Best Hotels in Puerto Vallarta for Family Fun in the Sun

Kimberly Miles Avatar
Hotels in Puerto Vallarta: infinity pool at the Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort and Spa.
Families of all ages enjoy the large, oceanfront infinity pool at the Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort and Spa. Photo credit:: Kimberly Miles/Heather Plut Kiefer

Choosing the right accommodations for a family vacation can be challenging. Will the pool be kid-friendly? Will the room be big enough to accommodate the whole family comfortably? Is there dining on site when we want it? In Puerto Vallarta, the answer to all of those questions is: Yes! From big all-inclusive resorts to small boutique hotels, there is no shortage of great places to stay. So how do you choose? Start with this list of our favorites, the 11 best hotels in Puerto Vallarta for families.

Hotels in Puerto Vallarta: Buenaventura Grand Hotel and Spa
Many hotels in Puerto Vallarta offer relaxing pools and water views. Photo credit: Buenaventura Grand Hotel & Great Moments

Buenaventura Grand Hotel & Great Moments

A smaller, cozy hotel, the Buenaventura Grand Hotel is best for families who want to be in the center of it all. The hotel sits right on the beach, offering easy access for families who want to take a break from the three hotel pools. There is just about everything a family would need, including a kids club, designated kids pool, babysitting services, a recreation club and a fully equipped gym.

Located at the top of downtown Vallarta, the location of the hotel makes it a great option for families wanting to explore Puerto Vallarta. It is within steps of several authentic Mexican restaurants, a short walk from the start of the Malecón and minutes from the Romantic Zone (also known as Old Town). For first time visitors to Vallarta, the Buenaventura Grand is a great place to start.

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Hotels in Puerto Vallarta: Villa del Palmar Flamingos Beach Resort and Spa
The beachfront pool offers a water slide, shallow kids pool and a more tranquil pool for the adults. Photo credit: Villa del Palmar Flamingos Beach Resort and Spa

Villa del Palmar Flamingos Beach Resort & Spa

Situated in Nuevo Vallarta, just north of Puerto Vallarta, Villa del Palmar is a popular choice for both local families and tourists. The rooms include small kitchenettes, making it a great option for families who don’t choose the all-inclusive option. Room service is available for days when gathering all of the family for dinner is too much of a hassle.

The resort has beach access, although undoubtedly one of the best features is the hotel pool. The pool is beachfront and offers a water slide, shallow kids pool and a more tranquil pool for the adults.

Several fun activities and entertainment for families are available, including water activities, games and fitness classes. The resort even offers a family program for those on the all-inclusive plan. The program provides kids with their own check-in desk and personalized checkout, a kids club, special menus and room amenities. There is also a great lineup of activities such as cooking classes, massage classes, arts and crafts, games and more.

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Hotels in Puerto Vallarta: Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort and Spa
The Marriott Puerto Vallarta is another beautiful oceanfront resort with a private beach and plenty for families to do. Photo credit: Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort and Spa

Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa

The Marriott Puerto Vallarta is another beautiful oceanfront resort with a private beach and plenty for families to do. Its location in Marina Vallarta gives families the option of spending some time off-property and walking to several marina restaurants and shopping facilities.

The kids club offers a variety of activities to keep kids entertained and having fun while adults relax or partake in offsite excursions. There is a separate children’s pool and water play area. Floaties can be requested for kids (and adults) who don’t quite have the hang of swimming. In addition to the large infinity pool with swim-up bar and indoor lap pool, the resort also offers a full-service spa, fitness center and free wifi.

However, perhaps the best part of the Marriott is the helpful and friendly concierge staff who go above and beyond to ensure everyone in the family has a great time both onsite and offsite.

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Hotels in Puerto Vallarta: Crown Paradise Club Puerto Vallarta
The Aquapark features nine slides, a pirate ship, a castle and a Jacuzzi with swim-up bar for the adults. Photo credit: Crown Paradise Club Puerto Vallarta

Crown Paradise Club Puerto Vallarta

The Crown Paradise Club has a more laid-back vibe for families seeking an all-inclusive resort, with plenty of fun things to do for all ages. The resort offers rooms with up to three-bedrooms for larger families. The Family Room comes with a king bed, three bunk beds and separate TVs in each room so kids and adults can watch their own programming.

