The Delta Hotels Riviera Nayarit are an all-inclusive haven for nature lovers, perched on a cliff near the ocean amid the jungle of Las Cinco Cruces.
The first all-inclusive resort connected to Delta Hotels, a chain that frequently draws corporate travellers, is this Marriott-affiliated health retreat. Visitors will discover fair prices here that are comparable to those at other local a la carte hotels.
My aunt and I made plans for a two-night stay at this budget-friendly resort while visiting Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, partly because I'm a Marriott devotee and partly because I've never stayed at an all-inclusive resort before.
Here are eight things you need to be aware of before booking a stay at one of the Delta Hotels in Riviera Nayarit.
It's a good deal.
When compared to the prices of other hotels in the neighbourhood, this location of Delta Hotels is a great deal because the two-queen mountain view room has a AAA rate of only $223 per night. Even the property's usual fee of $265 per night was a reasonable price; however, I was glad to take advantage of my AAA Plus membership (which I primarily have for 24-hour roadside help) to get a discount that took around 15% off the nightly premium. This was a great deal for me.
There are no additional charges for extras such as in-room minibar goods, dinners, or the majority of alcoholic drinks when staying at this property in contrast to other nearby facilities offering comparable costs. Rates here are all-inclusive (select premium liqueurs and wines are not covered).
Because this establishment is a part of the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty programme, it is possible to pay for your stay using points earned in the programme. Award nights, which range in price from 42,400 to 65,000 points per night, are priced approximately following TPG's current assessments.
Ambassador Elite members receive 1,000 bonus points in addition to a complimentary 25-minute massage (or a 20% discount off of other services) as a welcome gift. Platinum Elite and Titanium Elite members receive 1,000 bonus points as well.
Related: How much does it cost to maintain my Marriott Bonvoy elite status?
Simply going there for the spa would be worthwhile.
My aunt and I had been debating whether or not to try out the spa treatments for a while, and after reading several positive testimonials from other guests, we finally made up our minds to do so. In addition to more common spa services such as facials and massages, the Tzicuri Spa at this hotel also featured ceremonies centred on the property's namesake elements: earth, air, fire, and water.
I don't typically make appointments for spa treatments, but I found myself really interested in the rituals, so I decided to treat myself to the earth-focused ritual, which consisted of a foot bath, a sugar scrub, a 50-minute massage with aromatic oils, and a 30-minute foot massage.
Even after I recalled that as an Ambassador Elite I would be eligible for a reduction of 20%, the steep price of 4,400 Mexican pesos (about $220) caused me to experience sticker shock at first. Despite this, the treatment was transcendent and precisely what I needed to relax. I urge you to spring for the more expensive option if you have the financial means to do so.
Keep in mind that the treatment fees include access to numerous different spa facilities, all of which are of a very high standard and are highly recommended for use.
You will discover expansive changing rooms, double-stacked wooden lockers, outdoor showers that are surrounded by local flora, as well as a relaxing area with an outdoor pool. In the latter, you can relax on a teak chaise lounge that is draped in a warm towel while you wait for your treatment. Afterwards, you can drink freshly pressed passion fruit juice and tea that is served in expensive, exquisite china as you reflect on your experience.
Related: 9 incredible spas that are well worth the trip
The surroundings are beautiful and natural.
As a result of the resort's position in Las Cinco Cruces, its developers took special care to preserve a significant portion of the established jungle when they were building it. As a result of this, you will see that the 118 rooms are packed up against the cliffs and are encircled by vegetation; also, there is a little creek that runs through the property.
When walking from the lobby to the main pool and towers, you will need approximately 15 minutes to climb the various steep hills that you will meet along the way. If you require assistance travelling from point A to point B, luckily there are golf carts available that come complete with drivers. Although it may be a bit of a hike to get around, the serene atmosphere more than makes up for the additional exertion that is required to move about.
There is a wonderful club beside the beach.
The Toni Beach Club, which is painted in turquoise and is located 10 minutes away from the resort on the beach beside the Pacific Ocean, is an excellent location for lunch. When you're not swimming in the ocean, sunbathing on one of the chaise lounges that are reserved exclusively for hotel guests, or relaxing in a cabana, you may come to this location to indulge in some fresh Mahi Mahi ceviche and pina Coladas.
Be aware, however, that the beach is not raked, and impresarios, or local merchants, will actively try to sell you anything from silver jewellery to hats, so you should be prepared to be approached on occasion.
Those who go by car can choose from one of the many available parking spaces. Doing so is not something I recommend, as the roads are riddled with potholes, the majority of which are impossible to avoid, and they wind through several back alleys and unmarked locations, all of which make it difficult to find your way back to the resort after leaving it.
Plan to take advantage of the resort shuttle, which runs three times daily between the resort and the beach club at La Cruz de Huanacaxtle. This will allow you to avoid the hassle of driving.
