I agree, you will love Vallarta. We were there in february and loved it. The beach is nice and long and enjoyed walking it several times a day.

It is a quite resort, once the nightly entertainment was over everyone seemed to go to bed!

We are usually at Moon and were concerned that with only three resturants available that we might get bored but we really enjoyed all of our meals.

I recommend the "City Tour" nice bus ride to see the sites and Puerto Vallarta. On the way back we asked the tour guide to leave us and we hung out till late, had dinner and took a taxi back. There is alot going on at night there!

We paid extra for Whale watching and Zip line, both were great but I won't do zip line again! Not at my age, once was enough and it was worth it!

But we will be back in Moon next year, being from Upstate NY it was a long flight to Vallarta and we do love Moon!

You know, everybody just has their own opinion. We go on vacations all over the Caribbean and US frequently............to have fun and relax in a beautiful setting with at a clean, quality resort. As long as we have those things and don't have hassles with rooms/checkin and transfers and we have a staff that tries to cater to our needs.... we feel the trip was a success. The pluses when we have a "perfect" room that is right over the ocean and you can enjoy sleeping listening to the waves......24 hr food and snacks and drinks and convenient location to get around...all make us want to return. Playacar did just that. Moon and Aventura are beautiful but so large and crowed during high season that we just don't feel the personal touches at all from the staff. At Playacar we NEVER sat without a drink in our hand at any time during the week......half the time we didn't even want them! they bent over backwards and the week was very realaxing and not crowded considering it was spring break. (THAT issue we could have done with out..but the staff did all they could to step in when things were getting disruptive to other guests) It was only a couple times and certainly didn't ruin our trip.

Life is just TOO SHORT to let someone else take away from our well deserved and long awaited vacations. Palace isn't perfect and no resort is, in everyone's eyes. and there's just never enough help sometimes.......... and we ALL want to be treated like the VIP #1 guest everywhere we go, unfortunately that doesn't always happen! However, they really TRY hard to take care of their guests if you treat them nicely and that is why we are members and will continue to return to their resorts.

Having been to many "upscale" AI's (ie: Sandal's, Grand Lido Super Clubs, Presidente Intercontinental (Cabo)) and Palace is right up there in quality.............the rooms and service is higher quality and food about average or slightly below Sandal's and Grand Lido) Overall, they provide quality in the A.I market.

cjjames, this sounds so great! I would not want to go to Moon or ASP because they sound too big for us. We like smaller, Playacar sounds perfect! Did you go to Cozumel?

We also like to relax on vacation. So smaller, and no reservations sound perfect. I haven't seen anything lately about dress code? A few months ago, others said they wore nice shorts and shirts to dinner and that was fine, is that still the case?

4Penguins:

WE loved Playacar.......though no real beach was sad but youcan walk 5 mins over the ferry dock ot the other sdie where there is a long beautiful beach. They stated dress code for Itialian and japanese. People were in shorts and nice shirts at the Italian and had no problem. Waited only 10 mins to be seated (during spring break) so that wasn't bad. People do reserve pool chairs early am............and we did too, only because we had friends who needed an umbrella and didnt do "sun". You could still get chairs later in the am.maybe not umbrellas. Low key, no stress......great place to wander down 5th avenue with a big mug of Mai TAi's (which the head waiter sent me over to the bar to get!) and loved it! Lots of little bars, shops and eateries all up and down 5th avenue just a 5min walk outside the resort. GREAT LOCATION!

Only negative was having to ride the shuttle to the Spa, Gof course and Gym as it's located down the road. Some people walked.....we didn't....my husband was in no shape to walk that much after he spent 2 hours in the clubhouse bar while we were having facials and massages!!!

we will definately go back but want to try Vallarta Palace. Been to Vallarta (ocean doesn't compare to caribbean side!) but it has it's good features too.

I am ready to go now! I have to convince my husband. Hoping for early 2008! We went to Cancun, 1st time Jan 06 for our Anniversary. Now I think it should be an annual trip! I think he is thinking more like every 5 years! I can't wait that long.

thanks for the great info!

Every 5 years?!!!!! whats wrong with that man.

Life is too short, just work alittle OT and enjoy

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