We stayed at the Westin for a week recently. This was our first time in Puerto Vallarta and, thus, first stay at this Westin. The crowd is very mixed---a wide range of ages, races, and countries-of-origin (It was great to see some fellow-Canadians there!).

Before getting into the pro's and con's of the Westin Puerto Vallarta Resort itself, let us describe the surprise and disappointment that we experienced when it came time to check-out of the hotel. We made our reservations months ago online at the Marriott website. When you press the "Book Now" button, you assume that you are locking in a rate (quoted in your HOME currency) that you will eventually pay at the end of your future hotel stay. Not so with the Westin! They convert the amount (quoted in your home currency) into Mexican pesos at an exchange rate that is favorable to the hotel. And, then, when you check out, they insist that you MUST pay your hotel charges in Mexican pesos. This means that your credit card bank then will convert the pesos BACK into your home currency (Canadian $ in our case) when the charges are posted to your credit card account. The result: in many (if not all) cases, the amount posted (charged) to your credit card will be significantly more than the rate you thought you locked in when you made the reservation. In our case, it was more than a 3% increase! It's not so much the additional cost, but simply the principal underlying a questionable policy. The staffperson at checkout indicated that it's "Mexican regulations" that require this complicated, circuitous conversion practice. That has never been the case in other Mexican resorts in which we've stayed. So prepare yourself (and your pocketbook) for an unpleasant surprise. Enough on that....

Overall this is an average resort, definitely needing some renovation, but it is also a property that we would return to. Renovations are currently underway (which you will read about in other reviews). There was very minimal dust and fumes, nor was there much noise. In essence, we were unaffected by the renovation and look forward to it being completed.

Pro's for this property: The grounds are immaculate and the layout of the resort is easy to understand and navigate. The pools are exceptional--there are several, including a very large main pool, plus another large pool that is perfect for children; the depth of the water varies from about .5 meters up to about 3+ meters. At all the pools, particularly the smaller kids' pool, there are plenty of chaise loungers and shade at most all times of the day. There are also quite a few umbrellas and a good supply of towels. The interior of the resort, including public areas and rooms, was quite clean. Floors in the room were well-swept on a daily basis. Beds are comfortable and refreshed daily. Our balcony was quite large and had a table and two chairs.

The staff is generally excellent! Hugo at the front desk checked us in and was very helpful. A special shout-out to Senorita Rosario, who is the person responsible for the Kid's Club. She is superb and did a great job spending time with our kids a few hours most days. The Kid's Club is a bargain, well-equipped, clean and a welcome perk to parents. Almost all the wait-staff we interacted with were pleasant and attentive, expecially at breakfast in El Palma. There is a quesadilla station, staffed by a wonderful woman who the kids loved interacting with.

The Breakfast Buffet at El Palma is quite good, though not the best we've experienced at Marriott properties. El Palma at other meals, as well as the snack bars and pool food, were okay. We got a bit bored with the menu as it was quite repetitive and generally at North American prices, so we went off-property frequently to several of the local Marina-area restaurants, all within walking distance.

Now for the Con's: The biggest "con" is the perplexing currency exchange issue noted above. Beyond that, the rooms need refurbishing (as noted earlier); for example, our bathoom door would not shut completely, lots of stains around the floor/wall intersections in the showers and bathrooms. Not all lights, nor outlets, worked properly. Housekeeping was very inconsistent--almost never were there two of every item replenished---towels, coffee packets, etc. One day there would be a bath mat and the next day not, etc. Same with coffee cups.

All in all, this resort is okay. It's perfectly satisfactory for an economical family vacation where your expectations are not too high and you just want to chill by the pool and enjoy some sun!