Presidente Intercontinental Puerto Vallarta

This hotel is directly on the beach, with all rooms direct ocean view. (the higher floors have a slightly better view). The view and the landscaping are magnificient! The staff was friendly and accomodating. The all inclusive plan is a great value- all the drinks and food from breakfast till midnight!It is a 10 minute cab ride to town, but if you want a quiet, relaxing get away for 4-5 days, this is paradise. I can't wait to get back there.1

I love my stay that the Presidente Hotel. My husband and I went there for our Honeymoon (June 16-23) Everything was so wonderful. The food was the best ever, the room service was great, the staff was super friendly. There was a bus that stoped by the hotel so we could go down town. The trip was so wonderful I wish I could live there forever!!

My boyfriend and I stayed there March 24th-29th. Our experience with this hotel and the staff was top notch and definitely a once in a lifetime deal. When we arrived - we were not even ALLOWED to carry our own bags. Miguel pushed them to our room for us and even went down and got ice for us right away! But before I get any further...the lobby is SPECTACULAR!! An open air lobby with a beautiful view of Banderas Bay. The young men at the front desk said "Mr. Vollans?" when we rounded the corner into their sight. My boyfriend REALLY liked that. They were very kind and always used sir and miss a lot. Our room was on the top floor with a jacuzzi in it - EXACTLY like the virtual tour. And EVEN better because we were a little worried about the bathroo since they are not shown but the bathroom was very large and spacious with all sorts of neat little bathroom stuff. Of course you have to leave it all there and they have little notes near cool things that say they will have to charge your room if they are missing. Anyhow - our trip was done through expedia (and if you do it through them - make sure you say hi to Jerry for us!!) and he wanted us to meet him in the lobby bar the next morning at 11a. We were a little taken back - just because we didn't want our vacation planned out but it ended up being really helpful with a map of the town and cool places to go - where you can barter prices in town and where you can't - little extra trips that you can go on for a little extra money, etc. He wasn't pushy at all - never trying to be a jerky salesman - just informing us of things that were available. We told him we would think about it and get back to him. He gave us his cell number (which later on - the front desk connected us to free of charge). The weather was perfect - the temperature at night was no different from the room temperature. In fact - every night we left our door (huge sliding glass door - bigger than we had ever seen before) open and listened to the waves crash into the beach. Theite loudly from down below in the pool/outdoor restaurant area. We looked out and saw a big splashed area!! No way...could it be??? YES!! We saw a whale fin slapping the water - then it's tail. As we rushed to grab cameras it kept slapping away happy as can be. Then it breached! We were snapping away and of course all the little tugboats around eventually came up around it as it moved down the coast. It was the coolest thing in the world. We decided right then that we wouldn't need to go on any whale watching tours!! We spent the day laying on the greatest beach chairs in the pool area with the waiter bringing us drink after drink. We never figured out if EVERYONE was on the all-inclusive deal but we saw a lot of wristbands so we figured most were. When you first check in - they give you a wristband that never comes off the whole time you are there - and that is the go ahead to get all the drinks and food you want for nothing. The tips are supposed to be included too but we felt that a little wouldn't hurt. We tipped one dollar bills till we ran out and then we tipped in pesos. With the all inclusive thing we were a little worried as far as drinks being watered down - or maybe they would only give you ten a day or maybe the service was terrible or whatever - but we drank margaritas, sol, corona, pina colada, daiquiris, etc. all day and they were never watered down and the waiters never hesitated to bring "Dos Margaritas Por Favor!!" As far as the beach - it's a small, private beach - probably about 80-100 yds but not crowded at all because only the people from our hotel were on it (and of course a couple of natives selling their goods). They were not overwhelming - they must only let a couple on the beach and if you don't want anything - then just say no and walk away. Also a couple of guys that will come around and ask (only once) if you want to go scuba diving or sailing or kayaking. Many options right on the beach. We didn't do anything extra - we just relaxed and played lots of tennis. The court is time and past seven it's extra because they will turn on the lights for you. Okay - as far as the restaurants - we took a day or two to get used to the time schedules and the reservation rules for them. There's a restaurant on the lobby level that is the really nice restaurant that is opened during the night by reservation only. The menu is limited but the service was excellent. Also - a man comes and plays the piano during dinner (and he plays beautifully). The bar on the lobby level - right outside the fancy restaurant is open from 6p-11p. Beautiful sunsets from that bar. The two other restaurants are the pool one and the one near the pool. The pool food is VERY good - not huge servings because it's meant to be snack type stuff but they will bring you as many as you want. That restaurant is open till 6 at night. The restaurant near the pool which is all open air was the best all around restaurant. It has a buffet style meal at each breakfast, lunch and dinner - that you can serve yourself - but we sometimes were seated and the waiters would ask us what we wanted and go get it for us. The omelettes in the morning are EXCELLENT. There is a guy right there making whatever you want. This restaurant is closed from 12-1 and then again from 4-6(maybe 6:30 - we can't remember exactly). Basically - there is always a restaurant open - you just have to find it. The room service works too - they only make certain things past 11p and no alcoholic beverages past 11p as well. In summary - we based the hotel we were going to stay at when we came by the reviews and we found them to be very consistent and true to the real thing. We hope you find this review helpful and obvious of the great service and wonderful place this was.

