Grand Palladium Vallarta: Reviewed from a Surfer's perspective

Grand Palladium Vallarta is a reasonably-priced 4 star All-Inclusive resort in Punta de Mita, Mexico. But what this resort has that almost no other easily accessible All-Inclusive Resort in North or Central America has to offer, is a very nice surf break (Punta Burros) right at its doorstep, as well as several other surf breaks that can be reached easily without a car. I could not find a lot of details or reviews of this place from the perspective of someone seeking a surf vacation, so I decided to make one myself!
Let me know in the comments if you have any questions, we've been twice so are becoming experts!
2:10 - Surf at the Resort
4:42 - The Rooms
6:00 - Food and Drink
9:24 - Surfing off the resort and how to get to different spots
10:00 - La Lancha
11:20 - El Anclote
13:15 - Stinky's
13:57 - Grand Palladium Vallarta Facilities and Beach
17:55 - My Final Conclusion
I put a lot of work into this video so I hope you found it helpful. If you wanted to say thanks by supporting the channel, you can buy me a coffee or a skatepark pass through this link: www.buymeacoffee.com/MarktheL...
Thank you!
#grandpalladium #puntademita #surf

[@martynrandall7652]

Looks like you guys had a great time. That was cool you were surfing the same wave got it on film to.

[@jaythesurfskater]

Excellent video and superb edit, felt like I was watching a Documentary. You guys sure had a lot of fun and did a lot of things on this trip and filmed a lot too. After it was over I felt like I had been given 1.5 hours of movie in 19 minutes. You sure showed a lot of your trip in 19 minutes, good going. Thanks for the warning about the Sea Urchins. Thanks for all the great surfing footage too ✌without your camera breaking down. Lol

[@MarktheLandlockedSurfer]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@jdmotes69]

My wife and I went here 13 years ago and have returned around 15 times since. We just went over our anniversary this past January (24th - 31st) and we’re returning for two weeks May 1… Having been a surfer for most of my 72 years, and traveling throughout the world in search of surf, once we found GPV, we deemed it a perfect place hang our rash guards. Just so easy not having to rent cars, cook meals, etc.. Glad you happened on to our secret. 😎🤙

[@MarktheLandlockedSurfer]

We must have just missed you last time as we were 17th-24th of January!

[@HappyChillmore]

Can’t wait to go in a few weeks for the first time. We planned to get a rental car in puerto Vallarta but now wondering if we don’t need to! Trying to figure out the shuttle thing and also what we would do if we wanted to get a boat to surf Bahia

[@BenjaminHalsall]

Had another question…. I’m thinking about taking my board. Wondered how easy it would be to store it at the hotel?

[@MarktheLandlockedSurfer]

I think they do have board storage areas and even if not the rooms have plenty of space

[@BenjaminHalsall]

Great video. I am interested to know a couple of things. Which month was the video shot? Did you carry a board with you to the hotel? We have it booked in March and I just wanted to check the airport shuttle will transport a board.

[@MarktheLandlockedSurfer]

Most of the footage is from our recent trip in January 2023, and some of the surf footage is from our previous trip in June 2018. We didn't take a board as the costs on our airline would have been almost enough to buy a board! I forgot to mention you can also rent a board for a week for $100 USD. The previous trip we did that from Mictlan and then just left the boards at the shop at El Anclote so we wouldn't have to lug them back and forth on the bus.

[@BenjaminHalsall]

@@MarktheLandlockedSurfer did you find yourself surfing more at El Anclote? I've surfed La Lancha a few times another year. I am hoping my airline (WestJet) doesn't charge too much for checking a board.

[@kevingrandyify]

@@BenjaminHalsall I fly America, it's $30 for a board bag on international flights

[@BenjaminHalsall]

@@kevingrandyify nice. I rented a board in the end. I think it is CAD50 which is about the same... the spot was fantastic. Food was OK. Room was decent but a little dated.

[@MarvinHecht]

Mark - thanks a million for this detailed review from both a surfer’s and non-surfer’s perspective! I am an intermediate SUP surfer ( lived in Hawaii ) want to vacation here - I have kids , nephews, nieces that are beginners, so this looks perfect! We almost came here (without kids) for our 25th anniversary - but choose Tamarindo, CR (not all inclusive). Are there any *other* all-inclusive resorts with great surf around PV to choose from? Also - you mentioned there are actually only a handful of resorts in the *world* with all-inclusive AND surf, can you tell me other ones you have found? They are SO hard to find - I think most tourists want completely *calm* (blue water).. oh is the water blue / aqua here ?

[@MarktheLandlockedSurfer]

Tamarindo has a couple expensive ones. Cabo San Lucas has some but they are still not right at the breaks, though they are at world class skimboarding spots. And there is an Iberostar in Punta Mita as well but it is more pricey than Grand Palladium.

[@MarvinHecht]

Thank you , do you know if the Iberostar has good surf- one reviewer dissed the surf. The all-inclusive secrets / Bahia is also close to the palladium- but looks like the surf is not as good . Would it be safe to rent a car in punta Mita - to drive to the surf spots? My surf sup is 9”0 so a little big to take on a bus :( Thanks so much - I will watch all of your videos !!!