Professional childcare services are offered for babies and toddlers, as well as a fun kids club for older children. For the teens in the family, there are also plenty of activities, including a game room with video games, pool table and air hockey table.

However, the highlight of the resort for kids and adults alike is the Aquapark. Claimed by the hotel to be the best water park in Puerto Vallarta, the Aquapark features nine slides, a pirate ship, a castle and a Jacuzzi with swim-up bar for the adults.

CHECK PRICES / AVAILABILITYHilton Puerto Vallarta Resort

Hotels in Puerto Vallarta: Hilton Puerto Vallarta Resort
Kids visiting the Hilton with their families love the beachfront pool and various activities for all ages. Photo credit: Hilton Puerto Vallarta Resort

Hilton Puerto Vallarta Resort

For families who won’t have access to a vehicle and want to have everything right at their fingertips, the Hilton Puerto Vallarta Resort is a great all-inclusive option. Kids visiting the Hilton with their families love the beachfront pool and various activities for all ages.

The resort’s kids’ club and private babysitting service is also a favorite for the entire family, providing adults with a small break to participate in adult activities while the kids enjoy fun games, arts and crafts. The kids’ club also includes a garden area for mini-golf, a shallow wading pool, a movie room and a game room.

There are a variety of all-inclusive dining options onsite to please all appetites including specialty restaurants serving French, Brazilian, Spanish and Asian (with reservations only) cuisine. While the specialty restaurants only make available a certain block of hours for dining with children, families will still feel better knowing that they don’t have to make separate dinner plans for their little ones!

For those times when leaving the room for a meal is inconvenient, 24-hour room service is available.

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Hotels in Puerto Vallarta: Sheraton Buganvilias Resort and Convention Center
The Sheraton has large pools with kiddie areas and a fully equipped children’s club with various activities and workshops. Photo credit: Sheraton Buganvilias Resort and Convention Center

Sheraton Buganvilias Resort & Convention Center

The Sheraton is great for families wanting to enjoy the resort life without being secluded from the city. Located at the south of the hotel zone, the resort is on the beach and walkable to the Malecón and large grocery stores. Right across the street is a large public sports complex with a track, multiple soccer fields, baseball fields and more.

The resort has large pools with kiddie areas and a fully equipped kids’ club with various activities and workshops.

There are even kitchen workshops where kids can prepare pizzas, cupcakes and popsicles. Adults have their choice of workshops as well, with the option of taking salsa or merengue lessons or yoga classes. Every Thursday, there’s a huge Mexican Fiesta night, complete with fireworks.

There’s no doubt the entire family will have fun at the Sheraton.

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Hotels in Puerto Vallarta: Sunscape Puerto Vallarta Resort and Spa
The hotel has a swimming pool including a kids pool with waterslide. Photo credit: Sunscape Puerto Vallarta Resort and Spa

Sunscape Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa

Formerly the Holiday Inn Resort & Spa, the best part about the Sunscape Puerto Vallarta Resort and Spa is that up to two kids stay free when in a room with two paying adults. For families on a budget, this is an excellent option.

An all-inclusive beachfront hotel, the Sunscape offers beautiful, sweeping views of Banderas Bay. The location is great, just minutes away from downtown Puerto Vallarta and the Malecón, as well as the marina. Additionally, the excellent location and private beach make it perfect for viewing whales during Puerto Vallarta’s whale-watching season.

The hotel has a swimming pool including a children’s pool with a waterslide. There are also plenty of pool activities and a swim-up bar for adults.

When adults want to explore Puerto Vallarta on their own, a supervised children’s club and connecting teens club is available. There is a special kids’ check-in experience complete with red carpet stairs, welcome treats and resort “passports.”

