Vacation Rentals by Owner

A marvelous property!

Guest: Jay (Oak Park, Illinois)
Date of Stay: 12/24/11 Review Submitted: 01/11/12

My family and a friend's family spent 10 nights at Casa Pamela over Christmas 2011 and New Year's 2012. I think that the most descriptive comment that I can make comes from our shared comment the first morning of our visit, sharing coffee as we sat looking at the Bay of Banderas from a back yard table: "Wow, I can't BELIEVE it's really this nice." But it was. Initially concerned about safety, we felt VERY safe, between the laid-back nature of La Cruz, the on-site staff, and we learned that the governor of Nayarit lives within 200 yards of the Casa... With enhanced security there! The descriptions and photos of Casa Pamela are perfectly accurate. The home was clean on our arrival, and everything was well-maintained. We had the need for some minor maintainence while there, and the local property manager was quick to respond. Marilyn, the leasing agent, was prompt and professional in all of our interactions, and we had the added plus of meeting her and her husband while at Casa Pamela. Her recommendation of Gecko Rent-a-Car netted us a new Chevy Suburban and great service at hundreds less than we would have paid from on-airport rental agencies. We dined five of our ten nights at Frascati in La Cruz. The service and the food were incredible at very reasonable prices. Highly recommended! Most memorable for our 9-year-old niece: the pool, and the inexpensive horseback rides sold by people going up and down the beach during the day. I have spent much of my time back recommending Casa Pamela to family and to friends. I offer the same recommendation to the reader.

Owner response:Thank you so much for your kind words. I'm so glad you enjoyed your stay at Casa Pamela -- but then, what's not to enjoy! It is unfortunate people are staying away from Mexico with all the bad press, but if they only realized this area of Mexico is very safe, but at the same time, everyone should use caution, just as at home. It was a pleasure meeting you and we thoroughly enjoyed your niece as she was such a pleasant little girl and she obviously loved to swim and was very excited when she saw the horses on the beach. We have always enjoyed our meals at Frascatti and the staff at Gecko Rent a Car in Bucerias really do go out of their way to accommodate visitors. Many thanks, and I look forward to being able to accommodate you again.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Brent from Kansas

Guest: Brent (Kansas)
Date of Stay: 03/05/11 Review Submitted: 03/23/11

Our stay at Casa Pamela was wonderful. This was our second year of spending a week here and we again found the house and pool to be delightful. The area is very safe and has none of the problems that are in the news for the border cities. Our arrangements and payment transaction was very smooth and convenient with lots of helpful information regarding the restaurants and shops nearby. We have found this to be a serene get-away for a break from the Kansas winter weather.

Owner response:Thanks very much, Brent. It was a pleasure doing business with you (again) and I look forward to being able to accommodate you next time. Marilyn

Recommended for:Age 55+, girls getaway, romantic getaway.

Our stay at Casa Pamela November 2010

Guest: T & T (San Diego, Ca.)
Date of Stay: 11/19/10 Review Submitted: 01/19/11

We had a wonderful stay at Casa Pamela. Denis and Adam at Gecko were terrific. We would highly recommend them. Casa Pamela was such a great home. The master bed was firm and we slept like champs. Loved the Gustavo Martinez artwork. Chaba was so sweet. Maria was over the top fantastic. We had her come twice :) We tipped her handsomely as the price for the massage was extremely reasonable. She is such a sweet woman. You were right, it was a treat. :) Thank you for all your help in the planning of our trip. I took your card and will be looking to see what other properties you represent and if they are in different locations. Happy holidays to you, and all the best for the New Year. Again, thank you for making our trip super.

Owner response:Thanks very much. I'm so glad you enjoyed your stay at Casa Pamela. It was a pleasure doing business with you and I hope to be able to accommodate you again. Many thanks, Marilyn

Recommended for:Romantic getaway

Casa Pamela, 2009

Guest: we ski (Rocky Mountains, Colorado, USA)
Date of Stay: 01/10/09 Review Submitted: 01/22/09

The web page looks great, but this home needs updating and freshening. The kitchen and baths are worn. The house has plenty of towels and linens. You need a car and the beach is not for swimming. We had problems with the water. The local manager was responsive and did get someone over to fix the problem, but we had 2 episodes where the water failed. The housekeeper was lovely and ambitious. No complaints, except that the owners need to clean out the old utensils and storage area and get rid of clutter, freshen the cabinets and clean the interior nooks and crannies. The location enables you to get to some great beach areas by car. La Cruz has some nice restaurants, Frascati, for one. Mark"s in Bucerius and Cafe Des Arts in Punta Mita are also terific. These are all uper end eateries, but excellent. I would advise the owners to do some work to update to higher standard.

