My Luxury Splendor in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

I began my long awaited for luxury Mexican vacation at the O’Hare airport, where I flew first class from Chicago to Puerto Vallarta. I had a cocktails in the exclusive airport lounge and slept through a majority of the flight, as usual.

When we touched down, my private chauffeur from the luxury VIP airport transfer was already waiting for me. Service was exceptional! The white oversize SUV was sparkling clean and already pre-cooled to a comfortable temperature. The driver kindly offered an array of snacks and drinks while I waited for him to load my luggage–which he did with utmost care, knowing that it wouldn’t be cheap to replace my Louis Vuitton monogrammed suitcases.

I knew that my stay at one of the all-inclusive luxury resorts would be glamorous long before I even set foot on the property. Through the tinted windows, I took in the expansive, expertly-manicured grounds. Expansive is almost not quite accurate in terms of the sheer size of the resort; it’s not easy to catch me off guard, but the sprawling estate did make my jaw drop a bit. I was further impressed the moment I stepped into the opulent lobby. The artisanal furniture, polished marble floors, and open-air views were absolutely stunning. Check-in was seamless and my bags were transferred to my villa immediately, so I began exploring the ritzy facilities with a top-shelf margarita from the bar in hand.

My Presidential Villa delivered the luxury experience it had promised. I used the jacuzzi and the plunge pool on my private terrace almost every evening during my stay, and at night I was cradled to sleep by the plushy king size bed. The staff never once interrupted me but left the room sparkling each time I returned, earning a generous tip at the end of my stay. The service was next-level here.

One would never run out of things to do on the resort property. During the day I tanned poolside at the rooftop oasis and took in the view, or swam in one of the several ground level pools at my disposal. I played a few rounds of golf on the resort course, and each night there was energetic live music and shows of all kinds. Before dinner each evening, I explored the shops on the grounds and purchased all kinds of things, from fine locally-made jewelry to hand-woven clothing and textiles to adorn my home long after my trip.

And the food! The exceptional gastronomy scene at this resort alone was enough to rave about for years to come. I consider myself an adventurous foodie, and I spent my evenings rotating between the fine dining restaurants on resort grounds. I anticipated different iterations of high-end Mexican cuisine, and my expectations were surpassed when I discovered that the resort also boasted a five-star authentic French fine dining establishment. The foie gras was especially rich, and the tarte tatin minute (which they flambéed tableside) was absolutely to die for. Between that and the Mediterranean restaurant, the Italian Trattoria, the Brazilian steakhouse and the upscale Asian eatery, I wanted for nothing.

One my highlights was spending almost an entire day at the resort’s exclusive, state-of-the-art Hydrotherapy Annex in the Spatium, where I steamed, soaked, and plunged before enjoying many of the spa services on offer. I was pampered from head-to-toe and left feeling refreshed, rejuvenated, and relaxed. It was paradise

The halfway point of my trip brought an end to my stay at the Grand Luxxe, but I will be back. It’s an ideal destination for a luxurious international vacation, even a destination wedding, and I would gladly make the journey to this fancy resort again and again.

While my next Puerto Vallarta destination was being prepared for my arrival, I chartered a fully staffed private yacht–a fifty-five foot long private yacht. The staff were expertly trained and I enjoyed every moment on board, sunbathing on the deck, sipping mimosas, and noshing on exotic cuisine prepared by the private chef. We also moored near Los Arcos National Park, where I spent an afternoon snorkeling and kayaking, working up a ravenous appetite for my final dinner on the yacht. This was one of the better yachts I’ve had the pleasure of chartering. I spent three days and three nights onboard before heading back to land to embark on the second half of my luxurious Mexican vacation.

My next destination to a 5-star private villa was in an exclusive gated community. The oceanfront property overlooked the sea. It was pre-stocked with everything my guests and I would need–the refrigerators were filled with fresh, local fruit, the pantry with my favorite snacks, and the wine cellar was stocked with my favorite vintages. The thoughtful on-site maid staff also supplied my preferred high-end toiletries and spa items per the recommendation of my travel agency. I was thoroughly impressed with the amount of detail that the service staff put into accommodating myself and my guests. I privately enjoyed the welcoming ceremony on the terrace overlooking the ocean while waiting for my guests to arrive and select their room from the other 5 bedrooms in the seafront villa.

Once my friends arrived, celebrations began with an 8-course private tasting menu and wine pairing by chef Mavi. The courses were expertly planned and prepared by Chef Mavi and his team while we lounged by the pool, enjoying cocktails and exchanging travel stories. Each course was decadent, but my favorite of the entire menu was the Estado de Mexico with maize cream and black truffles. It rivaled truffle dishes I’ve tasted all over the world, and I just know I’ll be dreaming of it until we meet again.

Once our luxurious dining experience wrapped up, we prepared to depart the villa for the evening to get a taste of the nightlife. We left Chef Mavi’s team to clean up under supervision of the household staff while we took a limousine to La Santa, an exclusive nightclub in the heart of Puerto Vallarta, where we indulged in bottle service and danced the night away to the energetic beats and dazzling light shows that were reminiscent of lost nights in Ibiza.

We had perhaps overindulged–the next morning, I treated myself to a 90 minute deep tissue massage on the terrace to help me recover from our clubbing escapades before my private surfing lesson. We spent the afternoon on the secluded beach, mere steps away from the villa. We splashed and played under the hot Mexican sun, dusting ourselves in glittering sand and washing it away in the crystal clear emerald waves.

For dinner the second night, we headed to Gaviotas at the Sheraton–a culinary destination for those who appreciate the culinary art. The atmosphere was modern and sophisticated, and the adults only restriction made it all the more enticing. The wine was flowing, the courses were timed perfectly and we savored every last bite–it’s no wonder the culinary team had won many awards and received four diamonds from AAA. I myself would bestow a Michelin Star on the restaurant if I could. My selection–the Gaviotas Salad, the Birria Brisket, the Lamb Steak with Red Pipan, and the Solero–could have sustained me for the rest of my life. The dishes were as visually stunning as they were delicious. Each plate could have been displayed in a museum of modern art.

On our final day in Puerto Vallarta, the whole group participated in a private excursion to swim with dolphins. It was a peaceful, delightful way to spend our final hours in this lush, exotic paradise without the usual tourist-y feeling one typically gets from this type of excursion.

We reluctantly departed our seaside chateau and caught a first class flight home late that afternoon. I returned to Chicago feeling reinvigorated and immediately started planning my next glamorous getaway!