Let me start by saying I don't want to be too hard on Casa Velas but there are some serious ISSUES that need to be addressed.1st issue check in on a day when they are at only 30% occupancy shouldn't take 3 hours with them telling you 15MORE MINUTES non stop. I find it hard to believe someone couldn't get a room cleaned up without making us wait that long,we noticed during the week several other couples were at the pool "with their full airport/traveling clothes on as well" No excuse for this wouldn't have been so bad but after traveling for almost 12 hours there is no excuse for this. Suite was nice but nothing to write home about. Has a plunge pool too cold to use and a jacuzzi but the biggest ISSUES are :JET TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS from 6:45a.m. going until almost 11:00p.m. So much for sleeping in.I was shocked that other tripadvisor members have failed to mention this. It litterally felt like staying at a luxury airport hotel. My father was a professional pilot so believe me I have been around planes/airports my whole life but I'm talking jets not small aircraft and it really takes away from what is suppose to be a relaxing luxury experience. Enough said. Decide for yourself but consider warned.Other ISSUE trying to take a late afternoon nap it key word TRYING repair/maintance people in room next door banging and hammering on the walls non stop. I know you have to maintain property but one would think they could repair or work on the room when someone else isn't next door. Same thing in the mornings dragging furniture across the floors. Also my balcony chairs were TAKEN from my balcony one afternoon early in the week and not returned. I left the staff know and asked to have them brought back but they never brought them back or followed up. I just dropped it.Not sure why they would take the chairs??? These incidents alone are more than enough for me NOT to give it 4 or 5 stars. It just isn't even close to being that kind of a property.Also got presented with an itemized billafter every meal and drink. I like to acknowledge those who do a nice job with tipsbut let me say they expect it and the conceirge/timeshare saleman at check in told us what amounts we should tip. Luxury hotels don't act this way. It is your discretion to tip at what you feel is appropritate. Let me say that regarding service is was spotty at best. Breakfast was awesome and that entire staff was great.Beach club staff and location in my opinion was the saving grace of Casa Velas. They also were very nice and offered very good service. Location was quiet and relaxing plenty of chairs nice food and drink. Beautiful views. We did walk the beach to find several dead fish and birds and trash washed up on shore. Wondered why the other hotels didn't clean it up (this was right next door to casa velas at marriott). Ocean was kind or dirty and murky although it is what I expected. Evening views of town were beautiful with all the lights. The resort itself had great landscaping wtih waterfalls flowers big tall palm trees lots of birds peacocks, koi ponds with turtles and fish. A nice romantic ambiance day and night. Dining at Emillanos was romantic although the food was non very good. We tried it several nights and did not get good service either. Other couples we talked to felt the same way. We enjoyed dinner at the beach club , the mexican fiesta on sunday nights and dinners at La Ribera at the sister resort on the ocean. We tried Andreas once and it too had terrible service. Overall summing it up the staff at the resort are nice and some gave wonderful service while others did not. Atmosphere is quiet and romantic EXCEPT FOR THE JETS. You can walk to the marina to shop etc from resort. The spa is very nice and services that I had they did a good job.Room is also nice. I just don't think for $500 to $600 per night that the issues I discussed earlier should have happened. That is the real tell tell sign.If you are really a 4 or 5 star resort then act like it not some of the time but all of the time.

My daughter, sister and I have just returned from a week at the Casa Velas. It far exceeded our expectations. The service was impeccable, the facilities were perfect and the resturant was outstanding.
The Casa Velas is an all-inclusive, located on a golf course, with a very nice pool. Access to the beach is a five minute walk over to the sister resort the Velas Vallarta or 7 minutes to the private beach club, reserved for only Casa Velas guests. Of course there is a complimenatary shuttle to both of these places. The shuttle service is prompt and quick.
This was our first experience with an all-inclusive and I was very impressed with Casa Velas. It was quiet, beautiful and the food at Emillano's was simply fanstastic. I was concerned that a an all-inclusive would feel like a cruise - nothing could be farther from the truth at this resort.
It was hard to leave the resort to fit in some sightseeing (we did for three days) - however; the motivation to leave was hard to muster.
This was our first trip, but it will not be our last.

