My husband and I just spent a week there. I think it is important to state here that the owner of the hotel have change, therefore the hotel services and standard have change too.
There are 3 buildings in this hotel...one has a pool, all walled with no air, it is unbearably hot and it is not on the beach. The other 2 buildings have Jacuzzi; the one you see on the pictures is the one in the building that is not on the beach. The Jacuzzi in our building was not working. The lizard restaurant-bar websites and travel book talked about do not exist anymore (for over a year) and there is nothing to replace it.
There are chairs at the beach but they are so hard it is impossible to lie on them for more then 10min, they have gorgeous chairs with cushions on the roof with the non working Jacuzzi, but they had not want to bring them down or allow us to bring them to the beach. After a few days I manage to have someone bring at least a cushion!!!
The pool and Jacuzzis access closed at 7h or 8pm.... which is very disappointing.
As for the cleanness, they do the minimal....and I believe they do not change the sheets....they only make the bed...not a big deal if you don't mind sleeping with sands in your bed!!!

One more thing, about Puerto Vallarta in General, not about this hotel in particular. The vendors on the beach are unbearable!!! There are a lot them, coming to you every minute, and half of them do not take no for an answer, and I did not count how many time they kicked my chair to wake me up or get me out of my book to show me there stuff....I respect that it is their Job...I wish they would respect that it is my vacation....

My husband and I went to PV for our honeymoon in December and it was our first time to the area.

The Emperador was a great place to stay...I have a hard time believing that folks have nasty things to say about this hotel.

It is not the Four Seasons and you do not pay Four Seasons prices! For the little you pay, you get so much more. Granted the rooms are not fancy shmancy but, they are clean and taken care of (the furnishings are a bit old). The ocean views are unlike hardly any other in PV and our kitchenette was on the deck...how cool is that. The kitchen equipment, too was older, but WHO CARES, I made great breakfast EVERY day looking at the ocean and palm trees!

The staff was AMAZING! We even hugged our housekeeper when we left. Several times we ran into staff members outside of their work day and they always remembered us and stopped us to say HOLA!

The area that the hotel is located in is simply the best. It is in the Romantic Zone with amazing restaurants, boutiques and pubs/clubs all within walking distance! And the Malecon, just metres away from the door of the hotel!

When we left PV (whining all the way home), we booked for this year right away! Staying at the Emperdor and will more than likely stay there next year!

So, in short, if you need to stay at a ritzy hotel in PV, you will get what you pay for...if you want to actually stay in a PV hotel, stay at the Emperador - in the heart of what you go to Mexico for...charm, history, cobbelstone streets, great sidewalk bars and restaurants (the BEST pizza in the world, just around the corner), fabulous beaches and a teeny touch of modern!

My husband and I booked this hotel based upon previously middle of the road reviews. We were looking for a cheap, clean, safe hotel to spend a few days. All we got was cheap! Upon arrival we found that the front desk employees were more involved with the "free" internet than with our needs. They asked if we wanted a remote, with a deposit. We declined. Our room faced the street, and most nights the noise was unbearable.... even with ear plugs. The bed was literally a mattress on a piece of plywood. The first night we found a small lizard in our bed! The shower and the toilet leaked. We did not have anything stolen, however we were very careful not to leave anything of value in the room, and all suitcases were locked. I do not recommend anyone to stay here. Read the reviews, we are not prima donna's, just stating it as we unfortunately lived it. We will return to PV, but never to this hotel.

wow--it looked good on expedia----oh my--what a mistake---i don't thing that i slept all night--waiting to be mugged or otherwise molested--when we got there the desk guy--had to pull the string on the lightbulb in the hallway to light up our path to the room--and as we were going to room --greeted by a resident-who could have been a double for Freddy of elm st fame---then the room--giant--but what odors--the tv did work--so did the one next door--loud until the wee hours of the morning--it was just terrible