Punta Mita, Mexico: Four Seasons or St. Regis
Jan 21, 2018, 11:45 pm
#76
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: SFO
Programs: United global services, BA gold,
Posts: 837
We currently are staying at the StR Punta Mita for our second time—this time in a one bedroom beachfront villa with private pool and jacuzzi.
We had dinner our first night at the StR Carolina fine dining restaurant with its new chef, different from our last stay—and it wowed us again. We had dinner last night at the Four Seasons Aramara, and it was good...but not great. Aramara cost more and wasn’t nearly as wonderful as Carolina. Not even close. The Aramara wine list was a lot more expensive, too—but no more comprehensive. (The StR Carolina wine list is about to be expanded even further, FWIW.)
The bar experience at the FS was far less intimate and definitely much more commercial feeling. We could have been almost anywhere. The bar at Aramara was particularly non-charming, though the service was very good. The bar by the infinity pool was small and not with any view or sense of place...and service was a bit tedious. The bar by Bahia was the most interesting, but its bright lights and energy were more emblematic of a city nightclub than a seaside resort of this supposed caliber. It really felt out of place and like it’s trying too hard. This is in stark contrast to the StR with its wonderfully charming Sea Breezes bar and the spectacular and intimate Carolina bar, not to mention the airy and open Murrieta’s bar with incredible and inviting ocean views. Or the Moët and Chandon champagne bar by the adults only pool at the StR. All of the StR bars looked and felt like we were actually in Mexico...unlike at the FS.
We also walked around the FS and again were reminded how large and sometimes more commercial-feeling it is compared to the more intimate (and more authentic) StR. With almost 3 times as many rooms and guests, the FS definitely feels and is bigger. It also was apparent that there were far more children and teenagers at the FS, at least for our visit. Yet even with 3 times as many rooms/guests, the FS has the same number of restaurant options (they’re just much bigger restaurant spaces) and two fewer pools.
The FS beach is almost as rocky as that at the StR, so it’s hard to say one beach is significantly nicer than the other in terms of swimming or wading. Yet the StR Beach is far more picturesque with the outcropping islands in the distance and a more heads on sunset view (at least at this time of year).
Two years ago i said we far preferrred the StR...and we find we still do. For all the same reasons.
We had dinner our first night at the StR Carolina fine dining restaurant with its new chef, different from our last stay—and it wowed us again. We had dinner last night at the Four Seasons Aramara, and it was good...but not great. Aramara cost more and wasn’t nearly as wonderful as Carolina. Not even close. The Aramara wine list was a lot more expensive, too—but no more comprehensive. (The StR Carolina wine list is about to be expanded even further, FWIW.)
The bar experience at the FS was far less intimate and definitely much more commercial feeling. We could have been almost anywhere. The bar at Aramara was particularly non-charming, though the service was very good. The bar by the infinity pool was small and not with any view or sense of place...and service was a bit tedious. The bar by Bahia was the most interesting, but its bright lights and energy were more emblematic of a city nightclub than a seaside resort of this supposed caliber. It really felt out of place and like it’s trying too hard. This is in stark contrast to the StR with its wonderfully charming Sea Breezes bar and the spectacular and intimate Carolina bar, not to mention the airy and open Murrieta’s bar with incredible and inviting ocean views. Or the Moët and Chandon champagne bar by the adults only pool at the StR. All of the StR bars looked and felt like we were actually in Mexico...unlike at the FS.
We also walked around the FS and again were reminded how large and sometimes more commercial-feeling it is compared to the more intimate (and more authentic) StR. With almost 3 times as many rooms and guests, the FS definitely feels and is bigger. It also was apparent that there were far more children and teenagers at the FS, at least for our visit. Yet even with 3 times as many rooms/guests, the FS has the same number of restaurant options (they’re just much bigger restaurant spaces) and two fewer pools.
The FS beach is almost as rocky as that at the StR, so it’s hard to say one beach is significantly nicer than the other in terms of swimming or wading. Yet the StR Beach is far more picturesque with the outcropping islands in the distance and a more heads on sunset view (at least at this time of year).
Two years ago i said we far preferrred the StR...and we find we still do. For all the same reasons.
Jan 23, 2018, 10:49 am
#77
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Bainbridge Island, WA
Posts: 8,953
Thank you for the input. We have been going to Casa Que Canta in Zihuatenejo every year for years and it is now so hard to get to from San Francisco we have stopped going. We have tried FS Punta Mita and liked, but did not visit St Regis and think we will try next time. It sounds very nice and we need some alternatives with easy flights from SFO to Mexico! We are looking for a Zihuatenejo alternative that is easy to get to in the winter!
