Fiesta Americana Puerto Vallarta All Inclusive & Spa
Sandals Royal Barbados
Our Rating
8.2
8.2
Star Rating
4.0
5.0
Room Count
291
222
Restaurants
6
21
Pools
2
11
Year Opened
1979
2017
Year Renovated
2021
2021
Features
Metric
Fiesta Americana Puerto Vallarta All Inclusive & Spa
Sandals Royal Barbados
All-Inclusive
Yes
Yes
Adults Only
No
Yes
Beach Access
Yes
Yes
Spa
Yes
Yes
Kids Club
Yes
No
Dining Comparison
Metric
Fiesta Americana Puerto Vallarta All Inclusive & Spa
Sandals Royal Barbados
Total Venues
16
26
Included
15
26
Extra Charge
1
0
Room Comparison
Metric
Fiesta Americana Puerto Vallarta All Inclusive & Spa
Sandals Royal Barbados
Room Categories
12
12
Suite Categories
3
12
Activities Comparison
Metric
Fiesta Americana Puerto Vallarta All Inclusive & Spa
Sandals Royal Barbados
Total Activities
25
24
Included
20
18
Extra Charge
5
6
Pros & Cons
Fiesta Americana Puerto Vallarta All Inclusive & Spa
Pros
Blue Flag beach certification on Banderas Bay means the swimming conditions are reliably safe — not true of every Puerto Vallarta hotel beach
The dual-audience design (family main property + adults-only Sonne Beach Club) works in practice, not just in marketing copy
Downtown Puerto Vallarta is 10-15 minutes by taxi — you're not stranded at an all-inclusive if you want a change of scene
The Nakawè Spa couples cabin with private jacuzzi and sauna is unusual value at a mid-tier resort
Cons
Urban Hotel Zone setting means aircraft noise affects rooms closest to the airport end of the strip
Fiesta Club exclusives (L'Isola, Azur, full breakfast at La Veranda) are genuinely good but require a room upgrade to access — they're not available à la carte
La Veranda dinner is a meaningful additional cost for all guests — factor this into trip budgeting if fine dining is a priority
The property's 1979 foundations mean some common areas and room wings feel dated despite the 2021 refresh
Sandals Royal Barbados
Pros
The rooftop infinity pool is the Caribbean's first — an evening pool experience with ocean views that's unavailable at other Sandals properties
All-suite property means no standard rooms — every guest has suite-level accommodations
'Stay at One, Play at Two' with adjacent Sandals Barbados effectively doubles dining to 20+ restaurants and 10+ bars
15-minute transfer from Grantley Adams International Airport — one of the shortest Sandals arrivals in the Caribbean
Lovers Lanes bowling alley and craft beer bar are genuine novelties within the all-inclusive format
Cons
Maxwell Beach is a public beach — other hotel guests and persistent local vendors are present and regularly cited by guests
Lounge chair competition is consistent: early morning positioning is required for both the main pool and beachfront spots
Service at restaurants and bars is noted as slower than expected given the pricing — allow extra time for meals
Summary
Sandals Royal Barbados has more restaurants, while Fiesta Americana Puerto Vallarta All Inclusive & Spa is the larger property, while Sandals Royal Barbados has more dining venues, while Fiesta Americana Puerto Vallarta All Inclusive & Spa offers more activities.
