Casa Velas

Puerto Vallarta is a lively, touristy town, but you would not necessarily know it if you stayed at the Casa Velas. For better or worse, this quietly luxurious all-inclusive hotel feels removed from the hustle and bustle of downtown, a few miles away. It's in an upscale neighborhood with quiet streets and gorgeous homes that might remind guests a bit of Palm Springs or Beverly Hills. The location is great for peace, quiet, serenity -- and golf, since the hotel is surrounded by the fairways of the Marina Vallarta Golf Club. The main noises here come from the roaming flock of peacocks, and occasional airplane noise overhead from the nearby airport (though most don't find it too intrusive). The small room count allows for a truly intimate vibe -- guests rave about the personal attention from the staff members -- and means public spaces never feel crowded. At this adult-only retreat guests can escape loud music, annoying activities, or kids, which is rare for an all-inclusive.The hotel's two- to four-story buildings feature a clean contemporary version of traditional Spanish style, tastefully executed, and the public spaces, especially the lobby, conjure the feel of a grand, well-furnished hacienda. Extensive renovations in 2015 added a new meeting salon, new amenities in the rooms, and fresh paint throughout. The spa was also refurbished in 2015 and early 2016. The grounds are perfectly groomed, with every single flower -- and there are many -- in place. Interestingly, the hotel has an extensive botanical garden, with herbs, flowers, medicinal plants, vegetables, and trees, all labeled and organized so that guests can stroll through and see what's what. Some of the plants grown here may make their way into the restaurant dishes or spa treatments. Those looking for a family-friendly option will find plenty of alternatives, including sister resort Grand Velas in Nuevo Vallarta or Velas Vallarta on the other side of the golf course; both have beachfront locations, unlike Casa Velas. Garza Blanca is a luxury family-friendly option located farther south that's also worth considering. 

Located just south of the airport and a few miles north of Puerto Vallarta itself, Marina Vallarta is an upscale development that has grown up around the marina, with its cruise ship docks, yacht harbors, boat owners, and boat-related businesses. This is also a serious golf community, and the hotel is located right on the Marina Vallarta Golf Club course. For the most part Marina Vallarta has the feel of a well-heeled waterside development in Southern California. - Five-minute drive to the airport

• 12-minute walk to the marina (and its restaurants) 
• 25-minute drive to Old Town and the Malecon oceanfront promenade
• 25-minute drive to Nuevo Vallarta

Decorated in a tasteful, residential Mexican style, the rooms are all spacious and upscale, with excellent mattresses, pillow menus, and marble bathrooms. This is an all-inclusive hotel, so minibar items and snacks are included. Wi-Fi is free. The latest upgrades in 2015 brought in new bed frames, Smart televisions, capsule coffeemakers, desks, loungers, and mini-fridges. Wellness Suites were also added, which include a private plunge pool in the garden, private terrace, exercise bike, yoga mat, massage table, and air purifiers.The suites start around 463 square feet (43 square meters), though units within each category can vary from 50 to 100 square feet. Upper-tier rooms add more space, patios with seating, and golf course instead of garden views, as well as hot tubs and/or plunge pools. The two-level villas add a second bedroom upstairs. Most suites feature one king-size or two double beds and can fit three adults; the Two-Bedroom Ambassador Suite and Presidential Suite can fit five and eight guests, respectively. The Ambassador Suite clocks in at over 1,500 square feet, and The Presidential Suite is a massive 5,564 square feet. Marble bathrooms come complete with a scale, robes, and slippers. The Master Suites and Grand Glass Suite have benches in the showers, plus rain showerheads and secondary handheld showerheads. The Master Suite Plus and Grand Class Suite Plus also feature large whirlpool tubs, plus outdoor plunge pools.

The primary focal point of the resort is the freeform pool, which is surrounded by cushioned wooden lounge chairs and features a swim-up bar. Emiliano is the hotel's main restaurant, located just to the side of the pool, serving a variety of upscale Mexican and American items for all three meals. It has both air-conditioned seating indoors and alfresco seating. There’s also a special spa menu which features herbs and items produced by the hotel’s own botanical garden in the back of the property. Meanwhile, the beach club is available via regular transport at the front of the hotel (it's about a two-minute shuttle ride, or 15-minute walk). The beach isn’t the best, as it’s a bit rocky, but the club includes a two-story building featuring an Asian-fusion restaurant, as well as small infinity pool. There are white cushioned wooden loungers and umbrellas on the sand. The gym is an attractive space with wooden floors and nice views over the gardens. There are cardio machines, resistance machines, and free weights, and bottled water is provided. Yoga and other fitness classes are on offer. Just upstairs is the hotel’s spa, which was entirely remodeled in 2015 and early 2016, and features a beauty salon and hydrotherapy facility. Guests can also borrow beach bags from the boutique for use during their stay.The hotel has over 4,000 square feet of event space spread out over half a dozen rooms. There is also nearly 7,000 square feet of space available between the pool terrace and lobby bar terrace.Guests are also free to use the all-inclusive amenities at sister property Velas Vallarta (located by the beach club), including the beach, pools, tennis courts, and salon space. Additionally, its restaurants are covered as part of the Casa Velas all-inclusive package. Some guests may also be offered a free meal at French restaurant Piaf at Grand Velas (depending on the length of stay).