All-inclusive Resort in Puerto Vallarta – Dreams Villamagna
This is my office for a few days. I’m really suffering! Like the view? It’s from the lobby of Secrets Vallarta Bay in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. I’m here on a travel agent familiarization trip to see three all-inclusive resorts in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; Dreams Villamagna north in Nuevo Vallarta, Now Amber and Secrets Vallarta Bay; right in the city.
This week I’m reviewing the first of the resorts I visited; Dreams Villamagna, north of Puerto Vallarta in the state of Nayarit. This is an upscale area of the Puerto Vallarta region. It’s about 20 minutes from the Puerto Vallarta airport. Dreams Resorts are for everyone. Couples, families and single people are welcome.
An all-suite resort; the large rooms have a king or two double beds, double sinks, marble floors, a nice, big walk in shower, a sitting area with a couch and a balcony. 24-hour room service is included with all rooms. Most have ocean views while some at the rear of the building look back on the river and the first floor rooms have a view through the trees. I don’t recommend the rooms at the back of the hotel, because there is a bank of air conditioners that run periodically during the day and make quite a racket, would be annoying while on your balcony. The highest floors are the Preferred Club, which come with special amenities such as the best views, a Jacuzzi on the balcony, private check-in, an exclusive concierge lounge where you can grab a quick snack or drink. I did not feel food at the Preferred Club lounge was very fresh or of good quality, so I wouldn’t recommend it for that reason, but if an unobstructed ocean view is important to you these would be the best choice and the Jacuzzi on the balcony is great.
This resort is on a really nice section of beach; not wide but sandy and the waves are not too strong. The resort shares the property with a condominium residence, which actually is closer to the beach than the hotel section. So, if being close to the beach is important to you, I would recommend a different resort.
The resort is all-inclusive; offering breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. Juices, soft drinks, purified water and international and domestic alcoholic beverages are included. There is pool and beach wait service. There are also themed parties on some evenings. Families will enjoy the fully supervised Explorer’s Club for children ages 3 to 12, which is open until 10PM, so parents can enjoy dinner alone as a couple.
There are five dining venues; the World Café buffet, the Seaside Grill serving grilled specialties with ocean views, El Patio serving Mexican cuisine, Oceana serving gourmet seafood seaside and Portofino, which is the only adults only restaurant and serves Mediterranean cuisine. Reservations are not required. The food at this resort was delicious and the drinks were fabulous.
There are five bars. The best is the Gohan Sushi Bar, which serves sushi, of course, and is on the rooftop with spectacular views of Banderas Bay and the Sierra Madre mountains. There are cozy spots to cuddle in or groups of couches to hang out with friends.
There are three big pools with varying shades of blue on their bottoms. Two are connected by a water path, so you can paddle a long way. For those inclined, there is a small, yet decently equipped, fitness center. Pevonia Spa offers facials, a hydrotherapy circuit and spa treatments. The hydrotherapy circuit is $45 or free with any spa treatment.
Activities available and included at the resort are kayaking, snorkeling, ping-pong, Euro-bungee, a bicycle tour and water aerobics. Activities available nearby at an additional charge are whale watching, snorkeling and scuba diving, golf, sport fishing and eco tours, as well as several beaches and quaint towns to visit. There is a modern shopping mall and marina nearby.
This is a small resort in a great location; if you prefer to be in a more laid-back area, a nice sandy beach and to be away from the hustle and bustle of Puerto Vallarta. It’s easy to get around the resort, because of its small size; but because of its small size it has less to offer, which isn’t a big deal to some. This would be a great location for a destination wedding for a group with children or a honeymoon for a couple who would like to bring their children along.
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