Overview
by Lissa Poirot
Located on a small stretch of beach in Riviera Nayarit, just north of Puerto Vallarta, this bustling all-inclusive resort is filled with children and families. There is no doubt this is a family-friendly resort! That said, families should expect the busy resort to also have issues associated with crowds: lack of pool and beach chairs, long lines for restaurants, fully booked a la carte restaurants, and crowded play areas. While the accommodations are comfortable and the restaurants serve good food, perhaps our April vacation wasn’t the best time for a visit. With its peak season being the holidays, spring and summer, it may be a better resort for families in the off-season.
Our Editor Loves
- All-inclusive resort
- Kids clubs and programs for teens
- Six onsite dining options
Family Interests
- All Inclusive Rates
- Beach
- Golf
Family Amenities
- Babysitting
- Children Programs
- Connecting Rooms
- Cribs
- DVD
- Family Room 5+
- Free Breakfast
- Free Wi-Fi
- Kids' Pool
- Kids' Theme Meals
- Kitchenettes
- Meal Plan
- Onsite Dining
- Pool
- Refrigerator
Room Information
Find the Best Price for Your Stay
The resort features nearly 500 rooms and suites in 11 villas, two towers and one main building. All rooms include a private balcony or terrace, stocked mini fridges (included), and views of the gardens, pool or ocean.
Resort Rooms
The most standard of rooms are Resort units, of which there are 376 rooms, each 383 square feet in size. The rooms are located on the second and third floors of the main building, as well as in the two towers. These sleep up to four people with one king bed and a sofa bed, or two double beds.
Suites
One- and two-bedroom suites provide a bit more space with living areas, with sizes ranging from 760 square feet to 1,261 square feet. One-bedrooms provide one king bed or two double beds, while two-bedroom suites provide two king bedrooms. Guaranteed ocean view rooms are available at an additional surcharge.
Ocean Front
Forty-three suites are oceanfront with the best views of the Pacific. One-bedroom suites sleep up to four with one king bed or two double beds. Two-bedroom suites can sleep seven with two king bedrooms and a sofa bed. Three-bedroom units can sleep up to nine with three king bedrooms and a sofa bed.
Reviews
by luisinhotels
This is the second time I've stayed here, 1st time was 8 years ago and it was great, this time it was awful. I came here with my mum for a few days of leisure, when I made the reservation I specifically asked for two beds, not surprisingly they gave ua a room with a single king. We changed rooms and the second room was just disgusting: thr telephone didn't work, pillows smelled terrible, the AC made a very loud noise ans the closet had an almost unbearable smell. So we asked to change rooms for a third time. Finally this last room was ok although the pillows still smelled horribly.
We arrived around 3ish and check-in is at 4pm...yes...4pm (check-out at 11 am btw). As some may know, this hotel has several thematic restaurants but you have to make reservations a few days in advance. Well, the reservations desk only opens from 8 to 3 so by the time we checked-in, said desk was closed. So next day we went to reserve in the morning and not surprisingly all but one restaurants were fully booked.
You should know that this hotel has two sections, one for "members" or certain kind of guests where rooms have been recently furnished and where I'm guessing the sheets and pillows don't smell (this area is close right by the reception desk) and there's another building which is quite old and unkept, even the chairs and tables from balconies are different.
To close on the bad things, the staff at reception (which is a bit far away from the building we were staying at) are quite ill informed about the hotel's schedule and activities they gave us wrong directions and schedules to restaurants and night-shows. They're attentive but not prepared or informed.
On the bright side the food and drinks are good, staff in the restaurants are great and warm and the beach concierges are always around and ready to help.
All in all, our vacation was a mediocre experience and for the rate they charged us it is so NOT WORTH THE MONEY. I sincerely don't know how they're able to sell time-sharing memberships with such bad attention to detail.
If you decide to stay here, which I don't recommend, I hope your experience was better than ours.
by CdnQuest
My son and I and my brother and his wife all came to the resort for a fishing and relax on the beach type vacation.
We really enjoyed this place. Clean. Safe. Friendly. And probably the best food I’ve found in 5 stays in PVR. The rooms were well maintained. Cleaned well. Our view was out to the pool and then to the ocean off to the side. Loved it.
The one downside is that the mini fridge is really disappointing and a weak effort in my opinion. A few cans of pop, no beer, and no bottled water. When I asked for it to be properly stocked I was told this was intentional and that I should use room service (for a fee). I think it’s a huge mistake on the hotels part. I like to have bottled water to be safe and I like a beer on my balcony at night. But the hotel has a different idea.
The staff was really friendly everywhere. Special thank you to Angel in the main lobby and Jose in the Italian Restaurant for being entertaining and giving great service.
