A Review of Puerto Vallarta

I recently returned from a stay at the beautiful Riviera Nayarit, Mexico. Terrah and I stayed 4 nights at The Marival Residences & World Spa which is just 15 minutes from the Puerto Vallarta airport. We stayed in a gorgeous, spacious 2 bedroom residence and just some of the things that surprised me about the resort included: the incredibly spacious balcony, the beautiful vegetation throughout the resort, and the great service. The 2 Bedroom Residence that we had the privilege of staying in had the largest rooms and the biggest balcony I’ve ever seen. You never would have been able to tell that the resort was new by looking around. There were flowers on every veranda, foliage in every hall, palm trees throughout the resort, and all the plants throughout the property made this resort look and feel as though it had been up and running for years, not months. The service was also fine tuned; whether we were making reservations at the concierge desk for an excursion, ordering room service, or taking advantage of the beach butler service at the private beach club next door, the service was always impeccable.

So, it’s a given that I loved the resort, but I really want to point out that the destination itself is absolutely wonderful. The people in Puerto Vallarta are extremely friendly. Everyone we met, whether it was a taxi driver, a salesman, or a waiter–all outside of the resort–were always welcoming, sociable, and helpful. Another pleasant surprise was how truly beautiful the beaches were. I was not expecting a beautiful white sandy beach with the turquoise waters that the Caribbean offers, but I wasn’t expecting what I saw either. What I experienced on the beaches in the Riviera Nayarit was nothing short of amazing. The beaches were nice, big, and very clean. They were not cluttered with sea weed and although the water was not as clear as what you would have in a pool, it was very clear nonetheless. I was very surprised that we were able to snorkel and see blue and yellow fish on the Pacific coast. As opposed to the Caribbean, the Pacific featured slightly larger waves which allowed me to enjoy watching kids boogy-board and play in the surf. All in all, I was very impressed with the resort and the destination, and can’t wait to go back with my friends and family.