New Grand Miramar Resort in Southside Vallarta Makes a Statement Inga Aksamit - Examiner.com
go to original March 17, 2013

The Grand Miramar Puerto Vallarta is nestled between the mountains and the sea.

A newcomer in the crowded Puerto Vallarta hotel market, the Grand Miramar Club & Spa makes a statement in the South Zone, its two tall towers perched high on the mountainside at the edge of the tropical jungle as it gazes over the city and Banderas Bay with 180 degree views.

One tower is comprised of hotel rooms while the other is a time-share property. They share the three pools, 10-person hot tub and other amenities. The property is very new so the dearth of guests means that many of the amenities can be experienced privately, which is sure to change as the facility is discovered.

During a recent visit I stayed in a hotel room which, like all the rooms, is a spacious suite. Immediately upon entering I found myself in the bedroom with a king-sized bed and flat-screen TV mounted over a large dresser. Next was the bathroom with a generous walk-in shower, located across from the closet (equipped with a safe). Beyond the bathroom was a fully-equipped kitchen, with full-size refrigerator, round, glass-topped dining table and expansive living room with a broad sofa, TV and desk, with modern, shiny appliances and hip décor. From the balcony the view encompassed the pool and Banderas Bay. The room was spotless and everything was new and fresh-smelling. I slept well despite the over-stuffed foam pillows.

There was conflicting information from the hotel staff about whether the tap water was potable, and the lack of bottled water in the room plus the limited hours of the small on-site store means that guests should be prepared with their own supply of bottled water initially.

The registration area on the ground level was small but there were several comfortable seating areas. The staff all spoke excellent English. Free WiFi was very spotty and inconsistent, sometimes with a stronger signal in the guest rooms, other times in the lobby.

The pools were all inviting and with the property being new and undiscovered, deserted. Two pools were located on the second floor while the third pool was adjacent to the restaurant on the top floor. All three look out to the bay with fantastic views.

The gym was located under the restaurant and was quite large and well equipped. The same beautiful views might distract all but the most dedicated athletes. The spa offers a full range of services including couples massages, facials, anti-aging treatments and a steam room.

The Sky Restaurant, soaring over the tree tops, has some of the best views of any place in Puerto Vallarta, being one of the tallest buildings around. Looking north we could see the city stretching out toward Nayarit, while to the south were Mismaloya and endless mountains and coves, including Yelapa, hidden from view.

The Sky menu leans toward Italian favorites like ravioli, grilled fish and some tropical flavors, such as shrimp with coconut and mango chutney. Main courses run about US$15-18.

Cielito Lindo serves Mexican food with a modern twist, featuring dishes such as shrimp with passion fruit sauce served over huitlacoche risotto, marinated turkey escalope with Oaxacan mole, tournedos of beef with pasilla chile sauce, served with gnocchi squash blossoms. Main courses run about US$16-22.

The property, being south of downtown and up a series of narrow, twisting lanes, is probably not walkable for most, but the hotel provides a complimentary shuttle service and it’s so close to downtown that a taxi would be relatively inexpensive.

There are 72 suites, eight master suites with Jacuzzis and two penthouse apartments that can accommodate a crowd with multiple bedrooms and a huge kitchen and gathering spaces. A suite lists for $100/night on Agoda.com, including breakfast.

The Grand Miramar is a luxurious hotel with high end furnishings, plenty of pools, fantastic views and many amenities.

Grand Miramar Club and Spa is located in Conchas Chinas at Paseo de los Corales # 139. Telephone is (877) 874-8901.