We stayed at Casa Velas during the Valentine's Day/President's Day weekend. It was the perfect choice for us:

Small:
Unlike the many mega-resorts in the area, Casa Velas only has 80 rooms. It never felt crowded. The overall vibe is relaxed and tranquil.

Adults-only:
We like kids, but it was certainly nice to have the place reserved only for adults. The pool and beach club felt calm. There was no screaming (adults or kids).

Staff:
The staff were very attentive and very nice - from the reception to the waitstaff at the restaurant and the crew at the beach club.

Rooms:
We had upgraded to a Grand Class Suite and requested a room with a mini-plunge pool on the private terrace. The room itself was beautiful and kept very clean throughout our stay. There were snacks and drinks always available.

Food:
We were on the all-inclusive package and found the food to be very good. We ate at the hotel itself and the beach club. You can also eat at the Casa Velas sister resort nearby. We tried going over there but it was far too crowded and chaotic for us to stay. All our drinks were included (wine, mixed drinks, etc.).

Beach Club:
Our favorite aspect of the Casa Velas is its beach club - a short, shuttle ride away. The club has its own infinity pool, beach cabanas and restaurant reserved for hotel guests. It never felt crowded.

The only negative we encountered with the hotel was pre-arrival. They didn't respond to any emails we sent them regarding room selection or a question we had about dress code at their restaurant. We ended up calling and got a satisfactory response but it was disconcerting to send an email and not receive a reply.

That said, we've recommended the hotel to friends and would certainly make it our first choice the next time we visit Puerto Vallarta.

Casa Velas Puerto Vallarta Mexico Feb 24-March 2, 2008

We exchanged with RCI to Casa Velas in a one bedroom unit. We arrived at 12 noon to the entrance of the resort with the beautiful iron scrolled gates and long driveway with lush plants along it and a Koi pond at entrance. We pulled our car up to the front and proceeded to enter the lobby which was full of couches, huge candles, fountains, open air etc. We sat at lovely carved wood chairs at reception area, with a margarita and the most lovely senorita. She checked us in and applied our AI bracelets which of course was mandatory thru RCI (I think the resort is mandatory for everyone anyway, just higher prices thru RCI). The bracelet to our surprise was not the plastic usual type but a lovely hemp, braided bracelet with a small silver medallion, quite the change and attractive at that. We were asked if we wanted the New York Times every morning and since was included we said sure! We read that on our balcony every morning. (We did have a dispute on the AI as our paperwork said $135.p/p/d, but the rate had gone up to $160.p/p/d ( we had not taken advantage of the pre-payment options), we showed the senorita our paperwork and to our utmost surprise she said okay. We were quite happy over this.). We thought we might have some difficulty with such an early check in but though our room was not quite ready, we were told to go enjoy a lunch and return in an hour. We sat by the pool at Emiliano’s restaurant and enjoyed a peaceful lunch with top notch service and then returned to check in area. We had no other difficulties with check in and found it most pleasant.

We went back to our car with our keys and valet then showed us to our room and parked and unloaded our car. We were assigned to room 516. It was on second floor (the rooms look like condos, kind of like a house entrance to each one). The room was quite nice. It had a king size (clam shell headboard) bed with wonderful mattress and down comforter, and pillows. There were 2 side tables, each with a lamp and also a bench at end of bed for sitting. There was also an alarm clock and telephone in the room. Robes and slippers were provided for use. The bed was up one step from the living area, so despite the fact it was all open like one big room, the step up area with columns on both sides made it seem separate.

The living area had a couch and coffee table and TV in an armoire. This armoire also held a safe and mini frig. Which was restocked daily with sodas, water, yogurt, etc. Snacks were also replenished daily. There were no kitchen facilities but there was an ice bucket (no ice machines though, you had to call room service or fill ice bucket at bar or lobby), coffee maker and restocked coffee packets daily. Since this is an AI resort, really was no need for kitchen facilities, 24 hour room service and all was included. In this living area there was also a chest of drawers, and a table for dining or what have you. There were sliding glass doors off of this room straight out from the bed and couch which led to a nice terrace with a heated plunge pool, 2 teak chairs and a small table. Towels were restocked there daily. There was no real view from this balcony as it was behind one building and kind of set in middle (the entrance to the room was actually facing the street). The whole balcony was surrounded by built in planters with bouganvilla and palm trees also were set all around, so in essence, though we did not really have any golf course view we had just about total privacy.

