Fit for a king: A review of the Conrad Punta de Mita - The Points Guy
Offering the same unbeatable beach location as the nearby Four Seasons and St. Regis, the new and upscale Conrad Punta de Mita wows with its stunning setting and phenomenal value when using points. Accommodations here overlook the Pacific Ocean and come with access to top-notch amenities like three sprawling pools and a spa that celebrates the region's roots in its treatments, making the property a prime spot for couples seeking a relaxing, romantic getaway.
But even if you're not traveling with your partner (as was the case for me), there's a lot to love. Rooms are consistently bookable at a Hilton Honors points rate worth more than TPG's valuations, so you can stretch your points further when redeeming them for award nights at the Conrad.
Given the property's ties to one of Hilton's high-end brands, being able to enjoy a dose of luxury in a popular vacation destination like Mexico while getting the most value out of my points seemed like an opportunity that was too good to pass up. So, when deciding where to go for a short family trip, my aunt and I jumped at the chance to book an award stay and experience this stunning top-tier resort firsthand.
Quick take
Driving onto the Conrad Punta de Mita's grounds, I feared we had made a terrible mistake. Looming ahead were 324 rooms spread across 10 white concrete towers that seemed cold and foreboding at first impression. We feared we had entered a sterile, cookie-cutter resort with everything we were trying to avoid, such as bland decor, lackluster food and overcrowded pools.
However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that that was not the case. Our experience turned out to be anything but bland, lackluster and overcrowded.
From the moment we stepped foot inside the property, it became clear that this resort shines when it comes to service. We were offered a choice of welcome beverages — tequila or tropical fruit juice — to sip while checking in, and when it was time to drop our belongings in our room, a friendly employee appeared to whisk us away in a golf cart to our tastefully appointed accommodation. Exceptional hospitality was front and center here, with no detail missed.
Related: 14 of TPG's favorite points hotels on the beach in Mexico
Getting there
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Located in the coastal community of Punta de Mita, Mexico, about 22 miles northwest of Puerto Vallarta, the Conrad Punta de Mita is just removed enough from the action of Puerto Vallarta to provide a bit of relaxation without straying too far off the beaten path. The easiest way to reach the resort is to drive after flying into Puerto Vallarta's Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport (PVR).
While you can rent a car and drive yourself — valet parking is complimentary — there are more convenient ways to make the roughly one-hour journey to the property. Uber rides cost around 500 Mexican pesos ($25) one-way. Additionally, the resort provides round-trip transportation from a third-party company for 5,000 Mexican pesos ($253).
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Related: 11 things you should know before visiting Mexico
Booking details
As a reporter who covers points and miles, I always look for the best ways to get the most value out of loyalty programs. As a result, this luxury hotel has been on my radar since it opened in September 2020.
Regardless of which dates you choose, you'll consistently find that the Conrad Punta de Mita's rooms offer significantly higher redemption values than the 0.6 cents per Hilton Honors point noted in our most recent valuations.
Had we used cash to book an entry-level partial ocean view room with two queen-size beds at the Hilton Honors rate, our two-night stay at the end of the summer would have cost $1,866.87 ($718 per night, plus taxes and the 10% service charge that's added to all reservations).
However, booking with points is a little easier to stomach, as most nights (other than a handful during peak travel periods like the winter holidays and spring break) only require 95,000 Hilton Honors points per night for a standard room. This means you'll net about 0.98 cents in value per Hilton Honors point spent on award nights — or roughly 45% more than what you'll typically get based on our valuations.
Still, with a nightly award price approaching six figures (in points), you may find yourself less inclined to redeem points for a stay. If that's the case, know that there's yet another option to consider.
By having one of several Hilton credit cards in your wallet, you'll be eligible to receive one or more free night certificates to apply toward a stay. Since I have the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, I decided to use two free night certificates (one I received after renewing my card and paying the annual fee and another through a promotion earlier this year) to cover the cost of our room. You can also earn a free night certificate on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card after spending $15,000 on the card on qualifying purchases in a calendar year.
The information for the Hilton Aspire card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
With my Hilton Honors Diamond status, my aunt and I were upgraded from the standard two-queen partial ocean view room we had booked to a two-queen beachfront room, which would have cost us $1,181 per night to stay in during our visit had we booked it with cash.
Related: Major improvement: Hilton free night certificates can now be used any day of the week
Standout features
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- Mouthwatering tortilla soup followed by the best octopus tacos of my life made for a delightful evening on the patio of the property's Arbol restaurant.
