Resort? I don't think so.

My first time to PVR and I loved the it.

The resort (hotel) was another story. They called it a resort, but that's not what I would call it. I stayed for 7 nights. The PROs: very close to the beach (just steps); friendly staff; clean rooms; good A/C; walking distance to dining, clubs, and shops. CONs: noisy within the hotel; late, late noise in halls(from drunk guests); room doors slamming shut; king size bed that was way to soft; flat sleeping pillows; beat-up room funishings.

For "the price paid" it was just average, no great deal. Would I go back to PVR? YES!! Would I stay at this "hotel" again? Never!

Note: Breakfast at "The Pancake House" Excellent!

Lunch on the Beach at "The Palms"

Dinner at "Cafe de Olla" (arrive early to avoid long lines) Delicious Mexican food!

Great!!!!

My boyfriend and I stayed at Blue Chairs on our first gay vacation. I must say after reading the other reviews from the people who gave it low marks must be rich needy queens. Listen up , you are going to Mexico! You are not going to the Ritz Carlton Palm Beach! It is the only gay beachfront resort in PV and maybe the world! If you want 5 STAR stay at one of the straight uptight establishments. The staff were great, the views were great, the location was great. I will speak highly of this resort to anyone wanting to travel to Vallarta and get the full comfortable gay vacation experience. Man just thinking of it makes me want to be there now. See you there!!!!! P.S. only saw my room which was #301 a jr suite with the best view of the bay in my opinion. So i cannot comment on the other rooms but as far as house keeping and the staff im sure all the rooms are great.

The place to stay in Vallarta

This was our 3rd trip to Vallarta. The hotel is owned by 2 guys from Georgia and you can tell they have put their heart and soul into this place. Blue Chairs went from a dump in 2000 to a great property since they took over in 2001. They continue to upgrade the hotel. No doubt it will go 5 star in 2006. The hotel has a lot of things going on and it is all in keeping the gay and lesbian product in mind. "This is no bath house" as Greg, one of the owners, told me. "Gay people deserve a place to go ON THE BEACH, not in some alley where people will not see us." They incorporate the idea of "Us" into the operation. It is not perfect but it is getting there very fast. The staff there is unreal. They have over 60 employees Greg told us. Most have them have been there from the start so that says something about the guys as employers. We also stayed at an expensive gay villa, WAY overpriced considering it takes 15 minutes to get to the beach by taxi. We stayed at another gay property close by, cheap, and well, you get what you pay for. Blue Chairs had great rates and you are on the beach.

NOT a 4-star resort by any means

My partner and I just stayed at Blue Chairs for 6 days, 5 nights. It was our first time to Mexico. As previous reviews have mentioned, the location is superb, right on the gay beach. However, the hotel itself is nothing to write home about. We stayed in an ocean front room with a king bed on the 5th floor. It was a very small room with absolutely no frills. While the furniture was authentic Mexican, it was old and not in the best shape. The mattress, while okay for a hotel bed, was NOT a memory foam mattress as Blue Chairs' website suggests. It's simple a foam mattress topper to cover up an old mattress. The biggest problem I had was with the sheets and towels. The bed sheets were changed every day, yet every set had numerous holes and stains. The towels were the same way. The maid service did a good job and were very friendly (remember to tip them). However, they only leave two bath towels a day and that's it. Likewise, you must use this strange laminated card to exchange beach towels everyday, which also are in bad shape.

Each room has a wall A/C unit, which never cooled for our entire July stay. We spoke to other guests and this was the same for all rooms. So, don't expect a cool room at all, because it won't blow anything but warm air.

There is NO iron, which seems so last-century for a "four star resort." There is also no fridge in any room but the junior suetes. You can get ice at the front desk, though. There's also NO safe in the room. If you want to lock some things up, you must use a "locker room" near the front desk, which requires the assistance of an employee every time you want to get something out.

There is Internet service off the main lobby, but you must pay, something that seems cheap for a "four star resort."

The employees are mostly very nice and helpful regarding the local area. The conceriege, Gib, is very helpful, as well. My partner and I both purchased 80-minute massages for a great price from the spa's on-site spa service. While the "spa" is simply an old hotel room off of the lobby of the hotel, my therapist was probably the best I've ever had (and I frequent spas in Manhattan all the time). It was a little cold in the room, but I got over it very quickly.

The pool is simply a 10-foot kiddie pool on the roof. NO ONE uses it, ever, and as previous reviews said, it becomes a stage for drag shows at night. It closes by 8PM! Lame.

There's not a whole lot to do in PV and it is NOT the gay mecca that so many of these websites will have you believe. Overall, an average vavacation which could have been even better had we not ben so disappointed by Blue Chairs.

It is just OK

My boyfriend and I stayed in Blue Chairs from July 1 - 6, 2005. The hotel is located in a great location in front of the gay beach in Playa de los Muertos.

About the Hotel: The guest are mostly middle age gay man from the west coast. I stayed in the oceanfront room. The room was clean, a little small for 2 people get the junior suite instead, the balcony included a window box planter(very beautiful), but it did not included a mini-fridge(which i think every room should have). In general I think the hotel is overpriced because it does not included all the amenities you would expect from the price. The pool is the worst because is small and is used for stage when they have drag shows in the night. Basically the best thing the Hotel had to offer is the area where is located and the beach, overall is not the best place you can stay with the price that you paying.

