Fiesta Inn Puerto Vallarta Isla

The hotel was a good base, close to shops, beaches, and transportation. Our room had a nice view, though there was no balcony or opening window. The street entrance and lobby, restaurant, and pool occupy the first two levels, so the rooms start at Level 1, which is actually the third floor. It's a good choice if you want a quiet night's sleep. The rooms were very quiet, and the air conditioning worked well.

The room itself was generally clean, but a lot of things were wrong. The towels were tiny and scratchy, about 4/10 quality. The shower was odd, mounted in the ceiling and pouring straight down, with no adjustment or handheld option, and the door didn't close all the way. There was a strong sewage-like and bleach smell when we entered. The AC didn't reach the temperature we set, there was no mini fridge or ice on the floor, and the room was noisy with little soundproofing. The check-in was disorganized and stressful. We'd paid in advance for two separate rooms with king beds, but staff tried to put us in one room with two beds instead. Check-in is listed at 3:00 PM; at 3:20 we were still at the desk without a room or explanation, then were told to wait another 20 minutes without a clear timeline. No one said whether the rooms were being cleaned, unavailable, or delayed. Basic translation tools could have helped. Meanwhile, staff kept assisting other guests, making it seem like our paid reservation wasn't a priority. For a property that presents itself as travel-friendly and mid-to-upper-class, the basic amenities, room design, and service standards fell short. Most of this could've been avoided with clear communication and service recovery. One star. I wouldn't recommend it.

The pool is pleasant, and they serve food and drinks there. The buffet is okay for the price. The hotel is generally great, but the Isla location isn't beachfront. Also, the jacuzzi costs an extra 600 pesos for two hours 🙄. Only one elevator was working, so it was crowded and there was always a wait.

The property feels very worn, and check-in was awful. I was told to wait by the pool because my room wasn't ready and that someone would come get me. Two hours later I checked back, saw a long line of people checking in and getting rooms, and was sent to the back of the line. At 11 p.m. someone knocked and woke me up. It was room service, but they had the wrong room. There's no coffee in the lobby, the safe is rusty and works only sporadically, the faucet wobbles, and it was noisy all night. The noise was banging, not partygoers.