Eloisa Hotel

Set in one of the liveliest areas of Puerto Vallarta’s old town, life inside the Eloisa Hotel can be as busy as the neighborhood outside. From the moment guests enter the lobby, they’re greeted with a seemingly constant flow of guests checking out, checking in, or just milling around. With only one small elevator for the whole hotel, wait times can be long to get to the higher floors. The hotel sees a wide range of guests, and it’s particularly popular with families, many of whom flock to the courtyard pool. Both day and night, sounds of children can be heard throughout the property.The lovely roof terrace tends to be a bit quieter, and it's a great place to take in the sights of the city below. Right outside the hotel there are bars and restaurants that see lots of traffic from tourists, locals, and gay couples. The adorable cafe/bookstore adjoining the hotel is the perfect place for guests to plot their day over a cup of coffee and some fresh baked goods. For guests who value location over luxury, Eloisa Hotel is a solid, budget-friendly choice in the center of the action.

Eloisa Hotel enjoys a prime location close to all the action in the Olas Altas section of Puerto Vallarta’s old town. Tons of restaurants, bars, and shops are within a few minutes’ walk. Across the street is one of the city’s main parks, Lazaro Cardenas, which hosts folklore performances, Mexican parties, Zumba classes, and a farmer's market in the high season. Less than a block away is Playa Los Muertos, one of the most popular beaches in the city, as well as the Malecon, the lively oceanfront promenade that runs the length of the city. Isla Rio Cuale, a small island in the middle of the city that features restaurants, bars, and lots of artisan stalls selling crafts and souvenirs, is a five-minute walk away. A 10-minute stroll up the Malecon takes guests to the promenade’s popular statues, evening food vendors, and the landmark Parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe church. Licenciado Gustavo Diaz Ordaz International Airport is a 25-minute drive away.

Outfitted with tile floors, dark wood furnishings, and the occasional pop of color, Standard Rooms at Eloisa Hotel are large and clean, but offer little in terms of amenities. Flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, ceiling fans, and free bottles of water come standard. Closets are huge, but empty. Bare-bones bathrooms offer some shampoo, a few bars of soap, and some threadbare bath towels, but no hairdryers, hand towels, or floor mats. Rooms lack safes, coffeemakers, and mini-fridges. Upgraded rooms add air-conditioning. They also feature bathrooms that are a bit more updated, featuring marble walk-in rainfall showers with faux stone floors. At the Studio level, guests get a tiled kitchenette that includes a mini-fridge, a two-burner cooktop, a coffeemaker, and a toaster, plus a small counter area with barstools.Eloisa Hotel’s top-of-the-line units are its suites. These one-bedroom units include separate living rooms with two sofas and lots of windows, as well as kitchenettes with full-size refrigerators and dining tables rather than counter seating. Suites also have simply furnished balconies, some of which overlook the park.

Eloisa Hotel offers a handful of nice amenities. Beside the lobby in the hotel’s internal courtyard is a small freeform pool with whimsical dolphins in the tile work on the bottom. Another tiny pool can be found on the huge tiled roof terrace, which offers panoramic views of the ocean and old town Puerto Vallarta. The area near the pool features patio dining tables with umbrellas for guests who want to enjoy a meal with a view. Another section of the large terrace has a handful of sun loungers. The hotel offers free continental breakfast in the high season. Just outside the entrance is the adorable A Page in the Sun cafe, which serves coffee drinks and homemade baked goods, and offers beer and wine in the evenings. Cafe tables and plush purple couches and chairs sit by walls lined from floor-to-ceiling with used books, as the cafe doubles as a library and used book shop. It also has sidewalk seating for those who prefer their coffee outside. Several other restaurants and bars are located on either side of the cafe.Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the property. The only parking options are street parking, which can be nearly impossible to find in the area, or in the paid parking garage below the park across the street.