The Westin Playa Vallarta, An All-Inclusive Resort

We liked the pool and beach area, and the service was very good, but the resort's condition and food left us so disappointed that we moved to other accommodations. For a Westin, the place seemed badly run down. The video from room 514, May 2026, shows what we mean. The food was poor across the board: overly salty miso soup and sushi that didn't seem fresh at Tanto Sushi, plus the burger and taco shops. At beachfront Arrecifes, the shrimp bisque and “fresh seafood” plate came with very uncaring service. My wife has a shrimp allergy and asked which soup was the bisque and which was corn chowder. The waiter put the bisque in front of her, and she tasted it. When I got back to the table, I said she'd clearly been served the shrimp bisque. We switched bowls, and I understood why she hadn't been able to tell: it wasn't tasty or recognizably shrimp-based. It did leave her mouth itchy for the rest of the evening. We found much better value for the all-inclusive price at Conrad and Mayakoba (PDC), Secrets (Cabo), and a few other places in PV. Even the waterfall wall that usually greets guests was bone dry and out of order. The sloppy painting around the property made the low standard of refurbishment obvious. This won't be a repeat visit for us.

The junior deluxe suite with a sky plunge pool was reasonably spacious and had an excellent view, and the staff were kind and helpful. But in February 2026, construction was happening all over the hotel. You could hear it in the rooms, lobby, and pool area, and one day I had to hop over rubble to get to my room. Jets taking off and cruise ships arriving were audible too. There’s no room service dining, and the small beach out front isn't good for swimming. The hotel is also about 30 minutes from the lively part of town. As things stand, I can't recommend staying here unless you're only planning to sleep at the hotel.

The staff were exemplary throughout our three-night stay at the Westin resort and spa in Puerto Vallarta. Everyone we met was friendly and went out of their way to make things great. Check-in was easy and welcoming, and as Bonvoy Gold members we got an ocean-view room upgrade and early check-in. Our room was perfect, and the large Honeywell dehumidifier was a nice surprise since it took care of the humidity that can be a problem in tropical rooms. The hotel is transitioning to all-inclusive, so the pool swim-up bar and one restaurant were closed. We still had no trouble getting food and drinks by the pool, and breakfast each morning at the oceanside restaurant was lovely. We'd gladly return. We only wish we could have stayed longer, but they were fully booked for the rest of the week.

The beach sunsets were fantastic, and I was impressed to find a gym better equipped than the Anytime Fitness I use back home. There are several restaurants, from burgers, fries, and milkshakes to tacos and Japanese food, and the food was terrific. Ricardo helped unload our taxi luggage, and everyone we met was friendly and attentive. I picked the Westin Resort and Spa because I found out my favorite show, the Apple TV series Acapulco, was filmed here in Puerto Vallarta. Some parts of the building are still pink, so it felt like being at Las Colinas. The resort is transitioning to all-inclusive, and we'll definitely return. It's only a few minutes from the airport, and we highly recommend it.