Standard Room
from $174
Samba Vallarta - All Inclusive
3.5 out of 5.0
3.6
out of 5
Average Guest Review
See all 82 reviews
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Recent guest reviews
This was our second time in Samba, and we're definitely going back. Hotel is great for families. It's on the smaller side, but that was a plus for us. Everything is close-pool, beach, snack bar right next to the pool. They added a pirate ship with slides, and another playground style platform with slides for toddlers (they didn't have that couple of years ago), and it was a huge hit for our kids. Hotel is well maintained and staff is amazing. Food choice is very good.
The Room was a double but to my surprise had 2 queen beds so fit my family of 4 comfortably. Never got the roll away we asked for but made do. We were able to upgrade to a balcony upon check in for only an additional $100.00. Was met with drinks at check in which was wonderful because after the terrible airport full of people deceivingly being nice in an attempt to sell you a time share I was quite tired and irritable. The room was spacious and met our needs. Did notice despite tipping the housekeeper the room cleaning daily deteriorated slightly but was fine. One day we didn't get new bottles of water and 3 times had to ask for towels as they kept only placing 3 when we had 4 people in the room. You can always get water at the bar and we only used our bottled water to take when we left the resort. The staff was very friendly and the grounds well maintained. The pool tables and ping pong tables were nice to entertain us later in the day. The beach was wonderful. so close to the water. shallow water for a ways out so safe and fun for kids. boogie boards were available when we wanted them. Chairs seems to always be avail at pool and the beach. Lots of beach vendors at the resort but they are friendly and take no for an answer without harassment. smaller resort and no "spring breakers" like in PV. mostly couples and families
Not 3 restaurants like it describes. More like 2 with same menu every day that alternates Italian/ Mexican. Bottled water was not all inclusive, only 2/room/day, if want extra then gotta pay. Orange juice served at restaurants was not natural but powdered. Beds and pillows were uncomfortable. Pool towels were not available until 11-12 am. Food was not the best. 2 good things--Kids section of the pool was excellent and Staff was very friendly. Party hosted by hotel on the beach runs until 1 am with loud music banging, hard to sleep. Overall I'd rate it a 2.5 resort out of 5.
We decided to go to a smaller resort to relax more. It was so much easier to get to the beach and the restaurants and not get lost. It makes it a more cozier experience meeting new people.
We prefer the size of Samba Vallarta to larger places and prefer west coast to the gulf side. Many of the same employees were there to greet us. We have found through the years that you do not go to all inclusives in Mexico for the food. Especially desserts. We were pleasantly surprised this year at the food quality and the efforts to have some variation. You will not go hungry or thirsty.
We came here thirs times in rool We got new freands and nice relaxation
Everything looked great including the reviews on Orbitz. After being at the hotel for 1 night my girlfriend and I were both puking from the smell of mold and bleach all over the building. We had no choice but to check out early and the hotel manager said they would be refunding our stay. After we left the hotel and returned home we contacted orbitz to get a refund and they refused to refund us for the trip. WORST HOTEL EXPERIENCE EVER DO NOT STAY HERE!
Your employees are all so great. They all remembered us, and welcomed us back.. We will be back next year.
I am not one of those people that like to do this reviews but in this case I will. If ratings were based on quality of attention only, I would give them a 5 for sure. Excellent attention from everybody in general, particularly Alejandro (capitan de Meseros) and his guys Alex and Gilberto at the Venezia. The Older lady making the eggs at breakfast was nice and kind at all times. Esmeralda with the towels was always pleasant and looking for ways t o make our needs met. Mayra was always very helpful and nice to us. Now about the hotel... from the moment we got to the lobby, we started to see a few things. No air conditioning in any of the public areas, including lobby, hallways, etc. With temperatures on the 100s' and humidity to the roof, it would it come handy !!! There is not really wi-fi in the rooms, only what you can get from the outside which is pretty much nothing. The hotel needs to be remodel soon. The rooms are nice but a little old. The A/C works but it is really loud and there is a strong smell of humidity. All of these things were addressed by Gorethi (Manager) who made sure we got to another room, gave us a portable humidifier and after a few days gave us also a router for the room so we could have a stronger Wi-fi signal. Again the attention and service were really great. Gorethi didn't rest until we were satisfied. Food wise, the buffet was average, but the Venetian restaurant (with reservations) was super excellent.
The rooms had a funky smell to them. The bed was hard a bricks. They only have three restaurants which one was closed to do construction (Mexican), the other restaurant (Italian) required reservation however children aren't allowed. We only had one restaurant to eat at (buffet) which the food wasn't any good very bland and didn't have much choose from. The mixed drinks wasn't any good either we purchased our alcohol and mit our own drinks. We will never go back!
