Hotel Portonovo Plaza Malecón

I was there for just one night and nearly left. Check-in was rude, and the Expedia VIP perks I'd expected weren't provided. The room was the smallest I've ever seen, with stained sheets and a shower door that wouldn't shut properly, so water sprayed all over the tiny bathroom. The pool was disgusting, and the glass around the patio was too dirty to see through. There weren't any pool towels, though I didn't swim anyway. At 10 pm, some dude was passed out by the pool. Worst hotel I've ever paid for.

The rooftop pool was nice, and breakfast was good. The room itself was small and not soundproof, so street noise came right in. The sheets were clean but still had holes or spots. Depending on the room, cleaning could happen late, around 3-4 pm.

They call it a 3-star hotel, but I wouldn't give it even 1. The floor was dirty, there were no cups or fridge in the room, and the WiFi barely worked. Nobody spoke English, and the card took a hundred tries to open the door properly. The pool was super dirty, with lots of pigeons and pool. No one seemed to care about anything. I'm not staying there again.

We paid a budget price for three days in Puerto Vallarta during peak season and found the hotel clean and comfortable enough, felt safe, and had no incidents. The location made the price worthwhile. It's one block from the beach in a lively neighborhood with what you need nearby, including a large grocery store kitty-corner. I found the area less cramped and busy than Zona Romantica. Online photos and Google street maps don't really show the neighborhood. The staff were nice and helpful, and the hotel is no-frills. Our room matched the pictures: queen bed, working safe, cold AC, and hot shower. The window looked onto a courtyard full of AC units, ha! I liked the firm bed, and housekeeping came daily. We used the small, cold pool once, nothing special. Breakfast was included and very basic. The room needs work: towel and toilet fixtures were falling off the wall, and it could use fresh paint, a deep clean, and general modern updates. At this price, it felt like a 2.5-star hotel. It isn't the Ritz or what you'd get in Thailand for the money, but it's better than what you'd get in America.