Hotel Villa Varadero

Villa Varadero is one of those hotels that families return to year after year. It's the type of place where waves of nostalgia overshadow (some) deteriorating rooms, so-so food, and noisy crowds. The lobby's exterior consists of whitewashed walls and terra-cotta roofs withs stone accents, and there are elaborate, colorful murals of animals on the walls. Despite the resort's age, Villa Varadero always seems to be at capacity, thanks to local families who return for annual vacations. The crowd here is mostly domestic weekenders from Guadalajara and Tepic. The atmosphere is rowdy, set to the tune of childish shrieks of joy and teenage tomfoolery. 

Villa Varadero is located on the southern end of Nuevo Vallarta, a popular resort town about a 25-minute drive north of Puerto Vallarta (20 minutes north of the airport). Nuevo Vallarta was developed in the 1980s as a resort community, and hasn’t stopped growing since. The beach is lined with mega-resort after mega-resort, and large shopping complexes house restaurants, supermarkets, and American fast-food outlets such as Starbucks and Subway. Nuevo Vallarta doesn’t have the same authentic Mexican feel as Puerto Vallarta, and is known more for family-friendliness than nightlife. Villa Varadero is located on the southern end of Nuevo Vallarta’s hotel strip, and is surrounded by hotels, restaurants, and convenience stores. - three-minute drive to eco-park Vallarta Adventures

• eight-minute drive to El Tigre Golf Course
• 12-minute drive to Flamingos Golf Club
• 17-minute drive to Bucerias
• 25-minute drive to downtown Puerto Vallarta
• 30-minute drive to Punta Mita
• 35-minute drive to Sayulita

The majority of Villa Varadero’s rooms are located in its older beachfront buildings. These rooms show clear signs of age, with popcorn ceilings, sponge painted “headboards,” worn wooden furniture, and creaky mattresses. Broken mini-fridges and stained futons don’t do much to help the cause. Newer elements like flat-screen TVs and coffeemakers are nice additions, and rooms are generally clean and well kept. Guests looking for more space can upgrade to a One-Bedroom Suite, which has a kitchenette and a separate living space. Across all room types, bathrooms are small spaces with shower stalls and single sinks. Only some rooms have tubs. In the hotel’s new building, located across the street from the beach, rooms are nicer. They have a fresh feeling, with new tile work, furniture, and bedding, and sliding glass doors that let in lots of natural light. These rooms are equipped with flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, coffeemakers, and outdoor balconies set with cafe tables. Decor is bland, and the walls are mostly bare, but newer rooms are a significant upgrade from their older counterparts.  

Villa Varadero’s all-inclusive rates include all meals, drinks, Wi-Fi, and on-site activities. While the majority of guests choose to take advantage of the hotel’s all-inclusive rates, Villa Varadero also offers cheaper nightly rates that only include breakfast and Wi-Fi (known as the American Plan). Guests must wear wristbands to differentiate their plan-types. Villa Varadero has four pools. Three are located in front of the hotel’s beachfront building, and one is located on the roof of the newer building. The three beachfront pools are the hotel’s most popular. Throughout the day, guests gather around the pools to swim, sunbathe, and grab drinks at the adjacent bars. The beachfront pools are narrow and oddly shaped, and show signs of age (like dirty pool grout and deteriorating tiles). The pools often feel overcrowded, and there aren’t enough lounge chairs for everyone. The newer building’s rooftop pool is much nicer than its beachfront counterparts, but it’s equally crowded. The beautiful beach in front of Villa Varadero is lined with plastic lounge chairs and palapa-style umbrellas. The wide expanse of sand provides plenty of room for playing soccer, building sandcastles, and taking leisurely strolls along the ocean. All-inclusive guests can use the provided kayaks and boogie boards for free. The water is generally calm -- better for swimming than surfing. Villa Varadero has four all-inclusive restaurants. La Mesa del Capitan serves buffet breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with rotating dinner themes, like Mexican, Italian, and American. Sol is an open-air space on the new building’s rooftop. It serves early morning continental breakfast, light lunch, and a Mexican dinner buffet. El Mural is located on the lobby level of the new building, and is named for its massive adjacent mural. El Mural serves buffet breakfast and dinner. Drake’s Palapa serves as a beachfront snack bar in the afternoons, and transforms into the hotel’s only a la carte dinner option at night. At night, Drake’s is only open to adults with the all-inclusive plan. None of the hotel’s restaurants are great. They’re typically crowded, and disastrously messy, which doesn’t make the subpar food anymore appetizing. In addition to four restaurants, there are three bars located across the property. Alcoholic beverages are included in the all-inclusive rates.  Though Villa Varadero doesn’t have a spa or fitness center, massages are available in a small beachfront palapa. Reservations are recommended, but walk-ins can usually be accommodated. Additional on-site amenities include an outdoor playground, a game room, and free parking in the hotel’s underground garage. Bikes are also free to borrow.