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Meliá Puerto Vallarta

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

4.5(14,224 reviews)

FamilyMelia

Meliá Puerto Vallarta is a long-running family all-inclusive sitting directly on the beach in Marina Vallarta, inside the golf community and about 2.5 km from the airport. It opened in 1990 and has the layout to match: low-rise buildings in mature tropical gardens with iguanas sunning on the paths, a lagoon-style pool with a swim-up bar, a kids' pool, two whirlpools and the YHI Spa set beside a lake. It is a Meliá-run international-brand product at a mid-market price, and the appeal is the combination of a genuinely quiet, convenient location with a lot of included activity rather than any attempt at luxury.

Things to Know

Wi-Fi costs extra

Traveler Insights

Pros

+Directly on the beach in Marina Vallarta, one of Puerto Vallarta's quietest and most exclusive pockets, and only about 2.5 km from the airport, so travel days are short at both ends
+An unusually deep activity list for the price: archery, mini-golf, two tennis courts, a batting cage, beach volleyball, soccer, kayaks and body boards, with the non-motorized water sports included
+Two age-split kids clubs, Seeds Club for ages 2 to 4 and Kidsdom for 5 to 11, plus a baby club, which is more structure than most mid-priced Vallarta resorts offer
+The Upgrade to Premium tier is genuinely worthwhile: a Premium Room Ocean Front adds early and private check-in, all-inclusive late check-out until 3 p.m., a premium a la carte breakfast, priority on a la carte dinner reservations, a premium open bar and one YHI Spa steam-room and footbath visit per adult
+Guests through mid-2026 praise the staff relentlessly and specifically, naming individual team members, and cleanliness and housekeeping get the same treatment
+The Marina Vallarta golf club is about 500 metres away and the resort sits inside the golf community, which makes this one of the easiest all-inclusives in the bay to pair with a round
+Lagoon-style pool with a swim-up bar set in tropical gardens where iguanas and seabirds are part of the scenery, and the YHI Spa sits beside a lake on the grounds

Cons

−There is no adults-only section here. If you came looking for a separate adults enclave with its own pool and butler service, this resort does not have one. The premium tier is a room category with added services, not a hotel within a hotel
−Four restaurants and three bars is a thin lineup for a week: Mosaico handles the buffet, Fish House does Pacific seafood, Mole & Tacos is Mexican a la carte and La Palapita is the snack bar. Mole & Tacos is 12 and over, so families with younger children effectively have three
−The resort dates from 1990 and shows it in places. Guests in 2026 who had suggestions pointed at pool-area maintenance and room condition more than anything else
−Several guests say the resort could be clearer about what the all-inclusive actually covers. The YHI Spa, babysitting and laundry all carry charges, and finding that out at the counter sours the first day
−Wi-Fi is the one spec where the sources disagree. Tour-operator fact sheets list it throughout the property, while other accounts describe paying for in-room access, so confirm it before you rely on working from the room
−This is the Pacific, not the Caribbean. Beach swimming means checking the flags daily and accepting real surf and current on some days
−The Malecon and the Romantic Zone are about 7.9 km away, so Puerto Vallarta's best dining is a taxi each way. Marina Vallarta itself is calm to the point of sleepy after dark, beyond the marina boardwalk restaurants
−The property also trades as Melia Vacation Club Puerto Vallarta in some operators' systems, so a membership presentation is a live possibility and worth declining at check-in if you do not want the morning gone

What it is not is a tiered resort. There is no adults-only section and no separate premium enclave: the step up is the Upgrade to Premium programme, which puts you in a Premium Room Ocean Front and adds early and private check-in, all-inclusive late check-out to 3 p.m., a premium a la carte breakfast, priority on dinner reservations, a premium open bar and a YHI Spa steam-and-footbath visit. Dining is the honest weak point at four venues: Mosaico for buffets, the beachside Fish House for Pacific seafood, Mole & Tacos for Mexican a la carte at 12 and over, and La Palapita for snacks, served by three bars including the swim-up. The activity list does the heavy lifting instead, with archery, mini-golf, two tennis courts, a batting cage, beach volleyball, kayaks and body boards, two age-split kids clubs and a nightly show. Guests through mid-2026 are consistent and emphatic about the staff and the cleanliness, while the suggestions that do come up cluster on pool-area upkeep, room condition and clearer communication about which services carry a charge.

This suits families who want structure, a short airport transfer and a quiet base, and golfers who want the Marina Vallarta course 500 metres from their room. Green fees are not something to assume: operator sheets describe discounts rather than free play, so check what your rate actually covers. Couples looking for an adults-only product should look elsewhere in Banderas Bay, and anyone whose trip is built around the Malecon and the Romantic Zone should price in taxis both ways. Against the Nuevo Vallarta international-brand resorts it trades newer rooms and bigger dining lineups for a better location and a lower price, and against the newer Marina Vallarta beachfront options it trades polish for grounds, activities and a track record. The resort is smoke-free throughout, with a US$200 cleaning fee for smoking in a room and only two designated outdoor spots.

Common Questions

Does Meliá Puerto Vallarta have an adults-only Level section?

No. Meliá runs its Level programme at some hotels, but not at this one, and there is no adults-only area here at all. This resort is marketed as a family all-inclusive, and its upgrade path is the Upgrade to Premium programme: booking a Premium Room Ocean Front gets you early and private check-in, late check-out until 3 p.m. on the all-inclusive plan, a premium a la carte breakfast, priority on a la carte dinner reservations, a premium open bar and one YHI Spa steam-area and footbath visit per adult per stay.

Where exactly is the resort, and can you walk to the Malecon?

