The perfect vacation spot DOES exist, and it’s a dream for families or adults traveling without kids

From the moment you step one foot into the giant, open-air lobby of the Hilton Riviera Vallarta, you’re transported. There’s no question that you’re on vacation—not a “trip,” as many parents lament when traveling with their families, but a full-blown vacation in a dream location. The hotel invited me to spend four days enjoying everything the property has to offer, and that’s exactly what I did.

On the drive from the airport (a convenient 30-40 minute ride), I knew I wasn’t in a “resort strip” location. Puerto Vallarta may be a popular destination for vacationers and cruise ships, but it’s so much more than that. The cobblestone streets are lined with beautiful botanicals and happy locals going about their day. But we’ll talk more about Puerto Vallarta in a bit.

What you can expect at the Hilton Riviera Vallarta

For now, let’s just go ahead and “ooh” and “ahh” over the Hilton Riviera Vallarta, with its unspoiled ocean views (from every room, no less) along the beautiful coastline of one of the largest bays in the world. I arrived mid-afternoon with my travel companion (my sister) in tow, ready to take on a long weekend of relaxation, rejuvenation, and an assortment of activities you simply can’t find anywhere else.

The check-in process was simple and the glass of complimentary, ice-cold tequila I sipped while waiting put me immediately at ease. Once we got to our room—and recovered from being completely knocked out by the view from our walk-out balcony—we packed up our locally-made beach bag courtesy of the hotel and headed down to one of the three pools overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

One pool is intended for families, one for adults (this one has the swim-up bar), and one pool is a small wading pool meant for anyone—though be warned, there is a resident duck named Alfredo who will likely completely ignore you and glide around this particular pool off and on throughout the day. Each pool is surrounded by plenty of lounge chairs and cabanas with pool and ocean views. It was a dream. At no point did I feel “bothered” by families with young children, who were having a blast in the adjacent pool.

(As a mother of two kids under eight, I’m exceptionally good at tuning everything out and disassociating from anything overstimulating so this may not be the same experience for everyone—but also, how could you possibly be annoyed by squealing, happy children you’re not responsible for?)

During my three-night stay at the Hilton Riviera Vallarta, I was spoiled rotten with multi-course meals from a variety of on-site restaurants featuring seafood, Italian dishes, Japanese food, and fresh ceviche. We also enjoyed quick bites from the two poolside food trucks. The food looked as good as it tasted, and there was plenty of it.

The hotel recently revamped its guest accommodations and activities to offer more family-friendly experiences. Aside from the pool, there is a three-room “Kid’s Club” where your little ones can entertain themselves while you catch some rays or book a spa appointment. (You absolutely do not want to skip the hotel’s Eforea Spa—it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me in addition to being affordable). There are also plenty of spots for kids old and young to hang out with their parents as well.

Like most all-inclusive resorts, there is no shortage of nighttime entertainment. Music, light shows, piano bars, Mexican lotería, mariachi, silent discos, and more. The media group I was with also treated yoga on the beach and a sip-and-paint event on the rooftop Skybar, overlooking the stunning Puerto Vallarta sunset over the ocean.

Why Puerto Vallarta? Why NOT is the better question

The resort city of Puerto Vallarta is located between the Sierra Madre mountains and the Pacific Ocean, and has 25 miles of coastline. There is a diverse, lush landscape that includes tropical jungles, rocky riverbeds, steep mountainsides, and more.

During our tour of the town’s renowned “Zona Romantica,” our tour guide Tony told us that Puerto Vallarta is located in the same latitude as the Island of Hawaii and, therefore shares the same weather as the popular 50th state in the U.S. When you look around, you can see the similarities in abundance.

There’s also not really a hurricane season as you’d find in Cancún, the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, and other popular resort destinations. The mountains that encompass the Banderas Bay of Puerto Vallarta help prevent the full impact of damaging storms from being felt on land. And while it’s extra hot during the off-season (roughly May-September), not having to truly worry about storms at any point of the year makes planning a trip here easier than most.

An experience you won’t soon forget

The staff goes above and beyond to take care of the hotel guests. I witnessed this firsthand each and every day, and not just with myself. Everyone who works there clearly feels a sense of pride in what they do, yes, but especially in where they live.

Hilton Vallarta Riviera All Inclusive Resort. Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco. Photo by Victor Elias Photography.

The hotel itself is just 10 minutes away from the heart of town, including the area where Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor resided during and after he filmed “The Night of the Iguana.” There’s plenty of shopping, food, and historic sites to see while you’re out and about. The hotel is also very accommodating and accessible to any and all needs.

While traveling without my husband and children had its perks (my sister + three fabulous editors + 1 lovely PR rep who planned this trip flawlessly = recipe for success), I couldn’t wait to tell my family about each and everything I saw, did, and ate. I could easily see myself returning with my full crew in tow, ready to take on all the area has to offer. Because I know we’d be in excellent hands at the Hilton Riviera Vallarta.

This trip was paid for by Hilton but all opinions expressed here belong to the writer.