We'll be back

Guest: Happy Travellers (Vancouver)
Date of Stay: 01/06/11 Review Submitted: 10/13/11

My wife and I had a great time in Bucerias last winter and the Colibri was a wonderfull place to stay. Lots of great restaurants along the beach and a nice small town feeling. The condo was clean, comfortable and best of all right on the beach with great sunset views. We could and did walk for miles. We hope to return soon. PS The staff was great Happy Travellers

Owner response:I'm so glad you enjoyed your stay at Condo del Mar, #401 in the Colibri building, located directly on the beach in Bucerias. I look forwared to being able to accommoate you "next time" Marilyn

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, age 55+, tourists without a car, sightseeing, families with young children.

Great location on beach, walk everywhere

Guest: Catching the Sun (Maple Ridge, B.C. Canada)
Date of Stay: 05/18/11 Review Submitted: 10/12/11

A last minute vacation took us to Bucerias and Condo del Mar late in the spring to catch some sun. This was the second time we have stayed in this condo—but the first time since the condo has changed ownership. With only our carry-on bags, we boarded the bus from the airport and got off at the MEGA supermarket for a few groceries then took a taxi the rest of the way to the condo. We arrived to a clean, well equipped condo and were pleased to see the condo had been freshly decorated and had a new paint color on all the walls. We love the furnishings in this condo as it is so tropical and “holiday mode” kicks in immediately. We settled in to a “cool one” on the patio and noted that the bar table and stools had been moved from the rear patio to the oceanfront patio. It proved to be a great spot to sit perched slightly above the railing that normally blocks the view at eye level. There are several comfortable chairs and a small table on the spacious rear patio near the new barbeque and the owners have made a nice little sitting area there, which is a great spot to sit and read as there is a lovely cross breeze in that area. The computer desk and chair had been moved from the living room to a spot under the window in the second bedroom so there was no problem picking up the Wi-Fi signal. We had the TV on for only about 15 minutes, but otherwise spent our time reading and taking in the spectacular view. One afternoon we took the 10 minute bus ride to La Cruz and wandered around the new Marina and had dinner at Tacos in the Street, then stopped in at Philo’s to listen to the music. We took a taxi back to Bucerias and fell into bed for a wonderful sleep with the sound of the ocean at our front door. We had Maria over for a wonderful massage and ate at some of our favourite restaurants, all an easy walk from the condo. For dessert one night we had a refreshing fruit popsicle from the shop near the town square. On our last day we enjoyed our traditional “Farwell Bucerias” lunch at Karen’s on the Beach. At no time did we feel unsafe even though there were very few people in the area as most of the winter vacationers and tourists had gone home so we basically had the pool to ourselves and spent our time reading, walking for miles on the beautiful beach and generally relaxing around the pool and condo. As always, the condo, the pool and the grounds were impeccably clean and WE WILL BE BACK!

Owner response:It was a pleasure being able to accommodate you a second time. I'm so glad you enjoyed your stay and was pleased to be able to accommodate you on such short notice. I look forward to hearing from you again.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

uncared for

Guest: Rebecca (Delta,BC)
Date of Stay: 12/09/10 Review Submitted: 10/05/11

what a disappointment. Ripped towels,tv satellite didn't work,wifi didn't work,no gas in BBQ, no batteries in remotes to work ceiling fans, No washer/dryer, no lock working on master bedroom door,patio fruniture sparse & uncomfortable, no satellite in bedroom. etc...

Owner response:We appreciate the concerns that this guest raised as we are new owners of this condo. We are, however, surprised that she did not send this in for 10 months and that she did not raise these issues with our professional rental agent Marilyn, even when she was contacted upon her return home. We do not live in Mexico and our visit occurred just after the writer of this review. One of the first things we noticed was that some of the towels needed updating. We have since replaced them, along with bedspreads, sheets, and pillows and have instructed our property manager to keep us apprised of any items that need replacing in the future. We love our condo and want our guests to enjoy their stay as much as we do. We do our best to ensure that our guests have a good experience. To that end, we have a full time, English speaking, on-site manager, Sally, who will promptly and efficiently deal with the kinds of maintenance concerns mentioned, such as propane running out, batteries needing replacement, or locks not working. Sally personally welcomes guests when they arrive and provides her contact information, and we would ask our guest to bring any concerns to her attention so that she can resolve them. Likewise, our experienced rental manager, Marilyn should be made aware of any issues so they may be dealt with in a timely fashion. Last winter, the entire building was affected by poor wi-fi service for a period of time. This problem has since been resolved. We do have Shaw satellite TV in the Living Room but not in the bedroom as we do not go to Mexico to watch TV. There are also cultural differences that we like to respect. As noted in our advertising, the condo does not have a washer and dryer. That is because we prefer to support the local economy by taking our laundry to the local lavanderia, located two blocks away. This is a family business and they do a great job and we recommend them to our guests. What could be easier than dropping the laundry off on the way to breakfast, lunch or a day at the beach then picking it up a few hours later, freshly washed and folded. We certainly hope this one review does not discourage anyone from renting our condo on the beach as we feel it is a very beautiful experience. Since we purchased the property this is the only negative feedback we have received.

