Traveling with a toddler can turn even the most beautiful, picturesque of beaches from relaxing paradise to, well, work. Between picky palates, maintaining the nap schedule, and, of course, balancing your way across the toddler tantrum tightrope, a “relaxing vacation” can feel… ambitious (double that for us solo parents).
But a resort that actually makes it easy to travel with your toddler? Now that is a vacation.
And that’s exactly what I thought as we loaded onto an airport-bound sprinter van on our last day at Buenaventura Grand Hotel & Great Moments in Puerto Vallarta. Now that was a vacation!
As soon as we arrived and felt the ocean breeze in the lobby, my shoulders immediately dropped. (Had they really been up by my ears the entire flight?) From the friendly staff to the hotel layout to our ocean-facing room, Buenaventura was the perfect Puerto Vallarta resort for vacations with a toddler.
So if you’re a toddler parent worried about family-friendly Puerto Vallarta hotels and if an all-inclusive with a toddler is worth it (spoiler alert: YES), let me introduce you to the Buenaventura Grand and share our experience.
Family-Friendly All-Inclusive Puerto Vallarta Hotel That Actually Feels Easy
Whenever I arrive at the hotel, I always get a sense of exactly how our stay will go based on those first interactions with the staff. For my part, I always try to be friendly–and for some reason, vacation Marissa is uncharacteristically chatty. And the hotels where the valets, bellhops, and front desk staff are having fun, laughing, joking, genuinely enjoying their time? Those stays tend to be the best. And that’s exactly what we found at Buenaventura. You can feel the energy when you arrive–warm, inviting, and light-hearted–and it sets the perfect tone for a stay in paradise.
Now one thing about our particular stay: a hurricane had just barreled through Puerto Vallarta, damaging the Malecón and downtown area, where this hotel is located. Luckily, everyone was safe, and the damage was limited to property like the oceanfront restaurant, which partially washed away, and the pool, which survived but was filled with sand.
So what made the staff even more impressive was everything we didn’t see behind the scenes. The hotel was quietly navigating repairs in the background, but we didn’t feel much of an impact at all. Instead of a pool day, I enjoyed the spa. The hotel set up an open lounge with a buffet and bar at its sky bar, and everything felt calm. On top of that, this was one of those hotels where it felt like the staff always anticipated a need before I ever had to say anything, which is amazing for us toddler parents in the trenches.
So for my fellow parents searching for a family-friendly hotel in Puerto Vallarta, this kind of experience matters more than anything flashy. It’s the difference between having to manage your trip vs actually getting to enjoy it.
Beachfront Location with Easy Access to the Malecón and Downtown Puerto Vallarta
If you’re a sucker for an ocean view (like me), you’re going to love this Puerto Vallarta hotel.
Buenaventura Grand Hotel & Great Moments sits directly on the beach just blocks from the Malecón, with some pretty great views of Banderas Bay and that constant, calming ocean breeze every time you slide open the balcony door. Despite its size, the resort actually felt quite intimate. It was very easy to navigate with a stroller–no winding mazes to your room here.
And of course, the location is one of the best things about this hotel. It’s just minutes from the Malecón, which was perfect for impromptu stroller walks without a full day of planning. Right outside our door, we found plenty of souvenir shops, clothing boutiques, and restaurants that paved the short path to the Malecón. It was pretty nice to have that main oceanfront drag as our closest scenic walk, and we ended up at the Malecón several times throughout our stay. On our first walk, the rhymic waves lulled my daughter right to sleep, so I took the opportunity for sightseeing at Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe), along the Cuale River, and into Zona Romantica.
The location cannot be beat if you’re going to explore downtown. You’re right there!
Rooms with Ocean Views (Plus Space for Real Life)
Mornings started on our balcony with a cafecito and ocean views. My first mission of the day would be a call down to room service, then I’d enjoy the view with a cuppa from the in-room coffee maker. I’d usually be half a cup in by the time my toddler demanded to be released from Slumberpod jail (but seriously, these are the best for toddler travel), and we’d cheers our respective cuppas (mine coffee, hers milk) as the waves rolled both gently and relentlessly back and forth. An absolutely elite way to start the day, 10/10 recommend.
