A couple weeks ago I headed to Puerto Vallarta for a stay at Casa Velas. I made the trek to Newark Liberty International Airport to catch an early-morning flight. After a quick flight and layover in Chicago, I was on my way! My flight to Puerto Vallarta went by quickly; and before I knew it, I was on my way to the hotel.

Once I arrived, I was greeted by friendly staff with a tropical welcome drink. The check-in went smoothly, and I was escorted to my suite, which was beautiful! I had a separate living area and sleeping area; a fridge filled with drinks that would be refilled every day; unlimited snacks; a spacious bathroom with a Jacuzzi; and a secluded outdoor patio with a dining table, lounge area and private plunge pool.

After I was done exploring my room, I plugged in my phone to charge; changed into my bathing suit; and packed my bag with a book, sunscreen, water and a snack. While I waited for my phone to charge, I got some work done. Once I was ready to go, I headed to the lobby to grab a shuttle to the hotel’s beach club, Taú Beach Club.

As we were pulling up to the beach club, I was in awe. It was stunning. I had the choice to sit at a table and grab something for lunch, relax on a lounge chair by the beachside pool or head to the sand for an oceanside cabana. I opted for the poolside lounge chair so I could take advantage of the pool or have the option to take a walk down to the beach.

Before sitting down to relax, I had to make sure I was covered in sunscreen as I haven’t been out in the sun in a while and I tend to burn. Once I was ready, I ordered a drink and some shrimp tacos. While I waited, I pulled out my book to read while I soaked up the sun.

To my delight, the tacos were delicious and so was my drink. After I was done eating, I decided to take advantage of the all-inclusive part of the stay and order another drink to take in the pool with me.

The pool was the right choice. I headed to the edge so I could enjoy ocean views while sipping on my drink. Luckily the pool wasn’t that deep and there was a ledge, so I was able to bring my book in, along with my drink. I spent the rest of the afternoon in the pool, and it was so relaxing.

I had a dinner reservation at 7:30 p.m., so I eventually had to get out of the pool and head back to the hotel to shower and get ready for dinner.

Luckily, dinner was right in the hotel at Emiliano, so I left a couple minutes before my reservation. I’m the type of person who has to look at the menu beforehand, so I already knew what I was going to eat. I ordered the Beef Filet served with green pepper sauce, mashed potatoes and fresh veggies from the garden as well as a glass of red wine. Everything was delicious; I didn’t want it to be gone!

After dinner I wasn’t quite tired yet and it was still warm out, so I changed into my bathing suit to take advantage of the private plunge pool. I relaxed in the pool for a little while before I got a little cold and decided it was time for bed.

The first day was amazing, and I couldn’t wait for the rest of the trip!

— Mary Melnick, social media & editorial coordinator