Verified review
2/10 Poor
Don
Apr 23, 2025
I wanted to take my time before writing this review. My partner and I traveled to Puerto Vallarta specifically to stay at the Xinalani Hotel Retreat—the photos looked stunning. We booked the king suite for its private pool and outdoor shower, aiming for a peaceful, private birthday celebration.
We expected some bugs, as the website warns about them, so a dragonfly in our suite wasn’t a big deal. But from check-in, we noticed a foul sewage-like smell in the room. When we brought it up, the afternoon manager dismissed our concern, blaming the ocean or possibly a dead animal—off-putting, to say the least. The odor wasn't constant, but with the open-air design, it returned often. Later, we found the smell came from the path beneath our suite.
Other issues included collapsing furniture—one piece even hit me—and a mouse in the suite on checkout day. For a place marketed as a luxury retreat, these issues were unacceptable. What frustrated us most was the management’s tendency to explain away problems instead of resolving them.
Despite amazing waitstaff and a great daytime manager on 4/18, the overall experience was disappointing. My rule is: would I go back? Sadly, no. Too many problems, not enough accountability. It’s a hard pass.
