| Plaza Pelicanos Grand |
R & J ~ Winnipeg |
April 2009
Arrival
** ON YOUR FIRST DAY GO TO WALMART BY BUS. It only cost 12peso's (1.00CAN) and the buses take you right there. Buy bottled water, (the hotel only gives you 2 small bottles and then you have to pay,) snacks and canned pop and cheap vanilla and Kaluha $12.CAN bottle. We wish we knew this on our first day, we would have saved so much money".
Our flight was with WestJet and was about 1.5 hours late so we didn't arrive to the hotel until 2am. The check in was slow since we had about 20 people in our group that had booked for a wedding, all arriving from Winnipeg. 4 of the wedding guests initially booked into the Grand side but were told there were no rooms available and they were booked so we had to stay on the Club side the first 2 nights there. If you are on the Club side you are not allowed to enter the Grand side via a small bridge with a guard. We discoved this the next night when the gaurd chased us back to the Oasis side and wanted us to pay for the drinks we got from the Grand side. The wedding party was all staying at the Grand side so on the third day we requested to be moved over the Grand side. After tipping the hotel manager $50US per person, he moved us to the "Grand side of things". He was a nice man.
Rooms
The room we got was small with 2 very small beds. We were told 2 double beds but by mexican standards the beds are about 3ft X 5ft and very small. My husband and I slept in seperate beds all week because the beds were so small.
The room on the Club side was the same as the Grand side. When we moved to the Grand side we had a mini fridge, but on the second day the fridge 'mysteriously' vanished along with our can drinks and was replaced by a dehumidifyer. Go figure. ;( The room was small but if you tip the maid a couple of dollars every day she keeps its fairly clean. Clean sheets every day was nice.
The rooms in the new building were much nicer and bigger and the beds were big as well. If you want to pay for an upgrade you can be moved to the new building. We chose to stay put since it was already our second move in 2 days.
Restaurants and Bars
We didn't eat much in the restaurants. When you are on the Club side you get a colored wrist band that is different at every resort. If you pay for an upgrade and move to the Grand side they give you a new color.
****BEWARE****
The Grand side has 2 colored wrist bands. One color means you can go to the Al'ACart restaurants, the other means you can't. You are allowed only 2 al a carte during your stay. The rest of the time you have to eat at the buffets.
The food was ok. 2.5/5. Lots of mushy stuff. The breakfast buffets were awesome. Lots of fresh fruit to choose from. Good omletes and fried egg sandwiches, made by yourself.
If you want to explore the city, go downtown to the markets and try out Hondelays, so much fun and the best Jumbo shrimp dinner ever. Only $15US each for about 10 huge shrimp/w fries and the best Margarita's ever. Yum.
Beach/Pools/Grounds
There was one small pool on the Grand side with swim up bar. 2 bigger pools on the Club side, one party pool full of younger people, and and kids pool by the buffet. The bartenders were great if you tipped them but other wise you didn't exist. You had to tip every day so they would remember you but you have to remember that many of the staff rely on tips as there wages are so low. The water was pretty clean and they have an endless view at the end of the pool, absolutely beautiful. Wonderful for watching the magnificant sunsets every night.
Not much of a beach, only about 50 ft or so but if the tide is out, you can get a chair and enjoy the sand. They have 4 huge beds on the terrance above the beach that you can sleep in which we did one day and loved it.
Lots and lots of peddlers, be careful, not all jeweller is real silver. If you go to Malikiv downtown south, you can get really great deals on silver and other stuff at the markets.
Activities on and off the Resort/Hotel
Not much for activities at the resort but every night they had an outdoor buffet and tables full of crafts and jeweller you could buy.
We did a Catamaran Trip with snorkelling but the water was murkey and you couldn't see the fish and it was so cold in the ocean. We did see a humpback whale with her baby and a MantaRay swim by. So exciting. We also went to the Marina and did supper one day. For every beer you buy, they give you a shot of Tequila. Was a very tipsy night.
