Adults can explore both sides of Hilton PV’s two-hotel resort, but kids must stay on what’s known as the oceanside (here’s our feature on the adults-only Hacienda at Hilton Puerto Vallarta). The oceanside is pretty awesome, though, and might even be your preferred side if you want to be near the beach, like a little more action, or if you prefer modern design over traditional.
Opening in 2012, the Hilton Puerto Vallarta’s oceanside resort is on a beautiful beach on the Bay of Banderas, perfect for those who want to take a dip or take a walk in the sand. Of course, the Hilton has several pools too. In the morning they’re tranquil, and as the day goes on you’ll see a friendly game of pool volleyball, some aqua aerobics, and families enjoying the sunshine together.
There are 259 rooms on the oceanside, including 60 suites. Every stay throughout the two hotels is all-inclusive, as this is the only all-inclusive Hilton in all of Mexico. There’s a range of room options, some with swim-out pool. All have Hilton Serenity beds, a balcony or patio, and all the essential room accessories.
The majority of the hotel’s restaurants are on the oceanside too. For perfect views, go up to the Sky Bar with its rooftop infinity pool (have some sushi and a cocktail for the full experience). The Sea Fire is the main restaurant; it’s buffet with eggs, pancakes and French toast cooked to order in the morning, and a wide selection of choices throughout the day. Other restaurants on the oceanside include one serving Brazilian food, another serving French, and a beachside barbecue. There’s even a late-night music lounge. A sports bar is in the breezy main lobby and was packed with cheering fans while Mexico played in the World Cup during my stay.
The kids club is also on this side of the resort, where kids aged 4 to 12 can make crafts, play games and sports, and even bake cookies. Parents will also appreciate the $10/hour babysitting in the evenings if they want to explore some of Puerto Vallarta’s excellent dining, such as the exquisite La Palapa on the beach downtown.
Be sure to stop by the Ki Spa during your stay. There’s a calming Floatarium — Hilton is the only resort on Mexico’s Pacific coast to have one — a 50-minute float in it is said to be the same as a deep four-hour sleep. Unlike a sensory deprivation tank, which can be uncomfortable for the claustrophobic, the floating pool is in a serene high-ceilinged room. The spa also offers more traditional treatments from massage to mani-pedis to facials. Choose to have a massage beachside too, under a gazebo.
Whether you prefer adults-only or kid-friendly, traditional or modern, tranquil or more active, the Hilton Puerto Vallarta’s two side-by-side resorts are ideal for your Puerto Vallarta vacation.
From US$180 US all-inclusive (meals, snacks, beverages, activities, entertainment, wifi)
– Modern decor and kid-friendly
– Swim in the pools or off the beach on the oceanside of this two-hotel resort
– None!
+55-322-1761176 
PVRPV_info@hilton.com
Johanna Read
Contributing Editor
Technically a bed and breakfast, The Hillside Inn feels more like a quiet boutique hotel, or perhaps like staying in the manor house of a friend. The inn has five luxury suites, plus two cottages. It’s an ideal place to stay to explore the lovely Door County peninsula or for an event like a wedding.
My suite is, in fact, the bridal suite, as it has a separate entrance providing a dramatic walk down a staircase toward the vast lawn which is perfect for a wedding ceremony and reception. Technically called the Marsh Marigold suite — all suites are named after local flowers — I have two separate sundecks as well as a window seat ideal for soaking up the sun on a cooler afternoon. My bed is a comfortable king size awash in luxe linens, with interesting books placed thoughtfully on each bedside table. I have a gas fireplace with two easy chairs (a TV with DVD is hidden above the fireplace; it pulls out to be viewed from bed), plus a desk and ample storage space. The decor is in soothing whites and creams. I love my large and well-lit bathroom with its glass walk-in shower complete with seat and the plush terrycloth robes.
My windows face the back and side gardens, but I can also see the water from one deck. Three of Hillside’s five suites share the same water views of Eagle Harbor Bay as the massive front porch, which is, in fact, the largest porch in all of Door County. Each suite has a private bathroom and a balcony. Trillium comes complete with a wet bar and a separate bedroom.
Hillside’s two cottages are in the garden. One has three bedrooms and one bath, and the other two bedrooms with one bath. Both have fully-equipped kitchens and perfect front porches.
Breakfast is served in the elegant dining room. During my summer visit, there was an abundance of fresh berries with yogurt breads, plus fresh orange juice and very fine coffee. There’s a sunny library sitting area in addition to the front porch. Guests can also wander through the pretty gardens.
The welcoming Hillside has been hosting guests since the late 1800s, when it was a four-room log cabin. It’s now on the U.S. national register of historic places. The building received a remodel in 2002 to become a luxury historical inn, and was reopened in 2016 by new owner and real estate broker Diane Taillon.
Hillside Inn is in the charming village of Ephraim, overlooking Eagle Harbor Bay. Almost next door is the old-fashioned Wilson’s Restaurant & Ice Cream Parlor, serving ice cream treats, home-drafted root beer, and casual meals for over 100 years. A pier with boat rentals is across the street. You could easily enjoy your time just in Ephraim, but you’ll want to explore all the little towns and highlights of the entire Door County peninsula.
