by Jen Mallia
Last updated: 5:00 PM ET, Tue September 1, 2026
Puerto Vallarta is a place people like to return to again and again. It’s beautiful, easy to get to from most of Canada, and there are a ton of hotels and resorts to choose from. The cartel-based violence that shut the city down briefly last spring was thankfully short-lived, and a scary but highly unusual occurrence in a destination that is generally regarded as a safe place to visit.
Travel advisors likely won’t have a tough time selling the destination — the challenge lies rather with narrowing down which resort to choose.
Marriott All-Inclusive brands are expanding rapidly. In 2019, there were only seven properties under the umbrella, now there are 38. Presently, they are all in the Caribbean and Latin America (CALA) region, but that is changing with the next stage of expansion. Look for a Marriott all inclusive in Africa — opening in Zanzibar in 2027.
TravelPulse Canada got a chance to review two Marriott all inclusive properties during a recent trip to the Puerto Vallarta region, including the newly revamped Westin Playa Vallarta, an All-Inclusive Resort (formerly the Westin Resort and Spa, Puerto Vallarta.) and Delta Hotels Riviera Nayarit, an All-Inclusive Resort. Here’s a quick and dirty cheat sheet on qualifying clients for these popular resorts.
Property Overview
Westin Playa Vallarta: The resort transitioned into an all-inclusive on May 1, 2026.. One might expect some hiccups but I found the four-star resort to be restful and the service top-notch. Some online reviews have commented on construction noise, but there was no construction when I visited. My one complaint is that signage could be a little more obvious as I got lost on my way to my spa appointment and accidentally set up on a reserved beach cabana one morning, things that could have been avoided with a few more wayfinding instructions, but overall, very minor points.
Reserve a cabana at the Westin Playa Vallarta for a lazy, luxurious afternoon at the beach. (Photo Credit: Jen Mallia/TravelPulse Canada)
The resort is located conveniently in the Marina Zone of Puerto Vallarta, about a 10-minute drive from the airport. There are several resorts and shops within walking distance, but if you want to take part in the nightlife in the Zona Romantica or stroll along the Malecon, it will require a cab or bus ride.
Westin Playa Vallarta has 281 suites, all located in one main building (the spa and gym are housed in an adjacent building and one of the restaurants is in another.) It would be a good spot for groups as you don’t have to orchestrate a search party to find each other.
The resort features redesigned suites, including some new swim-up suites with lovely terraces for lounging and suites with private plunge pools. Family rooms are also available.
This is not an adults-only property, and has a Westin Family Club with play spaces and daily activities, but it isn’t geared to kids the way some resorts are.
A view of the Sierra Madres foothills from the Delta Hotels Riviera Nayarit (Photo Credit: Jen Mallia/TravelPulse Canada)
Delta Hotels Riviera Nayarit: The Delta Hotels Riviera Nayarit is located in the foothills of the Sierra Madres just outside La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, a little less than half an hour from the Puerto Vallarta airport. This property was the first Delta hotel to open in the CALA region and the first Delta all-inclusive ever. Delta Hotels are well known and established in Canada, which is why management believes the Canadian market is slightly stronger than the American at this hotel. Packages are available from Westjet and Air Canada Vacations, and as FITs from TravelBrands.
The Delta is in the jungle, not on the beach, but a shuttle service is offered throughout the day to take guests to the beach club, about a 10-minute drive from the hotel.
The 312-room resort is spread out over the hills, so you will definitely get your steps in during your stay, although a friendly staff member in a golf cart is never far away if you find the walk across the lush property a little daunting.
The property has a splash park and daily activities for kids and families. It strikes a nice balance of kid-friendly and grown-up focused. During my visit I would estimate fewer than half the guests had children, which made for a nice energy without feeling like you are staying at a daycare.
There are king and two-queen bed room configurations, as well as suites with a king bed and sofa bed for groups of up to four at both properties.
Flora Bar, Westin Playa Vallarta (Photo Credit: Jen Mallia/TravelPulse Canada)
Food and Drink
The Playa Vallarta is about the least all-inclusive-feeling all-inclusive resort I have stayed at. Its roots as a European Plan property come through in its approach to food and beverage, and I couldn’t have been happier with that. The breakfast buffet at the Palma restaurant was big and busy and generous. It’s the only buffet offered at the hotel. Most of the restaurants are concentrated along a central hall (the “Gourmet Gallery”) which has the vibe of an outdoor pedestrian street, with a taqueria, burger joint, ice cream stand and coffee shop. Across the “street”, things get a bit more upscale, with Tanto (Japanese) and the Agave Studio, which does tastings and small bites. There is also an elegant lobby bar called Flora and a poolside spot to grab something quick and easy. Coming soon is Sabia, a sophisticated restaurant on the beach that will be “outside the all-inclusive offerings.”
Setting up for a ceviche class at the Tonati Beach Club, Delta Hotels Riviera Nayarit (Photo Credit: Jen Mallia/TravelPulse Canada)
There is also a nice variety of restaurants at the Delta, with a nice balance between buffet options at breakfast and supper and sit down restaurants. I think a buffet can be a great choice, especially when you are travelling with kids or picky eaters. I only ate at one (the Huichol Cocina Artesanal) during my stay, but the Salt and Thyme restaurant also has a buffet. There is Japanese teppanyaki, Mexican street food at The Food Truck, quick eats at the various bars onsite and a coffee shop. The two stand outs I will mention are the Delta Pantry, a small 24-hour self-service spot that I wish every all-inclusive had. It was so quick and easy to grab yourself a coffee or ice cream (or put a little ice cream in your coffee, no one is judging), I just loved the convenience of it. Secondly, the food at the Tonati Beach Club was outstanding. Lots of fresh seafood options, it felt a step above the usual sort of beach club menu.
Splish Splash
I’ll admit, I went full bougie at the Playa Vallarta, swimming mainly in the pool off my suite’s terrace, a long narrow waterway reserved exclusively for the use of people staying in the swim-up suites. It was such a luxurious treat. I did also sit out in the sun by the main pools and dip my toes in the ocean while I walked on the beach. Both of those were lovely, but if your client has swimming as a priority and can afford the premium, upgrading to a swim-up suite will make the trip especially memorable.
(Photo Credit: Jen Mallia/TravelPulse Canada)
Despite not being on the beach, the Delta Riviera Nayarit does a great job of incorporating water into the fun. There are 17 pools on the property, so it’s very easy to find a spot to soak or splash. There is a waterpark with a waterslide, a natural pool, several smaller soaker pools that have a private feeling, an adults-only pool tucked into the trees and a large leisure pool beside the Media Luna snack bar. My hands-down favourite was the lazy river that loops its way through the centre of the property. Despite a rainy day, I would have happily floated lap after lap in that pool all day long. Oh yeah, kids might like it too.
Each of these properties offered a fantastic getaway on Mexico’s West Coast. When narrowing down the options for clients, either would offer a solid choice, with good food and fun activities such as paint night, crafting, mezcal tastings and luxurious spa treatments.
You can find more information on the Westin Playa Vallarta and Delta Hotels Riviera Nayarit on the Marriott website.
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