Old town (Zona Romantica) in central Puerto Vallarta
Clientele
Primarily straight but popular with gay travellers
Amenities
82 standard rooms, each with either 1 double bed and 1 single bed or 1 king bed, bathroom with shower only, air conditioning, TV, radio and balcony. Most rooms face onto the ocean; however, "economy" rooms will likely have city views. 1 beachfront pool, safe deposit boxes available at the front desk. Includes full American breakfast.
Closest Beach
Located directly on the beach
Gay Beach
Less than a 2 minute walk away
How we rate The Tropicana for...
(out of 5)
Overall Qualilty
Fun
Gay Friendliness
Romance
Click on each set of stars to rate The Tropicana yourself and to see what others have to say.
What We Don't Like About The Tropicana The rooms can be quite spartan and the quality (and quantity) of furnishings can vary from room to room. Avoid the "economy" rooms unless all you need is a place to sleep at night and nothing more. The hotel has renovated public areas like the lobby and the restaurant a few years back and the prices have jumped considerably since. The Tropicana certainly isn't the value for money it once was. We also hesitate recommending The Tropicana because of our past experience with the hotel's management - specifically, their request to us to stop promoting their hotel to gay travellers. So why are we even mentioning the Tropicana? Well, it continues to be a popular choice among gay travellers in spite of the management's efforts to promote The Tropicana as a "family" hotel. We just thought you should know - and you can make your choice accordingly.
What We Do Like About The Tropicana Despite our hesitations, the front line staff are very friendly (which accounts for our very reluctant 2 star rating for gay friendliness). And many gay men who have stayed there for years wouldn't consider staying anywhere else. The large oceanfront pool is a nice alternative to the beach. The hotel has a great location and most rooms have balconies with spectacular views of the ocean - perfect for watching the sun set over cocktails..
