W Punta de Mita

After passing through several check points along winding cobblestone roads, guests arrive at a stylish carport, where they’re greeted by Panchito, a life-size Huichol totem that serves at the hotel mascot. From the motor lobby, guests are whisked away by stylized golf cart to the Welcome Desk (the brand is known for naming everything with its signature “W”), where the hotel’s design-heavy aesthetic makes a bold first impression. The lobby’s most mesmerizing element is its mosaic tile “carpet,” which starts at the front desk, descends the stairs to the lobby bar, then leads outside to the Wet Deck where it culminates atop a glass-enclosed viewing deck. The multi-tiered lobby has a bit of a '70s vibe, with rows of round banquette seating flanking either side of a central staircase. Plus, fringed chandeliers and beaded room dividers bolster the groovy vibes.With its funky design, social atmosphere, and pricey nightly rates, it’s no surprise the W attracts well-heeled millennials. The crowd skews younger, with lots of 20- to 30-somethings, but there are a fair share of boomers (mostly couples) as well. Children are welcome, but not catered to. There aren’t any on-site kids' amenities, plus poolside DJ sets and nightclub-like restaurants aren’t exactly conducive to the happiness of napping babies and young children. The nearby Four Seasons Punta Mita is a better luxury pick for families.  

Punta de Mita (also written Punta Mita) is Riviera’s Nayarit’s most exclusive resort community. With neighbors like the St. Regis and the Four Seasons, the W is surrounded by upmarket company. There’s little local flavor in Punta de Mita, but travelers like the area for its privacy and well-reputed safety. Travelers looking for a slice of authentic Mexico will need to venture off the property to nearby towns like La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, Sayulita, or San Francisco (San Pancho) -- a 13-minute drive, 30-minute drive, and 35-minute drive, respectively. The W is a 40-minute drive from the nearest international airport in Puerto Vallarta, and about an hour from downtown Puerto Vallarta and its famed Malecon (a bustling, long boardwalk). The W provides private, luxury transportation to and from the airport (or anywhere in the vicinity) for an additional fee. 

Travelers who appreciate out-of-the-box hotel room design will love the W’s fun and funky accommodations. Those who prefer more traditional rooms may find the decor a bit outlandish. The W gets praise for its creatively designed spaces, which feature social media-ready elements, such as surfboard headboards, rainbow wire swings, sarape bed runners, and life-size wall decals. Bold color schemes are equally appealing, with walls painted in shades of turquoise not typically found in hotel rooms. Patterned tile floors are also atypical, but feel spot-on for the W. Additionally, rooms aren’t all style over substance. The W equips its guest rooms with top-notch amenities, including iHomes, fully stocked minibars (extra fee), smart TVs, Nespresso machines, Bliss toiletries, and free bottled water. Bathrooms are sleek spaces with striking black-granite counters, double sinks, large soaking tubs, and glass-enclosed shower stalls with rainfall showerheads. It should be noted, however, that all bathrooms have open-concept layouts that lack doors and privacy. All rooms have private outdoor terraces, and many feature additional outdoor courtyards as well.  The W Punta de Mita has a handful of room types, ranging from the entry-level Wonderful Jungle Escape to the penthouse, Extreme Wow Oceanfront Oasis. Starting at 661 square feet, entry-level rooms are exceptionally spacious, but they lack ocean views and are located farthest from the pool, restaurants, and lobby (though they’re closest to the spa and fitness center). Interestingly, Wonderful Ocean Escapes and Spectacular Ocean Escapes (the next two levels up), are significantly smaller, at 441 square feet. However, these rooms offer ocean views and have two separate outdoor spaces. They’re also closer to the pool and restaurants. Guests looking to upgrade to suites can choose between the Oceanfront Haven and the Oceanfront Oasis categories. Havens are the smaller of the two suites (1,037 square feet), but they’re beachfront and feature private outdoor plunge pools. Oasis suites are the larger of the two (1,231 square feet), and feature massive outdoor balconies with large private plunge pools and stunning ocean views. They also have semi-outdoor bathrooms with retractable shower doors and palm-covered courtyards with jetted tubs. The 3,625 square foot Extreme Wow Oceanfront Oasis is located next to the beach, and has two bedrooms, a huge pool, a 10-seat dining table, and an indoor/outdoor living space. 

The W has lots of on-site amenities and a selection of excellent dining options. It’s a destination in its own right -- the type of resort where travelers arrive, and never leave, until it’s time to board their flight back home. Hotel freebies include on-site golf cart transportation, adult-size scooters, poolside cabanas, and Wi-Fi. 

