There is a new resort in Riviera Nayarit that has stolen my heart! The Marival Residences & World Spa has thought through every detail to create the ultimate all-inclusive resort.
The resort is just 15 - 20 minutes from the Puerto Vallarta airport and those who have the privilege of staying at the Marival Residences also have full access to it's sister property, the Marival Resort and Suites.
Before going into the details of the new Residences, it is important to know what all you get at the original Marival Resort. Both resorts have lush, tropical grounds that simply stunning. Guests staying at the Residences have convenient shuttles that are constantly running to and from the original resort. The beach there is long, wide and amazing. Guests staying at the Residences have a private beach club area where you can enjoy beach butler service while soaking up some rays. The Marival Resort also has some fun, active pools that include swim-up bars and a über cool waterpark for the smaller ones. Once Nicki and I saw that the kids area had water slides we of course had to try them. :)
The Marival Resort and Suites has a different themed party (a.k.a. fiesta) every night. We were able to make it to the Mexican themed night and we were impressed with the food, entertainment and the decorations. The bright, colorful frills everywhere really made it lively and festive.
Another fun thing to keep in mind is that over at the Marival Resort they have a disco where you can dance the night away.
Okay, so now on to the fabulous Marival Residences & World Spa!
Every single 'Residence' is a penthouse with state-of-the-art design and 24 hour room service. Yes, 24 hours. We had chocolate cake at 2am one night. And it was good. Damn good. The Residences range from 1 to 4 bedroom accommodations. They even have washer and dryers in each Residence! Nicki and I were very excited to discover the washer and dryers. Each Residence have large balconies facing the Pacific Ocean with tropical flowers and patio furniture. Each room have flat-screen TVs and the master bedrooms have iPod docking stations so you can get down with your bad self to En Vogue at any given moment. Or maybe that was just me. Anyhow, the penthouse rooms alone are enough reason to stay in the Residence section.
The Food and beverages. The head chef came to this hotel from the Four Seasons Los Angeles and we are thankful he did! Each meal was impeccable. One day while we were grabbing a bite to eat by the pool Nicki wanted a BLT but it wasn't on the menu but boy, they made her a BLT STAT! LOL, the service goes beyond expectations which really does leave an impression. While they may only have 3 restaurants, don't forget you have full access to the Marival next door which has 4 making a total of 7 restaurants. The Sky Bar is on the top floor and not only does it have amazing views of the Pacific but they serve up some mean drinks as well!
Our first night there
Kampai!
Cheesecake Lollipops
Enjoying the sunset from the Sky bar
The Spa. The Marival Residences has one of the only World Spas in the country offering 9 different treatments from all over the world along with a cutting-edge salon. I could of stayed in the spa for the entire stay honestly.
Full-service salon
Italy-themed treatment room
Kids need lovin' too. While the resort seemed to be very grown-up, they definitely kept the kiddos in mind when making their 5 star all-inclusive concept complete. They have FREE nanny services (maximum 8 hours/5-night minimum stay required) along with an adorable kids club that offer things like arts & crafts, a game room and just an entire little paradise for them to explore in.
Heck, I could have fun in this kids' club!
For the gamers...
Outdoor play area
Okay, it's time to announce my favorite part. Are you ready? Drum roll please... How would you feel about .... UNLIMITED excursions INCLUDED??? Years after a group vacation the thing that sticks in everyone's memory is usually a group outing that everyone experiences together. They have things like sunset sailing and the dolphin encounter. How about sea lions? Go horseback riding. Zip line through a jungle!
Marival Residences have teamed up with Trafic Tours and are able to offer their guests unlimited select tours. Click HERE to see which ones they are currently offering. If you think about it, each one of those tours is generally $100 or more so if you did one per day that can really add up. The pick up for the tours is just a $5 cab ride away.
Nicki and I took advantage of the Dolphin Encounter and the all-day Kontiki tour. They both were amazing but I've got to tell you... dolphins have won a huge place in my heart. I had no idea how interesting, beautiful and SMART they were! It was definitely a highlight of the trip and one that I will never forget.
Dolphin Encounter
The resort is still rather new so be sure and take advantage of their ideal low pricing right now.
Who is this resort for? I can honestly see it being a perfect fit for all travelers. Destination weddings, a romantic getaway, family vacations... Check! Check! and Check!
Have you ever swam with dolphins??? Aren't they amazing creatures??
