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FTF looks at the top family resorts in Pacific Mexico's newest destination, the eco-friendly state of Nayarit.

The mountainous Riviera Nayarit region in the state of Nayarit extends north more than 150 kms from the purpose-built, gated resort of Nuevo Vallarta to the rustic surfers' paradise of San Blas. Unlike the sparkling Caribbean on Mexico's east coast, the more natural Pacific beaches have coarse gray sand and an active ocean fed by silt-laden mountain streams. Created by tourism marketers to distinguish it from the over-developed resort town of Puerto Vallarta, eco-conscious Riviera Nayarit has a scattering of oceanview hotels and hundreds of recently built and under-construction condominiums – in every price range. Here's a look at some of our favorites for families, organized by budget. Note that many more all-inclusive hotel projects are in the works for late 2009 and 2010. For more general information on the region, surf to www.visitnayarit.com.

Best for the Budget

Marival Resort & Suites
Blvd. Nuevo Vallarta y Paseo Cocoteros S/N
Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit, Mexico 63735
52/322/226.8200; 773/685-3929 (USA)
All-inclusive room rates per adult: $
This French Canadian-owned resort is one of the most attractive all-inclusive properties along the Pacific Riviera. Built during Nuevo Vallarta's birth in the 1980s, it has recently been renovated and redecorated. Low-rise buildings within landscaped grounds comprise 495 rooms: 277 off-white guest rooms and one-, two- and three-bedroom suites, all with marble floors, large TVs and a crisp international style. Double rooms are extra spacious with two double beds, a large balcony and -- in addition to complimentary room service -- a coffeemaker and free minibar stocked daily with sodas, bottled water and beer. (The Club and Gold wings housing timeshare units have other perks for owners.) Family-friendly one-bedroom suites designed for two adults and three kids have a living/dining area with a pullout queen-size sofabed, two bathrooms and a microwave and fridge. (Reunion planners will love that three-bedroom suites sleep up to six adults and three kids under age 12, or up to eight adults.) Don't plan on cooking. In addition to the well-stocked buffets, there are four a la carte restaurants. We dined at both the Italian Bella Vista and the Mexican Las Palomas, and had excellent meals and gracious service. Watersports take place at the large rambling pool (resort scuba course given), kiddie pool with slide, and at the broad sand beach. The Iguana Kids Club operates daily year-round, with trained counselors leading the 4- to 12-year-olds in crafts, games and other activities. Teens have an X-Box arcade, rock climbing and archery classes, and access to the disco until 10pm nightly. Children's rates apply to kids 17 and under; great style and service for this price, with more condos on the way.

Occidental Allegro Nuevo Vallarta
Paseo de los Cocoteros No. 18
Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit, Mexico 63735
52/322/ 297.0400, 800/713-2032 (USA)
All-inclusive room rates per adult: $
Among the budget options, the chain all-inclusive Occidental Allegro provides more services than some of its competition. In this large pyramidal style complex are 294 rooms attended by 325 staff; one buffet and one Mexican/Italian specialty restaurant; a disco (kids' hours from 8pm-9pm); an activities staff that was organizing salsa lessons, ping pong, archery and pool games at our visit; and enough repeat business for the resort to stage a group photo each week to honor guests coming back for their second or greater visit. One fun touch is the colorful Flea Market of local crafts and jewelry vendors organized by the hotel. The plain Kids Club isn't air-conditioned but it does offer a VCR and movies during the mid-day heat, school desks and lots of toys, and will accommodate up to 25 kids from 4 to 12-years-old per shift. The Fun Club staff lends boogie boards as well as books and board games, cues for shuffleboard, and horseshoes for the lawn games. Colors are as vivid as Frida Kahlo paintings and though the six stories of rooms are on the small side, the standard rooms with two doubles, coffeemaker, hairdryer, ironing board setup, phone, TV and small seating area will accommodate a family of four. A few surprising luxuries – a small massage center, business center and room service at breakfast – add to the value here. Children ages 12 and under stay free.

Villas Varadero
Retorno Nayarit Lote 83 / 84
Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit, Mexico 63732
800/238-9996 (USA)
All-inclusive room rates per adult: $
Located near the huge Mayaland complex of hotels and condos is an older white stucco hotel known for its Mexican residential feel and apartments with kitchenettes. With a choice of all-inclusive or European plan (breakfast only), we'd recommend Villas Varadero to those who don't plan to spend much time around their resort. Attracting Mexican families, foreigners on a tight budget, or big-hotel haters, there's nothing fancy about the small worn pool, lobby or ordinary buffet, and services are very limited. However, the gray sand beach is broad and kept clean, and rooms are spacious and well maintained. Renovated ones offer a dramatic floor-to-ceiling ocean view (blackout shades can be pulled down from above, or pulled up from the floor) and boast a bar counter with stools against the window wall that provides the ideal place to be at sunset. Standard rooms have two doubles or a king bed with double sofabed; better value are the apartments with stocked kitchens and dining areas. Note that the elevator doesn't stop at all levels so families with mobility issues should reserve their room accordingly.