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RIU Jalisco, Neuvo Vallarta, Mexico
Currency: Mexican Peso, but US dollar accepted
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Charter package with Sunquest January
26- February 2/07 - offers in flight meals, and movies and we received 2
free drinks and headphones with our group package Regina to Puerto Vallarta flight about 4 hrs 38 min on Skyservice. Flight was nice and smooth, with a clear view watching the snowy flat fields turn into Mexico's Copper Canyon and mountains that surround Puerto Vallarta Once we landed and disembarked onto the tarmac, we hopped on a bus to
take us to the terminal, where we passed through
immigration and pick up our luggage, push the button and hoped for
green, which means go ahead with out having to be searched. Then through
the many time share reps trying to con us into checking out their condos.
Once we found our Sunquest representative he showed us to our bus that shuttle us to
the resort. There was about 30 people with 19 of them in our
group. It took about 40 mins from the airport to our resort that was located
in Nuevo Vallarta |
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Check in was rather smooth once the staff figured out that
we had just arrived and need to be checked in first before going to the
orientation, we all gathered in the lobby bar where we were handed
our room and safe keys, pool towel cards and wrist bands, some of our rooms
were not yet ready. The Sunquest orientation with Andres was informative and
he was always at the tour desk willing to help. |
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Accommodations included: 700 guestrooms, 674 double rooms, 20 Jr suites and 6 Jacuzzi suites The standard rooms are decorated in a Mexican feel
with the furniture a dark red wood with pale yellow walls, lamps and wall
art in blues, yellow and rust clay colors. Large king size beds with a hard
mattress, 2 night stands, 2 chair and a table, AC, ceiling fan, safe,
Satellite TV, direct dial phone, large
bathroom, with closet, dressing area, large walk in shower and enclosed
toilet , hair dryer, amenities kits, large towels that were always replaced
daily, the bathroom is separated from the bedroom by curtains. I was always
excited to see what towel figures we would get each day. Liquor dispenser
loaded with 26 oz. Vodkas, Tequila, Rum, Whiskey, stocked mini fridge with
coronas, pops, waters, which is restocked every 2 days. Balcony with 2
chairs and a table. This room over look a bare lot with a new condo being
build and the very large and beautiful new Riu Vallarta next to it. We found
it to be a bit noisy with the staff using the back walkway to transport
supplies. We asked to be moved and we ended up with a great view of the
garden in the middle section of the resort. It did not have a clock, but wake up calls were always on time. To use
the iron was a $20.00 deposit charged to your room and then uncharged once
returned and no ironing board???. Some of our group seemed to have problems
with the TV/remotes not working and the hard beds which they asked for foam
mattress covers to soften up.. Jr suites were spacious with a separate living area with a couch , chairs, table, king size bed that was raised with a view to the ocean, large bathroom with a tub and shower and duvet. large terrace
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The food was just OK,
I expected better for a 5 star resort. The staff always friendly and fast
service but the food could of been refreshed a little more often as it seem
that when a dish was empty it took awhile for it to replaced with fresh
food.
Don Emiliano -
Served buffet breakfast from 7:00 - 10:30 am. Great selection of
fruit, yogurts, cereals, made to order eggs & omelets, pancakes, French
toast, crepes, fresh juices There were 6 bars: La Cantina lobby bar, Pancho & Villas garden bars, Bahia Banderas pool/swim up bar, La Botana beach bar, Pacha Disco. Drinks seem to be plentiful with bar staff always fast and friendly and generous. |
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Once you come down the main stairs you were on ground level, from the main building you traveled pass the 2 main restaurants with a sitting area, passed the gazebo that is a replica of the church in down town Puerto Vallarta, the gazebo is located over a large water feature with water fountains at each end, lined with plants, bushes, and palm tress. The ground are immaculate with well trimmed hedges, green grass and lush vegetation. Once past the fountain, the out door theater is on the right with lots of chairs and tables, 2 bars are located here and only seemed to be open when the nightly entertainment is on. On the left is the washrooms, the Disco and the Nayarit restaurant. You can find the board with the daily/nightly activities listed here. As you walked further you had the choice to go right to the adult pool area or left to the kids pool and play area. A little further and you can go left to the spa/gym and the La Botana restaurant, go right to the water sports centre or straight to the beach. |
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The fitness centre is fully equipped with bikes, strength training machines and treadmills Renova Spa is a full service spa with an array of services and reasonable priced, with a hair salon , nails, waxing, massages, facials, body wraps, treatments and special therapies. Plus 1 out door cabanas situated on the beach for single and couple's messages. I did notice that they had stretching classes happen on the beach one morning. I did take advantage of a 50 min message on the beach, it was nice and relaxing with the birds chirping and the waves crashing in the back ground, a perfect way to start a day the cost was $68.00 usd. There is a Jacuzzi located in the spa. |
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Daily activities:
Complimentary hotel activities include: Stretching, bocce ball, beach
volleyball, aqua gym, horse shoes, water polo, water volleyball, dance
lesson, crazy games, croquet, bingo Spanish lessons. Multi sport court with
lighted tennis court, basketball, soccer. The sports bar has shuffle boards,
billiards, ping pong, darts, internet service that cost $8.00 for unlimited
use (you get a password to login - open 24 hr but didn’t seem to open till
9:30 am)
Non
motorized water sports:
banana boat, boogie board, sailing, windsurfing, snorkeling, kayaking, intro
to scuba in pool. SCUBA dive centre. bike rental, horse bike, golf all
nearby ($) Nightly Entertainments: Out door theater that featured your basic animation show, Caribbean, Mexican, Mister Riu contest. Fun to watch and relax and unwind under the stars. Every other night the vendors came to the courtyard to sell their merchandise, wood carvings, jewelry, cigars, paintings. upside
Other amenities: Jewelry, Gift shop, and car rental
Sunquest Tour desk - located in lobby where we booked our tours.
Andres and Alfonso were great. I highly recommend taking your tours with
Vallarta Adventures
Canopy tour with Vallarta Adventures, this was something that I
pre-booked with this company prior to arrival as there was 11 of us that
wanted to go and they only allow 20 at
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Once there the fun began, the staff got us
hooked up with helmets, harness, gloves, then over for a brief orientation,
the staff was fun and friendly and totally a great experience. We walked up
to the first of 14 platform, from there one by one we were hooked up with
double cables, sat back, feet up away we flew and a tree monkey we became,
from heights ranging 90’ high and the longest distance of 650’ long . It's
truly a leap of faith the first time you jump off the platform, but
once you're flying thru the air, with the ground far below and the lush
forest all
around, you forget any fears you might have had until you
are standing on the small platform waiting for the next ride which is little
scary and I am proud to say I am a tree hugger, it was an absolute blast,
truly an adrenaline rush and we felt totally safe the whole way. After the
rides we had to rappel down to the ground and that is a cool experience as
you lean and looked backward as you coast to the ground, then the hard part
is the 15 min hike back up to the top where we started. Then took off the
equipment went to the little shop where we watched a few minutes of our
video that is for purchase and then back on the bus for the 1 hr ride back.
Some
of the group did the City tour , and really enjoyed it Some did the
Pirate ship
and
said they had a blast and well worth the time and money, great food and
entertainment. Some did the Snorkeling and saw whale, dolphins
and fish, We also did the Rhythms of the Night more detail of this
night is below 
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A photographer took some really good photos. The reception
was at the La Botana restaurant which is located on by the beach, for a
wonderful sunset dinner. A piano man played during the supper
and then for a little dancing after 
