Beautiful villa, perfect for small wedding. Maid & cook were friendly & FANTASTIC. Good wifi, jugs of filtered water were appreciated, fans & AC in bedrooms were fine. Jeff, the property manager in charge of the VRBO listing, was terrible. Unfriendly & I would often have to send multiple emails to get a response to a simple question. After booking, I asked to add on an extra night. He said yes & to pay the extra night upon arrival. Upon arrival the staff was not aware we were checking in. They called Jeff but couldnât reach him so called another property manager who also had no idea we were checking in & said âJeff never tells us anything.â She was great & let us check in & we could hang by the pool while they finished prepping the villa. Jeff contacted me the next day & didnât acknowledge his mistake or apologize. Villa was a bit run down. For the price you are paying, there are things that should definitely be updated. Cushions on furniture need replaced. Canopy bed cover was dirty & falling apart. Among other things. Kitchen needs better water pressure & hot water, plumbing in downstairs bedroom is terrible. Heel got stuck in the wooden floor where it was falling apart in upstairs bedroom. A piece of the outside wall right outside the kitchen chipped off as I walked past, fell on my knee & scraped it. The stairs in the same area are worn, causing me to misstep & I injured my foot badly. Pool was freezing. Photos online are very outdated. But ambience was magical.
One reviewer said this villa âneeds maintenance,â but that is a huge understatement. We consider ourselves to be adaptable travelers, but the number and severity of the problems left us no choice but to share this information, especially since we paid as much for this villa as others in the area that were lovely and had no issues. The list below outlines just some of our concerns.
1. There was never hot water in the kitchen and no dishwasher. This alone is a serious sanitation issue and Iâm assuming a violation of local codes.
2. Only one faucet worked in some bathrooms, and shower pressures was very low or only half the water was coming through the shower heads ⊠perhaps they just need to be cleaned.
3. The kitchen is so poorly lit and so ill equipped, making it largely non-functioning.
4. We understand old tile, but--a large hole in one bedroom floor is a major tripping/falling hazard .. one guest was afraid to get up in the night without turning the lights on.
5. Until 2 days before we left there was not a stand for the huge water jugs, making them unusable.
We have paid a similar price for villas that were much better equipped and cared for, and we are very disappointed in the poor value we got for our money. We generally make do and rarely complain but we felt so let down, we donât want anyone else to go here without a warning.
We rented Villa Leonarda for my husbands 40th birthday and had the absolute best time! There were 11 of us, and we had plenty of space to be alone if we needed, but mostly we found ourselves hanging by the pool the whole time. Delia's breakfasts were fantastic, and we hired a chef to come in and make us dinner for two of the nights. A clutch choice. The location was great, easy to walk to a lot of bars and restaurants. We lived like kings for a long weekend, the hardest part (apart from a couple really stiff mattresses) was leaving, but it did inspire us to make this a yearly trip. Thank you for the amazing stay Villa Leonarda!!
We love this property but it really needs more maintenance. back Bedroom shower drain doesn't work. Remotes for ac didn't work in main house. No hot water in kithen and other plumbing problems. Tile in the far left BR needs to be fixed, someone could fall. great location. Loved all the music we heard.
Villa Leonarda is nothing short of a dream. From the amazing rooms, friendly staff, art and greenery this place is hard to beat. Itâs central location makes it so easy to walk everywhere too. We will definitely be coming back!
This is one of those places that makes you NOT want to write a review so that it will hopefully not be booked when you want to return. It is gorgeous. All bedrooms have private bathrooms; three of them contain king size beds. There is a small cabana off the HEATED pool with a bathroom. The housekeeper makes delicious juice and breakfast. We watched fireworks all over the city from the rooftop deck. My wife was literally close to tears when we were checking out because she didn't want to leave. The communication was top notch and very polite and kind. 6 out of 5 stars!
The property was perfect for a large group. Everyone had their own space but there was also plenty of together time around the pool and common areas. The location was perfect. We never needed to take a taxi- we walked everywhere. The best part was Delia and Chapina. The food and service were amazing. We all shed many tears when we said goodbye. Se convirtieron en parte de nuestra familia.
Went down for a friends weekend. House was beautiful, and everyone having their own suite was appreciated. Having breakfast made every morning was great. Would absolutely book again.
