Puerto Vallarta Spring Break fun!

Last year, Sean and I both got bonuses with our jobs and decided to use the extra unplanned money for a trip to Puerto Vallarta with the kids.  Sean and I have been to Puerto Vallarta together for the first time before we had kids 9 years ago and had a blast.  We knew the weather is likely to be good at that time of the year and it was not super far from us in Oregon so it seemed like the perfect choice.  Sean and I began researching hotels way back last spring.  We settled on an All-Inclusive resort called Fiesta Americana right in the middle of Puerto Vallarta that got great reviews and was an awesome value and family oriented with fun family activities.  We decided on going on the trip for a week so we would have lots of time there.  We also knew we had to go during Brandon’s spring break so he would not miss any school.  Knowing that rates and prices go up we bought our tickets and the hotel back in August.  We got the kids’ passports in October.  We were so excited to go!

I have to say it made the winter go by quicker knowing that I had this fun trip to look forward to!  Before we left, Olivia got to have her first pedicure!  She loved it so much and asked the pedicure lady to keep rubbing her feet because she enjoyed it so much!  Olivia picked cute sparkling pink toenail polish and she got a cute flower drawn on her big toe.

Ready for her first pedicure!

She loved having her feet rubbed!

The end result!  

Super cute flower on her big toe

It snowed the morning before we left in late March!

We left for Mexico early in the morning on a Saturday.  We decided due to traffic and our 6:00 AM flight as well as the economy parking lot filling up, we wanted to stay near the airport at a park n fly hotel that would let us park for free for the full 7 days.  We were glad that we booked the hotel since it snowed the day before we left!  We got to the hotel and immediately went to bed.  We had to be up at 3:30 AM the next day as we had a 4:00 AM hotel shuttle bus reservation.  We got to the airport and the kids were troopers even though they were tired. They were super excited to go on the airplane!  The security line was pretty long but we made it through with plenty of time.  The first flight was to Salt Lake City and we made it there uneventfully.  The flight was pretty short and the kids did great on the plane.  We had a two hour layer over in Salt Lake City and ended up having a yummy breakfast there and then hopped on our last plane to Puerto Vallarta.  Both kids had a good nap on the flight from Salt Lake City to Puerto Vallarta.  We arrived in Puerto Vallarta at 2:30 PM.  We went through customs and got our luggage (Delta offered to check in our carry-on luggage for free) and then took a short taxi right (after me having to negotiate) to our hotel.

Watching a show on the early morning flight to Salt Lake City

On route to Mexico both kids took a nap

Nap time for Brandon on the airplane

Waiting to go through customs

Selfie with Daddy at the hotel entrance-we made it!

Brandon and Daddy selfie at the Puerto Vallarta airport

It was so relaxing when we arrived at our hotel.  Our room was ready and we had a nice tour guide who walked us around the resort showing us where everything was.  We got drinks at the end and then made our way up to our room where our luggage was already there.  The kids immediately wanted to go in the pool but we quickly unpacked first.  Then we spent the late afternoon swimming in the resort’s large pool. The kids loved the pool but we got out after an hour to have dinner as we knew the kids would be tired after traveling all day.  We went to the Italian restaurant and Sean had a yummy steak and I had yummy shrimp.  Brandon had yummy chicken parmesan and Olivia had cheese pizza.  After we had dinner, we walked down to the beach.  It was the first time the kids played in a warm beach water and they were having a blast.  We got back to the hotel and went to bed early since we were all tired. Our hotel was nice and big and had two double beds and then a sofa bed that folded out to a queen bed.  I somehow got lucky and got the double bed all to myself.  Olivia got the sofa bed to herself as she sprawls out and no one wants to sleep with her and Sean and Brandon slept together.

The cute Welcome sign on our bed made with rice when we got to the resort

Swimming in the pool right after we got to Mexico 

Late afternoon swim! 

First dinner at the Italian restaurant our favorite restaurant 

Sean's steak dinner

Going to the ocean after dinner

Night swimming!

