It’s not often that travelers get to meet the owner of the hotel where they’re staying. But at Las Alamandas, guests shouldn’t be surprised if they run into Isabel Goldsmith-Patino, the charming founder and CEO of this equally charming luxury boutique hotel in Mexico’s Costalegre region.
During my recent visit, I had the pleasure of chatting with Goldsmith-Patino, who first opened Las Alamandas in 1990 on 2,000 acres of pristine land she inherited from her grandfather, who had planned to construct a massive resort complex on the site.
Goldsmith-Patino chose a different concept; instead, she created a small-scale boutique property that allowed most of the property to remain unspoiled. After a brief closure last year during the height of the pandemic, this picturesque paradise — which is a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World — is open with extensive hygiene protocols, as well as major renovations aimed at improving the guest experience.
[When people arrive], they’re stressed out. But when they leave, they’re tan and so relaxed that we’re actually concerned about whether they’re going to make their flight home.
Cheery colors and unique decor are all thanks to Goldsmith-Patino, and her style and dedication to service has landed the hotel on the cover of Architectural Digest and attracted A-List celebrity guests including actors Brad Pitt, Meryl Streep and Sandra Bullock, to name a few. Guests with larger wallets can even make use of the property’s private landing strip; being a decidedly lower-budget type, I took an easy, two-hour private ground transfer from the Puerto Vallarta airport.
This year, Las Alamandas completed a renovation on its suites and debuted a new, two-suite villa called Casa Bougainvillea. Other areas with refreshed looks include La Palapa Beach Club — a large thatch-roofed palapa that now has a bar and outdoor kitchen — and the oceanfront Oasis Pergola, which features three tables that are ideal for romantic dinners. The spa, as well as the surprisingly large fitness center, have also gotten makeovers.
While the hotel’s low room count and expansive grounds have always drawn vacationers looking for peace and privacy, the layout is especially appropriate for today’s health-conscious travelers, according to Goldsmith-Patino.
“Suddenly, my concept has become exactly on target,” she said. “Every room has its own entrance, so you don’t have to bump into anyone. For now, having rooms where you’re not walking down a corridor with 200 other rooms is exactly what’s needed. Every room — from the most expensive, the presidential suite, to the most modest, the little San Miguel, which is adorable — has a terrace outside its bedroom. There’s always someplace where you can be outside without being in common areas.”
Las Alamandas is located approximately two hours from Puerto Vallarta’s airport and features villa accommodations.
Credit: 2021 Mark ChesnutThe sense of privacy and calm is underscored by the lack of Wi-Fi access in guestrooms; this is truly a place to disconnect from the stresses of the outside world (those desperate to connect to Wi-Fi, however, can do so in the Gallery, a large, air-conditioned lounge furnished with tables, books and comfy couches).
Tasty Menus and Memorable Experiences
Las Alamandas has a sumptuously diverse array of menus, served in postcard-perfect settings (most of which are open-air). I savored breakfast beneath the oceanfront palapa and enjoyed fresh-caught seafood during candlelit dinners facing the ocean. Many items — including delicious bread, ice cream and cookies that magically appeared next to my bed every evening — are homemade, and many ingredients are grown on-site.
The kitchen staff is adept at presenting ever-changing menu options and catering to special requests.
“I’ve always found it boring [to get] the same menu every day,” Goldsmith-Patino said. “Being a small hotel gives us the flexibility that a large hotel can’t have. If you want scrambled eggs for dinner, it’s not a problem. We can be much more personalized than a larger property or corporate hotel because you’re in my home. I’m the owner, I live here, and I think of everybody as a guest.”
Being a small hotel gives us the flexibility that a large hotel can’t have. We can be much more personalized than a larger property or corporate hotel because you’re in my home.
She noted that on special occasions, guests can expect one-of-a-kind menus.
“Thanksgiving is bliss here, and we actually do Thanksgiving dinners,” she said. “We have several families who come back every year for our traditional dinner.”
Las Alamandas also offers an array of memorable non-culinary experiences, from lazing on one of the property’s four beaches to horseback riding, from pineapple picking to private bird-watching excursions. My personal favorite was enjoying cocktails and hors d’oeuvres while admiring a spectacular sunset from the edge of a dramatic cliff, just a few minutes by private transfer from the main hotel.
I felt time slow down during my stay at Las Alamandas. For most of the day, the only sounds were the birds in the soaring palm trees and the gentle crash of the waves on the beach, complemented by the pleasing visuals of well-manicured, verdant grounds, blue skies and foamy waves. I asked Goldsmith-Patino if other guests report a similar feeling of relaxation.
“I notice it when people arrive,” she said. “They’re stressed out. But when they leave, they’re tan and so relaxed that we’re actually concerned about whether they’re going to make their flight home.”
The Details
Las Alamandas