The rental was gorgeous. Beautiful patio surrounded by nature. The sound of the river and birds was beautiful to wake up to. However, if you don't like mosquitos, Iguanas, and lizards this might not be the place for you. This house is ideal for adults or families with older children. All bedrooms are separate so I cannot imagine this set up working if you have small children and want to place them in their own room. We had our 9 month old and she was able to sleep in our bedroom since we had a king size bed. I subtracted one star only because house said there was a high chair for baby, however there was none at the home. I even confirmed with Delia. I would like to highlight that Josefina and Delia were the sweetest humans around. They prepared delicious guacamole, and amazing breakfast.
This property was absolutely beautiful! Itâs authenticity made it a wonderful experience! The ladies made us the most amazing meals and helped with anything we needed. I would definitely rent this home again! If I could say anything I would say that I wish the pool was heated. The pool is in an area that wash shaded most of the day, so it did not get very warm. The beauty of this rental far outweighed that!
We came to PV for a girls trip and had a lovely stay at this home. Each room is unique and feels very separate. The doors to each room open to the courtyard or outdoors which was fun. That being said, be sure to close doors and curtains at night to keep to rooms cool and bugs out. The location was very central to everything we wanted to do in town. We had a great time overall. I would definitely stay here again
We stayed at Villa Leonardo in late July 2022. Overall I would say the experience was positive. The best part of the property is Josefina and Delia. They made delicious breakfasts daily and kept the place tidy and clean. Another positive part of the property is the location. It's close and within walking distance to everything. The property itself is beautiful and very historic. The AC in the bedrooms is great, but be aware for the rest of the house you really need to embrace the concept of outdoor living as is standard in many older Mexican homes.
There is some critical feedback I will offer. It's quite pricey so for what we were paying I would expect that doors close all the way and stay closed (upstairs bedroom, not in the main house). During the rainy season, the doors would open easily with the weather soaking the floor. The ceilings also leaked in both upstairs bedrooms when it rained. The pool is also in dire need of a resurface. It would be nice as well for all the rooms to have a TV that worked with Netflix. Some TV's did work and had Netflix, but not all. Easy, but important fixes to help make future guests stay more enjoyable. Should we return to Puerto Vallarta we would stay again,
Josefina and Delia are amazing! They are truly the kindest women and took very good care of us. If you are looking for a modern home this would not be for you; however, if you appreciate art, Mexican architecture, open spaces, and fabulous foliage this is absolutely the place for you!
It is unique and comfortable as all the rooms have air conditioning and there is plenty of spaces for privacy.
My wife and I love visiting Puerto Vallarta and this was our first time staying in Gringo Gulch. What a fabulous location! So close and walkable to everything, yet quiet in the evenings.
Delia and Josefina took wonderful care of us. We loved overlooking Rio Cuale, and that pool is absolutely perfect!
Wow, this villa is beautiful and has a lot of history! It does however need some work. There was a sewage smell coming from the drains and some of the tiles were missing and the floors uneven, But overall we had a great stay. The location is absolutely perfect, close to the beach, Malecon, lots of restaurants. I initially chose this place because I had been to Puerto Vallarta in the past and wanted to be near the river however we found out after arriving that a hurricane came and the river had been dried up for the last several months. This may have contributed to the smell and heat. Luckily the air conditioning units did work in the rooms. The pool was wonderful and dalya and Josefina did an amazing job cooking us breakfast and providing us with information! Because of all the open air in the home I would say that this is more like âGlamping â. If you are not okay with bugs I would use caution.
I still would come back, but hope that the owner can do some renovations to make things a little more up-to-date.
All in all, had a great time! Loved having fresh margaritas, chips, and salsa homemade when we arrived. Again, perfect location!
Our stay at Leonarda was amazing! An eclectic collection of spaces provided an idyllic backdrop to our relaxing vacation with unique accommodations for everyone. The pool was warm, the courtyard delightful, and shady nooks provided a respite from the sun. Delia and Justinia were as nice as can be and Delia's guacamole is truly outstanding! The easy going villa was just what we had hoped for our vacation. Due to it's open air design, there's a bit of a lack of privacy with most of the rooms, which wasn't an issue for us, but if you needed completely enclosed rooms, it could be an issue. We reveled in the experience of having Ernesto (the giant green iguana), Manny (the friendly cat), the nightly army of leafcutter ants (Hormigas), a tree-full of chirping birds, and other urban animals share the space with us, but I can see how these cohabitants may not be so welcome for everyone. They were some of the highlights of our stay! There were some mosquitos, but bug spray was on hand and we all found the mosquito nets around the bed to be charming and effective.
Though not the villa's fault, construction along the river is ongoing - so be prepared for construction noise and associated odors until it is complete.
