Dreaming of your own family hideaway and tropical beach, with staff and chefs to help you with the chores of a summer rental? Look no farther than Matlali, a cluster of posh hillside villas above Banderas Bay on Mexico’s Pacific Coast. This is the place if you want luxurious digs surrounded by service, service, service… in a private club atmosphere.
This exclusive resort is near the fishing town of La Cruz de Huanacaxtle in Riviera Nayarit, a region that boasts an exciting number of family activities and outings, including shopping in Puerto Vallarta, surfing at Sayulita, and teeing up at championship golf courses in Punta Mita.
Part of the family-owned, gated Puerto Bahia Resort & Spa compound, Matlali has a choice of 40 retreats, including Junior and Master Suites in a four-story tower, and another 24 rooms clustered in villas around the grounds.
Furnishings are deluxe and comfortable, and the enormous two-bath Master Suite we stayed in slept up to 6 using a sofabed in the huge living room, a king bed and separate studio with queen pullout sofa. The marble, state of the art kitchens are equipped with every appliance and dish you’d ever need, and you can dine in, or entertain on the balconies, which are wrapped in sliding glass doors that not only open, they actually retreat gracefully into the walls.
The shared facilities in the 400-hectare complex include two infinity pools and a Jacuzzi, a freeform slate pool and wooden yoga deck at the foot of a hiking trail (to open late 2015), a multi-use ball court enclosed in view-through walls, and an Asian inspired spa with treatment rooms under a palapa roof.
A gracious Mexico-international restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and, via room service, “four-minute meals” which the chef prepares and you reheat and serve in your villa.
Spend a week to fully relax. You can customize your vacation by taking the van to the private waterfront Eva Mandarina beach club where there’s a kids club one day, and shop at the fish market for the catch of the day on another.
Family Fall Deal
Matlali Hotel’s Fall package offers accommodations in an Ocean View Master Suite or two-bedroom estate villa starting at US$196 per night. There’s a welcome fruit platter, breakfast is included for everyone, and you get a US$120 Resort Credit to use in the restaurant or spa. Best yet, if you stay for seven nights (and we could do that), you only pay for five.
Take a look at our video and you’ll see why it’s such a good value.
If you’re planning to laze around your posh digs and live the life of the rich and famous, you’ll probably want to get their meal plan. It costs $50/day for each child ages 10-15 and $130/day for adults. Rates include tax and service, and can be booked with your travel agent or with the hotel at 800/301-4246 or +52 322 115 7700.
Members of the Preferred Hotels & Resorts iPrefer program should take a look at their Matlali booking specials which provide other perks to benefit families. Although the hotel is not yet a part of the Preferred Family group of vetted, super kid friendly resorts, we know it will appeal to all ages, regardless of your needs.
Getting there is easy too. Matlali is located at Carretera Punta Mita Km 0.2, La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, Nayarit, Mexico. Transportation to the hotel from Puerto Vallarta International Airport costs about US$240 per car for up to six passengers.
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