Stunning, isn’t it? This was just one memory from a fabulous holiday my partner and I took to Mexico in September.

We’ve discovered the AM Resorts brand in Mexico and particularly like the adults-only Secrets Resorts venues; think Sandals in a different location. All inclusive with ‘unlimited luxury’.

Previous holidays to Mexico have included stays at the Riviera Maya and Tulum, both of which are on the Caribbean Sea side and, Tulum especially, offers the white sandy beaches and crystal clear waters that dreams are made of.  Puerto Vallarta is on the Pacific Ocean side; the beaches aren’t quite as dreamy to look at and the sea is slightly choppy, but don’t let that put you off. The walk every morning over the sand was glorious and the sea was a great temperature.

Secrets Vallarta Bay is only 20 minutes from the airport which is a massive selling point considering you’ve just spent 11 hours on the flight. We flew directly from London Gatwick.

The welcome at the hotel was as warm as the weather. In fact, the team at this venue are an absolute credit – all of them wore a smile all of the time.

The site is tiered and the pool overlooks the beach. We were extremely lucky one day and witnessed a turtle coming out of the sea, dig a hole and lay her eggs in the sand. It was beautiful and the staff were brilliant at prioritising the turtle’s needs while understanding that everyone wanted to see what was going on. There’s a protection programme here too, so the eggs stand a better chance of developing and hatching.

Another huge tick in Secrets Resorts’ box is the food and drink. There are multiple restaurants to visit; it’s worth noting that in Vallarta Bay some of the restaurants are shared with the Now Amber hotel next door. Now Amber is also part of AM Resorts, although these resorts are not adults-only. I don’t think the à la carte options allow children and if they did, we didn’t see any, so maintained a child-free holiday.

The French restaurant was our favourite for food and we also enjoyed the Mexican, Italian and Sushi. What’s so good about all of the restaurants is that you can decide on the night which themed eatery you want to try – no reservations required. Obviously you may have to wait for a table to become available if you eat at peak time, but you’re on holiday… have a drink and chat to each other.

While we’re on the topic of drink…

… there are so many options and using branded spirits makes a difference. The wine for dinner is Chilean and there are two or three choices for each red/white/rosé. Sparkling wine by the glass was great and the cocktails were expertly made.

There are a couple of pools, both infinity and a couple of hot tubs. One pool tends to hold the activities such as water-volleyball and even a foam party once a week, whereas the other one has a swim-up bar and is more chilled. Sunbeds are plentiful both around the pool and on the sand. Again, the staff excel here with their service to sunbeds – pure luxury and highly recommended – I couldn’t fault it.