An overview of the many hotel options to consider
SUSURROS DEL CORAZON by AUBERGE
The resort has the luxury of being new, so the facilities are impeccable in almost every way. But layer on top some of the best service I have had encountered recently and this is now a favorite resort for me.
Susurros is a new Auberge Property in Punta Mita. The resort is a 40 minute drive from the Puerta Vallarta airport. From the moment we arrived until our remorseful checkout the service was impeccable. Upon arrival, you are connected via text with a host of Concierge type staff. If you ask for anything, they will acknowledge your request and or have it completed within a couple minutes. They made dinner, reservations, delivered coffee to our room, a AA battery when my mouse ran out, directed us to facilities -all in a blink of an eye. The service level with housekeeping, in the restaurants, at the bar, or on the beach, and around the pool, is exactly the same. They are on top of everything, yet they are inconspicuously present.
The property sits on one of the nicest stretches of beach. Most of the rooms look onto the ocean and the pool areas. We had an Oceanview studio, which was spacious with a large outdoor deck with recliners and table and chairs. The bathroom was oversized with good closet space. The ceilings were extra high with floor to ceiling sliding glass windows, so a lot of natural light came into the room. The decor is a mix of modern in light colors and local Mexican artisan items making it a unique local experience.
The two and three bedroom villas are exceptionally generous in size, and the views unparalleled. These villas have both indoor and outdoor dining with some offering plunge pools and some offering full size pools.
The gym was very modern, had an abundance of weight machines, free weights, and cardio machines. Additionally, there was a yoga studio that also conducted Pilates classes. The resort also offered an array of free classes. I did a stretch class and a Pilates class which were conducted on the beach, and I found to be a great way to start the day.
There are three swimming pools with a dedicated pool for families. One of the pools had a nice canopy with a swim up bar, which seem to be a popular spot around 4 PM each day.
On the beach, are big cushy, upholstered lounge chairs set on a perfect bed of white sand. The water has constant, gentle waves, and the Ocean floor is a soft white sand. There is some surfing, Boogie boarding etc.
There are two restaurants which set side-by-side. Both look out at the ocean from a lovely perch. The breakfast, lunch and dinner offerings were all exceptional. My husband and I consider ourselves amateur foodies and we were impressed by every bite we took.
FOUR SEASONS PUNTA MITA
Having first experienced this hotel 18 years ago, I returned once again to the Four Seasons Punta Mita. With its location on beautiful stretch of beach and something for everyone, you can’t go wrong here.
The resort is located next to the Jack Nicklaus Golf course. For sports minded people nearby you will find a tennis club with Pickleball and on property, there is a very ample and well-kept gym. Snorkeling and surf lessons can be arranged and spa also has an extensive menu of treatments. Recently the resort added a lazy river which is geared toward kids and families.
There are two very large pool areas. One is adult only, and they both offer food and beverage service, and are just footsteps away from the beaches. The pools and beaches have an abundance of staff so getting your lunch or a margarita is never an issue.
The resort is very large and spread out and, in some instances, you may have a bit of a walk to get from your room to the main lobby and restaurant areas. All in all, the property has a lot to offer for both couples and families.
FOUR SEASONS NAVIVA
This very private retreat hosts 15 rooms which are actually luxury tented structures. While basically tents, once inside the room there is very little resemblance to what you might think of as a tent. The rooms are ultra luxurious with big, sliding glass doors tucked into the jungle with ocean views. Yourour room neighbors don’t exist. Privacy is paramount. The rooms are very luxurious with comfortable indoor and outdoor lounge spaces.
The resort feels like a holistic getaway, a total retreat, with a focus on tranquility, privacy, spa service, yoga, and healthy customized made to order dining. There is also biking, hiking, and access to the nearby Four Seasons Punta Mita if you wish to take advantage of any other services or restaurants.
While the Four Seasons does not use the term all-inclusive at Naviva your room includes all your dining, drinks, and recreation, with some spa services included. They have their own private pool and beach area which are very tranquil.
While at Naviva you will not see a menu. The chefs have some recommended menus for the day but are willing to make pretty much anything you want. You are also welcome to step into the kitchen to work beside the chefs to both learn their ways and coach them to your perfect meal.
This resort is very laid-back. It’s a chance to unwind and spend time with someone special or do a retreat with friends. There are no TVs, just great ocean and jungle views to entertain you. If you are looking for massive decompression, I am sure five days here would accomplish that. For people looking for a bit of relaxation, I might recommend two to four days here in combination with another nearby property.
