Las Alamandas Hotel - Puerto Vallarta, Mexico     

AMAZING! This as our second Valentines stay at Las Alamandas...and it did not fail to be the most romantic, wonderful place to be. We are celebrating being together for 28 years - and Las Alamandas brings out the best of why people love each other. Only come here with someone you like - the property, the staff, the food, the rooms, the hospitality from the houskeeping....it is all amazing. I have given a critic of Las Alamandas before,,,,, it did not fail on my second visit - with all my expectations. Note: the property is remote - and THAT is the beauty...

My husband and I just returned from a three night stay at Las Alamandas. My husband says I have "travel attention deficit" because with few exceptions (Phuket, Positano, Marrakesh), I seldom want to return to somewhere I've been, but rather explore the unknown. It is within that context, that I say that I simply cannot wait to return to Las Alamandas. We found our stay to be the perfect blend of romance, relaxation and activities. We were celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary, and our accommodations, Casa San Miguel, were private and spacious. We had a totally secluded lounging bed upstairs on the patio outside. The temperature was perfection. No need for air conditioning, just the sound of the crashing surf to lull one to sleep. Amazingly, there was no problem at all with insects despite the lush jungle setting. Each night we returned from dinner to a different surprise: chocolate covered strawberries, home baked cookies, a flower petal strewn bed, lighted candles surrounding the entire perimeter of the bed....it was magical. By day, we struggled to decide how to spend our time, but settled on working out at the excellent gym (designed with help from Robert DiNiro), riding the horses throughout the expansive grounds and along the beaches, mountain biking and one late afternoon, a hike to the sunset lookout. The balance of our time was spent lolling on the beach or reading on one of our two private terraces at Casa San Miguel. The food was excellent and the kitchen accommodating to our mostly vegetarian palates. One morning, at breakfast ,our server motioned to us excitedly to look out to the sea and we witnessed whales breeching in the surf. We found all of the staff to be eager to please but not hovering or intrusive...just as we would prefer. Special thanks go to Victor and Tony. Our fellow guests were sophisticated and engaging. The atmosphere was conducive to interaction and conversation among the guests, if desired. Sharing travel tales among the guests was particularly enjoyable. The grounds and rooms were in impeccable condition. I am quite mystified by the negative comments of one recent Trip Advisor reviewer to the contrary. I always consult Trip Advisor when deciding where to stay, however, I find it is good to consider alternative resources such as Conde Nast Johansen's and Andrew Harpers Hideaway Reports, both of which bestow honors and glowing reviews on Las Alamandas - most deservedly. I feel that I have experienced a truly special environment. Ms. Goldsmith is a lucky person to own such a magical place, and I am grateful to have shared it, if only for a few days.