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Hotels in Puerto Vallarta: Garza Blanca Preserve Resort and Spa
The hotel offers an infinity pool and water activities such as snorkeling, kayaking, and paddleboarding. Photo credit: Garza Blanca Preserve Resort and Spa

Garza Blanca Preserve Resort & Spa

For families looking for a bit of luxury on their family vacation, Garza Blanca is an excellent choice. Nestled in the jungle, the oceanfront Garza Blanca gives families a five-star all-inclusive experience. The resort offers suites with up to three-bedrooms, a full-sized kitchen and in-suite washer and dryer. Kids stay free with all-inclusive packages.

The resort offers an outdoor play area and a kids club full of games. There are nature activities like hiking, bird watching and feeding turtles. Face painting, arts and crafts and entertaining performances are among the other activities that kids can enjoy. Babysitting services are also available.

For the rest of the family, there’s an infinity pool and water activities such as snorkeling, kayaking and paddleboarding.

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Hotels in Puerto Vallarta: Velas Vallarta
Families can choose among multiple swimming pools, including a children’s swimming pool. Photo credit: Velas Vallarta

Velas Vallarta

Located in Marina Vallarta, Velas Vallarta offers up to three-bedroom units to accommodate larger traveling families. There is certainly no shortage of activities at the resort to keep everyone in the family happy.

The resort has an 18-hole championship golf course within steps, a lush tropical courtyard, three swimming pools and a swim-up bar. Kids can enjoy board games, sporting lessons, video games and arts and crafts.

There are also special seasonal activities for the holidays such as Easter, Christmas and New Year’s. The resort takes care to plan new activities and programs every season to keep every member in the family entertained year-round.

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Grand Park Royal Puerto Vallarta
The beachfront resort has many family-friendly amenities. Photo credit: Grand Park Royal Puerto Vallarta

Grand Park Royal Puerto Vallarta

Located south of the Bay of Banderas in Puerto Vallarta, the Grand Park Royal Puerto Vallarta is only 10 minutes away from popular family-friendly area attractions. However, you shouldn’t feel like your family has to venture outside of the resort to have fun! You can also enjoy onsite recreational activities like a day at the beach, aquatic volleyball or choose to simply relax at the hotel’s outdoor pool.

While we love the outdoor space at the Grand Park Royal Puerto Vallarta, it’s the indoor space that really makes this hotel rank high for family vacations! Families looking to spread out can book the Deluxe Family Suite with a whopping 646 square feet of space!

Also great for families is the all-inclusive plan at this hotel which offers unlimited meals at two restaurants, unlimited drinks for adults and kids and all-day pool and deck refreshments.

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Hotels in Puerto Vallarta: Barceló Puerto Vallarta
The hotel is great for families of all ages with one sports pool, two family pools and one children’s pool. Photo credit: Barceló Puerto Vallarta

Barceló Puerto Vallarta

The Barceló Puerto Vallarta sits about 45 minutes south of the Puerto Vallarta airport on Mismaloya Beach. However, its location away from the touristy area of Puerto Vallarta doesn’t mean that it lacks activities.

The hotel is great for families of all ages with one sports pool, two family pools and one children’s pool. There’s also nightly entertainment in the resort theater, a game room and a kids club full of fun activities.

Outside of the resort is the Vallarta Zoo, Vallarta Botanical Gardens, Los Arcos Marine Park and El Eden Adventure Park.

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The fact is, there is no shortage of Puerto Vallarta hotels that are excellent for families. Although each has its own unique vibe, one thing in common is that every family will want to return ASAP!

Kimberly Miles is a mother of one and an experienced solo and single mom traveler. So far, she has traveled to Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Dubai, Bahamas, Aruba, Mexico, and several places in the U.S. Kimberly was born and raised in Alexandria, Virginia, but in 2018 she took a leap of faith and made the beautiful beach town of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico her home with her young son. In addition to writing for SheBuysTravel, Kimberly ghostwrites blogs on a variety of topics. She also provides marketing consulting services and business guidance to entrepreneurs, small businesses, and corporations via her independent business KNM Virtual Solutions. When she’s not traveling or writing, you can find Kimberly working out, eating tacos, dancing the night away, or spending time at the beach with her son. You can read more of her work at Travel Unapologetically.
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