Other Comments
Overall the weather was fantasti
c, no rain, the company wonderful. The staff some really nice, some not so friendly, the food was not that great, but the fresh fruits and veggies were awesome. The rooms were small but clean, the downtown entertainment was awesome and the drinks were always flowing.
You make the trip what you want it to be and it was an incredible vacation.
For the Wedding party, I thought the resort did a great job and the dinner was great that they served. My husband and I would give this resort a 2 out of 5. We've been to many 4 stars, this was not a 4 star as the book suggested.
Thanks. I wouldn't go back to this resort.
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| Plaza Pelicanos Grand |
Paul |
January 2008
Our family of 6 booked in the "club" section of Pelicanos for an all inclusive, sell off type vacation. The location is excellent, close to major shopping and restaurants.
Check in was no problem, as early January is a bit of a slow time for all PV resorts.
The rooms are on the small side, and a bit musty smelling… the humidity and constant air conditioning produce this smell, and can easily be alleviated by opening a window and letting the breeze blow through.
The beds are too firm and too small for 2 people, … my wife and I slept in separate beds the entire vacation. There was no availability for rooms with king sized beds (as advertised), even though the hotel was at about 40% capacity?
The grounds are quite nice, and the pools are clean and reasonably cared for. On the club side, the kiddie pool and connecting main pool are nice and warm. The beach pool, and Grand pool are much cooler, .. So are the adults only pool and Jacuzzi.
This resort caters to a lot of locals during it's slow season. I personally do not like this policy as it cheapens your experience. The locals get a cheap deal, and generally don't have much tact or manners when it comes to waiting in line at the bars or food lines. The local kids also live in the pools, which obviously become there bathroom, as I personally witnessed in the kiddie pool!
The biggest drawback of this resort is the food. The buffets are bland and lack variety. Breakfast was tolerable, with decent French toast, excellent papaya, and good omelets. Lunch and dinner, however were distasteful. The only good buffet meal was when they put on a "Mexican" buffet in the main courtyard for both the club and grand patrons.
Warning!!! During our stay there was a significant foodborne illness issue at the Pelicanos. Approx. 25% of the patrons involved in the all inclusive package got food poisoning. The health inspector was on site twice, and after his visit, no cheese or fresh mushrooms were served, and the Doctor was on call at no charge and he handed out free antibiotics. A number of patrons were hospitalized and one patron was flown, medivac back home. I have worked in the food service industry and noticed some blatant mistakes in the food handling at Pelicanos. The chaffing (serving) dishes are routinely left uncovered, which unfortunately subjects the food to contamination and temp. loss. I also noticed the omelet lady leave her station and perform other menial duties, and return to her station without washing her hands,.. She also had a cough.
According to the Doctor on site, 2 food staff members were sent home the previous week because they tested positive for an amoeba parasite!
I would not recommend this resort at this time due to this serious food safety issue. If you are booked for Pelicanos in early 2008 I would strongly suggest making alternative plans, until Pelicanos sorts out this mess.
Our last meals were eaten off the resort due to this issue… I've never had a Big Mac taste so good.
We also had our last dinner at a fabulous Italian eatery in Nuevo Vallarta. "Guido's" Italian restaurant served up piping hot pasta and beautifully tasting salad for our family that could stomach food. Try Guido's,.. It's the best Italian food I've ever eaten. (across from the Mayan Palace)
Although we had a great family time in PV, unfortunately we won't be back to Pelicanos and would not recommend this resort to anyone.
Back to the Dominican Republic for us!!
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| Plaza Pelicanos Grand |
Marta ~ Calgary, AB |
November 2007
This was our first time in Mexico and boy, we were for a big surprise at the airport. We were swarmed by people asking us if we needed help. Not knowing any better, we said yes and then we were ushered to a counter where we wasted about 45 minutes by a lady who tried to sell us an appointement to check out a time share. Once we realized what this was all about, we quickly left only to get hell from the lady representing our travel company. She was kind enough to get us a taxi, as the bus going to our hotel already left. We checked in without any problems.
