First look: The Westin Playa Vallarta, an All-Incl...

Strolling into the open-air foyer of the newly minted Westin Playa Vallarta, an All-Inclusive Resort captures the essence of what many lodges goal to impart on their company: leaving stress on the door and stepping right into a state of all-encompassing leisure. It is becoming for a Westin, because the model weaves an ethos of wellbeing all through every of its distinct properties.

Right here, perched towards the glimmering waters of Puerto Vallarta’s Banderas Bay, a constant ocean breeze ambles by the sunlit halls, lush greenery cascades from each nook of each the inside and the outside, and, maybe most notably, the nice and cozy employees members are prepared to assist with any request or simply cease to have a pleasant chat. Considerate particulars all through the property — like native artwork, spa experiences borrowing from centuries-old traditions and a plethora of cultural activations — make sure that a way of place is paramount.

“We’re thrilled to welcome vacationers to this new chapter in upscale all-inclusive journey,” Hugo Lecanda, the property’s normal supervisor, mentioned in a recent statement from Marriott. “As extra vacationers go for seamless, elevated experiences that nourish each the thoughts and physique, we invite our company to embrace a brand new strategy to expertise Mexico’s Pacific Coast.”

And nourish each the thoughts and physique the resort did. The unique resort opened in 1993 and has since welcomed again many returning company — everybody from multigenerational households to grownup buddy teams to {couples} — searching for that hallmark sense of nourishment over the previous three-plus a long time. Following this multimillion-dollar renovation, which has touched practically each a part of the on-property expertise, lots of these repeat company have the identical query: Will the all-inclusive mannequin work because the resort enters a brand new period?

Based mostly on the time I spent on the resort simply days after it entered Marriott’s ecosystem as The Westin Playa Vallarta, an All-Inclusive Resort, I feel the reply is sure. With renovated visitor rooms, the addition of adults-only swim-up rooms, redesigned swimming pools, and refreshed wellness and eating applications, The Westin Playa Vallarta actually felt nourishing to each the physique and the soul.

Here’s a first have a look at The Westin Playa Vallarta, an All-Inclusive Resort.

A biophilic design brings the outside inside

From the open-air foyer to the vast sun-drenched halls to the visitor rooms with panoramic home windows, daylight and greenery set the tone all through The Westin Playa Vallarta, which was precisely the intention of Sordo Madaleno Arquitectos, the company behind the renovation and reworking.

Afternoon gentle pours in from slats within the ceiling, casting stunning patterns onto the stone and marble flooring. Dappled daylight drifts down between palm fronds and tree branches onto the glistening waters of the side-by-side swimming pools. Vegetation is ample each contained in the resort and throughout its lush grounds — as soon as a coconut farm, the property is residence to some 300 towering palm timber that lead you straight to a comfortable swath of quiet seaside alongside Banderas Bay’s light shoreline.

With the Sierra Madre mountains within the distance past the water, it is a gorgeous scene, whether or not you are looking from one of many high flooring or a poolside cabana.

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Refreshed interiors from Uribe Krayer and Vida Design Studio complement the light-filled property, with refined splashes of deep reds and vibrant blues all through within the type of tastefully upholstered chairs, patterned pillows and assertion partitions.

The room

My Heavenly Pool Panoramic Suite, one in all 280 visitor lodging, measured in at 581 sq. ft. Like the remainder of the property, the room was all about what lies outdoors: bountiful daylight and that placing waterfront location.

Inside, I used to be delighted to discover a king-size Westin-branded Heavenly mattress with comfortable white linens (it did, as promised, ship a blessedly heavenly slumber). There was a spacious seating space with a snug sofa and a small desk that regarded out over the balcony and to the idyllic view past, the scene itself nearly like an enormous mural. Subsequent to the window was a large flat-screen TV (although with that view, I did not really feel the necessity to flip this on even as soon as). The room additionally featured a minifridge with refreshments like comfortable drinks and water, in addition to a espresso machine with espresso pods, tea and a few gentle snacks.

The crown jewel of the suite was actually the water-facing balcony, which drifted out from the room past sliding glass doorways. From there, I may get pleasure from magnificent views of the resort grounds, Banderas Bay and the Sierra Madre mountains from one in all two comfy lounge chairs. The heated plunge pool (with adjustable temperature and lighting) was nearly too good to be true, serving as a super place to begin and finish day-after-day.

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ELLIE NAN STORCK/ THE POINTS GUY

The toilet was equally an expertise in and of itself, honoring the property’s theme of pure gentle. An enormous skylight over the glassed-in bathe and the stylish stand-alone soaking tub allowed daylight to pour into the area, reflecting off the twin vainness’s clay-hued, marbled floor that sat beneath a wall-spanning mirror. The closet contained all of the requirements, together with plush Westin-branded bathrobes, slippers, a secure and loads of area to hold garments. Toiletries have been Westin-branded, with a refreshing white tea scent.

Eating at The Westin Playa Vallarta

You will not discover the cookie-cutter buffets at The Westin Playa Vallarta — although there actually are choices aplenty in terms of eating, from informal spots to seize a regionally impressed chunk to extra refined retailers. Visitors can get pleasure from six eating places and 4 open-air eating and ingesting retailers. Distinctive to this Westin is the Gourmand Gallery, a big meals hall-style space that comprises six eating places. (I like to recommend making a reservation forward of time, because it may get fairly crowded.)

