All-Inclusive Beachfront Resort with Welcoming Staff and Live Shows

On Mexico's Pacific coast, Puerto Vallarta nestles between the placid Bahía de Banderas (the “Bay of Flags”) and the rolling Sierra Madre foothills. This romantic setting helped to earn the city the No. 1 spot among Mexican destinations in TripAdvisor's Travelers’ Choice 2012 awards. There’s no shortage of hotels in the city’s zona hotelera, but Friendly Vallarta Beach Resort & Spa stands out for its staff members, who are as welcoming as the hotel's name suggests. Whether they’re helping youngsters to build sand castles at the kids’ club or mixing tropical cocktails as part of the hotel’s all-inclusive package, the attentive staffers make sure each guest has a memorable trip.

The resort is located right along the beachfront, with many onsite restaurants offering open-air seating that allows guests to soak in the view. Although there's entertainment every evening, the week’s shows build up to Saturday, when the dinner theater fills with live dancers and musicians. Feel free to attend a show each night, as shows are part of the all-inclusive package. A night at the theater surrounds guests in luxury, from the linen tablecloths to the tableside drink service. During the day, you can attend complimentary yoga and Pilates classes at Grand Spa or check out a kayak to explore the waves of Banderas Bay.

Thanks to angled balconies, each superior room overlooks either the oceanfront or the pool deck, where terra-cotta-colored tiled roofs border multiple pools, jacuzzis, and palm trees. Inside the rooms, blonde-wood furniture and navy prints echo the beach’s sand and sea hues.

During the included city and tequila tour, you'll board a bus to Old Vallarta to visit the Malecón and the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe, a turn-of-the-century building topped with a giant crown. After driving past the stunning seascapes at Mismaloya and el Eden, you'll learn how local tequila is fermented from blue-agave sap before sampling aged varieties.

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico: Tropical Paradise with Cosmopolitan Flair

Puerto Vallarta is perhaps Mexico’s most sophisticated vacation destination, with expansive beaches, trendy restaurants, and cobblestone streets leading to beautifully preserved 19th-century churches. A 16-block boardwalk known as the malecón offers unobstructed ocean views as it extends from the city center past fountains and a famous 9-foot-high statue of a boy riding a seahorse. For a glimpse of the city's history, head to Viejo Vallarta, also known as Old Town or the Romantic Zone, where artists peddle shawls and piñatas, and mariachi bands serenade couples dancing on Plaza Principal.

Read the Fine Print for important info on travel dates and other restrictions.