Villa La Estancia - Riviera Nayarit

After reading many reviews and looking at all my options, I decided to book my annual trip to PV/ Bucerias at Villa La Estancia. It seemed like a great choice. When checking in, I was told La Estancia was a very quiet hotel/resort and I would be very happy with my choice. After finalizing my payment for my 4 night stay. I was directed to a person who would tell me about the resort. I don’t recall exactly how it was presented to me but I don’t think I was given a choice. The representative wanted me to attend a 90 minute presentation about the Villa group. I told the representative that I had no interest in taking 90 minutes from my first day of my 4 day vacation to listen to the presentation. I told her I was in the area to see my friend and enjoy the pool and beach. She told my that I would get 2 daily drink tickets and a 20% discount on all my purchases if I attended the presentation. I did not go to the presentation and felt I was ignored and not treated well for the rest of my trip. La Estancia is not a 4.5 star resort/hotel. Rooms are past their prime and lack current amenities such as adequate outlets, lighting, showers and furniture. My room had no view. All I could see from my balcony were trees. No pool, no ocean. I was paying over $300/night for a terrible view. The La Casona restaurant was just below my room. The music and noise from the restaurant caused me to call the hotel operator two nights in a row and use my ear plugs! The only access to the pool bar was by swimming or sitting at the restaurant. $9 drinks in 8oz plastic cup. A 15% service charge is added to EVERY room charge if you are not on the all-inclusive plan. I noticed this on my 3rd day of charging to my room. Guests/owners put towels out on chairs by 9 am and "save" their spot for the day. I went to the pool area later in the day and could not find a towel. No pool towel service after 4 pm. Staff, when walking around the hotel were very friendly. Housekeeping staff very attentive. Bell staff helpful for getting a taxi. The grounds are very well maintained. The fitness room had good equipment. Overall, it was a disappointing experience. If you are an owner, you get respect and treated well. If you do not attend the 90 minute sales presentation, Beware!

Very Beautiful resort. Rooms were very nice, ours didn't have a kitchenette but it was very spacious and had two closets - one was a large walkin that we could store the luggage. Rooms had shampoo/conditioner/body wash. Our room had a smart TV in it which was very nice to relax at end of day with Netflix. We also had a ground level and could walk right out from our patio to pool and beach area. Pretty sweet. Wifi was excellent on resort. You have to get a separate password for the pool area and you can log on at sister resort Flamingo also with no password. We spent a couple of days at sister resort Flamingoes to change the scenery and get involved in activities. Food was very good - didn't have a bad meal. Had no problems getting into any of the restaurants, even the one in lobby you had to make reservations for. Only downside is there was no buffet for dinner in case you just wanted to have a variety for a meal or latenight snack. For lunches, we ordered from our chairs by pool. great service. We did the Whale Excursion - highly recommend this. Was the highlight of trip - so amazing!! We also took a taxi into Puerto Vallarta boardwalk to do some shopping and it was a very nice experience. One negative, my husband and I were quietly throwing a ball in pool - no one else was in pool and they made us put it away as it was a quiet pool. Then not more than 5 min later a bunch of kids were in pool screaming and crying and using water guns and shooting water everywhere... I have no problem with quiet pool but then children should not be allowed either. Would have no problem recommending this resort.

This is an outstanding facility and all of the employees are great. We had a 2 bedroom suite and it was as fine a room as any resort that we have stayed at in the past. In particular, Ana at the elite concierge desk and Jesus the pool concierge were terrific. We have already booked our return trip here for next January.

The servers at the pool are so awesome! Very friendly and attentive to our needs, they go above and beyond. We even had our sunglasses cleaned! We have been coming to La Estancia for two years now. The staff is our family. Thank you to Marcos, Santana, Angel, Jesus, and Polo!!

We are from Leduc, Alberta First time staying at this resort. Did all inclusive. Greeting was great. Emily checked us in and was so warm and wonderful with all my questions! The room was good. Beds comfy to sleep on. There is shampoo, conditioner and body jel in the shower which was helpful for us. Room towels are like most hotels not very soft at all. View was great and things are quiet almost all the time. The housekeeper comes about 11 and then another in the evening for turn down service which was unexpected but very nice. Very kind staff always. Safe in the room is easy to use so take advantage. Your room key is the wristband they give you which was awesome! Staying at this resort allows you access to the resort next door also which has 4 options for dinner. We really loved all the food at both resorts! My son especially loved all the nacho options poolside with fresh pico and lots of guacamole! The flamingo resort also has a money exchange to allow you to break some of the higher currency you may have. There is also a market deli in flamingos in case you may have forgotten something to bring. This place is majorly overpriced with a simple sunscreen costing $60-$70. It’s shameful to charge these outrageous prices to tourists. Hope changes are made there. If you need anything I would suggest walking the path from the resort to Bucerius where prices are much more reasonable even though they are still a bit high. We walked the path as well as the beach to get to Bucerius twice. We shopped the market for small souvenirs likes shirts and mugs. The haggle system is still in place for negotiation of costs which is what I think of when I shop in Mex. Find the price point you feel good with but do remember this is their livelihood. There is a lot of beach to walk in either direction from the resort which is something many people love including myself. But being poolside is also wonderful and Jesus will look after you above and beyond. He is very hard working and good at his job. We had breakfast downstairs every morning and Esmeralda always greeted up with a warm smile. She knew our drink order after one day and made starting off the day such a great experience! All the staff treat you this way and it’s not forgotten on people like me. And don’t forget to visit the ice cream booth at flamingos after dinner. We made that a nightly routine and the server is so kind. The tipping culture isn’t pressed on you at any time but I know I gave what I could to show I appreciated all these efforts staff was making for us. Ps- there are people asking you to come for a timeshare breakfast and tour after you check in. We simply stated no thank you and were not asked about it again. It will be my intention to visit here again for sure!