In the late spring as we were still processing dozens of cancellations, I decided to book some domestic travel for my family. We were fortunate to take some road trips and some flights exploring the “new normal” at hotels across the country so I could experience travel during the pandemic firsthand. My personal travels and anecdotes proved very helpful as my clients started inquiring more and more about their summer vacations.
Gorgeous sunset views from most of the outdoor dining restaurants on property at the Four Seasons.
Once Mexico opened, I had several clients booked in August and September, all reporting back very positive experiences. So when it came time for my annual anniversary getaway with my husband, Mexico was a natural choice. We decided on Four Seasons Punta Mita to explore the area and see the property’s new renovation.
Since the pandemic started we have made a conscious effort to plan our air travel on off-peak days. We would have preferred to travel Southwest with their capped capacity and social distancing protocols but the direct route for us from Houston was on United. When we arrived to Puerto Vallarta airport on a Saturday morning, the airport wasn’t crowded with the exception of travelers coming off of our plane and waiting in a queue to turn in their Mexico travel forms providing traveler contact information in country and health disclosures. If travelers didn’t complete the form prior to travel, a blank one was offered to them.
The line takes you to a temperature screening where you turn your forms in before proceeding to the normal customs and immigration process. We were met by the Four Seasons private car service and started on our approx. one-hour drive to the hotel on the private peninsula of Punta Mita.
Welcome margaritas and warm hospitality on arrival at Four Seasons Punta Mita.
On arrival before we entered the lobby, the bottom of our shoes were sanitized, hands sanitized and temperature taken, along with answering a few health/ covid questions. It was a very thorough process compared to some of the domestic hotels we visited this summer. The lobby itself is open air with sweeping views of the Pacific and while employees are required to wear masks at all times, guests were only required to wear masks when inside interior hotel common areas like the gym, spa, etc. One of the great things about this property is that nearly everything has open spaces where the indoors and outdoors blend together.
I was really pleased to see that a lot of the special aspects of the arrival process were still in tact: one-on-one, private check-in and welcome drinks in the lobby. We were taken to our ocean view casita via golf cart and ready for our vacation to start!
The newly renovated rooms were beautiful and well appointed with a great contemporary Mexican design aesthetic and a spacious balcony. Our welcome amenity was homemade guacamole, salsa and chips and all the ingredients to make fresh margaritas. We also had a sanitization kit in our room with two disposable masks and sanitizing gel.
At the time, the property was limited to 30% capacity like others in Mexico. I believe the weekend occupancy while we were there was close to 23% while weekday occupancy dipped below 20%. Needless to say, we felt that there were ample opportunities to be socially distanced, as the property itself is very spread out.
A beach visit after our catamaran snorkeling trip.
The pool area reserved for adults-only during normal times, was open to all guests, as was the lazy river and ocean-view Nuna pool. The pool chairs were spaced out to provide ample distance between parties and they were reserved on a first come, first served basis and sanitized between each use. Hand sanitizing stations were available at all dining outlets and throughout the property.
The beach in front of the Four Seasons was closed for water activities during our stay due to local government regulations. Guests could still exercise, walk and swim in the ocean but paddle boarding and other non-motorized sports that are normally offered were suspended. Boat excursions like snorkeling, diving and exploring the near-by islands were available on a private basis (due to Covid) with pick up from the beach at the resort.
Each morning the property offers a complimentary guided hike or property walk as well as a few other outdoor activities for a fee. We opted for the guided morning hike to the top of the Punta Mita peninsula. From the top, we had a 360-degree view of the entire peninsula, Banderas Bay, Marietas Islands and Puerto Vallarta in the distance.
Paddle boarding in Bandaras Bay.
The food at the two open restaurants on property was wonderful. For travelers with longer stays, many were opting to dine in the nearby town of Punta Mita, where there are a variety of cuisines and local restaurants, many with ocean views. The Four Seasons offers a complimentary shuttle service to take hotel guests and pick them up from town, which is just a 5-minute drive.
The available golf courses at Punta Mita are also worth a mention. The two Jack Nicklaus-designed courses, Pacifico and Bahia, are a short shuttle ride from the Four Seasons and St. Regis hotels. They offer incredible ocean views and the Pacifico course is home to the world’s only natural island green, the “Tail of the Whale,” which is visible from the Four Seasons beach. The courses are accessible for all types of players and they offer golf lessons and club rentals as well.
I spoke with families at the Four Seasons who are repeat guests and love the high level of service, activities, multi-room accommodations and kids programming (the kids club isn’t operating currently but normally the Kids for all Seasons program is open for ages 5+). There were also several honeymooners on property, enjoying alone time and romantic dinners and being social in the pool and dining areas. Overall, I noticed the trend of longer stays; many people were staying for 5+ nights and some up to 12 nights.
Overall, it is a great destination for a long weekend getaway or a longer week+ stay for families or couples. New luxury hotel additions to the area include the Conrad Punta Mita, which opened in September, and the anticipated opening of One & Only Mandarina in November, just 45 minutes from Punta Mita.
We stopped for a site visit at St. Regis Punta Mita, another beautiful five star resort on the penninsula.