Playa Los Arcos Resort & Spa All Inclusive

The central pool at Hotel Los Arcos is beautiful and a relaxing place to spend time, and the beach is just a short walk away. We had a small delay at check-in, but once it was sorted out, the staff were very helpful and even carried our things to the room, which we appreciated. The food was tasty overall, with a different kind of cuisine each day. I was hoping for seafood during our stay, but we enjoyed what we tried. We had a great time and would consider coming back.

The location by the water is great, with nice pools and a few restaurants inside the hotel. There’s plenty to do nearby too. But after our four-day stay, I personally wouldn’t return. We were traveling as a family, with a few people who have visited for years, and got a street-side room. It was very loud all night, with the street not quieting down until at least 2:30 am, and we hardly slept. The rooms are quite outdated, the bathroom walls had mold, and the beds were incredibly uncomfortable. Our room was barely cleaned. We had to ask for a broom and sweep it ourselves. Then, after dinner around 9 pm on our last night, we came back to find five cockroaches in the room. We hadn’t kept any food there, so there was no reason for them to be in our room. The stay was a rough first trip.

After the violence and looting last weekend, 22 Feb 2026, Playa Los Arcos and its staff took wonderful care of the guests through a very difficult Sunday. The whole town was closed for two days, and the hotel had to scramble with staffing and food, but they kept everyone safe, comfortable, and fed when there were no other options nearby. Huge kudos to the whole staff. Five stars for service and security during such a hard time.

My flight home is tomorrow at 6:30pm, and I asked for a late checkout. They told me to check after 8am to find out if it might be possible. The shelter-in-place order was lifted only a day ago. I have a medical condition that makes it hard for me to leave a room before 11am even in peaceful circumstances, and after the building was firebombed, we were locked down for two days and missed most of our vacation. I’m experiencing unusually severe anxiety, so the refusal to offer a late checkout really surprised me. I’d be shocked if anyone checked in tomorrow, and as far as I can tell, flights are leaving with tourists escaping the war zone, but none are arriving with vacationers. This was the most extreme violence Puerto Vallarta has ever had. People were running for their lives through the lobby, while staff told them to hide in storage rooms. Staff banged on every door, told everyone to get to the ground floor, and left all the room doors open. The Oxxo downstairs was firebombed on Sunday, the morning after I arrived, during the cartel violence that erupted after the military killed el Mencho. The staff have done their best and deserve credit. I had a good massage, and the staff spoke very highly of the owners, saying they take great care of them and treat them like family. That made me happy to hear, and all the more surprised that the owners are treating guests this way. Many guests have been coming every year for 20-40 years and are very loyal and grateful for the staff, owners, and the experience they’ve had here year after year. This was my first stay, and I’d planned to come back in a few months. If they won’t allow late checkout in these circumstances, I don’t think I will. I’m disappointed and shocked. This isn’t the Puerto Vallarta I know, and I feel especially bad for the great staff, who don’t deserve this.