The whole experience actually exceeded my expectations. We all had a fabulous time and the staff was really terrific. Everything came off as planned. We got my brother as far as the airport before he was told we were off to PV. Once we looked at the villa and facilities, he mentioned that it was all great, but it would be nicer if his two sons (one of whom is married with a 15-month old grandson) could be there ("maybe next year" we said). Almost on cue, the oldest son arrived and by then my brother was completely overwhelmed. No sooner had we settled in to villa life, Dick popped up and introduced himself. He is such an engaging guy that we chatted everyday. He took us on a tour of Salinas I, explaining all the art, the furniture construction, the remodels (the nifty deals he made), etc. We invited Dick and Sally to the birthday bash which Juan arranged on the beach, next to the barbeque. Just at sunset, ten mariachis came down the stairs playing some fanfare and for the next hour cranked out the old favorites (D&S knew them all) as we danced our champagne-fueled bodies to exhaustion. Dick mentioned that you put in a good word for us, so I thank you for your attention (he said that you are indispensable). The villa was everything I expected and more. There were lot of extra features that I didn't anticipate such as the orientation of the villa in December (northwest to southeast) avoid direct blasts from the sun. It was always warm and if we wanted to fry directly in the sun, we just went down to the beach. There were faucets at the stairway to wash away the sand, and a convenient bathroom half-way up the stairs. Plenty of floatation gear for the 15-month toddler to splash around the wading section of the swimming pool, etc. Dick explained how the architect spent a week or more just looking at the site to position the villa rooms in the most optimum manner for views, access, and luxury. The use of tile and marble was well done, and the lighting throughout the villa was perfectly located and controlled: small touches that add up to a magnificent setting. The slapping of the waves is always a delightful way to be lulled to sleep and awaken in the morning (my niece actually forgot about the setting and confessed that she brought the wave-sound machine along to provide soporific background for her son). Juan turned out to be a Mexican-Renaissance man. He even took four of us scuba-diving at the islands 20 miles to the west and was our dive-master! Always affable, he showed up every day to sug

We visited Casa Salinas with our 2 and 3 year olds. Everything was perfect. The kids loved the pool and the environment of the villa was very safe. The kids wandered around the villa with no hesitations. We always felt comfortable and very safe. Juan, the houseman, was very accommodating and eager to please. Juan arranged for us to go fishing on two occasions. He packed snacks for us to take along. He also included some bread to feed the fishes. My kids fed the fish from the boat and saw many colorful fishes, it was an amazing experience for them. Rigo and Martha prepared excellent meals daily, it was a daily treat. The villa itself is an amazing property with lush flowers and plants with a spectacular view of the ocean. The room with the hut was my favorite. It was well lit and loved the ocean view. The rooms are kept clean daily by Abby. We had a wonderful vacation. It was truly paradise.

Casa Salinas were both lovely: well decorated, interesting and innovative designs, and well kept. We appreciated the peace and privacy afforded by each room, as we traveled with all ages. From crying babies to partying grandmas, thanks to the home's design we found neither to be a disturbance to the others. Talk about clean! The pools were sparkling, the beach immaculate, the kitchen's spotless. The staff were the perfect balance of discreetly available. If we needed drinks or snacks, they seemed to appear immediately, yet, we were free to be ourselves and use the facilities without feeling supervised. Each of them: Juan, Rigo, Miguel, Ora and the kitchen staff were stellar. It was restaurant week in PV and we had looked forward to eating at a variety of restaurants, but the fare was so good at Casa Salinas, we couldn't miss a meal at home. We ended up pretty much ditching all plans for dinner out. At the end of the week, our bill for groceries was very, very reasonable. We were quite pleased. Lastly, for anyone planning a wedding in Puerto Vallarta, here's your chance for a platinum wedding. There are so many areas to entertain at these villas, that our wedding planner was able to pull off three completely separate and unique events: an intimate wedding ceremony at Casa Salinas I, a casual cocktail party on the beach and a dazzling reception at Casa Salinas II. Our breath was taken away from the moment the richly carved doors of Casa Salinas I opened on to the ceremony until the last maraca-shaking guest left the dance floor at Casa Salinas II.

We are leaving beautiful Casa Salinas 1 in just a couple of hours. We have an absolutely incredible stay. The house is beautiful and was the perfect choice for our family. Casa Salinas 2 is lovely but better suited for couples . Casa Salinas 1 was perfect for all generations of the Cosgrove family. The icing on our trip was the incredible staff….who made us feel completely at home. Juan couldn’t have been more hospitable and helpful in arranging fishing and massages. Marta’s meals were incredible…..every night was a treat of Mexican cuisine. Starting the mornings with fresh fruit, juices, eggs, bacon etc….was a rare treat for people on the go. The guacamole and pico de gallo were phenomenal. I would be remiss in not mentioning how charmed we were by Rigo…..such a friendly face and terrific margaritas. He always had a smile on his face and did everything possible to make us feel relaxed and comfortable. Abby kept our rooms and the common areas spotless. Casa Salinas 1 is a magical get away. I should mention that we had an incredible show of the whales……I will highly recommend this to my friends and would be happy to be a reference for anyone looking to stay at these lovely homes. Jana Cosgrove