Las Alamandas -- could be perfect

 Our week-long respite at Las Alamandas was superb and came close to equaling Laucala in Fiji. Background, I travel with my husband who has dementia (mid-stage), when things don't go as planned, he gets very anxious and upset. I had alerted the resort to this in advance.

Exiting customs at the Puerto Vallarta airport puts you into a large foyer crammed with timeshare hucksters, taxi touts and others shouting trying to snag you to make a buck. I don't blame them yet they are mercilessly unpleasant. And I am with Jim who will talk with ANYBODY. We wend our way through that maze and emerge from the airport to learn our arranged-in-advance ride is not there. It takes me 15 anxious minutes to determine this. Then, then what to do? Eventually an airport transport rep noticed our angst and intervened. She contacted the resort and, an hour later our ride arrives. It's hot, we're standing, not entirely clear what is happening. Knowing it's a two-and-a-half-hour ride to Las Alamandas. We were distressed, not a good start to our holiday.

Ours was the presidential suite, two bedrooms (one king, one queen), two and a half bathrooms, infinity pool with beach/ocean view (private -- skinny dipping, just remember sunscreen), four terraces (even the master bath has a terrace), hot tub (however counterintuitive for Mexico, it is pleasant under the stars and never gets all that hot), gardens, bright flowers everywhere, a fountain, folk art and crafts. The master bedroom and bath are air conditioned; not so the remainder of the suite. Which was fine in mid-May but could be dicey in hotter weather which is most often the case. Ceiling fans in living room, both bedrooms, master bath and second bedroom.

The presidential suite is the ONLY accommodation offering wifi, none of the other 16 do so. There is wifi in two public locations but they are not close by. Our suite had only one phone. It took a while for the restocking of the small fridge to kick in (seltzer, Diet Coke) but once alerted by phone it was smooth.

Let the chef choose your dinner, just ask a day ahead. One night we had the juiciest plumpest oysters imaginable then grilled lobsters for main. Best lobster EVER! Do not miss the tequila flan. Also, the strawberries served here actually taste as berries should! Papaya = Perfection. We ate twice a day: late big breakfast followed by hot chocolate mid-afternoon, cocktails at 6pm, then dinner around 8pm. We took all our meals on the suite terraces (there were two, one gargantuan, the other more modest). For breakfast: huevos rancheros or chilaquiles, fruit, hot chocolate! Actually, hot chocolate whenever. Rum punch is fab.

The hard product is stunning, the suites enormous, the setting the essence of tropical magic, gorgeous views everywhere -- the ultimate beach holiday with no crowds, no bothers, exquisite gardens, flowers everywhere, a veritable incarnation of color, beauty and relaxation. The sound of the sea ever present and always welcome.

Not only no crowds, but we saw only two other couples. Could have been more guests but they might have been holing up in their own luxurious private environs.

I  stutter at describing the beauty here.

Our week-long respite at Las Alamandas was superb and came close to equaling our Laucala (Fiji) experience last September. There was so much perfection ... and yet ... there were service issues mostly having to do with management rather than staff (which were kindly, expert and sweet).

The hard product is stunning, the suites enormous, the setting the essence of tropical magic, gorgeous views everywhere -- the ultimate beach holiday with no crowds, no bothers, exquisite gardens, flowers everywhere, a veritable incarnation of color, beauty and relaxation. The sound of the sea ever present and always welcome.

Not only no crowds, but we saw only two other couples. Could have been more guests but they might have been holing up in their own luxurious private environs as were we.

Staff service was kindly, expert, prompt and sweet. One waiter played chess with Jim. Staff service is a plus here. They will do whatever they can to perfect your visit. Many speak English, housekeeping staff does not. I must emphasize how kind were these wonderful people. Housekeeping was excellent.