First glance: The Westin Playa Vallarta, an All-Inclusive Hotel

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Strolling into the open-air foyer of the newly minted Westin Playa Vallarta, an All-Inclusive Hotel captures the essence of what many resorts goal to impart on their visitors: leaving pressure on the door and stepping right into a state of all-encompassing leisure. It is becoming for a Westin, as the emblem weaves an ethos of wellbeing all through every of its distinct houses.

Right here, perched towards the glimmering waters of Puerto Vallarta’s Banderas Bay, a constant ocean breeze ambles in the course of the sunlit halls, lush greenery cascades from each nook of each the inner and the outside, and, possibly maximum significantly, the nice and cozy body of workers participants are keen to lend a hand with any request or simply prevent to have a pleasant chat. Considerate main points all through the valuables — like native artwork, spa reviews borrowing from centuries-old traditions and a plethora of cultural activations — make sure that a way of position is paramount.

Westin Playa Vallarta sunlit lobby
ELLIE NAN STORCK/THE POINTS GUY

“We’re delighted to welcome vacationers to this new bankruptcy in upscale all-inclusive commute,” Hugo Lecanda, the valuables’s basic supervisor, stated in a contemporary commentary from Marriott. “As extra vacationers go for seamless, increased reviews that nourish each the thoughts and frame, we invite our visitors to include a brand new method to enjoy Mexico’s Pacific Coast.”

Adults-only pool with palm trees and hut
ELLIE NAN STORCK/THE POINTS GUY

And nourish each the thoughts and frame the hotel did. The unique resort opened in 1993 and has since welcomed again many returning visitors — everybody from multigenerational households to grownup pal teams to {couples} — in the hunt for that hallmark sense of nourishment over the last three-plus a long time. Following this multimillion-dollar renovation, which has touched just about each a part of the on-property enjoy, lots of the ones repeat visitors have the similar query: Will the all-inclusive fashion paintings because the hotel enters a brand new generation?

In line with the time I spent on the resort simply days after it entered Marriott’s ecosystem as The Westin Playa Vallarta, an All-Inclusive Hotel, I believe the solution is sure. With renovated visitor rooms, the addition of adults-only swim-up rooms, redesigned swimming pools, and refreshed wellness and eating systems, The Westin Playa Vallarta without a doubt felt nourishing to each the frame and the soul.

Here’s a first have a look at The Westin Playa Vallarta, an All-Inclusive Hotel.

A biophilic design brings the outside inside of

Hallway with dappled sunlight at Westin Playa Vallarta
ELLIE NAN STORCK/THE POINTS GUY

From the open-air foyer to the large sun-drenched halls to the visitor rooms with panoramic home windows, daylight and greenery set the tone all through The Westin Playa Vallarta, which was once precisely the purpose of Sordo Madaleno Arquitectos, the company at the back of the renovation and transforming.

Afternoon gentle pours in from slats within the ceiling, casting stunning patterns onto the stone and marble flooring. Dappled daylight drifts down between palm fronds and tree branches onto the glistening waters of the side-by-side swimming pools. Plants is ample each within the hotel and throughout its lush grounds — as soon as a coconut farm, the valuables is house to a few 300 towering palm timber that lead you immediately to a cushy swath of quiet seashore alongside Banderas Bay’s mild coastline.

Aerial view of Westin Playa Vallarta, an All-Inclusive Resort
ELLIE NAN STORCK/THE POINTS GUY

With the Sierra Madre mountains within the distance past the water, it is a surprising scene, whether or not you are looking out from one of the crucial best flooring or a poolside cabana.

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Refreshed interiors from Uribe Krayer and Vida Design Studio supplement the light-filled estate, with delicate splashes of deep reds and colourful blues all through within the type of tastefully upholstered chairs, patterned pillows and commentary partitions.

The room

My Heavenly Pool Panoramic Suite, one in all 280 visitor lodging, measured in at 581 sq. ft. Like the remainder of the valuables, the room was once all about what lies outdoor: bountiful daylight and that putting waterfront location.

