Hotel Portonovo Plaza Puerto Vallarta Review: What To REALLY Expect If You Stay

Pros

Prime downtown Puerto Vallarta location
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Good-size rooftop pool and sun deck
Rooftop restaurant has great city views
Budget-friendly
Free underground parking

Cons

Not directly on the beach
Guest rooms are on the small side and lack views
Noisy street can be bothersome

Bottom Line

This 45-room budget-friendly boutique hotel comes sharply dressed with some attitude and style, but little in the way of amenities (at least compared with the larger megaresorts that permeate Puerto Vallarta's more distant zones). There's a decent rooftop restaurant with outdoor seating and city views, a nice-size rooftop pool looking out toward the ocean, and a basic-use (read: tiny) fitness center. The rooms range from small to smaller, and their views are far from inspiring -- but it's what lies outside the hotel doors that counts. The beach, the Malecon, and the area's most popular dining, nightlife, and shopping are all within a short walk.

See More Bottom Line

Hotel & Amenities Photos

Pool

Restaurants and Bars

The Hotel

Standard Red Room

Amenities

Standard Twin Room

Amenities

Fitness Center
Internet
Pool

See More Amenities

Oyster Awards

Scene

A reasonably priced, small urban paradise

Downtown Puerto Vallarta is a place most people visit on short day trips from their out-of-the-way megaresorts. But more of PV's charm is revealed to those who stay in town in the way of great restaurants, art galleries, shops, and live entertainment.

Portonovo Plaza is a draw for the budget travelers looking to fully experience that charm. Located off a fairly noisy street, Portonovo Plaza features a chic little lobby with a small bar, a hip rooftop pool with sundeck and city views, a decent restaurant, a couple computers in the lobby with free Internet, and a tiny fitness center -- all the basics needed to enjoy a stay that's designed around enjoying what's outside the hotel doors rather than in.

See More Scene

Location

Excellent downtown location one minute from a public beach and a short drive from more secluded beachfront

The Portonovo Plaza occupies the block formed by Mexico, Uruguay, Chile, and Paraguay streets, with the front door on Mexico. Thanks to its heart-of-the-city location you can walk everywhere except a secluded beach. For that you’ll have to take a short taxi ride and head north or south. Conchas Chinas, for example, is 10 to 15 minutes by cab -- this is an exquisitely beautiful rock-and-sand beach just south of town with public access to perfectly clear snorkeling waters.

15-minute drive to Puerto Vallarta Airport
1-minute walk to the beach
2-minute walk to the Malecon
10-minute walk to Rio Cuale
15-minute walk to Old Town
15-minute walk to Playa Los Muertos
10-minute drive to Marina Vallarta
10-minute drive to Playa Conchas Chinas

See More Location

Rooms

Fairly monochromatic palette with streamlined furnishings and basic amenities

All the rooms are priced the same, based on one-person occupancy, with each additional person raising the rate. Some are larger, have slightly more space, better views, or bigger bathrooms -- but they all share the same streamlined black-and-white palette with either brown or red accent blankets and drapes. The beds are a bit on the firm side, and the views are uninspiring -- ranging from none to blank walls to territorial street views.

Air conditioning
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Flat-screen TVS
Walk-in showers
Bathrooms lack vanity counter space
Hotel-brand toiletries

See More Rooms

Features

Rooftop pool with stunning city views but tiny fitness center

Rooftop pool and sundeck
Rooftop restaurant with fabulous city views
Small lobby bar
Business center and meeting room
Tiny fitness center
Free underground parking
Free Wi-Fi throughout
View Full List of Amenities

See More Features