Back from PV!!! A very Long Review...

OK now I have some free time to write about our site visit, we arrived on Saturday very late @ 11:00 pm and went to bed about 4:00 AM!!! after two rounds of playing UNO! LOL

 

We stayed at the Playa del Sol Grand in Flamingos Beach in Nuevo Vallarta really close to the RIUs. We had a really nice 2 bedroom condo with a living room with a sofa bed and a pretty decent kitchenette, this hotel is small but I found it very nice and comfortable.

 

I really like their gardens and infinity pool. It was amazing at the sunsets! The beach was sandy and very swimable, even my little 2 yrs old niece was enjoying it. They have wedding coordinator and they have a very nice area around the pool , in the gardens and the beach to have a reception and ceremony . The best restaurant was the Cardenalli's, their pizza was incredible and one dish made with lasagna filled out with riccota!!! YUMMI! The breakfast buffet was just OK. Here is their web page in case some one is interested: Flamingos Beach Nuevo Vallarta, Puerto Vallarta Resorts : Playa Del Sol Grand

 

So after the alarm beeped like 10 times we wake up to get ready at 8:45 AM, we had breakfast at the hotel and Hector arrived to pick us at 10:00 AM sharp. He is a very young , kind and nice person , knows very well the area and has a lot of contacts as I could see. He took us first to check the Villas. At that time I was sweating like a pig!!! It was so humid and hot; please girls consider not getting married in sept!!! it will be impossible to look nice with that heat and humidity!!!

 

We visited first Casa Patricia, where most of the brides and families stay if they are getting married in the Villas of the Nuevo Vallarta Zone, is a 5 bed/5.5 bath house with a lot of social areas, the living room has an impressive view of the pool and the beach, the kitchen is so big and complete. They have people that will cook, clean, drive you and take care about you... Is 2 doors away from Casa La Salamandra. I liked this house to do a RD or WD or Brunch, they have BBQ grilles and they can grille you Fish ( Zarandeado..mmm!) or prepare other dishes for your dinner, the space is very large to sit a big group. The pool is the only heated in that residential zone so if you plan to be there at December... it will be perfect!!! Here is a link to this house so you can check more pics: Caribbean Villas: Puerto Vallarta Villas: Villa Patricia - Vacation Rentals by CaribbeanWay

 

Then Hector took us to La Salamandra who turned to be a very nice surprise, is really beautiful , big, impresive with the all-white construction, the levels, the awesome pool.. it is very nice. We couldn’t check the bed/bath inside the house since they dont rent it to stay just for the reception. I posted pictures in other thread : http://bestdestinationwedding.com/fo...-patricia.html

 

Then we went to Las Palapas , which is a rustic-Mexican villa, is really cozy, intimate, private and the palms are incredible. I love it, is not as big as the Salamandra and has the Mexican touch , it has a beautiful entrance with a lush garden, the cute pool can be filled with flowers and candles floating around.. is very nice!!! Here is the thread with the pictures I posted: http://bestdestinationwedding.com/fo...s-palapas.html

 

After seeing those Villas , we went to other 2 locations in the area, one was a tennis court with a big front beach yard, which I didn’t like it at all... then to a new construction that will be finished very soon but I didn’t like it either.

 

We took the car and went to the Grand Mayan... OMG is so big, impressive, the installations are awesome, and the lobby is unbelievable!! The Mayan Sculptures are so enormous!!! Is very modern, has everything you want to think about: train, lazy river, wave pool, enormous beach.. You wont believe it.. I will post my pics later, but was so big for our wedding even we plan to have 120.150 guests, that will look like an small bean in a big pot! LOL... but for guests staying here IS INCREDIBLE!!! they will L O V E it.. but be prepared to walk A LOT!!! is HUGE!!! They are starting to build a third building ( the Regency at NV) don’t know when they are planning to finish but for those getting married there, pls check there is no construction zone around your reception or ceremony.. there is plenty space to avoid it.. but consider it.

 

Then we went to see the Church at the Marina, is the most calm, nice and beautiful Catholic Church I never been, both Jorge and I fall in love with it. I wanted to cry while I was there just imaging THE DAY!!! Is an open Church, very well ventilated, simple, very nice! This was our first decision of the day, we wanted to celebrate our Wedding at that Church... the name is Nuestra Señora Reina de la Paz... Here is the thread of the pics for the Church: http://bestdestinationwedding.com/fo...ic-church.html

 

After that we went to see the Mayan, where we are going to have our Legal Ceremony at the Jetty and the Reception, we haven’t booked it but waiting to get a confirmation on the date we wanted, it was reserved but crossing our fingers, because we really liked it!!! Is a very simple building but with modern touches, lounge furniture around, Beautiful Gardens, a lake, a very good area for the reception, the dinner served by them was mentioned by our WC as the best in PV. Is really lovely! the Jetty is so gorgeous!!! We were so excited about it... We saw the lobby, the pool, the bar/club, one restaurant, the lounge bar at the beach where we are having our after party and cocktail reception at the Legal Ceremony and the beach area for the reception... Here are the pics:http://bestdestinationwedding.com/fo...lace-pics.html

 

Then we walked to Nikki Beach , I will post pics also and our WC told us they can offer it for Weddings but they will remain open for any customer who wants to get service.. so was not an option. The Sunday brunch looked very good and was very popular, I was raving for a mimosa.. but we had to keep walking!!! LOL we saw the Westin Pergolas , since we already went to a wedding there, was not an option for us but I have pics if some one is interested is really nice but I feel you can have the sensation of being an a different party because the way the set the tables at each pergola. The food is really good and they have really good service as I remember. We are considering both Westin and Regina as well as the Melia for our guests to stay. I don’t have the rate for groups yet... lets see what we get.