[@heathercecola8438]

Thank you so much, we are bringing our little grom, we are teaching him to surf, he's 4, will he get tore up by the urchins if he is on the shore on the little white wash? We surf as a fam also but just wondering about his for our little guy. Thank you for any suggestions you have for our little guy .

[@MarktheLandlockedSurfer]

Outside of the designated swimming areas, it is pretty mixed bottom, not a lot of pure sand, so it is almost always a possibility if you put your foot down. And I know that it is hard to convince a 4 year old not to do that. A life vest and reef shoes could help reduce the risk though because the waves break in spots that might be deep enough for short legs.

[@mtnrabi]

How do you travel with your surfskate?

[@dawnstrike9914]

Great video. Can you rent a board for multiple days straight so that you can have it and surf dawn patrol? I saw a sign that said rentals don’t open until 9am

[@MarktheLandlockedSurfer]

You can definitely do that from Mictlan surf right across the street from the Grand Palladium. The rooms are large enough to keep a board in the hotel, but I believe they also have a storage area near the beach for boards, just don't know if you'd be able to access it at 6am or anything.

[@HappyChillmore]

Yo thanks for the video! Wife and I are going to the area and are pretty sold on paying more to stay there. Hoping for some good swell. We planned to get a rental car but maybe we don’t need to? Is there really shuttles from the airport that pick you up? Also if you schedule a boat trip to Bahia or something how does that work if you don’t have a car? Thanks again for the video!

[@MarktheLandlockedSurfer]

An airport shuttle was included with our booking, but I'm sure they'd also be available for a charge if not. A lot of the tour companies that have dive boats etc also include resort pickup, but you might just have more limited options. Enjoy your trip!

[@hamsterpup286]

Hi, I know this is an older video so the bus rules might have changed, but were you walking from the hotel out to the road with your boards and then taking long boards on the bus? I'm wondering if that is a possibility.

[@MarktheLandlockedSurfer]

We didn't try. On a quieter time of day they may have allowed it but the bus can get crowded and it definitely wouldnt work when full.

[@kirkhuneycutt4227]

Just booked a vacation for my wife and I in August! Just curious if you knew the best way to get to and from the airport? Thanks for the excellent video.

[@MarktheLandlockedSurfer]

Both times we went our booking included a shuttle to and from the resort. There may be third party ones you can book but there are also plenty of taxis waiting outside Puerto Vallarta airport.

[@kirkhuneycutt4227]

@@MarktheLandlockedSurfer Appreciate the info!

[@nrl8062]

Good

[@cmkeiser]

How was it to travel with your surf skate? Any tips for doing that?

[@MarktheLandlockedSurfer]

Usually I have just brought it carry on - The Qwik Truks quick release trucks are really helpful for that because I can just take the wheels and trucks off in ten seconds if there is no room in the overhead and stick the deck under the seat. For this trip, since we flew Sunwing, they are very strict about the carry on dimensions and I didn't want to risk it so I took a smaller board and packed it in the suitcase.

[@goofyfootgreg]

Did you happen to make note of accommodations for people with disabilities? Resorts are usually pretty good about it, but outside the US (and even in older parts of cities within the states) my family sometimes has difficulties. Looks fun ✌️

[@MarktheLandlockedSurfer]

Hey Greg, despite the resort having a lot of topography, almost everywhere is accessible by ramp (I know from trying to skate it), however, the grade of the ramps is certainly not aligned with accessibility standards here and parts are quite steep (I know from trying to skate it). Saw some folks in wheelchairs and lots with strollers enjoying the resort. It may not be perfect, but looks like there has been some effort to accommodate.

[@anjelicayoder1177]

If you are standing at the resort facing the ocean, which direction is the surf spot right in front of the hotel? Straight out front, or right or left? From the resort, is there a bus to take you to WildMex Surf Shop by the Lancha to rent a board?

[@MarktheLandlockedSurfer]

To the left of the surf rental tent at the resort. There are local busses that you can take to Wild Mex if you walk up to the main highway. Or a taxi.

[@anjelicayoder1177]

@@MarktheLandlockedSurfer thanks! We are going next year! So you can rent a good longboard on the beach at the resort?

[@MarktheLandlockedSurfer]

@@anjelicayoder1177 They had several foamies and a few beaten up fibreglass noseriders. But if there is nothing you like, Mictlan surf is at the end of the little road that goes to the resort, 400m walk roughly?

[@anjelicayoder1177]

⁠@@MarktheLandlockedSurferthanks so much! I’m sure it will be easier to get a board from Mitclatan than further away haha Looking forward to it!

[@anjelicayoder1177]

Great tour of the resort! So why is Stinkies called Stinkies? lol Is this beach not good for babies to play in since you mentioned to keep your mouth closed?

[@MarktheLandlockedSurfer]

Pretty sure that this is where raw sewage will run out to after rains, even if the rain is further from the coast upland. So maybe fine during dry spells, but the smell hit you right away when we went there after a rainy evening.

[@anjelicayoder1177]

@@MarktheLandlockedSurfer Thank you! Is the bus stop close to walk to from the resort? Can you take the bus to Sayulita for a day trip? And does the resort provide pick up and drop off to the PV airport?

[@MarktheLandlockedSurfer]

@@anjelicayoder1177 bus stop is very close. You can get to Sayulita but you might need to transfer to another bus partway. Our stay did include airport transfers but it might depend on who you book with.