Krystal Grand Puerto Vallarta All Inclusive

We left after four nights of a seven-day stay, and on our last day someone had gone into our room despite the do-not-disturb sign and taken the things we’d left behind. The front desk had no idea where they went. The night before we left, we woke at 3 a.m. to diamond drilling near the room while renovations were being done. We got no sleep, rented a car the next morning, and moved to an Airbnb for the final three days. The manager moved us when the first room’s AC didn’t work and its ceiling fan clicked all night. We appreciated that and believe the manager is trying, though I’m not sure he knows what’s going on around him. The replacement room was ground-floor, right by the stage, with very loud music at night. Nine months earlier, we’d had a pleasant stay with decent food and a newer room, so we booked again to meet friends, from Jan 16-23 2026. This time food was limited. You had to find and tip a cook for bacon, or tip others generously for avocado and other items kept in the back. That felt very different from our prior visit, when we didn’t feel pressured to pay for certain foods.

The beach was nice, but the resort only had one pool with very little room around it. We went for New Year’s and couldn’t get any help when we asked about the main day’s events. The food was underwhelming, with no real juice, just sugary artificial stuff, and no avocados or pico de gallo. Service was almost nonexistent.

The entertainment was a highlight. The water and circus show at the pool was especially good, the Mexican show was fantastic, and the Michael Jackson performance was fun. The entertainers were talented, the kids loved them, and after staying at two Krystal Grand hotels, I’d say this one had the better shows. The pools were warm, especially the one by the beach, though smaller than those at Krystal Grand in Nuevo Vallarta. There were daily pool activities with prizes such as tequila and wine. One nuisance: the fire alarm went off on three nights. We stayed from Feb 10 to 17, 2026. Our eighth-floor room was well kept and in good shape, with water and drinks restocked in the mini fridge daily. The elevators could be slow, and their doors close quickly, so watch out if you have kids. We booked two beds but got a king, which didn’t work for four people; staff quickly brought an extra twin. The room was large enough. They also responded promptly when we had concerns about the safe, shower pressure, and bed. There was construction underway that may continue for another year or so. Balcony rooms likely face the site, and it could be noisy, though it didn’t bother us. The hotel shop had floats, toys, medication, and sunscreen, but a bottle cost $20 US currency. Tips in US dollars or pesos were welcome, and reception could exchange large bills. For adults, OWest serves poke bowls from 1:15 p.m. There are only six tables, so arrive by 1 to find a seat. The view is lovely, the drinks were the best at this bar, and we especially liked the prawn poke bowl. It also has an infinity pool. La Catrina served excellent Mexican food; reservations open online at 10 a.m. on the day, or you can book at guest services, though the line is long. Thanks to Sandra Ramirez at Bonita cafe, Ricardo at the Mexican and Seafood restaurant, the entertainment director whose name I can’t remember, Isaac from the restaurants, Fransisco from the main buffet, Maria from the Mexican restaurant, and everyone else for the great service. A few things were missing: the snack bar didn’t have fish tacos, and I couldn’t find guacamole the whole trip. The eighth-floor rooms were best.

I was there with my 22-year-old daughter for my 64th birthday, and the way people treated us left me feeling judged and deeply unhappy. Some guests assumed she was my wife or fiancée, which had never happened on our previous trips to Puerto Vallarta over 20 years. I felt people were rude to us, and believed Mexican tourists were favored by staff over Canadians and Americans. I’m a single father, and this was one of the worst vacations of my life. After the last two or three years of traveling there, I don’t think I’ll return. The hotel itself was in poor shape, with renovations underway and one restaurant closed a couple of days after we arrived. Our room had no towels, the phone didn’t work, and there was a mess under the bed. Elevators were dark, dingy, unreliable, and one only went to the fourth floor, leaving anyone on the seventh to take the stairs. The stair railings were very low and felt dangerous. The pools upstairs were small and crowded, and the water only came up to about my thighs. The inside bar was painfully loud, the lounge was shut behind a brown renovation wall, and the buffet was small and ran out of food. Restaurant service was slow and awful. One meal took over an hour, and by then I couldn’t cut through my chicken. The pool entertainment staff were incredible, and the bartenders and bar service were friendly. The pool was one of the few places to get a decent meal. Prices felt outrageous. Sunscreen cost around $30, Walmart was very expensive, and a McDonald’s meal for two was over $30. At the markets, most vendors seemed more focused on watching videos on their phones than helping customers.