Marriott Goes All In on All-Inclusive in Puerto Vallarta
Can a hotel brand ruin one of your favorite destinations? I think most of us would agree the answer is yes. A destination you once loved can quickly change if one of your go-to redemptions disappears or gets devalued. I love Cabo, for example, but what keeps me going back is the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal. Without it, I’m not sure I’d visit nearly as often. I’m sure we can all name a hotel that holds a similar place in our hearts, but it only takes one bad experience (like a recent disappointing stay in Madrid) to start to dilute your affection. For me, Puerto Vallarta was my first love in Mexico. I return year after year. Over time, I’ve come to love the Marriott Puerto Vallarta, despite being a Hyatt loyalist for years. But as Marriott goes all in on all-inclusive in Puerto Vallarta, I’m not sure how often I’ll be able to visit anymore. It feels like just another sign of where the hotel industry is heading.
The Growing All-Inclusive Trend
Most of us are familiar with how an all-inclusive resort works. You pay one upfront price, typically for two guests, with additional charges for children or extra guests depending on the property. That rate generally covers your accommodations, meals, drinks and other included amenities, so you don’t have to worry about a growing bill throughout your stay. Some traditional hotels even offer optional all-inclusive packages, allowing regular guests and all-inclusive guests to stay at the same property. In theory, it’s a convenient setup. But when it isn’t executed well, the complaints roll in about disappointing food and beverage quality, limited options and maybe even poor service.
We’ve recently seen Hyatt embrace the all-inclusive model in a big way, acquiring numerous brands and expanding its presence in the market. Hyatt is even planning an all-inclusive Park Hyatt. I remember when Hyatt’s Brand Explorer program included just Ziva and Zilara as its all-inclusive options. Today, that number has grown to nine dedicated all-inclusive brands. Nine! Hilton clearly doesn’t want to miss out on the trend either, with plans to turn both a Waldorf Astoria and a Conrad into all-inclusive resorts. What was once a relatively small part of these major hotel portfolios is quickly becoming a much bigger focus. And now, Marriott goes all in on all-inclusive in Puerto Vallarta, too.
Marriott GoesAllIn on Puerto Vallarta
Marriott has three main resorts in the immediate Puerto Vallarta area: the Marriott, the Westin and the Sheraton. There’s also a City Express by Marriott for travelers looking for a more traditional city hotel. Farther up the coast, roughly 45 minutes to an hour away, you’ll find several additional Marriott properties, including the Delta, St. Regis, W and Ritz-Carlton. For years, the Marriott Puerto Vallarta has been my go-to property. This resort has always offered a great combination of value, service and familiarity. There’s something special about returning to a hotel where the staff recognizes you and greets you with a “Welcome home” on each visit. This is one of those hotels that draws regulars—you see the same familiar faces visit year after year. I have made many friends staying here over the years. And as Marriott goes all in on all-inclusive in Puerto Vallarta, I can tell you that none of them are particularly happy about what’s coming. And neither am I.
After covering the first phase of renovations at the Marriott, I was excited to see what the future held for the property. That excitement started to fade when I noticed a concerning trend. First, Marriott converted the Westin into an all-inclusive resort. The Westin had always been my backup option when the Marriott wasn’t available or when I needed additional nights. It had more of a large-resort feel and nicer interiors, while the Marriott won me over with its pool, beach and overall atmosphere.
Does An All-Inclusive Model Even Make Sense?
As I looked forward to phase two of the Marriott’s renovations, I assumed that, yes there would be price increases. But not this. While browsing Marriott’s website, I noticed a “new” all-inclusive Marriott listed as opening in May 2027. The problem? It was my favorite hotel, just listed under a different name with different photos. While plans can always change, everyone I’ve spoken with has confirmed that the property is expected to transition to an all-inclusive-only resort.
What will this mean for the cost of staying at one of my favorite hotels? Will a normal stay still be reasonably affordable, or are we suddenly looking at thousands of dollars for a visit? I am honestly shocked that Marriott believes Puerto Vallarta can support converting two of its most popular resorts for Marriott loyalists into all-inclusive properties. In a year when tourism in the area has already suffered, that’s a bold move.
What It Means for the Cost
While rates for the Marriott’s future all-inclusive concept aren’t available yet, we can get an idea of what might be coming by looking at the Westin. In the past, I could typically book the Westin for around 30,000 to 45,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night or pay about $175 to $250 in cash. Now, all-inclusive rates are hovering around $500 or more per night or 90,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. That’s a huge jump in an area with plenty of off-property dining options.
From the hotel’s perspective, I understand that they want to capture more than the nightly rate and maybe a day at the pool or a dinner here and there. They want you to stay and feel compelled to eat and drink since you have now spent hundreds of dollars. But in Puerto Vallarta, a meal at the hotel might be $20-30 or more onsite. Meanwhile, I can eat that same meal for $10-$15 off property. I am also a fan of just hitting a taco stand and grabbing a soda, which could be a little less $10.
Marriott Goes All In on All-inclusive in Puerto Vallarta: ToP Thoughts
Fresh off another visit to update my review of the Marriott Puerto Vallarta, I have plenty of thoughts about these changes. Mostly, I feel sadness. Phase two of the renovations is still nowhere near complete, and the property continues to have some rough edges. As Marriott goes all in on all-inclusive in Puerto Vallarta, I will be monitoring the changes closely while trying to prioritize a couple more stays there before they are completed. Have you ever had a favorite hotel completely change its concept or pricing? And what do you think about the growing all-inclusive trend? Come over to our ToP Facebook group and share your thoughts.
