A Review of Puerto Vallarta
Terrah and Nicki in Puerto Vallarta
I recently returned from a stay at the beautiful Riviera Nayarit, Mexico. Terrah and I stayed 4 nights at The Marival Residences & World Spa which is just 15 minutes from the Puerto Vallarta airport. We stayed in a gorgeous, spacious 2 bedroom residence and just some of the things that surprised me about the resort included: the incredibly spacious balcony, the beautiful vegetation throughout the resort, and the great service. The 2 Bedroom Residence that we had the privilege of staying in had the largest rooms and the biggest balcony I’ve ever seen. You never would have been able to tell that the resort was new by looking around. There were flowers on every veranda, foliage in every hall, palm trees throughout the resort, and all the plants throughout the property made this resort look and feel as though it had been up and running for years, not months. The service was also fine tuned; whether we were making reservations at the concierge desk for an excursion, ordering room service, or taking advantage of the beach butler service at the private beach club next door, the service was always impeccable.
So, it’s a given that I loved the resort, but I really want to point out that the destination itself is absolutely wonderful. The people in Puerto Vallarta are extremely friendly. Everyone we met, whether it was a taxi driver, a salesman, or a waiter–all outside of the resort–were always welcoming, sociable, and helpful. Another pleasant surprise was how truly beautiful the beaches were. I was not expecting a beautiful white sandy beach with the turquoise waters that the Caribbean offers, but I wasn’t expecting what I saw either. What I experienced on the beaches in the Riviera Nayarit was nothing short of amazing. The beaches were nice, big, and very clean. They were not cluttered with sea weed and although the water was not as clear as what you would have in a pool, it was very clear nonetheless. I was very surprised that we were able to snorkel and see blue and yellow fish on the Pacific coast. As opposed to the Caribbean, the Pacific featured slightly larger waves which allowed me to enjoy watching kids boogy-board and play in the surf. All in all, I was very impressed with the resort and the destination, and can’t wait to go back with my friends and family.
Nicki and her friend the dolphin!
Soft Opening?
A soft opening is defined as a period of time when a new hotel, which may not be fully complete, is open for business but has not formally announced its opening. That pretty much sums it up.
Okay, but how does this affect you and your vacation?
There is an understandable allure in choosing a brand new resort for your vacation. You are among the first to experience a brand new shiny place. Nothing is run down and it has the latest and greatest in amenities. You can brag to all of your friends. Also when a resort first opens, they generally give a rate lower than it will be later.
There are pitfalls, though, that you need to know about. For instance, when a resort first opens they haven’t found everything that doesn’t work yet. The occasional room where the air conditioner needs an adjustment, miscellaneous plumbing clogs or leaks for instance. You may find final touches still being made to the resort. The landscaping won’t be lush and mature, it may barely be installed. Also, the staff isn’t really throughly trained and experienced when the resort is brand new.
The fact is that a hotel must have a soft opening. A hotel needs guests in house to help smooth out the rough spots and to help identify places where they need to make corrections and adjustments.
So, book the brand new resort, but keep the pitfalls in mind. Being a guest during a soft opening means you are a part of the beginning of something wonderful.
