As I reviewed the tropical gardens, shady pools and sandy beach of the Westin Puerto Vallarta Resort, I saw families having fun: all ages, shapes and colors. Parents and grandparents, babies and teenagers, wedding parties, honeymooners and dogs traveling with their owners. Just about anyone wanting to escape the stress of jobs and home… They all come to the resort to relax and reconnect.
It’s very family friendly, with an easy-going vibe and a casual focus on health and wellness.
Built on 14 acres of a former palm tree farm, the resort’s designers took special care to preserve as many palm trees as possible (600 of them.) The Westin Resort & Spa, Puerto Vallarta is cooler, greener and shadier than many other resorts. Even the two swimming pools include mature palm trees on a number of small “islands”, so kids splashing and playing in the middle of the pools have shady spots, too.
My Westin Puerto Vallarta Resort Review
Puerto Vallarta, surrounded by mountains and tropical forests, was not created as a resort destination. Instead, resort development has grown up around the town. It has a more Mexican feel than many other resort areas in the country and attracts Mexican, as well as North American and European families. That’s a real plus for families traveling with Spanish language learners.
A key factor in my positive Westin Puerto Vallarta Resort review is location. The resort is in the safe Marina Vallarta neighborhood just 10 minutes from the airport and a 15-minute drive into town. That makes it particularly convenient and quiet for families.
Another bonus for this Westin Puerto Vallarta Resort review is the variety of celebration-worthy private dining options. Multi-generation family travelers should pay special attention because these luxury offers can transform your vacation into a special memory to recall for many years.
While the resort is affordable by U.S. standards, my Westin Puerto Vallarta review has tips for budget-watchers as well.
Palm-Shaded Swimming Pools: Family Fun in the Sun in Paradise
Picture two free-form flowers with floppy petals – that’s what the pools resemble. Many of the petals are shallow and give younger children lots of room to safely splash about. Older kids love exploring the nooks and crannies of the pools and cruising around the palm tree islands. (An iguana was sunning on one of them when we swam by.) Teens and young adults enjoy the lively volleyball court in one large “petal” and adults can relax at the swim up bar with a cocktail or a mocktail.
The pools’ many curves and indentations create more space for chaise lounges and a sense of privacy for guests. And of course, the many palm trees provide a beautiful shaded canopy for everyone. A big plus — no fighting over umbrellas here.
The Westin Puerto Vallarta: Choose Pergolas to Enjoy the Beach
At 410-feet long, the Westin Resort & Spa, Puerto Vallarta beach may seem small to some families. Our favorite place, to headquarter, however, is in one of the 13 shady pergolas (available for a fee and highly recommended.) Each private “unit” is on a wooden floor raised above the sand and populated with chaise lounges and small tables. There’s a sense of privacy thanks to the generous spacing between them and airy curtains that can be pulled across. Kids can happily play in the soft sand that surrounds each pergola under the watchful gaze of family members.
The wooden pergolas are protected from the beach by the resort’s low wall, which means more privacy for guests and a break from the handful of vendors that walk along the beach. When you’re ready to dip your toes in the water, just walk a few steps. As in many tropical resorts, a system of flags alerts you to the safety of the water, plus a resort lifeguard keeps an eye on things between 10am and 7pm.
Budget-Watcher’s Tip: To save on pergola fees, you can toss your towel on one of the resort’s umbrella-shaded chaises right on the beach.
Why Special Occasion Dining Experiences are a Standout for Multi Generational Family Vacations
With fresh seafood caught daily, three restaurants and several bars, there are plenty of delicious options for eating and drinking. Two special occasion dining options deserve special mention in my review of this Westin resort.
Celebrate Big at the Celebration Table at Westin Puerto Vallarta
The Celebration Table for 6-12 people is a private dining experience with three different six-course menu choices. Your table can be set up overlooking the ocean or in a private corner of one of the resort’s lavish tropical gardens.
It’s perfect for big moments, like birthdays and anniversaries, or any special occasion where a small family group wants an intimate and unforgettable evening.
Enjoy Casual Family Time at the Westin’s Sunset Picnic Dinner
The Sunset Picnic Dinner can be set up on the sand when the tide is low or up on a low grassy bluff overlooking the beach. In my review, I found that elderly grandparents or those with disabilities might have trouble with this particular setup. Wiggly children, on the other hand, especially enjoy this option.
You sit on cushions at a low table set with fine china and glasses. The table holds a selection of plated appetizers and a large picnic basket containing main course items. Children can jump up and play in the small teepee that’s set up adjacent to the table, or on the grass or sand while adults enjoy the sunset over the Pacific Ocean.