Jan 24, 2018, 6:38 pm
#78
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Southern California, USA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador and LTT, UA Plat/LT Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 8,764
For anyone interested, here is my Expert Review for our beachfront Luxury Villa stay this past week at the St Regis Punta Mita:
St Regis Punta Mita--amazing Luxury Villa stay and incredible whale encounter
We had an incredible stay. As mentioned a few posts ago, we dined also and checked out both the Four Seasons and the W. The Aramara dinner at the Four Seasons was just good; the Spice Market dinner at the W was really impressive, and much, much better. The dinners at Carolina at the St Regis, were totally the best fine dining of any restaurant anywhere in Punta Mita. We put Spice Market at the W on equal footing with Mita Mary's beachfront restaurant at the St Regis, as well. Basically, the St Regis blows the Four Seasons away on food/beverage. I think you'll also see from my review photos how authentically Mexican the St Regis feels compared with the more sleek and commercial feeling (and much larger) Four Seasons.
St Regis Punta Mita--amazing Luxury Villa stay and incredible whale encounter
We had an incredible stay. As mentioned a few posts ago, we dined also and checked out both the Four Seasons and the W. The Aramara dinner at the Four Seasons was just good; the Spice Market dinner at the W was really impressive, and much, much better. The dinners at Carolina at the St Regis, were totally the best fine dining of any restaurant anywhere in Punta Mita. We put Spice Market at the W on equal footing with Mita Mary's beachfront restaurant at the St Regis, as well. Basically, the St Regis blows the Four Seasons away on food/beverage. I think you'll also see from my review photos how authentically Mexican the St Regis feels compared with the more sleek and commercial feeling (and much larger) Four Seasons.
Nov 5, 2018, 5:54 pm
#79
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: California
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite
Posts: 8
I have a slight variation on this question. Can anyone compare Four Seasons Punta Mita to Four Seasons Costa Rica? We have an opportunity to visit one of these next year and not sure which one to choose. We have been to Puerto Vallarta/Nuevo Vallarta several times in the past year but not to Punta Mita. We were in Costa Rica years ago and toured most of the country but not the Guanacaste area. Trying to decided which Four Seasons will be a more relaxing and luxurious experience for a week.
Nov 8, 2018, 1:26 pm
#80
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: La Jolla, CA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador, Lifetime Titanium, Delta Plat, Hilton Diamond , Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,615
I have a slight variation on this question. Can anyone compare Four Seasons Punta Mita to Four Seasons Costa Rica? We have an opportunity to visit one of these next year and not sure which one to choose. We have been to Puerto Vallarta/Nuevo Vallarta several times in the past year but not to Punta Mita. We were in Costa Rica years ago and toured most of the country but not the Guanacaste area. Trying to decided which Four Seasons will be a more relaxing and luxurious experience for a week.
We have never stayed at the Four Seasons Punta Mita but my son and his wife are checking in there tomorrow for 4 nights. I will be happy to report back with their impressions. They have even higher standards than we do
I just found a few pics.
Last edited by damon88; Nov 8, 2018 at 1:42 pm
Dec 1, 2018, 1:00 pm
#81
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Whitefish, Montana
Programs: Four Seasons PP, RW Elite, Dorchester Diamond, Virtuoso, PenClub, Privé, Oetker Pearl, etc.
Posts: 142
We stayed at both the St. Regis Punta Mita (2 nights) and the Four Seasons Punta Mita (5 nights) in mid October. I thought I would share some of the things we loved the most (from the perspective of an active family with a high-energy 13-year old).
St Regis Punta Mita is excellent. Our room was spacious and comfortable, with a nice bathroom, including indoor and outdoor showers, and a big terrace with ocean views. We loved the different pools, especially the Sea Breeze Pool that overlooks Sea Breeze Beach. Excellent dining experiences across all meals, and the ceviche at Mita Mary was amazing! The service was warm and genuine. We really enjoyed the StR Punta Mita.
For our family, the Four Seasons Punta Mita was the unanimous favorite. We felt a very strong connection to the resort and to the amazing team that provided incredible service. Some of the highlights for us:
- We are beach & ocean lovers, and the FS Punta Mita was so much better then we were expecting in this regard. We spent a ton of time on both Cuevas and Manzanilla beaches, and the clear and very warm (86 degree) ocean water was amazing.
- Nuna Pool is huge (much bigger than it looked in the pictures), and the views, combined with the amphibious servers were fantastic. The Lazy River pool is a fun spot for the whole family to explore, and the Tamai adult pool is everything you would expect including luxury cabanas, great sushi, and fabulous cocktails.
- The rooms, suites, and villas come in all shapes and sizes, and some include the use of golf carts. We were in a section of the 5 bedroom Coral Suite that walked out onto a gorgeous beachfront private pool, and was steps from the ocean. Walking along the beach every morning to breakfast was a dream, as were the ocean and sunset views.
- FS Punta Mita is paradise for families. The Containers is a teen hangout area with ping pong, pool table, air hockey, virtual reality video games, Xbox and PlayStation, a movie theater, pinball, and arcade games. There is a basketball sport court, a water trampoline with slide in the ocean, kayaks, boogie boards, and snorkeling gear. Surfing lessons on a kid friendly wave. Bikes to explore the property. The Kids For All Seasons area for the little kids is next to the Lazy River and is one of the biggest and best we have seen. Endless activities for kids. (All complimentary, except for the surfing lessons from the awesome TropicSurf team).
- Breakfasts were typical FS outstanding. Lunches from the Nuna Pool Taco Cart were a favorite. Dinners at Bahia and Aramara were fantastic. Ketsi is being replaced by a building that is going to be the home of a new restaurant called Dos Catrinas. Expect beautiful ocean views, and a game room on the lower level that kids are going to love to escape to during meals.
For our family there was so much to love about the FS Punta Mita, and it truly exceeded our expectations in every category. We didn’t wish for anything else while we were there, and we can’t wait to return again as soon as possible.
(iPhone X photos, no filters)
St Regis Punta Mita is excellent. Our room was spacious and comfortable, with a nice bathroom, including indoor and outdoor showers, and a big terrace with ocean views. We loved the different pools, especially the Sea Breeze Pool that overlooks Sea Breeze Beach. Excellent dining experiences across all meals, and the ceviche at Mita Mary was amazing! The service was warm and genuine. We really enjoyed the StR Punta Mita.
For our family, the Four Seasons Punta Mita was the unanimous favorite. We felt a very strong connection to the resort and to the amazing team that provided incredible service. Some of the highlights for us:
- We are beach & ocean lovers, and the FS Punta Mita was so much better then we were expecting in this regard. We spent a ton of time on both Cuevas and Manzanilla beaches, and the clear and very warm (86 degree) ocean water was amazing.
- Nuna Pool is huge (much bigger than it looked in the pictures), and the views, combined with the amphibious servers were fantastic. The Lazy River pool is a fun spot for the whole family to explore, and the Tamai adult pool is everything you would expect including luxury cabanas, great sushi, and fabulous cocktails.
- The rooms, suites, and villas come in all shapes and sizes, and some include the use of golf carts. We were in a section of the 5 bedroom Coral Suite that walked out onto a gorgeous beachfront private pool, and was steps from the ocean. Walking along the beach every morning to breakfast was a dream, as were the ocean and sunset views.
- FS Punta Mita is paradise for families. The Containers is a teen hangout area with ping pong, pool table, air hockey, virtual reality video games, Xbox and PlayStation, a movie theater, pinball, and arcade games. There is a basketball sport court, a water trampoline with slide in the ocean, kayaks, boogie boards, and snorkeling gear. Surfing lessons on a kid friendly wave. Bikes to explore the property. The Kids For All Seasons area for the little kids is next to the Lazy River and is one of the biggest and best we have seen. Endless activities for kids. (All complimentary, except for the surfing lessons from the awesome TropicSurf team).
- Breakfasts were typical FS outstanding. Lunches from the Nuna Pool Taco Cart were a favorite. Dinners at Bahia and Aramara were fantastic. Ketsi is being replaced by a building that is going to be the home of a new restaurant called Dos Catrinas. Expect beautiful ocean views, and a game room on the lower level that kids are going to love to escape to during meals.
For our family there was so much to love about the FS Punta Mita, and it truly exceeded our expectations in every category. We didn’t wish for anything else while we were there, and we can’t wait to return again as soon as possible.
(iPhone X photos, no filters)
Dec 1, 2018, 1:21 pm
#82
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Southern California, USA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador and LTT, UA Plat/LT Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 8,764
@KristenNix thanks for the comparison summary between the two properties! I’m so glad you had such a great time.
My takeaway from your summary:
(1) Both hotels are truly excellent
(2) Your family preferred the FS partly due to the beach and partly due to the amazing opportunities offered to the kids
Point 2 is precisely why we always have preferred the StR over the FS: more pools and bigger pools, including the very large adults-only pool at the StR offer an escape from kids. Also, the very fact that I do believe the FS is better for families is for us a big plus for the StR.
Unlike this summary, I must say that, having been to both properties in Jan 2018, we found the dining vastly superior at the StR—both in variety of options and the quality of those options. Aramara at the FS was quite underwhelming for us; Spice Market even at at the W Punta Mita was markedly better. Carolina and Mita Mary’s at the StR had no competition or counterparts with any options at the FS in our opinions. Altimira and Las Muriettas at the StR were generally quite as good as their counterparts at the FS. There just were so many more restaurant options that also were largely better at the StR.
The fact that the StR has less than half the room count as the FS only made the gulf seem more substantive to us.
My takeaway from your summary:
(1) Both hotels are truly excellent
(2) Your family preferred the FS partly due to the beach and partly due to the amazing opportunities offered to the kids
Point 2 is precisely why we always have preferred the StR over the FS: more pools and bigger pools, including the very large adults-only pool at the StR offer an escape from kids. Also, the very fact that I do believe the FS is better for families is for us a big plus for the StR.
Unlike this summary, I must say that, having been to both properties in Jan 2018, we found the dining vastly superior at the StR—both in variety of options and the quality of those options. Aramara at the FS was quite underwhelming for us; Spice Market even at at the W Punta Mita was markedly better. Carolina and Mita Mary’s at the StR had no competition or counterparts with any options at the FS in our opinions. Altimira and Las Muriettas at the StR were generally quite as good as their counterparts at the FS. There just were so many more restaurant options that also were largely better at the StR.
The fact that the StR has less than half the room count as the FS only made the gulf seem more substantive to us.
Dec 1, 2018, 1:34 pm
#83
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,797
FS recent changes >
3000 2BR ocean villa luna
3500 2BR beachfront arena / 3BR ocean villa sol
4000 2BR beachfront coral
similar price for st regis 3BR beachfront
3000 2BR ocean villa luna
3500 2BR beachfront arena / 3BR ocean villa sol
4000 2BR beachfront coral
similar price for st regis 3BR beachfront
Last edited by Kagehitokiri; Dec 1, 2018 at 2:06 pm
Dec 2, 2018, 6:58 am
#84
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Mem
Programs: Delta GM, Amex Reserve, Amex Plat, JP Morgan Palladium
Posts: 984
Thanks for the great review. I am ready for the new restaurant and bar to be finished. We were just there and it looks like they might not make it by Christmas.
They are both very nice resorts. We always go over to the St Regis for a meal or two, but the FS has the adavantage of just having the better location on the peninsula and, as you mentioned, it is very family friendly.
They are both very nice resorts. We always go over to the St Regis for a meal or two, but the FS has the adavantage of just having the better location on the peninsula and, as you mentioned, it is very family friendly.
Jan 2, 2019, 11:11 am
#85
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Chicago
Programs: United 1K, American EXP & 3 Million Miler, Hyatt Globalist & Marriott Ambassador Elite
Posts: 2,360
We will be visiting Punta Mita for the first time this February. Any ideas for families with children 5 to 7? Any advice on traveling safety as well? Thank you.
Jan 2, 2019, 7:39 pm
#86
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Canada
Programs: Virtuoso TA, Four Seasons Pref Partner, Rosewood Elite TA, Ritz Carlton STARS TA
Posts: 4,732
For families, unless you are a Stariott fan, KristenNix post #81 above in the thread is very on point.
Oct 6, 2019, 8:57 pm
#87
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 1,039
Any recent updates on the FS Punta Mita? Sounds like there has been some renovations going on and based on the press release below, it sounds like the rooms have been renovated? Will be here at the end of the month for four nights (scored an awesome rate of $325/night via Amex FHR) and would love some insight on the property ... visited once when I was very young (like 13 years old young), and don't remember much (seeing as it was 16 years ago...).
https://www.hospitalitynet.org/annou...unta-mita.html
https://www.hospitalitynet.org/annou...unta-mita.html
Oct 7, 2019, 8:00 am
#88
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Mem
Programs: Delta GM, Amex Reserve, Amex Plat, JP Morgan Palladium
Posts: 984
The rooms are being renovated and they may be done? They have built an entirely new main restaurant which has a second floor bar area overlooking the ocean. The resort looks great. It is a little humid this time of year. Have a great trip!
Oct 9, 2019, 12:04 am
#89
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 1,039
I'll happily report back after my stay if there's any interest on this thread...
Oct 13, 2019, 11:01 pm
#90
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 116
