Top 4 luxury hotels to visit in Puerto Vallarta with Air Transat

I think it's safe to say that I love Mexico. One place I had never visited is the West Coast of the beautiful country, more specifically Puerto Vallarta. Tickets were booked, luggages were made and after spending an incredible week in Playa Del Carmen where I got engaged, I was off to Puerto Vallarta with Air Transat.

I am very proud to be part of the Air Transat family and even more so as in 2018, they became the first major international tour operator to be Travelife Certified for all its activities in recognition of its commitment to sustainable tourism.

Did you know that Air Transat offers an incredible Luxury collection, what does this mean: 

• 40 hotels to choose from in 10 amazing tropical destinations
• Free access to airport VIP lounges
• Upgrade to OptionPlus on Air Transat flights
• If you fly with Club Class, you get very spacious seats, the option of travelling with 2 checked bagages of 23kg each, a gourmet menu by renown chef Daniel Vézina and many more...
• Private roundtrip transfers between the airport and the hotel

If this is the kind of trip you are looking for, whether you are travelling with your family or with your significant other, it is totally worth looking at the selection of Luxury hotels that Air Transat has to offers and all the perks that come with this service.

Now, let's talk about Puerto Vallarta and the 4 amazing hotels we had the immense pleasure of visiting. Puerto Vallarta is definitely a Mexican destination that is underrated. The region is absolutely breathtaking, you get the ocean and the mountains, what more can you ask for. Ok, the sand is not white but the juxtaposition of earth and water makes for absolutely picturesque views and the most beautiful sunsets you have ever seen. Better yet, the water is warm, the city is filled with culture and exudes a very European vibe. 

Hotels

MARIVAL RESIDENCES LUXURY RESORT NUEVO VALLARTA - 5 Stars - Family hotel

For our first 3 nights, we had the pleasure of being hosted at the Marival Residences Luxury Resort. The amazing team placed us in the most amazing penthouse suites that had rooftop pools overlooking the ocean, which was a dream. The rooms were super spacious and so convenient for families, especially with kids, since the penthouse was equipped with a full kitchen. Let me tell you all the great things this resort has to offer:

• Loved the layout of the hotel, everything is very close by, the beach, the restaurants, the beach club, all in a small distance
• Very spacious rooms with 24-hour room service
• 4 à la carte restaurants that require no reservations
• Amazing service all around the resort
• Amazing breakfast service, very healthy food options all round the hotel
• Mozza Mare Beach Club that has an amazing menu and butler service to your beach chairs
• Bikes available to go around the property
• Very family-friendly
• Amazing beach location: the best stretches for miles and has an amazing view of the mountains

GRAND VELAS RIVIERA NAYARIT - 5 Stars - Family hotel 

We spent a day at the Grand Velas hotel and let me tell you that this hotel is straight out of a luxury hotel catalogue. The resort is breathtaking, every little detail counts for this hotel. The Grand Velas is a very family friendly hotel. We had the chance of eating at one of their restaurants and the food was absolutely delicious and ended the day, with the most amazing massage. 

SECRETS VALLARTA BAY PUERTO VALLARTA - 5 Stars - Adults only

For our last 4 nights, we made our way to the Secrets Vallarta Bay Resort, where we had very nice rooms with the most amazing views of the sunset. What I loved the most about this hotel is the fact that you have the city on one side and the ocean on the other. This is perfect if you want to spend the day at the beach but then take a quick taxi to the city for an evening stroll or some shopping. Let me tell you a bit more on this hotel: 

• All inclusive Adults only
• Spacious rooms
• Super close to the city of Puerto Vallarta
• Very friendly staff
• Really enjoyed the breakfast buffet (very easy to have healthy meals)
• Entertainment at the bar lobby
• Amazing spa experience where you can relax for hours.

HOTEL MOUSAI - 5 Stars - Adults only

Not many words can describe the beauty that is this resort. The Hotel Mousai is the perfect place for a couples retreat. The decor of this hotel is breathtaking and most importantly the rooftop pool. This hotel is all about the food and the pool, the beach is not very close and you need to take a shuttle to get to it but lounging by the pool makes it the perfect day. We had the pleasure of spending the day at the pool with drinks and such nice meals that it really made it the perfect day. Hotel Mousai is definitely a place I would come back to with some girlfriends or with my fiancé for a nice 5 relaxing trip. 

In resume, Puerto Vallarta is an absolutely beautiful destination and should be a must on your vacation list. It's a city that is surely very underrated and I do not understand why, as the ocean is adorned with a magnificent view of the mountains which makes the views absolutely breathtaking and the temperature more than perfect. Aside from the food being delicious and the community being so welcoming, Puerto Vallarta is in my books the place to be in Mexico. 

Excursions

SAYULITA - SAN PANCHO

There is nothing more that I like than discovering cities and getting lost in the streets. Our first excursion was in Sayulita, an absolutely beautiful little village. Sayulita is so laid back relax and it has such a surfer vibe, streets filled with cute cafés and artisan shops. The beach is beautiful and you can take surf lessons, enjoy a nice meal at a beachfront restaurant. A short 10 minute drive away is San Pacho, the most charming little village that is less touristic and has the most breathtaking beach. Picture ocean on one side and the mountains and jungle on the other, it was so beautiful that I got very emotional, I'm not going to lie!

TACO TOUR

I mean the title says it all, if you love tacos, you NEED to book this tour. The tour is with Cookin' Vallarta, a company that hosts cooking experiences through different cities in Mexico. What is a Taco Tour you may ask, well it means you get to try tacos at 5 different spots, from super local counters to cool hip restaurants, you get to taste the best of the best. Honestly, this was the coolest experience and something I recommend to absolutely everyone, a must in Puerto Vallarta! 

Please let me know if you have any hotspots in Puerto Vallarta, because I will definitely be travelling there again xxx

*This post was created in partnership with Air Transat. All opinions are my own.