Sometimes when you travel, you just want to get away and relax in luxury. We’ve partnered with smart luxury travel writer and expert Dr. Cacinda Maloney from the blog PointsandTravel as she reflects on a recent stay in a luxury hotel in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico… she calls it: “Luxury Within Luxury – A New Concept in a Puerto Vallarta Resort”

Hotel Mousai. Photo by Cacinda Maloney.

Swimming up to the edge, I was almost afraid I would slip off into the abyss and be swept away by the strong colors of blue – the baby blue negative-edge pool, the azure painted edges of the pool tiles, and then the cobalt blue Banderas Bay. It was hard to tell where the pool ended and the deeper blue of the Pacific Ocean began. Out in the distance was the Los Arcos rock formation with kayaks and stand up paddle boarders abound. The sun was just beginning to peak over the ocean’s horizon and I was the only one in the pool on the penthouse floor!

Hotel Mousai. Photo by Cacinda Maloney.

“Ok, so maybe 8 AM is a wee bit early! But how can no one be around?” I asked myself.

Hotel Mousai. Photo by Cacinda Maloney.

I had found luxury in paradise, yet I was baffled that only I had found it. I am sure the other relaxation and sun seekers will be coming! And why wouldn’t they? I was here to unwind and experience the Hotel Mousai – a swanky new concept of a luxury hotel within luxury and I certainly had found it near the not-so-sleepy town of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico only 15 minutes away.

Let me introduce you to Hotel Mousai: 

Hotel Mousai is a property within a property that already existed in an upscale enclave on the waterfront of Banderas Bay, Mexico. Somehow the luxury property owners managed to top even themselves by creating a luxury resort within a luxury resort. What a fantastic idea, similar to what to they do in Vegas.

“What is it?” you ask? “What on earth do I mean?”

Hotel Mousai is an 18-floor, adults-only playground for the sun and relaxation seekers to uncoil and enjoy the mind-blowing views of the Pacific Ocean. Yet it was built within an already existing resort of the Garza Blanca Preserve Resort and Spa, adding in a new menu of choices in hotel types. It is also the only AAA five-diamond resort in Puerto Vallarta. At Hotel Mousai each room and suite, with its posh red lounge chairs, gold-tiled, jetted plunge pool on your private patio with a hammock, and the massive lit-up, onyx-framed mirrors all have breathtaking views of Banderas Bay. You could sit out here for hours just staring at the sea. So much so that you never really want to leave your room. Actually, you don’t have to – with the 24 hour, all-inclusive room service and bottles of premium liquor. You COULD stay here for days!

Hotel Mousai. Photo by Cacinda Maloney.

But… that negative-edge pool on the penthouse floor will be tugging at your heartstrings and make you wish you were lounging in the clouds. So, of course, you WILL leave your room for days of lounging by the pool, ordering drinks and scrumptious food, and watching as a live musician plays alongside DJ music. I saw everything from a saxophone to a flute player, as they covered the gamut of music options. Of course, the young ones might not be to the status of staying here yet, but don’t worry, the rooftop scene is more mellow and fancy margaritas than it is a party scene.

Hotel Mousai view at night. Photo by Cacinda Maloney.

Hotel Mousai at night. Photo by Cacinda Maloney.

Oh, and how could you forget Spa Imagine? With views from the lounging room that go on forever and the strongest, heavy-handed Mexican women who give the best deep-tissue massage you have ever had… plus you can spend hours in their hydrotherapy room with cold and heated plunge pools and shower, steam rooms, and sauna. All of this overlooks the sea, so when you are nice and relaxed, you can dream about sailing away.

Spa Imagine at Hotel Mousai. Photo by Cacinda Maloney.

The Hotel Mousai is the hottest thing going these days in Puerto Vallarta, whereas their main competition for luxury is in the state of Nayarit. Its closeness to the PVR airport is a plus, which means you will get into vacation mode fast. The luxury Hotel Mousai has 72 spacious rooms and suites and also has an all-inclusive package, where guests can eat at any of the five exclusive restaurants on the property, but the cool thing about it is you decide what you prefer.

Hiroshi Restaurant at Hotel Mousai. Photo by Cacinda Maloney.

If you will barely leave the property, then the all-inclusive would be for you. And while you are there, you must make reservations at the contemporary Japanese cuisine restaurant, Hiroshi, where my girlfriends tell me the tuna tartar wonton was one of their favorites. (I don’t eat sushi, but had amazing Kobe beef grilled on a stick, so there is something for everyone.) I also loved the offerings of cocktails they had on their menu. If you are the more adventurous type, then skip the all-inclusive, since you will be venturing out of the hotel on a regular basis exploring Puerto Vallarta’s flavors in the way of restaurants.

Hotel Mousai. Photo by Cacinda Maloney.

Hotel Mousai. Photo by Cacinda Maloney.

One thing I loved about the luxury suite was the pops of color from the designers, the all-room controls via an iPad, the lit, massive makeup mirror, and the interesting choice of a heated, decadent Japanese-style toilet with countless options (oh, and the bathroom was really cute!).

View of my room at Hotel Mousai. Photo by Cacinda Maloney.

View of my room at Hotel Mousai. Photo by Cacinda Maloney.

With most rooms identical, mine had a poppy-colored sitting area, a king-sized bed with overflowing pillows and a pillow menu, as well as a full sized, stocked mini bar. It also had a wall of windows, where at any moment, I could look out from my bed to see that wild ocean blue.

View from my balcony at Hotel Mousai. Photo by Cacinda Maloney.

View from my balcony at Hotel Mousai. Photo by Cacinda Maloney.

What else could a girl want?

View from my balcony at Hotel Mousai. Photo by Cacinda Maloney.

Don’t forget that even with all of this, you can still access any of Garza Blanca Preserve’s facilities, beach, and restaurants without having to go too far. You can hop on the free trolley and visit any part of the Garza Blanca Preserve you would like.

View of my plunge pool at luxury Hotel Mousai. Photo by Cacinda Maloney.

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Cacinda Maloney

Latest posts by Cacinda Maloney (see all)

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