From US$287 US inclusive of wifi and breakfast
– Adults only, so your stay won’t be interrupted by a crying baby; some rooms are pet-friendly
– The thoughtful just-in-case cupboard, if you’ve forgotten sunscreen, bug wipes or need extra Gilchrist & Soames toiletries
– Rooms are outfitted with a cheese plate and knife, wine opener and glasses — the essentials for a cozy night in
Johanna Read
Contributing Editor
The Hacienda at Hilton Puerto Vallarta is a thing of beauty. Designed by architect Ricardo Elias, this hotel within a hotel has a gorgeous mix of patterns that you wouldn’t believe work until you see them. And they work perfectly.
The Hacienda is the Hilton’s new section, opened in March 2018. For adults-only, the Hacienda is next door to the larger and more modern-looking Hilton where children are welcome. It’s the only all-inclusive Hilton in Mexico. Here’s our feature on the original oceanside part of the resort: Hilton Puerto Vallarta.
Guests at the Hacienda have access to the entire complex, but will likely prefer the quieter Hacienda side with its à la carte restaurants and two quiet pools (one semi-covered if you want to be sun-safe).
There are four rooms categories at the Hacienda. Mine, on the ground floor, has its own private plunge pool right outside the sliding glass doors. It’s the perfect place to cool off if Puerto Vallarta’s humidity climbs.
I love the decor in my spacious room. Usually I’m not a fan of patterns, but, like in the rest of the Hacienda, the designers have created a decor that is both serene and interesting, and that gives you a sense of traditional Mexico. I especially like the grey, blue and taupe tiles in the large bathroom. I could admire them from the separate shower room and in the bathtub (which also has a view out to the room and the plunge pool) as well as standing at the sink in front of the perfectly-lighted mirror.
All rooms have balconies or patios, and some have a jetted tub on the balcony too. The most luxe rooms have an immense bathroom with an outdoor jetted tub as well as an outdoor shower. No matter where you stay, you’ll have a mini fridge restocked with drinks daily, a comfortable easy chair, table for two, storage space including a large closet with well-sized safe, and a 42-inch TV.
Hacienda guests can enjoy a child-free breakfast à la carte indoors or outdoors, or take a short stroll to have the buffet breakfast at Sea Fire, on what’s referred to as the oceanside of the resort. Lunch at the Hacienda is poolside with a wide selection of ceviche and American-style bar food, or oceanside at the sushi bar, beach grill or the buffet. The Hacienda side has an à la carte Mexican restaurant for dinner or there’s an à la carte French restaurant on the oceanside. Both have elaborately-plated creative cuisine.
The Hacienda’s open-air lobby is a beautiful place to relax. Give the huge pendulum a swing and watch it draw patterns in the sand or admire the hand-painted murale, all while sipping a coffee from the lobby café.
See our feature on the ocean side of the resort for details on the Hilton’s spa, beach and other amenities. Guests have access to them all when staying on the Hacienda side.
From US$180 US all-inclusive (meals, snacks, beverages (including in-room), activities, entertainment, wifi)
– The Hacienda has stunning design which soothes but never bores
– Two pools, including one shaded with beautiful arches to protect you from the sun
– We bet you'll pick the brand new adults-only side of this two-hotel all-inclusive resort
– For those sensitive to noise, request a room away from the elevator and the room where housekeeping carts are kept
Johanna Read
Contributing Editor
In one of the United States’ best cities for those who love food, Ann Arbor’s Kensington Hotel is a modern boutique place to stay. The hotel is about a 10-minute drive to the college town’s downtown shops and restaurants and just seven minutes from the University of Michigan’s Big House, the largest sports stadium in the country (get an aerial view of it via a flyover in a WWII B-25 bomber from the Yankee Air Museum).
The Kensington’s light-filled lobby welcomes guests. You’ll find people soaking up the atmosphere — or the warmth from the fireplace — in the comfortable chairs and enjoying complimentary treats from the Viennese Coffee Bar. On the left when you enter is the hotel’s restaurant, Relish, with its international menu and craft beers from Michigan’s excellent selection. Go right for the hotel’s 200 rooms and for the indoor pool (the largest in the city), hot tub, sauna, gym, plus an outdoor patio area with a soothing water fountain and a bonfire.
The decor of the guestrooms and suites is in contemporary greys with pops of sunshine yellow. The king (or two doubles) bed is plush with very fluffy pillows, and bedside tables have easy access plugs. I spent my days and evenings exploring all over Ann Arbor and was grateful to have an excellent sleep throughout my stay. The carpeted rooms have a desk and a couch or easy chair with footstool. A microwave, mini-fridge and coffee maker make snacking easy. The flat-screen TV has oodles of channels, but note there’s no room safe. Dog-friendly rooms are available if you’re travelling with a fuzzy friend.
The marble bathrooms feature fabulous Beekman 1802 bath products (you may have seen the owners on the Cooking Channel or when they won The Amazing Race). The sink has a large counter for all your stuff; it’s in its own area with a large closet. There’s a separate room for the toilet and shower-curtained bathtub/shower. Some rooms have a whirlpool soaking tub too.
Executive rooms on the third floor have access to a club lounge which serves a complimentary light breakfast with muffins, bagels, pastries, cereal, yogurt and fruit, plus juices and coffees, teas and hot chocolate. It’s perfect for grabbing something to go or enjoying in the lounge. Hors d’ouvres are served at evening receptions, but I was too busy checking out Ann Arbor’s fabulous dining scene so can’t report on it.
From US$160, inclusive of wifi
– Hope you’re as lucky as me and come home from a day exploring Ann Arbor to find a chocolate chip cookie and glass of milk waiting in the fridge.
– Note that placing the linen card on the bed means that you do NOT want your linens changed, the opposite of most hotels.
Johanna Read
Contributing Editor