I am planning to stay at FS Punta Mita. I would like to know if it is better to take the meal plan or not. I know that they have breakfast buffet. Does any one know the approximately regular prices for brakfast buffet, lunch or dinners.

By the way, is the FS Punta Mita beautiful architecturally, it is luxurious...

Thanks.

We stayed there on the plan that includes breakfast (a wonderful buffet which is about $25 pp). We were glad we didn't get the meal plan, we would have wasted a lot of money. We went to the town of Punta Mita for dinner one night, went into PV one night, one night the manager's cocktail party was so elaborate we didn't need dinner! Even if we had dinner all 7 nights it still would not have been worth it unless you are a really big eater. The breakfast buffet is open until at least 11 so we would eat every day around 10:30 and be set until dinner, with maybe a light snack in the afternoon. What is really pricey there are the drinks, which aren't included in the meal plan anyway. Our dinners were about $150 total including service, our tab always included a bottle of wine, two entrees, usually one appetizer and one dessert. They have a fixed price dinner option that is really a good deal (when we were there it was less than $50 for an appetizer, entree and dessert). This was last year.

Eileen,

I have read other comments that you have done here about FS Punta Mita. I noticed that you offered someone to send via email some pictures of FS PM. Do you still have them, so that you can send them to my email address.

By the way did you go to FS Costa Rica. If so, any comparison between them.

Thanks

Not to advertise another site, but if you go to the FS Punta Mita on tripadvisor.com and click on the icon that stands for "candid photos", all the photos there are from our trip. We also have the review from April 2004 titled "Heaven on Earth". It is our favorite place thus far. By the way, if you want to splurge, have dinner on The Rock, book it way ahead. My husband and I have already decided we would like to renew our wedding vows on the Rock when we reach our 25th Anniversary.

Forgot -- no we haven't been to FS Costa Rica, it's near the top of our list. Unfortunately, we can only get away without the kids each year in April, and we think it might be too hot then. We might try FS Great Exuma next. Have you been to either of these?

eileen; While Punta Mita is lovely Great Exuma is just as nice with one BIG exeption. The food was terrible a year ago. Friends went 3 months ago and things have not changed.

Eileen,

On 03/23/2005, 12:52 pm I posted in this forum the following:

Message: I am trying to decide between Four Seasons Costa Rica or FS Punta Mita. Besides service, which one is more impressive? Any other comments are welcomed.

As you can see, I am trying to decide which of those two properties are better in terms of the physical facilities, arquitecture, and overall ambience. Nevertheless, nobody has contributed any comment to that post.

Since you have been to FS Punta Mita, and I assume that you have seen on the FS website pictures about the FS Costa Rica, which one in your opinion looks more impressive? Also, what about the rooms?

Thanks

Well, I hesitate to try to do a comparison without having been to both, but I can tell you that there was a post on here a while back from someone who had been to both and I asked her to compare the two, which she did. I also saw the Architectural Digest article on Costa Rica (Punta Mita has the AD cover story when it opened). So here goes -- Rooms look nicer at Costa Rica. Rooms appear to be the same size. Views appear to be somewhat the same -- i.e. the higher the floor, the better the view. Beaches at Punta Mita seem better. Both properties seem architectually distinct (as evidenced by the AD articles) however, Costa Rica might have the edge there. Punta Mita appears to have more ocean view restaurants (perhaps because there seems to be more foliage in CR; also PM pool has great ocean views, it doesn't seem that CR pool has any ocean views. PM rack rates seem a bit less expensive than Costa Rica. Both resorts are isolated but CR seems more so. PM was one hour from Puerta Vallarta by car and there is a village right outside the resort gates with a number of restaurants. At CR it seems you are really stuck there for meals. Food seems equally good at both (it wasn't fabulous at PM, but it was good). What time of year are you going? It seems to be extremely hot in Costa Rica from April on -- April in Punta Mita was beautiful, even a little cool in the early a.m. on the beach. Layout of PM seems more open with more views, open air lobby, open air restaurants, the one thing that made me think I wouldn't like CR as much as PM was fewer views and open air/water view restaurants -- that's really important to me on vacation. I don't think you can go wrong at either.

Eileen,

First, let me thank you for taking time and answering some of my questions. I am planning to go to either property during the summer (June or July).

Eileen,

When I read some reviews (ex. tripadvisor) about FS Punta Mita, it seems to me that most people refer to the four seasons as an impressive resort, but they are actually referring to the ocean, and views. I have not read too much about the physical facilities. I read the post that you cited in your previous email about the person that compared both of them, and she stated that FS PM is more attractive architecturally than FS Costa Rica.

I am almost deciding to go to FS PM. Is the resort luxurious, what about the rooms...restaurants. By the way do you have an idea about how much was the ATV tours, did you do the horseback tour?

p.s. I have been checking availability for FS Costa Rica and it seems that most of the dates are chosen. Probably I will go next year.

Thanks again

It depends on what "luxurious" means to you. Is it luxury in the sense of a wonderfully designed resort that makes great use of a site that has a lot of natural beauty, great "barefoot elegance" with a mexican/tropical ambience and incredible service? Yes. Is it luxury in terms of being ornate, lots of glitz, rich upholstery etc.? No. But that would be so out of place for a beach resort, anyway. I didn't like the Ritz Jamaica as much as FSPM because it seemed too formal and closed in for its surroundings (closed lobby, interior hallways, one large multi-story building) PM is very open, airy and blends in well with its surroundings. I think the ATV tour was $175 for two people. We did not go horseback riding.

Eileen,

I decided to made reservations at FS PM. They have two good promotions, pay two nights and one complimentary, and the other is stay four and one complimentary.

I was reading other post that you have made about food and meal plans ($105 for B, L and D; 80 for B and D). Those prices are without taxes and service charge that you quoted approx. at 30% for both.

It seems to me that FS PM prices are more expensive than prices in US. I go to the FS Chicago frequently and eat there for example a lunch buffet for $20.00, or a fix price (soup, entree, and dessert) for $22.00 (lunch) and $32.00 (dinner). I had at FS Dallas Resort Breakfast buffet at $18.00 and Lunch buffet at $22.00 plus 10% service charge.

Approximately, what is the average price for lunch and dinners. When you went there the tax and service fee was at 30%.

I think FS PM will be a good experience since my wife and I are celebrating our wedding anniversary there.

I've been reading this thread w/ a lot of interest. My family is also thinking of going this summer (in July!) and staying at Punta Mita. Unfortunately, we'll need 2 rooms, and even with a family special, that makes this resort really pricey.
Eileen, may I ask about the price of things like a coke or margarita? Thanks!

If you have to ask, you can't afford it -- just kidding I enjoy upscale resorts (who doesn't) but I don't like to bleed a lot of cash on overpriced sodas, drinks, etc. etc. if I don't have to, rather save some $ and go on more trips! A diet coke was about $4 - 5 including tax and service charge. A pina colada was $11 - 12 including tax and service charge. A bottle of Pellegrino at the restaurant was about $8. We drink diet coke constantly so we went to the village and bought some six packs to keep in our room refrigerator. We also bought some bottles of wine, which we really enjoyed drinking on our balcony watching the sunset. We are not big cocktail drinkers so did not have a huge bill, but it can really add up if you are into consuming lots of margaritas and pina coladas! We are used to Philly restaurant prices so I did not think the food prices were out of line and there are other food options nearby. There are also theme buffets in the evening on the beach, I think they were maybe about $40 pp.

you know what, Eileen, that's exactly what we decided! ! I think we'll save Punta Mita for a time when the kids are out of the house!
That's why I love the JW Marriott in Cancun so much; it's luxury while prices are still somewhat in the realm of reasonable!

Still not sure where we'll end up this summer! We're sending a son on a senior trip to Europe, he may be the only one who gets a good vacation!

We have the same challenge when we travel with our kids, we don't like to share hotel rooms so it is either a resort with a condo option (like the Marriott Vacation Clubs) or getting two hotel rooms (which can get really pricey). We will take our kids to Punta Mita when they build the residence club and have a condo option! Places I have been that were a good value for the money and good for families -- Aruba Marriott Ocean Club, Hyatt Hacienda Del Mar, Embassy Vacation Resort in Maui, Curacao Marriott, Fairmont Acapulco Princess. Places that were a good value for couples - Royal Hideway, Playa Del Carmen, Mexico, Fairmont Pierre Marques, Acapulco and in its own way, Four Seasons Punta Mita (I felt it was worth the price). Another great place that's a good value but not upscale -- Shangri-La Caribe in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico.

great suggestions, thanks, Eileen~!