Best gay hotel in Puerto Vallarta

I stayed at the Blue Chairs hotel in November mainly because of the location and based on good word of mouth. Since I was traveling alone, I wanted to stay somewhere centrally located to the gay beach and clubs. The Blue chairs could not be in a better location. The gay beach is right in front of the hotel and you can sit in the chair under the umbrellas all day for free. Drinks and food can be ordered and signed to your room very conveniently. As for the gay clubs, they are mostly within a few blocks of the hotel. Very easy and safe to walk to and back late at night. The hotel also features a roof top restaurant with a very popular happy hour. The rooms are comfortable but basic. I had a room with a kitchenette which is a nice option. The beds were comfortable and the rooms are a decent size.

The hotel also has good security but overnight guests are allowed if you sign them in at the front desk and they have picture ID. This is important because most hotels in Puerto Vallarta do not allow you to bring a non registered guest to your room. You can't really compare the Blue Chairs to other traditional hotels but for a smaller gay hotel it is great. The staff is very friendly, location is perfect and rooms are decent.

I am going back on the 16th of April and I will write a different review if I have anything new to add. Feel free to email me with any questions regarding the hotel or the nightlife in PVR.

Wonderful Place to Visit

It was my first trip to Puerto Vallarta and my first stay at The Blue Chairs Hotel in January 2005. As mentioned in a previous review, this is not a 5 star property and it probably ranks as a 3 star property. Besides the rating The Blue Chairs Hotel has some amazing things going for it that should count additional consideration.

The room I was in was large and had a small kitchenette in it. It was very clean, the mattress was not new but certainly nice. I have trouble sleeping on a bad mattress and will not accept an uncomfortable one. Most rooms have at least a partial view of the ocean, and certainly all can hear the roar of the waves at night that rhythmically put one to sleep.

First of all, as a gay resort, it passes the test admirably. I always felt safe and secure. Overnight guests other than paying guests, must leave their identification at the front desk.

Secondly, the rooftop bar/resteraunt view is in 3 words, "To Die For". As a guest over New Year's Eve, we watched fireworks from the rooftop of other hotels, and even at a far distance, other towns that rim the bay. They seemed to go on forever and it was a kaleidoscope of sights I highly recommend.

In addition to the above, another reason to stay would be that there were limited hotels to the south of the Blue Chairs Beach due to the rocks jutting out to the sea, and the beach area seems much more private than the other hotels that line the bay.

The very best reason to stay for a gay person, is the clientele. People from all over the world congregate at the Blue Chairs beach. The conversation is lively, and never did I feel the outsider. Quite a few make annual visits at the same time each year, so it is a happy fun reunion of sorts where the clientele is hosting and you are the new guest! The patrons are only too happy to fill you in on what is going on. The major daytime activity is of course, to lie on the beach and have your Blue Chairs waiters bring you drinks and food. Many Blue Chair waiters double as strippers in the gay clubs, so your view is enhanced immeasurably!

All in all, I can honestly say I would love to return and stay at The Blue Chairs!

Has Potential, But Lots of Room for Improvement

The Blue Chairs is considered the premiere gay resort in Puerto Vallarta, and there are some good reasons for that. The location on the Playa Los Muertos beach couldn't be better, and it's great fun to sit out in one of the blue (of course) beach chairs and sip a margarita and gaze at the bay. The rooftop bar is especially lively at sunset, and, although there was a little too much drag entertainment for our tastes, it'a fun place to hang out before dinner. We particularly enjoyed the Gay Bingo Night and the Movie Night. The staff at the Blue Chairs is exceptionally attentive and friendly and very helpful for newcomers to Puerto Vallarta especially. Susan the beach hostess is just one of the winning personalities you'll encounter. All this is strongly on the plus side.

But overall, the experience wasn't everything we had hoped for. The accommodations are minimal at best and, for all the money the property appears to pull in (it seems like a cash cow!), the owners seriously need to consider putting their money where they make it. The hotel rooms and common areas are in desperate need of upgrading. Top priorities would be replacing the current mattresses (which were bad in both rooms we stayed in); and modernizing the bathrooms with adequate counters, storage space, lighting, and water (on more than one occasion we had no water). The stair banisters needed painting, and some rickety chairs on the landings were more of an eyesore than an amenity.

By the way, despite what another reviewer wrote, using the hotel airport transportation is not a better deal. The regular taxi service in Puerto Vallarta is exceptional and will only cost you about 75 pesos ($6.00) one way from the Blue Chairs to the airport. Taxis do accept U.S. dollars, so there's no need to exchange your dollars at the airport on the way in. You don't get a good exchange rate at the airport; the best and most current exchange rate is available from ATMs which accept your Visa or MasterCard (including debit cards) and dispense pesos.

Best beachfront value

Just spent seven nights at Blue Chairs in February ('04) and already I am planning my return for next year. It is the best value I have ever had for a beachfront hotel. They have an excellent deal for airport/hotel transfers. I was met immediately on arrival and was whisked away to the resort and checked in to my room w/in one hour. The staff was friendly and helpful at all times and displayed a genuine enthusiam. The hotel is five stories with a rooftop pool, restaurant and bar with nightly entertainment. The food was consistently good, the drinks reasonably priced and the Sunday Brunch wonderful - compete with live music and expansive views of Banderas Bay from underneath a shaded table. The rooms were clean and simply furnished with just the basics.

Daily maid service was efficent and unobtrusive. The beachside restaurant also had good food and an efficent staff. The only possible complaint I could lodge would be the frequent street noise, which is clearly beyond the control of the hotel.

Blue Chairs Resort

I got a great deal on a beach front junior suite at Blue Chairs. The hotel is at Playa de los Muertos...the southern (and my favorite) side of town. The hotel is clean and has GREAT beach access, a pool and bar on the top floor, palapa restaurant on the beach. It's not a "5 star" propertyy, but, my room was clean, it's an excellent location and best of all, this hotel has the FRIENDLIEST and most helpful staff. Thanks for a delightful stay!