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The
Spanish hotel company Riu offers three classes of all-inclusive (there’s one of
each in Nuevo Vallarta), and the 700-room Jalisco is the economy option, but
you wouldn't guess that upon entry. The entry
and lobby
are grand, and the grounds
are immaculate, with two sprawling pools,
beautiful garden
areas, and a large, pristine beach.
The rooms, however, are small, lackluster, and short on amenities. There are
plenty of restaurants,
which is a bonus on any all-inclusive plan, plus a handful of fun bars
(including a swim-up pool bar),
and even a nightclub.
The property is far removed from the hustle and bustle of downtown Puerto
Vallarta, but it remains an excellent option for a beautiful all-inclusive
beach getaway.
Pros
2 huge pools, featuring a
swim-up bar
and a slide
Expansive beachfront
with bar
Partial or full ocean and/or
pool views from most guest rooms
Clean spa
with sauna
and Jacuzzi
Free Wi-Fi in lobby areas
Sports bar
with multiple TV screens and pool tables
Good Kids’ Club
with outdoor play equipment and wading pool
Cons
Standard rooms are small and short on amenities
No Wi-Fi or Internet in
rooms
Mostly older tube TVs
in rooms
Long drive to downtown
The
Occidental Grand is a small beachfront all-inclusive (by megaresort standards)
centrally located in Nuevo Vallarta. It has many of the amenities found in
larger resorts, including an adults-only pool and a kiddy pool, four
restaurants, a supervised kids’ club, and a sandy beach with loungers,
straw umbrellas,
and a snack bar. However, there’s no spa, Wi-Fi is not free (except for the
Royal Club guests), and some king beds are actually two twins pushed together.
Rooms have contemporary decor and feel spacious and modern, with flat-screen TVs
and iPod docks
(in most rooms), but very few rooms have balconies,
and room service is only available for Royal Club guests. It’s cheaper than
neighboring Hard Rock
Hotel Vallarta, but it’s worth comparing prices with other resorts
in the area.
Pros
On a sandy beach
a short drive from golf courses and the airport
Contemporary rooms
with flat-screen TVs
and large windows
4 restaurants, including one
exclusively for Royal Club guests
Two pools,
including one for kids
Supervised kids’ club for
children 4 to 12
Daily multilingual
activities and night entertainment
Small fitness center with
up-to-date machines, plus a tennis court
Striking soaring lobby
with floor-to-ceiling windows
Cons
No spa on-site
Fee for Wi-Fi (except Royal
Club guests)
Few rooms have balconies
Some king beds are actually
two twins pushed together
Room service available for
Royal Club guests only
Marival
Resort & Suites Nuevo Vallarta
The
495-room Marival mega-resort takes the “all” in all-inclusive seriously. Just
about every imaginable recreational activity is available here, along with the
usual pools, kayaks
and endless beverages, this hotel has bicycles,
a climbing
tower, mini-golf,
a basketball
court, catamarans, beach volleyball,
cooking and Spanish lessons, and more. There are multiple dining
options, rooms ranging from standard
guest rooms up to three-bedroom suites, and more than 900 feet of Nuevo
Vallarta beachfront
that stretches for miles in both directions. Some rooms
in the older buildings of the property, though, are in definite need of an
update. And the property itself feels less luxurious (though is more
affordable) than its sister property, Marival
Residences, just a half mile away.
Pros
Excellent location on 900
feet of pristine beach
Four assorted swimming
pools (including one adults-only)
Full-service spa
and beauty salon
Large array of
fitness-oriented activities, plus large fitness
center
Theater with live shows
Free use of kayaks,
boogie boards, catamarans, and bicycles
4 tennis courts
with night lights
Extensive kids’ and teens'
programs
Cons
Wi-Fi for a daily fee
Guest rooms and suites in
the older section feel worn
Private VIP Beach Club is
reserved for guests of the sister property
Some balconies feature cheap
plastic
furniture
Riu
Vallarta All-Inclusive
Compared
with its more budget-friendly sister property, Riu Jalisco, though, certain
areas are lacking. For instance, the grounds
aren't nearly as immaculate or impressive, and although the rooms
have slightly nicer decor they're not much of a step up (plus, the Master
Suites at Jalisco feature flat-screen TVs, while tube TVs
come standard here). Jalisco even has slightly more varied dining options,
though the ones offered here are varied enough to prevent standard
all-inclusive-dining boredom. But the expansive beach
and the two large play-inducing pools
(with in-pool lounge seating, bistro tables, swim-up bar, and slides) are
clearly in a class above.
Pros
Great Flamingos Beach
location in Nuevo Vallarta
Spacious beach with plenty
of palm tree-shaded lounge
seating
Large adult-oriented pool
with jetted areas,
swim-up
bar, and in-pool lounge chairs
and bistro tables
Spacious children-oriented pool
with three slides
and volleyball
net
Nice fitness
center with TVs and assorted equipment
Spa
with multiple treatment
rooms and a Jacuzzi
Lively decorated theater
with nightly entertainment
Multiple dining
options, from casual to gourmet
Partial or full ocean views
from every guest room and suite
Cons
Wi-fi in lobby areas only
Old tube TVs
Guest rooms
and suites
are blandly decorated and nothing special
Long drive to Puerto
Vallarta
Short on in-room amenities
Wall-enclosed showers in
some rooms feel a bit claustrophobic
Dreams
Villamagna Nuevo Vallarta
The rooms
here are attractive- cool, with hip furniture, freestanding deep bathtubs,
and Jacuzzis on private decks.
But you have to specify you want an ocean view, or you may be looking at the
mountains (which isn't necessarily a bad thing).
