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Villa Premiere Boutique Hotel & Romantic Getaway is located in the heart of Puerto Vallarta, at the beach, close to the Malecón, the city’s main pedestrian promenade.

This 80-room luxury resort offers a stunning getaway for couples or single adults seeking a relaxed and intimate experience. From Puerto Vallarta’s international airport, a 15-minute drive along the main road leads to the Villa Premiere, a chic, modern oasis by the sea.

Upon arrival, I’m offered a fruity welcome drink and a five-minute back, neck and hand massage to help melt away a day of busy travel.

A butler is available 24/7 to tend to guest needs. Everything from preparing the jacuzzi on my private terrace (overlooking the sea), dining and spa reservations, shoeshine and ironing service as well as helpful local tips is but a phone call (or WhatsApp) away.

As an all-inclusive guest at Villa Premiere, I’m entitled to use the facilities at next-door sister property Buenaventura (dining, pool, gym, yoga, Sky Bar, beach area). While Buenaventura is the larger of the two properties and geared more to families, Villa Premiere is adults-only and focused on romance.

The Villa Premiere received a recent USD $3.8 million guest room renovation in two phases, including pool, lobby and lounge renewal as well as La Ceiba’s new panoramic second floor.

[Honeymoon Suite]

Rooms

My ocean view honeymoon suite is outfitted with king bed, table and chairs, flatscreen tv, cozy seating corner and the highlight: A private oceanfront terrace with tiled jacuzzi and a hammock for two!

Imagine a moonlit night with lit candles and ocean waves breaking at the shore as you indulge in bubble bliss (my butler added L’Occitane bath products to the jacuzzi).

[Murales Restaurant]

The four-diamond property received Trip Advisor’s Travelers’ Choice award this year in the Best of the Best category and is regularly awarded both Travel + Leisure World’s Best and Condé Nast Travel Reader’s Choice awards.

Spa, Pool, Gym, Yoga

There’s a daily morning yoga class offered at the beach, beginning at 9 am, alternating between the two properties. Yoga instructor Michelle greets us at the pool bar deck and leads us through an hour of relaxing yoga stretches, allowing each of us to cycle through movements as they come naturally.

I leave after the session very relaxed and ready for breakfast, just steps away from the infinity pool at La Ceiba.

The two pools (regular and infinity with swim-up bar) are adjacent to one another.

The Mind & Soul Spa, located on the second floor, is open daily from 9 am to 7 pm. This serene space offers a variety of relaxing and therapeutic massages of all intensities to suit each guest’s needs. I had a Swedish massage with Veronica, who worked my tight shoulders and neck to a blissful state, combining hot stones and essential oils (a citrus blend to calm, eucalyptus to awaken and refresh).

[Mind & Soul Spa]

Facial treatments, mani and pedis, plus a romantic getaway package for couples only (massage and facial) awaits travellers looking to unwind and let the deep relaxation begin. Afterwards, enjoy a steam or sauna in the changing rooms. Massages are available in 25-, 50-, 80- or 100-minute increments.

Dining

Villa Premiere’s all-inclusive gourmet plan allows access to a variety of dining options via three à la carte restaurants, plus premium beverages, 24-hour room service and themed dining nights (Mexican Fiesta, Stella Night, Pizza and Pasta).

La Corona is Villa Premiere’s signature venue, offering Chef Sebastian Varona’s culinary flair.

[La Corona]

Murales sets the mood for romance with traditional Mexican recipes in a warm, inviting space.

[Mexican coffee prepared table side]

[Sous Chef Dagoberto Alvarado]

Chef Varona, together with Sous Chef Dagoberto Alvarado and their culinary team create regional specialities with beautifully-presented dishes.

[Chicken Mole at La Ceiba]

La Ceiba serves breakfast, lunch and dinner on two levels with an à la carte menu.

A Chef’s Table menu can be arranged for groups of up to 10 (three minimum). The five-course tasting menu is paired with regional wines to enhance each dish. The experience takes place at Murales Terraze, offering a gorgeous view of the pools, palapas and ocean.

Area Attractions

This charming property is located in the heart of Puerto Vallarta, just a few blocks from El Malecón boardwalk, filled with stunning sculptures and mosaics that represent an assortment of Huichol icons.

The Huichol are also referred to as the Wixarika tribe and for centuries have communicated with their gods via these important symbols, derived from a yarn painting created by Fidencio Benitez, telling the story of the relationship between land and sea.

[Top to bottom: Huichol aerial acrobats, Malecón sculpture]

As we walk along the Malecón, ex-Torontonian Kevin Simpson, owner of Colectika Art Gallery and Peyote People, discusses the importance of these fascinating mosaics, designed by Dutch design firm West 8.

We finish the tour at Colectika (Guadalupe Sanchez #858), where a charming garden and series of rooms showcase artworks made from various artisans, including the intricate beadwork. As a nice finish, we’re given a brief introduction to the art of beading and begin a small project using the tiny seed beads, a needle, plus a special wax that adheres to the styrofoam.

It’s a super relaxing way to discover a fun hobby, while admiring the art and gaining a new appreciation for the amount of time it takes to complete a work of this kind!

Planning a visit to Puerto Vallarta? On Wednesdays, Camino del Arte, a weekly Art Walk from 6 to 10 pm, is held from October through the end of June, hosted by the city’s Centro Histórico.

This is a great way to meet exhibiting artists, learn about the city’s numerous art offerings and to perhaps return home with a new piece of loved art.

[Mezcal y Sal]

We highly recommended Vallarta Food Tours, offering several daily private tours. We were taken around Old Town on a four-hour, eight-stop tequila and tacos Mex-ology tour, led by Bernardo Sanchez, a friendly and knowledgeable guide, who provides our party with a wealth of information about the history and significance of tequila in Mexico.

[Puerto Vallarta is filled with amazing street food taco spots!]

If there are non-alcoholic drinkers in your group, Vallarta will arrange for mocktails and fruity drinks during the tour.

[De Cantaro]

As for airport transfers, we used North American Travel, a locally-based ground transportation company that not only offers transfers to and from Puerto Vallarta International Airport, but will monitor your flights for delays and potential changes to your flight(s).

Villa Premiere is located at San Salvador St. 117, Col.5 de Diciembre in Puerto Vallarta.

My stay was hosted by Villa Premiere for the purpose of this feature. I was also a guest on the Vallarta Food Tours and provided a beading class by Kevin at Colectika. Opinions, as always, remain my own.