The luxurious, 265-room Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit sets the bar for what all-inclusive resorts in Nuevo Vallarta should be striving to achieve. Every room here is a suite, offering extra living space, a balcony, ocean views, and luxurious touches such as Nespresso machines. The impressive features include an infinity pool with three levels overlooking the beach, a decadent spa, a kids' club, and five restaurants with excellent food (especially for an all-inclusive). There's little wrong with it, except for the occasional crowds around the pool during high season. If the prices are out of reach, consider less expensive sister property Velas Vallarta.

Many hotels advertise themselves as luxury all-inclusives, but Marival Residences & World Spa is one of the few hotels that actually delivers on the promise. Marival is romantic enough for couples, but still kid-friendly enough for families. The 162 apartment-style units feature upscale amenities and decor, some even have their own private pool, and its five restaurants wow with incredible all-inclusive cuisine. A large freeform pool and beach club are the main attractions here, but the luxe Melange spa is another impressive feature. The Family Emotion concierge is a perk for those traveling with little ones. The major downside is that the hotel isn't technically on the beach -- it's a five-minute walk to the beach club. As a more affordable alternative, the nearby Dreams Villamagna, is an upscale all-inclusive that’s directly on the beach.

One of the most striking elements of the Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta (formerly the Palace Resort Vallarta) is its soaring lobby, with two huge installations made with LP covers and instruments. However, the rest of the resort is no less attractive, with two free-form pools, a spa featuring ocean views, and several restaurants offering a range of cuisines. The hopping bars, nightly entertainment and contemporary rooms with high-tech amenities, funky rock-inspired decor, and double-jetted tubs attract young couples and groups, while the lively pools (including a shallow one for kids), varied dining options, and pretty beach draw families. There’s free Wi-Fi, purified water on tap, and a wide array of amenities, but rooms are a tad smaller than those found in other resorts in the area.

The luxurious Villa La Estancia Beach Resort & Spa Riviera Nayarit is a beachfront condo resort with a quiet atmosphere. La Estancia’s main attraction is its massive freeform pool, where guests gather throughout the day to swim, sunbathe, and sip cocktails at the swim-up bar. Also on-site are a beautiful beach, two restaurants, a well-equipped gym, and a lovely spa. Its 245 condo units are spacious and traditionally decorated, and most have full kitchens, separate living spaces, and large private balconies. This is not a traditional all-inclusive, but all-inclusive rates are available. Travelers looking for similar property with a more contemporary feel might prefer Marival Residences & World Spa, an upscale all-inclusive property nearby.

Villa Del Palmar Flamingos is an upscale beachfront condo resort with a family-friendly atmosphere. The resort’s main attraction is its massive freeform pool, where guests gather throughout the day to swim, sunbathe, and take part in aquatic activities. It also has a beautiful beach, four on-site restaurants, a well-equipped gym, and a beautiful spa. The 275 condo units are spacious, and most have full kitchens, separate living spaces, and large private balconies -- but the Mexican-inspired earth-tone decor is slightly dated. Travelers looking for similar property with a more contemporary feel might prefer Marival Residences & World Spa, an upscale and all-inclusive property, though it's not on the beach.

Compared to its massive neighbors, the upper-middle-range Samba Vallarta — All Inclusive is pleasantly small scale. While it doesn’t offer the same over-the-top amenities as the Hard Rock or the Grand Velas, its atmosphere is quieter, its pool and beach are less crowded, and its pace is more relaxed. Plus, Samba still has plenty of family-friendly features, like a kiddie pool with water slides, a kids' club, and an outdoor theater with nightly performances. Its 183 rooms are clean and spacious, but decor seriously lacks style, which is true for most of the hotel. There are three on-site restaurants, but food quality gets mixed reviews at the a la carte and buffet options. Travelers looking for a small all-inclusive that’s a bit more upscale might prefer Bel Air Collection Resort & Spa Vallarta, which is pricier but is a bit more stylish and has better food.

The three-and-a-half-pearl Marival Resort & Suites Nuevo Vallarta All-Inclusive is packed with family-friendly amenities. Sprawled across 900 feet of pristine beachfront, Marival is ideal for families in search of a fun vacation atmosphere. Features include four pools, a small water park for kids, two separate clubs for kids and teens, a mini-golf course, four tennis courts, and an open-air theater with nightly productions. There are six restaurants for buffet and a la carte dining, which most find better than the average all-inclusive. However, downsides consist of an inconvenient reservation process, daily fee for Wi-Fi, and an annoying timeshare pitch upon check-in. The 495 rooms and suites vary in terms of decor and amenities, and those not renovated in 2015-16 are showing age. It’s worth checking rates at the nearby Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta -- an equally amenity-packed resort with nicer rooms.