Rooms -
The room they gave us upon our arrival was quite dark and it smelled strongly of mold. As we were quite exhausted, we soon went to bed. When we woke up the next morning, we noticed all these black spots on the ceiling. It was all mouldy. We asked to be moved to another room and they gave us one by the pool. As this room had quite a bit of sun coming in, it did not smell as bad. We could not use the air conditioning, as all the
air coming out of this unit smelled very bad. It was cleaned every day and it helped to leave a tip.
Restaurants -
As we are not a picky eaters, we had plenty of good food to choose from. Service was always good and again tiping helped speed the process up. Making reservations was no problem and we had two lovely dinners with our friends.
Bars -
Very good service here, but again if you did not tip, they gave you a drink in a crappy paper cup. Once you place a tip into their jar, your drink is served in a plastic cup.
Beach and Pools -
My biggest complaint was the beach. After the huricane, there is apparently a drastic change as to what was left. The sand is course and the undertow is increadable. When you stand on the sand near the water, watch for the waves to come. Once the water hits your feet, the undertow takes all the sand from under your feet and you fall. We almost witnessed a drowning of a young female, as the speed of the water started to take her out into the sea. Not a safe place for kids of people who don't swim well. We ended up taking a bus to Neuvo Vallarta and the beach was very nice out there.
Grounds -
All the grounds were beautiful and well maintained. There were employees constantly sweeping and cleaning. No complains here.
Activities -
As you are very close to downtown Puerto Vallarta, we took the bus twice and had no problem. Local people are extremly helpful (they know who butters their daily bread). We also went to the marina and even though you have to pay to get in, we had a great time.
Tours -
We also went on a snorkling tour and loved it, although the safety of the passangers on the boats is not a big priority. Look after your own family, as the operators like to party and don't pay much attention to the passangers. When it comes to the price you pay, haggle and haggle some more. A bus tour of the town and the tequila factory was also good, but quite overpriced.
Conclusion -
I personally would not go back to Puerto Vallarta as the beach is quite dangerous, as I am not a strong swimmer. My husband enjoyed it a lot. The town is very lovely, but watch your prices. You will pay more for good quality out there then here in Canada. We felt safe and welcomed by the locals. We had a good time, met some very cool people, but I think that there are nicer places to visit in Mexico.
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| Plaza Pelicanos Grand |
Lindsay |
January 2006
We just arrived home yesterday and it was an awsome holiday. This resort was just what i expected and better. The place has beautiful gardens, lots of pools to choose from and decient food. We went expecting less so we would not be dissapointed and that is the way to go. They are still doing improvements daily but none of it bothered us. They have a great selection on beer and cocktails so everyone should find something they like. The rooms are nothing fancy but are clean, the beach was rough everyday. You are only a short distance to walk into downtown and buses are only 45 pesos. All in all i give it a 9 out of 10.
Lindsay
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| Plaza Pelicanos Grand |
Ken & Sandy ~ Ontario, Canada |
February 2005
Hotel Review of Plaza Pelicanos Grand, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (3 1/2 star
resort)
2 week all inclusive stay during February 2005
We are laid-back middle age annual travellers to Carribean locations who frequent 4 to 4 1/2 star all inclusive resorts. The Plaza Pelicanos is good value for the money and we recommend this resort.
