by Scott Laird
Last updated: 8:00 PM ET, Wed January 10, 2018
St. Regis guests have been globetrotters from the very beginning: When the original New York property opened in 1904, it catered to transnational elite-a Gilded Age jet set who predated the label itself by decades.
St. Regis founder John Jacob Astor IV and his wife were world travelers themselves, having spent the winter in Egypt and Europe before boarding a ship for New York during April 1912 with many other passengers bound for the St. Regis. (That voyage became infamous as the maiden one of the ill-fated R.M.S. Titanic.)
I've always found it fascinating how St. Regis Hotels brand has managed to maintain several distinctive touch points of the 1904 original, in spite of a reach so global it far outstrips its original guests.
St. Regis Hotels from Bangkok to Bora Bora are still serving traditions that date back to the beginning while managing to expertly adapt to the local tastes and flavors of a diverse suite of destinations.
When I first checked into the St. Regis Punta Mita on Mexico's Pacific Coast, there was a butler offering a warm welcome with an offer of coffee or tea, plus unpacking and pressing. A nod to the tropical environs, he'd traded uniformed livery for starched white linen, but the gracious service was a St. Regis hallmark, delivered with homegrown heart.
Casita-style standard rooms are oversized and feel like suites, with gigantic marble bathrooms, indoor and outdoor showers, soaker tubs, palatial entry foyers and balconies large enough to comfortably fit expansive day beds and a table for four.
'Do Not Disturb' paperweights with sun and moon indicators are a distinctive local touch, while St. Regis fans will find the same linens and Remède Spa products at properties worldwide.
The Bloody Mary is another St. Regis ritual that is done with local flavor here on Riviera Nayarit, about a 45-minute drive from the international airport in Puerto Vallarta on the secluded northern tip of Banderas Bay.
In the Mita Mary, the original Bloody Mary mix is flavored with Clamato, evoking the fresh ocean flavors. It pays homage to Nayarit (one of Mexico's five tequila-producing regions) with tequila, is spiced with piquant Tabasco, Maggi and Cayenne Pepper, and richly finished with avocado-the heart of Mexico's agricultural bounty.
Managing to be refreshing in the midday heat, the drink is best enjoyed at Mita Mary Boat Bar & Bistro, right on the beach, alongside fresh ceviche or seafood tacos. Or aguachile, a spiced raw shrimp specialty of the region.
Other traditions include the Friday night champagne sabering, which I had the pleasure of trying in the Altamira Lobby-with stunning views of the terraced pools leading down to the ocean.
St. Regis hotels delight in this ritual worldwide, which began at raucous military officer celebrations centuries ago. I'd never done it before, but I was expertly showed how to hold the bottle and let the weight of the saber lift the cork and lip of the bottle off in one fluid motion-with an exhilarating catch of breath, I realized I'd done it-on the first try-and the official kickoff to the evening, and the weekend, had begun.
Next, it was on to the AAA Five Diamond-rated Carolina-named for Caroline Astor, whose ballroom capacity was the measure of the size of Gilded Age society. It expertly melded grandeur of a large restaurant with the intimacy of a private home and served modern Mexican cuisine using culinary techniques that would be at home in any pueblo mágico.
Guests can choose from indoor or outdoor dining in a venue that fairly radiates light into the warm oceanic evening.
The Takeaway
Globetrotters and ritual lovers are at home at this stately resort, where they'll find gracious service that's equal parts St. Regis style and Punta Mita soul.
The Math
I've seen rates from around $400 USD during the off-peak in mid-August.
Instagrammable Moment
Coconut drinks are always a star, but my most beloved shots were of beachside hammocks and lurid sunsets.
Loyalty
Starwood Preferred Guest
Good To Know
At many St. Regis resorts in North America, butler service is limited to full suites-St. Regis hotels in Mexico offer butler service to all room categories.
Club cars are available for transport to all points around the expansive resort for those who prefer not to walk-simply ring butler service for assistance.
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore
