Fifty years ago, Puerto Vallarta was considered the height of international glamour, attracting the hottest names in Hollywood, like Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. Today, with the debut of the chic Hotel Mousai, it seems the destination is ready to return to its roots.
The Hotel Mousai is a next-generation design hotel, bringing pops of color and glam to a town that typically swings traditional in terms of hotel design. Tucked on a hillside overlooking the sweeping Bay of Banderas to the front and the green-covered Sierra Madres to the back, the Hotel Mousai is a heavy dose of trendy-chic in otherwise sleepy Puerto Vallarta.
Just 30 minutes south of Puerto Vallarta Airport and 15 minutes from downtown, the Hotel Mousai, restricted to ages 16 and up, is the sexy sister of the all-ages Garza Blanca Preserve Resort & Spa. The property has five buildings that belong to Garza Blanca and a sixth building that belongs to the Hotel Mousai. Guests have full access to the facilities at Garza Blanca, while guests at Garza Blanca have more limited access to Mousai.
The hotel has 73 suites, each with its own expansive balcony and Jacuzzi. Rooms on higher floors offer spectacular sunset views over the Bay of Banderas, and corner rooms give guests views of both ocean and jungle. Rooms are decked out with bursts of reds and purples against a subdued gray/white backdrop. Chandeliers and mod-style furniture give off a modern-day opulence that can be found at hotels like the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas.
Each room is equipped with its own iPad, as well, which controls everything from lighting and temperature to room service and spa appointments.
Guests enter the black-and-white, chessboard-themed lobby and are immediately greeted with massive floor-to-ceiling windows that look out over the bay. Just off the main lobby sits Hiroshi, a restaurant that focuses on raw, fresh and spicy ingredients with an Asian twist. Not to be missed are the hamachi tartare with caviar and wasabi or the tempura lobster rolls. Be sure to try one of the flirty cocktails, as well.
Hiroshi’s signature dishes include hamachi tartare with caviar and wasabi.
At Garza Blanca, guests won't want to miss Blanca Blue Restaurant & Lounge, with its torch-lit, panoramic view of the bay. The menu offers over 230 international wines as well as a menu that blends Mediterranean and Mexican cuisines. Other restaurants include Mousai's Terrace and Lobby Bar as well as Garza Blanca's BocaDos STK steakhouse and Aquazul.
But the piece de resistance at the Hotel Mousai is its pool and bar scene. By day, the Rooftop is a sexy hideaway splashed in white. Lounge by the infinity pool in one of the many day beds as refreshing mists of water periodically rain down from umbrellas. Breakfast and lunch are served poolside, as are afternoon cocktails. In the evening, things get a little more sultry by the pool with entertainment like acrobats, DJs, live music, cigars and a long list of cocktails and small bites.
Guests at Mousai also have access to Garza Blanca's three pools as well as a VIP section of Garza Blanca's beach.
Book a treatment at Spa Imagine, offering more than 40 types of massages, wraps and treatments. Other spa amenities include a sauna, cold plunge pool, Jacuzzi, steam rooms, plunge shower and five therapy rooms. Be sure to make time before your treatment to enjoy the spa's hydrotherapy facilities.
The Hotel Mousai is available for booking under a European Plan (starting at $360 per person, per night) or as an all-inclusive. All-inclusive rates, which start at $390 per person, per night, include on-site meals and beverages, though additional charges may apply for meals at some restaurants and other amenities. But certain activities are available and free for everyone. Some of the more popular ones are wine and tequila tastings, cooking demonstrations, hiking tours, Kundalini yoga, paddleboard lessons, a kayak tour of Los Arcos and interactive Spanish classes.
Each of the Hotel Mousai’s 73 suites includes its own expansive balcony and Jacuzzi.
Exploring P.V.
For exploring Puerto Vallarta, the Hotel Mousai is in a wonderful location, off the beaten path but close enough to the energy of downtown and the Malecon. A 15-minute taxi ride will place travelers at the heart of the action, from the beach bars and restaurants to the late-night clubs and discos along the Malecon. For a memorable meal, visit 116 Pulpito in the Zona Romantica, serving up European fare and creative cocktails. For delicious and traditional Mexican food, check out either Maia or Coco's Kitchen next door.
Cultural sites to catch include the Voladores de Papantla, located on the Malecon. This exhibition involves four men whose feet are attached to the top of a 150-foot pole by long ropes; they swing upside down as a fifth man stands at the top playing a wooden flute. Downtown is also home to the Parish Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
A vibrant art scene also lives in Puerto Vallarta, which features an array of contemporary art galleries. The Hotel Mousai's concierge is able to arrange a personal art tour. Guests can also join the ArtWalk, which is held Wednesdays from October to May and is a way to meet exhibiting artists over a complimentary beverage.
Visit www.hotelmousai.com.