• At Name Me Lalo, I devoured a wealthy queso dip with contemporary salsas, delectable steak tacos and crispy, house-made tortilla chips.
• At Agave Studio, I had the honour of sampling the chef’s particular seasonal menu (obtainable at an added value), which included beef tartar with bone marrow, Cornish hen and asparagus, and a scrumptious tres leches for dessert. This program is obtainable alongside a particular mezcal tasting, and the chef explains the pairing of flavors, yielding a really particular expertise.
• At Tanto, the upscale Mexican-Japanese fusion restaurant, I tasted tuna and salmon nigiri, among the finest miso soup I’ve had outdoors of Japan and scrumptious rooster fried rice.
• Flora, the open-air foyer bar providing gorgeous views of the towering palm timber, options gentle bites and contemporary cocktails — when you go, attempt the esquites corn dip and thank me later.

In my eyes, the hallmark of an excellent all-inclusive is one which has a culinary program that primarily honors the native delicacies, and The Westin does simply that, whereas including in glimmers of different international cuisines in order that company have loads of choices to select from throughout their keep.

Room service is, after all, obtainable — and for these in the suitable sort of suite, I extremely suggest having fun with not less than one breakfast from the consolation of the balcony. I had scrumptious green-sauce rooster chilaquiles with a aspect of native fruit, contemporary pastries, refreshing inexperienced juice and low. It stored me full all day and arrived contemporary and sizzling inside a half hour of ordering.

The spa and health heart

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ELLIE NAN STORCK/THE POINTS GUY

One of many greatest attracts at The Westin Playa Vallarta is actually the Heavenly Spa, which presents therapies like aromatherapy massages, reflexology and revitalizing facials. I particularly liked my 80-minute sizzling stone therapeutic massage ($215), expertly executed with simply the correct amount of stress. My favourite a part of the go to, although, was my time within the hydrotherapy circuit, which consists of a sizzling plunge, a chilly plunge, a lukewarm pool overlooking greenery, a steam room and a sauna.

And for many who fancy a exercise, the health heart was, by far, one of the vital spectacular resort gyms I’ve ever encountered. It was, merely put, large, with each piece of health tools conceivable. There was an enormous area for weightlifting, two rooms price of cardio machines and an entire separate room with mats, yoga balls, extra free weights and spin bikes for health lessons.

All the area drifts out over a patio with seating for stress-free within the solar, proper in entrance of gorgeous tennis courts that regarded nearly too excellent to the touch.

Facilities and repair

As one would anticipate at an all-inclusive factors property, there are a handful of lined facilities and companies on the property after which some supplied at an additional value, together with:

• An enormous on-site health heart, tennis courts, padel courts and pickleball courts obtainable for visitor use (specialists can be found at an extra payment)
• A spa with therapy rooms and hydrotherapy circuit amenities
• Weekly wellness actions, resembling sound therapeutic, dawn yoga, kayaking, paddleboarding, health lessons, meditation rituals and coastal biking
• An on-site children membership and household programming
• Seaside entry
• Two swimming pools, one in all which is adults-only and has a swim-up bar and a whirlpool
• Cabana leases at each swimming pools and the seaside for a payment ($100 a day)
• Cultural workshops supplied every day, some complimentary (like Wixarika and Alebrijes artwork lessons) and a few for a payment (like mezcal tastings and season chef experiences at Agave)

Places and logistics

The Westin Playa Vallarta is situated very near Puerto Vallarta Airport (PVR), about 10 to fifteen minutes away by automotive, relying on visitors.

We suggest asking the resort to assist organize a non-public automotive service for you. In any other case, you possibly can seize a taxi from the airport.

What it prices to remain at The Westin Playa Vallarta and find out how to e-book it

Charges at this property all year long will definitely fluctuate relying on seasonal demand, with peak season across the winter holidays and spring break. We took a have a look at the resort’s room charges over the following six months and located factors charges ranging from 89,500 Marriott Bonvoy factors per evening and money charges ranging from $346 per evening.

Accessibility

The Westin Playa Vallarta, an All-Inclusive Resort options wheelchair-friendly elevators, in addition to accessible pool entrances.

Accessible room varieties embody a number of junior suite choices, some with partial ocean views and a few with swim-up pool choices (the latter are adults-only).

In-room accessibility options embody roll-in showers and mobility-accessible bathtubs.

Word that not one of the accessible room varieties listed provide hearing-accessible options.

As all the time, TPG recommends that you simply attain out to the property straight earlier than reserving to make sure it may possibly meet your wants.

Backside line

Not all all-inclusive properties are the identical — the truth is, because the demand for this hospitality sector grows, we’re seeing increasingly variation in what’s being supplied by completely different manufacturers and resort corporations. The Westin model is not a stranger to creating all-inclusive merchandise (we love The Westin Reserva Conchal, an All-Inclusive Golf Resort & Spa, for instance) and it is clear, even throughout the first week of its opening, that The Westin Playa Vallarta, an All-Inclusive Resort goes to provide each new and returning company, of all ages, a purpose to make use of their Marriott factors at this lovingly reimagined property alongside Banderas Bay.

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