The only thing that would break me away from what I consider my personal version of paradise? A knock knock on the door: breakfast has arrived.
When you start the day like that, it’s hard to complain about anything. The rooms at Buenaventura are comfortable, spacious, and fit a crib alongside two queen beds. (And yes, the resort provided the crib!) As a self-admitted heavy packer, sometimes the room is simply too small for toddler travel. But here? This worked for our real life, not just aesthetics. Even with a toddler, our luggage, all the outfits, and the rollaway crib, the room never felt cramped.
And can we take one more moment for the view?
Pool, Beach, and the Daily Rhythm of the Resort
One of the biggest factors in selecting the right resort for a family vacation is always the pool. And the biggest question us toddler parents have is, “What is the pool situation actually like?” Because at least in my experience, this is where I’m doing the FBI-level deep dive. What can I say? Mama loves me a pool. So I need to know things like: Is it really family-friendly or is it actually a pretty quiet pool that allows kids? Is there a splash pad? Can I rent or buy gear there, or do I need to pack it? When they say family-friendly, do they mean older kids or will toddlers enjoy it, too? Because any toddler parent will tell you that family-friendly does NOT automatically mean toddler-friendly.
Unfortunately, the pool was closed for the first half of our stay, but we did get to experience it on our last afternoon and I can definitely say we would have been happy to hang out at this pool every day. The pool is pretty long and has some fun water features like a bridge you swim under, and it’s nice to bring an inflatable or floaties and let your toddler go back and forth under the bridge. There’s also a separate, shallow pool along the waterfront with in-pool loungers, and this would be a perfect spot to relax during a contact nap.
Due to the weather and strong ocean currents, we didn’t get to experience the beach here, but the location is prime.
And as far as the vibe? Families, couples, and groups all seemed to coexist easily. Great vibes.
Dining, Drinks, and Themed Entertainment
As a solo mom with a toddler, I truly believe all-inclusive is worth the price tag. When my daughter was starting to eat, all-inclusives and cruise buffets were perfect for showing her new foods. Now that we’re in the toddler trenches, an all-inclusive is perfect for picky little palettes. From buffets to à la carte to room service, if there’s one place you splurge on your vacation, let it be on the all inclusive package.
As I mentioned earlier, Sunset Restaurant was unfortunately damaged during our stay, but we were able to enjoy Sky Bar and Frutas Y Flores Restaurant. Frutas y Flores is the main buffet, and we loved how spacious the dining room was and how friendly the staff were.
And another thing that really stood out? The entertainment.
Each evening, the resort comes alive with themed nights. Easily, our favorite was Mexican Night, which featured a buffet of traditional dishes paired with live mariachi and folklorico dance performances. My toddler was enthralled, and we stayed up past bedtime (hey, vacation rules!) to dancers twirl in their colorful dresses on stage. This is not to be missed!
For families, it’s an easy way to enjoy entertainment without having to leave the resort. All we had to do was go downstairs! And for adults, it adds just enough nightlife without being overwhelming.
Final Thoughts: A Puerto Vallarta Resort That Just Works
And that’s really what defines a stay here: accessibility without effort. This is not a resort where you’re going to feel like you still have to work really hard to enjoy your time as a family. Everything seems designed to be effortless, a feeling that toddler parents rarely experience.
Buenaventura Grand Hotel & Great Moments is about feeling taken care of without having to think about it. Even with kids. Even with toddlers.
For families looking for an all-inclusive resort in Puerto Vallarta that actually works with kids, this is one of those rare finds that delivers on both convenience and comfort.
And when you’re traveling with a toddler, that might just be the best kind of luxury there is.
Safe travels,
Marissa
