"Other places".......MEXICO this time!

I was honored to be asked to write a brief overview of the new Playa Mita Resort, the latest in the long list of all inclusives under the Iberostar banner, for American Express Travel.

First, I must say I am a bit biased because I have never had a negative review from any of my clients who booked an Iberostar product anywhere in the Caribbean, so I arrived in Puerto Vallarta expecting nothing less. I was met by a private driver who took me on the longer than expected drive to the resort. 

After a long flight from the East Coast, driving for a bit over an hour wasn't too terrible, but left me yearning to finally arrive, shower, eat and look around.

You soon realize, however that this is a problem if you expect at any time to want to wander outside the property, since there is really nothing much closeby.  The ride, to Punta Mita is not only long from PVR airport,  but can be very expensive (approx $300 round trip). Sharing the cost with several people, does make it more reasonable.

There is a small charming fishing village closer to the resort, Punta Sayulita, but that is the only option. A half day visit to the many small shops , drinking establishments and the beach is quite sufficient.

Iberostar Playa Mita features 452 guest rooms , including 120 oceanfront suites.

There are four speciality restaurants, eight bars, and three pools one of which has a swim up bar.

The resort is surrounded by natural beauty, the Pacific on one side and the Sierra Madre Mountains on the other. The beach part of this resort, however, seem a bit disconnected from the rest of the property, unless you are staying in one of the beachfront suites. The beach for the rest of the guests is actually reached either by an elevator or by a winding staircase, then a walk to the actual beach.

If you go to the beach you may want to make sure you have everything you need, because running back to your room is a bit of a challenge.

The service throughout the resort is above average, everyone has a genuine smile and makes eye contact with all guests. I wish I could say the same for the food offerings. Especially in the speciality restaurants, the dishes were mostly disappointing, cooked improperly, or just not appetizing. I hope they are working on this.... I know this is still a work in progress.  Staying at an Iberostar Premier property and enjoying the buffet more than the formal restaurants says it all.

Finally, I will say that for East Coast travelers who enjoy all-inclusives, the Iberostar properties in Punta Cana, Jamaica and Riviera Maya would be the best choice.

They can have many more choices and even their all suite and the "Grand" category, which is exceptional. 

For West Coast travelers who are unfamiliar with the Iberostar product, this is certainly a good introduction. While it will satisfy on most counts, it will leave them yearning for more, which is a good thing, since there are many more choices available around the world, all under the Iberostar banner!