Iberostar Selection Playa Mita - All Inclusive

You are choosing a large, five-star all-inclusive resort in Punta Mita rather than a small dive lodge with a hammock and a single dinner option. Iberostar Selection Playa Mita is built for days that can absorb several different plans: beach time, pools, food, a massage, a game of tennis, or simply a balcony and a cold drink while the Pacific gets on with its evening shift.

The atmosphere is lively and well equipped, with a water park, evening entertainment, a nightclub with DJ, karaoke and a kids' club alongside the more grown-up business of cocktails, spa treatments and sun loungers. That makes it a sensible choice if your travelling companion wants more than diving, or if the group includes children. The resort's website is available in English, Spanish, German, French and Portuguese, so English-speaking guests are clearly part of the intended audience.

There is also a practical advantage to the all-inclusive format: once you are back from the sea, the decision is reduced to which restaurant, which bar and whether your legs can manage the walk. Some days, that is quite enough planning.

The address is Punta Mita, Mexico, on the Pacific coast. The resort is beachfront and has a private beach area, with gardens between the buildings and the shore. Punta Mita Beach is nearby, while Careyeros Beach is about 0.9 miles away if you fancy seeing another stretch of sand.

You are not in Puerto Vallarta itself, despite the way some listings group the area. Puerto Vallarta is about 21 miles away, and the resort sits closer to the Punta Mita and Sayulita side of the coast. Nearby food options include Arena Surf Café and Teresa's Tacos, while bars and other restaurants are available further afield.

Lic. Gustavo Diaz Ordaz Airport is around 19 miles away by the straight-line distance supplied for the property; the driving distance is about 22 miles. In other words, this is a resort transfer rather than a stroll from the terminal, so allow for the road journey when arranging your arrival.

The room choice is mainly about the view, access and the number of people sharing the space. Couples who want the Pacific to take up part of the evening can look at the Premium Ocean Front Sunset View or one of the Junior Suites with an ocean-front setting. The sunset wording is not decorative paperwork: it tells you what sort of view to prioritise when the day's diving is finished and you are deciding whether to go out again or stay put.

For families or a small group, the rooms with two double beds give you the most straightforward arrangement. Junior Suites add a little more breathing room than the standard room categories, while the beach-access version makes sense if the shortest possible route to the sand matters more than a distant panorama. Single-use versions are available across several categories, which is useful when a diving trip is not a couples' exercise.

Every room has air conditioning, a balcony and a terrace, plus a private bathroom with a bath or shower, toiletries, towels and a hairdryer. A coffee machine helps with the first drink of the day, and some rooms add a seating area, ocean views, bathrobes and a minibar. There is a flat-screen television, a fan and an alarm clock as well, although the useful recovery equipment here is the air conditioning: after warm water, sun and a full day outside, a cool room earns its keep. Family rooms are available, but cots and extra beds are not.

All-inclusive is the operating principle, so meals and drinks are built into the way the resort works rather than treated as a daily expedition. Breakfast covers continental, vegetarian, American and buffet options, giving you a broad enough start whether you want coffee and something light or a proper plate before heading out.

There are five restaurants in total, including four speciality restaurants and a buffet. The speciality restaurants are the reason to vary your evenings; the buffet is the sensible fallback when you are hungry, sun-tired and not interested in dressing the decision up. The available information does not name the individual cuisines, so the useful distinction is the choice of formats rather than a promised culinary tour of Mexico.

Eight bars keep the drinks side busy, with cocktails available across the resort and a swim-up bar attached to the pool area. There is also a snack bar, an on-site coffee house, fruit and a minibar in the accommodation. Room service runs from 11:00 to 23:00, which covers the awkward gap between returning from the water and remembering that lunch was several hours ago.

Two outdoor pools and a water park give the resort a distinctly active side, while the private beach comes with sun loungers, beach chairs, umbrellas and pool or beach towels. The swim-up bar is close at hand when moving from the water to a drink feels like an unnecessary change of scenery. You can also use the tennis courts, tennis equipment, table tennis, billiards, mini golf and the games room.

For the more sensible kind of exertion, there is a fitness centre with fitness and yoga classes. The spa offers a relaxation lounge, sauna, steam room, hot tub and treatments including full-body, hand and couples' massages, body scrubs, body wraps, facials and other body treatments. Hairdressing and beauty services are available too, so the place can deal with both tired shoulders and the less urgent matter of looking presentable for dinner.

Water activities away from diving include canoeing and windsurfing, while evening entertainment, karaoke and the nightclub with DJ provide options once the sun has gone. Golf is available at a course within about 2 miles, and the resort also has a library. Some activities and spa services carry an additional charge, so check the arrangements for the particular option before you commit.

Check-in starts at 15:00 and check-out is by 11:00. You need photo identification and the credit card used for the reservation when you arrive; the primary reservation holder must be at least 18. The front desk is open around the clock, and concierge service, lockers and daily housekeeping are available.

Private parking is available on site without reservation, with an electric-vehicle charging station. Wi-Fi is available, including free service in public areas. Room service, a safety deposit box, a lift, air conditioning and a barber or beauty shop cover the less glamorous but useful details of a resort stay. A hairdresser is also available on site.

Children of all ages are welcome, with child arrangements divided between infants, children and adult rates according to age. There are family rooms, a kids' club, a children's pool, outdoor play equipment and babysitting or child services. Cots and extra beds are not available, so choose the room layout with the final sleeping arrangement in mind rather than hoping to add another bed later. Pets are not allowed.