My wife and I had a somewhat good time, really only slightly marred by me not paying enough attention to her needs while we were on vacation.
That's the short version.

The long version now:

The rooms are somewhat rustic.
Beds are comfortable.
Bathrooms need updating.

Be prepared for the gecko.
I think each room has one.
Not sure if its intentional... to keep the bugs out.
Only saw one one the first night, then nada after that.

If you get a good room, say on an upper floor, with a view of the ocean, count yourself very fortunate.
Otherwise, try to get a "courtyard" - and I say that loosely - side room, with a patio area. More area to sit out and enjoy with friends, if you entertain anyone you meet.
Best rooms are up near the pool, on the beach front side, or near the cafeteria/buffet/entertainment room on the third floor.

I don't drink, but my wife does.
Keep the following in mind: the pool bar closes early - at 10am.
Through the day, its nice.

Snack bar on the path to beach is only open from noon till 3pm.
Food is ok. mostly burgers, but sometimes some local stuff gets put out.

The only bar is by the pool, which backs onto the private dining area for specially reserved tables each night.
This same private dining area doubles as a shady area for playing cards or cribbage - if you bring your own games - during the day. Saw a few seniors in there.

Book a romantic table in the private dining area for a night - we only got one night in our package deal. Its worth it for the special attention you get along with the food.

Also, if you want either pool or beach lounges, get up early... and I mean before 7am.... and throw your towel and paperback book over the lounge chair to reserve it for yourself.

Tip: trade your towel in at the end of the day before the pool hut closes, and get a clean one to keep in your room for the next morning.

Food was good. No complaints there.
Nice selection every day on the buffet.
We were on an all-inclusive deal through Signature Tours.

Meet your tour rep. Its a must. If you have any problems, they're the ones to talk to... though I don't know what use it can be.

Tip: Check your room out before having the luggage brought to it.
If you don't like your room the first you see it on the day you get there, you may get another better one right away or the following day. Be persistent but forceful.

Practise some spanish. Its useful not just to make staff more acceptable to your requests, but it comes in handy while shopping around town.

Tip: Timeshares are being sold very aggressively around town.
"no molesta" or "huesta la manana" are the best phrases to remember.
We bought into one, and I don't regret it.
I was looking to invest into some travel real estate.

We'll be using our weeks to rent and go back in forthcoming years. Just not to Costa Club .. and not just to Puerto Vallarta.
So far, Puerto Vallarta is the best place in Mexico I know of to date to where to travel.

Actually, Costa Club is probably one of the cheapest places in Puerto Vallarta for an all inclusive.
However, its more suited to the 40+ crowd. Met some real nice folk while there. One couple will be friends for life, most likely.

If you get the chance, go check out the local restaurants and shops. You can get some Tequila fairly cheap at various places.
Remember, the merchants love to haggle but not usually on the liquor.

We missed out on the local restaurant food, but I'm told its great.
Additionally, Puerto Vallarta has all the modern amenities of any North American city, even a Walmart and a Pace.
Starbucks just opened before we arrived. (thank heavens for me)

Beaches are nice. Lots of vendors hawking their wares.
Expect to get bugged if you lounge or walk the beach.
(bring good shoes and hat; it pays to carry a small backpack, and carry bottled water - which you can get at the resort.)

The resort has a gift shop at which you buy cheap soda drinks (very sweet) and cigarettes (not bad - I smoke), if you smoke.
Best buying stuff from up the street though, at the mall or grocery store - much cheaper.

Also, Costa CLub is centrally located - to everything.
Taxis are cheap. To get to Old town, have them let you off before the bridge. Then its only the equivalent of 5$USD - after the bridge the fare doubles.

The Open Air market in Old Town Puerto Vallarta (Viejo Vallarta) is a must.
There is another small area - Pitillal - out behind the Walmart, but its not really worth it, except for maybe a couple of shops and also the church.

All in all, we had a good time. If it wasn't for the friends we made and the town itself, the trip wouldn't have been that great.


One last note - on Timeshare selling:

if you want to take the time to waste approximately half a day
and not buy! They say, at worst it takes 2 hours of committment to be let into the session. Bull!

