10/12/2024
Here are some more pictures from my recent stay in Puerto Vallarta, along with a review of the resort I stayed at, Iberostar Selection Playa Mita!
The Iberostar Selection Playa Mita is a moderately sized eco and family friendly resort located in Punta Mita, less than an hour drive from the main airport in Puerto Vallarta.
It is laid out in a fairly simple and easily navigated manner, with a medium width, lengthy beach. It has mainly fine sand, with a few small rocky areas. The ocean is a little spicy in this area, which I happen to love (it is so exhilarating to swim around in the large waves!) but is not for everyone. Still, many people of all ages chose to at least dabble their feet in the blue Pacific waters. The main pool is a large, meandering, and beautiful infinity style, with a lower portion below for the rowdy types 😉 There is also a sports pool, and a fun looking kids pool with a small water park. The swim up bar is large and inviting.
Rooms are simple and on the small side, but very clean and generally in good working order. All of them have a balcony or patio. Bathrooms are decent sized, however the shower pressure isn’t great. More outlets, drawers/storage and places to hang items would be beneficial.
There is a nice selection of restaurants, although not as large a variety as I have seen at other resorts. The buffets are fairly ample, but the quality is a little inconsistent. The a la carte restaurants were very good, especially the French restaurant, Pacific Bistro! As well, there’s a yummy burger and fries self serve stand by the pool, and be sure to have some delicious tacos at the fantastic place down by the beach!
There are a lot of fun activities for kids, a great kids club, and the entertainment staff and programming is quite good. Service is almost always excellent, and staff seem happy and eager to help. There is also a beautiful golf course very close by with shuttles provided to attend.
I was also impressed at the accessibility of the resort for those with physical impairments, and the care taken to remain true to their environmentally friendly philosophy. This was evidenced by the lush, beautifully designed grounds, the presence of friendly wildlife, and the unforgettable turtle release program they provide! There is a significant amount of walking from the main building to the rooms, then the pool area, and finally the beach, with a lot of elevation, but there are wide, well designed ramps and elevators present.
There are numerous other desirable features present at this resort, including well maintained tennis courts, ping pong tables, lots of bars and lounges, a fun disco, and a kick-a** fitness facility with all brand new equipment! But the icing on the cake is their sunset deck, gathering area, and bar with the most incredible views of the ocean and sunsets!
I would certainly recommend this resort for families who are somewhat budget conscious but enjoy a great quality resort experience. It also has a universal feel to it; most client types including wedding groups, young adults, and multigenerational groups would find it overall an enjoyable stay.
