Puerto Vallarta Airport (PVR-Gustavo Diaz Ordaz): Approximate driving time is 10 minutes and distance is 3.5 miles.

Kamakura - This Japanese restaurant and sushi bar is open for dinner only.

La Noria - With seating under brick domes inside and under draped blue fabric outside, La Noria serves breakfast and dinner buffets in the courtyard of the resort's little shopping center.

Velas Restaurant & Bar - Buffet and à la carte are the attractions at this poolside, open-air restaurant with seating under a dome of green fabric stretched on a log frame.

Le Cafe - This cart in the lobby serves espresso drinks and ice cream.

On Tuesday nights there's a Mexican buffet and show in a plaza. Each of the three pools has its own bar, and there's also a lobby bar.

Amenity highlights: The massive main pool complex features interlocking swimming areas and includes a children's pool, two swim-up bars, shallow-water tile lounges and checkers/chess boards, and an activities pool. At the center is a round sunning area bordered by Roman-style columns. A second beachfront complex includes a lagoon pool, a children's section, a toddlers' wading pool, and a 20-foot water slide. Flanked by lodging buildings, a third complex features a 100-by-45-foot rectangular pool for swimming laps and a 30-foot diameter children's pool.

Insider tip: Located on the street at the resort's front, Christine, Puerto Vallarta's premier disco/nightclub, opens late at night and doesn't close until 6 AM.