Last Updated on April 27, 2023
The Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta All-Inclusive Resort is the place to go if you’re looking for a good time in Puerto Vallarta. The resort offers a complete all-inclusive experience, and also includes lots of entertainment and a great location right on the beach. If you want to head to Puerto Vallarta to experience the all-inclusive life with a group of friends, this is the place for you.
We spent 3 nights here and put together this Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta review to help you decide whether this all-inclusive resort is the right fit for your next long weekend or vacation to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico! If you’re staying in Puerto Vallarta area for a bit longer, be sure to check out our blog post of all the best Instagram locations in Puerto Vallarta so you don’t miss any of the sights!
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Disclaimer: Our stay at the Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta was provided courtesy of the resort. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and as always, all our opinions on this Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta review and what to do are our own. Please note that some of the links in the below article are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, we earn a commission if you make a purchase. Click here for the full disclosure statement. Thank you for supporting the businesses that support us!
Table of Contents
Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta Location
The Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta is located just north of Puerto Vallarta in Nuevo Vallarta along the resort strip. Here you can find many of the famous resorts of Puerto Vallarta. The resort is just a 15 to 20 minute drive from Puerto Vallarta International Airport.
The Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta Resort does not provide shuttle service, however they can organize private transfer for you from Puerto Vallarta airport, starting at $35 USD per person. Alternatively, taxis are readily available at the airport, and are estimated at $25 USD each way.
Uber is also available and is significantly cheaper than a taxi, however Uber drivers are not allowed to pick-up rides at the airport, so you will have to walk a few minutes off airport property. To do this, just head outside and look for the elevated walkway from the airport over the main road. Once on the other side you can easily be picked up by an Uber driver. It is no problem to take an Uber back to be dropped off at the airport.
If you don’t have private transportation organized, a rental car is also a great option. All major brands are located at Puerto Vallarta International Airport, and having a rental car is a great way to explore on your own and visit all of Puerto Vallarta, but also the surrounding area and the up and coming town of Sayulita, about one hour north. At the Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta Resort, valet parking is available and is complimentary.
Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta Arrival
When you pull up to the check-in area at the Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta Resort, your bags will be taken and you will be welcomed to the resort by the friendly staff. We were escorted inside to complete the check-in process.
As we arrived during COVID-19 times, safety precautions were in place such as hand sanitizers and all of the staff were wearing face masks throughout our stay, as were most guests except when at the pool or dining at a restaurant.
Check-in was completed quickly and easily, and we were soon escorted up to our room along with our luggage.
Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta Rooms
The Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta is primarily one large building, in roughly an ‘X’ shape, with the majority of the rooms having views of the ocean and main resort and pool area. Just like the rest of the resort, the rooms continue with the Hard Rock’s unique style and ode to everything rock and roll.
During our time at the Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta, we stayed in a Diamond Ocean View room which was located on the top floor of the building. The views of the ocean are spectacular, and the overall resort grounds in front of you are also beautiful to look at with expansive pools and lush gardens. And of course you can enjoy those views, along with the sea breeze, outside on your balcony. The room also included a large spa-tub, comfortable bed, and mini-bar that was restocked daily.
Each room also includes a premium coffee maker for that first cup of coffee in the morning. You’ll also get one of those cool Hard Rock Hotel beach bags which is complimentary, so you can also impress your friends back home.
Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta Amenities
When you arrive at the Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta, you will almost immediately feel like a rock star. The entrance is complete with a red carpet, photo area, and all throughout the main building an excellent collection of rock memorabilia. If you’ve stayed at other Hard Rock properties before, or visited one of their restaurants, you will be familiar with the style here.
The lobby area of the Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta has very large ceiling and is a great place to explore with all of the memorabilia they have displayed. There’s also the reception area, concierge, and a small shop. From this main area you can exit to the left or right to head towards elevators to the rooms or the open passageway into the main resort area.
The main resort area features two extremely large pools. You don’t need any more than two with how large these both are. One features a unique lounge area in the middle of the pool, as well as a swim-up bar. The other has a smaller kids section and also a fun slide, which luckily is open to all ages. There are lots of seating areas and places to relax throughout the resort grounds.
From the resort area you have multiple access points to the beach where you will find even more lounges and private cabanas available for relaxing. The beach here is quite flat and the tidal area stretches out far, which is perfect for long walks on the beach, especially at sunset.
For those looking to get out on the water, the Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta offers water activities such as kayaks, boogieboards, and paddleboards. If you’d rather be pampered, there is also the Rock Spa and Posh Beauty Salon for extra relaxation. The Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta can also help you arrange a number of water sports, such as boat tours, or a Puerto Vallarta favorite, a parasailing tour.
Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta Dining
Being an all-inclusive resort, the Hard Rock Vallarta has you covered for all of your dining and drinking needs. Overall the all-inclusive experience is as expected for a Hard Rock style hotel. Service throughout the resort was very good.
The main restaurant which serves a large buffet for breakfast, lunch, and dinner is The Market, located right in the middle of the resort at ground level. The Market buffet offers a wide selection of typical American fare, plus some Mexican options.
It’s also worth noting, that at the entrance to The Market, directly from the lobby, there is a small café. Here you can get your coffee, ice cream, and other sweet dreams throughout most of the day. We were really surprised and impressed by all of the vegan, non-dairy and gluten-free options they had available here.
For dinner, there are four main restaurants, each specifically catering to a unique cuisine. You have Zen for Asian cuisines, Ciao for Italian, Ipanema for Brazilian, and Frida for Mexican. During our stay we sampled both Zen and Frida, and found the food options large enough that we had trouble deciding what to choose! Zen is located indoors near the main entrance, so is perfect for hotter days where you can relax in the air conditioning. Frida is located near the beach and is completely outdoors. Be sure to order the delicious guacamole and chips, and the churros for dessert are also worth a mention.
For an additional snack throughout the day, there is Pizetto, which is a small brick-oven stand in the middle of the resort grounds. Here you can choose from a large selection of pizzas, or have yours custom-made and baked while you wait. We had no regrets eating here multiple times during our stay as we loved
If all of the above isn’t quite enough for you, there is 24 hour room-service available for whenever hunger strikes!
Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta Conclusion
The Hard Rock Vallarta Resort is a solid choice to head to for an all-inclusive trip to Puerto Vallarta. The Hard Rock excels at catering to larger crowds and groups of friends visiting together looking to have a good time in the Mexican sunshine.
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I would love to come visit
Puerto Vallarta is an amazing destination!