The Buenaventura Grand in Puerto Vallarta

The Buenaventura Grand Hotel & Great Moments Resort in Puerto Vallarta is a great place to begin a Mexican adventure.  It's an all-inclusive resort with a beachfront location within walking distance to many of Puerto Vallarta's top attractions.

Going to Mexico had been on my bucket list for many years.  After my husband's recent cancer diagnosis and the fact that I was about to turn 50, it was time to go.  My research began online, naturally, looking for which city in Mexico to visit, how to get there, and the prices.  In the end, Puerto Vallarta was the winner.

I found a great deal through Delta Vacations that included round-trip airfare from my nearest airport to Puerto Vallarta, ground transportation to and from the resort, as well as the cost of the resort.

For the three of us (we brought our teenage son along), the grand total for 6 nights the first week in July was $3,546.81.  On top of that, I was able to redeem mileage thanks to my Delta American Express account which took off around $1,000 from the total.  For a week of vacation including air, room, and food during the middle of summer, it was a bargain.

We were all welcomed to the resort with a sweet, refreshing drink. Checking in at the resort was a breeze and a lot less complicated than what I typically have experienced in the states.  One thing I noticed is that they did not require a credit card at check-in. Gotta love being at an all-inclusive resort.

Before heading to our room, we were each given wristbands to wear.  Should we have lost one, there would have been a fee to pay to have another.  They were essentially our tickets to the restaurants and bars at the resort. Adults had one color, minors a different color. (The Buenaventura Grand is a family-friendly resort.)

Standard Resort Room

Our room was not overly spacious, but there was enough room for the three of us to be comfortable.  Amenities in the room included a small refrigerator that was stocked daily with cerveza (beer), a few bottles of water, and our favorite soda.  The staff was kind enough to honor our beverage choices.

There was also an in-room safe, coffee maker, and the television had satellite service, so we were able to watch some shows from the States as well as Canada.

The bathroom was a little dated but had everything that we needed, including a hairdryer and enough towels for us all.

Though the view from our room was limited, we were able to see the ocean.

The resort is very open-air. There are no doors to separate the lobby from the beautiful path that leads to the ocean.

Pool and Onsite Activities

This statue is located close to the outdoor dining area and the pools.  It makes a great meeting point.

There are three outdoor swimming pools at the resort.  A bridge spans the main pool and provides a shortcut to the other two pools.

A range of activities takes place daily in the pool area.  While we were there, the teenager was able to participate in a "cooking class." The participants were shown how to make spicy salsa and then the guests were able to sample their creations.

There is also a Chef's Show at the Pool that took place daily (Monday through Saturday) at 12:30. The shows the week that we were there included paella, fish tacos, guacamole and margaritas, ceviche and micheladas, and noodles.

The two biggest benefits of staying at an all-inclusive resort are the included drinks and food.  At Buenaventura Grand, that included poolside adult drinks, of which we grew quite fond.

The views from the pool area are pretty sweet.  Next door, there is an area that is staged for romantic meals.  During good weather, the letters L O V E are on display and lit up at night.

Looking in the opposite direction, one can just about make out Puerto Vallarta's famous malecon.

Other sights that are often seen from the beach at Buenaventura Grand are parasailing and vendors selling everything from coco water to jewelry to hats.

Between the beach and the pool area is a beautiful outdoor shower for guests to wash off before heading across the resort.

Dining at the Buenaventura Grand

There are three restaurants at the resort:  Frutas & Flores, Sunset, and Corazon Contento.

My favorite dining locale was Sunset.  Each day a different menu was offered for lunch and dinner.  The views are absolutely stunning.

Their fish and shrimp tacos were pretty amazing.  I was lucky to be able to order them twice while we were there.

We ate most of our meals at Frutas & Flores.  Breakfast options included doughnuts, cereal, pastries, and traditional Mexican breakfast items like chilaquiles.  During lunch and dinner, there were plenty of options.  One option that the teenager and I liked seeing was their thin-crust pizza.

The great thing about dining at an all-inclusive is that if you get an item that you don't like, you can go back and get something else.  At Buenaventura Grand, there was always plenty of unique dishes to try. 

One thing I wish I had done earlier on during our stay is to try the green juice in the morning.  I would have had it every morning.

I am glad that we selected the Buenaventura Grand as the first resort to stay and play in Mexico. For our first time in Mexico, it was perfect.

ABOUT THE BUENAVENTURA GRAND

The Buenaventura Grand Hotel and Great Moments is located at Av. Mexico 1301, Col. 5 de Diciembre, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, 48350, Mexico.  Puerto Vallarta is in the Central time zone.

The resort is 15 minutes from the Puerto Vallarta International Airport (Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz [Code: PVR]).

The Buenaventura Grand is a great place to stay. If you are looking for more ways to explore Puerto Vallarta, then be sure to read these other posts at Silver Sun Seeker:

• Off the Beaten Path in Mexico
• Puerto Vallarta Food Tours