This post is sponsored by Villa Premiere Puerto Vallarta. All opinions are my own.

For my birthday this year, I wanted to do something big. Last year, I traveled to Scottsdale to visit my friend. We had an amazing time, but Scottsdale is almost like a second home. I lived there for 9 years, so I wanted to really shake it up this year. Puerto Vallarta immediately came to mind because it is a really short flight from LA. Yet, it feels like you’re in a completely different world when you get there. Plus, I had the most amazing time in Puerto Vallarta when I visited in 2019. 

I generally try not to repeat travel destinations. I love experiencing new cultures, cities, and countries so much that I try to go to new places each time. But I distinctly remember telling myself that Puerto Vallarta is one of those places I could visit again and again. It is so beautiful, the people are so friendly, and I also love the access to the beach and the amazing dining options. It’s also such a bonus that it’s such a quick and affordable flight from Los Angeles. 

When I spoke to my contact about where to stay, she suggested I try Villa Premiere. I initially planned to stay at the same hotel I had stayed at in 2019, but my contact told me that Villa Premiere is her favorite. It’s where she stays anytime she travels there, so I knew it must be amazing. She raved about the food, the location and proximity to downtown, and the friendly staff. She didn’t mention just how amazing the room and the grounds would be, however. 

The Villa Premiere is a short drive, about 20 minutes, from the airport. It’s also only a little over a mile away from the Malacon and all of the Puerto Vallarta restaurants and nightlife. When we arrived at the hotel, we were blown away by the gorgeous grounds. The lobby, itself, is quite breathtaking and leads out to a gorgeous view of the ocean along with two pools, a swim-up bar, and a glass-enclosed two-story restaurant overlooking the ocean. 

Our room was ready, so we headed up there. We stayed in a spa suite that included a jacuzzi tub right in our room. We also had a kitchenette, a minibar, a large living room, and a giant balcony overlooking the ocean. The photos below actually show the view from our room. The room was spectacular. We actually spent quite a bit of time in the room because they also offered 24-hour room service. Although the on-site restaurants were great too, we loved the ability to spend time in the room, take in the amazing view and enjoy food right on our balcony. We also took full advantage of the in-room jacuzzi surrounded by candles. The hotel had so many touches like that – fresh candles and incense every day, scented pillows, stocked mini-bar and plush robes, and slippers, just to name a few. 

As you can see from the photos, the hotel is situated right on the beach so you get a wonderful ocean view along with two lovely pools. There are tons of lounge chairs flanked around the pool along with chairs and umbrellas on the beach and a few private cabanas with comfortable beds. We actually spent most of our time in the pool with the swim-up bar because it overlooks the ocean, and who doesn’t like easy access to unlimited drinks. Did I mention the hotel is all-inclusive, so food and drink are all included? 

I’m sure some of you are wondering about the protocols for safety. The hotel did a great job of ensuring social distancing throughout the hotel to keep the staff and guests safe. They required masks in all public areas. Further, they have hand sanitizing stations throughout the hotel. They also do not allow people to enter the room unless it is empty for cleaning purposes.

We chose not to venture into town this trip as a way to try to avoid any potential crowds. Staying right at the hotel, staying by the pool and on the beach, and spending time in our room made us feel as though we were as safe as possible. We did venture out into the neighborhood to pick up a few souvenirs. Everyone we passed was wearing a mask. Further, the stores were also instituting mask-wearing and I noticed hand sanitizer in the stores too. It did appear to us that people were taking the pandemic very seriously and doing a good job to maintain health and safety for all. 

Overall, our stay at Villa Premiere was literally a dream come true. It is easily the best birthday I’ve ever had. I said over and over, to myself, and to my travel companion, that the entire trip felt like a dream. I couldn’t believe just how lucky I was to get to experience such a magical place. If you have the chance to travel to Puerto Vallarta and you’re looking for a place to stay, I would highly encourage you to check out Villa Premiere Puerto Vallarta. I am confident you will love it just as much as I did.