Best Hotels in Punta Mita

This St. Regis outpost sits within Punta Mita just north of Banderas Bay. The accommodations, which range from 600- to 640-square-foot Deluxe Rooms to the 3,100-square-foot Presidential Villa, feature rustic Mediterranean and Mexican accents, including polished clay floors, handcrafted tiles and natural wood furniture. Along with stylish decor, the rooms also flaunt modern amenities like iHome radios, minibars, flat-screen TVs and complimentary high-speed internet access. You can dine in if you can't bear to leave your digs, but for a change of scenery, head to one of the hotel's six restaurants. Guests say the cuisine – which includes traditional ceviche and empanadas at Sea Breeze Restaurant and duck confit with black truffle at Carolina Restaurant – is superb. Once you're well-fed, have the concierge arrange tee times at one of the two Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Courses in Punta Mita. Not a golfer? Leave the kids with La Tortuga Children's Club while you luxuriate at the on-site Remède Spa, sunbathe on the beach or lounge by the three pools. A stay at The St. Regis Punta Mita can get a bit pricey, but thanks to the property's Marriott family ties, Marriott Bonvoy members can earn and use points here.

On an outcropping at the northern limit of Banderas Bay (about 26 miles northwest of Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport in Puerto Vallarta), the Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita is a tropical paradise. Guests are greeted with a thatched-roof lobby, which affords spectacular ocean views. You can also enjoy an excellent Pacific panorama from many of the casita-style accommodations. And even if you've booked a garden view room, you'll encounter traditional Mexican decor, comfortable beds, generously sized bathrooms with deep soaking tubs and a furnished balcony or terrace. Outside of the rooms, you'll find three pools, including the heated Nuna infinity pool and the smaller plunge pools of the Tamai Pool Complex. Beyond that, you'll have access to a lazy river and 10 tennis courts. Plus, golfers will have their choice of two scenic Jack Nicklaus-designed links. If you feel sore after a day spent swimming or golfing, make an appointment at the Four Seasons Apuane Spa (or have a masseuse come to your room). And when hunger sets in, take a stroll to one of the resort's eight restaurants and bars, including the seafood-centric Bahía by Richard Sandoval and the Asia-inspired Aramara.

IBEROSTAR Playa Mita, located just north of Puerto Vallarta in Riviera Nayarit (a 200-mile stretch of Mexican coastline along the Pacific), is an all-inclusive resort that garners praise with its fine dining and recreational options, though a few guests note its isolated location isn't necessarily convenient for getting to town. On-site, the resort has five restaurants, ranging from fine dining Japanese cuisine to casual Mexican food, and many guests advise making reservations if you want to eat at a specific restaurant during your stay. For recreation, this IBEROSTAR offers a kids club, a disco, an on-site tennis court and a golf course, plus free water sports rental equipment, including kayaks and windsurfing boards. Guests looking for a low-key experience should head to Sensations Spa, which has private treatment rooms, a salon and an isolated garden. The huge outdoor pool has a swim-up bar and lounge chairs that overlook the beach, just steps away. IBEROSTAR Playa Mita's secluded location and all-inclusive atmosphere attracts leisure-seekers and families as opposed to those looking for endless nightlife entertainment.