The Hacienda At Krystal Grand Puerto Vallarta

We had a wonderful time, staff are extremely helpful and pleasant, food was great. It would help to know that restaurants do not take reservations as most do, and they rotate openings, so there are lines to get in. Also, more umbrellas for shade would be great [Details]

This Hotel is amazing, our experience in both parts of the hotel (the family resort towards the beach including) was extraordinary great. [Details]

Hacienda side is adults only and well worth it. Calm and beautiful grounds with mature gardens. Room 193 (Jr suite swim up) is modern and beautiful. King bed, very comfortable with lots of storage. A few things not working (pool motor, hair dryer and coffee machine) but was fixed right away. Great response from front desk. Actually not a swim up but a private pool(cold and not well cleaned). Beach is on adjacent resort at Krystal Grand but just a few steps away. Restaurants are their downfall. Not many and no reservations. And when you get there, they say they're full althow many tables are empty. The food is mediocre at best. Plates look beautiful until you taste it. Bland and tasteless. Service at restaurants and buffet are either very good or very bad depending on server. And punctuality is not a thing here. They open when they open. Could be 10-20 minutes late. Chairs are ok but not the most confortable. You also need to get one early. But don't be a hog reserving chairs at the beach AND at the pool, leaving a clip and a flip flop, because the pool concierge will remove your items after 30-45 minutes of absence. This hotel is near Puerto Vallarta airport and romantic zone, so explore, explore, explore. It's a safe and beautiful town and a 7 min taxi ride (8-10 US$) [Details]

We found the resort to be great! Clean and the food was good. There was a lot to choose from-as we had access to both the Hacienda and the next door family resort. There was lots of pool area's to choose from and a lot of activities daily. [Details]

We both loved our time at the Hacienda! 10 glorious days of sunshine, great food, lovely amenities and wonderful staff. All of the staff were lovely but special mentions to Elisabeth, who went over and above to help us with any questions we had and was genuinely friendly. Also to German, Ceasar and his brother who took such good care of our poolside drinks. I am sorry not to have noted more names of staff as they all treated us so well. We made new friends among other guests who were also having a wonderful time. We will return to the Hacienda /Krystal Altitude and will recommend to our friends. Thank you all for making our stay special and memorable. [Details]

We enjoyed the property once we got things down. More meals are actually had at sister property Krystal Grand. And what we wish we knew when booking was we had no beach access from The Hacienda. We also upgraded to swim out room where pools were very chilly. Yet pools at Krystal Grand are heated . So if we had better information we would have choose the sister property. [Details]

We have stayed at many all-inclusive resorts all over Mexico for over 25 years so have some perspective. So, here's our opinion
The room was functional but a bit dated, mold in the grout of bathroom tiles. Air con was good, and bed was comfortable. Staff was uniformly friendly and helpful. Pool area at Hacienda was great. It was what attracted us to the property. We wanted a large lovely quiet pool area with adequate chairs and choices for sun or shade and I'm happy to say this property delivered
Now the bad news.
Breakfast was OK but not the rest of the meals.
The speciality dinner restaurants were in fact worse than the buffet.
Limited choices and small portions. We don't eat dessert and the mains were so small that we left the table hungry. Dinner service was usually clumsy. A glass of wine at dinner almost always required asking 2 or 3 times.

Everything was overly greasy and overcooked and without flavour. We noted that raw materials were always the cheapest possible. For example, with chicken dishes, the chicken was always just the small part of the thigh, never a leg or breast. No real butter to be found anywhere, only cheapest quality margarine.
Fish when served was always small thin pieces, likely farmed Tilapia or Basa..done with different flavours.
Most guests we spoke to felt the same way about the food. It was a common topic by the pool. By the third night we both got sick from the food at dinner ( Steakhouse) and from then on for the rest of our stay, left the property to eat dinners outside the resort . The main part of Puerto Vallarta has hundreds of restaurants and is about a 50 minute walk, or easy bus or taxi ride ($10) away and there are also a few restaurants also within walking distance of the hotel. When we visited our first offsite restaurant we had a great meal. My wife and i smiled at each other....finally some decent food and service...we felt like we were out on parole!

Also, alcohol and wine were of very poor quality.

