This is a small, supposedly "intimate" little resort -- location makes it a bit hard to find; apparently it is known by more than one name. The really bad thing about this is the timeshare people -- they are relentless! We also noted one of the timeshare people from another resort we had stayed in a previous year that had been less than truthful with us -- STAY AWAY FROM THIS PLACE!

Perfect spot for me and my spouse to unwind in the sun by the ocean. Beautiful facility, just the right size, not an anonymous highrise, but right on the beach with ocean views. Away from the crowds and stress in PV, but close to the lovely Bucerias, Punta de Mita, and Sayulita. Used the onsite restaurant or our kitchenette when we wanted, ate out when we wanted. Service was excellent, can't beat the price, just a great place to kick back and enjoy.

Because of messed up flights, we left for vacation early (to get better flights), and so we booked this hotel for 3 days prior to our usual trip to PV. We stayed from 11/3-11/6/2009, and booked a two bedroom/two bath suite for two of us. We had two other friends who WOULD POSSIBLY join us, so did not want to add them to the reservation UNLESS they actually showed. When we booked, there was a 'SPECIAL', buy 2 nights and get 3rd night FREE; which was GREAT. HOWEVER, when one of our friends did arrive and stayed the three nights with us, Gatica "the Manager" WOULD NOT HONOR our original reservation and charge her for the 2 nights we'd paid for, and give her the 3rd night free. She had to pay for THREE nights stay. His comment was something like, "you'll like it here, and so you'll return....", i.e., In otherwords, he HAD US. But, REGARDLESS of the fact that he would not honor the special for our 3rd friend it was affordable. Although, SAD REALLY, as this type of customer service makes you not trust the hotel and leaves a rather sour taste in your mouth. (AND NO...HE'S WRONG, I don't think we'll return.)

Aside from the experience related above, let me tell you about the Starbay. The location is a bit remote, so will cost you around $20 US to get there. The hotel is right on the beach, and has a nice pool. The suite was spacious, and clean. The two bedroom we booked had two full sized beds that were comfortable (even though old Mexican style and firm). (They do not have ule espumas available...[foam pads]..so you need to be OK with firm beds.)

The lobby is beautiful with open air view of pool and the Bay. The restaurant off of the pool is more like a snack bar. It is loosely manned by one or two individuals and has a very limited menu. For lunch or snacks it was fine. We'd read other reviews of this establishment citing NOISY patrons at the pool, and little management intercession to alleviate the problem. We did not experience this. It was very quiet the full three days we were there. From what we could tell, this hotel is mostly frequented by nationals, rather than foreign visitors....sooo, we're thinking that depending on when you visit, you might want to steer clear of Mexican holidays if you want a quiet experience. Because we arrived AFTER the "Day of the Dead", the pool was literally OURS and we no problem getting the seats we wanted by the pool, any time of day or night.

Because of the hotel's location, it is easier to take a taxi into Bucerias. (The hotel staff was very nice in calling us a cab any time we needed one. (Because it is a small hotel, you can't just walk out and find a taxi easily.)

Bucerias is a quaint little town, with the typical Mexican shops, and mementos for purchase. Also because it is more remote, there is not the problem of beach vendors annoying you as you are trying to relax. In fact, we found the Starbay to be ALMOST TOO QUIET for our liking. We did shop a bit, and found the locals very accommodating and friendly.

We did eat out, rather than preparing anything in our suite's little kitchenette (it had a nice sized refrigerator). We did go to the grocery store right away, and carted back LARGE BOTTLES of water for our room (and other assorted beverages), as we just didn't trust that the water in this community would be safe for our tender stomachs -- even though the hotel is actually relatively new. This worked out well, and we had no health issues. ;o)

Oh, and we stumbled on a GREAT little Italian restaurant with HOMEMADE Lemoncello! Because we had trouble getting our bill to come out even (so we could spit it), we were FORCED to drink multiple Lemoncello till we got to a breakeven point (IT WAS GREAT!). And the wait staff was super too! (We'd asked for a recommendation of an Italian restaurant from our hotel and they provided this one...it was a winner!).

I would certainly recommend this hotel, especially for families who need space and an affordable hotel for the kids. The pool is not HUGE but large enough and with nice tile frescos on pool bottom and along the sides. The pool was VERY clean as well.(Remember, AVOID Mexican Holidays if you want to avoid possible NOISY nights.)

We are ladies ranging in age from 48-62, and found the Starbay a bit boring and remote. And, we think that young singles or youger married folks might find it a bit lackluster as far as activities, as well. In retrospect, if we have to come in to PV early (flights messed up, etc.), we'll probably look for something in PV, rather and Bucerias....ESPECIALLY if we can't MAKE AN ABSOLUTE FIRM RESERVATION, BEFORE we travel there. (I.E., no late arrival add in).

Upon arrival at the hotel we were pleasantly surprised, the pictures were very accurate. Lobby very expansive and tastefully decorated with an awesome view of the courtyard, pool and the Pacific. Check-in was very smooth and we were taken to room 205, a 1 bedroom unit. Again, the room looked exactly like the pictures; kitchen area with four-eye stove, full fridge, microwave, toaster, coffeemaker [bring your own filters], pots, pans, utensils. Just beyond the kitchen was a dining table and the living room, which had 1 sofa bed and another couch and a television with multiple channels. There were also sliding glass doors that led to a huge balcony with a bistro table with 2 chairs. An added bonus was the half bath across from kitchen. The bedroom included 2 full size platform beds which had the hardest mattresses I've ever felt--we actually thought they were box springs! The bathroom included a sink and large shower. The bedroom also had a television and sliding glass doors that lead to the balcony.
After checking out the room and changing we decided to check out the rest of the property; the pool was a nice size and had the coolest chaise lounges built into the pool. We would later learn that the only way to hang out during the day was to be immersed in water--it was HOT! The restaurant was just beyond the pool on the left, Jesus and Luis took good care of us, we loved the authentic chicken nachos with white beans and the Michilatas! About 30 feet from the pool was the entrance to the beach. Although the beach was a bit rocky, the proximity and calm of the water was so nice; once you walked out a few feet in the water it was all good! There were a number of fisherman out in the water looking for oysters and we saw schools of flying fish throughout our visit.
The property is located about 1 mile from 'El Centro,' their downtown. There is a bus stop directly in front of the hotel and the bus runs frequently. The Mega grocery store is where we picked up our supplies, but there are plenty of mini-markets in the area.

We felt like we had the place to ourselves as we only saw 2 other rooms occupied--but we loved it. If you enjoy the All-inclusive gigantic properties over in Puerto Vallarta, this property/area is not for you, it was quiet! The location and value were outstanding and we would definitely return.

BTW, it was about 30-40 minutes from the airport to Bucerias and it cost us $200 pesos (about $15 US) each way.