Daddy and Brandon selfie on the beach 

The cute display at the hotel for Earth Day

The next morning we all woke up refreshed.  We went to breakfast and witnessed the awesome buffet breakfast our resort had each morning.  There was fresh fruit, a person that made fresh omelets and quesadillas, yummy authentic Mexican breakfast food, Mexican pastries, waffles, and pancakes.  The food quality was great.  And I was able to get my cappuccinos and they were excellent each morning.  After we had breakfast we went down to the pool and spent most of the day there.  Just prior to the trip, I purchased two floats-a large pineapple and a donut that we took with us.  We went down to the beach and the kids had a blast running from the waves and body surfing.  After that we had got a yummy chocolate fruit skewer and had lunch.  We had more fun at the beach and then did the fun Kids’ club activity which was a piñata in the late afternoon.  After that, the kids’ club had a movie night so Sean and I got to go out to dinner together and enjoy an evening together without the kiddos.  We had a yummy drink at the beach and then went to dinner at the Asian Restaurant and had some yummy sushi.  

Yummy first breakfast in Mexico!

All ready to swim! 

Outside our balcony 

Pool lounging in the donut

Taking a break in the shade

Checking out the ocean in the day time

Running down the sand from our resort

Enjoying a warm water ocean! 

So much fun playing in the ocean

Chocolate fruit skewer at our resort near the pool

More afternoon swimming fun

So much fun swimming in the ocean

Date night with the kids at the Kids Zone for movie and pizza night

Watching the sunset together 

Us on the left in Puerto Vallarta 9 years before and now on the right

Our beautiful beach

The next day was Monday and we planned on just spending most of the day at the resort just swimming.  Unfortunately both Olivia and Brandon suffered pretty bad sunburns the day before due to us being out in the sun too much and them swimming and the sun reflecting off of their goggles.  We spent most of Monday (and the rest of the trip) trying to keep the kids from getting additional sun burns.  We settled into a fun routine where I would go stake out pool chairs before I worked out first thing in the morning and then Sean would go work out and I would get dressed and ready and Sean would meet us at the buffet for breakfast.  We enjoyed the buffet’s yummy food each morning including fresh squeeze orange juice that was the best juice we had ever tasted. Sean, Brandon, and I often times got a fresh made egg omelet.  I was able to get mine pretty healthy with lots of veggies.  There was fresh fruit every morning.  We settled into a routine into going swimming after breakfast each day as it was quite warm already but the sun was less intense.  We enjoyed most the day hanging out at the resort and tried the La Cevicheria  (Seafood) restaurant right on the beach for lunch.  Sean got fresh fish and it was excellent.  I got ceviche and Marlin quesadillas and they were very yummy as well.  That night, we went to the traditional Mexican restaurant and it was quite good.  That evening the kids had a blast night swimming.  

After breakfast swimming sessio

Restort review of pool area

Playing ball with Daddy in the pool

These two loved the pool 

The pool was not very crowded in the mornings

Hanging out by the pool

Olivia and I by the pool

Lots of hard work lead me to be able to wear a bikini by the pool

View of our resort 

Oceanside lunch

View from our lunch 

Close up of Sean's fresh fish for lunch

The kids had fun at the Kids' Club feeding fish at the resort

Close up of the fish in the pond at the resort

Sweet Brandon

Tortilla Soup at dinner

Sean and Olivia at dinner at the Mexican restaurant

Brandon at dinner 

Night swimming-pool was cool illuminated and it was still quite warm

Kids loved night swimming and no one was in the pool

On Tuesday, we swam in the morning after breakfast and then decided to go into the city of Puerto Vallarta for the afternoon.  We had to exchange some money and got that done and then caught an Uber to the city.  We had a bit of a problem finding our first Uber car (due to the connection being glitchy) but luckily found our second uber.  Olivia found a McDonalds and was so happy to have a Happy Meal for lunch.  Sean found a yummy authentic Mexican restaurant on trip advisor called Pipi’s.  The food was excellent and Sean and I shared fajitas.  Brandon got a yummy chicken enchilada.  The restaurant had live music and really yummy giant margaritas.  We had fun walking along the Malecon and looking at the ocean.  We then went shopping and had fun at a flea market.  Brandon and Olivia both chose out cute little figurines and Brandon got a hat.  They both chose out a present for CiCi and Baba (an elephant figurine).  We then ate dinner at the resort and went to bed early as we had to be up early for our excursion to Las Caletas through Vallarta Adventures that I booked before we went on our trip.