Within, I used to be overjoyed to discover a king-size Westin-branded Heavenly mattress with cushy white linens (it did, as promised, ship a blessedly heavenly shut eye). There was once a spacious seating house with a comfy sofa and a small desk that regarded out over the balcony and to the idyllic view past, the scene itself nearly like an enormous mural. Subsequent to the window was once a large flat-screen TV (despite the fact that with that view, I did not really feel the wish to flip this on even as soon as). The room additionally featured a minifridge with refreshments like cushy beverages and water, in addition to a espresso system with espresso pods, tea and a few gentle snacks.

The crown jewel of the suite was once without a doubt the water-facing balcony, which drifted out from the room past sliding glass doorways. From there, I may revel in magnificent perspectives of the hotel grounds, Banderas Bay and the Sierra Madre mountains from one in all two comfy front room chairs. The heated plunge pool (with adjustable temperature and lighting fixtures) was once nearly too excellent to be true, serving as a perfect position to start out and finish on a daily basis.

The toilet was once in a similar way an enjoy in and of itself, honoring the valuables’s theme of herbal gentle. An enormous skylight over the glassed-in bathe and the sublime stand-alone soaking bathtub allowed daylight to pour into the distance, reflecting off the twin self-importance’s clay-hued, marbled floor that sat under a wall-spanning reflect. The closet contained all of the prerequisites, together with plush Westin-branded bathrobes, slippers, a protected and quite a lot of area to hold garments. Toiletries have been Westin-branded, with a refreshing white tea smell.

Eating at The Westin Playa Vallarta

You will not in finding the cookie-cutter buffets at The Westin Playa Vallarta — despite the fact that there without a doubt are choices aplenty in the case of eating, from informal spots to take hold of a in the neighborhood impressed chunk to extra delicate retailers. Visitors can revel in six eating places and 4 open-air eating and ingesting retailers. Distinctive to this Westin is the Gourmand Gallery, a big meals hall-style house that incorporates six eating places. (I like to recommend creating a reservation forward of time, as it will get moderately crowded.)

  • At Name Me Lalo, I gobbled a wealthy queso dip with recent salsas, delectable steak tacos and crispy, house-made tortilla chips.
  • At Agave Studio, I had the honour of sampling the chef’s particular seasonal menu (to be had at an added price), which incorporated red meat tartar with bone marrow, Cornish chicken and asparagus, and a scrumptious tres leches for dessert. This program is obtainable along a different mezcal tasting, and the chef explains the pairing of flavors, yielding an overly particular enjoy.
  • At Tanto, the upscale Mexican-Eastern fusion eating place, I tasted tuna and salmon nigiri, one of the best possible miso soup I have had outdoor of Japan and scrumptious rooster fried rice.
  • Flowers, the open-air foyer bar providing surprising perspectives of the towering palm timber, options gentle bites and recent cocktails — should you move, take a look at the esquites corn dip and thank me later.

In my eyes, the hallmark of a excellent all-inclusive is person who has a culinary program that essentially honors the native delicacies, and The Westin does simply that, whilst including in glimmers of different international cuisines in order that visitors have quite a lot of choices to choose between all through their keep.

In-room dining at the Westin Playa Vallarta with fresh fruit, pastry basket, drinks and entree
ELLIE NAN STORCK/THE POINTS GUY

Room carrier is, after all, to be had — and for the ones in the precise form of suite, I extremely suggest taking part in a minimum of one breakfast from the relief of the balcony. I had scrumptious green-sauce rooster chilaquiles with an aspect of native fruit, recent pastries, refreshing inexperienced juice and occasional. It stored me complete all day and arrived recent and scorching inside of a part hour of ordering.

The spa and gym

One of the most largest attracts at The Westin Playa Vallarta is without a doubt the Heavenly Spa, which provides therapies like aromatherapy massages, reflexology and revitalizing facials. I particularly beloved my 80-minute scorching stone therapeutic massage ($215), expertly completed with simply the correct quantity of force. My favourite a part of the consult with, despite the fact that, was once my time within the hydrotherapy circuit, which is composed of a scorching plunge, a chilly plunge, a lukewarm pool overlooking greenery, a steam room and a sauna.

