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All reviews tea house cooking class our honeymoon every morning taco fish puerto vallarta main pool mole casa grande spa services takes about minutes min hike secluded beach amazing food coffee scrub local culture
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Reviewed 28 February 2007

My new husband and I were married in Puerto Vallarta a few weeks ago. We left the next day for our once-in-a-lifetime honeymoon experience at Verana.

We stayed in the Studio, which was beautiful. It is mostly enclosed but the floor-to-ceiling windows allow for a breathtaking view of the bay below. We also have great views from our front patio (where we sipped coffee and tea each morning) and back patio. The shower is partially open air but private. The only truly open space was the sink. This was great for us...although you let go of many of your inhibitions at Verana, we loved the privacy and beauty of the Studio.

We had booked both the honeymoon and spa package, so our days were filled with amazing spa treatments and romantic touches. We tried almost every treatment the spa had to offer! The best were: (1) the couples bath - you have most of the spa (bath, massage table, watsu pool), lit by what seemed like a hundred candles, to yourself for a romantic evening under the stars...we agreed it tops our list of romantic evenings, (2) the coconut sugar scrub (you are gently scrubbed with coconut and sugar, rinsed with coconut milk, wrapped in sheets, and "steamed" with a spray of warm water - heavenly!), (3) my hot stone massage, and (4) my husband's watsu massage. After Ginger's (one of the wonderful ladies managing the spa) hand/foot treatment, I felt energized and like I was walking on air!

The honeymoon package included a trip to the beach - it was fun, but rough waters meant we could not visit the preferred Bola beach. The beach we visited was kind of dirty.

After hosting a 90-person destination wedding, both our immune systems bottomed out...the spa responded by making my husband a special wrap to sooth his skin, and the kitchen brewed me fresh carafes of ginger-thyme-lemon tea each day to soothe my sore throat and cough. One of the girls at the spa gave my husband a quick lesson in accupressure, and sent him down the hill with a mix of essential oils and instructions on how to lesson my congestion. They took such great care of us! When we were too tired to come to dinner the first night, the staff delivered a gourmet meal down to our house.

The sceney is breathtaking...the sounds of the jungle that rock you to sleep and surround you during massages, the infinity pool with its view of the ocean, the lights of the city at night - I will never forget my experience at Verana. We are trying to carry our lessons from Verana into our daily life - healthy eating with fresh foods, a reorganized master bedroom that is more like a sanctuary and less like Grand Central Station, and I even convinced my husband to join me in Pilates (he took yoga one morning at Verana and loved it!)

I also cannot thank the staff enough for making it such a great stay - the staff is very international and interesting to talk to. We made such great friends. We never experienced any pressure from the staff to attend activities, or found them inexperienced (as discussed in other reviews.)

The chefs are SO very talented...it was a true pleasure to experience their talent firsthand...gourmet food at every single meal...I have never eaten so well in my life as I did that week. For example, "taco night" included 15 different gourmet salsas...everything was delicious. One night, during a candlelight dinner set up for us in our house, the appetizers were dates stuffed with cream cheese and baked with bacon...it may sound suspect, but is was so delicious! They combined flavors I never would have thought of...like chocolate and chile cheesecake...so yummy.

There were only a few negatives, or maybe considerations. First, Verana is a very chic resort with high service standards and amazing cuisine. That being said, it is in the jungle, and you have to be prepared to spend the week with bugs in your house, lizards on your walls, checking for scorpions, climbing through the mosquito net to go to the bathroom at night, etc. The boat ride over, depending on the ocean, may leave you, and some luggage, a bit wet. We got used to the lifestyle after a few days but true diva types may not enjoy the Verana experience. Also, bug spray is a must (esp. in the mornings, at night, and hiking up/down the mountain to through the jungle to the resort)...it doesn't need to be super strength...OFF Skintastic worked for us.

Second, do not underestimate the hike up the hill. Our first hike was on little sleep, immediately post-wedding, with sneakers full of sand from getting off the boat, and therefore miserable. The hill is steep in some parts, but the trail is also rocky in places, so sturdy shoes (Tevas worked well for folks) and going at your own pace are a must. During the week, the hike was better with proper shoes, bug spray, rest, and the expectation that we would be unable to breath for a few minutes once finally at the top.

