Hotel Punta Serena & Resorts- Couples Only

We enjoyed a "honeymoon" at Punta Serena like kids. We are a mature couple (40+), we love adult only hotels (we were excellent parents but had enough of children, we want peace, romance and tranquility). Pros: Food: Excellent, restaurant quality (only one restaurant at Punta Serena) is a la carte and has a million dollar view (no buffet junk), you can enjoy the "sister" hotel (Los Angeles locos) restaurants too, we liked the "El Arrecife" but were not tempted to try any of the other restaurants at the sister hotel. Drinks: Reasonable, it is an all inclusive at a budget price, don't expect super expensive drinks but the quality is good. Beach: Outstanding, amazing, we have traveled the world and this is one of the best beaches we have enjoyed. It is not the white sand of the Caribbean but sand is super soft and water super clean, the slope is perfect, no crowds, many lounge chairs and palapas. We are good swimmers and waves are big. Adult only beach is clothing optional (all good, really) and has a SUPER good service (Fabian) will bring you any food or drink, al inclusive :). You have to climb down (and back up) a hundred steps down, will only do if you are reasonable fit, other ways you can use the "family beach" on the sister hotel (hotel staff can take you there by car) or the pool with almost no steps. On the way to the beach there is a little sewage smell due to some registers that connect to the treatment plant, no issues for us. Amenities: Free kayaks use (old boats on the sister hotel), free temazcal, super deals on massages, free boat trips to see the crocs (on the sister hotel), free use of night club (mostly attended by younger Mexicans) on sister hotel and daily shows (if you are inclined to) in the sister hotel, pool, hot and cold Jacuzzi all with stunning views. Rooms: Dated but clean, huge with beautiful balcony, linens ok. Distance to airport: you have to Drive FIVE hours to Guadalajara airport (low price flights to almost anywhere) or Mazanillo airport 90 minutes away has fewer destination options.

I found out about Punta Serena from a friend who lives in La Manzanilla, which is on the same bay. The photos looked great, reviews were good, and the price was REALLY good. However, I was still a little nervous, as this was a very special trip for us. The English website was down, so I was wondering if this place even existed. I called to confirm a week before hand (which you should always do), and they assured me all was fine. When I arrived I was a little dubious of my decision. Just little things like a smell of sewage near the parking lot, the fact that there were like 2 towels in the whole suite, and signs of wear and tear on the place. We did get in late, and I was tired. However, things quickly changed the next morning... -The view is stunning. I mean STUNNING. -The food was VERY good. I didn't have one bad meal. Portions were perfect too. Not too much. However, if you were still hungry, I'm pretty sure they'd give you more food. -The service and staff were simply incredible. It wasn't was of those places where they hover over you. The place was staffed lean, but they were there when you needed them. - The private beach was beautiful. - The massages were amazing So, there are many things that make Punta Serena special. It borders on magical. Combine the dedicated staff, with the views, and the food... and it's SUPER easy to overlook the little annoying things. That said, you can tell they are constantly working on the place. I mean, the place only fits 48 people, and they don't charge a lot, so it really is amazing they can do what they do. I don't want to be the one to tell them they can charge more though. :-) One of the main draws was the clothing optional beach. There were MORE than enough chairs for everyone. And people kept to themselves. Wasn't awkward at all. Was our first time at a beach like this. People of all ages (above 21) were lounging nude on the beach. Bathrooms and a bar where nearby. They even went and got you snacks or lunch if you wanted. You could stay down there alllll day and not have to go back up the stairs. (And the stairs are fine. Doesn't take too long to get back up there). I want to give some shoutouts to the staff... Juan was an excellent bartender. Even when things exploded on him. (please show this to Juan, he'll get the joke.) Fabian was our server most nights at the restaurant. Perhaps one of the kindest and most professional waiters I've ever had in my life. (and I used to be a waiter) Victor was the front desk dude. He always seemed to be there, and was happy to help us out with anything we needed. Back to the towels... if you need anything, like more towels, a robe, candles, a lighter, etc... he is there for you. EVERYONE was amazing. The place is super quiet. SO relaxing. But if you wanted some more action or a longer beach to walk on, you can easily walk next door to their other property. This is a place for couples. I travel a lone a lot, and this would be an awkward place for a solo trip. I suggest a trip into La Manzanilla. They have a farmer's market on Fridays. It's good to get a flavor of Mexico if you're coming all that way, and you can do this there. It's just a 20 minutes drive. So if you are someone who get's SUPER picky about stuff, then you might not like it so much. I think PS could do a little more for no extra money... such as keeping 4 of all three towel sizes in the room, put the robes in the room without having to ask, and I think slippers would be nice. Perhaps change out the beach towels daily. Even a simple espresso maker would be nice. However, you can get room service for most meals for free any time. I would also replace the bathroom windows in the suites by the tubs with windows that open. Would solve lots of little issues. But really, those are just dumb things. I suggest getting a villa suite. Ask for 5B or 1B... or even 4B. We had 1B and were happy since it was close to everything. Nothing on this property is loud. And get a massage or 2! They are like $35 US! So tip well for the massage. Speaking off tipping, that's included for everything else. SO amazing not to feel nickel and dimed. And to know tips are included for the team. However, when someone went above and beyond, I tipped them on the side. It's appreciated I'm sure. Oh! I mentioned the sewage smell and wear and tear above. First off, the smell is mostly in a little part of the walk to the beach, so wasn't a big deal. Also, the landscaping is incredible... so you only notice the wear and tear if you look super close. It's not really a big deal, and besides, you're not at the 4 seasons... you are at a little local resort in Mexico. So let it go, and just enjoy the view, the beach, the food and the really nice people taking care of you. Thanks again, and we'll be back!

