by Greg Custer
Last updated: 8:00 AM ET, Thu January 25, 2024
What defines the "classic" representation of an
iconic destination for you and your customers? That's a question I've been
trying to distill and share for over 40 years in training travel advisors about
our “distant” yet close-by neighbor, Mexico.
Now living full-time in Mexico since 2015, I am revisiting destinations and hotels,
some that once helped define an entire country's vacation image to the world.
Depending on when you became a travel advisor, your
connection with Mexico’s sun-soaked seashores may or may not include the region
that dominated the Mexican beach experience for decades: the Pacific Mexican
Riviera. For early Mexico aficionados (those whose careers date back to the 1980s,
for example), Mexico meant a Pacific-facing destination collection that embraced
Mazatlán, Puerto Vallarta, and Acapulco, with a sprinkling of interest in
places like Manzanillo and Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo. It’s hard to imagine today a
Mexico where its two peninsulas (the Baja and the Yucatan) were just emerging
and had not yet dominated our Mexico vacation imagination.
Connecting today with the places that did the heavy lifting
around Mexico’s vacation identity (like Puerto Vallarta) means revisiting some
of its iconic lodging mainstays. Remarkably, it’s possible to still find resort
hotels that have not undertaken a brand “reflagging.” There are still properties
that continue their identity, exterior architecture, and core commitments to
employees and customers in defiance of a lodging landscape that is barely
recognizable for many veteran Mexico sellers.
Case in point is the Fiesta
Americana Puerto Vallarta All Inclusive & Spa, which opened its doors in
the early 1980s. While not the first hotel in the “Hotel Zone” (as this area is
still known; the Posada Vallarta and Playa de Oro earn this distinction), it
was (and remains) a striking architectural presence. While today wedged among
other hotels, restaurants, and condos, the property’s eight-story tall palapa
remains a sight to be seen. It’s still unofficially the tallest in Latin
America, continuing a Mesoamerican legacy that one source says dates back over
3,000 years.
The lobby sheltered by this massive palm-thatched cone has,
of course, seen waves of renovation over the past 40-plus years. Today’s
iteration is the essence of cool, tropical tranquility. A pond and bubbling
fountain support a water feature that meanders from the lobby toward the
resort’s welcoming pool area, gold sandy beach, and six restaurants. The
property boasts the expected freeform pool, in addition to a new-age Nakawe Spa
(renovated in late 2023), and 291 sleeping rooms/suites with the amenities one
expects from a five-star property. Two floors of the “Fiesta Club” bring added in-room
treats and afternoon cocktail/snack offerings. All rooms have Banderas Bay
views that also take in PV’s scenic palm trees, bursts of bougainvillea color,
and a distant peek at PV’s alluring downtown (an accessibly close 10-minute cab
ride to the Malecon boardwalk).
The Fiesta Americana’s restaurant collection reveals the
soul of the Fiesta Americana brand, rooted in a culinary “culture” that
distinguished the brand from many of its all-inclusive competitors. Grupo
Posadas (the company that oversees and manages a portfolio of over 150
properties and 24,000 rooms) and its flagship Fiesta Americana/Grand Fiesta
Americana brands were late-comers to the all-inclusive concept. They stayed
true to the EP model, only converting to all-inclusive in the last decade. This
matters in ways large and small regarding the Fiesta
Americana Puerto Vallarta. The gastronomic diversity will delight your
palate in a destination where choosing a meals-included resort might seem like
a bad choice. After all, PV is nothing if not one of Mexico’s resort dining
epicenters, its city streets strewn with international and Mexican culinary
quality and diversity.
While the all-inclusive plan here does harbor some extra
fees for upgraded dining add-ons, the variety of full-portion menu (versus
buffet) options will keep guests very happy staying on-property for an
assortment of cuisines. Starting at the beach facing La Cevicheria for
Baja-style tacos or Peruvian ceviche, you'll want to return for seafood
"cocteles," empanadas, and agua chile. At night, it's white linen,
festive salads, and delicious grilled tenderloin at the adults-only, poolside
L’Isola (reserved for Fiesta Club floor guests). Pan-Asian cuisine is deftly
executed at Tiantang, with a menu that spans Thai, Japanese, and Chinese
options, including a full teppanyaki presentation (offered a-la-carte). At El
Mexicano, the atmosphere is a rainbow of bold colors, modern art, and recipes
from across Mexico.
Guests are encouraged to check in with the Concierge to
explore and understand the full scope of included and additional-cost dining
options. Paid menu “upgrades” for food and wine are offered in at least four of
the fine-dining options, where reservations are required. It’s nice there are
no “maximums” on restaurant visits during your stay.
Fiesta Americana Puerto Vallarta. (Photo Credit: Greg Custer)
While families enjoy the resort’s pool, beach, kid’s club
and other play areas, the SONNE Beach Club (actually a private roof-top space
with wading pools, umbrellas, and very personalized service) is a welcome,
quiet space amenity for Fiesta Club floor guests. There’s also a current offer
for Fiesta Club direct bookings that includes roundtrip airport transfers.
The property is well-deserving of its TripAdvisor 4.5-star
rating across areas of service, facilities, and deliverables. With cuisine
that’s a standout in a place that celebrates food, the Fiesta Americana Puerto
Vallarta keeps its decades-loyal customers happily returning for more of the
classic PV experience.
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