 

Westin and Regina are now totally independent, and the Regina offers the Patio as an option for weddings is a big area facing the ocean, they have restrooms and area for the catering, is very well illuminated and have an small fountain in the ground. For me was very plain and big but the views are really nice from there. I have pics also that will try to post really soon. As I understand the Westin is more like a Resort/Hotel and the Regina is a Time share, so they have condos with kitchennets. I want to point they share the pool, gardens and restaurants, but administrative speaking they are separated.

 

After seeing these we went to the NH Krystal which is very colonial like an old Spanish or Mexican hacienda. They have rooms with private pools everywhere and they have flexible hours for wedding receptions if you rent the facing rooms to the beach so is a good option... what I didn’t like it is also big for a wedding, I think you will need a lot of decor and I feel it was kind of old. I have pics if some one is interested.

 

As soon as we finished of being 6 hours at the sun, sweating and walking we went to grab a beer at the lobby from the Krystal and headed to talk with Priscilla and Hector, we even saw his little new born Esteban he is so cute!!! Talking about Prisar, they have very good ideas, information, contacts, we checked the details about their contract, what they will do for us, what is included in their services and after meeting with them I really feel we are in good hands. We talked about photos, music, decoration, activities.. but since we are choosing November for our wedding, we still have plenty of time to work on the details. We just decided about Paullina Ulloa the photographer, the Church and Mayan when we were talking about them.

 

Then Hector droves us back, we asked him to leave us in the Marina and we went to Coleguitas, a sea food restaurant he recommended and turned out pretty well... I have a huge plate of shrimp in different ways , rice and salad, with a appetizer of fish soup, fried banana, a shot of tequila ( that I declined) and a glass of Kalhua the coffee liqueur for 99 pesos!!! They only have ceiling fans but the food was very good. We finish our meals and took a cab back to our hotel.

 

I really want to mention that both Priscilla adn Hector are wonderful people, very helpful and they feel that your wedding will be their wedding and they will take the same care and with the same dedication as if it where their wedding... so for those using Prisar, feel very happy about them.

 

At night , Jorge and my sis boyfriend wanted to see the Sunday Night Game , so the 4 of us went to a Gorgeous Place in Bucerias named Marks , the food was INCREDIBLE, the barman made me a Mango Daiquiri that I loved , and a Cosmo that was perfect... is a very good option for a WD or RD. Is kind of far from PV like 25 min from PV but is worth it!!! I have heard they have won a lot of medals and prizes because the service and the food. Here is their webpage: Mark's Bar and Grill

 

Monday we stayed at the hotel all day long and at night we want for a walk at the Malecon and had dinner the whole family at Bubba Gump’s which for me was just OK.... expensive for the food we had I felt.

 

Tuesday, Jorge came back and I stayed with all my family.. then I got sick as well as my sis and mom, we think was the water in the ice or something....by Thursday we were OK and went to rent the yacht... which turned a complete success. It was a very nice and large yacht... we could fit about 15 people there, the bar, kitchen, social area and cabin was very impressive. We took a trip to Los Arcos to do some snorkeling, then we went to Las Animas where we had lunch at a typical restaurant at the beach... the food was yummi and we had a coco with lime juice and chilli powder that was INCREDIBLE... mmm.

 

Then we got back to the yacht and return to the Marina, it was a 5 hour trip and cost like $600, including the captain and 2 helpers that were incredible.. Shannon even played as the Babysitter of my 3 month old nephew!!! They were awesome... I asked him about doing something like the tour we had for our group on Friday before the wedding and he said yes... so if some one is interested I have his phone.. Just let me know...

 

Then we took a van to the hotel and went to swim at the pool, suddenly a girl from the hotel gets closer and say Do you want to see the baby sea turtles going to the sea!!! I grabbed my niece and went to check that magic moment... there were about a hundred tiny sea turtles born in the middle of the palapas at the beach trying to reach the sea!!! We helped to move them fast to the beach, Barbara my niece was so excited, I was excited, and everybody was excited!!! It has been one of the best experiences in my life... Is so incredible how you can help them reach their home and how those tiny creatures fight so hard to keep alive.. WAS INCREDIBLE!!!

 

 

Here are some pics from this special moment...

 

 

 

Well after a very long review that tooked me a lot to write...I can say good night...

 

- Edna

 

Edna Thank YOU!!!!!!!!!

 

One question- your having an after party Please explain?? details, details!

Amy, Hector told us we have to move upstairs at 2 AM , so we probably are going to ask a quote for tacos for the Torna Boda/After party and keep the music at the lounge bar up to 3:30 AM with our own ipod or something because the music at the bar is very lounge LOL obviously, so we want to keep the party going not have everybody go to sleep ...

I dont have the quote yet for the tacos but thats our plan as far as today, LOL lets see if we can keep on budget!!!

oooo let me know me please!!!! WOW!!! My family in Mexica asked where the tornaboda would be, lol!

Wow, great info, so detailed--thanks for putting it out there for everyone still deciding.

All my decisions are made, but I'm so glad I read it--I loved reading about and seeing the turtles. What an amazing experience that was and to share it with your niece. So wonderful!!

great info, those turtles are sooo cute!!!

Thanks for posting such a detailed review! The Mayan sounds amazing.

Thanks for the great review Edna! I can't wait for our site visit in December!

Ohhh, I love the part about the turtles!! What a cool moment.

Jaime did you saw the last pics I posted last night about Mayan... hope so! Amy was so excited!!! LOL I am too!!