Loved the small property and the food was delicious. Great beach!

The food quality was marginal at best. The place has a ton of deferred maintenance. The wait staff is the slowest. The views and beach helped to make up for the shortcomings. Quiet and relaxing. Great getaway.

Punta Serena enthusiasts and newcomers alike should be aware that the Management at this lovely resort north of Manzanillo on the West Coast of Mexico has introduced a series of “Naturist Weekends” when, as I understand it, most of the facilities at Punta Serena will be fully “clothing-optional”, including especially their “infinity pool” and two jacuzzi hot tubs. (I am not fully sure about the Spa facilities). The dates for 2019 for these “nudista weekends” have been announced as follows: MARCH 14-17, 2019 MAY 16-19, 2019 JULY 11-14 2019 SEPTEMBER 05-08, 2019 NOV. 28 - DEC.01, 2019 The main issue to be aware of is that, as I understand it, these “Naturismo” weekend events have become very popular, and the 24 rooms at this small Resort seem to fill up quickly for these dates, so plan well ahead if this is something you want to take advantage of, or to give an experimental try. The further issue to be alerted to is that, as far as I can tell, the Naturalist weekends can only be booked directly through the hotel reservation service itself, and there seems to be an “elevated rate” for those dates. So, if you see “Sold Out” on any of the on-line booking sites for the above dates, do not get too discouraged or give up -- just try contacting the Hotel Reservations service directly by email (to reservaciones@hotellosangeleslocos.com , with cc to gerencia@hotelpuntaserena.com) As mentioned in my earlier TripAdvisor review (“Quiet Serenity Au Naturel”, May 2017), my understanding is that these select weekend dates with “clothing optional in all facilities” seems to be a bit of an on-going experiment that the Management at Punta Serena has convinced the owners of the Resort to give-a-try, and if it is sufficiently successful, they will consider continuing & expanding it (perhaps to week-long periods with “full clothing optional” nudism at the Resort as well as at the private beach). So, if this periodic “return” to the former clothing-optional policy at the Resort is something you might favour, be sure to support the Punta Serena management in this experiment, and contact them to let them know, & book your rooms! (There is more info and advice about the Resort in my previous review.) For reasons not yet fully clear to me, the Resort does not seem to promote these Naturist/Nudist Weekends very extensively, at least as far as I can tell, to their North American clients. So if you know of any naturist enthusiasts who would enjoy this opportunity, perhaps spread the word. And if you have not yet given life-au-naturel a try, this is a great chance -- it is a life-changing experience to be able to just relax around a tropical pool without having to worry about, or put up with, a wet bathing suit. At any rate, my view is that, whether someone is keen about trying nudism or not, it is quite important that everyone who considers vacation-reservations should be made well aware of the variation in clothing-optional policy at the Resort, well ahead of the time they begin to book flights and rooms. So do take note. Hope you have a chance to try this opportunity at this little gem of a Resort!

Great food, great service, great views, but the property is a little dated.

