I just returned from 4 nights at Garza Blanca and loved it. I have been to Mexico maybe 10 times in the past and in PV 4 times and this was by far my best experience. I was traveling alone and I felt very secure at this resort. The rooms have deadblots and an additional locked gate to get into the room doors. The rooms, views, balcony, and heated pool are second to none. I thought the staff worked extra hard to be friendly and accomodating. Service is always a little slow compared to American standards, but that is just Mexico. Those seeking a fast and furious pace should not travel in Mexico. The free hotel shuttle made it very easy to get into town for inexpensive meals. I found the food in the main dining room to be good, but expensive. Pool side restaurant and drinks were wonderful. The hotel provides one coffee filter and one package of coffee for free and then charges $5.00 a day for any additional coffee. However, I read this on another review and simply broght my own small filters and coffee. I definitely plan on returning with my husband.

Stayed three nights at this very lovely property. Staff very accommodating and friendly, and our suite was superb. Great ocean views, comfortable bed and surprisingly quiet, considering the main highway runs past the property.
The dining room is really nice and staff helpful However, the food quality was disappointing, and, we thought , overpriced, First night dinner was very bad, and we advised the waiter, as well as the hostess, as we left. Neither seemd at all concerned, just shrugged and left it.
For a hotel of this quality, would have expected more attention to this sort of thing.

We loved our 7 night stay here over Christmas and the New Year.This was our first time at Garza Blanca and to Puerto Vallarta. Here are some highlights from our trip.

1. Airport Tax - The airport is a crazy mess, prior to coming we arranged a taxi from the airport to the hotel and couldn't quite figure out what that meant. As soon as we cleared customs with our bags we were bombarded by the time share sales people who I think were the "arranged" taxis. After trying to be sold a Rythms of the Night tour, whale watching, zip lines, etc. Edwardo finally arranged a car to take us to the hotel. He told us that he'd meet us at the hotel the following day for a VIP breakfast and sales tour of the hotel. We said ok because we'd get discounts on all charges to our room and a discount at the spa if we opted for the tour and breakfast. (more later) As far as the taxi, it is about a 30 min drive to the hotel. I think next time we'd try to dodge all the sales people and catch our own cab to avoid the annoying sales pitch.

2. Welcome margaritas welcomed us - thank you!

3. Room - gorg. We stayed in a Prime Studio or Junior Suite - I think they call it two different things. Loved our room so much. We had plenty of space for a week and a beautiful wrap around terrace to watch the sunset and soak in our own private tub. The terrace was the best part. Hot tub, table (where we ate breakfast every morning), hamock and a lounge chair. Highly recommend this room, as we saw the others during our sales tour and still think ours was the best.

4. Pool - the pool is great, we stayed at probably one of the busiest times so we had to get up early every morning to save a good spot, but it never really got that crowded. Wish I was at the pool right now. This is not an adult only resort so expect children to be playing in the pool.

5. Spa - we went to the spa for a couples deep tissue massage and it was great. We were the only ones there and had a wonderful experience. Recommend checking out the spa area - I think you can use the steam room, sanua, etc even if you don't have an appointment.

6. Shuttle service to downtown - do this! It costs about 100 pesos to get to downtown and the shuttle is free! You just need to call and arrange.

7. Beach - The beach is small but not private. If you sit down there be prepared for the locals selling you hats, blankets, etc. You can use the kayaks and paddle boards for free. We ended up taking the kayaks and going over to Los Arcos - it is a long trek but neat to check otu.

8. Restaurants at hotel/Grocery store - We ordered room service every morning and it cost us $25 - super cheap. The food is good but after a week we were bored with the room service menu. The restaurant at the pool is good, the usual mexican pool food and service - you will wait awhile to get your food. Blance Blue is very good, definitely check out but I'd advise to not do the all inclusive. There are plenty of great, affordable restaurants in town. But do check out Blanca Blue once, convenient and outstanding cuisine. We wanted to go to a grocery store to stock up on wine, beer and snack food at the begining of our trip. We ended up just eating at the hotel or going into town all week. But if you are seeking a grocery store I do beleive there is one in the Zona Romantica.