Pros
Sleek ultramodern, stylish
design in public spaces and guest rooms
Multiple restaurant
options, including seafood, Mexican, and Italian
Long stretch of beach
with lounge chairs
Full-service spa
with relaxing, Zen features
Lively activities schedule
for guests of all ages, including an ocean trampoline
World-class golf nearby
Fabulous rooftop
sushi and cocktail bar
Poolside service from Marlin
bar
Free Wi-Fi (but only if you
download the hotel's App)
Cons
One guest room
building has no ocean views
Beach is a few hundred yards
from the guest room towers
Pools
and facilities shared with adjacent condominiums
Pools very crowded with
kids; no drinks allowed at pools; no swim-up bar
Internet usage costs extra (unless you download the hotel's App)
Room service, though
24-hour, often has long wait
Marival Residences &
World Spa
A
half-hour drive from downtown Puerto Vallarta and a half mile from the beach,
the Marival Residences & World Spa is not the place to go if you're in the
mood for a beach-lounging, party-hopping Mexican getaway. It is, however, the
place to go for laid-back luxury, residential-style suites, modern amenities,
and an impressive array of all-inclusive features. Comprised of 169 suites,
penthouses, or private villas, ranging from one to four bedrooms (and all
featuring spacious terraces with garden, pool, or ocean views), Marival
Residences is an excellent option for families and couples alike seeking a
little sun-soaked spoiling.
Pros
Private beach club,
with restaurant
Large pool
with ample lounge areas, plus adults-only
and kiddy pools
4 restaurants
(2 all-inclusive) plus poolside cafe
and bar
Flat-screen TVs with premium
satellite channels
iPod docks and CD players
Rooms have private balconies
with ocean, pool, or garden view
All-inclusive or European
plan options
Immaculate spa
with unique treatments
Cons
Shuttle required to access
the private beach,
a half mile away
Wi-Fi for a fee
One of
the most striking elements of the Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta (formerly the Palace
Resort Vallarta) is its soaring lobby,
with two huge installations made with LP covers and instruments. However, the
rest of the resort is no less attractive, with two free-form pools, a spa
featuring ocean views,
and several restaurants
offering a range of cuisines. The hopping bars, nightly entertainment and
contemporary rooms with high-tech amenities, funky rock-inspired decor, and
double-jetted tubs attract young couples and groups, while the lively pools
(including a shallow one for kids), varied dining options, and pretty beach
draw families. There’s free Wi-Fi, purified water on tap, and a wide array of
amenities, but rooms are a tad smaller than those found in other resorts in the
area.
Pros
On an appealing stretch of
white-sand beach
Contemporary rooms with
flat-screen TVs, double jetted tubs and liquor dispensers
2 large, free-form pools, a
kiddy pool and 3 whirlpools
Upscale spa with several
treatment rooms, salon services, and ocean views
Restaurants feature a range
of cuisines and extensive wine lists
Well-equipped fitness
center with pool views
Amphitheater with live entertainment and bar service
Free Wi-Fi in all rooms and
public spaces
Purified water on tap
Cons
Most rooms have tiny balconies
too small for chairs
Phone fees
Riu
Palace Pacifico All-Inclusive
The
445-room Palace Pacifico is the top dog of Riu’s 3 properties located in the
are. This is mostly evident in the common areas, which elegantly blend pre-war
European opulence with luxury oceanfront resort (the lobby
alone exudes more of a palace-like formality than a sandy-feet and beach-shorts
sort of vibe). The grounds
are immaculate as well, sprawling with lush, towering palms and perfectly
manicured garden walkways dotted with high-end lounge seating -- and the
expansive pool,
with swim-up bar,
and in-pool lounges and bistro tables, isn't too shabby either. The rooms,
though, are a different story. Decor, while nice, is nothing special -- even
dated in some places -- and in-room amenities are no different than those at
the more budget-friendly sister Riu properties nearby. Although the dining
options are plentiful (always a plus at an all-inclusive), overall this
property has no better bang for the buck than its "lower-end"
sisters, Riu Jalisco and Riu Vallarta.
Pros
Beautiful beachfront
with plenty of palm-shaded lounge
seating
Expansive pool
in lush palm setting, with swim-up bar,
and in-pool lounges
and bistro tables
Multiple dining
options including high-end specialty restaurants
Nice spa
with adjacent fitness
center
Big, comfortable theater
with live shows nightly
Acclaimed golf courses
nearby
Lavish interior decor
throughout public spaces
Wi-Fi available in all rooms
Cons
Massive size of property can
make maneuvering the grounds difficult
A bit far from Puerto
Vallarta
Rooms are uninspiring and
lack extra amenities
Grand
Velas Riviera Nayarit
This
luxurious, 267-room all-inclusive resort in Nuevo Vallarta is a sophisticated
and serene option in the greater Puerto Vallarta area. Every room here is a suite,
offering extra living space, a balcony,
ocean views,
and luxurious touches such as Nespresso
machines. The impressive features include an infinity pool
with three levels overlooking the beach,
a decadent spa
with 20 treatment rooms, and four upscale (and pricey) restaurants.
There's little wrong with it, except for the fee for Wi-Fi.
Pros
Infinity pool with 3 levels
overlooking the beach
All-suite property with
ocean views from private balconies
Gorgeous spa
with 20 treatment rooms and couples' treatments
4 specialty restaurants
serving a variety of international cuisine
Nespresso coffee maker and
42-inch flat-screen TVs
in all suites
Lush, manicured gardens
and grounds
Separate kids' pool
and club with organized activities
Cons
Fees for Wi-Fi
