Villa Varadero

The beach was the highlight: clean, calm, easy to swim at, and peaceful. During our mid-February stay, we easily found loungers, and it never felt crowded. It was lovely to relax there with a drink and look out at the ocean. Pool and beach drink service was attentive, and drinks were consistently good. The staff were one of the best parts of the stay: everyone was welcoming and eager to help. Leo deserves special mention for working incredibly hard as a bartender and making the guest experience better. We'd give the resort four out of five stars. It delivers what you'd expect for the price, and the property sits in a pleasant, safe area just north of the airport. The beach setting is beautiful. The buffet was available daily and generally decent, though we had trouble with the eggs and would be cautious about what we ordered. Lots of local families stay here, so there's a lively, authentic feel, with plenty of children and activity. Weekdays were noticeably quieter, probably because fewer locals were vacationing during the work week. It has a relaxed, family-oriented atmosphere, not the nightlife, party scene, or international crowd some travelers may be after. There were some room and facility frustrations. The key cards were low quality and demagnetized easily, which got annoying. Our room had poor air circulation and no AC, so it felt like a sauna during the day. Floors felt sandy and unclean, so we wore slides inside, and water pressure was weak. The rooms are dated and could use significant updates. The resort is also far from Zona Romántica and downtown Puerto Vallarta. Plan on about a 45-minute drive or roughly a $30 Uber each way to explore those areas. If you're mainly after a relaxing stay with drinks and a beautiful, uncrowded beach in Mexico, this place works well for its price, despite the older rooms and average food.