Interested in staying in an all inclusive resort in Puerta Vallarta. Any advice on the best location?

Depends what you are looking for...

There are many out in Nuevo Vallarta which is about 1 hour north of downtown. It is more of a Cancun style area. There are resorts in The Marina & The Hotel Zone which are north of town but only by 5 to 15 mins. Or the old Camino Real just went All-Inclusive in July and is now called Dreams. It sits on its own beach south of town by 5-10 mins.

So it depends if you want to be walking distance to El Centro where most of the great galleries, shops, restaurants, and activites are. Or more a situation where you want to just stay within your resort and relax there (and would take a taxi or bus to get into downtown).

Definitely do not recommend all inclusive in P. Vallarta the reason is there is so much to see while dining you can go to the most fantastic restaurants either on the beach or in town or up in the mountains. The prices are great (same as in the states) so it really doesn't pay. The one main reason is if you don't like the food, it's a waste of money at all inclusive. I guess it's all a matter of what you like and what you want to do. Have fun!! and Good Luck!!! If you must go all inclusive try Premier it's in walking distance to town and have read good reviews about it. It's Adults Only though I don't know if that's ok for you.

Think this over. PV is so full of glorious fine restaurants that it is a shame to go all-inclusive unless you just want to lay around with Americans and eat OK food and shop there, just like in the USA. If you wish to get to know the area, its culture, its food, check out other options, many very fine, esp. along Playa Los Muertos, condos and time shares, very elegant. I have been going to PV for 26+ years [I was but a mere babe in arms of course] and have been compliling a restaurant guide, free by email, no ads, no spam, no money for me, just about sharing. So, if you desire, ask me for a copy and peruse it to see the wide range of food possibilities which you would miss out on. Check out the Old Town south of Rio Cuale.

Gary
groups.yahoo.com/group/Puerto_Vallarta_OldTown_SouthSide

Yes, I agree. If there's one truly BAD place to do AI, it's got to be Puerto Vallarta. There are just *SO* many good restaurants in town that it's a crying shame to waste your money on mediocre hotel food.

Besides, you probably won't want to hang around the hotel all the time anyway.

When our family goes to Vallarta, we hang out by the hotel pool 1 or 2 days, but the rest of the time we're off to El Eden, Yelapa, Punta Mita, Rincon de Guayabitos or even just moseying around downtown or on the malecon.

Paying for AI in Vallarta probably means you'll be paying for a LOT of meals you won't be eating.

There are places where AI makes some sense. Vallarta is not one of those places.

Have fun!
Mark
www.tiogringo.com

www.puertovallarta.net is a commercial site with an active bulletin board and lots of resort-staying posters. Try there.

I personally would never stay at one (15 trips to PV later!) for all the reasons mentioned above and many more.

PV is not Cancun and many AI's are functional at best. Besides I love the small local Mexican hotels and I love the local restaurants on the southside of town. To me that's the heart of Puerto Vallarta.

If you are set on an all-inclusive resort I'd kindly suggest you consider a different destination.