Picture yourself in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, listening to the birds chirp overhead while lying by the beach in a cabana. A delicious drink appears next to you, rimmed with Tajin and a sweet, crunchy starfruit. You head to a beachfront restaurant for some delicious, fresh ceviche overlooking the ocean, then get a luxurious massage at the spa before taking a relaxing dip in the pool. You left your wallet upstairs in your room, but you won’t need it, because everything is included at your resort.

Now, I have to admit something: I’ve never been an all-inclusive resort person. Historically. I’ve been of a “book whatever’s cheap, you’ll just sleep there” type. And trips were never for relaxing: they were for exploring, adventuring, and doing. Time spent relaxing in a new place felt like time wasted!

Well, then I turned 30, had a baby, and learned to deeply appreciate time spent relaxing. Things change, and priorities change – and while I still love a busy, fun-filled trip full of doing things, I’ve learned that every so often, booking a vacation – as opposed to a trip – is incredibly rejuvenating. Laying on a beach, languishing by the pool, sleeping late while watching the sun come up over Banderas Bay from your private balcony before calling up room service – this is a type of travel that I’ve learned to love and make space for in my life.

So when I was invited to experience Fiesta Americana All-Inclusive Resort & Spa, I jumped at the opportunity. Puerto Vallarta offers the perfect balance of exploration and relaxing, because there’s plenty to do outside of the “Hotel Zone” where most resorts are located. My trip included plenty of fun activities, from exploring Old Town to taking a food tour to going whale watching to visiting a private island for a mind-blowing circus show – you can read all about it and plan your own perfectly balanced trip in my Puerto Vallarta itinerary.

In this post, I want to focus on the star of my visit to Puerto Vallarta, the Fiesta Americana All-Inclusive Resort & Spa, one of the best Puerto Vallarta resorts for families! If you’re considering making it a base for your trip to Puerto Vallarta (especially if you’ll be bringing kiddos along), read on.

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All-Inclusive Resorts in Puerto Vallarta

For a destination like Puerto Vallarta, an all-inclusive resort is the perfect haven. Located in the “Hotel Zone,” conveniently situated between the airport and downtown/Old Town areas, resorts offer the ideal combination of comfort and accessibility.

Of course, not just any resort will do. It’s gotta have beachfront access, a stunning pool, legitimately good food and drinks (all included in your rate, hence “all-inclusive”) and, for bonus points, a really good spa, too.

But unlike many resort destinations, Puerto Vallarta has a LOT to offer in Old Town, so you can balance your resort relaxation with getaways to explore. If you’re like me and get cabin fever easily, that’s a huge advantage. I’m always excited to explore a new place, and Puerto Vallarta is safe, beautiful, and easy to explore.

To get into Old Town from the Fiesta Americana All-Inclusive Resort & Spa, you can ask the front desk to book you a taxi or just walk a few feet out to the main street to hop on a public bus. Old Town is just 10 minutes away!

When you’re had your fill of the hustle and bustle of the Zona Romantic, your resort is waiting for you a short ride away, ready to lull you back into a blissful state of relaxation. Honestly, it’s perfect.

What are the rooms like at Fiesta Americana Puerto Vallarta?

One thing I LOVED at the Fiesta Americana is that every room boasts a private balcony overlooking the pool and ocean, regardless of the price point.

This means everyone, no matter what they’re paying, gets a beautiful ocean view. Every single room faces in the same stunning direction. We love an equitable resort!

Each room includes amenities like a robe and slippers, marble floors, large shower, a coffee maker and small fridge/minibar. And, ya know, a private balcony with jaw-dropping ocean views.

That said, opting for the top three floors – aka the Fiesta Club rooms – enhances your experience.

Sure, the views from up there are incredible, but there are daily happy hours in the lounge, access to a heated adults-only hot tub and pool area, an exclusive restaurant and premium restaurant seating.

Surprisingly. even though my room was located on the top floor, I could still hear the waves crashing on the beach clear as day. This was the perfect soundtrack to fall asleep and wake up to, so I kept my windows open all night long (and not a single bug bothered me during my trip!)

Is there anything better than throwing on a cozy hotel robe and slippers and winding down at night while listening to ocean waves on a nearby shore? There is not.

Another perk with the Fiesta Club Room was having access to the adults-only pool- especially nice when I wanted to escape the larger pool for somewhere smaller and quieter. It’s located on the rooftop of a restaurant overlooking the ocean, so the views are phenomenal. You can relax in a private cabana and order drinks and food poolside, which I took full advantage of.

The premium restaurant seating meant enjoying breakfast each morning on a beachfront patio. And one night during your stay, you’ll get to enjoy a wonderful 4-course dinner on a palapa in the center of the pool at L’Isola Restaurant, only available to Fiesta Club members.

Speaking of restaurants, the food at this resort is INCREDIBLE!

