The Westin Resort & Spa, Puerto Vallarta
The Westin Playa Vallarta is a genuinely new chapter for a familiar Puerto Vallarta property. The former Westin Resort & Spa went through a multi-million-dollar transformation and officially reopened on May 18, 2026 as Westin's first all-inclusive in Mexico. The redesign touches nearly everything: 281 rooms and suites with the Heavenly Bed 2.0, 16 new adults-only Swim-Up Junior Suites with their own Playa Dip Club, Sky Pool Suites with private plunge pools, family studios with kitchenettes, two redesigned pools split between adults and families, new pickleball and padel courts, and a reimagined Heavenly Spa focused on hydrotherapy and aromatherapy.
Traveler Insights
Pros
- +Officially opened on May 18, 2026 as Westin's first all-inclusive in Mexico, after a multi-million-dollar transformation of the former Westin Resort & Spa, so rooms, dining, pools and wellness spaces are all freshly redone
- +281 redesigned rooms and suites, every one with the new Heavenly Bed 2.0, plus 16 new adults-only Swim-Up Junior Suites set along ground-level water pathways and Sky Pool Suites with private plunge pools
- +Gourmet Gallery is an open-air food hub of 10 culinary and mixology concepts, including Tanto (Japanese), Palma (Caribbean and Latin), Call Me Lalo Taqueria, Organic & Co Cafe, Flora Bar for cocktails and Agave Studio for small-batch mezcal tastings, with Sabia still to open
- +The rate genuinely covers a lot: meals, snacks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, entertainment, non-motorized water sports, kids' activities, taxes, service fees and gratuities, and self parking is free
- +Two redesigned free-form pools, one adults-only and one family-friendly, so couples and families each get their own zone instead of fighting over one deck
- +Swim-up suite guests get exclusive access to Playa Dip Club, a swim-up social spot with its own bites and cocktails
- +Active travelers get real facilities: new pickleball and padel courts, tennis, a WestinWORKOUT studio, plus weekly sunrise yoga, kayaking, paddleboarding, Aqua Fit and coastal biking
- +Wholesome Family Studios with kitchenettes and flexible living space make longer family stays far easier than a standard double room
Cons
- −The beach out front is narrow and marina-adjacent, nothing like the wide powdery stretch many expect from a resort at this price, so most guests spend their days at the pools
- −All-inclusive is now the only way to book, so travelers who used to take a room-only rate and eat around Puerto Vallarta's restaurant scene lose that flexibility
- −The all-inclusive operation only opened in May 2026, so its track record is short and most reviews online still describe the old European-plan Westin
- −Relaunch pricing reflects the renovation spend, a clear step up from what the old Westin charged and well above budget all-inclusive competitors
- −Marina Vallarta is convenient for the airport but has none of Old Town's charm; the Malecon, the Romantic Zone and downtown dining all need a taxi or Uber
- −Only 16 swim-up suites exist and the plunge-pool categories are similarly limited, so the most desirable rooms book out early for peak dates
- −The Heavenly Spa sits outside the published rate inclusions, so treatments add to the trip budget
Dining is the headline change. Instead of the old pay-as-you-go model, the package now centers on the Gourmet Gallery, an open-air hub of 10 culinary and mixology concepts that includes Tanto for Japanese, Palma for Caribbean and Latin flavors, Call Me Lalo Taqueria, Organic & Co Cafe, Flora Bar and the Agave Studio mezcal bar, with Sabia due to open later. Marriott's rate covers meals, drinks, entertainment, non-motorized water sports such as kayaking and paddleboarding, kids' activities, taxes and gratuities, and self parking is free. The honest caveats: the beach out front is narrow and marina-adjacent, the weakest part of the property; the all-inclusive operation is only a few months old as of October 2026, so most reviews still describe the pre-renovation hotel; and the value-priced Westin era is over.
