Vacation season is upon us, and for this month’s Spotlight article I thought I would share our family’s annual trip, a tradition we look forward to every year. What none of us anticipated was that this particular vacation would turn out to be far more eventful than expected. This is Part 1 of a two-part story, with the conclusion appearing in the May issue.

Settle in, this is the beginning of the Annual Ingalls Family Vacation, 2026 edition.

A Family Tradition, Renewed Each Year

Each winter, usually in late January or February, our family chooses a destination where we can all gather for a full week together. Over the years, that group has grown to include extended family, in-laws, and those special people who have entered the family through what I like to call the friend portal. This year’s gathering was a bit more intimate, with just eleven of us, but no less meaningful.

For 2026, we selected Puerto Vallarta as our meeting place, staying at the all-inclusive Meliá Puerto Vallarta, located in the city’s well-known hotel zone.

If you’re thinking, Oh no, I hope they weren’t there during the recent violence, you would be right to be concerned. Yes, we were there that very week. The impact of that will be explored in Part 2 of this story.

First Impressions: Grandeur by the Sea

Our family arrived in waves throughout the day, with some of us, including myself, arriving before the official check-in time. This wasn’t a problem; it simply gave us an opportunity to explore.

The hotel’s entrance immediately sets the tone. The lobby evokes the grandeur of old-world hotels from the 1940s and ’50s, large, dramatic, and unapologetically opulent. Though the property was built in 1989, its design leans heavily into timeless materials: natural stone, and ceramic tile floors, warm wood accents, and thoughtfully placed seating areas throughout expansive lounging spaces.

From the moment you walk in, you sense that this is a property that has been carefully maintained. The open design takes full advantage of the ocean breezes, and the scale of the entrance and lobby creates a feeling of ease rather than excess.

Grounds, Views, and a Room with a Vista

The grounds are equally impressive, immaculate, serene, and surprisingly quiet despite the number of guests. We opted for the Premium package, which placed us at the end of one of the buildings. The payoff was worth it: a sweeping view of the beach and ocean, with sightlines that wrapped all the way around the city.

Day or night, the view was spectacular. I had no complaints about the room itself, its size, layout, and location were all excellent. Unfortunately, this is where the story begins to take a less pleasant turn.

Check-In Challenges and Mixed Service

The check-in experience was, frankly, frustrating. We were told to return to the front desk four separate times to receive our room assignment. Each visit required standing in line for 15 to 20 minutes, only to be told that the room was still not ready.

More than two hours after the published check-in time, I finally flagged down a manager and asked if he would look into the issue. Within five minutes, the problem was resolved and we were given our room.

Sadly, this experience mirrored most interactions with the lobby staff, whose default response often seemed to be, “We can’t do that.” It’s worth noting, however, that outside of the front desk, the rest of the hotel staff were warm, attentive, and genuinely eager to help in any way they could.

Beneath the Surface: A Few Unexpected Issues

Visually, the hotel appeared to be in excellent condition. Anyone who frequently stays in oceanfront properties knows to expect a certain level of wear and tear, but here, it was minimal.

That said, we did encounter an unexpected issue with the water in our bathroom. At times, the water coming from the shower head was visibly dirty, muddy, even. We had to let it run for several minutes before it cleared enough to feel comfortable showering. We clearly weren’t the only guests affected, as maintenance eventually addressed the issue, and by the end of our stay the problem seemed to be resolved.

Food, Drink, and the All-Inclusive Experience

As an all-inclusive resort, the hotel offers several dining options, including specialty restaurants (some at an additional charge) and a central buffet serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

I’ll admit, I’m not a fan of buffets. That said, I was pleasantly surprised. The food was far better than expected, and the variety exceeded my assumptions. We only dined at one specialty restaurant during our stay, for reasons that will become clear in Part 2 of this story.

Exploring Puerto Vallarta

The hotel zone itself is clean, well-maintained, and comfortable, especially when compared to some of the older areas of the city. If you’re looking for ease and convenience, it’s an excellent choice. If, however, you’re seeking a more authentic experience rooted in the older parts of Puerto Vallarta, this area may feel a bit removed.

As a family, we like to explore. No surprise to anyone who knows me, I’m always interested in learning the history of the places we visit, how they came to be, and why they developed the way they did.

We all arrived on Thursday, but only had that evening together. Friday was spent strolling around the nearby marina, just blocks from the hotel. Saturday took us farther afield into the Zona Romántica and Zona Central, where we enjoyed the local architecture and immersed ourselves in the culture as much as possible.

Sunday, however, would change everything.

And that is where I will leave this story, for now.
Part 2 will appear in a few days.