Every year, Puerto Vallarta on the Mexican Pacific Coast only seems to grow more popular as a gay destination. And it’s not difficult to see why. This “gay capital” of Mexico has one of the world’s best week-long Pride festivals. Plus, it has a fabulous gayborhood in the form of Zona Romántica, as well as a host of other gay events throughout the year. So, when we came across an adults-only LGBTQ beachfront haven in extremely gay Puerto Vallarta, we jumped at the opportunity! We’re talking about the amazing Almar LGBT Resort and Luxury Beachfront Experience, a fabulous gay resort in the very heart of Puerto Vallarta.
We’ve always enjoyed beachfront stays, but nothing like the one we did at Almar. Gorgeous views, excellent hospitality and service, an open-minded attitude, and lots of good-looking folks – now, what more could we ask for? So, here’s a detailed guide to our luxurious beachfront stay at Almar, which was a gay haven in the truest sense.
Table of contents
Location, location, location
We couldn’t have stayed in a better location. Almar sits at the southern end of Zona Romántica, on the side of a mountain overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Quite a description, isn’t it? The resort is in an impressive building comprising two structures that come together to form one. Moreover, the tiered design means it also sits right on the beach, complete with its own beach club! Plus, the rest of the resort overlooks the beach and even has the longest infinity pool we’ve ever seen. It’s eye-popping, to say the least.
Since it sits on the side of a mountain, Zona Romántica is a 15-minute walk along cobblestoned streets. Despite that and the elevation, the walk is very pleasant since the entire area is lush and verdant, to say the least. Since we’d brought travel walking shoes along, we had no issues at all. In fact, we were glad to stay away from the bustle while still within walking distance of everything.
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A Lively Social Space
One of the best things we loved about Almar Resort was that the atmosphere and the vibe were very social and friendly. It’s obviously very gay-friendly — we saw men wearing just speedos in the elevators and gay couples around us indulging in PDA — but it’s more than that. For instance, we even met many solo travelers, so we all ended up mingling, hanging out, and generally having a great time. Plus, we all kept bumping into each other everywhere, whether it was at the gym, at breakfast, or at the pool.
In fact, many guests highly recommend Almar for those traveling solo, as it’s a very good place to make lifelong travel friends. We even kept in touch with the people we met there after we went back home! At the same time, the resort offers a lot of privacy for gay couples, whether it’s by the pool, in the gardens, or at the restaurants.
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Excellent Amenities — And Then Some
What makes Almar unique is its dual setup; it has a main building, and then it has the separate Manatamar wing, which comes with its own rooms, and even the Mantamar Beach Club, complete with a sea-level pool, a sushi restaurant, and a bar. So we could unwind right on the oceanfront cabanas and dig into delicious gourmet dishes. Coming back to the main building, there are not one but two restaurants, the Red Fish Seafood and The Top Sky Bar, which offer panoramic sea and city views. What’s more, The Top Sky Bar made it very clear that they were extremely gay-friendly, given the umpteen number of photographs of good-looking men and the nude statues everywhere. A celebrated happy hour, captivating gay shows, and top-notch DJs, Almar has it all.
Of course, no description of Almar’s amenities is incomplete without mentioning the 14th-floor spa. After long pool and beach sessions, we’d land up at the spa for some pampering by certified spa and massage therapists. We even had the choice of another quieter, lush setting at the 5th-floor spa, complete with a water fountain. Moreover, they even arrange for tours right from the resort. That’s not all. Almar is also a very popular place for gay weddings, ensuring that the entire setting is unique and beautiful. Did we mention that Almar hosts the Pink Dinner, which is the magical start to Vallarta Pride? Yes!
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Beachfront Fantasies
The pinnacle of all offerings at Almar Resort is its five pools — yes, five! The Olympic-sized pool at Mantamar is perfect for those who love a scene, and we were thrilled to experience Puerto Vallarta’s gay energy right in our backyard. We followed it up with a lounge on the beachfront cabana, where the rotating massage therapists even gave me a foot massage. What we loved was that the lounge chairs on the beach were included for Almar guests, and we had our very own server, who was attentive and not intrusive at all. And since the property was right at the end of the beach, there were no peddlers pestering us as we relaxed — now that was a bonus!
One of the best things about staying at Almar is that we had automatic access to the brand-new Eden Pool and Lounge Garden in the Mantamar structure. The Eden pool area was more low-key compared to the bustling Mantamar, but it suited us perfectly. What’s more, the pool is being hailed as the largest in Vallarta, and it even had a swim-up bar. However, the best bit was the service by the pools and the beach, which was the best on the entire property. Francisco and Jacqueline made our days at the Eden Pool memorable. The music was just right, and the drinks were excellent. And, of course, the hospitality was amazing and attentive.
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A Modern Yet Retro Puerto Vallarta Stay
Finally, we come to the rooms and suites at this amazing resort, all of which boast retro-futuristic styling. Think stained glass doors with mesh inserts, neon accents, plush king beds, dressers, mini-fridges, microwaves, and more. We especially loved the bathrooms, which had a shower large enough for two people, L’Occitane bath products, and rainfall shower heads. Thanks to the flatscreen TVs, we could watch our favorite movies while lying in bed and having ordered room service, which was very prompt. A special shout-out to the housekeeping staff, who nicely serviced the room. Our chosen room, the “Romance Suite,” came with a spacious balcony with splendid and sweeping ocean views.
Are you going to have guests over and turn your digs into a party space? The Mantamar XPA Suite is perfect, as it comes with a massive terrace that you can turn into your very own VIP area.
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Pros
- We loved the overall quiet and low-key vibe of the resort.
- The staff, from the front desk personnel and the bartenders to the housekeeping staff, is excellent, helpful, warm, and friendly.
- We loved the beachfront styling of the rooms, suites, and pool areas.
Cons
- Navigating the property and its many elevators could be a bit challenging, but you get used to it quickly.
Conclusion
Rarely are there resorts that offer both bird’s eye views as well as sea-level views of the ocean, which is what makes Almar Resort, a luxury gay hotel, such a gem. Its absolute gay-friendliness aside, Almar takes care to ensure that its amenities are suited to the guests and further ensures that their guests are comfortable. If we felt comfortable enough to shed our shy image at Almar, then you know a resort is excellent!
Read Also
- 11 Best Hotels in Puerto Vallarta 2024
- Top 12 Things To Do In Puerto Vallarta
- Top 11 Gay Friendly Hotels In Puerto Vallarta
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is Almar all-inclusive?
A: No, Almar Resort isn’t all-inclusive, but it offers excellent rates on its accommodations and has multiple International restaurants, bars, and swimming pools.
Q: What is the gay beach in Puerto Vallarta?
A: Tucked at the southern end of the Playa Los Muertos is the gay beach in Puerto Vallarta. It’s known as Blue Chairs, which is also the name of the gay resort here.
Q: How much time should you spend in Puerto Vallarta?
A: While you could easily spend a week or two in Puerto Vallarta and not bat an eyelid, three days is a good enough time to explore the best that the place has to offer.
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