Evaluation: The St. Regis Punta Mita close to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Listed below are some explanation why you will get pleasure from your keep, too.

Pleasant employees members who care about each element

Through the pandemic, many inns curbed companies equivalent to every day housekeeping and turndown service, and plenty of have continued to de-emphasize these companies — as disgruntled vacationers have reported again from journeys all over the world in latest months.

We had been instantly reminded of what we would been lacking, nonetheless, once we arrived at The St. Regis Punta Mita. No corners are minimize right here. Butlers had been current throughout the resort, and housekeeping all the time appeared to know once we had left our room and refreshed it completely throughout these durations.

On the resort’s bars, we had been welcomed and waited on as quickly as we crossed the edge. Meals — whether or not it was a casual lunch or a multicourse tasting menu — had been paced precisely proper. Servers had been participating and pleasant and had an unimaginable command of the menus, answering all of the questions we had concerning the cooks’ creations.

At virtually each flip, we skilled wonderful service that showcased hospitality hallmarks of authenticity, heat and effectivity. We had been properly cared for by everybody, from our butler (each room and suite is assigned one at this St. Regis resort) and housekeepers to the restaurant hostesses and waiters to the pool and seaside attendants.

Wonderful eating that is well worth the journey

Should you’re specific about your eating experiences and take into account your self a foodie, The St. Regis Punta Mita will likely be a deal with. It exceeded our expectations in each method.

Carolina, the lodge’s superb eating restaurant, with chef de delicacies Angel Figueroa at its helm, was an exceptional expertise. Whereas we initially did not give a lot credence to its AAA 5 Diamond award, it’s, the truth is, properly deserved. The ten-course tasting menu was top-of-the-line meals we have had in a very long time. It price about $170 per individual ($145 for the wine pairings). The four-course menu was $115 per individual.

If you wish to style the flavors of Mexico, you’ll be able to’t do higher than a meal at Carolina. The chef’s idea is to take the flavors and conventional elements from every state of Mexico and use them as a base to create one thing above and past what you’ll be able to usually order at a high-end Mexican restaurant.

Every course offered taste pairings in surprising methods, and for many programs (save the sun-dried crickets), it left me wanting extra. I shocked myself by loving the kampachi and orange tostada. I do not sometimes get pleasure from uncooked fish, however the mixture of textures and recent flavors — together with flower petals as accents — received me over.

The masa-based sope with earthy onion flavors sitting on a roasted pumpkin-seed sauce and sprinkled with cotija cheese was additionally a winner.

Lastly, in case you love lobster, you’ll admire the charcoal-grilled lobster tail on a mattress of plantain puree. The lobsters listed here are smaller and sweeter than these from Maine, and the tender morsels had been spectacular.

The restaurant setting, each the indoor eating room and outside terrace, is elegant, with the latter having knockout views over the resort and the Pacific.

Our waiter was wonderful and he expertly guided us by way of the eating expertise. He knew a lot concerning the menu, the meals of Mexico and the way a brand new technology of cooks is forging paths to develop next-level delicacies. His insights made for a enjoyable, informative night.

We additionally completely loved Altamira Cantina Connoisseur, the foyer bar and restaurant with lounge-style outside seating overlooking the resort and ocean.

Chef José Meza has developed a scrumptious menu primarily based on conventional recipes which are elevated with recent elements from across the nation.

We began the meal with made-to-order guacamole with crispy chips and pork rinds. The serving was an excessive amount of for simply two folks, nevertheless it was scrumptious.

Whereas it ended up not being the simplest menu merchandise to share, we additionally tried the sope with suckling pig and grilled octopus. The ever-so-tender pork was so pleasant that I ended up ordering the suckling pig taco as my major whereas my eating companion went for a dish of brief rib and purple chili.

Equally to our expertise at Carolina, our server at Altamira was wonderful, providing on-target options and pacing the meal excellent. Appetizers begin round $25 and entrees vary from $34-$60.

We sadly did not have any room left after our major programs, however Altamira additionally serves triple chocolate cake, flan and churros for dessert.

Lastly, do not miss beginning or ending your meal with a drink on the foyer bar. It is acquired a strong cocktail menu that features mocktails. My favourite was the Charrito (lychee, lime and Earl Gray tea). Within the night the foyer bar and outside terrace had a romantic vibe. The terrace was softly lit up in a method that superbly highlighted the reflecting pool that steps down all the best way to the adults-only pool and seaside. It was the spot the place {couples} gathered within the night, whereas households and teams appeared to want the Sea Breeze lounge (which had large-screen TVs taking part in sporting matches) close to the Seaside Membership pool.

Breakfast at Sea Breeze, served from 7 a.m. to midday, was a deal with every morning, with loads of choices for these with out dietary restrictions.