It is on the beach in Marina Vallarta, about 2.5 km from Puerto Vallarta's airport and roughly 7.9 km from downtown, with the Marina Vallarta golf club around 500 metres away. The Malecon and the Romantic Zone are not walkable, so plan on a taxi in each direction. What you get in exchange is one of the calmest and most exclusive stretches in the bay and an airport transfer short enough to be worth it on its own.

What is the dining setup like?

Four restaurants and three bars. Mosaico is the air-conditioned international buffet with a terrace, Fish House sits beside the sea for Pacific seafood, Mole & Tacos is the Mexican a la carte and is open to adults and children aged 12 and over, and La Palapita is the snack bar. The bars are a lobby bar, a pool bar and a swim-up bar. A la carte seats are limited, so book early in the day, and note that Premium guests get priority on those reservations.

Is Meliá Puerto Vallarta a good choice with young children?

Yes, and it is built for it. There is a baby club, a Seeds Club for ages 2 to 4 and a Kidsdom Club for 5 to 11, plus a dedicated kids' pool, beach volleyball, mini-golf and a batting cage. The Family Room category comes with two double beds plus a bunk bed, a family concierge for the stay and in-room amenity kits for the children, and babysitting is available for a charge. The one catch is that the Mexican a la carte restaurant is 12 and over.

Can you play golf on the all-inclusive plan?

The Marina Vallarta golf club is about 500 metres from the resort, which is the main reason golfers choose this property, but do not assume green fees are covered. Operator listings describe green-fee discounts through packages rather than free play, and inclusion lists are inconsistent on the point, so get it in writing from whoever sells you the package before you count on it.

Are there any policies that catch guests out?

Two. The resort is completely smoke-free, indoors and on the grounds, with only the motor lobby and the public beach designated for smoking, and a US$200 cleaning fee is charged for smoking in a guest room. The other is check-in friction: guests report ID or passport copies being taken for every person in the party, children included, which can make a multi-room arrival slow. Check-in is 3 p.m. and check-out is noon.

Restaurants (4)

Type	Restaurants
Buffet	Mosaico
Mexican	Mole & Tacos
Steakhouse	Tauro (extra charge)
Seafood	Fish House

From the resort's own dining pages. Only restaurants the resort lists are shown. Venues marked "extra charge" are not covered by the all-inclusive rate; the others are, per the resort.

What's nearby

Zona Romántica
11 min drive · 6.0 mi
Los Muertos Beach
13 min drive · 6.5 mi
Water taxi to Yelapa
12 min drive · 6.3 mi
Marina Vallarta
3 min drive · 0.9 mi
Conchas Chinas Beach
14 min drive · 7.3 mi
Our Lady of Guadalupe Church
11 min drive · 5.7 mi

More things to do (24)

Whale watching (December to March) · excursion3 min drive · 0.9 mi
Sunset sail from Marina Vallarta · excursion3 min drive · 0.9 mi
Las Caletas beach day trip · excursion3 min drive · 0.9 mi
Splash Water Park · water park13 min drive · 6.1 mi
Camarones Beach · beach9 min drive · 4.8 mi
Playa Palmares · beach20 min drive · 9.9 mi
Mismaloya Beach · beach25 min drive · 13 mi
Puerto Vallarta Malecón · town10 min drive · 5.4 mi
Evening show and dinner at Las Caletas · excursion3 min drive · 0.9 mi
Sport fishing charter · excursion3 min drive · 0.9 mi
Marina Vallarta Golf Club · golf5 min drive · 1.5 mi
Playa de Oro · beach6 min drive · 2.7 mi
Estero El Salado · nature7 min drive · 2.3 mi
Playa Los Tules · beach7 min drive · 3.5 mi
Playa Las Glorias · beach8 min drive · 3.7 mi
Museo Histórico Naval · museum10 min drive · 5.6 mi
Mirador La Cruz · viewpoint11 min drive · 5.5 mi
Faro de Matamoros · viewpoint11 min drive · 5.8 mi
Isla Río Cuale · nature12 min drive · 6.0 mi
Olas Altas Beach · beach12 min drive · 6.1 mi
Los Arcos snorkel trip · excursion12 min drive · 6.3 mi
Jardín Mágico Butterfly Garden · wildlife14 min drive · 5.3 mi
Amapas Beach · beach14 min drive · 7.1 mi
Aquaventuras Park · water park14 min drive · 6.9 mi

Amenities

Golf Course

Mini Golf

Archery

Babysitting

Yoga Classes

Nightclub

Tennis

Kids Club

Show 7 more amenities

Swim-Up Bar

Water Sports Rentals

Nightly Entertainment

Buffet Dining

Spa

Gym

Beach

Style & Rooms

Atmosphere

Park ViewMid-Range

Room upgrades

Family Suite

Seaweed & sargassum

Puerto Vallarta is not a sargassum destination.See the month-by-month guide →

Every all-inclusive in Puerto Vallarta →

Google Reviews★ 4.5 · 14,224 reviews

Elizabeth H.

2 weeks ago

“The service at Fish house was excellent and xochii was our server she was fabulous! We spent a birthday weekend at this resort! It was a family style resort with a lot of families but a good amount of adults to socialize with! The pool was cool not a...”

CHANDRIMA N.

3 weeks ago

“We Were here this week and it’s one of the best experiences we had in sometime. The resort is excellent. I have to give 5 stars to the service and staff. They have a separate activity Center called kidsdom. Trust me it’s worth it. We felt so good kee...”

Hadia H.

a month ago

“We stayed at Meliá Puerto Vallarta for 7 nights (all-inclusive) and had a really good experience overall—especially as a family. It was our first time in Mexico, and both we and our kids truly enjoyed it. The resort is a bit older, but everything fe...”