Tropical Paradise

Celebrity favorite Mexican resort is only a short flight away — but be ready to break out the big bucks

Even if you’ve never been to Punta de Mita, the name likely strikes a chord thanks to a long list of celebrities, including Tom Cruise, Beyoncé, Britney Spears, Rihanna and Jessica Simpson, who have kept the Mexican hotspot in the tabloid headlines.

The lush peninsula, nested in Mexico’s Riviera Nayarit where the Banderas Bay and the Pacific Ocean meet, is home to gated development Punta Mita. Behind the guarded entry is a tropical paradise of white-sand beaches and turquoise waters and the famed Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita.

It’s all about you

Soak-up-the-sun frolicking begins at the free-form infinity-edge pool with striking views of the Pacific Ocean, where you’ll spot dolphins and humpback whales during their seasonal migration. Or you can lounge at the adult-oriented pool complex featuring a main pool and a plunge pool which boasts 10 private cabanas and a full bar with a lavish bites menu that includes sushi and caviar.

The amenity-rich retreat prides itself on fulfilling your every request. Cool off with a frozen piña colada without ever getting out of the water courtesy of a drink-fetching pool butler. Need to clear your sunglasses of sand and water while you lounge? Merely hand over your shades to a sunglass-polishing attendant.

Enjoy frolicking at the free-form infinity-edge pool with striking views of the Pacific Ocean.

There’s never a dull moment with an assortment of classes and lessons including scuba diving, windsurfing, salsa dancing, stand-up paddle boarding and more. Sign up for tequila class and learn how to distinguish tequila from mescal.

Hit the links

The Pacifico Golf Course offers world-class play designed by Jack Nicklaus. Spread over 200 acres of rolling hills and flowering landscapes, eight holes border either the Pacific Ocean or Banderas Bay, offering picturesque ocean views.

Take your golf game to a new level with the optional Hole 3B. Dubbed “the Tail of the Whale,” the unique par-three, 19th hole is one of only a handful of natural island greens in the world. Tee off from a natural rock outcropping with a green designed in the shape of a whale's tail and an oceanside tee on the beach situated 199 yards off the coast.

Take your best shot as you aim for the putting green set on a natural offshore island. Get a lift to the green in an amphibious golf cart.

Weather proof

And when the weather doesn’t cooperate, seek refuge at the state-of-the-art fitness facility with yoga classes and the latest cardio and weight-training equipment. Better yet, head to the on-property spa where you can indulge in a facial, manicure, pedicure and signature Punta Mita massage which incorporates agave tequila (lathered on your back, stomach and feet) and traditional Mexican healing techniques.

Family time

The ultra luxe resort caters to well-heeled singles and family units alike. Inner tube or noodle along to the mild current of the Lazy River, the third pool option, which encircles an all-family building with 23 rooms and suites.

Kids will also enjoy nature trails, an outdoor playground with a jungle gym and a 2,400-square-foot game room with PlayStation consoles, Wii, Xbox 360, Guitar Hero and the like. The options are bountiful with a card table, ping-pong, air hockey and foosball tables.

Hey big spender

The expansive property features 143 rooms and 30 suites situated on 26 acres. Most suites have plunge pools, some oceanfront suites are set atop cliffs, and other rooms open directly onto the beach. Mexican-style casitas are richly designed with beach-inspired décor, a flat screen TV and a spacious bathroom (two-basin vanity, glass-enclosed shower and deep soaking tub).

Hospitality is topnotch starting with your arrival when you are served a welcoming tray with chips, guacamole, salsa and make-your-own margarita ingredients (salt, lime, tequila, orange liquor, a martini shaker, ice and a margarita glass).

Of course, having your every whim answered in these luxe surroundings doesn’t come cheap. Be ready to break out your wallet with room rates ranging from $545-$1,175 for a double and $1,685-$16,000 for a suite during high season. During low season, rates hover around $375 to $925 for a double and $1,025 to $8,750 for a suite.

Getting there

The largest nearby airport is Puerto Vallarta International Airport (PVR), an hour’s drive from Punta de Mita. United Airlines flies direct to PVR from George Bush Intercontinental Airport, while AeroMexico makes one stop in Mexico City. Southwest Airlines begins service to Puerto Vallarta this October, with flights already on sale. With no stops, the total flight time is just under three hours.

Barely time to catch a flick before starting your trip in Mexican paradise.

(Marcy de Luna’s trip to Mexico was hosted by the Mexico Tourism Bureau.)

Cool off with a refreshing beverage courtesy of a drink-fetching pool butler.

Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita amphibious server

Photo courtesy of Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita

Cool off with a refreshing beverage courtesy of a drink-fetching pool butler.

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T+L in HOU

Travel + Leisure includes Houston stay on 100 best new hotels list

Photo by Julie Soefer

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Hot on the heels of being named one of Esquire magazine’s best new hotels in the world of 2025, Houston's Hotel Saint Augustine has picked up another accolade. The Montrose property landed on Travel + Leisure’s 100 Best New Hotels of the Year this week. It's the only Texas hotel to make the list.

The magazine noted the property “feels true to the destination and is a perfect addition to Houston's growing hospitality scene,” noting details that pay tribute to Houston’s history, like the Night Heron cocktail named after the city’s official bird and that the hotel itself takes its own name from Augustus Chapman, one of Houston’s founders.

When Austin-based Bunkhouse Hotels opened Saint Augustine back in December of 2024, it was a much-anticipated addition to the Bayou City’s hospitality scene. Adjacent to the world-renowned Menil Collection, the Hotel Saint Augustine blends seamlessly into its surroundings with a quiet elegance and luxury amenities.

“For us, Hotel Saint Augustine offers a chance to become part of a neighborhood that deeply aligns with the Bunkhouse ethos,” Bunkhouse senior VP of design and development Tenaya Hills said when it first opened. “Montrose, and by extension, the Museum District and Houston at large, foster an incredible sense of community, of creativity, of old world and new. We wanted to create a place where everyone could come and feel as welcome and inspired. As the next iteration of our Saint hotels, we aim to provide the same unique feeling of seclusion, of permission to be indulgent, and, most of all, completely at ease.”

With 71 rooms across five, two-story buildings, many with courtyard views, the Saint Augustine has quickly become known for being both upscale and approachable. Reviews thus far on sites like TripAdvisor and Yelp call the property “simply stunning,” with a “fun atmosphere,” and “a treasure…in the heart of Houston.”

On the Travel + Leisure list, the hotel is ranked among properties such as the Hotel Hana in Paris, The Lotus Palace in India, and the Palm House in Palm Beach, Florida. Room rates start at $429 per night.