Downtown, Puerto Vallarta Calle Corona 270, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico | (888) 710-7049
Attractive hillside downtown location about three blocks from the waterfront
All rooms have private baths, AC, flat-screen TVs, and safes
Rooftop terrace with bay views, umbrella tables and chairs, and (worn) loungers
Communal lounge and kitchen, where guests can prepare meals
Basic breakfast included in rates
On-site laundry facilities
Safe-deposit box at front desk
Luggage storage and tour assistance
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Noisy party atmosphere not for everyone
Trash and debris behind the guesthouse
Spotty Wi-Fi signal; we could not connect during our visit
Showers only, no bathtubs
Limited front-desk hours
Parking is difficult
Lots of stairs and no elevator
Noise from discos on Malecon may disturb sleepers
Hostal Vallarta Suites sits on a steep hill just a few blocks from the beach and the Malecon, the main boardwalk. With its rock-bottom prices, this guesthouse is a favorite among backpackers and other budget-conscious travelers. There are 11 rooms, all private except for one shared room; if possible, it's really worth upgrading to one of the Suites with dramatic 270-degree bay views. There's a communal kitchen and lounge area with tables, and a simple breakfast of fruits and banana cake is included. There's also a rooftop terrace where guests frequently gather. Travelers could also consider the Comfort Inn up the road -- it's in the same price range and has a pool, making it a better value.
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Scene
A hostel vibe in downtown Puerto Vallarta near the Malecon and the beach
Opened in 2015, Hostal Vallarta Suites sits atop the steepest hill in downtown Puerto Vallarta. It's a three-tiered building, with some rooms on the ground level. Stairs lead to the main entrance and lobby, and then to two more levels of rooms. The rooftop terrace has umbrella tables and chairs, and a few loungers, with views of the surrounding buildings and the main church, with distant views of the Malecon and the ocean. There's a party-hearty vibe here. When we visited, people were walking around with beers, and the music was pumping by mid-morning. It’s mostly a backpackers' hub, and the shared kitchen, lounge, and terrace are popular spots for hanging out and socializing.
Location
Near the Parroquia de Nuestra Senora de Guadeloupe, the Malecon, and the beach
The guesthouse is down the street from Nuestra Senora de Guadeloupe, the main church, which is a favorite photo op among tourists. It’s about a five-minute walk to the Malecon, with its dozens of restaurants, events (especially on the weekends), and the beach. Public transportation is available on the Malecon, and there are shops in all directions along the narrow streets. Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport is about a 25-minute drive away.
Rooms
Basic and somewhat spartan, with minimal furniture
Hostal Vallarta Suites has rooms on the ground floor, middle floor, and top floor -- and as one may expect, the top-floor rooms are the best and have the best views (but require the most stair climbing). On the ground floor are the entry-level rooms, which have a limited view, as well as a shared dormitory-style room. Most rooms have a double, queen-size, or king-size bed, plus an additional single bed. The majority look out on the surrounding buildings, the street, or the gardens at the back of the hotel, whose view is often marred by trash and debris. Two of the nicest suites have floor-to-ceiling sliding doors and balconies, which have terrific views of the ocean in the distance. Painted in a golden-mustard yellow color, the rooms have tile floors and dark-wood beds and headboards, plus matching wood trim. In the Suite we saw, there was a mounted basin sink just outside the bathroom; bathrooms have curtains in lieu of doors and are extremely basic. A half-wall separates the toilets from the showers. Guests should bring their own toiletries.
Features
Shared kitchen, lounge area, rooftop terrace, breakfast, and free Wi-Fi
There's a communal kitchen, with a full refrigerator, gas stove, dual sink, and coffee- and tea-making facilities. The pleasant adjacent lounge, with its red-tile floor and ceiling fans, has wood tables and chairs, and backed stools aligned along the window. A continental breakfast of fruit and banana cake is included in the rates. The rooftop terrace has umbrella tables and chairs, and loungers. There are laundry facilities on-site, and the staff will arrange tours -- to the volcanic Marieta Islands and to Los Arcos National Park, for example. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property, but the signal is weak and doesn't reach many of the rooms.