Recommended for:

Guest: Lynette (Juneau, Alaska)
Date of Stay: 05/27/06 Review Submitted: 05/27/06

Thank you for all your help arranging my trip back to Bucerias. The condo could not have been any better! It was wonderful! The weather was great everyday and it was a rude awakening getting off the plane in Seattle to pouring rain and cold, the first time I actually wore shoes in a week! Bucerias and the condo were all that I was hoping it would be and more. It was a very relaxing week, laying by the pool reading or walking the town exploring. The most difficult decision was deciding where to dine out that night. Everyone we met was so nice and helpful and the neighbors gave us some great suggestions on places to eat which took us out of our comfort zone a bit, but it was well worth it. I am looking forward to my next trip and already starting to make plans. So don't be surprised if you hear from me again. Thanks again for all your help, Marilyn. I really appreciate it.

Recommended for:

Guest: Dennis & Kim (Juneau, Alaska)
Date of Stay: 02/25/06 Review Submitted: 02/25/06

We have had a wonderful stay at Condo Oceana and we all agree it is the best place we have ever stayed!We have never been to Bucerias before so it was all new. The people are extraordinary and we felt welcome and safe on the bus onto Puerto Vallarta and to La Cruz where we went to visit Michelle at her gift shop. We went on an ATV tour, Tequila tour, and the San Sebastion tour--but not all in one day!! Michelle was very helpful and this was the most informed on any trip we have ever taken. I want to thank you for all the helpful hints. Our favorite place to eat was “Café Depot” (internet cafe)– right across the street!! We had a great time and I would recommend Condo Oceana to anyone as it is such a nice place to feel at home.

Recommended for:

Guest: Norm, Irene, Nic, & Deanna (Juneau, Alaska)
Date of Stay: 02/18/06 Review Submitted: 02/18/06

We really enjoyed our stay at Condo Oceana and want to thank you so much for such a great place. Michelle was so thoughtful to stock up with some basic food and beverage items. It has been almost 20 years since our last trip to Bucerias and the town has grown and offers so many more choices, especially in restaurants. You can't get a bad meal in Bucerias! It was an experience for Deanna to go shopping with me as I cooked a few dinners in the condo. The satellite TV was great as we could watch the Olympics and see some news from home. Deanna went horseback riding every second day and we took some side trips but mostly spent time at the beach and pool. Deanna had her hair braided and as I waited, a young man helped me speak Spanish. We took the bus into Port Vallarta to go shopping for shoes and we took many pictures--many of the beautiful sun sets! We really enjoyed our week at Condo Oceana with lots of sun time and reading. Thank you so much for the effort you have put into making this a true "home away from home".

Recommended for:

Guest: John & Maureen, Colin & Jacquie (Juneau, Alaska)
Date of Stay: 02/11/06 Review Submitted: 02/11/06

Today we are on our way home after two wonderful weeks at Condo Oceana. We were greeted by Michelle and had the opportunity of meeting Sandy our host/owner, who extended her hospitality and made us feel very welcomed. During the past two weeks we’ve enjoyed the beach and surf, visited La Cruz and Michelle’s Galleria – went on the bus to Sayulita, walked from Condo Oceana to Paradise Village (who would know the beach can be walked for 3 hours!!) We’ve had a couple of trips into Puerto Vallarta using the local buses which have proven very easy. We have always felt very comfortable and relaxed in Bucerias. Thank you for the welcome breakfast found in the fridge. This was much appreciated, as was Marilyn’s handbook with restaurant suggestions

Recommended for:

Guest: Debbie and Ron (Juneau, Alaska)
Date of Stay: 10/11/05 Review Submitted: 10/11/05

I guess I’ve always been a dreamer, but never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined a more simpatico place to be. I never met a menu I didn’t like, I never saw the moon so bright and I really don’t want to go home. Thank you for sharing Condo Oceana with us.It was a luxury to have time to watch a block long line of ants carry leaves larger than themselves to a secret place below a basura can. It was a thrill to daily check out the huge succulent bloom, to see if it had opened yet. It was refreshing to have chickens arouse each new day. It was wonderful in so many ways to be reminded that life is great and is there for the taking. Gracias

Recommended for:

Guest: Carren & Laurie (Juneau, Alaska)
Date of Stay: 09/17/05 Review Submitted: 09/17/05

My friend and I came to Mexico for two weeks to celebrate my new job and her birthday. As Condo Oceana was unavailable the first week of our stay we decided to stay at a luxury hotel in Nuevo Vallarta and transfer to the condo for the second week. What a pleasant surprise to find Condo Oceana more comfortable and having more amenities than our "luxury" hotel! We spent our mornings sipping coffee and reading on the deck while gazing at the stunning view of the ocean. Our afternoons were spent soaking up the sun at the beautiful pool and each evening the guest handbook directed us to different local restaurants to get the feel and taste of the real Mexico. We are leaving feeling relaxed with memories of wonderful times and great food. Can’t wait to return.Muchas Gracias!

Recommended for:

Guest: Staci & Paul (Juneau, Alaska)
Date of Stay: 07/15/05 Review Submitted: 07/15/05

The only time we’ve left this oh-so-comfy place is to get into the ocean or to go out for dinner--once at Dugarel’s, once at an unnamed street stall. The street stall gave us 4 great enchiladas and 2 sprites for 52 pesos, plus local flair and that slightly uncomfortable feeling that’s so hard to come by in the States. (It’s good to be out of your element from time to time.) Other than that, we’ve slept in to 10 or 11, had leisurely breakfasts of fruit and coffee, read like bulldozers, lounged in all the furniture, swam, watched the diving birds and stared at the ocean. We have BIG plans for tomorrow--walking to La Cruz to visit Michelle and her Galleria and heading to Sayulita for a bit of surfing. I hope we’re up for it. This condo is terribly luxurious and leaving it for any length of time is risky because I’ve acclimated to its many comforts.

Recommended for: