Punta Mita, Riviera Nayarit, Mexico
Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita
The easiest family beach holiday in Mexico, with staff I'd rank above almost any resort I know. The rooms are overdue a rebuild and the prices are pure American resort, so I'd send families without hesitating and couples somewhere newer.
Service
The staff are the heart of this one. They know your name within a day, and they'll wade into the sea to bring you a drink. I can't think of a resort in Mexico where families are looked after better.
The team was tested this year. In February 2026 there were a few days of unrest around Puerto Vallarta, flights were cancelled and guests were asked to stay put. The staff kept everyone calm and informed, and inside the gates you'd hardly have known. Things were back to normal within days.
It's not perfect every week. Service at the pool can be slow and staffing can feel thin at the busiest times, so I'd keep expectations sensible over the holidays.
Rooms
Rooms here are called casitas, and they're a generous size, about 645 square feet, each with a terrace. They were redone in 2019 with warm wood, copper and local craft. From the oceanfront ones the views are wonderful, and some have their own plunge pool.
The resort opened in 1999, and it shows in places, mostly in the bathrooms and showers. If you want everything brand new, this isn't that.
Which room you book matters. I'd go for a ground-floor Oceanfront casita if you can, or one with a plunge pool. The category called Ocean can mean a partial or angled view, so I wouldn't count on a wide open sea. Families should ask about the two-bedroom family casita with bunk beds.
Food and drink
You can eat really well here without leaving. Bahía, right on the beach, is the one I'd book for sunset: grilled fish and seafood, including zarandeado, the local way of grilling a whole fish over wood. Aramara does Asian food, and I think it's the best restaurant on the property. Order the five-spice duck.
Dos Catrinas does Mexican cooking all day, and I'd go for the breakfast buffet, especially the chilaquiles and the banana bread. There's also a mezcal bar with more than seventy bottles, and a swim-up bar on the lazy river.
The catch is the price. It's US resort pricing in Mexico, and the wine list in particular is steep. The village of Punta de Mita is close by, and I'd go out for tacos at least once.
Setting
The resort sits on a gated peninsula at the tip of Banderas Bay, about 45 minutes to an hour from Puerto Vallarta airport. It has two beaches, and you can swim from both, which is not a given on this coast. The water is warm, though not as clear as the Caribbean, and the sand has some rocky patches, so pack water shoes.
There's a family infinity pool looking out to sea, an adults-only pool area, and a lazy river the children will not want to leave. From December to March you can often see whales from the shore. Golfers get two Jack Nicklaus courses, including a famous extra hole played out to a little island in the ocean.
It's a big property on a slope, so expect some walking or a buggy ride. And in school holidays the main pool is lively. If you're after peace and quiet, head for the adult pool or pick your dates carefully.
Value
Casitas start at around $1,000 a night and oceanfront ones run a good deal higher. Food and wine are at US resort prices, so the bill grows quickly.
A lot is included, to be fair. The kids' club and teen club are free, and so are snorkel gear, yoga and laundry rooms, and there's no separate resort fee. If you use all of that as a family, you'll get much better value than a couple who mainly use the room and the restaurants.
July to September is the cheapest time to go, though it's hot and humid. Booking through an advisor usually adds breakfast for two and a hotel credit at the same rate, which takes the edge off the food prices.
Who it suits
Best for families with children of almost any age, grandparents-and-all groups, golfers, and anyone visiting Mexico for the first time who wants it to be easy. Couples wanting seclusion or brand-new design might be happier at the St. Regis next door, or at One&Only or Rosewood Mandarina a little further up the coast.
More on the area: Puerto Vallarta guide.
Booking
You can get Four Seasons Preferred Partner perks, usually free breakfast, a hotel credit and a room upgrade, by emailing a travel advisor. There's tons of them out there but I like using this portal, as it shows live prices and I don't have to wait for a quote.