Hanging out by the pool

The kids area of the resort

In the front of the resort 

McDonalds in Mexico yum!

Happy Meal in Mexico! 

Eating lunch at Pipi's this fun restaurant Sean found in the city

Unicorn sea horse statute in Puerto Vallarta

WE had fun walking around the city on the Malecon

Looking at the ocean along the sea wall 

Having fun looking at the tourist shops 

We came back from the City and Olivia and I had fun hanging out by the ocean watching the sun go down

Puerto Vallarta city is directly ahead of Olivia in this picture

So much fun playing at the beach

Selfie on the beach

Mexico still has the most beautiful sunsets 

Love this one  

Watching the sunset through Olivia's eyes

 We were excited to go on an excursion to Las Caletas that we booked prior to our trip as we heard awesome things about it.  Sean and I had zip lined with Vallarta Adventures before and we loved it.  We started off the day early at 8:00 AM and got on a boat in the Marina.  We took a fun boat ride to Las Caletas and got to see the Puerto Vallarta shoreline.  I got boat sick on the ride as we were going against the current (and I think I was a bit ill from my drip coffee I drank).  We got to Las Caletas and it was amazing.  This is a secluded private island.  When we arrived, there were exotic parrots flying all around.  There was flamingos too.  We got to eat a little taco for breakfast and then were off to explore the island and all the activities it had to offer.  We decided to go kayaking first in the ocean and had a blast.  Then the kids tried snorkeling which was really fun.  Brandon and Sean went really far into the ocean.  Olivia was not quite into it as much so we stayed by the shore.  The kids had their Kids Zone time right after that so we had to hustle to get there on time.  The kids got fitted for helmets and got their zip lining equipment on.  The adults got to accompany the kids.  We started off with the kids getting to meet a little spider monkey and the monkey got to walk all over them.  It was the highlight of Brandon’s day (my little animal lover).  After that, the kids got to on a mule ride which the parents led the mules.  Both kids really seemed to enjoy this although Olivia’s mule was quite lazy and I had to keep pulling on him.  After the mule ride, the kids got to go on a suspension bridge and then they got to do their first zip line.  I was worried that Olivia may be scared but she loved it and was not scared at all.  Brandon did great as well.  After the first zip line they got to do a fun rock climbing wall and then repel down.   Then the kids got to do two more zip lines. The kids did awesome with all the adventure.

Father son selfie on the boat to Las Caletas

Olivia and I on the boat to Las Caletas

Getting close to the island 

Beautiful parrots!

Las Caletas

View of the boat

Welcome to Las Caletas

Brandon with the parrots 

Flamingos!

The swimming cove

Brandon got to hold a parrot!

Olivia got to hold a parrot too!

Kayaking-so much fun!

Family kayaking

Both kids had so much fun kayaking

Snorkeling by the rocks 

Sean and Brandon snorkeling

All geared up for their adventure!

Getting harnessed up

Getting hooked in

Waiting to begin their adventure

Spider monkey holding

Brandon holding the monkey

Sweet Brandon loved his moment with the monkey

Love this one!

Olivia and the monkey

Mule riding

Sean and Brandon going on a mule ride

Mule riding is fun!

Olivia liked the mule 

Olivia's mule was stubborn and kept stopping

Leading the mule on the path

Olivia liked her time on the mule

So much fun!

Going across the drawbridge 

Lots of fun on the drawbridge 

Olivia going across the drawbridge

So much fun!

Rock climbing!

Brandon having fun rock climbing

Olivia was not scared at all to zip line

Zip lining fun!

She did awesome and had fun!

Big smiles after her zip lining fun!

Brandon did no hands when he zip lined! 

So much fun after finishing! 

Second zip line! 