Had a great time minus a few issues. Saw cockroaches on balcony & roof over lower balcony. None in room be made us very concerned. Came up to our room for a rest and had left the maid a tip well the tip was gone and the room wasn't cleaned. While resting door was knocked on by maid and telephone calls even though we had the do not disturb sign out, this happened two different days.Don't think I will return. There are too many other beautiful places to stay when all you want is to relax.
This was my second stay at this hotel and have not been disappointed.
Samba is a good option for the money. The rooms are spacious and clean and the hotel itself has a nice pool that is family friend. The only downside is the limited selection on the restaurants - don't come here expecting Mexican food dining. Overall though, a very good value for the money.
I always stay at this hotel because the beach is empty compared to the other hotel sides. Less people because this hotel is a lot smaller. But, everytime I book a room, I request 2 beds in the room and they always give me one bed and a couch! The front desk people act clueless when you go and complain. The other people in the staff are very nice and entertaining. I always tip them because they are the ones who make the hotel worth the stay.
The staff were great! The food was ok, gotta tip the bartenders for stronger drinks. The wifi was in & out. Tried to upgrade the room since it was our honeymoon. We couldn't. I thought our room would have the jacuzzi according to the ad. Overall I give the hotel an 8.
First off, to far away from everything. $20.00 dollars one way without tip to go downtown PVR. When we got to the hotel they had us in a room with only one bed although they had been told I would be traveling with a 52 y/o adult son who was partially handicapped. I had paid for a superior room with a balcony and their only alternative was a dark, dingey, room on the back side about six feet from a high fence and no balcony.(not acceptable) I have been going to Mexico for 18 years always all inclusive and have never had such bad food. Always the same thing with either a vegetable added or maybe some gravey, served for about three days in a row. There was not a resteraunt open at all times,( not even by the pool ) and no room service. Three resteraunts but they all seemed to be closed pretty much the same hours and a reservation for the specialialty resteraunts had to be made for the same day you wanted to go from seven a.m. to nine A.m. and they were always filled by eight o'clock a.m. You had to furnish your own transportation to and from the airport. We were there for two weeks and the entertainment was very repeticious. Bars were ony open at mealtimes and had no stools at them, only tables and chairs off to the side. (Difficult to socialize when every one goes off by themmselves to sit at a table.# On the positive side, we had two very nice waiters, #Ishmael & Carlos# and Angel, one very nice bartender. Mostly everything in spanish for poolside activities and entertainment. After a couple hundred dollars worth of phone calls back to the states, we did end up accepting a cot in the room for the first week. #Very uncomfortable with a very thin mattress where you could feel the metal strips of the frame every time you laid down.) Never an appology or an offer of compensation like an extra speciality dinner or anything else. It was a small resort which is why I chose it but I WOULD NEVER GO BACK!
We went to this hotel as a couple.l . It is more of a family resort. The room was always spotless. We upgraded to a suite before we went. Nice sized room with 2 bathrooms, microwave, hide-a-bed. Room attendants were always accommodating. Pool was nice, no swim up bar though. Beach was nice also. I have to commend the staff, they are the friendliest I've seen with great sense of humors. Always smiling and ready to assist us in any way. They even had a special theatre room set up so we could watch the final Olympic men's hockey game. Lots of games to play to keep any age amused. For a three star hotel I would recommend it to anyone with children or who wants a quiet getaway.
The beaches and weather were great. Most of the staff were very friendly and service was good. The food was only fair to good. They were always late getting it ready. The facilities were kept clean, but need some updating. Some rooms were very basic without a balcony. Front desk service was not very accomodating We would not stay there again
We just returned from five days at this resort and I am already looking forward to returning next year. This is a small , quiet resort perfect for relaxation. The staff are fantastic-friendly and so helpful for anything you may need. We loved that the beach was just a few steps from the pool and everything was so quickly accessible to us. We met so many people who have returned to this resort for many years .
The hotel is good value overall - the beach and location are great, however the hotel was a pretty tired looking and was in need of some upgrades! The Lows: - The activities that were meant to be included (kayaks, bikes, intro scuba lesson) didn't appear to be available which was a shame. - The selection of drinks was pretty limited, using no fresh ingredients only flavourings. - Parts of the hotel smell a damp and musty (including our room which we had to request to move from as the smell was so bad and the room was so damp# - It lacked atmosphere Pros - The serving staff are VERY friendly #front desk staff, not particularly accomomodating# - The beach was great - Free parking It was definitely good value #but we spent much of our time out on day trips), but I think I would fork out the extra $$$ next time and opt for a hotel with a little something 'more'.