Restaurants at the Fiesta Americana All-Inclusive Resort & Spa in Puerto Vallarta

When you’ll be eating most of your meals at the resort, the quality of the food can make or break your experience. Well, Fiesta Americana has consistently earned a AAA Four-Diamond award for an impressive 20 years in a row, and the culinary experience at its multiple onsite restaurants is a standout feature.

Yes – there are a LOT of restaurants. So I went to as many as I could. You know, for research!

• La Cevicheria: Casual seafood dining on an open-air beachfront patio. The perfect for a relaxed, casual lunch by the pool and beach. The ceviche is fresh and delicious, and the snack platter offers several filling options.
• El Mexicano: Traditional Mexican cuisine! You’ll find multiple regions of Mexican dishes represented here, and they’re all phenomenal. This is a great spot to try Jalisco specialties like tacos birria!
• The Grill: Open-air BBQ spot located right by the pool and kids area, so when your little one gets hungry and wants a burger, you barely have to move.
• Rosato: Italian/Mediterranean deliciousness. Think perfectly plated pastas and fresh-caught fish.
• L’Isola Restaurant: This restaurant serves an incredible 4-course meal on a palapa overlooking the glowing pool, which Fiesta Club rooms can enjoy once per trip. This was my favorite restaurant and dining experience at the resort!
• Restaurant Asiatico Tiantang: The onsite Asian restaurant includes Hibachi (which is a blast for kiddos to watch) and fresh, delicious sushi. My favorite here was the sushi.
• Chulavista: The all-day buffet, with a beautiful patio overlooking the beach. My favorites at breakfast were the fresh green juice and chilaquiles!
• Bonus – Coffee Shop: The coffee shop has the best coffee in the resort and I stopped there every morning for a cappuccino to go. It’s tucked away through the gift shop in the lobby. There are also delicious fresh pastries – all included, of course.

The incredible food options at Fiesta Americana All-Inclusive Resort & Spa made each meal feel special and exciting. And anyone who’s ever met a hungry toddler can agree that with kiddos in tow, there’s nothing better than 24/7 access to a wide variety of options!

Family-Friendly Amenities at Fiesta Americana All-Inclusive Resort & Spa

While I didn’t bring my toddler along with me this trip (and thoroughly enjoyed my kid-free time), I felt pangs of longing watching the excited toddlers and families around me. I can’t wait to bring Little Bug back here, y’all!

Fiesta Americana All-Inclusive Resort & Spa is really a perfect family-friendly resort and a fantastic way to enjoy an actual vacation (as in, not just parenting with better scenery). Here’s are the family-friendly amenities that made me feel the most excited about returning with my 2-year old:

• There’s a huge pool with a separate wading pool for littles and an island in the center of the pool for kiddos to relax, climb on, and practice jumping off of
• The beach has a natural sandbar buffering the waves, making it the perfect little lagoon for tiny ones
• There’s an awesome on-site playground right by the pool
• A fun rotation of daily kids activities for all ages, which means there’s no shortage of activities for little ones to enjoy while you and your partner switch off who’s out doing stuff or simply relax on the beach or at the pool (while keeping one watchful eye, of course).
• Onsite daycare, so you can hand your kiddo off to a qualified adult and go sit by the pool and enjoy a drink by yourself –or even get a massage, take a tour or explore Old Town Puerto Vallarta for a few hours kid-free while your little one has a blast!
• There’s delicious food available at all hours, prepared by someone else, ready in moments. The Chulavista buffet is open all day long, so you don’t even need to wait when hanger hits.

One concern I initially had was the atmosphere of the resort – would it be dominated by honeymooners or exude an air of pretentiousness? Would kids and families get dirty looks from kid-free groups?

To my delight, the Fiesta Americana struck a perfect balance, feeling both luxurious and approachable, and family-friendly with enough separation of amenities for all groups to feel accommodated.

What truly impressed me was the resort’s versatility, catering seamlessly to families, couples, and even bachelor/ette parties.

Another concern I had was that the abundance of bar service and unlimited, delicious drinks might lead to over-indulgence. But I didn’t see any of that during my trip: guests were responsibly enjoying their time, and drinks were poured on the lighter side (which I appreciated).

Families with toddlers reveled in the amenities, from the kid-friendly pool to the charming playground.

And while I deeply enjoyed my solo adventure, witnessing the family-friendly environment left me excited about returning with my little one and husband in tow!

My stay at the Fiesta Americana was nothing short of exceptional, and I wholeheartedly recommend making it your home base for an unforgettable Puerto Vallarta getaway.

Do you have questions about my stay at Fiesta Americana All-Inclusive Resort & Spa in Puerto Vallarta? Drop me a comment below!

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Disclaimer: Our trip was hosted by the Fiesta Americana All-Inclusive Resort & Spa. All opinions, bad jokes, overly enthusiastic use of adjectives, and the embarrassing amount of time I spent stalking the peacocks that live at the resort are 100% my own and totally not their fault. BTW, how handsome is this peacock?! Too handsome not to be shoehorned into this post, that’s for sure.