We just got back from our family vacation (August 2024) in Puerto Vallarta and it was incredible! I've included all our trip details including where we stayed, ate, excursions, etc. Everything you need to know for a family trip to Puerto Vallarta! *Note: I was not sponsored or paid in any way for this trip. All of the information is my own opinion about things that I wanted to share with my Stay at Home Mom Activity community.*
Getting There:
We flew out of the San Francisco airport (SFO) into the Puerto Vallarta (PVR) airport. Your family will need passports for this vacation, so that is something to keep in mind when making plans. For this trip we flew on United Airlines. Once we landed, we took a shuttle from the airport to Hertz to get our rental car. Then from Hertz, it was barely even a 5 minute drive to the hotel. Looking back, we probably could have gone without renting a car but we did use it to drive short distances to dinner a few times. You would have to decide if you like having a car or does taking taxis work for your family. I know a lot of the choice comes down to how many of your kids need carseats, boosters, etc, and if you want to deal with putting those in and out of a taxi.
Pro Tips for Air Travel:
- TSA Pre-Check: You don't have to take off shoes, there are typically shorter lines at security, and you don't have to take out electronics from your carry on which makes traveling with kids just a bit smoother!
- Global Entry: You have to apply for this prior to going on your trip and make appointments for your family similar to getting passports. When we came home from Mexico we got through the customs line in one minute because of this.
- Both of these tips do require some advanced planning and come with additional costs. It may not be worth it for all families, but our family does a lot of traveling so the cost is worth it to us for the ease it brings at the airport.
Hotel:
We stayed for seven nights at the Westin Resort & Spa, Puerto Vallarta and loved it! We had the "Panoramic Suite". It had a king bed, a pull out sofa, a spacious bathroom and beautiful views! On the balcony there were 2 lounge chairs, great views, and a plunge pool! The pool alone made it worth it! Our kids would play in the plunge pool while we would sit on the lounge chairs and watch them and relax. The kids had a blast! We have a Marriott credit card so when we are trying to find hotels, we first try to find one through that franchise so we can use our points. If that isn't an option, we just do a bunch of online research reading different reviews and blogs.
Things We Liked About the Hotel:
- There were two different pools on the property and both were pretty big. One of the pools had a swim up bar. There were iguanas all over which was so cool! They even got in the pool on occasion to swim from one tree to another.
- This was a beach front hotel and you could swim in the beach that was right there. The water was so warm! They have cabanas you could rent (one was included with our suite). They had outdoor showers and bathrooms. Right from the beach you can rent jet skis and buy little trinkets from local vendors.
- The Westin Resort & Spa was right next to some other hotels which we personally liked. We went to dinner at the Marriott next door multiple times. It is close enough to walk but we just drove over and it was a 1 minute drive.
- The hotel was walking distance to a marina that had multiple little shops and restaurants as well. It was a nice area and we always felt safe walking around here.
Our Favorite Restaurant: Mikado
This ended up becoming our favorite restaurant on the trip, especially for the kids. We loved it so much we ate there 3 times during our trip haha! It was located inside the Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa which was walking distance or a 1 minute car ride from The Westin. This is a Japanese style restaurant where they cook right at your table and will even involve your kids in the cooking if they want. My kids LOVED it!
Day Trip to Sayulita:
Sayulita is a small town close by to Puerto Vallarta. It is known for its relaxed vibes and pretty beaches. Some people even refer to it as a "hidden gem" in Mexico. We hired a private driver for $200 who took us on a day trip. He picked us up at our hotel at 10:00AM and dropped us back off around 4:00PM. He drove us to Sayulita and showed us the best beach and restaurant to go to. He brought boogie boards, towels, and a cooler with alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks for us. He even helped us get lounge chairs on the beach. To top it off, he was so sweet! If you are planning to go to Puerto Vallarta and would like his contact information i would be happy to share it. Just email me at: stayathomeactivitymom@gmail.com
Other Popular Activities in Puerto Vallarta:
We didn't go to these places during this trip, but these are some other highly rated, family friendly areas to visit while visiting Puerto Vallarta.
- Malecon Boardwalk
- Zona Romantica
- Playa De Los Muertos
Favorite Vacation Items:
Click on the picture below to be linked to some of my must have items from our trip!
Hopefully you found this blog helpful for your vacation planning. Our family had such a great time on our trip to Puerto Vallarta!
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