Hotel highlights
- Free WiFi in rooms and public areas
- Free parking
- Onsite dining
- Private beach
Located within 2 miles (3 km) of Playa Bucerias, Samba Vallarta - All Inclusive is within 3 miles (5 km) of Flamingos Golf Club. This 299-room, 3.5-star resort has a private beach along with an outdoor pool and free in-room WiFi. El Cora Crocodile Sanctuary and Plaza Lago Real Shopping Center are also nearby.
Dining
There are multiple options for onsite dining with 3 restaurants, including La Hacienda, which specializes in Mexican cuisine.
Rooms
The 299 rooms are air-conditioned and have an array of amenities, including free bottled water, laptop-compatible safes, and ironing boards. Plasma TVs come with cable channels and pay movies, and guests can stay connected with free WiFi. Beds sport premium bedding and bathrooms offer hair dryers and free toiletries.
Property features
At Samba Vallarta - All Inclusive, guests enjoy a private beach, an outdoor pool, and a children's pool. You can take advantage of free parking, along with an airport shuttle (available 24 hours) for MXN 3363.52 per person roundtrip. The front desk has multilingual staff on hand 24/7 to help with dry cleaning/laundry, tours or tickets, and luggage storage. Other amenities at this all-inclusive resort include a fitness center, free WiFi in public areas, and a meeting room.
Guest reviews for Samba Vallarta - All Inclusive
great hotel for families
Families
This was our second time in Samba, and we're definitely going back. Hotel is great for families. It's on the smaller side, but that was a plus for us. Everything is close-pool, beach, snack bar right next to the pool. They added a pirate ship with slides, and another playground style platform with slides for toddlers (they didn't have that couple of years ago), and it was a huge hit for our kids. Hotel is well maintained and staff is amazing. Food choice is very good.
lovely vacation- well rested and well fed
Families
The Room was a double but to my surprise had 2 queen beds so fit my family of 4 comfortably. Never got the roll away we asked for but made do. We were able to upgrade to a balcony upon check in for only an additional $100.00. Was met with drinks at check in which was wonderful because after the terrible airport full of people deceivingly being nice in an attempt to sell you a time share I was quite tired and irritable. The room was spacious and met our needs. Did notice despite tipping the housekeeper the room cleaning daily deteriorated slightly but was fine. One day we didn't get new bottles of water and 3 times had to ask for towels as they kept only placing 3 when we had 4 people in the room. You can always get water at the bar and we only used our bottled water to take when we left the resort. The staff was very friendly and the grounds well maintained. The pool tables and ping pong tables were nice to entertain us later in the day. The beach was wonderful. so close to the water. shallow water for a ways out so safe and fun for kids. boogie boards were available when we wanted them. Chairs seems to always be avail at pool and the beach. Lots of beach vendors at the resort but they are friendly and take no for an answer without harassment. smaller resort and no "spring breakers" like in PV. mostly couples and families
Review comment
GENERAL MANAGER responded on Mar 23, 2017
Dear rachelle, on behalf of Samba Vallarta Hotel thank you very much for your valuable time. The ATM service is unfortunally on the bank and we can´t do more than report it to them and wait, writting you coments about your stay such thing is very useful, because reading this we can be sure about the things we are doing well and also the thing we can improve. Following our customer`s comments and suggestions, we strive to continually improve our service and facilities and your input help us to provide best possible experience. Receive our gratitude for being one of our most valued guests; It will be a pleasure to have you back soon at this your home Samba Vallarta. It will be a pleasure to have you back soon at this your home Samba Vallarta. Best regards General Manager
close to the beach- excellent staff
Everyone
Not 3 restaurants like it describes. More like 2 with same menu every day that alternates Italian/ Mexican. Bottled water was not all inclusive, only 2/room/day, if want extra then gotta pay. Orange juice served at restaurants was not natural but powdered. Beds and pillows were uncomfortable. Pool towels were not available until 11-12 am. Food was not the best. 2 good things--Kids section of the pool was excellent and Staff was very friendly. Party hosted by hotel on the beach runs until 1 am with loud music banging, hard to sleep. Overall I'd rate it a 2.5 resort out of 5.
Review comment
GENERAL MANAGER responded on Mar 15, 2017
Dear guest First of all thank you for sharing your comments on this forum, such thing is very useful, because reading this we can be sure about the things we are doing well and also the thing we can improve. Following our customer`s comments and suggestions, we strive to continually improve our service and facilities and your input help us to provide best possible experience. It will be a pleasure to have you back soon at this your home Samba Vallarta. Please I invite you to contact us directly so we can offer you something special for your next visit. Best regards General Manager
very friendly environment and clean.
Everyone
We decided to go to a smaller resort to relax more. It was so much easier to get to the beach and the restaurants and not get lost. It makes it a more cozier experience meeting new people.