Big smile at the end!

Brandon going on his second zip line 

Sweet Brandon! 

Adventure kids group!

After the kids were done with the Adventure Park we relaxed a bit and Sean and I got a very good drink.  Then it was time for lunch which was an amazing buffet with lots of local seafood and Mexican food.  After that we had to catch the boat back to Puerto Vallarta.  We had a blast with a fun family we met from Chicago.  Their daughter was Olivia’s age and the kids had a lot of fun together.  We got back to our resort in the late afternoon just in time for a late afternoon swim.  Olivia had a lot of fun playing in the playground near the pool.  We saw the resort’s peacock that was roaming around.  That night we ate dinner at the Asian Restaurant and enjoyed lots of yummy sushi (their best food) and the fried ice-cream.

Relaxing in the hammock after all of the adventure fun 

Liv fell asleep on the way home on the boat 

The fun entertainment on the way home 

The peacock that lived at our resort

Asian restaurant yum!

On Thursday we spent the entire day at the resort.  Olivia had a blast spending a lot of the day at the Kids’ Club.  She made friends with some of the kids there and had fun with the caregivers.  They made bracelets, necklaces, cookies, cakes, and other fun things during her week there.  It was a nice spot to get her out of the sun too when she had too much.  Brandon made friends with a boy from Las Vegas and had fun playing with him most of the day.  We ate dinner that night at our favorite restaurant the Italian restaurant.

Panorama of the adult only area of our hotel

Adult infinity pool view 

On Friday we had to start packing.  We were sad that our trip was coming to a close.  The kids spent most of the day swimming at the pool and at the ocean.  They painted fun ceramics at the resort near the pool. We got to get them the next day before we left after they were glazed. We had another fun day and Olivia went back to the Kids’ Club most of the afternoon as she was having a blast there while I packed and Sean and Brandon swam.  That evening we had a photo shoot with the local photographer on the resort.  The photo shoot was only for 15 minutes but it was awesome.  The photographer got so many cute photos of the family and it was great because I didn’t get any professional photos done this year so it had been a while since we had pictures of our family taken.  After our photos, we went to dinner at the Mexican Fiesta Night the resort was having.  There was a large buffet of traditional Mexican food.  We had a yummy dinner with live music.  They had live traditional Mexican dancers which both kids loved while eating dessert.  It was a perfect way to end our fun vacation.

Painting their ceramic pottery

Floating on the donut in the ocean

Last day playing in the warm ocean 

So much fun in the ocean with Daddy

Relax time with Daddy in the ocean

Our hotel's beautiful coast line

Playing in the sand before getting our pictures done

Hotel beach 

Getting ready for pictures

So cute in Mommy's sunglasses 

Love this picture-so many cute pictures 

Love this action shot! 

Favorite one of these two

Jumping for fun!

Sweet picture of Brandon 

Sean and I 

Love this family shot! 

And both of these family shots

Family shot as the sunsets 

Post photo shoot fun!

Dinner time at the Mexican Fiesta Night

Watching the performance

The next day, our flight home was at 2:30 PM.  We were flying from Puerto Vallarta to Mexico City and then from Mexico City back to Portland.  The trip was uneventful other than Aero Mexico not having very good customer service and enforcing a weight limit on our carryon luggage and making us check in two of our pieces of luggage and paying $50 to do so.  We got lost in the airport at Mexico City and the security guard almost didn’t allow us back to our connecting flight area.  The kids did great flying home even though we arrived in Portland pretty late at 9:20 PM (10:20 PM Puerto Vallarta time).  We got home by 11:00 PM after having to go through customs, get our luggage, and then take the shuttle back to the Red Lion to get our car.  The kids immediately went to bed and then we had to get ready for Easter as it was Easter the next day.  We had such a fun trip with such lovely warm and sunny weather in the mid-80s the entire time.  It didn’t rain any of the days we were there.  We arrived home to Portland to rain and cold with it being in the high 40s-yuck!  We are already talking about our next to Mexico.  The kids can’t wait to go back.

Brandon and I at our favorite "Live" Island spot