This place was so beautiful the room was all that I expected was there after the hurricane november 2002. The Hotl had major damage but they catered to all of our needs to make our stay very nice. They told us every thing up front and gave us an opportuntity to decide if we wanted to stay on their resort and we decide to stay and we are planning to go back again the food was very excellent and the view from my room on the 10th floor was remarkable..... You Gotta Go there..........

Reading other reviews about the Presidente convinced us it was the best in PV, and we weren't disappointed. The staff was friendly and helpful at every turn (and tried to teach us a little Spanish - mostly "esta bien, gracias"). The room was almost 800 sq. ft., and the 24-hour pounding surf kept Shirley pleased as punch whenever we were in the hotel (she grew up in Florida). Just close the doorwall if it gets too loud. Every other place we went in PV didn't have much of any surf. People swam in ours, but it's not for the meek or uninformed (dive INTO the wave . . . ). Not long enough to surf with a board.Banderas Bay is huge - about 50 miles end to end. There's a swim-with-the-dolphin tank nearby; they're always expensive. The northern 'hotel row' is not very close to town - another reason we were glad to be at the Presidente. Tourism is off (obviously) so we never saw the crowds our friends sat through last year. Nice.Take the Geronimo whale-watch/snorkel tour (Islas de Marietas) for a 94% chance of seeing whales. We saw a youngster breaching the water repeatedly - he must have gotten a kick out of 'leading' the tourist boats -and his mother - around. Total about 6 whales. They gather here to safely breed, relax and show off. The snorkeling was better than some of our snorkeling experiences, but not the greatest (too deep, a little cloudy, some variety). Our guide routinely went to the bottom and brought up cool critters to pass around (a puffer fish or two, sea urchins, etc.). It took the whole day on the boat (about 60 passengers). Part of the trip back from the snorkel tour (before 1 hour on a swimming beach) goes under sail & spinnaker - always a crowd pleaser. Includes drinks & food (lots of fruit, simple 'boat' food). The crew was very cool and professional. Emergency oxygen equipment on board, just in case (MX safety standards are not like ours). A few people brought SCUBA gear. Lots of folks from Canada, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan - all fed up with winter weather.Our guide told us the Yalapa snorkel is cheap, but too cloudy.We booked through 11hourvacations.com for about $2700 for two, all-inclusive (saw the same deal on Expedia for $300 less without food, drinks, water toys). We figured for an extra $20/person/day, we could suck that up in drinks alone, so the food & tips were free. 11thhour books through Vacation Sensations (or something like that) so we got a free tour guide to answer any questions and advise/handle tours (American Express, off-site, call any time, open 9-6, local calls appeared to be free). Don't even THINK about calling the US from your hotel room ($7/minute in MX) If you must, get a phone card for the pay phones (they don't take money). There's also an office in the hotel for booking tours, but we didn't need it. $3 gets a half hour in the 'business center' for Internet connection, and we saw a few more Internet cafes in PV. We got a plastic wristband to show we were all-inclusive, but you can tear it off & they'll put another one on - don't lose it, or pay $25. Shirley had hers set loose enough to take off & on as she wished (to match her outfit & get, uhh, personal).Cab into PV is about $5, plus a buck or two for a tip (so, $12 round-trip) or take the bus (stops very nearby) for 50 cents. Mexican cabs (mostly new small Nissans) rarely have seat belts, and the ride can get 'exciting.' These guys traverse the same route over & over, so it's more like a slalom ride at the carnival than a cab ride. They drive 50 MPH in a 25 zone, but we never saw a scratch or dent anywhere. I guess they're just better drivers than us . . . Drivers were fast, but courteous - no competition, just efficiency. Kinda cool to watch.The staff at the Presidente was always courteous and friendly. 