Beach was great. Good sand. You can walk out a long ways on a sandy bottom that drops very gradually.
Pool was nice and warm. Clean with enough chairs. (But this was a slow period).
My 12 yr old ran around and I felt safe letting him roam.
The other downside besides the minibar was the front end push you get for the timeshare presentation stuff. Not cool. Be bold ask right away “is this about time share?”. If they say yes then say you’re not interested and end it. Nothing bad happens to you and it’s not a loss unless you really want a timeshare.
Over all had a great time and really enjoyed the whole resort and the people. All ready booked a return trip.
Ps. Canadians will like this place.
Family Activities
Marival Kids
This kids' club provides a variety of activities for kids ages 4 to 12, including a marionette theater, a siesta corner, reading groups and arts and crafts. Teens, ages 13 to 17, may appreciate the Marival Teen's Club with Xbox and Internet.
Pirate Pool & Waterpark
The kids' pool and splash area is called the Pirate Pool and Waterpark, with small waterslides and a splash playground.
Outdoor Fun
The resort offers beach volleyball, a basketball court, wind surfing, water polo, mini-golf, a game room, rock climbing wall and tennis, as well as water sports such as kayaking, boogie boarding, windsurfing and sailing -- all included in rates. The resort rents snorkeling, diving and fishing gear, along with motorized water sports equipment, at an additional charge.
Tours
The resort can help families arrange tours for whale watching, dolphin swimming experiences, zip-lining, sea lion encounters, canopy tours, ATV rides, Sierra Madres excursions, mountain adventures, diving and snorkeling adventures and tours into Puerto Vallarta. These are not included with the all-inclusive rates.
Family Dining
Amalfi
The resort's specialty restaurant is located indoors with an Italian menu and theme and live piano music. Serving dinners by reservation only, families can dine here daily from 6 to 10 p.m. The kids' menu includes two salad choices, two soup choices and main courses of chicken fingers, breaded beef, spaghetti and a ham and cheese sandwich. Reservations can be made up to seven days in advance.
Casa Bella
The resort's international buffet, Casa Bella features theme nights and indoor dining. Themes include Mediterranean on Mondays, a Mexican Fiesta on Tuesdays, Oriental on Wednesdays, International Night on Thursday, Fisherman's Night on Fridays, Tex-Mex on Saturdays and Italian on Sundays. Reservations are not required and the restaurant is open for breakfast, weekend brunch, lunch and dinner in a casual atmosphere.
La Bamba Rodizio
Serving BBQ ribs, marinated steaks and unique grilled items like rabbit in fresh herbs, La Bamba Rodizio is open for a la carte dinners by reservation only, 6:30 to 10 p.m. During the lunch hours of noon to 5 p.m., the restaurant becomes a snack bar with burgers, hot dogs, nachos, pizza and more. Reservations for dinner can be made up to seven days in advance.
La Pergola
The resort's a la carte restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating and serves breakfast daily from 7 to 11 a.m., and dinner every day except Monday from 6 to 10 p.m. Reservations can be made up to seven days in advance. The kids' menu features two salad choices, two soup choices, and main courses of mini brochettes, mini hamburgers or breaded chicken.
Las Palomas
This indoor restaurant features a traditional Mexican menu and is open for dinners only (6 to 10 p.m.). The restaurant requires reservations, which can be booked up to seven days in advance. The restaurant offers a kids' menu with a salad, fruit plate, soups, and a choice of entrees that include buffalo chicken wings, "volcanoes" filled with cheese and chicken, beef or meat, or tuna fish sandwiches.
Piazzetta dei Forni
This snack bar provides oven-fresh pizza for outdoor dining. Open daily from noon to midnight, the restaurant is the easiest and quickest way to grab food with kids.
Planning & Tips
All About the Extras
Unique to note for an all-inclusive is that drinks are not included until 11 a.m. each day, and stop at 2 a.m.
The Art of Smart Timing
The resort's peak season is during the Christmas and Easter holidays and summer months. For the best rates and availability, visit during late spring or early fall.
Getting There
Fly into Puerto Vallarta International Airport. Airport shuttles are available to guests for $27 round trip per person for two or more passengers ages 3 and up. Children 2 and younger are free when seated on a parent's lap.
Getting Around
The all-inclusive resort provides more than enough for families to do without leaving, and arranges for transportation to tours and excursions, so families do not need a car when visiting.
For Mom and Dad
Included in your stay is one complimentary golf green fee at Flamingos Golf Course. The unlimited golf includes free greens fees so you can tee off as many times as you'd like. Although greens fees are included, cart fees are not, and the golf club requires guests to have a cart.