The highlights of this resort are the beautiful views, beach, ocean and staff. The views from this resort are spectacular. We have been to many places and this was one of the best views we have seen. The beach is ~1/4 mile long and private. Only guests (48 max) who stay at this resort can access the beach. There are enough huts and chairs for all 48 guests. No need to get to the beach early in the morning to save chairs. During our visit, we observed between four and twenty guests using the beach at different times. They have a limited bar at the beach which opens between 11:00-11:15 AM. Sometimes it is staffed and other times it is self-serve. You can order food and they will bring it to you. The ocean water was clear and warm. There were waves that we could body-surf and boogie-board in. The waves churn-up the water near the shore, but once you get out past the break the water is very clear. The ocean floor is all sand. No rocks. No seaweed. The staff at this resort is very friendly. Most can speak enough English to get by. Some are very good at speaking English. The restaurant is beautiful with spectacular views. The food is good, but the selection is limited; due to the limited number of guests at this resort. You can visit the neighboring resort (Los Angeles Locos) for meals, but we never did. The steps to the beach. There are ~110 steps from the top of the resort to the beach. The trip down is not bad, but the trip up is exhausting for people like me and my wife, who are out of shape. NOTE: Other guests had no problem going up and down multiple times a day. We made one trip down in the morning and one trip up in the evening; which was tolerable. The negatives: The smell of sewage is present when you walk by most villas. This seems to be a normal thing that you just need to get used to. Our room (#74) was clean but very dated and dark (not many lights). The bathroom was dark and the curved tub was made of tile which was slippery and difficult to maneuver in. The king bed was the highlight of the room. It was hard but very comfortable. The bed was covered with a sheet and down comforter; which we found to be too warm. We wish they had a thin blanket in the room that we could use instead of the comforter. The AC worked fine. Even with these negatives we would recommend this resort to beach-lovers who are interested in relaxing, reconnecting with their spouse and meeting new friends. We are looking forward to our next visit.

How did 9 days go by so fast? My wife and I just returned from our 3rd trip to Punta Serena. The views from the open air dining area across the bay are unbeatable. (I'm not sure why they have their small swimming pool on their home page.) The staff is warm, attentive and friendly. The 1/4 mile long and ridiculously private clothing optional beach is the draw for us. We spent almost all of our daylight hours swimming, boogy-boarding, walking and just staring at the water and abundant wildlife. As always, we made new friends from all over the US, Canada and Mexico. We even met a couple who visited PS for the first time based on a previous TripAdvisor review. They told me I had undersold it a bit and will certainly be back. We have traveled quite a bit and find Punta Serena to be a special place. It is the one place we'll come back to every year we can. As for improvements: The menu is good, but hasn't been changed for 5 years. They also play the exact same music tape every day (at least it's different for breakfast and dinner). Finally, the plumbing and bathtubs in most of the rooms need to be upgraded. No matter -- we aren't there to take an amazing shower or be surprised by the variety of cuisine. It is the peaceful unhurried vibe that brings us back.

This is a very unique one of a kind place. The geographical setting is spectacular and beatiful. The small boutique scale of the resort is intimate and everything seems to be done with much care. The food, drinks and presentation are top notch. The menu is a set menu, so the only downside could be that you might tire of the food if you are in for a long stay of more than 5 days, but it is excellent quality with much effort put into it. The place is very quiet, tranquil and relaxed. The clothing optional beach is one of a kind for privacy and complete freedom to go with as little or as much as you please without reservations. Not too many places on this earth like this. Not sure if there are many places on this earth that compare to this. Highly recommended for a romantic getaway with your spouse. If you are looking for a party scene, this is not the place for you. The rooms are large and private with some classic Mexican decor, but not the most modernized if that is important to you. We found the rooms to be insignificant compared to all the other positive points of the resort. If you are looking for absolute beauty, serenity, quality and freedom, this place is outstanding.

My wife and I visited Punta Serena for the 4th time November 2018 and for the second time this year alone. This trip was a little bit different in that the main and only dining area was closed due to a lightning strike 25 days earlier. The palapa was destroyed and the area was a construction zone. The pool which is adjacent was open but with the construction, no body used it. The small conference room was transformed into the dining room, which worked ok but just wasn't the same. The menu was unchanged from our last 3 trips and really needs to be refreshed. There was no mention of this closure before our arrival nor was it mentioned upon checkin. The lower hot tub was too cold to use day or night. The front desk said that it was broken and had been for a while. The upper tub was cool as well but was useable. The beach was as beautiful as we remembered but the service there was spotty. Massages were conducted on the beach this time and that worked out well. Overall it seems that aside from the Dining room closure which was beyond their control some other areas including hot tubs, beach service, dining room service have deteriorated. We really do love this hotel and hope we can return again soon.