Hostal Vallarta Suites

Opened in 2015, Hostal Vallarta Suites sits atop the steepest hill in downtown Puerto Vallarta. It's a three-tiered building, with some rooms on the ground level. Stairs lead to the main entrance and lobby, and then to two more levels of rooms. The rooftop terrace has umbrella tables and chairs, and a few loungers, with views of the surrounding buildings and the main church, with distant views of the Malecon and the ocean. There's a party-hearty vibe here. When we visited, people were walking around with beers, and the music was pumping by mid-morning. It’s mostly a backpackers' hub, and the shared kitchen, lounge, and terrace are popular spots for hanging out and socializing.

The guesthouse is down the street from Nuestra Senora de Guadeloupe, the main church, which is a favorite photo op among tourists. It’s about a five-minute walk to the Malecon, with its dozens of restaurants, events (especially on the weekends), and the beach. Public transportation is available on the Malecon, and there are shops in all directions along the narrow streets. Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport is about a 25-minute drive away. 

Hostal Vallarta Suites has rooms on the ground floor, middle floor, and top floor -- and as one may expect, the top-floor rooms are the best and have the best views (but require the most stair climbing). On the ground floor are the entry-level rooms, which have a limited view, as well as a shared dormitory-style room. Most rooms have a double, queen-size, or king-size bed, plus an additional single bed. The majority look out on the surrounding buildings, the street, or the gardens at the back of the hotel, whose view is often marred by trash and debris. Two of the nicest suites have floor-to-ceiling sliding doors and balconies, which have terrific views of the ocean in the distance. 

Painted in a golden-mustard yellow color, the rooms have tile floors and dark-wood beds and headboards, plus matching wood trim. In the Suite we saw, there was a mounted basin sink just outside the bathroom; bathrooms have curtains in lieu of doors and are extremely basic. A half-wall separates the toilets from the showers. Guests should bring their own toiletries.

There's a communal kitchen, with a full refrigerator, gas stove, dual sink, and coffee- and tea-making facilities. The pleasant adjacent lounge, with its red-tile floor and ceiling fans, has wood tables and chairs, and backed stools aligned along the window. A continental breakfast of fruit and banana cake is included in the rates. The rooftop terrace has umbrella tables and chairs, and loungers. There are laundry facilities on-site, and the staff will arrange tours -- to the volcanic Marieta Islands and to Los Arcos National Park, for example. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property, but the signal is weak and doesn't reach many of the rooms.