Owner response:It is unfortunate Casa Pamela did not meet your standards. I apologize for the problem with the water and am sorry that you were inconvenience for 30 minutes while the problem was remedied. The photos on the website were taken in early December 2007, shortly after the house was freshly painted and redecorated. The text was written from the poolside patio at Casa Pamela within the last three years when the house first came on the rental market, so it is regrettable that you feel the website does not accurately represent the property. The beach in front of the La Puntilla complex is sandy and there are rocks under the water line as the La Puntilla complex is built behind a reef. However, many of our guests have enjoyed swimming and snorkelling in front of the house. While we do suggest having a car would be handy, it is not absolutely necessary as taxi service is readily available from La Cruz and a taxi will be at the house within 3 minutes of receiving your phone call. The (easy) 10 minute walk along the beach (or a 15 minute walk along the road) will take you into the village of La Cruz de Huanacaxtle to several very good restaurants—including Frascati--and to the new luxurious 400 slip Marina Riviera Nayarit where there are restaurants, evening entertainment, fresh fish markets and some shopping. As well, the bus runs every few minutes from the top of the driveway and will take you to all points in the Bay of Banderas. For your next visit to the Puerto Vallarta area, may I suggest one of the new 5 star resorts in Nuevo Vallarta or an exclusive resort in Punta Mita.

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In Our Hearts Forever

Guest: Just Retired ...Lloyd & Carol (Okanagan Wine Region, Canada)
Date of Stay: 11/18/08 Review Submitted: 01/30/09

After 35 years of working life, we decided to treat ourselves to a Mexican vacation. What a wonderful way to start our retirement. We spent a memorable week on the ocean at Casa Pamela in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle. It was more than we could have asked for. Great accommodations, a beautiful ocean view, a wonderful private pool, excellent food and great local entertainment and activities. We loved all the bright colours and traditional art work in the warm and inviting Casa which had all the comforts of home including wireless internet. We especially enjoyed the quiet mornings out by the pool as we sipped on our freshly squeezed orange juice and planned out our activities for the day. We loved floating in the pool while we watched the boats and sealife in the ocean just yards away. Our whale watching, snorkeling, and fishing trip with Jesus was one of our highlights. The lunch that was provided was to die for and the ice cold Corona's were a super touch. Dancing at Philo's Palapa Bar is an experience we will never forget ... the most relaxed, friendly atmosphere with great music, great people, delicious food and all the refreshments a person needs. I can't say enough ... we enjoyed every day ... every experience ... every meal ... the friendly people ... great weather ... great music ... great accommodations! Thank you Marilyn for all your help. The information you sent us before our trip took all the worries out of our travels. The Guest Handbook in the Casa had invaluable information and helped us plan our adventures. I want to thank John and Carol as well as all the staff from the La Puntilla complex. Your service was top notch! Thank you Pam for sharing your beautiful Casa with us. I am looking forward to returning with friends. Can't wait to come back to your little piece of paradise. As Philo sing say "I've Been Dreaming Of Mexico"!

Owner response:I'm glad you enjoyed your stay at Casa Pamela and I look forward to being able to accommodate you "next time" Marilyn

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Scott & Diane
Date of Stay: 04/10/08 Review Submitted: 04/09/08

We had a great time at Casa Pamela--very nice accommodation!We took the bus into Puerto Vallarta one day--a nice town but far too touristy for me. We preferred the little village of La Cruz. The market/store near Philo’s (Restaurant and Bar in La Cruz) is the one to go to, it has all the fresh produce and lots of it!It would have been more convenient to have a rental car, but you were right, the roads were very congested during the big Mexican holiday week! I would love to come back one day for the Tequila tour and do some fishing.All the information you provided before our arrival was great. We ate at Hidden Paradise just down the beach, had a great meal at Frascati in La Cruz and spent Thursday evening at Philo's for open mike night!One night Lettie and Jesus cooked dinner for us and another night we bought a delicious barbequed chicken and brought it "home" to Casa Pamela. Wonderful meals the entire time! Thanks again for everything, we hope to return to Casa Pamela soon!.

