Hilton Puerto Vallarta Resort

Customer ratings & reviews

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

7932 reviews

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  Pros, Cons and Tips

  If you are a couple with no kids, DO NOT book the regular Krystal Grande. It's packed full, loud, and chaotic, and you will NOT be able to get a lounge chair by the pool unless you get up at 5 am and put your towel down. We ended up upgrading our second night to stay at the Hacienda which is so much more peaceful and quiet (and was way cheaper than booking it in January. Someone we heard booked in March for their trip in April and got the Hacienda side for $200 less than what we paid for the KG side, so try booking late). People still reserve the cabanas and the lounge chairs really early in the morning, and go back to bed, though. There's supposed to be a 30 minute rule but nobody enforces it, be prepared for a fight if you do. The beach sucks, there are only hard metal chairs and umbrellas. Other hotels have loungers on the beach, but this hotel seemed to be low on lounge chairs. When you first get to the hotel, someone in an official-looking white shirt and clip board will approach you. They are trying to sell you a time share. Don't let them waste your time! The beach sucks, there are only hard metal chairs, no lounge chairs. The O'West Sushi place has delicious sushi, make sure you get up really early and put your towels down to get a lounge chair. We were there at 10 when it's supposed to open at 11, and everything was taken. The Mexican restaurant on the Hacienda side was delicious, we heard the French was bland and Italian got mixed reviews. There are 3 comfortable smoking areas on the Hacienda side and only hard wooden stools (or the beach) on the KG side. BRING PESOS. We could not buy anything in markets with USD. We ended up using our USD for tips. Bring insulated travel mugs for drinks, and Gas-X in case you get traveler's gut like I did. Bring snacks because there's nothing open on the resort after 11 pm for food. We ended up Door Dashing McDonald's one night lol Take Ubers EVERYWHERE. We've heard horror stories about shady cab drivers. There is an OXXO (like a convenience store) and a pharmacy less than a block away. We ended up buying our vanilla at the Mexican supermarket that was within walking distance (it starts with a "C"...Cuira or something like that) and it was a decent price. The construction noise wasn't terrible during the day. Mildly annoying at best. The PV Tour for $40 USD per person that takes you up into the mountains for the tequila tasting got a B- from me. We learned some neat factoids but I didn't like all the stops where I felt pressured to buy or had to wait for other people buying. Someone bought a ring from the jewelry store on that tour, and it lost a crystal so they went back the next day and they would not refund them, only exchanged, so beware. The tequila was nothing to write home about (we drink a lot of tequila), and it was really expensive, but the guacamole in the restaurant was the best I've ever eaten in my life.

  Apr 29, 2025
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  Always the Best

  We have been to the Krystal Gand in PV and have never been disappointed. The atmosphere can be what you make it. You can chill on the beach or get active around the pool. In the evening the lobby bar is hopping with great music and the poolside entertainment is varied. The highlight of our trip is the quality of the food which offers a lot of variety at top quality. What really makes special are our servers Manuel, Gerardo and Poncho. That always greet us with a smile and treat us like family. It would not be the same without them. Gracias

  Apr 28, 2025
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  Great experience for a get away

  We had an excellent experience overall - from the beach to the rooms to the food and drink. Alejandro and Daniel R at reception were fantastic, very helpful and knowledgeable of the resorts services. Angelica at the buffet was also a highlight, making breakfast one of the best meals.

  Apr 28, 2025
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  “Things Have Changed – Not for the Better”

  Reviews are subjective, and a bit of background helps provide context. My wife and I have been to Puerto Vallarta about 30 times, staying at a dozen or more resorts ranging from 3 to 5 stars. This resort was once a standout. Having stayed here four times—once as a Hilton and twice as Krystal Altitude—we were excited to return. Unfortunately, this time under the Krystal Grand brand, the experience has deteriorated significantly. Our stay started off poorly. Check-in was a mess—far from the smooth, efficient process we remembered. We had to change rooms twice due to various issues, including cleanliness and maintenance problems. It was frustrating and set a negative tone for the trip. The food, which used to be a highlight, has noticeably declined in quality. The a la carte restaurants now alternate every two or three days, meaning the ability to secure a reservation is drastically reduced. This diminished variety and limited access left us feeling disappointed. The process for understanding which accommodations grant access to the Hacienda side is equally frustrating. Despite checking multiple resources, including the resort’s Facebook page and other platforms, no clear information was available. It was only upon arrival that we learned access requires booking an Oceanview Suite under the Krystal Grand category, highlighting a significant lack of communication and clarity from the resort. The most glaring issue, however, is the complete lack of attention to detail. Under Hilton and Krystal Altitude, the staff went above and beyond to make guests feel special. Now, there seems to be little effort to maintain those high standards. Service delays, unresolved issues, and a general lack of care have taken over. It’s disheartening to see a resort we once loved fall so far from its previous standards. Until significant improvements are made, I cannot recommend this property to anyone expecting a quality vacation experience.

  Apr 26, 2025
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  Birthday trip

  Beautiful hotel ,service was outstanding the food variety was excellent. The staff was friendly. All around amazing hotel. The activity every day was full of fun and excitement, there is so much to do for the entire family. Highly recommend it definitely will come by

  Apr 26, 2025