When you have kids, vacations are not what they used to be. Not only are you having to pack clothes for yourself and your children, but you are thinking ahead and planning for moments of boredom, tantrums, discomfort, and low blood sugar, and all the ways you can and will combat those moments to make the “vacation” as smooth and stress free as possible. But do you remember those days when you could just pack your bags, get through airport security in a flash, and truly relax the second you left your house? Well, I had a reminder recently and it was as if I rediscovered my former self, who, contrary to what I thought, actually never left me but was dormant since I had my daughter. Enter Silver Daisy Boondoggle and Riviera Nayarit, Mexico.
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Every year, 50 Macaroni Kid publishers are invited to attend a hosted trip to discover and explore a special locale and then share their experiences and adventures. This year’s trip was a truly special one – it was my first Boondoggle and Macaroni Kid’s first international one. The final destination was Riviera Nayarit, just 20 minutes north of Puerto Vallarta and a less than 5-hour flight from Sea-Tac.
Nonstop flights? Check. Passport? Check. All-inclusive resort? Check. Good company and fabulous hosts? Check and check. A great mix of adventure, culture, and relaxation? Check. Sun everything, including dresses, shine, and block? Check, check, check. There was no way I was not getting this Mexico stamp in my passport.
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Though two other Washington State publishers were on this trip, I flew down to Puerto Vallarta (PVR) by myself and was met by our shuttle Comfortour Sayulita upon my exit. I was automatically offered a bottle of water and an icy cold face towel, which was always my saving grace in the heat and humidity throughout the entire trip. From there I was shuttled to Reflect Krystal Grand Nuevo Vallarta, newly part of the Reflect Resorts & Spas. The lobby breezeway was airy and relaxing and led to a stunning view of Bahía de Banderas (Bay of Banderas), the resort’s pools and many water features. Throughout my stay and immediately after check in, the pools and beach beckoned and I couldn’t resist.
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As easy as it was cooling down and getting in a pool, it was just as easy to get food and drinks, as is the beauty with all-inclusive resorts, and I will say I was spoiled. It was nice to not have to cook food or figure out where the yummy spots to eat were, I could either order food at the main pool, order in room service, or head to one of three restaurants. A mom could get used to it…and I did! There was an onsite coffee shop and I could not tell you how many frappes I ordered, but my dollars sure came in handy for tips for the much deserving barista and the bartenders at the infinity pool, the main pool, and the rooftop bar, also known as the Sky Lounge.
So I relaxed, took an on-resort Dragon Roll sushi making class, and hung out with other publishers from across the US. What a treat! Though this trip fit the bill of a girlfriend getaway, everything screamed family friendly – from the kiddie pool and water play area to every single one of our adventures. More often than not, I would find myself thinking, “My family would love this!”
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The first thing my family would have loved was Vallarta Adventures and their Off Road Excursion. This first excursion was truly for those who sought exciting, off the beaten path fun and love to get to know the who’s, what’s, where’s and why’s of where you’re visiting. Juan Carlos, our tour guide, and Chepe, our skilled Unimog (a WWII 4x4 truck) driver, took us on the offroad back paths to San Jose to pick up ingredients to make fresh, homemade corn tortillas and the tastiest guacamole, had us complete hilarious tasks that tested our Spanish skills, including cleaning the windshield and checking the tire pressure of a stranger’s vehicle, and a 45-minute hike through the rainforest where we learned about local plants and, if we so chose, ate termites! Honestly, Juan Carlos was brilliant at sneaking in gems of local trivia, just as slick as I am about slipping in vegetables in my daughter’s diet. Speaking of food, I learned how to make the freshest corn tortillas, though I wouldn’t say I’m very good at it, and the best guacamole ever (see the ingredient list at the end.) The combo of the two was a much needed snack after all the running around and laughter. But it was topped off by another fun, bumpy drive to lunch on the beach, and of course, an icy cold face towel.
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Another Vallarta Adventures excursion my family would have loved was our day in Sayulita for shopping and dining, and San Pancho, where many expats reside and where we had the opportunity to learn about the life changing local nonprofit EntreAmigos. EntreAmigos does countless inspiring things for the community including initiating a recycling and upcycling program, providing education scholarships to kids and teens, and offering art, creative, library and entrepreneurial programs for the children. This welcoming and sustainable community center was truly the backbone of San Pancho and I brought home shirts and stuffed animals the kids created, sewed, or designed.
It was a go-go-go trip, but Riviera Nayarit brought together the best of both worlds -- authentic Mexican culture and commercial tourism. With an overall easy experience from the shuttle pick up and the wonderfully executed tours to our gracious host, CBV Riviera Nayarit, and the people and communities we met, I would not hesitate to go back with my family or recommend it to anyone seeking sun, fun, relaxation, and a vacation. I have a newfound appreciation for Mexican culture, which focuses on family and food, and I would love nothing more than to share the good vibes it gave me with others. So should you check out Riviera Nayarit as your next family vacation spot or a getaway for you and your partner or friends? Absolutely. Plus, any place I can hear crashing waves and feel the ocean breeze while getting a massage just steps from the resort, count me in!
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Visit http://www.rivieranayarit.com/ to learn more. Also check out my adventures on Instagram and search hashtag #RivieraNayaritMK.
My Riviera Nayarit Travel Tips:
- Exchange your money for pesos, but still carry small denominations of USD for tips. In fact, you can most likely get by with USD the whole trip as it is easy to calculate the exchange rate, but it is always nice to use Mexican currency because “when in Rome…"
- Don’t travel alone. Riviera Nayarit is safe, but it is always safer to stick with a pal.
- After you exit Customs at PVR, there is a hallway filled with timeshare representatives. If you’re not interested in acquiring a timeshare, just ignore their deft attempts at getting your attention and keep on walking.
- Have a pen handy to fill out your Customs form while in the air.
- Hydrate! Drink bottled water only.
- Bring insect repellent and sunscreen with excellent SPF.
 | Ingredients for the Best Guacamole Ever: Avocados (obviously!) Tomatoes Cucumbers (yup, finely chopped!) Jalapeno Peppers Cilantro Red Onions |
The Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau hosted Macaroni Kid for a three-day press trip. Accommodations and most meals and activities were complimentary. No other compensation was received in consideration of this article and all opinions are my own.
