Velas Vallarta Resort Reviews – FamilyVacationist

If convenience, comfort, ocean views, beach access, and incredibly friendly staff are what you’re looking for in an all-inclusive resort in Puerto Vallarta, then Velas Vallarta might be the perfect fit for you and your family.

Velas Vallarta is the original location of Grand Velas, one that was so successful that it launched one of the best collections of resorts in Mexico, and it’s clear to see why. Located directly on a pristine private beach on Banderas Bay, Velas Vallarta has swimming pools and tennis courts, a spa, gym, and daycare galore. An ornate open-air lobby welcomes guests alongside helpful staff, and the grounds are a tropical wonderland of lush gardens filled with peacocks, iguanas, and ponds stocked with large koi carp.

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Things to know about Velas Vallarta

• This resort is located in the marina district of Puerto Vallarta, approximately 1 mile from the airport, close to the cruise ship terminal, and within walking distance of the marina with its restaurants and shops. And downtown Puerto Vallarta is just a 20-minute taxi or Uber ride away.
• The resort has three eight-story buildings built in a U shape around the large pools, gardens and restaurants, meaning every room has a view of the ocean.
• There are rooms for all budgets, family sizes and occasions: the resort has 345 suites, complete with private terraces or balconies (including a plunge pool if you prefer the master or presidential suite!), 24-hour room service, bedding and minibar replenished daily. One- to four-bedroom suites are available (and each bedroom has a bathroom).
• Having been designed as a timeshare condominium complex before reinventing itself as a hotel, each room is completely self-contained with a fully equipped kitchen.
• The resort has two restaurants: a beachfront restaurant called La Ribera which does not require reservations and offers buffet and sit-down meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner; and a more formal restaurant called Andrea which requires a reservation for dinner. There are plenty of kid-friendly options at both restaurants, but the vegan/vegetarian options were somewhat limited, especially for dinner. So I suggest calling ahead so they can make arrangements if you have dietary needs.
• The spa (although not in a luxurious location as this property did not originally have plans for a spa) offers a range of relaxation and beauty treatments, including seaside on a pier private covered with grass and lined with palm trees, in a private space. tent perched just above the ocean crashing against the rocks. I can’t recommend booking an oceanfront sunset massage enough. Not only does the sound of the ocean help release tension, but the view of the bay and the setting sun as you look out from the massage table enhances the overall experience.
• Kids will have just as much (if not more) fun at the kids’ club, which offers daily activities. Open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. for children ages 4 to 12, activities include water balloon fights, board games, movie nights, Disney-themed dance parties, tennis lessons and scavenger hunts . Seasonal activities are also offered, including events for Easter and Day of the Dead. Friendly staff abound here and will make sure your kids have fun.
• And not only will your children be taken care of, but so will you. This is one of the most commendable features of this resort: the people and the service.

Review of Velas Vallarta

Velas Vallarta has a 4.5 out of 5 stars on Trip Advisor, placing it in the top three of 13 all-inclusives in Puerto Vallarta, and an 8.3 out of 10 on Kayak. Above all, people praise the lively atmosphere, service, cleanliness and friendliness of this resort.

Key details about Velas Vallarta

Location

located in the marina district of Puerto Vallarta, this resort is about a 20 minute taxi or Uber ride from downtown (I recommend Uber because it was incredibly fast in Puerto Vallarta and you won’t have to pay in cash – note that there is a $20 fee to withdraw cash at the hotel). And definitely arrange transportation from the airport to the hotel before you land: finding reliable airport transportation can seem daunting.

Activities

There are plenty of on-site activities, including two swimming pools, a swim-up bar, a kids’ club, a gym, tennis courts, a spa, yoga classes, and pickleball. Your stay includes a Puerto Vallarta walking tour that departs from the lobby every morning at 9:30 a.m. and is definitely worth it. There are also several activity coordinators with desks in the lobby to help recommend things to do: Activities in Puerto Vallarta range from jungle hikes to canopy ziplining to horseback riding, jet skiing and even swimming with wild dolphins (this is not booked through the hotel). but I recommend it 100%).

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These activity coordinators are very helpful and knowledgeable, especially on Vallarta Adventures activities, but be careful, they may try to get you to attend a 1.5 hour timeshare presentation in exchange for discounted tickets. I would also recommend doing your own research on what activities to do – we found that some activities could be done alone (like hiking and swimming at Palo Maria Waterfall) and didn’t need to be done as part of a paid group.

Property

Velas Vallarta features a large, welcoming open-air lobby, beautiful gardens, and two large heated pools in the center of the property, all facing the Pacific Ocean. Bali beds sit on the light sand of the private beach at the rear of the property, but because an estuary is next to the resort, the water beyond the beach can be a little murky with sediment.

My favorite place to relax was on the lounge chairs by the pool, under the vine-covered pergolas. Here I could enjoy the sun, relax and, from time to time, go for a swim at the swim-up bar.

Rooms

All 345 rooms at this resort have outdoor space, ocean views, and garden views (my room had a part ocean and part garden view… Honestly, I couldn’t tell you which one was better!), air conditioning, Wi-Fi, 24-hour room service, mini-fridges stocked with snacks, and kitchens or kitchenettes. The larger suites all have outdoor and indoor seating areas and feature a full living and dining room.

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