Location: centrally located on Banderas Bay Beach mid-way between the Marina and the Malecon (El Centro). Shopping within walking distance & a 24 hr drug store one block away. Hospital is a 10 minute taxi ride. Readily available inexpensive transportation via bus or taxi to anywhere around town. Both money exhange kiosks & modern ATM machines 1 block away. ATM has English language selection with money available in either Mexican peso's or US dollars. Reservation Desk & check-in: This is probably the only 'black mark" I have against this resort. Check in was slow. Our request for a king-size bed was honoured; our 'advance paid' booking for Ocean View room was not - even with repeated visits to the front desk & tour rep. There are very few ocean view rooms and only half of those have balconies. Most rooms are 'large window" only and some ground floor rooms have a small patio. If Ocean view & balcony are a critical factor to your choice of resorts, then perhaps you should book elsewhere. Hotel room: standard size, comfortable & very clean. Tub & toilet are in enclosed room. Bathtub is short in length & suitable for bathing kids. It's fine for standing in to shower. 3 large thick white bath towels & one hand towel per room. We only received facecloths twice during our 2 week stay. This is common around the Carribean, so if required, bring a few from home. Maid often left a hibiscus flower in our room & sometimes folded swans, etc made out of towels - particulary on the days we left small tips or gifts. School supplies....paper, little pads, colored pencils, pens etc. were greatly appreciated. Bed sheets were changed daily & bedspread weekly. Shampoo, round soaps & kleenex provided. Blow dryers, iron, body lotion & conditioner, frig are not provided nor available. Section 1 rooms contain a bulit in safe, portable safes were available at the front desk in section 2. Rooms were redecorated last year. Lots of 'shelf' storage space; hanging space limited to 18" rod with 6 fixed wooden hangers. Suggest you bring a few wire hangers from home. Bed was comfortable. Large 27" satellite TV included movie channels. Remote Control is available upon request from the reception desk. Room keys are the Credit card type and had to be re-magnetized by the front desk every 4 days. Hint: save yourself some steps. As you leave your room for breakfast, turn around & try your key. Two free 1 litre bottles of water placed in room upon arrival. Keep bottles to refill from bar or buffet. Hotel grounds: absolutely gorgeous & well maintained. Ocean wall and break water front was rebuilt after recent extensive damage from hurricane Kenna. Buildings are spread over 3 sections. Section 1 building are on the south end of property & is the main reception/departure area. Section 2 buildings are at far north end with the newer beach front wing being timeshare. The white building in the middle of the property is time share only.
Pools: 4 beautiful pools, 2 of which have a kiddies wading area, 3 have swim up bars & 1 is an adults-only pool. The adults only pool is very quiet with no pool activities & has the most shade. All bartenders were friendly & served a wide selection of frothy concoctions. Large towels available at 3 pool kiosks.
Meals: Main (& larger) buffet in Section 1, second buffet in Section 2. Not the most extensive buffet I've seen, but adequate & what's there is very good. Weekly menu rotation. Hint: select your main course as if you're eating a-la-carte. If you eat a spoonful of everything all the time, you will quickly tire of buffet food. Waiter service for drinks, etc was excellent, decor was fine, linen on tables. On evenings where there was nightly entertainment, inside restaurants were closed and buffet tables were set up outside near the stage area. Activities personnel will advise you during the day when this occurs. Two lunch grill areas for hamburgs, hot dogs, fries, chicken fingers, etc. One outdoor a-la-carte restaurant is set up Mon-Fri at Section 2. The all inclusive package includes one reserved sitting per 7 day stay. You will require a voucher which is obtained at the
reception desk. They don't automatically give it to you, you have to ask
for it - at the same time you're requesting the TV remote control they didn't tell you about. Mon, Tues & Friday, there is an outdoor a-la-carte restaurant set upbeside the ocean wall. This is not included & prices are posted. On a scale of 10, the food was 7, service 9 and ambiance 10+.
Activities/Facilities: Activity personnel were extremely personable & hard working. Lots of pool activities ranging from fairly physically demanding to non-demanding. Same people also performed in the evening shows which occured outdoors approx every second night. Shows were typical with the usual audience participation games between dress changes. Nightly arrangements available for downtown parties included transportation & cover charge. Two free tennis courts (bring your own racket). Kids supervised play area. Scuba diving lesson in pool. Massage Service available beside quiet pool (everyone raved about the massages).
Bring your insulated mugs so your cervesa doesn't get too warm, too quick & have a good time. This is good value for the money and with very little effort, this resort could attain a higher rating.
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