Paradise Village Beach Resort and Spa

Set on a private 12-acre peninsula in Nuevo Vallarta, Paradise Village Beach Resort and Spa has the sea on one flank and a marina on the other. The beach here runs pale gold along Banderas Bay, backed by lagoon-style pools with waterfalls and a rope bridge strung between water slides. Suites run from junior to three-bedroom, each with a fully equipped kitchen and marble bathroom; many open onto a private terrace with views of the ocean, the marina or the garden. It is a large property: 681 suites across four buildings, eight storeys. The resort's golf course draws on Mayan architectural motifs, an unusual note in a region better known for its coastline than its stonework. Four restaurants cover Mexican, Italian, seafood and sushi, plus a sushi bar and two snack bars near the beach. The Palenque Spa holds 13 treatment rooms and a hydrotherapy circuit, set apart from the main pool activity. You can walk from suite to sand in a few minutes, or take a boat out from the on-site marina without leaving the grounds. A water sports centre and two lit tennis courts sit near a children's club and playground, geared toward families staying for the week. The airport at Puerto Vallarta is a 15-minute drive.