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During the hours of daylight, finding it should be the least difficult.
Even during the day, navigating your way to the resort might be a difficult task. Because the land is dispersed across a steep mountainous region, the majority of the journey will be conducted on winding, narrower roads that are uneven, dimly lit, and shared with pedestrians. The actual entry is situated at the end of a gravel road that transitions into cobblestones and is enclosed on all sides by chain-link fences.
You might want to give driving a shot on your own. However, given how difficult it is to locate the property — even for a local, like my Uber driver, who found the route confusing at times due to the lack of signage — your best bet will probably be to rely on a third-party shuttle or ride-hailing service. Given how difficult it is to locate the property, even for a local, like my Uber driver, who found the route confusing at times due to the lack of signage.
The quality of the meal varies.
As someone who enjoys trying new cuisine, I always look forward to dining at the hotels and resorts that I visit, so I was intrigued to learn more about the dining options available at this establishment. I was pleasantly pleased on occasion, but overall, I found the food to be mostly unimpressive; therefore, if having access to outstanding cuisine is extremely important to you, I would recommend that you select a different location.
My aunt and I had dinner at Komorebi Teppanyaki, a restaurant with a Japanese theme, on the very first night of our trip. The cafe does not provide its customers with a standard menu but rather asks them to sit around a metal grill table while the chef prepares fried rice, a variety of veggies, stir-fried chicken, shrimp, and steak in front of them while juggling knives and eggs the entire time. The lunch was redeemed by the amusing show, which was a relief because the food was unsatisfactory due to an absence of flavour and an excessive amount of salt and butter.
To our relief, the breakfast buffet more than made up for the unremarkable meal we had earlier. In contrast to the majority of breakfast restaurants, which supply their omelette stations with egg concentrate, the omelette station at Huichol Cocina Artesanal had eggs that were cracked directly in front of us.
In addition to that, there was a selection of delectable tropical fruits including papaya and pineapple, as well as a variety of speciality coffees and mimosas, and the cost of everything was included in the all-inclusive pricing.
Even though they did a fantastic job with breakfast, Huichol Cocina Artesanal was not quite as enjoyable for dinner on our last night there.
The foods that were available during our stay did not live up to our expectations of what we would find at a high-end resort, even though the offerings changed nightly based on the type of cuisine (think Italian, Asian, or Mexican) that was being highlighted at the time. Every food that we tried from the buffet was, at most, average, and none of the selections stood out as particularly memorable.
You can't receive an upgrade
Because the hotel is in the process of constructing suites and upgraded rooms, the only rooms that are now accessible for booking are those at the entry-level. Due to this, you'll want to make sure that your expectations are realistic, particularly if you have elite status and are accustomed to receiving complimentary upgrades.
When we walked into our room with two queen beds, we discovered a very normal arrangement. There were two beds inside that were made up of white sheets, a flat-screen television that was put on one of the walls, a desk, and a tiny dining table with two chairs. The inside was decorated in white.
There was a coffee maker and a little refrigerator placed right next to the front door. The refrigerator had free beverages such as soda, juice, and water. In addition to that, there was a compact closet with enough space to put up a few items.
A frosted rainforest shower that was partially open to the bedroom was located directly across from the walk-in closet in a bathroom that featured two sinks, a separate water closet, a collection of toiletries from a variety of brands, and a separate water closet.
Immediately adjacent to the sleeping area was a balcony that had a table made of wood and stone as well as two seats made of metal. Although the chairs on the balcony were not particularly comfy, it was a pleasant area to take in the view of the verdant surroundings whenever we felt the need for some ventilation.
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Both the employees and the customers are pleased.
It wasn't long before it became abundantly evident that this resort caters specifically to people who take pleasure in engaging in social activity. In particular, the teppanyaki restaurant and the beach shuttle were popular gathering places for people to strike up conversations with one another. In addition, the friendly staff members frequently engaged in discussion with the guests who were staying at the facility.
For instance, Oliver, the helpful valet who assisted us with our luggage when we arrived, would always greet me with a friendly "Hello, Senior Olsen" and a smile. He was quite careful to ensure that we would not forget his name, and he mentioned that "Oliver Twist" is his favourite novel.
Bottom line
There are more opulent resorts in Puerto Vallarta, but Delta Hotels Riviera Nayarit is still rather luxurious. However, the warm and welcoming people, tranquil spa, and exotic beach club are what make this place stand out.
This is a property that you will want to take into consideration if you have a hankering for a taste of the Mexican rainforest in addition to the conveniences of a relaxing beach holiday without breaking the bank.
After the resort completes its expansion, which it plans to do by March 2023, it will become an even more magnificent hideaway because it will provide an additional one hundred rooms and suites, in addition to a water park that includes a lazy river.