My 10 year old son and I stayed at Vellas Vallarta from 4/16-23. We would go back. I have tried to balance all the positives with some of the items I think could be improved a bit. The staff there could not do more to accommodate your wishes all
more +throughout the resort in all areas. The grounds were beautiful and every aspect of the hotel was kept immaculate. Check in and check out went smoothly and our room was ready when we got there and we had a great view from the 7th floor in the middle of the complex. I wish the sand was not so hot (burned my feet) and that the sand was whiter and softer and less rocks like on the Mismola side of the Bay.
This was a holiday week and it was packed! I understand all of Mexico is off this week and from Monday to when we left Saturday, it was packed with some regular holiday travelers and with a lot of local/Mexican families (some on the all inclusive and some not - concern with glass and coolers by the pool area even though there were not supposed to be there with the non-all inclusive folks). One of the families we met there was told not a good week to come in the future. We would go back but not during Easter/Holy Week again. In town, the Malecon was closed to traffic Thursday to Sunday due to all the people traffic.
They had the usual yoga and beach walk in the early morning (I never got to that), the 12:30 water aerobics (my favorite), and other activities such as funny games, bingo, ping pong, cards, beach volleyball, etc. We were never able to get a real water volleyball game going the entire week.
When the card games were going on, only 1 of the 3 ping pong tables were available and even 3 wasn't enough during this week (one of the few things there my son was interested in). We met a few nice families during our vacation and we all hung, talked, and played together a bit but not much more to do from a family perspective than mentioned above. We hung at the pool by the beach with the swim up bar where the activities were vs the quieter one on the other side of the kiddie pool. Wish there were some hot tub areas around though.
They had an area in the main hotel with a few Wiis and one Xbox with 3 games and I went there once with my son and figured he'd want to hang out there but he wasn't really interested and no one else was there. He wanted to go back to the room a lot and just play his Nintendo XL or IPod Touch. There was a kids club by the kids pool in the center of the 2 bigger pools (small gated area with a roof). A few kids there in there but mostly younger and not sure what activities they had for them outside of the area they were in. The evening shows were in the Lobby area. The mime show was good (my son thought it was creepy) and the circus show was good. Other than that, the shows seemed to be about the same every night with the same 4 women and men dancers. Not that they weren't good but it was just the same way too much. The Mexican Fiesta night was really good food and a lot of fun but dragged on a bit too much. Other than that, nothing much to do at night at all in the hotel for any age group. Prefer the more broadway type and variety shows we've experienced at other all inclusive resorts in a big auditorium type environment.
The rooms were large and kept immaculate by the morning and evening staff (with chocolates). They kept the refrigerator well stocked with soda, beer, water, and whatever else you wanted. There was cereal, tea, coffee, and other items in a basket. You could request as much as you wanted. Room service was great and you could order any time and just about anything. My son loved ordering pizza there and it was really good. The taco and hamburger/hot dog areas around the pool every day were great (the hamburger was really good). The 2 restaurants were good and the food selection and taste was good and real good most of the time but not as much buffet selections as other all inclusives we've been to. Could never get a reservation at the Andrea restaurant on the days they had special dinners unless you called in early, which I never remembered to do. We actually got to eat there once with another family the last night and although they said it was booked, there were tons of free tables there all during the time we were there.
With the all inclusive fee, you got 2 set trips. We went on the Cultural/Tequila tour. It was nice to see this tequila factory as we hadn't been there. However, the 2 towns they stopped in were a waste of time in my opinion. Nothing really opened and nothing really to see or do. Each had a small Church but that was about it. Didn't do the other free city/shopping tour although I heard from friends that it was good. We did the Los Veranos Canopy Zip Line tour again and had a blast not only on the zip lines but my son loves to swim in the river at the end while we were having lunch.
Date of Stay: 04/16/2011
Children in Party: 1
Accommodations 
Dining Kids Play Area Money Value Pool & Water Fun Staff
The Velas Vallarta, a 10 acre resort, has got everything going for it. It is a home away from home for our family. We would not stay anywhere else in Puerto Vallarta. Top notch gourmet dinning, plus casual dining like American style
more +burgers/ fries and local fare as well. The best Chicago thin crust pizza outside of Chicago. The air conditioned rooms are large and well appointed, daily maid service and fridge stocking. On site spa, gym, tennis court with lessons available, volleyball, boutique, grocery store, watersports, poker tourneys, ping pong tourneys, water aerobics, kids club. The staff running kids club love children and have so many fun activities for the kids each day. Three pools and lush well cared for gardens are a joy to relax and play in. A great location, a short walk to the marina for many activities, shopping, delicious restaurants. A short 10 min cab ride to down town in Romantica for a more authentic Mexican feel. 20 min from a water park and world class golf. The staff are amazing, hard working, customer service oriented and have become friends with each passing year. You must stay at the Velas when you are in PVR.
Date of Stay: 02/06/2009
Children in Party: 2
Tots (0-2) Kids (3-6) Kids (7-9) Tweens (10-12) Tweens (13+) Accommodations Dining Kids Play Area Money Value Pool & Water Fun Staff
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