weirdest meals I have ever had. It's like they just serve you the buffet you would have eaten and the quality of meat was really low.

So to sum it up:
Positives:
- Decor, cleanliness, helpful, location and rooms if you get the right one
Negatives:
- Switch and bait of rooms when checking in, having to negotiate a fair deal when they don't give you what you pay for, caliber of food very low, watered down drinks, noise on balcony from AC unit on roof....couldn't leave the slider open, no ocean noise unless in front rooms

Be prepared to wheel and deel upon arrivel, get what you want, don't book all inclusivity and enjoy!

First we must say that this trip was beautiful....stayed in puerto vallarta from 4/5/08-04/10/08....On our arrival we were welcomed with a nice refreshing drink...We stayed on the european plan but on our next stay will definetly pay the extra for the all inclusive plan.....The hotel is close to everything...beach,bars and beauty of puerto vallarta....Go to the malecon and romantic zone!!!....For authentic meixcan dish try "MONEY'S CAFE" located on Av. Francisco Villa # 135B best quesadillas and guacamole ever !!!!We wished we could have stayed longer....The room at the buena aventura hotel and spa was so comfortable we hope to come back soon !!! ....staff was very helpful and our rooms were clean and its worth getting the ocean room view...the sunsets are to die for...........Lots of activites and garunteed a great stay !! ...Go ont the SANTA MARIA boat ride...you will do so much in one day...Snorkling,beach,drinks,eat,kayak,parasailing,volleyball so much to do in that one excursion........... ..