Bah humbug to the restaurant manager

We stayed for two weeks over the Christmas break. Although there are palapas and chairs on the beach, the restaurant owner kept moving our towels off the chairs telling us that we had to eat in the restaurant in order to use the chairs. The hotel information clearly said the chairs were for the use of hotel guests but we were hassled every time we attempted to put our towels on the chairs. We ended up ordering one drink each afternoon just to keep him off our back. We didn't even particularly want the use of the chairs but they set up the umbrellas and chairs right up to the waters edge so there was really no sand area left to just lay a towel on. Between that restaurant, the local table/umbrella restaurant beach service next door and the other restaurant on the south side, you really end up with little access to the beach at all. Unfortunately, the Los Muertos beach on the south side of the pier has become primarily restaurant space the last few years. What a shame! The hotel itself was great. The only downside was slow or non-existent room cleaning on some days. Several days we had to phone the front desk to have them come and do our room. We were in rooms that were not accessible from the front desk so it seems we were regularly forgotten. the pigeons on the desk were a real nuisance as they left their mess on the furniture and all over the floor and railing. You really couldn't walk out there without stepping in it. It's all about location and it really is a great spot for that.

Amazing for someone on a budget

Friendly staff, great location, great restaurant, an amazing place to stay for the price. The room's are simple, but the beach is on one side and old town puerto vallarta is on the other side. What the hotel lacks in luxury, is compensated for in charm. I will be back again next time I come to Vallarta!

Best Location in the Best Location..

My wife and I stayed at the Emperador last November (2004), and we are attempting to book for a week this coming March(2005). We have been coming to Vallarta since 1992, and every year we get closer to our ideal location. While The Emperador may not scream "luxury", it more than makes up for a lack of onyx and marble with courteous staff, a great location, and a beach view to die for. Our balcony looked down upon the playa, we spent many langourous mornings simply drinking in the sights and sounds...A terrific hotel in a great spot (both on the beach and in our hearts), we would highly recommend this as a place worth visiting!

Not so good experience

At the Hotel Suites Emperador, the walls were dirty or discolored, the bathroom was old green tile and dirty, there were bugs in the shower, and the bed was rock hard with lumpy pillows. It also had a musty old smell and an air conditioner in the wall. We did have a good ocean view and the staff were nice. Howerver, if you are looking for something cleaner and newer go elsewhere. It is worth the money to upgrade to a nicer place if you are on vacation.

Best Hotel for the Money!!

Just got back from a two week stay in Old Vallarta. Stayed in the Suites Emperador the entire time. Good sized room on the ocean with kitchenette for $59USD. This was an off season price, however, but they have ongoing promos, like every 4th nite free! If you are not looking for opulence, this is the place. Clean, simple rooms with good air conditioners. Kitchen facilities are not for the weak of heart as the stove, sink and table are out on the balcony, and they are a few resident pigeons. We made good use of our fridge, however, (located inside the room). Staff are friendly and helpful, and the view and location are the BEST. Would stay there again without hesitation.

Dean and Ramona

Mission, B.C.

Run, Fast, Save yourself

Gosh, what a ripoff. It was touted by an online company as 3 start. A JOKE. It's horible. When I arrived, people at the desk complaining, I was shown three rooms, all worse than the last, two of the three had plumbing overflowing all over the bathroom. I left to go elsewhere. They had my credit card and charged me, and for 20% more than the agreed upon price for one night. AWFUL. Don't ruin your vacation this way.

Real Mexico

I have stayed at the Emperador twice and both times had no complaints. We were on our way to Guadalajara this time and the desk arranged to have our bus tickets delivered to the hotel..no charge, no hassle. The rooms are large and basic but clean with great views from the balconies. The hotel supplies beach towels and you have the use of palapas on the beach and beer and great food from their restuarant. The kitchenettes are great for coffee in the morning and there is fridge in the room. If you aren't fussy but want clean and on the beach, you can't go wrong here.

Can't beat the location or the beach

Stayed one night at the Emperador while waiting for our timeshare to open up. We were nervous since we knew very little about the place. As it turned out, it was the highlight of the trip. Yes, the place is not exactly 5 star, but what it lacks in class, it more than makes up in charm. The room was clean and had a huge balcony overlooking the ocean where the kitchen and dining table were located. The location is to kill for. Within three blocks there must be 200 restaurants. The Lazy Lizard cafe on-site was excellent though. It is right on the beach, with tables and umbrellas. Food was great, authentic and cheap. Service was the best we had the whole trip. The highlight was sitting on the beach in these great hammock chairs, getting served buckets of beer (six coronas for $3) and really good margaritas $1 each. This is not happy hour prices, this is all day! We felt like we were really in Mexico, and just relaxed and melted in.

The next day we went to the Mayan Palace at the Marina and felt like we have come back to the U.S. and were staying in Orange County. No charm, everybody spoke english and $5 for one beer $3.50 for a soda and $10 for a hamburger. Plus, going to a restuarant required hours of planning and a 45 minute "Mr. Toad's wild ride" on either the bus or taxi.

The only complaint was that the pillows were awful. Sacks of rocks.

Bring your own.

Next time we will be spending the whole week at the emperador.

Great location, but very basic

I have friends who stay regularly here, so I stayed here at their recomendation. You cannot beat the location. Right in the heart of old town, literally on the ocean. We had a room with a balcony that faced the ocean, and from where we could watch the sunset every night. The charm pretty much ends there though. The rooms are clean, but the beds are old and lumpy, the bathrooms kind of dingy and small, with a tiny stove and fridge tucked on the balcony as the "kitchenette". The swimming pool listed is actually the size of a hot tub, pretty dirty, and in the building across the street, so not very convenient or useable. However, it was priced accordingly (we paid about $60/night for a room with 2 double beds for 4 people). PV is more about the beaches, food and nightlife than hanging out in the hotel all day, so this may work well for some, especially if on a budget.