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Choosing between Iberostar Selection Playa Mita and Occidental Nuevo Vallarta? This in-depth comparison breaks down location, vibe, rooms, food, nightlife, price & more so you can decide which resort is the best fit for your next all-inclusive getaway.
Best for families and couples who want a polished Riviera Nayarit all-inclusive in a quieter Punta de Mita setting with strong pools, kids’ amenities, and a more upscale resort feel.
Better for travelers who want a straightforward beachfront all-inclusive in Nuevo Vallarta with an easygoing, value-focused vacation style.
If you want the more complete resort experience, Iberostar Selection Playa Mita is the stronger pick. It offers a family-friendly setting, multiple pools including an infinity pool and children’s pool, Star Camp programming, varied dining, spa facilities, and access to a quieter Punta de Mita beach area.
If your priority is a simpler Nuevo Vallarta beach stay with a more practical all-inclusive feel, Occidental Nuevo Vallarta may be the better fit—especially for travelers who care more about location and value than a broader resort lineup.
Bottom line: choose Iberostar Selection Playa Mita for the more upscale, activity-rich Riviera Nayarit all-inclusive; choose Occidental Nuevo Vallarta for a more streamlined, value-minded beachfront stay in Nuevo Vallarta.
| Category | Iberostar Selection Playa Mita | Occidental Nuevo Vallarta |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Vibe | Polished all-ages Riviera Nayarit resort with a quieter Punta de Mita feel, family amenities, multiple pools, wellness options, and a more upscale all-inclusive atmosphere. | Straightforward beachfront all-inclusive in Nuevo Vallarta with an easygoing, practical resort feel and a stronger focus on simple beach vacation value. |
| Location | On the northern edge of the Punta de Mita peninsula in Riviera Nayarit, in a quieter beach setting about a 45-minute drive from Puerto Vallarta International Airport. | In Nuevo Vallarta, a developed resort area known for beachfront hotels and a convenient vacation base along the Riviera Nayarit coast. |
| Rooms & Suites | 452 rooms with views of the Pacific Ocean, mountains, or gardens, suited to travelers who want a fuller resort environment with family and couple appeal. | Comfortable all-inclusive accommodations for travelers who want a simpler Nuevo Vallarta base rather than a more feature-heavy resort stay. |
| Dining | Varied dining setup with buffet and themed restaurant options, plus bars including beachfront, lobby, theater, sunset, pool, and adults-only cigar bar venues. | All-inclusive dining geared toward convenience and easy beach-resort meals, with less emphasis here on destination-style variety. |
| Pools & Beach | Three outdoor pools including an infinity pool with swim-up bar, a heated children’s pool, and Aquafun water park, plus a semi-private beach with non-motorized water sports. | Beachfront Nuevo Vallarta setting that works well for travelers who want a classic sand-and-pool all-inclusive stay without overcomplicating the vacation. |
| Kids & Family | Strong family setup with Star Camp age groups, Aquafun water park, a dedicated heated children’s pool, children’s menus, and babysitting available for a surcharge. | Family-friendly enough for a relaxed beach trip, though Iberostar has the clearer edge for structured kids’ facilities and family programming. |
| Price & Value | Best value for travelers who will use the fuller resort experience: kids’ programming, pools, beach activities, wellness, golf access, and broader dining venues. | Best value for travelers who want a more direct Nuevo Vallarta all-inclusive beach stay and do not need as many resort extras. |
Rooms at Iberostar Selection Playa Mita are designed for a full-service Riviera Nayarit resort stay, with views that may include the Pacific Ocean, mountains, or gardens.
Iberostar is the better pick if the room is part of a broader resort vacation with pools, dining, kids’ amenities, spa time, and beach activities all close at hand.
Occidental Nuevo Vallarta is the more straightforward choice for travelers who want a comfortable all-inclusive base in Nuevo Vallarta without prioritizing a larger amenities list.
If you want a more polished room-and-resort package, Iberostar has the edge; if you want a simpler Nuevo Vallarta stay, Occidental keeps things more streamlined.
Dining at Iberostar Selection Playa Mita is one of its stronger advantages, with buffet and themed restaurant options plus a wider bar lineup across the resort.
Expect:
Occidental Nuevo Vallarta is better framed as convenient and easy rather than a dining-focused resort comparison winner.
If restaurant variety and a more developed bar scene matter most, Iberostar Selection Playa Mita is the stronger choice.
Iberostar Selection Playa Mita has a more defined pool-and-beach setup, with three outdoor pools and a semi-private beach setting in Punta de Mita.
Occidental Nuevo Vallarta is the easier choice for travelers who mainly want a classic Nuevo Vallarta beachfront resort setting.
If you want more pool variety, children’s water features, and included non-motorized water sports, Iberostar is the better fit.
Family amenities are a major reason to choose Iberostar Selection Playa Mita, especially for travelers with children who will use the resort programming and water features.
Occidental Nuevo Vallarta works for a family beach vacation, but it is the more basic comparison choice for families who do not need as much structured programming.
If you are traveling with children and want the resort itself to provide more of the entertainment, Iberostar Selection Playa Mita is the clearer winner.
Iberostar Selection Playa Mita offers the most value when you will use its full resort lineup: pools, kids’ amenities, dining variety, spa facilities, beach activities, and nearby golf access.
Occidental Nuevo Vallarta is the better value if you want a simpler all-inclusive vacation in Nuevo Vallarta and do not need the broader resort feature set.
Choose Iberostar if you want the more polished all-ages resort with stronger pools, kids’ programming, dining variety, spa facilities, and a quieter Punta de Mita setting.
Occidental is the better pick for travelers who want an easier, more streamlined Nuevo Vallarta all-inclusive and are less concerned with a long list of resort features.
For families who want more built-in entertainment, Iberostar stands out thanks to Star Camp, Aquafun, a heated children’s pool, children’s menus, and a full resort atmosphere.
If you want a straightforward beachfront stay in Nuevo Vallarta with a simpler vacation style, Occidental Nuevo Vallarta is the more practical choice.
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