Whilst you can order a la carte at Sea Breeze Restaurant, most individuals I noticed opted for the in depth buffet. Objects had been recent and uniformly good, with a lot for these with out dietary restrictions. There was additionally a small desk with gluten-free bites. The buffet prices about $65 per individual and is comped (with one caveat, see under within the “What you won’t love” part) for Marriott Platinum and Titanium elite members.

If the buffet is not your factor, a la carte choices vary from fruit to oatmeal to avocado toast, or you’ll be able to go for choices equivalent to French toast, pancakes, waffles, omelets and eggs Benedict. Heartier dishes, from grilled rib-eye to burritos to enchiladas, are additionally obtainable.

A continental breakfast for about $18 consists of a fruit plate, three assorted pastries or toast, plus espresso or tea and juice.

Should you sit outdoors at Sea Breeze, there may be additionally generally a skilled falcon on obligation to discourage little birds from divebombing your plate to steal meals.

Proximity to quaint Punta de Mita

We liked having the ability to go away the resort to go to the close by city of Punta de Mita. The shut proximity offers vacationers further choices in terms of eating out or doing somewhat buying. We took the lodge automotive for only a few {dollars} per journey and hailed native taxis on the best way again. (There is a taxi stand on Avenida El Anclote, the place many eating places are situated.)

Lobster Paradise was our favourite restaurant. It is acquired a beautiful view (particularly at sundown) and the waiters had been implausible, providing on-target suggestions for our group.

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Nice worth for factors — particularly in case your Suite Evening Improve clears

Entry-level rooms — 600-square-foot garden-view rooms with a king mattress or two queen beds — begin at round $784 per night time throughout months with decrease occupancy, like October and November. The identical class begins nearer to $1,000 in winter months when people from the Northeast and Midwest are searching for warm-weather retreats.

I booked my five-night December keep again in August. I may pay $925 (together with taxes and charges) per night time for a garden-view room, totaling $4,625 for the keep.

Or, I may redeem factors for 4 nights and get the fifth night time free per Marriott Bonvoy’s award profit. Redemption charges vary from 80,000 to 126,000 factors per night time. Spring and early fall appear to have the most cost effective award availability.

I went with the latter choice and ended up redeeming 384,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors for the keep. In keeping with TPG’s valuations, these factors are price 0.84 cents every, or $3,226 for the quantity I spent. By paying with factors, I saved round $1,399 in worth.

We went proper earlier than the December holidays so redemptions had been dear. I do not remorse it since this was when the journey match into our schedule. Nevertheless, in case you are reserving on the excessive finish of the factors scale, you might want to wait till after the renovation is full so you’ve gotten entry to the total resort expertise.

You possibly can simply rack up Marriott Bonvoy factors by utilizing a Marriott-branded bank card, equivalent to the next:

• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit score Card: Earn three free night time rewards price as much as a 150,000-point worth (every is price as much as 50,000 factors) after spending $3,000 on purchases inside three months of account opening. After your account anniversary, you will additionally get a free night time award price as much as 35,000 factors, which you’ll high up with an extra 15,000 factors out of your account. Sure inns have resort charges. The annual charge is $95.
• Marriott Bonvoy Daring Credit score Card: Earn 30,000 bonus factors after spending $1,000 on purchases in your first three months from account opening. No annual charge.
• Marriott Bonvoy Sensible™ American Specific® Card: Earn 95,000 bonus factors after spending $5,000 in purchases throughout the first three months. After your card anniversary, obtain a free night time award price as much as 85,000 factors (which you’ll high up with an extra 15,000 factors out of your account). This card fields numerous different perks, however the card additionally costs a hefty $650 annual charge (see charges and charges).

Should you do not need to add one other bank card to your pockets, you too can switch Chase Final Rewards factors or American Specific Membership Rewards factors at a 1:1 ratio to your Marriott Bonvoy account.

If you do not have factors or Marriott elite standing, there are methods to make a money reserving and get some good further perks. American Specific’ Wonderful Inns + Resorts program and Skylark each supply the opportunity of a room improve (primarily based on availability at check-in), complimentary breakfast for 2, a property credit score, late checkout and extra.

The rooms and suites

We didn’t keep in a renovated room or suite so I can not present you pictures of that. However, first impressions from friends that did have the transformed rooms had been good. Some lamented that they did not appear to spotlight Mexican arts and crafts as a lot because the outdated decor, although.

The room we had was very snug and fairly spacious, particularly due to its outside balcony. It was merely adorned, with typical tiled flooring and a ceiling with uncovered beams, a king-size mattress, a soft armchair and ottoman and a big marble lavatory with each indoor and outside showers

In-room toiletries embrace Laboratoire Remede shampoo, conditioner, moisturizer and bar cleaning soap. There was additionally a bottle of mouthwash plus issues like a nail file, toothbrush, make-up remover pads, cotton balls and cotton swabs.

