Hotel Marlyn (Puerto Vallarta, Mexico)

There’s no problem with room cleanliness; they’re obviously well on top of this. Similarly, maintenance is another strength. Wi-Fi is free and OK. All in all, rooms represent excellent value. They’d be near perfect if they included a refrigerator!

The beach is only two blocks away, so easily walkable. Apart from weekends when the locals turn out in force, it’s a quiet stretch. The fascinating old town area is also only a 10-minute walk away. There is a useful grocery store just along the street and you are bound to head across the street to the homemade ice cream shop. Next door to the hotel is a good and cheap restaurant.

The owner is very ‘hands on’ and keen to provide quick solutions to any problems. This filters through to members of staff who are also friendly and keen to assist. Some speak English.

Breakfast is a disappointment. The best advice is to ignore it and en-route to the old town, find a café that suits you.

The thing it really lacks is any place to just sit outside in the sunshine – and people-watch. There is a nice area inside, though. It is quite large, filled with beautiful plants and is a really relaxing spot.

The street is busy and can get noisy. If this is likely to be a problem, the solution is to specify the need for a room to the rear of the building. Problem solved!