Across Mexico and the Caribbean Dreams has established itself as one of the best all-inclusive brands in the business, and Dreams Villamagna Nuevo Vallarta doesn’t disappoint. Everything guests have come to expect from Dreams — beautiful rooms, excellent food, top-notch pools, and family-friendly activities — can be found at the brand’s Nuevo Vallarta outpost. The upscale beachfront property is ideal for families and couples alike. Kids spend their days at the popular Explorer’s Club, while couples take advantage of the beautiful spa and oceanfront adult pool. The hotel’s six restaurants (no reservations required) serve excellent all-inclusive cuisine. Plus, guests can enjoy top-shelf liquor at five different bars across the property, including the stunning rooftop lounge and sushi bar.

The Spanish hotel company Riu offers three classes of all-inclusive (there’s one of each in Nuevo Vallarta), and the 445-room Palace Pacifico is the top dog. This is mostly evident in the common areas, which elegantly blend pre-war European opulence with luxury oceanfront resort (the lobby alone exudes more of a palace-like formality than a sandy-feet and beach-shorts sort of vibe). The grounds are immaculate as well, sprawling with lush, towering palms and perfectly manicured garden walkways dotted with high-end lounge seating -- and the expansive pool, with swim-up bar, and in-pool lounges and bistro tables, isn't too shabby either. The rooms, though, are a different story. Decor, while nice, is nothing special -- even dated in some places -- and in-room amenities are no different than those at the more budget-friendly sister Riu properties nearby.

By Nuevo Vallarta standards, the 274-room Occidental Nuevo Vallarta is small, but it offers all of the perks and amenities of a larger resort. This upscale all-inclusive has two pools, five restaurants, a spa, fitness center, and a kids' club, plus a regular schedule of fun activities to keep guests entertained. The beach provides calm water and clean sand, plus there are free kayaks and boogie boards to borrow. Rooms feature contemporary decor, but most are tight on space and all lack balconies. The Royal Level offers larger rooms and an exclusive lounge, restaurant, and pool access. Plus, Royal Level guests receive free Wi-Fi -- a perk that’s sorely missing for all other guests. For a larger hotel with more restaurants and a swim-up bar, it's worth comparing rates at Hotel Riu Palace Pacifico.

Part of a massive six-hotel complex, Sea Garden Nuevo Vallarta is older and smaller than its neighbors, but many travelers find its simplicity appealing. Sea Garden’s 180 rooms are spacious and receive lots of natural light, but the decor is plain and dated. A large freeform pool is the hub of the property, where families, couples, and retirees all carve out their own space. Guests can choose all-inclusive nightly rates, or order their meals a la carte at the on-site restaurant. Additionally, some units have kitchenettes with stovetops, microwaves, toasters, and blenders. Though Sea Garden doesn’t have a spa, fitness center, or kids' club, guests can use all of the amenities at its sister properties. It’s worth comparing rates at nearby Samba Vallarta - Inclusive, which has a similar atmosphere and amenities.

The Spanish hotel company Riu offers three classes of all-inclusive (there's one of each in Nuevo Vallarta), with this one being the mid-priced option. Compared with its more budget-friendly sister property, Riu Jalisco, though, certain areas are lacking. For instance, the grounds aren't nearly as immaculate or impressive, and although the rooms have slightly nicer decor they're not much of a step up. Jalisco even has slightly more varied dining options, though the ones offered here are varied enough to prevent standard all-inclusive-dining boredom. But the expansive beach and the two large play-inducing pools (with in-pool lounge seating, bistro tables, swim-up bar, and slides) are clearly in a class above.

A cheesy Mayan theme and dated decor are the hallmarks of Paradise Village Beach Resort & Spa, a 693-room, upper-middle-range beachfront property in Nuevo Vallarta. The sprawling Paradise Village complex always feels crowded, but spacious rooms with full kitchens, a family-friendly atmosphere, and attractive all-inclusive rates keep guests coming back year after year. Plus, the hotel’s large spa, modern fitness center, and prime location in Nuevo Vallarta are nice perks as well. Travelers looking for a similar, more updated property may prefer Marival Resort & Suites Nuevo Vallarta All-Inclusive, though nightly rates are pricier.

The Spanish hotel company Riu offers three classes of all-inclusive (there’s one of each in Nuevo Vallarta), and the 700-room Jalisco is the economy option -- but you wouldn't guess that upon entry. The entry and lobby are grand, and the grounds are immaculate, with two sprawling pools, beautiful garden areas, and a large, pristine beach. The rooms, however, are small, lackluster, and short on amenities. There are plenty of restaurants, which is a bonus on any all-inclusive plan, plus a handful of fun bars (including a swim-up pool bar), and even a nightclub. The property is far removed from the hustle and bustle of downtown Puerto Vallarta, but it remains an excellent option for a beautiful all-inclusive beach getaway.