The bathroom was off of the bedroom and was huge. It had a Jacuzzi tub, with a shower, all surrounded by marble, a large vanity and sink area and a separate make up area with a seat and mirror. There was a hairdryer and magnifying mirror on the wall. The room was replenished 2 times per day with towels and Gilchrist & Sommes amenities like shampoo, body lotion, mouthwash, shoe shine, soap, vanity kit, etc. There was always sufficient hot water and the unit was well maintained ( our Jacuzzi did not work first day but was repaired immediately after a call to front desk and our power went out once but they responded immediately and rectified the problem). The bed was turned down at night and if you had do not disturb sign on the door a note was put on your door they had been there and if you wanted them to return to call front desk. There was a full length mirror in this bathroom and also a closet with iron and ironing board, and lots of hangers and a shelf. We found we would have liked a few more draws for clothing but other than that the room was just lovely and very romantic and peaceful. This one bedroom was smaller than one bedroom units at Club Velas but was more romantic and upscale. We also had free wireless internet service in our room and in many areas of resort. We had to get a password upon check in for this. The maid service was very good, efficient, quick and as I stated 2 times a day!

The grounds throughout the resort are meticulously maintained and are landscaped to perfection with bouganvilla, palm trees, plants, Koi ponds, levels, grass, walkways etc. Our car was parked in a secure area under a shade tree and valet parking was included in the AI, we did tip of course though.

They have a wonderful spa, we checked it out but did not use. They also have a nice gym with treadmills, weights, supplied water and towels and a trainer, etc. My husband used the gym almost daily. There were hot tubs by the gym. There was a small boutique store on site, and of course a golf course on site (we do not golf though).

The whole resort is set on the golf course not on the beach. It is a very quiet, relaxing and de-stressing environment. Off of the lobby is an open air lobby bar, with tables, sofas, and chairs and a bartender, this area overlooks the pool and grounds. The pool is heated, tiled in a dark blue, and has built in loungers with different water depths. It is a large pool with a swim up Palapa Bar. Surrounding the pool are lounge chairs with terry cloth covers, rolled towels in place and teak tables. There are also some cabanas for those who like shade. When you go to the pool area and find your place, of which there is no problem, a waiter comes over with a small ice bucket and two bottles of water and asks if you would like something to eat or drink or anything else. You can order drinks or snacks off a menu in the pool area. There are no activities done by the pool as it is very upscale and quiet, with lots of people sunning or reading. Most times there was no music playing by pool either but if it was it was played very softly.

The one Restaurant on site is called Emialiano’s. You need to make reservations. Men are required to wear pants and this was strictly enforced. There is indoor seating in levels with a lovely chandelier and a piano player at night. There is also outdoor seating overlooking the pool and yet another Koi pond. The food was top notch, gourmet, lots of choices, expensive. When you are seated they offer you the wine list and also a stand for your pocketbook or sweater. They refer to you throughout your stay by name and your table is assigned a multitude of waiters. Your glass is never empty and your plate is cleared away quickly. You can order many courses and each is delivered timely and with exquisite presentation. There is a nightly special menu as well. We tried just about everything on the menu from salmon to rack of lamb, lobster, filet mignon, etc. etc. Most of our dinners came to well over 1600 pesos. The desserts were to die for. When finished you had to sign a bill (assume this is for accounting purposes), and along with the bill comes a special dessert treat from the chef., such as chocolate covered strawberries, fancy cookies etc…each night different. We dined each evening outside by candlelight and feel each dinner was a pampering, gourmet experience. Definitely worth the AI price. The service, the atmosphere, the quality of food, the presentation, were all VIP for sure! After dinner many times we sat and talked in lobby bar and just relaxed. This bar did close early I think 11:30 ish.