Instead of multiple pools with different atmospheres, the W Punta de Mita opts for one dynamic “Wet Deck.” The Wet Deck consists of a sleek, rectangular mosaic-tiled pool surrounded by white-cushioned lounge chairs, hanging swings, and free cabanas. The pool has two jetted hot tubs, and offers stunning views of the adjacent beach. It feels somewhat small, considering the size of the property, but even during peak seasons, the pool never feels overcrowded. The Wet Deck’s atmosphere is upbeat but not rowdy. During the day electronic, techno, and remixed pop music plays at a discernible level -- some guests find it enjoyable, others find it too loud. By late afternoon and early evening, DJ sets liven things up considerably. 

The beach in front of the W is one of the most beautiful in Nayarit. Soft white sand stretches for miles in either direction, and is framed by picturesque craggy cliffs. The beach is lined with lounge chairs and free cabanas, plus the W has stylish private beach casitas available for rent. The private casitas have covered lounge areas with flat-screen TVs and outdoor showers, and are serviced by attentive beach butlers. Guests can rent kayaks, paddleboards, and surfboards on the beach, or take private lessons at the on-site surf school. Local hawkers constantly roam the beach and can be pushy when trying to sell their goods. Their presence detracts from the beach’s otherwise relaxing atmosphere, but this isn’t a problem unique to the W, as vendors are everywhere along the Nayarit coast. 

Dining at the W isn’t just about eating, it’s an experience for all senses. Each of the the hotel’s three restaurants revolves around a theme that’s carried out across its menu, decor, and style of dining. Spice Market, the hotel’s signature restaurant, serves south-Asian street food in a nightclub-esque setting. Its menu features Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s creative interpretation of Thai, Vietnamese, Malaysian, and Indian cuisines, with plates like ginger fried rice, pork vindaloo, and spiced chicken samosas. The stunning dining room is decorated with dark tones inspired by south-Asian ingredients like star-Anise red and Kaffir lime green. The restaurant’s mirrored ceiling only amplifies its chicness. Venazu, the W’s all-day restaurant, is inspired by the Huichol legend of the venado azul (the blue deer) a symbol of eternal abundance for the ancient Huichol people. The restaurant’s vibrant colors are meant to evoke a Mexican puebla during fiesta, while its animal-mask decor alludes to regional folklore. Venazu serves buffet and a la carte breakfast, as well as a la carte lunch and dinner. The breakfast menu features a mix of American and Mexican favorites, from french toast and eggs Benedict, to huevos rancheros and chilaquiles. Lunch and dinner menus skew Mexican, with options like tacos langosta, tuna tiradito, and corn chips served with guacamole, salsas, and panela cheese. At night, guests can book speciality outdoor tables centered around traditional open-flame charcoal stoves, where chefs prepare meals tableside. The beachfront Chevycheria is a fun play-on-words cevicheria housed in a repurposed Chevy 3800. The “bed” of the truck is a thatched roof bar, where guests can pull up a barstool on the sand and order refreshing ceviches and craft beers. The menu offers a variety of local favorites, like shrimp aguachile, Peruvian tuna, and coconut-lime catch of the day. Mesa1 is the W’s speciality reservation-only dining venue. The private dining experience is held only once per night, and can accommodate two to 18 people. Mesa1 diners are treated to a customizable seven-course tasting menu that features both regionally and internationally inspired cuisine. Advanced reservations are required. Along with its three restaurants and speciality culinary experience, the W also has a signature bar. The Living Room bar serves light bites alongside creative cocktails in an elegant space that still feels comfortable and casual. The Living Room is located in the lower half of the lobby, and stuns with 450 LED lights that hang above the bar in a sunburst formation. At sunset each evening, a gong sounds across the property, signaling guests to convene for happy hour. 

The Away spa is an inspired oasis that feels like an escape from the rest of the resort. Located in the rear corner of the property, the spa is far from the pool’s loud music and the lobby’s comings and goings. Indoor/outdoor treatment rooms are filled with light, which creates a relaxing atmosphere that’s enhanced by natural surroundings. Outside, green mosaic-tile hydrotherapy pools are surrounded by lush foliage, so guests can relax in a jungle-inspired setting. Above the spa, the hotel’s modern fitness center is spacious and well equipped with LifeFitness cardio and weight-training machines. Tall palms encircle the gym’s glass walls, which gives gym-goers the illusion they’re working out within a tropical treehouse.