The villa is within easy walking distance to great restaurants and the Love Bridge, while remaining convenient to shops and the beach. Access will only improve when the construction of the nearby bridges are complete.
Overall, we loved it and hope to come back to stay!
This Villa is by far the most charming, enchanting place I have ever stayed. It is a piece of history and a work of art. The architecture is so fanciful that photographs cannot do it justice. There were ten of us, all adults, who love spending time together but also value space and privacy. Each couple had an exquisite bedroom and bath, all spacious, elegant, and whimsical, and all situated for privacy. The house is really two or three buildings with a series of stairways, decks, verandas, and covered open air areas. It is situated around a stunning courtyard which overlooks the river and has a pool and areas for sunning, napping, reading, dining, dancing, birdwatching, or iguana sighting, The kitchen is open air with a very comfortable seating area. The living and dining area are very elegant but it was too beautiful outside so we just admired it.
We were welcomed by Delia and Josefina, two kind ladies who took excellent care of us. They had a round of margaritas and guacamole ready when we got there. It could not have been more perfect. Delia made us wonderful breakfasts, Josefina served us gracefully. One night we had a birthday party and they did such a wonderful job!
I kept on discovering works of art. I did not keep count, but there are lions all over the house. Staying here was an honor. I do love movies. I am a huge fan of Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, John Huston, and that whole era of Hollywood history. This place is authentic. It is the real deal.
I donât even know where to begin with this⊠From the moment we arrived, it was as if we walked into old Mexico! Stunning architecture, private, and a perfect layout for my family. Delia and Josefina are the women who took care of us all week and couldnât have been more lovely. They cooked breakfast for us every morning to our specifications, kept our house and rooms fresh and tidy, and helped us with our Spanish!
If these walls could talkâŠThe history of this Villa is such a great story⊠you can really imagine all the artists and celebrities that enjoyed this space.
The beautiful views on the top decks were where weâd watch the sunset. All the bedrooms had air-conditioning and ceiling fans. My family is a tough group to please! The kid's ages range from 12 to 32 and they all have different ideas and expectations⊠this place did not disappoint one of us!!!
One thing you do have to realize, is that it is a very lush tropical like jungle surrounding the house. If you have problems with iguanas crossing your path, or little harmless bugs from time to time, this may not be your place. But, if you truly want to immerse yourself in a villa that feels like Mexico and enjoy seeing lush grounds and nature in Mexico, definitely stay here!!
We were a quick three or four block walk to the Malecon⊠We loved that, there were no steep hills to climb, and we could go to the beach every day if weâd like without any effort. But mostly, just being inside the Villa was enough for everyone! So much space and decks to spread out if you wanted to.
We also hired a private chef, Edwardo. He made works of art for meals and so delicious! Incredible 5 star meals every night, and completely affordable for our group of 10!
I truly hope my family can go back and visit, and stay in this outstanding Villa again, it will be one of our most memorable family vacations. Thank you again Delia, Josefina and Chef Edwardo!!!
Our group of 10 adults had an incredible time. The property is actually quite large, especially by downtown standards, and the bedrooms are well spaced and private across the two buildings.
Whether we were enjoying the sunset from the 3rd level terrace, hitting the pool or just enjoying a cocktail while listening to the river rush by, it was actually difficult to leave the house at times.
The lovely staff will take care of any need you may have but are never in the way. We especially enjoyed the breakfasts (made to order) that they prepared. Really a top notch experience.
The location must be one of, if not THE, best for a property of this size in El Centro. For the times you want to stay close to the house: within a block is a great little spot for breakfast, lunch, dinner, cocktails, chocolates AND cigars (Vallarta Factory), one of the best dinner spots (Trio) and, of course, an Oxxo convenience store sits around most corners in PV.
There's also an internationally known bank (with atm) for safely pulling out pesos if you need them.
If venturing out further towards the Romantic Zone or Malecon, it's a very easy walk from this address.
We were extremely happy to have found Villa Leonarda and I'd be willing to bet that you will feel the same.
Place was great for a large group. The house ladies weâre exceptional. Had a hot water problem, fixed within hours of notifying owner. Definitely recommend.
If you are looking for an authentic travel experience Villa Leonarda is it! The property is huge with multiple living spaces connected by a cool pool. There are no truly closed in spacesâ-all open tote outdoors and awesome. The jungle is at your fingertips and the culture right outside your door. We loved our time here with our kids ages 9-13 and recommend to anyone looking for an adventure outside your routine resort vacay. This villa is safe, the people are wonderful and the overall experience was exactly what we were looking for! Thank you!!!