Compared to some of its grandiose neighbors (we’re looking at you, Hard Rock, Grand Velas, and Riu Palace), Bahia del Sol Resort has a modest entrance. In fact, it’s easy to drive past the property without realizing it’s there. After driving down a long, nondescript driveway, guests are greeted by a thatched roof lobby and a few low-rise buildings. The property’s manicured grounds feature green lawns, an abundance of tropical foliage, and meandering brick pathways that lead straight to the beach. Despite it’s name, Bahia del Sol isn’t really a resort, especially when compared to its neighbors in Nuevo Vallarta. The majority of guests here are older couples, including many Canadian snowbirds who rent units for the entire winter. Families with children are definitely better off staying at one of the nearby all-inclusive properties, like the comparably priced Samba Vallarta. 

Bahia del Sol Resort is a beachfront property in Nuevo Vallarta, a popular resort town about 30 minutes north of Puerto Vallarta (20 minutes north of the airport). Nuevo Vallarta was developed in the '80s as a resort community, and hasn’t stopped growing since. The beach is lined with mega resort after mega resort, and large shopping complexes house restaurants, supermarkets, and American fast food outlets like Starbucks and Subway. Nuevo Vallarta doesn’t have the same authentic Mexican feel as Puerto Vallarta, and is known more for family-friendliness than nightlife. Travelers who want to spend significant time in Puerto Vallarta should consider renting a car, otherwise, expect to pay pricey cab fares. 

There really isn’t anything that nice about the rooms at Bahia del Sol. They’re dark, dingy, and dated, with drab decor throughout. Some rooms feature new updates like wall-mounted flat-screen TVs and new kitchen cabinets, but they’re not enough to distract guests from major flaws like consistent plumbing issues and spotty Wi-Fi. There are three room types at Bahia del Sol: studios and one- and two-bedroom apartments. Studios are actually quite large, and feature a living space and kitchenette that are separated from the bedroom by a half wall. Studios can accommodate up to four people; or at least two adults and two children, since the bedroom has one king-size bed and the living room has a trundle futon. Guests who need more space, or who want a full kitchen, should upgrade to an apartment. Apartments’ full kitchens are equipped with large refrigerators, electric cooktops, and microwaves, but lack ovens. They also have small appliances like toasters, coffeemakers, and blenders. Bathrooms throughout the hotel are plain and pretty tight on space, with cramped shower stalls and small vanities. On the plus side, some bathrooms have beautiful hand-painted ceramic sinks with gorgeous Mexican designs and colors. All rooms have outdoor patios or balconies. Patios on the ground floor have walkways that lead directly to the pool and beach, but upper floor balconies have better views.  

Bahia del Sol doesn’t have a ton of features, and many of its amenities are lackluster, like its icy cold pool and inconsistent (though free) Wi-Fi connection. The hotel’s pool isn’t heated, and many guests complain that its freezing temperatures prevent them from swimming. This is also something we noticed during our visit. Even though the hotel was near capacity, we didn’t see any guests hanging out on the surrounding lounge chairs or taking a dip in the water. Instead, everyone was on the beach. Bahia del Sol provides palapa-style umbrellas for guests and sets up plastic lounge chairs on the sand. Guests can walk for miles in either direction on the soft white sand and pass nearly all of the other hotels in Nuevo Vallarta. The ocean water is great for kayaking or boogie boarding, but the hotel doesn’t offer any kind of water sports. 

Guido’s, Bahia del Sol’s on-site restaurant, is owned and operated by an Italian husband and wife team. Guido’s is well regarded in Nuevo Vallarta and is often considered one of the best Italian restaurants in the area. The open-air restaurant overlooks the beach and serves lunch and dinner in a casual setting. Guests can expect a menu full of Italian-American favorites like pizza, calzones, and pasta dishes.