Trust me, we are not overly picky with our food, but this was so far below what we have experienced in any other resort, including several with even lower star ratings. Be aware that this property used to be a Hilton resort until Kyrstal took over in Nov 2022. I suspect many of the better reviews might date back from the old days before the transition.
A 4.5 star resort should deliver a 4.5 star experience in all areas.... but the food services here would deserve no more than 2.5 stars. We would never return to or recommend this property. [Details]

Overall the Hacienda was great! Happy that we stayed on the Hacienda side. It was lush, quiet, had nicer pools. When you go, ensure you ask a lot of questions. There are not actually 12 restaurants, but rather, they rotate - not all are open on the same night. For a one week stay, you only have 4 reservations - book with the concierge when you arrive, otherwise it's scrambling to get in and you spend a lot of time trying to organize it. The food overall is quite good - lots of options at the buffet and it's all very fresh. The rooms could be cleaner - request that your sheets get changed if you don't want them on for the entire week. We also had to request hand towels on a daily basis.
You will get different answers from everyone - be patient (example: some told us that the sushi bar at O-Bar was open until 7, others 6....I think it really depends on when they run out).
Overall, I would recommend! [Details]

We enjoyed our stay at this resort. Picture shown here is NOT The Hacienda side so do your research to ensure your booking matches your needs. It is very small with very little entertainment or night life which actually works for us. Streets were walk able with cruise ships, grocery stores and restaurants near by.
Rooms were spacious and clean, adult pools were a perfect way to relax and food was average. Al la cartes were hit and miss. [Details]

The lodging at this hotel was a Jr Suite overlooking a terrace. It was fine except the seating was not . We used inside chairs and left them outdoors until departing. There was very good storage for our clothing and beach wear / supplies. The bathroom was very good : double sinks , lots of surface for toiletries , and walk in shower with hand- held , as well as rain shower . Also a bathtub and jaccuzi ( not clean) that we did not use at all .
The bed was comfortable and a constant running fan aided in a better sleep . The bedding was not always clean and was questionable if changed more than once or twice during 12 day stay.
The staff were very friendly and made our stay pleasant. The food selection was great , however some of the dishes were not to our taste. We found the food bland .
Our biggest complaint is the method of signing up for Ethnic suppers . Only the day of did you have to line up , before 8 am and then be told which restaurants were open , then given a time to appear ( often too late eg. 9 or 9:30 pm , We only went to one and the food was not good , nor the service.
The desk people were helpful except on one occasion . They advised where to reserve a restaurant for a good barbecue . When we did go, it was a grill Steak house and they were given credit for sending us. The food was terrible -
Doormen were very friendly and helpful to get you a taxi .
We went in on two tours and highly recommend - The City Tour and San Sebastián tour . Both guides were very knowledgeable and gave some humor. [Details]

I was very happy with service. Very safe and clean
Good food always different choices [Details]

We spent 7 days at Hacienda Krystal Altitude ( previously Hilton) and had a nice holidays. We loved our room; very spacious with comfortable bed, clean, good air conditioning, nicely decorated, large bathroom and enough room for clothes. The grounds were beautifully maintained and the pool was clean. The area was like oasis of palm trees surrounded by pools and comfortable chairs. There was even some wild life as we were visited by 2 friendly iguanas and a baby raccoon. The trees are full of birds that sing. There was always a waiter with drinks and the lunch was served right beside. Victor introduced as to a new cocktail and we loved it! Super relaxing. No stress. Just what the doctor recommended lol. The concierge, Roberto did an amazing job ensuring the guests were well taken care of. What a great asset to the hotel he is!
The food was average at best. There were 4 specialty restaurants but it seem like not all were open at the same time. It was complicated to reserve too far in advance. Therefore hard to plan our own activities. We were never able to book French restaurant. And we had tried daily. We tried the specialty restaurants with not satisfying results. The staff was trying hard to create a “speciality” experience but sadly, the dishes were not tasty (overcooked pasta, ribs “swimming” in overpowering bbq sauce, soggy canolli, mixed up orders, etc). The wine was barely drinkable and the wine in the glass was topped up with whatever wine was carried by the staff. The only difference was red or white. Buffet was a better choice. All staff was very friendly and accommodating.
The Hacienda at Kristal Altitude is the adult section of the family hotel Krystal Altitude and the guests have access to all amenities of the family hotel. The large buffet and the beach access is from the family hotel.
There is no shortage of lounges but if you want a nice location, you must come early. It's a same situation in every resort. If you want more night life you just wander over to the family hotel. In general, lovely people, great facilities, super beach but only average food.
In conclusion, it's an average place for an average price. As I always say; you get what you pay for. [Details]

