The Grand Escape
Destinations · Head-to-head

Negril vs Puerto Vallarta

Negril and Puerto Vallarta, side by side: live travel advisories, our resort catalog's real guest data, and each destination's honest weather picture — everything you need to break the tie.

Negril guide · Puerto Vallarta guide · How we score

By the numbers

NegrilPuerto Vallarta
U.S. travel advisoryLevel 2: Exercise Increased CautionLevel 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Resorts in our catalog33
Average guest rating★ 4.5★ 4.5
Nightly rates$300–$800/night$500–$800/night
Adults-only resorts2 of 30 of 3
Hurricane exposureIn the hurricane beltLow hurricane risk
Rainy seasonMay–June and September–NovemberJune–October — dramatic afternoon storms, lush green hills
Sweet spotDecember–April — with a sunset every night of the yearNovember–May; whales in the bay December–March
AirportSangster (MBJ) — ~75–90 min transferPuerto Vallarta (PVR) — most resorts 10–40 min
Best forBeach purists, couples, long unhurried staysCalm swimmable water, town culture with your resort, LGBTQ+-friendly scene
SignatureSunsets at Rick's Café; calm swimmable waterBanderas Bay sunsets; whales December–March

Advisory levels sync from travel.state.gov; catalog figures reflect the resorts we've researched, not every hotel in the country.

Weather, month by month

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Negril — high °F838384858789898988878684
Puerto Vallarta — high °F828282848790929290898683
Negril — rain (in)0.80.60.71.34.23.82.63.85.57.03.21.4
Puerto Vallarta — rain (in)0.40.20.10.10.57.011.010.513.54.00.80.5

Approximate climate normals for Seven Mile Beach and Banderas Bay — planning guidance, not a forecast.

Where you'd actually stay

Best of Negril

  1. 1.Grand Palladium Jamaica Resort & Spa — · ★ 4.6
  2. 2.Couples Swept Away — Negril, Jamaica · ★ 4.5
  3. 3.Sandals Negril — Negril, Jamaica · ★ 4.5

Chains here: Grand Palladium Hotels & Resorts · Couples Resorts · Sandals Resorts

Full Negril guide

Best of Puerto Vallarta

  1. 1.Fiesta Americana Puerto Vallarta All Inclusive & Spa — · ★ 4.5
  2. 2.Hilton Vallarta Riviera All-Inclusive Resort — · ★ 4.5
  3. 3.The Westin Playa Vallarta, an All-Inclusive Resort — Puerto Vallarta, Mexico · ★ 4.5

Chains here: Fiesta Americana · Hilton · Westin

Full Puerto Vallarta guide

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