This luxurious 120-room enclave is located in posh Punta Mita, and smartly sited on 22 acres amid undulating fairways and verdant tropical gardens. It's one of the most luxurious properties in the region, and every element is stunning: the three fabulous beachside pools, the acres of peaceful gardens, the ultra-luxurious spa, and the immaculate rooms that look straight out of a decor magazine. The stretch of white-sand beach on-site is interspersed with rocky coves, and there are a couple of pretty little islets just offshore -- as well as the Mariettas Islands, a marine preserve, a few miles farther out to sea.

The Vallarta Gardens Resort & Spa features three- and four-bedroom, two-story villas overlooking a curvy swimming pool and small private beach. Located about an hour north of Puerto Vallarta near the town of La Cruz de Huanacatle, this resort offers a peaceful escape from the bustle of Puerto Vallarta. Villa interiors are chic and stylishly contemporary with gourmet kitchens, flat-screen TVs, media rooms, free Wi-Fi, laundry rooms, and secure garages. Some villas have private pools and rooftopJacuzzis with sweeping views out to the Pacific Ocean. Additional perks include a lavish spa and sunny fitness room. For a family or group looking to rent a large house rather than rooms in a hotel, this is a fabulous option.

This sprawling, seven-acre property looks like a small village, with 620 guest rooms housed in low-rise buildings clustered around the five pools that are scattered throughout the beautifully landscaped grounds. A festive vibe pervades the resort, which features a bright color scheme, live shows, numerous amenities, and lots of activities for kids and adults. Room decor is somewhat dated, however, and Internet access is only available for a fee from lobby computers. The resort's lovely beach is a great perk, but the massive size of the property means that some guest rooms are a bit of a walk from the sand.

There are two Punta Mitas: inside the fence and outside the fence. Inside the fence are five-star hotels, multi-million dollar homes, and Jack Nicklaus-designed links. Outside the fence is a scruffy little town called Anclote, with a few high-end properties. One such property is the Hotel Cinco (formerly, the Hotel des Artistes), a 12-suite luxury boutique hotel on thebeach, with two pools, a gym, and the Punta Mita branch of Puerto Vallarta's finest restaurant, the Café Des Artistes, on the ground floor. For those seeking a luxurious Punta Mita vacation without fencing themselves off from Mexican reality, this is a great spot.

The three-story, 30-room Starbay is a bland time-share property sandwiched between a noisy highway and the tranquil waters of Banderas Bay on Mexico's Pacific coast. Aside from the enormous, traditional-style palapa rising high above the lobby andreception area, there is little about the look of this U-shaped hotel that says "Mexico" -- but the nearness of the beach and the great ocean views from every room help compensate.

The Palladium Resort & Spa is located about an hour northwest of Puerto Vallarta. Here 400 rooms occupy a lush swatch of manicured jungle overlooking a private beach a few miles inside the point at Punta Mita. This stunning setting offers a memorable getaway spot -- except that it is also a big, busy, all-inclusive resort with an additional 100 suites in the adjacent Royal suites. Still, this perfect little stretch of Bahia Banderas beach offers many pleasures including a relaxing outdoor poolwith grass palapas for shade, a spa for pampering, and a fun little zoo for the kids.

The Royal Suites Punta Mita by Palladium is located about an hour northwest of Puerto Vallarta. These suites occupy a lush swatch of manicured jungle overlooking a private beach a few miles inside the point at Punta Mita. This adults-only hideaway offers a memorable vacation spot -- except that it is also part of a bigger, busy, all-inclusive resort. The 100 Royal Suites section has its own buildings, lobby, outdoor pool with grass palapas for shade, and beach, but everything else is shared with the Palladium and its 400 rooms. Still, this perfect little stretch of Bahia Banderas beach offers many pleasures, includingsoaking tubs on balconies overlooking the ocean. While some guests complain about the remote location being far from Puerto Vallarta, the result is a peaceful beach getaway.