6-foot long, plush pool towels made us drool to own one ($50 if you lose one, $75 to buy one brand new). Towel rations in the room were odd (I think they were low on hand towels, had too many bath towels), but 50 cents or $1 each day to the housekeeper kept us stocked with whatever we wanted. Ditto for getting stiffer drinks - tell 'em what you want, give 'em 50 cents or a buck (5-10 pesos -- a peso is worth 10 cents USD). The all-inclusive includes tips, but I would have felt cheap - and where else can I leave $1 tips to get such great service?Don't bring a lot of fancy clothes. Even the most expensive places said 'appropriate casual wear.'Local restaurants: Le Kliff (south of town) was spectacular - be there at sunset. We got a special table for two at the top of the stairway that leads down to the ocean. Actually outside the restaurant, we dined beneath the stars.La Palapa is in town, has tables right in the sand, great food & service, very nice. Great 3-piece band, and strolling serenade musicians, too.We didn't go to the Panorama, but heard lots of great reviews about the view and food.Be sure and go to Los Cazuelas (kah SWAY lus), also in town. Family-owned since 1968, it's the kind of special 'treat' food your grandmother would serve at a grand holiday if she were Mexican. We dined in a beautiful garden that went straight up to meet the stars.Food was not cheap, but not expensive. Anytime you pay with a credit card, write 'pesos' somewhere on your CC receipt - MX pesos use the same $ sign as US dollars, only 10x as much. Sandwiches are $6-7, good meals are $30-60 for two people in a nice restaurant.The Presidente has the El Coral, a very nice restaurant for dinner, glassed-in, on the water, 5th floor, included in the all-inclusive. We tipped $3 or $4 for dinner for 2 - unbelievable. Menu only had about 5 or 6 changing items, though the service, food and atmosphere were all top-notch. El Coral needs a reservation (made at one of the other two restaurants during the day, phone, tell Viktor, etc.). El Coral is closed on Thursday (Mexican Fiesta buffet at restaurant by the water) and Saturday (another buffet). The Saturday buffet chef made flan and a rice pudding that were among the best I've ever had (and I'm really hard to please on rice pudding).Breakfasts & lunches were fresh and varied, some of the fruits were a little bland (all grown very locally). Juices were good. Omelettes made to order. Eat all you want. Sit (literally) seaside or by the pool (very cool pool, with a bridge & barstools). Pool has large 6" and 18" deep areas for kids on the ends. There were just a few kids about, they were quiet & seemed very happy. Some people just camped out by the pool all day (week) long - bring sunglasses, hat with a bill or get a souvenir cap (not just a visor, unless you'd like a red scalp) suntan lotion (it's a tropical sun). Property is pretty large, well-maintained. Some shaded remote spots near the pool. Romantic, moated remote, ancient-looking veranda of sorts. A 4-story waterfall feeds pools & waterfalls that go everywhere, and huge gardens - very private & relaxing, right in the middle of the hotel. Gift shop is small, pricey (t-shirts were 3 for $10 in PV, but $13 each in the gift shop), but they had some nice stuff we didn't see elsewhere. It was never too hot or too cold, with gentle breezes off the water.Our package got us a room on the 3rd floor (lobby on 5 - building is on a cliff, like everything else in PV). We wanted more privacy / better view, sprung $180/wk for room on 7th (non-smoking) floor. No carpet anywhere in PV - floors are tile. Lots of large mirrors, one near the bed. Large bathroom. Housekeeping mops entire room floor each day. Unfortunately, no one cleans the glass barrier on the patio, so sea spray eventually makes it a little foggy (I cleaned ours with soap & towel). That glass was very cool - relax, enjoy the bay, jungle, PV view with no visible barrier in total privacy. A jut of land very nearby is untouched jungle. Very sexy.Getting ice in the room is a little clumsy - the icemakers on each floor (except 9) are turned off. Just call room service and have them deliver a bucket (and drinks at the same time), or go to one of the 4 bars/restaurants (50 cents or $1 tip either way). Don't drink the tap water; it's soft & clean, but not quite recommended. Any water or food served to you anywhere is fine. Room service is in the all-inclusive, so that was hard to pass up for late breakfasts or lazy lunch in bed (available 24 hrs, but takes about 30-40 minutes to get. Food was always hot.). The hot tap water is too hot, so be careful (seems typical for MX). Don't forget to haggle on everything without a price tag (they open, offer half that, settle for about 70-80% of their original offer, but get some other perk in the deal). Some people enjoy this, some hate it. Figure out who wants to do it & let them.All in all, the Presidente was just close enough to town without being too remote or too busy, on the 'jungle' side (south of town - north side is totally developed and noisy). Staff was terrific, (housekeepers didn't speak much English, but were trustworthy). Drinks included all the major brands (Glenbay's Irish Cream was pretty good, and we'd bought a Bailey's at the duty-free in Dallas). Breakfast & lunch were seldom boring, usually pretty good (buffet). Squeeze carrot juice, too, or have the staff do it - they couldn't seem to do enough for us - they really wanted us to be happy.And . . . the surf was phenomenal - even learned to crave it.