Las Alamandas

"Quirky luxury hotels like Las Alamandas continue to bring well-heeled (but decidedly dressed-down) guests for splashy villas, private pools, and a five-star escape." - Travel + Leisure Editors

"Parisian Isabel Goldsmith-Patiño inherited this slice of heaven on Mexico’s Costalegre from her grandfather, Bolivian tin magnate Antenor Patiño. He planned to build a mega-lodge, but when his conservationist granddaughter took over, she opted to preserve the area by minimizing the resort’s footprint. She commissioned eight unassuming yet luxe haciendas with 18 private suites, now favored by privacy-seeking celebs including Robert De Niro. There’s no nightlife or shopping nearby, and you won’t be tempted to venture far anyway given the horse riding, surfing, salsa dancing, and spa offerings on-site. Goldsmith-Patiño celebrates Las Alamandas' location in Jalisco’s tequila country with more than 120 brands at the bar and tequila-based dishes at the inn’s restaurants." - Travel + Leisure Editors

"Owner Isabel Goldsmith-Patiño, daughter of the late British financier Sir James Goldsmith, envisioned a boutique retreat on her inherited wild land; she named it after the beautiful buttercup yellow flowers found on the property. A member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World group, this seaside resort feels like a nature reserve (1,500 acres of gardens!) without the crowds. There are only 16 larger-than-life suites in all, but with four private beaches along the Costalegre, secluded strips of sand owned by four billionaire hoteliers who love a sense of understated glamour, you get more than your fair share of sand. The colors of the hotel are Frida Kahlo-centric with pops of salmon, pink, and purple everywhere. Celebrities like Cindy Crawford and Sting are regulars, as is Robert de Niro who frequents the place with a passion (the resort even custom-built him a gym). In the spirit of Goldsmith-Patiño’s vision, eco-conservation efforts are plentiful, with a continued commitment to preserving the Mexican coastline."

"Las Alamandas is a colorful, comfortable hotel with just 16 suites located on Mexico 's Costalegre, or “Happy Coast.” Rooms here are spacious, comfortable, and bright, suffused with natural sunlight washing over the vivid colors of the furniture and decor. While design details differ from one room to another, expect Mexican accents such as a cotton bedspread embroidered with colorful traditional Mexican textiles. Pinks, yellows, greens, and blues abound. Despite the limited number of rooms, the property itself is expansive at 1,500 acres, and guests find that they are able to stake out their own private space on the grounds. Amenities and services at the individual room level and across the property include personal pools and spaces for a variety of physical activities, such as yoga, and sports, including basketball, tennis, and bocce ball."

"The backstory of Las Alamandas seems too fantastic to be true. A Bolivian tin magnate plans a beachfront mega-resort but doesn’t live to complete it, so his granddaughter takes over. To preserve the land (and dolphins) so dear to her, she revises her grandfather’s plan and erects a tiny resort, where a maximum of 28 guests have at their disposal 1,500 acres of pristine beachfront land and close to 100 staff members." - Mark Fedeli