ST REGIS PUNTA MITA
I had stayed at this resort roughly 7 years ago and at the time it seemed ready for a refresh. Now, after having completed a multiyear $45 million update to rooms, restaurants and common areas I was totally impressed and pleased by the results.
The St Regis was always blessed with one of the best locations on the west coast of Mexico. The resort is more beachfront oriented than any property I have recently been in the Caribbean or Mexico, and I would dare to say that some of the beachfront villas represent the best beachfront accommodations to be found. If you are looking for a beachfront two bedroom with a plunge pool, I can direct you to the specific rooms to make for a perfect stay. I found these suites to be the crown jewel. Your sliding glass door is 20 feet wide from the beach, 100 feet from a large pool area, and 150 feet from a couple great beachside restaurants.
The hotel hosts a wide array of room categories and with the recent upgrades I would have no reservation recommending any room category.
The restaurants definitely take advantage of the prime sunset viewing location. It’s very hard not to enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail to catch the sunset. Mita Mary is a toes in the sand upscale casual restaurant. The food and service are spectacular, and I would challenge you to find a better sunset in all of Mexico….. especially with one of their margaritas in hand. Our second dinner there was at Seabreeze with similar service and food quality. The hotel has a few other dining options, including a very high-end restaurant near the reception and main bar. By the way, the bartenders at the main bar can make any drink to perfection.
The St. Regis is set next to a Jack Nicklaus signature Golf Course, has a nearby tennis facility, a great exercise area, and a very extensive spa, which has also been newly updated. This resort has a lot to offer for both couples and families.
ONE AND ONLY MANDRINA
The One and Only Mandarina is approximately 45 minutes from the Puerto Vallarta airport and is located on a rugged jungle coast with amazing views onto the ocean. The resort is large and sprawling, and definitely offers a very high degree of privacy. There are a number of room categories with each room, being an independent standalone villa/treehouse with nothing but ocean and jungle insight.
The property is definitely targeted toward adults, although older teenagers would fit well here. The entry level rooms are called “treehouse”, and I would highly recommend the panoramic category which is perched on a cliff with floor to ceiling windows making you feel as if you are floating above the ocean. The photos online don’t come close to grasping the magnificence of the views. The outdoor space has a small dining area and very comfy lounge areas. It would be hard to imagine a more perfect, romantic getaway spot.
The hotel offers a wide variety of room categories up to and including a 10-bedroom villa. I believe all of the rooms have a private plunge pool or full-size pool for the larger villas. The two-bedroom suites and larger all had both indoor and outdoor dining with large seating areas and a host of additional amenities, including private spa rooms and theater rooms. There were also outdoor barbecue areas as well as indoor kitchens and the ability to bring in a local chef.
The resort is very wellness focused and the spa with their extensive array of services certainly reflects that along with a large gym.
There are a handful of dining options. We inspected a few of the restaurants and they range from beachfront casual to high end casual dining and had the pleasure of a lovely lunch at the Jetty Beach Club. The fresh salad, ceviche and grilled fish were all amazing. It’s hard to imagine that anything coming out of their kitchen would be less than that.
If you head down the mountain to an area they call the flats you will find tennis courts (soft top and grass) As well as pickle ball, equestrian and polo, mountain bikes, and miles of hiking. The hotel has recently announced that they will be adding an 18-hole golf course although I would assume that is a couple of years down the road.
Speaking of down the road, they are well underway on the addition of a neighboring Rosewood property. It sounds as if the resort will be completed in approximately 18 months and will be more beach front and beach oriented than the One and Only.
The One and Only is highly unique, ultra high-end, and very service oriented. You will have a hard time finding more luxury anywhere in the Caribbean or Mexico. I highly recommend a visit to this marvelous resort.
W PUNTA MITA
The hotel is on a nice piece of beach and is very spread out encompassing a lot of acres. They have worked to integrate the hotel into the local setting, so you definitely feel like you are surrounded by greenery. The hotel has an abundance of room categories to suit your needs and budget. All of the rooms are spacious with oversized bathrooms and shower areas.
There were two large pool areas both adjacent to the ocean. One was adult only while the other was more family oriented. Around each of the pool areas there were beachside bars and restaurants with a focus on casual Mexican dining. We had the pleasure of dining at Spice Market. With it tasteful room, high end service and great Asian influenced food it offers a nice alternative to much of the local Mexican style cooking.