Westin Puerto Vallarta’s Eat Well Kids Menu
Healthy eating is a focus of all Westin menus, but their Eat Well Menu for Kids is more interesting than many. The menu has options like blueberry and banana lollipop pancakes for breakfast. Lunch and dinner choices include turkey lettuce wraps and lean white fish tacos with grilled corn or a dessert of fruit kebabs with lowfat Greek yogurt.
Take Advantage of the Kids Club for an Hour…or a Full Day
Parents and children can drop in together for one of the hourly activities listed on the weekly schedule. At my visit, they included sandcastle building, balloon wars, bracelet making, eco hikes, and pinata making. Or, parents can bring their kids to the Kids Club to play with Legos, board games and puzzles. When they tire of the fantasy kitchen, climb around the tree house and run under the palm tree sprinkler on the patio.
If you want to drop off children to be looked after by the staff, there is a daily fee of $40 and they must be ages 4 to 12. (Some of the drop-in arts n’ crafts activities also have a fee.)
Budget-Watcher’s Tip: All ages are welcome to enjoy the club on a complimentary basis for an hour or so, as long as they are accompanied by an adult family member.
Westin Puerto Vallarta Resort Review of Family Accommodations
The majority of the Westin Resort & Spa’s rooms have either a king bed or two queens. Cribs are available, as are rollaways for a small fee. All rooms come with mini refrigerators and safes. Balconies with chairs and safe railings overlook the gardens and ocean.
The family suite is a gem with a kitchenette, living room and multiple bedrooms that can be added. You must reserve it well in advance as there is just one of them.
Other spacious suites (some with private plunge pools) can also be booked, but the family suite is the only one with a kitchen.
Budget-Watcher’s Tip: Many of the standard guest rooms connect, so it’s easy for bigger families to be comfortable without splurging on a suite. Check special family offers and availability for your dates of travel before booking.
Bravo! The Westin Resort & Spa, Puerto Vallarta’s Committed to Sustainability
Go to many Mexican Resorts, and you’re buying cases of bottled water or ordering mineral water from the bar every chance you get.
But at the Westin PV, your room comes with a glass carafe that you can fill at the water stations located near every elevator. They look like what you see at many airports and dispense triple-filtered water. You won’t find a single use plastic water bottle anywhere at the resort.
My review of the Westin Puerto Vallarta resort found many eco-friendly features. Water from hotel room showers, for example, goes directly to the resort’s own water treatment plant. That waters the pretty landscaping and grounds during the dry season. Usable food goes to food banks, and food waste goes to a pig farm in the area. Staff members volunteer to give back to the community as a regular part of their paid work.
The resort is also Blue Flag certified, which means it meets the Foundation for Environmental Education’s strict criteria for the high-level environmental and safety standards of its beach.
I Give a Thumbs Up to the Resort for On-Site Family Activities
Also on the property are a full-service spa, tennis courts, a workout room, meeting rooms, a children’s playground, and a ping pong table. You can check out bikes, paddleboards and kayaks on a complimentary basis. The resort’s weekly schedule details organized activities like bocce ball, aqua aerobics, yoga, beachfront meditation classes, and chess on a giant chess board.
Budget-Watcher’s Tip: Many of the resort’s organized activities are for families to enjoy together at no cost.
Westin Puerto Vallarta is a Good Base for Family Friendly Activities
Excursions off property are easy to book through the resort’s concierge. Families like special days out such as snorkeling excursions to secluded coves, boat tours to see dolphins (and whales between December and March), ziplining, parasailing, horseback riding and more. Review the many options online with Vallarta Adventures, one local tour operator we used at our visit. Or, plan ahead on Viator to save up to 50% on advance bookings of a PV food tour or eco-experience!
A 15-minute taxi ride into the city of Puerto Vallarta to explore the beautiful Malecon oceanfront walkway is a must. Fantastical bronze sculptures dot the Malecon and many are interactive, making them much more interesting to children than anything in a museum. They can climb up a bronze ladder, sit in an astonishingly tall chair topped by an octopus or whale, ride colorful rocking horses or admire elaborate sand sculptures. A trip to the Artisan’s Market is always a hit with kids. Shop for colorful embroidered stuffed animals, beaded hair ornaments, painted wooden toys and other handcrafted items. And don’t forget to try the local taco stands.
Budget-Watcher’s Tip: Most of the Puerto Vallarta resorts work with local conservation organizations to protect sea turtles that nest on these shores. Ask the concierge where you can take the kids to watch hatchlings (baby sea turtles) being released back to the sea. It’s free, and an amazing sight that usually takes place between July and September.
Talk about making lifelong memories together.
Trip Planning Details for the Westin Resort & Spa, Puerto Vallarta
During the busy summer season which families prefer, room rates start around US$200 a night.
The Westin Resort & Spa, Puerto Vallarta (+52 322 226 1100) is located at Paseo de la Marina Sur 205, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, 48354, Mexico.
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