9. Sales service - Ok, here is the one down fall of this place and I am still bitter about it. I read before coming to not get trapped in the sales tour and we were roped in at the airport when they offered the discounts on the room charges and spa charges. Edwardo never showed up for our tour so some lady from the sales center took us for the tour. We ended up on a 3 hour sales presentation, not 75 minutes like they disclose. It is a long tour. The property is beatiful and they plan on building up the hill to become a mega resort - beware. It won't be as small as it is now - that is if they have the money to keep to developing, we didn't the crane move once while we were there but they could have been on holiday. Anyhow, we aren't in the place in our life right now to go through a time share so we said no after our long 3 hour presentation. Hey atleast we got the discounts on the spa and room charges... well that was not the case when we checked out! I guess we were suppose to get a card of some sort that we needed to use when charging things to the room and at the spa. So at the time of check out they would offer us the discount. Basically the lady forgot to give us the card and she somehow "quit" the day before so we couldn't even validate that we went on the tour. SHADY. DO NOT DO THE SALES PRESENTATION!

10. Downtown Restaurants and activities - Here are some places to check out while you are in town: El Bruya - great authentic mexican food, La Palapa - fabulous cuisine on the beach, try to catch the sunset there, Langostinos - good place for a drink on the beach but beware of the beach "sales," Trio - outstanding food, must go, River Cafe - go here for Breakfast and watch for iguanas., Unique ATV tours - we did the dune buggy tour and it was ok, the 4x4 was the more popular tour to check out, fun experience to check out. Zona Romantica is a cute place you have to check out, loved it!

My wife and I travel a lot. We have four kids. When we travel without the kids, we do like to stay in nicest places possible. This place is incredible. The jungle/mountains literally begin 10 feet behind the place, then this incredible well laid out resort is tucked just behind a white sand beach (most beaches in Mexico are golden/brown--this is white and nice).
I own my own business and we are very sucessful due to the attention to detail and friendliness of the staff. People come to my business and we make them feel good. So, by my first day at Garza Blanca, I realized how many 100 other things I get to bring back and speak with my already wonderful staff of how we can even improve---that is how great and accomodating this staff is.
I read a comment below where someone said it was almost "eery/spooky" that if you mentioned "one thing that you needed, or could be better", that someone popped right up and was there to serve you. I do not consider that "spooky". I consider that TOP NOTCH service. The Staff's main focus is accomodating you!! For some people, if you are not used to this type of service, it may seem "overboard". For me, a guy that runs his own business with many employee's, and is raising a family of 4 wonderful children---that is exactly what I like when I want to go on a fun and relaxing vacation--I should stress "relaxing" because that is what this place is about. And, hopefully this helps--I am only in my thirties (late thirties). I am not an "oldtimer". Everything is brand new and perfect--I really mean that too. So spacious. And the Food---I can not believe some of the comments below. I've been on top notch cruises and I know what "all inclusive/buffet" type food is. This is not it at all. We always go to 5-star resterauntes, and my wife and I both agreed that the food both by the pool and the most incredible blanca blue resteraunte could serve the best food we've ever had--the food is one of the things that makes this place--besides the scenery, the staff, the rooms--really, this place couldn't be more perfect. We like it soo much that when we go back to the states, we are thinking about bringing our 4 kids with us (10-15 years old) so they can experience something this nice just once--i know it will be pricey to bring an entire family, but I really feel bad being somewhere so nice and tropical (like from a movie with the jungle and beach and everything) without them :( Make sure you get the all-Inclusive. That way you can enjoy so much (room service, both resterauntes, drinks, food) without having to constantly worry about the costs--just get it out of the way upfront--trust me, it makes it 100x more relaxing. Also, downtown Vallarta is like no other mexican city. It's so fun and nice, and soo much to see and do. It's not touristy--it keeps it's Mexican charm with the cobblestone streets, but there is shop after shop after shop. All the cafe's and resterauntes along the beach, all the shops nesteled right at the foot of the mountains, but just blocks before the beach--it couldn't be scripted any better and I mean that.
Oh yeah, it doesn't hurt either that we came in January. 82 and sunny everyday, and 65 and somewhat cool every night--PERFECT! I hear it does get pretty hot and humid here in the summer months.