Last, Verana is an expensive experience. It was well worth it to us for our honeymoon, but it may prevent us returning with the regularity we would like.

To close this lengthy review, I'll just say that while we are pretty well traveled, we are slightly on the "pampered traveler" side...letting go of those hangups and allowing ourselves to truly experience Verana - its beauty, its staff, and the guests it attracts - was a wonderful experience.

Date of stay: February 2007
  • Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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12  Thank lalagirl22
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 17 February 2007

My husband and I visited Verana for three nights in November, and its sister B & B in Puerto Vallarta. These properties were everything promised in their promotional video. We were not disappointed in the least. The hostess in PV, Ariandra ( I think that was her name) couldn't have been more helpfull, and the staff at Verana were wonderfull as well.

I must mention Elliot Gallagher, the lunch chef, who made such delightful dishes - so clean and fresh as well as yummy. In particular, his Chayote Vichysoisse was probably the most declicous soup I have ever had - I couldn't believe it was healthy as well.

That is not say that Dinner wasn't great as well. It was all good!

Our only negative was that after dinner we would go back to Mayan, our wonderful "house" without walls, and we could hear people still partying in the diining area. It would have been nicer if the peace and serenity exhibited all day could have been carried through the evening.

Date of stay: November 2006
3  Thank divaConnecticut
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 9 February 2007

As a hotel owner, I travel with a pretty acute eye for detail; and I travel a lot. I travel to recharge, for adventure and to find inspiration for my own properties. I also don't throw praise around without considering carfeully. In fact, I have never written on Trip Advisor in all my travels. But check it out; Verana is the best vacataion I have ever had. The staff is outrageously wonderful. The location is pure heaven. The hotel itself practically defies imagination. Go, stay as long as you can and return frequently.

Date of stay: February 2007
  • Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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6  Thank ASaccio
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 30 January 2007

Second time around just as fab as the first time.

On our first stay we knew we had found something special and needed to share it with some of our family members. This year we did and our family was just as awe struck as we were our first time.

They do have practically a whole new staff who are just as lovely as last year. It was of course fun and comforting to see some faces from last year.

They have made some changes to the menus specifically to the breakfast menu and luch menu. The food was awsome, service great . I have not one negative thing to say about our stay. And as for camp counselors......please they are very professional and it is a small intimate resort. Who doesn't like some interaction with the staff.

The hike was just as rigorous as the first time but after a few tries it gets easier.

We stayed again in the bungalow and sister and brother-in-law stayed in the studio. Both very private, well appointed , and each has it's own charm.

Spa was another plus for coming here (thanks Ginger and Jaime). The healing and soothing hands. Ahhhh.

Must stay over a tuesday night for the infamous TACO NIGHT ummm.

................just wishing I was back in my bungalow looking for whales jumping in Yelapa Bay..............................

Date of stay: January 2007
  • Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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7  Thank tacjam
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 25 January 2007

We have just got back from from the most wonderful stay at Verana - in the Tea Room no less, this is without doubt the room to book with its own sun bathing area and plunge pool and the georgeous views just open your eyes in a morning and watch the sun rise over the hills - amazing.. the other rooms are spectacular every guest partakes in the run around game to try and see everyone elses room as they are all so unique and well situated.
The Staff are phenomenal, helpful, friendly and truly engage with you making you feel as though you are a true guest and its a pleasure to have you as a guest in their oasis.
You can be as relaxed or as active as you like, do nothing or go whale watching, hiking, visiting local islands or just stroll down to the village of Yelapa.
The accomodation in PV is looked after by the wonderful Sonia who will ensure your travel is taken care of and give you a great breakfast and tips on the local eateries.
Dont miss out on this wonderful place.
One Tip : Make sure you book your flights and arrival time in PV for as early as you can to give you enough time to get to the boat or stay at the apartment in PV and take the boat at mid day.

Date of stay: January 2007
  • Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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7  Thank UKintheUSA
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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