Behind the Scenes: Villa del Palmar Puerto Vallarta
As part of our work with the Villa Group, a collection of beachfront luxury resorts throughout Mexico, we organize FAM (which stands for “familiarization”) trips so members of the media can experience all they have to offer.
Typically, we work with the Islands of Loreto, their newest resort known for its “million-star” sky, but we kicked off the New Year with a new adventure - a trip to Puerto Vallarta.
The purpose of this press trip was to display the vibrant new look and feel of Villa del Palmar Puerto Vallarta, which recently completed a multi-million dollar renovation boasting vivid colors, elaborate textures and Mexican pop culture-inspired rooms.
The suites meld bold pinks, turquoises and indigo, popping against white walls and Frida Kahlo-inspired touches. It’s the perfect blend of traditional Mexican charm and modern style. Needless to say, it’s spot on for vacation mode!
In addition to the suites, other areas that received makeovers were the new resort entrance, which now showcases intricate fountains, and the free-form pool, which provides the ideal spot to lounge and relax.
The group of journalists who attended came to the resort a number of years ago, but noticed the changes instantly and were impressed with the improvements. We discussed the new look and feel of the resort as we dined on traditional Mexican fare at El Patron restaurant.
El Patron is just one of the dining options available to guests at Villa del Palmar Puerto Vallarta. There’s also La Trattoria, which specializes in authentic Italian food, and The Market restaurant, which serves a buffet breakfast and carefully prepared seafood and international cuisine for lunch and dinner. They even have themed nights, ranging from Mexican fiesta to a Decades show. We were treated to an open-air opera performance, with the lights of the city reflecting off the Bay of Banderas in the background.
During our FAM trips, we love to let our media guests get a feel for the cultural and adventure offerings of the destination itself, in addition to the resort. One of the most memorable parts of this trip was our whale-watching excursion, led by a biologist from Ecotours de México. On our excursion, we encountered more than 15 different Humpback whales, who were putting on a show for us as they breached and slapped the surface of the water with their pectoral fins. We even eavesdropped on them singing underwater!
What’s also great about Villa del Palmar Puerto Vallarta is its prime location, just minutes from the airport, and the Malecón – the heart and soul of the city. We explored this seaside promenade after our whale encounter, and came across a variety of art sculptures overlooking the bay (the one pictured below is called “Searching for Reason” by Sergio Bustamante), and checked out the Old Town Farmers Market-Tianguis Cultural, a “producer-only” market.
After walking around the city, surrounded by culture, art and vibrant hues, the colorful upgrade to Villa del Palmar Puerto Vallarta made perfect sense. It is a reflection of a community that celebrates living life to the fullest.
While brief, we were able to offer our special guests a taste of the region and hospitality of the area. The great part of wrapping up a FAM trip is hearing about the experience from another person’s perspective. Check out some of the stories below, with others expected soon!
Questions about FAM Trips? Tweet us @CuratorPR!