Villa del Palmar Beach Resort & Spa sits directly on the sand in Puerto Vallarta's hotel zone, where Banderas Bay meets the Sierra Madre. The package puts you in a Junior Suite: 550 square feet, a king bed or two doubles, a fully equipped kitchenette, a dining area for two and a private balcony furnished for the ocean or garden view. Outside your door are outdoor pools and beachfront jacuzzis, a palapa-shaded stretch of sand, a fitness center and a supervised Kids Club, plus kayaks and paddle boards whenever the bay looks inviting. The Bay Breeze Spa is on site for treatments at extra cost.

Five restaurants sit on the property: El Patron for regional Mexican cooking, Yashinoki for Japanese and a teppanyaki show, La Trattoria for brick-oven pizza and pasta, the Seafood Market for morning buffets and afternoon seafood, and La Creperie. Free activities run daily from 9:00am to 6:00pm, from aqua aerobics and beach volleyball to bingo and cooking classes, and live entertainment and theme nights carry the evenings. Downtown Puerto Vallarta, the Malecon boardwalk and the Romantic Zone are a short drive south along the bay, with water taxis running from the pier.