You can also have lunch in this restaurant by menu and breakfast by buffet. Lunch and breakfast were also very good. The condiments like ketchup, mustard etc, are in small jars like jam would come in, nice touch! There is also 24 hour room service and we did partake of it for some of our breakfasts. Again it was timely service, and great food and presentation.

In addition to this restaurant you can go over to Club Velas, the sister resort, via shuttle and utilize their activities like nightly shows, entertainment, pool, and their bars and restaurants, of which there are 3, one by the ocean La Ribera, (no reservations needed) One on the grounds Andrea (reservations required) and Alejandras
reservations required). La Ribera is more casual than the others mentioned and they do not enforce the long pants rule for men as much over at Club Velas.

You can also be taken via shuttle to the Private Beach Club. Here there is an infinity pool, again lovely chairs with covers, the beach and cabanas on the beach, and also a restaurant which specializes in Asian food such as Sushi or Tempura etc. There is also a night time restaurant here, which requires reservations as well and specializes in Asian food. We unfortunately only made it over to the Private Beach Club in the daytime so missed out on the night time Restaurant but heard it was wonderful. The daytime over at the beach club was also very quiet and the Shrimp Tempura was to die for. The service and attention at the Beach Club were also First Class. We took the shuttle there at times and at other times we walked, just a short 5-10 minute walk. (We passed a lovely house for sale and inquired about it and lo and behold it was only 6.9 million dollars, we passed on that LOL).

We felt so relaxed and special at this resort we spent almost all our time here or at the Private Beach Club. We were approached upon arrival after check in by the concierge to go to a timeshare presentation. We told him we are owners of Velas but on RCI exchange, and then going next week also on an exchange to Club Velas. He offered us a vacation certificate to return to Casa Velas or Club Velas for 5 nights 4 days (with just the paying of the AI) (we are in process of scheduling that now for maybe Jan 2009), and two one hour massages on the beach at Club Velas, to go to an update. We told him would have to think about it. He said okay and gave us a planning sheet to fill out any restaurant reservations we already knew we wanted and any activities we wanted to do and he would handle it. We did not do any activities or tours but we did make all our reservations for dinner and he called them all in for us for the week. The next morning we told him we would go to the update but not until Wednesday. He agreed on a time with us to our convenience.

On Weds. We went to the update at Club Velas with him. Upon entering Club Velas lobby we were overwhelmed by the noise. We did not realize how quiet and relaxing Casa was in comparison to Club Velas. LOL.
(Oh did I mention Casa Velas is adults ONLY). The update was of course an attempt to upgrade us, but we told them we were fine with what we had. They had some sort of annuity plan but we were not interested. They did tell us that 2 other sister resorts were being built in Cancun and Cabo. There was a bit of sales pressure but not too much, have experienced more, but after about 2 hours we were done and we scheduled our massages for next week when we would be at Club Velas.

By the end of the week although we were loving the relaxation and pampering we were de-stressed and ready for some excitement. On Sat. eve, we went to a locals board meeting which was held at Casa Isabel. We met a lot of locals, met the owners of Casa Isabel, lovely people, especially Isabel, such an interesting person. We had a nice time and then we returned to Casa Velas for a late dinner, our last this vacation at this resort. We had dinner and then had a drink in Lobby Bar and then returned to room to pack for our departure in the morning, but not a departure home but to Club Velas, another week of vacation.

In the morning we called bellboys to load our car and went to check out. The senorita said we had two charges in the boutique store. We told here must be a mistake as we had bought nothing. She checked the signature card and then said sorry must be a mistake and she gave us our credit card open voucher and we were off to Club Velas with our car waiting at front entrance. We had no difficulties whatsoever with check out, they did not even cut off our AI bracelets, which I was glad as they serve as a nice memory item.

We loved our time at Casa Velas and will return. It is a special, pampering, VIP vacation place. Everything from the grounds, the units, the staff was perfect. It would be wonderful for a honeymoon, anniversary, or special occasion. I would not recommend it for those looking for a party environment, or night life, or for those with small children as it is an adults only resort. I would recommend it for couples or singles who want to be pampered and treated like royalty and just want to relax, and enjoy the peace and quiet.