a friend and I went the begining of january. Im a picky eater so I didnt care much for the food at times, but loved the snack bar. Friends we where with either hated the food or loved it so its definately dependant on you and your taste. The hotel set up was interesting. We were in tower 13 on the third floor. Not a bad walk up the stair to our room intoxicated. the pool was on the small side, but we didnt spend much time. The pool definately met the needs we needed it for when we did. If i could get it for the same price, I would go back to this resort no question about it! the staff were amazingly friendly and went over the top! great place for my first time. im excited to go back! the only down part is, along with most other resorts, is check out time is at noon and it sucks if your flight isnt till the early morning of the next day. Your all inclusive is gone at 12:00 noon but if you have spent time on the resort, the bar tender and staff dont stop pleasing you and offer everything till you leave!

my wife and i arrived 5.00am on flight from regina, was given a room with ocean view, lots of hot water and very clean on the third floor above the pool, went for first meal at breakfast great food lots of salad fruit omelets eggs then to the beach deck chairs on the beach and swam for the first day. vendors you just need to say no and they will leave you alone just like the timeshare people. dont buy into time share for 30 dollars for a tour just buy two tours and get one free best option guys on the beach they are licenced and no hassel.
yes the alcohol is not top of the range but it is resonable and lots if you want to drink, food is good they try hard and they do have a variety but again this is relly a 2.5 star resort and the food is great, shows a magic show and a singing contest were excellant but we were away a couple of nights once at the italian restaurant good food and service.
a couple of dollars a day in tips in the right place goes a long way with service and we certainly from all the staff were treated great and found the service to be excellant. this is a mexician resort with it fulling up with locals friday saturday night but as the bar closes at 10 oclock even though we were right over the pool bar it was quiet.
the walk to the beach is great past the snack bar food great past the ducks and igaunas who dont come into the resort as it is fenced off. the ground s were always clean the beach was great, this is a federal beach not owned by the resort so the vendors have the right to be here.
the reason i say this resort is excellant is if you want a good cheap holiday go here have fun but dont think that it is party place and the building are new, they are not but they are clean and well maintained
cheers the beds and pillows in our room were excellant and we slept great

We just got back from Mexico and stayed at Costa Club Punta Arena.We found the price excellent and enjoyed the two pools and the ocean beach front which is close by. Our room was modest but clean and the snack bar chef made hamburgers, hotdogs, french fries daily. There are activities like volley ball, bingo, blackjack, and aqua size..Shows every evening to watch and lots of food to eat in the dinning room. It was cool to watch the iganas, birds etc .behind the fence.

We did not like the pressure to "play the game" and go to the time share presentations..We were told by people who went ,they took a minimum of 6 hours at least and they felt heavily pressured into buying ..Another pitfall is the free alcohol which some people took advantage of..day and night..
We also got very tired of all the venders on the beach that tried steadily to sell us their wares..I can say," No gracious", in my sleep..

The resort is close to downtown and there were always taxis's close by..The price was awesome and while we were there we got to see a beautiful Mexican wedding at this resort..

We would go again to the Costa Club .

I had my doubts when I booked this hotel but the deal was too good to resist. Given the price and having read some of the reviews, I did not have expectations of this property but the stay actually exceeded my expectations. It is true, the hotel is fairly basic and dated, it is far from glamour, luxury, and sophistication offered by higher-end properties. On the other hand, it is reasonable, conveniently, and meets the necessary needs. Just know what to expect and you will enjoy your stay. Contrary to some reviews, I found staff to be friendly and helpful - I had a positive experience in dealing with anyone from front-desk to bartenders to servers. After my first night, I asked to change my room to a garden-facing room with a balcony and my request was accommodated without hassle. I was offered a couple of rooms to choose from; the front desk personnel was helpful, polite, and professional.
A few things that could be improved upon:
Internet: wi-fi is only available in the lobby (it's free) and the router has a very limited capacity (4-5 users). Accessing Internet was difficult at times and the connection was down occasionally but it was okay enough to check email and make short Skype calls. Note, good wifi connection is also available for free in the old town in and around the main square.
Beach: there are not enough beach chairs and most are worn-out and broken. If you get there early you're in luck. However, beach itself is spacious and there is always plenty of room to put a towel down in the sand.
Pool: poolside is lively and the two pools are filled with people, kids, and activities. It can get noisy and if you're looking for some down time, beach is a better alternative.
Food: basic, not very creative but plentiful. Breakfast and lunch was typically better than dinner; enough to eat but nothing too memorable. The hotel could have improved dining experience if they kept the grilling/omelet station open for dinner to offer freshly grilled meat and fish. Given the convenient location, there are many dining options nearby and in the old town. The Mega supermarket next door is a great place to pick anything you may need during your stay - from a fresh towel, to cold beer (when you get tired of watery Tekate) to delicious fresh deli.
Location: less than 10 minutes by local bus (6.50 pesos one way) to old town or an easy 15-20 minute walk. PV marina, Walmart plaza, and other shopping is about the same distance in the opposite direction.
Swimming was better in Mismaloya and Boca - both easily reachable by local buses (you have to transfer in the old town). Both villages offer protected bays, picturesque views, and plenty restaurants.
Overall, this was an enjoyable break to escape cold and rain, and the hotel was a continent base to enjoy P. Vallarta. I would pick a different place for a romantic getaway or a memorable holiday but I will return for an easy no frills break.