And for many who fancy a exercise, the gym was once, by means of a ways, probably the most spectacular resort gyms I have ever encountered. It was once, merely put, huge, with each piece of health apparatus conceivable. There was once an enormous area for weightlifting, two rooms value of aerobic machines and an entire separate room with mats, yoga balls, extra unfastened weights and spin motorcycles for health categories.

Green tennis courts with palm trees at Westin Playa Vallarta
ELLIE NAN STORCK/THE POINTS GUY

All of the area drifts out over a patio with seating for stress-free within the solar, proper in entrance of surprising tennis courts that regarded nearly too best to the touch.

Facilities and repair

Palm trees in the adults-only pool at Westin Playa Vallarta
ELLIE NAN STORCK/THE POINTS GUY

As one would be expecting at an all-inclusive issues estate, there are a handful of lined facilities and services and products on the estate after which some introduced at an additional price, together with:

  • An enormous on-site gym, tennis courts, padel courts and pickleball courts to be had for visitor use (consultants are to be had at an extra price)
  • A spa with remedy rooms and hydrotherapy circuit amenities
  • Weekly wellness actions, similar to sound therapeutic, break of day yoga, kayaking, paddleboarding, health categories, meditation rituals and coastal cycling
  • An on-site children membership and circle of relatives programming
  • Seaside get right of entry to
  • Two swimming pools, one in all which is adults-only and has a swim-up bar and a whirlpool
  • Cabana leases at each swimming pools and the seashore for a price ($100 an afternoon)
  • Cultural workshops introduced day-to-day, some complimentary (like Wixarika and Alebrijes artwork categories) and a few for a price (like mezcal tastings and season chef reviews at Agave)

Places and logistics

Westin Playa Vallarta entrance and arrival area
ELLIE NAN STORCK/THE POINTS GUY

The Westin Playa Vallarta is positioned very on the subject of Puerto Vallarta Airport (PVR), about 10 to fifteen mins away by means of automobile, relying on site visitors.

We advise asking the resort to lend a hand organize a personal automobile carrier for you. Differently, you’ll take hold of a taxi from the airport.

What it prices to stick at The Westin Playa Vallarta and tips on how to e book it

Charges at this estate all through the 12 months will without a doubt vary relying on seasonal call for, with top season across the iciness vacations and spring ruin. We took a have a look at the resort’s room charges over the following six months and located issues charges ranging from 89,500 Marriott Bonvoy issues in step with evening and money charges ranging from $346 in step with evening.

Accessibility

The Westin Playa Vallarta, an All-Inclusive Hotel options wheelchair-friendly elevators, in addition to obtainable pool entrances.

Out there room varieties come with more than one junior suite choices, some with partial ocean perspectives and a few with swim-up pool choices (the latter are adults-only).

In-room accessibility options come with roll-in showers and mobility-accessible bathtubs.

Word that not one of the obtainable room varieties indexed be offering hearing-accessible options.

As all the time, TPG recommends that you just succeed in out to the valuables immediately sooner than reserving to verify it may possibly meet your wishes.

Final analysis

Banderas Bay in Puerto Vallarta
ELLIE NAN STORCK/THE POINTS GUY

No longer all all-inclusive houses are the similar — in truth, because the call for for this hospitality sector grows, we are seeing increasingly more variation in what is being introduced by means of other manufacturers and resort firms. The Westin emblem is not a stranger to making all-inclusive merchandise (we adore The Westin Reserva Conchal, an All-Inclusive Golfing Hotel & Spa, for instance) and it is transparent, even inside the first week of its opening, that The Westin Playa Vallarta, an All-Inclusive Hotel goes to offer each new and returning visitors, of every age, a reason why to make use of their Marriott issues at this lovingly reimagined estate alongside Banderas Bay.

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