Wow! When our taxi arrived at The Hacienda Hilton we were immediately greeted by friendly smiling faces welcoming us with a refreshing drink. We had a pool view room which was one of the largest rooms we've ever had on a resort. The room was well appointed, clean and comfy beds. What makes this resort is the staff. Everyone of the staff we encountered was always smiling and friendly. They will go above and beyond to accommodate you and make you happy. Our special thanks to Ivan, Antonio, Laritza and Gabriela, our breakfast team, Marcos the doorman and Aurthuro at the reception desk. This is a small cozy adult resort. It has a beautiful setting, however, there is no view of the ocean. The beach is accessible by the family resort side of the property. Fantastic views from the rooftop infinity pool & sushi bar. The food was very good at the specialty restaurants. Our favorite was the Mexican, but you cannot beat the sunset views from the Italian restaurant. It was not difficult to reserve at any of the restaurants, but you can only make reservations for 2 days at a time. Pool side bar drinks & service were outstanding. Tips are very much appreciated and well deserved. Some patrons did get very loud at the pool on a few days showing no respect for the other guests, through no fault of the resort. There is another quieter pool beside the pool restaurant.
As far as evening entertainment, there isn't any with the exception of a few musicians by the bar in the main lobby on the family side. If you're looking for production shows, you won't find it at this resort. One evening we went to old Town Puerto Vallarta and walked along the Malecón boardwalk. Plenty of activiy to see and do. There are excursions you can take, but we didn't do any, since we were there for a week. The is a shopping mall and a Walmart close to the Marina, about a 10-15 minute walk. Taxis are inexpensive, but settle on a price with the driver before hopping in.
My husband and I loved this resort and we are already planning our return. [Details]

We were looking for a week in the sun and found it in Puerto Vallarta at the Hacienda Hilton. This is a nice sized hotel with lots of amenities, great food and fabulous staff. [Details]

We spent a week at the Hacienda and really enjoyed ourselves. [Details]

The hotel was great, smaller then expected. Never been at resort that did charge extra for somethings above the all inclusive. Had sercurity tell us to keep it down at 3 pm, but nothing done to the 3 crowds at 330/4 am fights and parties.
Food was good, presentation. Staff at lunch spot (Fransico, Cesar) were amazing and went above and beyond. Never had to complain at any other resort about maid not even coming to room at 5 pm. [Details]

Hotel is located at great location, Newly renovated with great facilities. [Details]

Extremely clean and well run. The Hacienda side had the best pool area for both sun and shade and the swim up bar attracted a wide variety of younger and older people which made for a fun experience.
The food in their restaurants and buffet was good and the sushi bar atop the Hilton side had the greatest viewpoint for sunsets. [Details]

Check in was average. No map of the hotel layout was given to us..had to go over to the main desk. Room was huge and very clean. Air conditioning worked well. Odd thing about the room was no place to hang up your towels or bathing suits when wet so had to hang them out on the patio. Difficult to get a spot around the main pool after 7:30 am as towels were on most of the chairs..we hung out by the covered pool most of the day but there were bugs biting you in the shade. It seemed that most adults came over from the main Hilton to hang out here for the day. Buffet at main Hilton was okay but food repetitive. No selection of seafood just white fish. Lots of kids at their main pool and it was noisy during the day. Ocean was very wavy here..red flag out every day..no lifeguards on duty. You had to walk down a few hotels to find it calmer to swim. A la carte restaurants were just okay. Service was slow, staff seemed rushed all the time. Evening entertainment was terrible the few nights it was in the lobby. It was very boring there at night, we ended up retiring to our room to watch TV. Sushi bar was okay..nice place to watch the sunset..pool up there as well. Worst meal was at the Italian restaurant where all our courses including the wine arrived at the same time. Fettuccini seemed like it had been in the pot for hours..came with a 1 inch piece of shrimp on top. We tried to eat at the a la carte restaurants so we could avoid all the kids running around the main buffet. This hotel is close to the marina terminal where you could walk over yourself and book some tours off site. Unfortunately my friend got very ill during the end of our stay here. This was the only place we ate and drank at. [Details]