The Westin Playa Vallarta works best for travelers who want a big-brand all-inclusive with Marriott Bonvoy earning, couples eyeing the adults-only pool and swim-up suites, and families who value the dedicated family pool and kitchenette studios over beach quality. It sits in the upper-middle of the Puerto Vallarta market, below Grand Velas and Garza Blanca and above the older all-inclusive stock, and competes most directly with Hilton Vallarta Riviera and Hyatt Ziva for loyalty-program travelers. The resort is minutes from the airport, and Old Town and the Malecon are roughly 15 minutes away by Uber, which makes day trips to the Romantic Zone easy.
Common Questions
Is The Westin Playa Vallarta all-inclusive now?
How is the beach at The Westin Playa Vallarta?
What restaurants are included after the renovation?
Is The Westin Playa Vallarta good for families?
How does The Westin compare to other Puerto Vallarta resorts?
Is the spa included in the all-inclusive rate?
Restaurants (3)
| Type | Restaurants |
|---|---|
| Mexican | Call Me Lalo |
| Japanese & sushi | Tanto |
| American & grill | Coastal Burgers |
From the resort's own dining pages. Only restaurants the resort lists are shown. All are covered by the all-inclusive rate, per the resort.
What's nearby
Zona Romántica11 min drive · 6.2 mi
Los Muertos Beach13 min drive · 6.6 mi
12 min drive · 6.5 mi
Marina Vallarta3 min drive · 1.1 mi
Conchas Chinas Beach15 min drive · 7.5 mi
Our Lady of Guadalupe Church11 min drive · 5.8 mi
More things to do (24)
- Whale watching (December to March) · excursion3 min drive · 1.1 mi
- Sunset sail from Marina Vallarta · excursion3 min drive · 1.1 mi
- Las Caletas beach day trip · excursion3 min drive · 1.1 mi
- Splash Water Park · water park13 min drive · 6.2 mi
- Camarones Beach · beach9 min drive · 5.0 mi
- Playa Palmares · beach20 min drive · 10 mi
- Mismaloya Beach · beach25 min drive · 14 mi
- Puerto Vallarta Malecón · town10 min drive · 5.5 mi
- Evening show and dinner at Las Caletas · excursion3 min drive · 1.1 mi
- Sport fishing charter · excursion3 min drive · 1.1 mi
- Marina Vallarta Golf Club · golf6 min drive · 1.6 mi
- Playa de Oro · beach7 min drive · 2.8 mi
- Estero El Salado · nature7 min drive · 2.4 mi
- Playa Los Tules · beach8 min drive · 3.7 mi
- Playa Las Glorias · beach8 min drive · 3.9 mi
- Museo Histórico Naval · museum10 min drive · 5.7 mi
- Mirador La Cruz · viewpoint11 min drive · 5.7 mi
- Faro de Matamoros · viewpoint12 min drive · 6.0 mi
- Isla Río Cuale · nature12 min drive · 6.2 mi
- Olas Altas Beach · beach12 min drive · 6.2 mi
- Los Arcos snorkel trip · excursion12 min drive · 6.5 mi
- Jardín Mágico Butterfly Garden · wildlife14 min drive · 5.4 mi
- Amapas Beach · beach14 min drive · 7.3 mi
- Aquaventuras Park · water park15 min drive · 7.0 mi
Amenities
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Style & Rooms
Atmosphere
Room upgrades
Google Reviews★ 4.5 · 3,998 reviews
“We stayed here from Dec 19 - 23, 2025. It was a wonderful time. The spa was closed. That wasn't important to us, but I can see how it would be to others. They offered the use of the spa at the Marriott. It was a 10-minute walk. We actually ate at th...”
“We had a pretty good time at the Westin. It’s super close to the airport, just a quick 10-minute Uber ride away. The staff were so friendly and helpful. The room was just right, even though we only booked a basic partial ocean view room. Since we we...”
“My husband and I had the pleasure of staying here last October for our 30th anniversary, and we couldn't have asked for a better experience! The customer service was outstanding from every staff member we encountered. A special shoutout to Angel from...”