Review comment
GENERAL MANAGER responded on Apr 9, 2017
Dear guest: We want to thank you for taking the time to filling up your opinion, and to let us know your experiences during your recent visit to Samba Vallarta. We are pleased to know that you enjoyed our facilities and your stay with us. On behalf of our entire team, we would like to thank you for your preference and we look forward to making your future stay as pleasant and enjoyable as possible. Warm regards General Manager
second stay. great once again!
Everyone
We prefer the size of Samba Vallarta to larger places and prefer west coast to the gulf side. Many of the same employees were there to greet us. We have found through the years that you do not go to all inclusives in Mexico for the food. Especially desserts. We were pleasantly surprised this year at the food quality and the efforts to have some variation. You will not go hungry or thirsty.
Review comment
SAMBA VALLARTA responded on Feb 8, 2017
Dear Tomas, thank you very much for your valuable time sharing your comments about your stay at Samba Vallarta Hotel we are so gald it was a pleasant one. Receive our gratitude for being one of our most valued guests; It will be a pleasure to have you back soon at this your home Samba Vallarta.
nice compact hotel exelent beachwe
Families
We came here thirs times in rool We got new freands and nice relaxation
Review comment
SAMBA VALLARTA responded on Feb 18, 2017
Dear Nikoly, thank you very much for your stay at Samba Vallarta Hotel. We are glad that you had a great stay with us. We also thank you for sharing your comments on this forum, We appreciate all your kind comments as this is very motivating for all our associates to continue offering the best. Receive our gratitude for being one of our most valued guests; It will be a pleasure to have you back soon at Samba Vallarta Hotel.
bleach and mold everywhere!!!
Everyone
Everything looked great including the reviews on Orbitz. After being at the hotel for 1 night my girlfriend and I were both puking from the smell of mold and bleach all over the building. We had no choice but to check out early and the hotel manager said they would be refunding our stay. After we left the hotel and returned home we contacted orbitz to get a refund and they refused to refund us for the trip. WORST HOTEL EXPERIENCE EVER DO NOT STAY HERE!
we all had a wonderful time and all went well.
Everyone
Your employees are all so great. They all remembered us, and welcomed us back.. We will be back next year.
Review comment
GENERAL MANAGER responded on Dec 8, 2016
Dear bILL, on behalf of Samba Vallarta Hotel thank you very much for your stay, we are so happy it was a pleasant one. We also thank you very much for sharing such good comments on this forum. We appreciate your compliments towards our staff service. We are going to post your comments in our notice board so that all our co-workers feel your kindness. Receive our gratitude for being one of our most valued guests; It will be a pleasure to have you back soon at this your home Samba Vallarta. Please I invite you to contact us directly so we can offer you something special for your next visit. Best regards General Manager
must needed vacation
Everyone
I am not one of those people that like to do this reviews but in this case I will. If ratings were based on quality of attention only, I would give them a 5 for sure. Excellent attention from everybody in general, particularly Alejandro (capitan de Meseros) and his guys Alex and Gilberto at the Venezia. The Older lady making the eggs at breakfast was nice and kind at all times. Esmeralda with the towels was always pleasant and looking for ways t o make our needs met. Mayra was always very helpful and nice to us. Now about the hotel... from the moment we got to the lobby, we started to see a few things. No air conditioning in any of the public areas, including lobby, hallways, etc. With temperatures on the 100s' and humidity to the roof, it would it come handy !!! There is not really wi-fi in the rooms, only what you can get from the outside which is pretty much nothing. The hotel needs to be remodel soon. The rooms are nice but a little old. The A/C works but it is really loud and there is a strong smell of humidity. All of these things were addressed by Gorethi (Manager) who made sure we got to another room, gave us a portable humidifier and after a few days gave us also a router for the room so we could have a stronger Wi-fi signal. Again the attention and service were really great. Gorethi didn't rest until we were satisfied. Food wise, the buffet was average, but the Venetian restaurant (with reservations) was super excellent.
choose another hotel!
Families
The rooms had a funky smell to them. The bed was hard a bricks. They only have three restaurants which one was closed to do construction (Mexican), the other restaurant (Italian) required reservation however children aren't allowed. We only had one restaurant to eat at (buffet) which the food wasn't any good very bland and didn't have much choose from. The mixed drinks wasn't any good either we purchased our alcohol and mit our own drinks. We will never go back!
Dear Jelena Thank you so much for sharing your review and your comments with us, we are glad to read that you had a wonderful time with your family during this getaway. It's been a great pleasure for us and a true honor to provide you with such an incredible experience; We enjoy to serve and to share our outstanding passion to provide unique experiences for everyone, we are happy to see you all enjoyed it that much and it is an inspiration for us to keep doing it. Best regards General manager