Hola everyone,
I just got back from tropical Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. I have to tell you, it's rough to be me! Good food, nice people and great places to stay.
My first stop after the nice plane ride was the Barcelo LaJolla de Mismaloya. (I toured many hotels while I was down there and I will just briefly go over some things on each property. If you have any more specific questions, shoot me an email.) The Barcelo is very nice, about an hour from the airport and also has suites. There are lots of activities to keep you busy all day long if that’s what you want or you can just relax on the beach. It’s a very lush tropical setting.
My second stop, and where I spent my first night, was Dreams Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa. It was a very nice place surrounded by the jungle. It happened to be raining when I got there (it’s the rainy season now) but I still managed to enjoy the hot tub! The food was very tasty and room service for breakfast is the way to go (I LOVE 24 HOUR ROOM SERVICE!). The beds were comfy and on the softer side. They have some really nice Dream suites which have their own plunge pool - very cool!
Ok on to day 2 - first stop, Los Arcos Hotel Suites Beach and Spa. This hotel happens to be downtown.  I mean walk out the front door and your right there. It is a smaller hotel that has a very Mexican "Hacienda" feel. It is right on the beach, so you really have the best of both worlds. They do not have all inclusive packages but there are 2 restaurants on property and many with in walking distance.
Then it was off to the Sheraton Buganvillias Resort and Convention Center which is pretty close to downtown. This is a large property with a very modern feel, nice beach and great views. If you do a club room you will get free breakfast and happy hour from 5 to 8 pm. Otherwise, there is no all inclusive packages.
Next stop, Fiesta Americana, 5 minutes from downtown, 5 minutes from the airport. Very nice ocean view rooms and there are also club rooms which are nicer (larger) than the regular rooms and you get your own club meeting area overlooking the city - it’s just an awesome view from up there.
On to the Melia Puerto Vallarta. This property is great for families and active people. There is lots and lots to do, from botche ball, shuffle board, boogie boards, kayaks and much more. They have a nice babysitting program for babies on up. This property does have a short beach but they make up for that with one of the largest pools I’ve ever seen.
Vallarta Palace was next (I know, I was very busy). The standard room at this hotel has a double Jacuzzi, need I say more? This was an awesome place with a nice, large beach and very equipped gym and 9 hole golf course included.
On to my favorite property on this adventure - The Grand Velas All Suites and Spa Resort. I call it my holy molly beautiful property. Just amazing! Lush landscape, not to mention the spa - I could live in there! All suites are amazing. Loved it!!
For the duration of my stay I was at the Riu Vallarta. This place has an elegant flare to it. The lobby has grand chandeliers, rich colors and very friendly staff. The beach is large and nice to walk on, but if that’s not for you, there are a couple pools and jacuzzis.
Then we toured their sister property which is the Riu Jalisco. If you are staying at the Riu Vallarta you can also visit the Riu Jalisco. This property is grand also but it has many beautiful vibrant colors and a very cute oceanfront restaurant. Great for active families or couples.
3 more to go.
The Royal Decameron Complex. This property is very pleasant and well spread out, so you would do alot of walking (work off all that food). It's neat because it has an area that has lots of activities and an area that has a quiet pool, where it's very relaxing. They have a big theatre where they have nightly entertainment, which most of the other properties had also.
Then there's the Palladium Vallarta Resort & Spa. I had lunch there it was very good food. The property is beautiful and split up into regular rooms and then there is a side for the Royal Suites, which have their own area to check-in and their own pool and restaurant, but you may also go into the other restaurants. There are no elevators, but only 3 floors, so it's not so bad. The view is amazing! They have a couple terraces that would be perfect for a wedding overlooking the ocean.
On to the Marival. I really liked this property because they have beautiful suites that work great for families. They also have many activities including yoga, spinning classes, boggie boards and tennis clinics. There is a long beach with nice sand.
Okay, I also did a day-long tour of the Sierra Madres (Vallarta Adventures) with Mercedes Benz all-terrain vehicles. This tour took me into places that I never knew existed. It took us past villages, into the jungle and we ended up at this gorgeous beach out in the middle of nowhere! During the tour we learned about the Mexican culture and how it came about (I also made a tortilla on a griddle type thing, but I don’t cook at home so don’t tell my husband I can do it). It was very educational and bumpy ride, so if you have any back issues, it’s not for you, but I loved it! If you take the tour and JC is your guide, say hello from me.

Wow that’s it!  If you have any questions on the above or anything I haven’t covered, give me a shout.

Thanks,
Melissa