The Residences at Vallarta Gardens: Mexico's Newest Private Club

by Susan Kime (RSS feed)
Feb 3rd 2010 at 10:00AM

If lives are fueled by searches for sanctuary, contentment, and adventure, then arguably, few activities reveal as much about those dynamics as do our travels -- and the destinations and domiciles we choose. Such choices say much about lifestyle-investing preferences and it is perhaps this desire to invest – not in high yielding stocks, but in high yielding personal and family attunement time, that the private residence club concept has remained popular, even in this capricious economy. The most successful ones provide exceptional amenities (private chefs, town car services, yacht usage, dedicated concierges, maid service, pre-arrival and daily grocery shopping, etc.) as well as a deeded part ownership in the residence itself. The most successful ones also have a balanced design template where the destination combines sanctuary and adventure, and where the architectural and interior designs reflect the uniqueness of the area.

One of the newest Residence Clubs that does all this is Vallarta Gardens, near Puerto Vallarta. The Private Residence Club is part of the mixed-use resort idea, that combines fractional, and full ownership villas. There are two designs for their Club Villas: first, the Sea Breeze with 5,500 square feet of indoor and outdoor living space, four bedrooms, four and one-half baths, large outdoor and rooftop terraces, a private plunge pool, media room, living area with a fully-equipped kitchen. The second is the Coral residence, with 3,500 square feet of living space, three bedrooms, three and one-half baths, rooftop and ground level terraces, open living and dining area with a fully-equipped kitchen. Fractional prices, as of this writing, start for 1/13th (3 weeks guaranteed plus unlimited usage, space available) from $100,000 for the Coral and $150,000 for the Sea Star. Whole ownership villas start from $1,550,000.

The Residence Club at Vallarta Gardens was launched in mid December 2009. Its location, on Banderas Bay, a 40-mile body of water, part of the Pacific Ocean, is on the non-Hurricane side of Mexico. It is also the on Nayarit Riviera, midway between Puerto Vallarta and Punta Mita, three minutes from a picturesque town of La Cruz de Huanacaxtle.

There is much to Vallarta Gardens, and it exists in contrast to many of the huge, monotonous all-inclusive hotels and condos in the area. Vallarta Gardens, unlike the others, has a kind of secret garden, welcoming intimacy. Everything – the restaurant, the spa, the beach itself, and ocean, are all within steps of each other. No long walks, or golf carts to get anywhere. And the mature, colorful vegetation -- hibiscus, passion flower, star jasmine, oleander -- further beautify and pacify the short walks from villa to the oceanfront to pools, to spa, to restaurant. Nonetheless, for those who can stand only just so much peace, privacy, and beauty, there is wireless internet, TV that has American channels, and good cell phone service. You can watch the surf while soaking in your private plunge pool and still get your email. What a relief!

The many off site amenities are also not FAR away. A few minutes down the road, owners have access to Jack Nicklaus and Tom Weiskopf signature golf courses. Also a yacht is docked at the La Cruz Marina Yacht Club (three minutes from the resort by car) for Villa owners should they want to sportfishing or pleasure cruising. They can also go wave running, whale watching, and kite or board surf at a beach at Vallarta Gardens or close by, or opt for a Jungle Tour that goes into the Sierra Madre mountains. And then there is the full service, on property spa, La Caracol, that provides aromatherapy, shiatsu, deep tissue, hot stone massages and more. So much – or little-to do. The choice, happily, is yours.

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