A quick hop from the airport and about 20 minutes from downtown Puerto Vallarta and the Zona Romantica, Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort and Spa is a beach resort with plenty of amenities and a welcoming vibe that fits its dreamy Banderas Bay location. From the oceanview rooms to the expansive pool, its long stretch of sandy beach, and the spa’s hydro-circuit, water truly plays a starring role at the Marriott Puerto Vallarta.
A mix of restaurants, bars, spa, and activities mean there’s plenty to do on the property, and its proximity to downtown (and affordable taxi rates) keeps the sights of Puerto Vallarta within easy reach.
Things to Know about Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort and Spa
- Marriott Puerto Vallarta sits in the Marina Vallarta neighborhood, close to the airport, a golf course, and shopping and dining options.
- The hotel was fully renovated in 2019, and updated rooms are a mix of modern style and local design touches.
- During the November to April whale watching season, there’s a chance you might spot humpback whales from your private balcony at Marriott Puerto Vallarta.
- A large pool with a swim-up pool bar is at the heart of the resort and looks out over the Bay of Banderas.
What Families Need to Know about Marriott Puerto Vallarta
Chief among the family-friendly offerings at Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort and Spa is the indoor-outdoor kids club, where kids can stop in for activities like pottery painting, Spanish lessons, and cooking classes, plus movie time. The daily kids club charge includes lunch, t-shirt, and adventure booklet. Just outside the kids club is the outdoor splash zone and playground, where there’s hours of fun for kids, and comfortable chaise lounges for adults.
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There’s plenty more to recommend the resort to families as well. There are bikes and double kayaks available at the Activity Center, along with stand-up paddle boards. Between June and November, the resort regularly releases baby turtles hatched in its protected outdoor nursery–a spectacular thing to witness for adults and kids alike. Each year, the resort releases an average of 60,000 baby turtles, and on turtle release nights guests are invited to watch. There’s an ice cream stand in the lobby, and swinging chairs nearby where families can enjoy their sweet treats.
What Couples Need to Know about Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort and Spa
The Marriott Puerto Vallarta offers a romantic backdrop for couples looking for a spot to unwind. Bali beds offer an exclusive cabana experience that elevates pool and beach time. Many of the bars and restaurants have lovely ocean views, and made-for-two activities like kayaking (in single or double kayaks) and stand-up paddle boarding are offered on property. For extra-special moments, the resort offers romantic private dinners on the beach or in the herb garden. The hotel is also a popular venue for weddings.
Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort and Spa Reviews
Tripadvisor users rate the Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort and Spa 4.5/5, praising the location, service, and amenities. Kayak users give it 8.7/10, a “very good” rating. Booking.com guests give the property 8.7/10, a rating that falls in the “excellent” category. On Expedia, the property is rated 4.4/5, which falls within its range of “excellent” as well. Reviews on the resort’s own website give the property a rating of 4.6/5.
Important Details about Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort and Spa
Location
The resort is located in Puerto Vallarta’s Marina area, which stretches from the cruise ship terminal to near the airport. Though the Marriott has been here for decades, much of the surrounding neighborhood is newer, and includes a golf course, marina, restaurants, and shops. The resort is a quick trip (five to 10 minutes by car) from the airport, and though you can sometimes see planes taking off in the distance, it still feels like a world away from the airport.
The Property
The Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort and Spa sits on a stretch of Banderas Bay beach dotted with (mostly low-rise) beach hotels and condo developments, and beach paths along much of the route make it easy to stroll well beyond the property. Two main buildings angle out toward the water, meaning that most of the resort’s 433 rooms have ocean views. Around the property, landscaped gardens bring in local elements like agave plants, cactus, and volcanic rocks.
Renovations on the property were completed in 2019, and include a revamp of all guest rooms and the now-open-air lobby. The pool is the heart of the property, and includes a hot tub, areas within the pool for both swimming and lounging, tile chaise lounges built into the pool (facing the ocean), a shallow area in the middle of the pool for relaxing, and a swim-up bar at the resort eatery Nosh. The pool is accessible and has a lift for easy entry and exit into and out of the water for people with mobility issues.
Rooms at Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort and Spa
Most of the Marriott Puerto Vallarta’s 433 rooms offer ocean views. All guest rooms were recently renovated (2019), and include floor-to-ceiling windows, large marble bathrooms with new glass showers, private balconies (or terraces for ground-floor rooms), high-speed WiFi, and LCD televisions that make it easy to log into your preferred streaming service. Design touches like custom wallpaper and locally inspired decor give rooms unique touches. The resort also has 28 suites that include separate living areas, sofa beds, and walk-in closets.
Activities at Marriott Puerto Vallarta
Perhaps responding to the general feeling from travelers that resort fees are a burden, the resort is not just transparent but also pretty excited about the amenities that the resort fee entitles guests to, including two welcome drinks (beer, mojitos, or margaritas), free in-room WiFi, bottled water (note that the hotel will be slowly transitioning to cartons of water over the next few years in an effort to reduce single-use plastic bottles). The resort fee also covers a tequila tasting for two; access to kayaks, paddle boards, bicycles, and sports courts (basketball, tennis, volleyball, and ping pong); spa wellness area access (more on that in the spa section below); and a rolling schedule of daily activities including Spanish lessons and aqua aerobics.
Dining at Marriott Puerto Vallarta
Spread across the resorts are six restaurants plus fast-casual spots like Los Mangos Deli (which had great coffee, pastries, sandwiches, and a selection of grab-and-go snacks), the poolside Coco Bar with its coconuts and cocktails, and an open-air ice cream parlor in the lobby. Standout dining experiences include the beach-side, open-air Las Casitas (don’t miss the brunch chilaquiles) and the expansive tequila menu at the Ceviche and Tequila Bar.
The resort is singular among Marriotts as it has its very own tequila, Tequila Casamagna, as well as an in-house certified Tequilier and a Tequila room.
Spa
The resort’s Ohtli Spa is a 22,000-foot space dedicated to wellness and relaxation. There’s a hydro-circuit (it’s recommended you arrive early to start your relaxation early) with a Roman tub, cold plunge pool, foot bath, sauna, and steam rooms. The spa menu has an interesting mix of offerings, including the water-based Jantzu Rebirth Therapy and Fire Opal Balancing Stone Therapy, as well as more traditional offerings and treatments inspired by the local Huichol tribal culture. Connected to the spa is the fitness center and indoor lap pool.