Housekeeping was implausible, with twice-daily service, leaving out bottles of water and chocolate wafers within the evenings. I liked the terry slippers, a pleasant amenity that I wore when stepping out onto the balcony.

We booked a garden-view room and had been informed that we had been upgraded to an ocean-view room. Perhaps that was true when the resort was constructed a few years in the past, however the vegetation has grown so excessive since then that there actually is not a view of the water from right here. No huge deal for us since we thought we had been getting a garden-view room anyway, however I’d have been sad if that is what a paid ocean-view room seems like.

Extras and actions at The St. Regis Punta Mita

The St. Regis Punta Mita has the massive image properly in hand, nevertheless it did not miss a beat with the little particulars both.

Issues like in-room deal with deliveries (we obtained chocolate-covered strawberries upon arrival and macarons and chocolate on the night earlier than departure) had been surprise-and-delight at their finest. And enjoyable complimentary treats abounded across the resort, equivalent to bloody mary photographs in entrance of Sea Breeze Restaurant all through the day.

From the weekly Champagne sabering ritual to the favored Friday night time seaside barbecue at Mita Mary Boat Bar & Bistro to complimentary snacks delivered to your pool or seaside lounge chair, these little extras made our keep really feel much more particular.

Different considerate touches, equivalent to hammocks on the garden overlooking the ocean, had been welcome, too — particularly for friends with out ocean-view lodging who wished a snug place to chill out with out being on the seaside.

On the exercise roster, there are complimentary bikes to be used and guided excursions of the Punta Mita group in addition to a clinic for anybody that wishes to discover ways to use a stand-up paddleboard.

There’s additionally a child turtle launch program that is enjoyable whether or not you are touring with youngsters or not. Talking of household holidays, La Tortuga Youngsters’s Membership presents quite a lot of programming so youngsters can get a break from their dad and mom (and vice versa).

Whereas we did not guide any spa companies, we did take a peek on the services and the environment was very quiet and chill. You possibly can guide the standard kind of remedies right here, from facials and manicures to massages. An intriguing menu of “Touchless Experiences” was additionally obtainable and included a 45-minute chakra sound balancing therapy in addition to a 30-minute zero-gravity therapeutic massage, “which positions your physique to make you’re feeling weightless, stress-free and energized by elevating your ft to be on the identical degree as your coronary heart.”

The health heart was open every day from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and provided a number of treadmills, elliptical machines, train bikes, free weights, weight machines and strength-training tools.

Golfers ought to admire the 2 Jack Nicklaus-designed programs: the 7,014-yard, par-72 Pacifico Course and the 7,035-yard, par-72 Bahia Course.

Here is what’s distinctive concerning the Pacifico course: A “one-of-a-kind par 3 requires golfers to play their first shot from an onshore tee field to an island inexperienced situated 194 yards away on a pure rock formation within the Pacific Ocean. At low tide, a submerged stone path to the inexperienced turns into satisfactory.” It is virtually like a secret a part of the course.

The Bahia course has views of Bahia de Banderas and a part of the coast.

Why you won’t love The St. Regis Punta Mita

Punta Mita is a gated group consisting of luxurious resorts, villas and condos. It is not as central to the airport as Puerto Vallarta itself, and the nightlife is proscribed as a result of insular nature of the advanced. This may be precisely what you are searching for … or not.

Regardless of the 45-minute drive from the airport, we loved being tucked away in a quiet space with loads of area for unwinding.

The drive from the airport

To get to Punta Mita, most folk fly into Gustavo Dia Ordaz Worldwide Airport (PVR) in Puerto Vallarta. From there, you’ll be able to prepare for a automotive service, get a taxi or hire a automotive. You would hail an Uber, however that choice might be cumbersome as a result of Punta Mita is a gated vacationer advanced.

Vacationers who’d been to Punta Mita earlier than informed me it is a 25-mile drive alongside a “good stretch of freeway.” I discovered the primary 25 minutes of the drive barely tough as a result of many velocity bumps alongside the route. It takes about 45 minutes with no visitors. Should you keep longer than a couple of days, the journey is not an excessive amount of of a difficulty. Nevertheless, in case you’re right here for a fast weekend getaway, you might need to choose a lodge proper in Puerto Vallarta to keep away from the commute.

I booked round-trip automotive transfers straight with the lodge. It price 2,670 pesos (about $147) from the airport to the resort and a pair of,100 pesos ($116) for the return leg. I may have booked elsewhere for a couple of {dollars} much less, however I favored the convenience of letting the lodge concierge guide issues like this on my behalf.

