What are your thoughts on all-inclusives?
My recent stay at the Hard Rock Puerto Vallarta + more
I’m not typically an all-inclusive gal, but they say there is an all-inclusive renaissance/resurgence happening. My friend sent me this article the other day about it, which states that “this new wave of all-inclusives is all about luxury, offering a raft of enticements from gourmet à la carte dining to personal butler service to high-end experiences unique to their locales. Notably, many of these properties are being launched by luxury hospitality brands entering the all-inclusive arena for the first time.”
To me, true luxury includes but is not limited to Michelin-starred chefs, 24-hour room service, a tub, nightly turndown, soft music and soft aromas, great cocktails (complex flavors, not watered down), high-end products and—when TVs are part of the deal—Netflix or a casting service that actually works. I think all-inclusive still has a long way to go, but maybe I just haven’t found *my* all inclusive yet. Opinions on this?
A few examples:
In 2017, I stayed at Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta and remember really loving the food on property and the more authentic Mexican vibes (lots of lush greenery, Spanish tiles, balcony bath tub/hot tub, a turtle release and more). I recall the property being kid-free when I visited—though they say they are an all-ages resort with a kids club and all—and undergoing renovations at the time. I distinctly remember sunsets, tequila tasting and a fellow writer on the trip with me ordering spiked frappes for the road at 8 AM (no judgement). I wrote about that trip here. This is an all inclusive resort I’d for sure stay at again. The word luxury doesn’t immediately come to mind, but “colorful” (in the best way) does.
Then, in 2021, I stayed at Unico Hotel Riviera Maya and wrote about it here. I thought the property was really pretty, but the food was so-so. I visited during covid times THE DAY AFTER a hurricane so we won’t judge them too harshly. Even the ATMs were down, but we were able to get off property a couple days and that really made the trip 100% soul-satisfying and worth it.
HARD ROCK VALLARTA
More recently (as in last month), I took off to Puerto Vallarta again for a long weekend of fun in the sun. This time, I stayed at Hard Rock Vallarta and I can’t say the hotel itself was my favorite, but this is how they advertise themselves:
“Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta is a luxury, all-inclusive resort 20 minutes from the excitement of Puerto Vallarta that indulges your senses. With a gorgeous beachfront setting, the Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta is the essence of all-inclusive coastal luxury and tranquility.”
First off, I would say “luxury” and “tranquility” aren’t quite accurate here. This is a rock ‘n roll hotel. The sweet sounds of rock music find you no matter where you are on the property. So peace and quiet isn’t quite the M.O.
Not to say I didn’t enjoy myself, though. The best thing about staying here were the views from the room (do not miss a sunset) and just lounging at the beach—gorgeous, true to its description—all day with a book. The pool was too loud for my taste and honestly wasn’t a fan of how kid-friendly (AKA chaotic) the pool and hot tub are. I spent zero time in that area, but I could see/hear it all from my room. Hallways were a bit dingy—unsure if/when this property was last renovated, but I think it’s time to update the common areas.
THE FOOD
24-hour room service is available here, which I thought I’d take super advantage of, but it fell flat for me the first night and I never ordered in again. It was a much smaller menu than expected and while I explored all the restaurant offerings on property I can’t say I loved the food… one of the major restaurants (Zen - Asian fusion?) was closed and we didn’t get to experience it, so that was a bit unfortunate. Either way, great green juice on the daily (I love this about Mexico), made to order omelettes in the mornings, delicious guac and ceviche at the poolside Frida bar and a soft serve machine. Those were the highlights for me. Everything was fresh and the servers were all honestly sooo sweet, which is always a plus.
Next, I’ll share the day trips that made it all worthwhile. Our guide (organized by the hotel) was awesome and we ventured out for a day of sightseeing, tequila tasting and wandering around. I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again: always go off property. What is the point of visiting a new country/town/island if you can’t see what it’s actually about? Stay tuned, and enjoy these images of ultimate relaxation in the meantime. :)