Best Beach Hotels in North Hotel Zone, Puerto Vallarta

The luxury Sunset Plaza Beach Resort provides an intimate and high-end hotel stay right on Las Glorias Beach. The entire resort reflects a contemporary and stylish vibe that focuses heavily on natural stone elements and vibrant colors. A sheer vastness defines the property as well, throughout its public and private spaces. All 80 rooms and suites feature oceanfront views and come with butler service and a customizable aromatherapy menu. There are three outdoor pools (including one for adults), a kids' club, and the decadent Zen Set Spa with treatment rooms. All-inclusive packages are available at the two restaurants and two bars. The Sunset Plaza is a bit pricier than the next door Plaza Pelicanos, which has less polished decor but a similar stretch of beach and amenities. 

Fiesta Americana is a smaller, older resort that still manages to be one of the best upscale all-inclusive resorts in Puerto Vallarta. It stands out for having one of the nicer stretches of beach in the North Hotel Zone, as well as superior customer service, with many guests raving about their favorite staffers. This is an extremely family-friendly resort, with a kids' and teens' club, plus playgrounds, water sports, and fun activities such as cooking classes. The heated pool is sprawling and has a swim-up bar and kiddy area, and food is good for this caliber of resort, with multiple a la carte options and no reservations required. Velas Vallarta is another great kid-friendly all-inclusive and has larger rooms, but it's a bigger property, the beach isn't as long, and it's in the marina area, farther from town.

The mid-range Villa Del Palmar Beach Resort & Spa is the more affordable, and less upscale, sister to Villa Del Palmar Flamingos Beach Resort & Spa -- though this property has the more central location, right in the Hotel Zone and close to downtown. It caters to families with its 395 spacious rooms (including one- and two-bedroom options with kitchens), small waterslide, kid-friendly activities at the pool and beach, and cheesy evening shows. There are three pools -- one for activities, one for kids, and one for quiet -- as well as a simple day spa (opt for the beachside massages) and a spacious fitness center. There are four restaurants, though the all-inclusive option may not be worth it as the a la carte prices are reasonable. Rooms have modern, colorful decor as a result of a 2014 makeover, but while some do overlook the beach, others overlook the parking lot and highway. Despite the updates, the resort still feels older throughout.

For family fun, this resort is solid -- featuring a children's pool and slides, colorful kids' club with covered sand pit, and Family Rooms designed to sleep two parents and up to three children younger than 12. Beyond the kid stuff, the hotel has clay tennis courts with nighttime lighting, a great beach, and plentiful dining options, along with a small fitness center and tiny spa. The focus is definitely on family here, so couples looking for a romantic getaway may want to choose the adults-only Golden Crown Paradise All-Inclusive Resort instead.

The 218-room Friendly Vallarta Resort is an all-inclusive three-pearl property on the beach. Prices are on the high side, especially when you factor in the crowds, noisy rooms, and reported sanitary issues with the buffet food. College kids and young families like the three on-site restaurants and two bars -- one of which is located near the sandy beach. There are nice ocean-facing pools and hot tubs, including one pool just for adults. The Costa Sur Resort and Spa offers many of the same amenities with larger suites in a quieter location, though it's farther from the airport.

With a convenient location close to Puerto Vallarta's airport and downtown, the Sheraton Buganvilias Resort & Convention Center appeals to all kinds of travelers. The beachfront hotel has 473 stylish rooms with colorful Mexican-inspired accents, though its open-concept bathrooms lack privacy and some rooms lack balconies. The resort’s lively pool is the property hub, where guests gather to relax, sunbathe, and swim up to the bar. Five restaurants serve a variety of cuisines such as Italian and seafood, plus a weekly Mexican fiesta offers an authentic glimpse of local culture. Additional amenities include a beautiful spa, modern fitness center, kids' club, and four tennis courts. The on-site convention center attracts lots of business travelers, but the Sheraton is also a popular family pick. It’s worth comparing rates at the nearby Hilton Puerto Vallarta Resort, a modern all-inclusive property. 

With a fabulous beach, several pools, and an inexpensive day spa offering a wide array of treatments, the Krystal has the potential to be a great budget pick. However, mediocre food, dated rooms (except for the contemporary Deluxe Rooms in the Tower building), and inconsistent maintenance make this a less desirable hotel than some of the neighboring properties in the same price range.

The upper-middle-range Crown Paradise Golden is an adults-only, all-inclusive beachfront resort situated between bustling downtown Puerto Vallarta and the swanky Marina Vallarta. Between Paradise Golden and its sister property next door, guests can eat at a half dozen restaurants for free, including standard buffet meals and reservations-only dinners. There’s a big pool, whirlpool, and direct beach access, plus lots of loungers and cabanas for relaxing, a beach bar, a poolside bar and grill, and a lobby bar. Entertainment on offer includes everything from morning yoga to daytime water aerobics, beach volleyball to tennis, plus nighttime DJ-ed dance parties and theatrical performances. The property’s 214 guest rooms are comfortable, if on the small-side and dated in places, but they all have balconies, minibars stocked with free drinks, and big plasma TVs. Upgrades get a whirlpool. For similar amenities with kids onboard, consider the Crown Paradise Club next door.

Once an old Holiday Inn resort, the Sunscape Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa opened in 2015 after extensive remodeling and rebranding. This upper-middle-range, all-inclusive, family-friendly option isn’t fancy, secluded, or exclusive, but it’s well-run and offers a beach front location in Puerto Vallarta’s hectic Hotel Zone. Its 320 rooms and suites are contemporary and spacious with private terraces or balconies, most with ocean views. There’s a massive main pool with a swim-up bar, a pool-grill island, direct beach access, beach volleyball, two tennis courts, a kiddy pool, and supervised kids’ and teens’ clubs. The resort has 10 bars and eateries, though not all restaurants are open for every meal or every day of the week. Nearby alternatives include the Crown Paradise Club or it’s adults-only sister property, Crown Paradise Golden.

Villa del Mar is a 131-room, upper-middle-range resort located directly next to sister property Villa del Palmar, a large, lively resort on the beachfront of Banderas Bay in Puerto Vallarta’s Hotel Zone. The two connected resorts share amenities, including several restaurants, pools, a nice beachfront, and a modern fitness center – but Villa del Mar’s atmosphere is quieter and its pool much less crowded. The main difference is in the rooms (and the price). Villa del Mar’s studios and suites, which all include a kitchenette, are slightly less updated.

This 207-room lower-middle-range resort offers two pools and three restaurants in a convenient location steps from the beach. This section of beachfront has a somewhat industrial feel, however, with the muddy river water streaming through and an abandoned hotel next door. On the very southern end of the Hotel Zone, Costa Club is walking distance to the restaurants and shops of the town, though many guests choose to partake in the resort's all-inclusive plan. The rooms and suites are bland but spacious, and overall the hotel has a lively atmosphere for kids. For families on a very tight budget, this resort could offer value – as long as you’re not expecting to be wowed by the beach.