Vacaya packs the 448-room Unico 20º 105º resort hotel with queer people for a Halloween weekend takeover from Oct. 25-Nov. 1 this year.
(Photo courtesy of Vacaya: Gabriel Goldberg)
STEVEN LINDSEY | Contributing Writer
StevenCraigLindsey@gmail.com
Puerto Vallarta’s status as one of the queerest cities in Mexico shows no signs of changing. But this October, neighboring Nayarit will give the beachfront destination a run for its three-dollar bills. That’s when luxury all-inclusive resort UNICO 20º 105º hosts a Vacaya Halloween weekend takeover, from Oct. 25-Nov. 1.
It’s the perfect time to experience the resort, but any time you’re looking for a relaxing getaway, this boutique resort in Riviera Nayarit checks all the boxes.
After a quick mid-March weekend of 24/7 gay in Puerto Vallarta, including late-night drag shows at CC Slaughters, dancing at Mr. Flamingo, and having cocktails with Jimbo and at least 100 other gays at Tryst’s rooftop bar, we deserved (and needed) a few days of disconnection from all the sexy chaos.
It’s worth noting that our visit was exactly two weeks after the cartel-related violence that rocked Puerto Vallarta’s tranquility. Everything was 98 percent back to normal, save for a few burned-out convenience stores awaiting repair.
The gay bars, restaurants, and Los Muertos Beach all appeared to be even more crowded than usual. We felt completely safe in Puerto Vallarta, as always, even if we were a little more observant of our surroundings than usual.
We enjoyed that same comfort level 45 minutes up the coast in Nayarit at UNICO 20º 105º (a reference to the latitude and longitude coordinates on the map, but it’s also known as Unico Riviera Nayarit). It’s the experience there that has forever changed my opinion of all-inclusives.
I’ve never been a fan, even though every single one I’ve ever visited has been at no cost to me. To be clear, the accommodations themselves have never been an issue, but the food tends to be dreadful at most all-inclusive resorts.
Yet many Americans flock to them regardless, ready to enjoy several days of quantity over quality, making the mediocre all-day buffet their home away from home.
The UNICO brand gives me hope that not every all-inclusive is created equal — and not simply because of the impeccable service and hospitality of the staff. The moment the first top-shelf margarita, guacamole and coconut popcorn shrimp hit the table at the rooftop bar where we waited for our room to be ready for check-in, I immediately told my husband not to get used to this level of food and beverage elsewhere. It was his first all-inclusive experience, and, lucky for him, it was an excellent one.
The trend of culinary excellence extended to each specialty restaurant on the property, including Kobo (Japanese), Lia (Italian), Agua Madre (Mexican), and Inez Cafe (European-style coffee and pastries).
Thankfully, unlike every all-inclusive I’ve ever been to, there’s no buffet nonsense. Instead, each restaurant operates like any other fine-dining establishment with an emphasis on quality ingredients and beautiful presentation.
Sure, there were occasional dishes that weren’t our favorites (skip the room service pizza, for instance). Still, the majority of items that hit our table could stand up to nearly any of Dallas’s top spots in the same gastronomic genre.
We were grateful for such great food because the whole point of an all-inclusive resort is never to leave it. And that everything-everywhere-all-at-once philosophy extends beyond the restaurants and bars. UNICO 20º 105º offers its guests plenty to do, with a calendar of daily activities to supplement the resort’s various everyday amenities and services. Whether it’s testing your luck during Casino Night or giving a sun salutation during yoga near the beach, you can make your stay as active or relaxing as you wish.
Should you wish to head out to sea for snorkeling, swimming with dolphins, parasailing, ziplining or simply kicking back with a glass of champagne on a luxury catamaran, your resort host can book an excursion with Vallarta Adventures (vallarta-adventures.com) just down the road.
The resort offers guests two pools, including a rooftop infinity pool where you can soak up some sunshine while enjoying snacks and drinks on a floating tray. The main pool at beach level features a swim-up bar, which, not surprisingly, is where we met most of the other guests.
There’s technically a third pool, too, but it’s available only to guests with membership in UNICO’s Legendary Club program.
The resort offers free access to loungers and umbrellas on the beach, as well as private cabanas for a small upcharge, whether you’re reserving one on the beach or at one of the pools. The Esencia Spa rivals any luxury spa here in the States, and it’s totally worth adding the therapeutic hydrotherapy circuit to any service or booking it as a stand-alone treatment.
Of course, no amount of amenities or unlimited food and cocktails matters one bit if the rooms don’t live up to expectations. Spoiler alert: They do live up to expectations — and then some.
Each guest room features ocean views, with higher-floor rooms clearly offering the best vantage point. On every balcony, you’ll also find a hydro-spa soaking tub big enough for two, making it a nice place to enjoy early-morning coffee (either from your in-room Nespresso or delivered by the 24/7 room service team) or a romantic sunrise before your dinner reservations.
The king-size beds are extremely comfortable with high-quality linens, and the gigantic shower features amenities from the Esencia Spa.
As part of the all-inclusive service, your room features a fully stocked mini bar (including beer) and a variety of sweet and savory snacks, all replenished daily. Hanging on the wall, two straw hats and a straw bag await as gratis souvenirs, which can also be hand-painted on select days by an artist who sets up shop poolside.
Daily housekeeping includes turn-down service, and the delightful housekeepers will even organize your charging cables and anything you’ve left lying about, ensuring a tidy room at all times.
Now, imagine this intimate, 448-room hotel packed full of queer people when Vacaya takes over in the fall. That means close to 1,000 fun-loving LGBTQ+ travelers bringing joy and laughter to every luxe space for six nights of everything the resort already offers, plus Vacaya’s signature lineup of superstar entertainment and activities.
Packages start at $3,550 per person based on double occupancy. For about $600 per day per person, it’s a good deal when you break down everything you get, including the talents of Readers Voice Award-winning Best Drag Queen Liquor Mini (Danny Lee Cabrera), who serves as Vacaya’s resort director.
Regardless of whether you head south of the border for the Vacaya resort takeover or at another time this year, UNICO 20º 105º promises to be your best all-inclusive experience to date, too. n
Find more information online at UnicoHotelCollection.com/Vallarta and MyVacaya.com/Discover/Resort-Life.