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Bad Rate:: Paying More to NOT Eat at Barcelo La Jolla de Mismaloya

Where: Zona Hotelera Sur, Km. 11,5, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, 48300

[Ed. Note: Welcome to our Good Rate/Bad Rate feature where we look at hotel prices in the same city and decide which one most deserves your hard-earned benjamins. Rates quotes here were captured August 21, 2007 and are subject to change. Enjoy.]

The Barcelo La Jolla de Mismaloya near Puerto Vallarta is known for some common themes. The small beach completely disappears some months of the year, service is indifferent at best, and you're more liable to get sick eating here at your hotel than you are eating at the taco stand in a van down the road.

Perhaps the last trait explains the odd pricing policy currently posted on the hotel's website. Go all-inclusive and it's $160 a night for two. If you opt for the European Plan, however, and forsake the bland buffet meals and watered-down drinks in plastic cups, you'll pay $177 a night. In other words, you pay more to avoid their food.

If you want an all-inclusive vacation, there are plenty of better options in the area. If not, we suggest a stay at the Westin in the Marina area--this week's Good Rate--instead.

Related Stories:
· Good Rate:: $107 at the Westin Puerto Vallarta [HotelChatter]

Tags: Good Rate / Hotel Deals / Puerto Vallarta Hotels / Westin Hotels / → All Tags

Good Rate :: $107 at the Westin Puerto Vallarta

Where: Paseo de la Marina Sur #205, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, 48354

[Ed. Note: Welcome to our Good Rate/Bad Rate feature where we look at hotel prices in the same city and decide which one most deserves your hard-earned benjamins. Rates quotes here were captured August 21, 2007 and are subject to change. Enjoy.]

With the east coast of Mexico getting hammered by Dean, you may want to look to the west coast for your off-season beach vacation deal. Wait a week to see how the path of the storm pans out, then book a $107 room at the Westin Resort and Spa Puerto Vallarta. This price is for the "partial sea view" rooms and is the mid-week price, but you can still get this price on the weekend if it's prepaid and full ocean view rooms are $175 midweek.

A Luxury Latin America review notes that the shaded pool complex is a big plus here, along with the above-the-fray beach bar:

The striking beach cabanas make a noticeable fashion statement, but Westin's 300-yard stretch of coastline does not impress overall--except for its hip after-hours atmosphere. Come sunset, you'll find that the beach is where it's at, as guests chill out till dawn at the popular Nikki Beach Club. A fine-looking wait staff serves up grill food and specialty cocktails among a romantic sandscape of tiki torches, billowing fabric and beds piled high with plush pillows.

Rooms are set up for those who don't like surprises, with the usual chain hotel layouts and amenities, but the fact that the Westin is not an all-inclusive translates into better service overall. (See our earlier review).

Here's another bonus if you just got a new passport: "Receive a $100 USD Credit applicable for Room Upgrades, Food & Beverage, or Spa Treatments when you stay with us through September 30, 2007 when you present a new passport with Mexico as your first stamp."

Related Stories:
· Bad Rate:: Paying More NOT to eat at Barcello La Jolla de Mismaloya [HotelChatter]

Tags: Puerto Vallarta Hotels / Destination Hotels / Honeymoon Hotels / Romantic Hotels / → All Tags

Tequila Hallucinations Are A Myth, Humpback Whales Vacation In Mexico

Where: Calle Zaragoza No 404, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Wanna little insight into HotelChatter? Here is the breakdown of our daily inbox: 25% great tips and reviews, 50% press releases, 25% evil spam. As far as the press releases go, most of them are run-of-the-mill, from PR folks that obviously have never even read HotelChatter. Thus, catching our attention with a press release is like trying to kill a DDT immune mosquito with DDT. How do you do it? Top shelf tequila and winter whale watching visits at a kick ass hotel on the Bay of Banderas near Puerto Vallarta. No, no, not to bribe us, to bribe potential guests, of course.

Apparently, in January and February, Verana Hotel co-owner and designer Veronique Lievre and her staff will follow you around their 8 room luxury hotel with Don Eduardo Anejo drinks as you watch humpback whales do what they do, hike around the lush 5 acre grounds, chill in the sun, and soak in "moonlit" hot tubs.

Sounds nice, right? So what are the drawbacks. Well, don't go if you have a weak heart. No, not because seeing a tequila induced humpback whale hallucination will give you a gripper, the hotel is atop Yelpa, which can only be reached by boat, and from the dock you have to hike 20 minutes up-hill through the jungle (there is a path, it isn't Man vs Wild or anything), and then, depending on your room location you will have an additional hike once you reach the hotel grounds. The hike sounds invigorating, and it is a big part of what you do on Yelpa (you can hike along the river, to sandy beaches, and to town) but those with bad tickers might not find that to be the case.

One more thing. The photos above are from actual guests, not from posed press photos, and guess what? In our opinion the guest photos are actually better than the press photos. Gotta love a place that can hold up during the candid digital camera test.

[Photos: Randy King]

Related Stories:
· Verana [TripAdvisor]