My Honest Hotel Encino Puerto Vallarta Review

The Hotel Encino is in downtown Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, where the newer part of downtown ends and the old town—or the romantic zone—begins. This means it’s in an ideal location for those who love being in the middle of the action, with plenty to walk to. Whether it’s Puerto Vallarta’s Malecon or endless restaurants, shops, bars, and nightclubs, there is no shortage of ways to keep busy during your stay at the Hotel Encino Puerto Vallarta.

Unlike larger resorts in Puerto Vallarta, the Hotel Encino is not all-inclusive. However, they do have a restaurant and pool on their top floor. Because it’s not all-inclusive, it’s also great for budget travelers who’d rather eat at local restaurants during their stay.

The hotel is not a luxury, brand-new building, but it is kept immaculately clean and retains its authentic Mexican charm. During my stay, I also loved that they served free coffee in the mornings, and there was a local cat who hung out in the lobby. 


Pros: What I Like About the Hotel Encino Puerto Vallarta

• Location - The Hotel Encino is located in downtown Puerto Vallarta at the start of the city’s romantic zone. 
• It was clean - The hotel is not a high-end or newer place, but it was always well-kept when I stayed there.
• Walkable to everything - The Hotel Encino is in the heart of Puerto Vallarta, which means you can walk to plenty of nearby restaurants, the Malecon boardwalk, bars, buses, shops, etc. 
• Restaurant and pool available to guests - While I didn’t use the pool here, there is a restaurant on the hotel’s top floor that I went to. I do recommend taking advantage of the nearby restaurants in the romantic zone, but it’s also nice to have a restaurant at the hotel for a quick bite.
• Budget-friendly - As a regular hotel, this place is going to be much cheaper than the fancier all-inclusive resorts. Granted, you will have to go out for meals, but you have opportunities to save money, such as shopping at local grocery stores if you don’t want to always eat out.

Cons: What I Didn’t Like About the Hotel Encino Puerto Vallarta

• Older rooms - While the hotel keeps their rooms tidy, it is an older building, so the rooms are a bit dated.
• Hard beds  - As a stomach sleeper, a firm bed isn’t so bad, but I imagine folks who sleep on their side might not like how firm their beds are here.
• It can get noisy at night - While the hotel itself is quiet, keep in mind you’re staying downtown, so the action outside on the street can sometimes be noisy at night. Thankfully, this hotel isn’t right along the Malecon, so it won’t get too nuts, but it’s just something to keep in mind.

Want more options? Visit my full list of my top hotels and resorts in Puerto Vallarta.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the nicest area to stay in Puerto Vallarta?
Honestly, it really depends on what you're looking for. If you want to be in the center of the action, with easy access to nightlife, local restaurants, and shopping, then I'd recommend staying in the hotel zone, downtown, or the romantic zone. Plus, staying more central gives you easy access to public transportation, and the north and south ends of the Banderas Bay. If you want larger resorts and more peace and quiet, I think Nuevo Vallarta is great. While many folks opt to stay in Sayulita, and Punta de Mita is become increasingly popular, keep in mind that these areas are a much farther drive from the airport, and even more farther from downtown Puerto Vallarta. 

2. Is North or South Hotel Zone better in Puerto Vallarta?
The north hotel zone is going to be closer to the marina and airport, whereas the south hotel zone is closer to downtown Puerto Vallarta. Personally, I think any part of the hotel zone is great because you can easily hop on a bus since the resorts are right off the main road. It's also worth noting that the hotel zone isn't so long that it makes a huge difference as to what end you stay at. 

3. What is the most walkable area of Puerto Vallarta?
The most walkable area of Puerto Vallarta is downtown and the romantic zone, which is also known as old town. 

4. Is Puerto Vallarta a luxury destination?
The great thing about Puerto Vallarta is that it can be luxury if that's what you want, with plenty of high-end resorts (especially in Punta de Mita), but it can also be more laid back with plenty of budget-friendly hotel and Airbnb choices to pick from. 

Transparency Disclosure — The opinions on this website are independent and based on my own personal experiences. I may receive a referral fee for stays booked through the links on this site.