TRAVEL // SPA & WELLNESS
Relaxation Meets Revelry
A Restorative Honeymoon in Punta de Mita
by Laurel HouseM
y idea of a vacation is more of
what most might call an adven-
ture trip. I love packing my days
with tours, visiting villages, and exploring an
area’s culture and people. But when it came
to planning my honeymoon, I decided to do
something outside of my regular habit. What
I needed and wanted more than anything else
was to do absolutely nothing with my newly
minted husband. When it came time to choose
a restorative honeymoon, we looked south to
Mexico, specifically to the Pacific Coast village
of Punta Mita. I’ve been to Punta Mita before.
It’s a quick three-hour flight from Los Angelesto Puerto Vallarta (the nearest airport, which
is approximately 45 minutes away by car).
The W Punta de Mita has recently opened,
and I was attracted to the opportunity to be
able to check in, immediately be handed a
margarita, then walk down to our private
cabana on the beach. That was exactly what
my new hubby and I experienced. Plus, a plate
of ceviche freshly caught that morning. Our
ocean view room satisfied my lingering need
for a unique and sometimes eccentric holiday,
with its brightly colored decor and heart-
shaped pillows that gave a Dia de los Muertos/
fun lovers vibe. Our dinner was at the W’sonsite Spice Market, just like the one that used
to be in the Meatpacking District of NYC
with its big bold flavors and bright and biting
spices. Unlike New York though, we were ac-
companied by bikini-clad guests lightheartedly
strutting along the tiled walkway crossing over
the pool to the edge of the sand. Everyone
was having a good time. This created a perfect
energetic balance of relaxation and revelry. It
was just what we wanted for our honeymoon.Romance and Relaxation
for a Restorative Honeymoon
We spent the next day bouncing between the
bed, bathtub, and one of our two patios – all
with ocean views. We needed some time to
just be... together. No interruptions, no com-
puters, no social media, no meetings, no plans.
The next afternoon was our beach day—
similarly filled with non-activities. We had a
private cabana on the sand, with champagne,
ceviche, and books. We lingered with actual
printed books that we had time to read... such
a luxury!
There was one scheduled adventure though- a three-hour escape to the Away spa. We
first spent a couple of hours in the jungle-like
outdoor area while dipping into the three
temperature pools: hot, body temperature, and
an invigorating ice cold plunge! Then we eased
into a couple’s massage, where the therapists
poured hot candle wax that turns into massage
oil onto our skin. They gifted the remainder
of the wax to us so we could continue the hot
activity in the bedroom.
The Difference Between
a Trip and a Vacation
After four nights (too few, but we had to get
back to reality and our kids), we felt even
further solidified as a couple and set up to
start our life together. What became apparent
to me was that there is a difference between a
“vacation” and a “trip.” I usually take trips
-- adventures, experiences, explorations that
make me feel expanded and, honestly, a bit
exhausted. Vacations, on the other hand, are
opportunities to take a moment to relax, reset,
and reconnect. There is a time and a place for
each. My honeymoon was the time... and the
place was W Punta de Mita.Resources
The W Punta de Mita: wpuntademita.com
Imanta Resort: imantaresorts.com