A taxi will run you 1,600-2,000 pesos ($88-$110), however bear in mind that not all taxis are air-conditioned.

Rental automotive costs range relying on the season, however after I checked for my dates in December, I may hire a Nissan X-Path for 4,700 pesos ($259) for 5 days.

The continuing renovation

The second a part of the resort’s renovation begins in Could and can proceed for a couple of months. That can embrace refurbishments of further visitor rooms and suites, the spa and the seaside membership.

The resort was clear about its progress and communicated with friends when facilities had been unavailable. Nonetheless, in case you’re involved, attain out to the resort prematurely to substantiate that the weather of the keep which are necessary to you might be open for enterprise.

We had been there whereas development was occurring and it wasn’t that intrusive. We did hear some noise throughout the day when on our balcony, however we had been far sufficient away that it was muted. To be trustworthy, the barking canine within the subsequent casita was way more annoying, and though I am a religious canine fan, I did textual content our butler to ask if they might do one thing about it, which they did. (Whereas the resort is pet pleasant and we noticed numerous canine on-property, friends aren’t supposed to depart pets alone of their rooms for precisely this motive.)

The noise wasn’t a nuisance for us, however the development zone did block off some strolling paths so we could not all the time take essentially the most direct route between factors A and B. I believe that will likely be much less of an issue now because the resort strikes on to the following section of the renovation.

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Lacking out on Suite Evening Upgrades

Whereas I used factors for my keep, I additionally utilized a Marriott Suite Evening Award certificates to the reservation. Nevertheless, with lots of the resort’s suites out of fee as a result of renovation, it didn’t clear. That was disappointing and difficult to know since suites had been nonetheless displaying up as bookable for my dates in Marriott’s app at check-in time.

After I requested about it at check-in, I used to be informed there have been no suites however they’d see what they might do the following day. This was the one service stumble as a result of nobody from the entrance desk acquired again to me on this — even after mentioning it to my butler. My recommendation to the entrance desk: Do not promise a visitor you will test on one thing until you propose to comply with up. Not doing so is dangerous type.

Butler service may really feel pointless

Butler service is likely one of the hallmarks of the St. Regis model. Each room on the Punta Mita advanced is assigned a butler to deal with all requests, nice and small. From fetching espresso within the morning to creating eating reservations to arranging for off-property adventures, the butler is at your beck and name.

The butler will not be needed or snug for individuals who want privateness and making their very own plans, although. The beauty of St. Regis butlers is that they may take your lead and supply as a lot or as little contact as you like.

Should you’re staying with a bunch or have in depth requests (i.e., you have not finished any planning or booked any actions earlier than your journey), your butler will save the day with spot-on suggestions and the power to guide on-property actions in addition to issues to do on the remainder of the peninsula.

I am a planner and we had been solely staying a couple of days, so I had preemptively booked the whole lot we wished. We additionally aren’t the kind to take up the butler on a proposal to unpack our baggage, however we loved having one obtainable by way of textual content to reply questions and convey espresso to get pleasure from on our balcony earlier than heading out for the day.

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Marriott Bonvoy elite members pay a surcharge for the total buffet breakfast expertise

That is nitpicking, however so many Marriott Platinum and Titanium elite members I met on the resort talked about this to me that I really feel compelled to share it right here.

The breakfast at Sea Breeze Restaurant is superb, and whereas the chilly buffet is complimentary for elite members, there’s a per-person complement if you wish to improve your meal with scorching gadgets equivalent to made-to-order tacos, quesadillas, empanadas and chilaquiles. We paid the surcharge and it was properly price it, however for the model’s high elite members, it is unusual that it’s not comped.

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Options

Should you resolve the St. Regis is not the precise resort to your journey, you’ve got acquired loads of different close by choices, 4 of which might be booked with lodge factors.

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Accessibility

Accessibility generally is a problem at seaside resorts. Nevertheless, The St. Regis Punta Mita has put thought into its format with accessible entrances to the pool, spa, health club, enterprise heart and assembly areas. Many casitas have stairs at their entrance, so in case you require one with no or few steps, you should definitely talk that to the lodge upon reserving.

There are accessible pathways all through the resort that make it straightforward for walkers, however friends also can name for complimentary golf cart service. The method was fast and environment friendly throughout our keep.

In rooms, you will discover lever-style door handles, lowered vanities and roll-in showers for wheelchair accessibility, adjustable-height bathe wands, bathtub guard rails, lowered deadbolts on visitor room doorways and alarm clock cellphone triggers. Doorways are additionally very broad and bed room areas have loads of room for wheelchairs, walkers or rollators.

I used to journey with my father, who used a wheelchair, and I am unsure I’d have taken him right here. However in case you’re a wheelchair consumer that may simply switch to a golf cart for transportation, you have to be superb.

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