Puerto Vallarta was good to us. We did as any normal parenting couple on vacation without kids. Abolutely everything we wanted to. We ate too much, drank too much and of course took late naps in the sun poolside, playing cards with friends, listening to music and just soaking up the marine air, warm sunshine, eating our weight in guacamole and chips.
Garza Blanca Preserve Resort & Spa, an all-inclusive resort just 20 minutes south of downtown, was good to us. Exactly what we needed for a long couples weekend away from “adulting.”
We traveled with another couple and the four of us researched the crap out of this trip and couldn’t decide on where we wanted to stay – should we stay in Punta Mita for ultimate pampering, or maybe we wanted more laid back surfer/yoga feel in Sayulita? We stumbled upon the Garza Blanca from a recommendation of a friend. I did my normal hotel geek out to investigate and liked what I saw. I called a couple friends who had mixed reviews, but we decided to go for it.
We were not dissapointed.
Maybe it is because we went WITHOUT kids this trip, so our expectations were super lowkey – we just wanted to be waited on at a luxury hotel with a nice quiet room, with killer views, sunshine, good food a bucket of cervesas poolside.
We only had a few days of rest, so we spent most of our time at the resort doing just that. We didn’t have one bad meal while we were there. Even the food poolside was well done.
We had to burn off some of those calories, so we enjoyed the great fitness room, racquetball and tennis courts on the property. We also spent one morning out in the wild of the Garza Blanca Preserve “advanced” guided hikes through the nature preserve owned and maintained by the hotel. We climbed using ropes, laughed and even jumped off rocks into the pool under a waterfall.
Garza Blanca offers two booking options – one Oceanfront (suites and rooms literally steps from the ocean pounding on the rocks below) and Oceanview Panorama, up in the towers. We split our stay in both experiences to give you the chance to decide.
Book an Oceanfront Suite if you want a more laid back ocean vibe, where you can listen to the sound of the crashing waves below. Suites will give you more room to stretch out. Hammock included.
Book a Panorama Suite if you prefer a more posh and modern vibe, or are staying with a larger group. We had a two bedroom suite and was the perfect size for two couples sharing a suite, or a family of four or five.
Hotel Mousai, the adults-only hotel tower is the ultimate in modern luxury and sits in the center of the property. Mousai is the place to see and be seen and is home to the most extraordinary roof top bar and pool and is a stark departure from the laid back and family-friendly vibe of the rest of the Garza Blanca property. The nightlife here is hopping and the white couches are filled with sunburned guests dressed up and ready to have fun. We even spotted a woman playing electric guitar walking the pool deck, her long white dress flowing in the warm Puerto Vallarta breeze.
Be sure to book yourself a day at Spa Imagine, located in Hotel Mousai. The views are stunning and you may just get lost in complete bliss in the hydrotherapy room, while soaking in endless water overlooking sweeping ocean views.
Garza Blanca is worth a go if you want an alll-inclusive luxury resort in Puerto Vallarta that is all-inclusive but doesn’t feel like it – kids or no.