Two nice outdoor pools
Beachfront property with direct access to a wide public
beach
Lively, family-friendly atmosphere
Spacious rooms and suites with air-conditioning
Three
restaurants; all-inclusive food and drink options available
Walking distance to town and to the oceanfront promenade
Free Wi-Fi in common areas
Free parking
No ocean views from the bland rooms
Hulking, unfinished abandoned hotel next door
Beach area is rocky; water isn’t the cleanest
Pool area can be crowded and noisy
No spa or fitness room
Wi-Fi signal in the rooms is lacking
This 207-room lower-middle-range resort offers two pools and
three restaurants in a convenient location steps from the beach. This section
of beachfront has a somewhat industrial feel, however, with the muddy river water
streaming through and an abandoned hotel next door. On the very southern end of
the Hotel Zone, Costa Club is walking distance to the restaurants and shops of
the town, though many guests choose to partake in the resort's all-inclusive plan. The rooms and suites are bland but spacious, and overall the hotel
has a lively atmosphere for kids. For families on a very tight budget, this resort
could offer value – as long as you’re not expecting to be wowed by the
beach.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
A lively, family-friendly atmosphere in the shadow of an abandoned construction site next door
The main entrance of Costa Club is very easy to spot from
the main road – just look for a large lighthouse-shaped building with
distinctive orange and white stripes. Inside, there is an open, modern lobby
with marble floors and lots of light. Guests can climb the top of the
lighthouse tower to see great panoramic views
of the ocean, the mountains, and all around Puerto Vallarta.The rooms are arranged over 20 smaller buildings of just
three stories, which keeps the property from feeling too big or impersonal. The
buildings are all painted in a cheerful pale yellow color and have traditional red
tile roofs. Throughout the property, there are nicely landscaped lawns with
many palm trees and agave plants. In the middle of the resort, there are signs
designating the Wi-Fi zone, as a wireless signal is strongest in common areas and
is weak or nonexistent in the rooms.Though the hotel is steps from the beach, unfortunately the
views are obscured by a giant concrete structure, hulking over the resort. It
is an abandoned hotel that has been there for many years, deserted halfway
through construction and never torn down. This eyesore is sadly a prominent
feature of the skyline. Another feature is a small river that runs alongside of
the resort and empties out into the ocean, which is home to lots of wildlife
such as pelicans and other birds, fish, and iguanas. The river is a muddy brown
and the water does not appear to be very clean -- it might make you think twice
about swimming in the ocean here. The hotel caters to families; for example
staff members feed the local iguanas everyday around noon, and the large reptiles, some
up to five-feet long, are fun to watch. Families with young children, both Mexican
and international, make up a good portion of the guests here, and many guests
take advantage of the all-inclusive plan.
Location
At the southern end of the Hotel Zone, within walking distance to town
Costa Club has a beachfront location on the very south end
of the Hotel Zone, next to the Sheraton. While there is direct access to the beach from the hotel, the rooms are
set a bit back and do not enjoy any ocean views. The beach is long and wide
here, but it is dissected by a brown river that doesn’t appear to be
very clean. The lobby faces out onto the very busy main road. This location at
the southern tip of the Hotel Zone puts the resort within walking distance to
town, a perk which many other resorts don’t enjoy. A 10-minute walk south leads
to the beginning of town, which is full of many restaurants, bars and shopping. It’s just
a few blocks farther to reach Malecon – Puerto Vallarta’s happening oceanfront
promenade. The airport is a 15-minute taxi ride away.
Rooms
Rooms and suites are clean and functional, but bland
The 207 rooms include 167 standard hotel rooms and 40 suites,
which offer a kitchen and living room. Overall the rooms are bland but clean and in decent shape. The decor is rather plain, featuring terra-cotta tile
floors and all-white walls with the occasional painting for a pop of color. There
are lots of earthy tones like orange-reds and browns and headboards feature
traditional hand-carved designs, but further lack of personality makes the
rooms a bit dull. The suites all have two bedrooms plus a small living area and
a kitchen with a stove, large mini-fridge, microwave, and blender. There’s also
a dining area and some dishes are provided. The Standard Rooms are also rather
spacious and airy, with sliding glass doors leading to a small balcony with
chairs. All rooms have a balcony, most facing out toward the pool. Every bedroom has AC. While some rooms have flat-screen TVs, others still have bulky, old tube TVs. The bathrooms are clean
and functional, featuring walk-in showers, but some areas are showing wear.
Features
Two lively pools and three restaurants
The main pool area consists of two pools located directly next
to each other. One is set up for activities
like pool volleyball, while the other is a little smaller, but both are popular
with kids. The pool deck offers many blue lounge chairs and a good number of
umbrellas for shade. There are often many kids playing around the pool at this
family-friendly hotel. Water polo and other activities are available to guests throughout
the day. Spanish dance music can be heard blasting by the pool starting in the
late mornings, creating a lively, active atmosphere. This might not suit those
looking for peace and quiet. Down on the beach, the atmosphere is quieter and
more peaceful – though both beach and pool areas can get crowded quickly in peak
times.The resort includes two bars and three restaurants. The
outdoor Lobby Bar is a popular spot in the evenings, while the Los Cocos Bar
next to the pool is more happening during the day. The more formal Italian restaurant,
Costa Vita, is only open a few nights a week, and more often in the busy season.
The Iguana Snack Bar sits along the path that leads down to the beach, open for
light midday bites. Staff members feed the iguanas here each day at noon to the delight
of many guests.The main restaurant, where breakfast, lunch, and dinner are
all served buffet style, is called the Forum. This large, dim room is packed with
many tables and plastic chairs. A long buffet runs along the back of the room
and on one side, there is a small stage where nightly entertainment, including
live music and dancing, will go on in the evenings. Breakfast includes a custom
omelet bar and many fresh fruits, but overall the food looks underwhelming. Many guests do opt for the all-inclusive package though. Next to the snack bar there is a small white gazebo for
massages, at an extra cost. The gazebo is very close to the pool and snack bar,
so it’s not the quietest place for a massage. Other amenities include a small
gift shop with pool toys, snacks, and t-shirts, and a small kids' club area with
games and crafts. There is no fitness room or formal spa on the property. Wi-Fi is limited to common areas.
Beach
A small beach area next to a looming abandoned hotel
Costa Club is located on a long, wide beach that’s at the end of the Hotel Zone, where many resorts sit along the bay. However, the section of the beach designated for this resort is quite small, with only a dozen or so lounge chairs and umbrellas arranged in a small patch of sand. With brown river water slowly emptying onto the beach right next to the hotel, the water isn’t as inviting to swim in as in other parts of Puerto Vallarta. There is a volleyball net close by, but again, much of the rocky beach feels desolate or even industrial, in the shadow of that large hulking, looming unfinished hotel structure next door.
