Mexico · Stays via Expedia
Family Reunion Hotels & Stays in Puerto Vallarta
Planning a family reunion in Puerto Vallarta? Expedia puts hotels and whole-home rentals for the group side by side — book a block of rooms or one big house for ~10, and compare before you commit. Bring everyone together — three generations, one big house.
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Planning a family reunion in Puerto Vallarta
Pacific sunsets over Banderas Bay — a cobblestone old town, whale season, and Mexico's friendliest beach city. For a group, weigh a block of hotel rooms against one whole-home rental: the house is usually better value per person and keeps everyone together, while a hotel is simplest for a short stay. Expedia shows both for Puerto Vallarta.
Puerto Vallarta with kids, realistically
Municipal buses cost eleven pesos with the Jalisco subsidy and reach nearly everywhere, which serves families better than taxis. Los Muertos beach calms down in the afternoon. Marietas Islands snorkelling carries a federal cap of a hundred and sixteen visitors a day at the Hidden Beach with a fifteen to twenty minute limit, and the beach closes Mondays and Tuesdays. Centro's cobbles defeat pushchairs.
What to eat in Puerto Vallarta
Tacos are the meal: al pastor shaved from the trompo at Pancho's Takos on Basilio Badillo, birria with its consommé at the morning stands, and pescado zarandeado, a whole snapper butterflied and grilled over mesquite, at the palapas around Boca de Tomatlán. Raicilla, an agave spirit from the Jalisco sierra, is the local cousin of mezcal. The best stands still take cash only.
What's actually worth your time in Puerto Vallarta
The Malecón is the free one, a kilometre and a half of seafront studded with bronzes including Sergio Bustamante's ladder-climbing figures and Alejandro Colunga's Rotunda del Mar chairs. Behind it, the crown on Our Lady of Guadalupe copies the Empress Carlota's. Los Muertos pier lights its sail-shaped mast at night. Boca de Tomatlán, south of town, is where water taxis leave for beaches no road reaches.
What first-timers get wrong in Puerto Vallarta
Beach vendors and marina activity desks offering free tours are running timeshare presentations, and the promised ninety minutes will be four hours. Buses charge eleven pesos, twenty after midnight, and drivers rarely carry change for a five-hundred note. Taxis are unmetered and priced by zone, so settle it before the door closes. Airport pickups by rideshare are contested; drivers meet you over the pedestrian bridge.
What things cost in Puerto Vallarta
A local bus is eleven pesos, twenty at night and seven for students and seniors. Tacos al pastor run 20 to 30 pesos each, while pescado zarandeado for two at Boca de Tomatlán lands near 600 to 900. The Botanical Garden charges a few hundred pesos. Marietas trips are the expensive day out, quoted in dollars around 150 to 200 a head.
When to go to Puerto Vallarta
| Best months for family reunion | Avg daily high | Rain days |
|---|---|---|
| March | 26°C / 79°F | 0 days |
| April | 27°C / 81°F | 0 days |
| January | 26°C / 79°F | 1 days |
The month to avoid is July — around 31°C (88°F) with roughly 23 rain days. Prices and crowds track the weather here: March is the sweet spot, July the month most people skip.
Pack for peak season: Summer clothes, plus one light layer for air-con and evenings, Comfortable walking shoes — every guide on this site assumes you'll use them.
Where to base yourself in Puerto Vallarta
- Zona Romántica — Old Vallarta — cobblestones, beach clubs, nightlife, most character per block.
- Centro / Malecón — The seafront promenade, crowned church, galleries.
- Marina Vallarta — Golf-and-yacht polish near the airport.
- Versalles — The locals' foodie quarter inland — the current restaurant boom.
Common questions
What's the best rental for a family reunion?
A large whole-home rental — 5+ bedrooms with multiple bathrooms, a full kitchen, and shared living space — keeps everyone under one roof. Look for ground-floor bedrooms for grandparents and a yard or pool for kids.
How many bedrooms for a big family?
Plan roughly two people per bedroom, plus a sofa bed or two for kids. A group of 10–12 is comfortable in a 5–6 bedroom home with 3+ bathrooms.
How far ahead should we book a reunion?
Big homes for peak dates (summer, holidays) book 6+ months out. Lock in early and use free-cancellation listings so you can adjust the headcount as RSVPs firm up.
What amenities matter most?
A big dining table, a full kitchen, plenty of bathrooms, parking for several cars, and outdoor space. Accessibility (step-free access, a ground-floor bedroom) matters if elders are joining.
Where should we stay for a family reunion in Puerto Vallarta?
In Puerto Vallarta the areas worth basing yourself in are Zona Romántica (old vallarta — cobblestones, beach clubs, nightlife, most character per block); Centro / Malecón (the seafront promenade, crowned church, galleries); Marina Vallarta (golf-and-yacht polish near the airport). Pacific sunsets over Banderas Bay — a cobblestone old town, whale season, and Mexico's friendliest beach city. On Expedia, compare hotels and whole-home rentals side by side, sort by guest rating, and check free-cancellation terms before booking.
When is the best time for a family reunion in Puerto Vallarta?
March (around 26°C, ~0 rain days), April (around 27°C, ~0 rain days), January (around 26°C, ~1 rain days) rate best on Puerto Vallarta's 5-year climate normals. July is the month most groups skip.