You can walk away with up to $300USD converted into pesos.
If they tell you they'll give you cash or gifts, take the cash.
However, you won't get US dollars. It will be the equivalent in pesos.
Still a pretty good deal.

I talked with both one "street" manager and my session agent; I know how much the dole is... the Grand Mayan agency allocates $400USD for each prospective buyer that a street guy refers. There is the referring guy, his street manager and also then you.

Don't be fooled into anything unless you are seriously going there to buy into a timeshare. They will even accept credit cards to max out for the "down payment" while you finance or borrow once back home.
TIP: if you intend on signing on the dotted line to buy... or get persuaded to sign... you should still have up to 3 days afterward to back out - NO penalties, with a full refund of your deposit.

If you want just the free cash or gifts, then go.

But ... Remember the following two most important items:
1. Once arriving at the hotel, someone will ask if you have any committment later. Say - emphatically - "No!"
If you even hint in anyway that they may lose a chance at a sale, they will deny you the possible freebies - and pre-arranged info session slot - and arrange the next quickest ride for you back to your resort.

2.
Enjoy the free breakfast or lunch, the tour, and then hold your tongue during the "info" session. Any conversation on your part only draws it all out. If a sales agent approaches, stand up - after checking your watch that its now (well) over two hours - and say "I don't think we're interested at this time. Its time for us to go. We'll take the cash (free gifts). Can you arrange a ride back for us, please."

If you end up buying...
They should ask you take the package back to your resort at which you're staying and look it over. There is a lot to look over. Unless you're a lawyer, or an engineer (like me), it can take a couple of months to sort it all out. Plus you then have to wait for RCI to send their package to you also.

Bottomline -
Don't buy a timeshare unless you have the spare coin...
and almost a full day to waste with the session agent and subsequent staff, and managers.


IMHO: I had to add this last bit about timeshares to the Costa CLub experience, because... even the Costa Club had someone on duty at all times during the day in the front office building trying to attract prospective timeshare buyers. This part I hate. Why would one resort allow a competing resort to advertise in their lobby. Its hypocrisy at its worst.
I at least got my referral from someone off the street - after "shopping around" for the best freebies.

Our stay at the hotel was very pleasant and we are satisfied with the services. The activities staff was very helpful and fun to be around with, specially Francia, Tania, Mauro and Joaquin.
This is the 3rd time we come and we love it, thank you everyone for the excellent attention !!!

Stay away! The all-inclusive food was disgusting, I don't even want to describe it, and of course made us sick.
I stayed away from the drinks after that. Our room was alright, compared to other reviews I've read, but our shower leaked.

All I wanted was an ice bucket, but apparently that's an impossible request. After being told there wasn't any, I was told to bring down a bag and go ask the bartender if he wouldn't mind filling it with ice. I didn't bother.

The snack bar near the beach was under construction, with half the path leading up to the beach broken and sunken down in the ground. Also, to our surprise, coming back to our hotel from the beach path we were locked out with a big gate! it was 9:00 pm. We had to go around through the neighbouring Sheraton hotel and back to the front of our hotel. I wasn't really surprise anymore. God I wished we had stayed at the Sheraton.

I could go on and on.

Staff was not very accommodating or friendly. If your coming to Puerto Vallarta don't cheap out and stay at a nice 5 star hotel. This is not a 3 star resort. It is a 1 star.

We got this trip as a wedding present. I did some reading on the hotel we stayed at and was nervous about going to a 3 star resort. Most people I spoke too told we should go to a 4 star minimum.

I'll breakdown the ratings I give the resort (out of 5):

- room cleanliness: 4
- grounds: 5
- bar (only open until 10pm): 3
- food (not amazing food, but very tasty, and they change the menu daily): 4
- staff (very friendly and all spoke english): 4
- beach (the beach is almost the smae everywhere on the bay): 4
- gym: 3
- eating areas: 3
- entertainment (I know the staff tries hard but it's very low budget entertainment): 2
- Overall: 3.5

We enjoyed ourselves very much.