Weekly room report: Hotel Riu Palace Pacifico, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Got limited spring break or vacation budget? Answer: Mexico. Where in Mexico to go? Answer: the budget friendly all inclusive Hotel Riu Palace Pacifico is just a short flight from Denver to Puerto Vallarta, where your vacation budget goes a long way to create a perfect Mexican beach getaway

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In early October, Spain-based Riu Hotels and Resorts opened the much-anticipated the 484-room Riu Palace Pacifico. One of three Puerto Vallarta Rius, the Riu Palace Pacifico is a 9-story, Romanesque, two-towered, elegant building overlooking the scenic Playa de Flamingos beach and Pacific Ocean.

The lobby is sprawling and regal with Italian-blown glass chandeliers, stained glass, ornate traditional furniture, and Greek/Italian themed artwork commissioned from Mexican artists. Elegantly formal, almost Victorian-style sofas and high-back chairs are scattered throughout the lobby. It’s almost too good to be true, and yes, it’s an all-inclusive resort.

Here are some hotel secrets and tips I compiled from my visit last fall:

Hotel secret #1: Request a room with an ocean view and balcony and/or terrace. It’s well-worth the extra dollars to wake up to the sound, smell and site of the ocean, while still in your pajamas. Even the junior suites offer balconies, so make sure you take advantage of the view, and the all-inclusive fully stocked mini-bar. The complimentary mini-bar offers plenty of cold purified water, sodas and beer. A lovely wood dispenser holds bottles of vodka, rum and tequila to enjoy shots or mixed drinks. Please note: Do NOT drink the water from the faucet as it is non-potable.

Hotel secret #2: Did someone say all-inclusive dining? You might be accustomed to the boring buffets common to Mexico all-inclusives, but there’s nothing boring about the Riu Pacifico Palace’s dining experience. Its four restaurants are slightly more upscale than your run-of-the-mill all-inclusives. By day, two full buffet restaurants, La Peninsula and poolside La Toscana grill, keep your tummy happy. In the evening, La Toscana turns into an appointment-only steak restaurant. Other optional dining (still all-inclusive although some menu items may incur additional costs), reservation only choices include Krystal Fusion, Kyoto Japense restaurant,and Guacamole Mexican restaurant. NOTE: Dress code (pants and collared shirts for men) at the optional dining restaurants is strictly enforced.

Hotel secret #3: Traveling sports fans can feed their sport addictions. For those that want late night snacking or game-watching, just off the lobby is a 24-hour sports bar boasting several flat screen televisions, with refrigerators filled with complimentary sandwiches and quick snacks. The sports bar also doubles as the business center, with several computers with internet service at a charge.

Hotel secret #4: The pool is an oasis of its own. Sure you can walk the few steps down to the beach, but you might not make it past the pool. The pool features inlaid marble lounge beds and tables, and the restaurants are located on the lower floors of the two towers to the right and left. One large pool is divided into three separate areas, and the middle is where travelers in need of refreshment will find the swim-up bar with seating. Lounge chairs surround the pool, and another set of stairs to the side of the pool bar lead to the beach and the ocean.

Hotel secret #5: You don’t want to miss the spa Renova, a brand specific to Riu. The service is impeccable and the treatments, especially the deep tissue massage, are some of the best I’ve ever experienced.

Hotel secret #6: You’re going to love the Riu Palace Pacifico’s location in the highly touted, recently awakened, Mexican village of Riveria Nayarit. This region stretches along 192 miles of Pacific Coast in the Mexican state of Nayarit, just 10 minutes north of Puerto Vallarta International Airport. Mountains tower above a glistening sea and lush tropical jungles extend to the beach. Still pristine, Nuevo Vallarta - Riviera Nayarit focuses on carefully planned luxury development (a wide range currently underway) and protecting its abundant nature.

Compared to other two Riu Nyarit properties, the Riu Palace Pacifico is a showcase with first-class treatment, such as top shelf alcohol, 24-hour room service and fine dining included in the all-inclusive rates. It is the third Riu hotel in this Pacific Coast resort city, catering to the adult traveler. All three Puerto Vallarta Riu all-inclusive resorts are located minutes from each other on the Flamingos Beach in Puerto Vallarta. If you want a change of scenery, your all-inclusive package includes service and drinks at all three Rius, a short walk down the beach

NOTE: The other two Puerto Vallarta Riu properties (Hotel Riu Vallarta and ClubHotel Riu Jalisco) are also picture perfect and all-inclusive, and more family friendly, in my opinion.