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Guest: Bryan & Elaine; Mike & Vicki
Date of Stay: 03/03/08 Review Submitted: 03/02/08

Hello Marilyn: Hard to believe we have been back over a week already! Everything about Casa Pamela was great. The house is beautifully decorated and stocked with about anything everything a person could possible need. We had a great time relaxing and enjoying the nice warm sunny weather as compared to the ice, snow and freezing cold weather we were having back here in the mid-west while we were gone. The property managers, John and Carol were very nice and very informative about the local area. The guys at Gecko Car Rental were great as well. Thanks again for all the information you provided for shopping and restaurants prior to our trip. We loved the open market!

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Guest: Dumas Family
Date of Stay: 06/17/05 Review Submitted: 06/16/05

…Ahhh, the gentle caress of the waves, the palms rustling in the wind, the spectacular pool, the beautiful Casa Pamela. What more can a person want--our stay was absolute perfection!

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Guest: The Foster's
Date of Stay: 06/17/05 Review Submitted: 06/16/05

A totally luxurious experience! Comfortable and spacious throughout, Casa Pamela is beautifully furnished and located for either active days in Puerto Vallarta, Bucerias and neighboring areas, or simply indulging in the serence privacy at the casa. Each bedroom and bathroom is wonderul, and whether or not you cook a lot, the kitchen has everything you could possibly need. The pool is awesone! We loved our time at Casa Pamela and returned home completely relaxed! We look forward to our next trip!

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Guest: Arnie & Sharon
Date of Stay: 06/17/05 Review Submitted: 06/16/05

We have been to the beautiful Puerto Vallarta area many times over the past few years, staying at large hotels and renting private homes, but nothing has compared to this most special place--Casa Pamela. Simply put, our stay at Casa Pamela has taken us to another (higher) level of comfort and beauty. The owners have transformed this beautiful villa into a very, very comfortable setting, with all the amenities one would expect at home. A well planned inside and outside venue with a magnificent city, Bay, and ocean view, supported by its own private pool and beach area in a gated community that is close to shopping and yummy restaurants...French stuff (LeFort Restaurant) too!

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Guest: Anne & Gary
Date of Stay: 03/24/05 Review Submitted: 03/23/05

We had a great time at Casa Pamela! The house was wonderful. It was immaculately clean and we were so surprised at how well equipped it was. What a pleasure to have amazing original art work on the walls and all the beautiful pieces of art and crafts around the house. Every day as we lounged in the pool, we played a game where we tried to think of something that we didn't like, but could never come up with anything! We would like to thank you for all your help, especially the information you e-mailed us before the trip. The Guest Handbook at Casa Pamela was very helpful and we would also like to thank you for recommending Gecko Car Rental to us.

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Guest: Mike & Sharon, Steve & Andrea
Date of Stay: 02/18/05 Review Submitted: 02/17/05

We had a wonderful stay at Casa Pamela! What a gorgeous home! Words cannot convey how impressed we were with the entire experience. There was total agreement by all that this ranked as one of our top vacations--bar none! The accommodation is INCREDIBLE!! Roomy and grander than website pictures with plenty of the basic necessities for cooking, entertaining, and living comforts. We got fresh fish in La Cruz--OUTSTANDING! The staff, including maid, pool person and gardening crew were wonderful! It has been years since we have spent a week at such a relaxing pace. Please be sure to send a huge thank you to the owners for allowing guests the opportunity to enjoy their Casa. I will surely recommend Casa Pamela to anyone who would appreciate and care for this type of setting. No visitors could ask for a more comfortable place to vacation. Plain & simple, we can't wait to go back for another vacation!

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Guest: Dwight & Carroll
Date of Stay: 01/14/05 Review Submitted: 01/13/05

Thank you so much for EVERYTHING. You do an outstanding job. Our visit was MAGNIFICENT, albeit too short. Casa Pamela is absolutely gorgeous. We walked into Bucerias one day and had lunch at Dugarel's. A long walk--about 2 hours--but we took our time and explored the beach along the way. As the tide was out we turned over rocks and found numerous baby octopus. I could go on and on. Ten days at Casa Pamela is just too short. Once again, thank you!

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