- The room was situated very close to the beach. With the gentle sound of the ocean waves rocking me to sleep from my two-queen beachfront room, it was easy to get a restful night's sleep.
- Friendly and attentive staff members were always available to greet guests by name. Every employee I came across was keen on making genuine connections with guests during casual conversations, many of which took place in Spanish so we could practice speaking the language. Throughout my short stay, it was clear that the hotel's team members took pride in their jobs, going above and beyond what I've experienced at other properties.
- The spa had a stunning design incorporating the branches and vines from native trees and offered modern services featuring local traditions, such as the Temazcal treatment (a sort of cleansing ritual) led by a curandero (Indigenous healer).
Drawbacks
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- The benefits you'll get here as a Diamond member are limited. All I received was a non-suite upgrade, $25 off a pricey massage and a breakfast credit worth $17 per person for up to two guests, which only covered a fraction of the cost of breakfast.
- Prices were high, especially when taxes and service charges were piled on. For example, a taco dinner at Arbol cost $45 per person, and a 60-minute massage was $185 before taxes and tip.
- If you're a big coffee drinker, you'll likely find the caffeinated beverages served at the breakfast restaurant disappointing. Both the coffee and cappuccinos we ordered were watery and weak, lacking any noticeable caffeine kick.
- The hotel should have incorporated more accessibility into its design. While I loved the sleek look of the property overall, the absence of handrails by the many stairs was a major miss for me. If I wasn't paying careful attention as I went up and down them, especially at night and when near the pools (where the cement stairs were often wet), I could've easily stumbled.
The vibe
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With a white, angular facade and an open-concept interior with pops of color throughout, the Conrad Punta de Mita draws inspiration from its surroundings in a way that feels stylish yet comfortable. Outside, the sparkling white towers and water-spouting features set amid palm trees evoked the feeling of exclusivity — as if we were at a palace with lush gardens.
The same upscale vibe continued inside, with patterned textiles in various shades of blue and green providing a chic nod to the nature-focused setting while complementing the stark whiteness of the walls and ceilings. Stunning artwork inspired by Mexico's natural beauty hung from walls, and sculptural, handicraft-inspired furniture evocative of a pre-Spanish era was strategically placed to grab your attention as you lingered in the lobby.
The locally-inspired design continued in the guest rooms, where wooden headboards were accented with woven rattan influenced by the basket-making art forms of the Huichol people. Even the spa used Mexico as its inspiration; laid out in a crab shape, the design is an homage to the crustacean commonly found in the region.
The resort is suitable for multigenerational groups thanks to its kid-friendly amenities like a kids club and a pool with a waterslide. Still, know that the romantic setting by the sea makes this Conrad popular with twosomes, so you won't find that many kids running around.
The room
Even though we had booked a standard room with two queen-size beds, my aunt and I were pleasantly surprised to find that the Hilton Honors app showed us in an upgraded beachfront room a few days before checking in.
As we walked into the 705-square-foot space, we were wowed by the beautiful ocean view. The spacious patio, which featured a love seat with a low table, a higher bistro table and two chairs, beckoned us for morning coffee and afternoon happy hour.
The room's interior was equally impressive, featuring a number of eye-catching decorative touches, such as furnishings with rattan and wood details. The sage-green walls created a soothing ambiance while graphic paintings with pops of blue evoked the Pacific Ocean just outside our window.
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There was a Nespresso machine and an electric kettle situated next to an assortment of coffee and teas. To the right of the Nespresso machine, there was a closet outfitted with deep drawers, a safe, a luggage rack, two bathrobes, slippers and an iron with an ironing board. There were plenty of electrical outlets throughout the room, too. Just below the TV, a desk and chair were positioned against the wall.
The blackout curtains did an excellent job of blocking sunlight from entering the room so we could sleep in. The beds dressed in soft, white linens were a highlight as well; they were some of the most comfortable that I have ever slept in while staying at a hotel.
Beyond the living and sleeping space, there was a bathroom with large mirrors above the two sinks, a walk-in shower with strong water pressure from the rain showerhead and a separate water closet housing the toilet. Cucumber-scented Mojave Ghost bath products were on hand in the shower and by the sinks.
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During our stay, we were advised by the resort to refrain from drinking tap water. While this could have been a major inconvenience, our visit was hardly affected as the hotel provided unlimited bottled water for free, which was regularly replenished when our supply was running low.
A more noticeable issue was the air conditioning. While it consistently kept the space cool, the room was uncomfortably humid — to the point that the sheets, our clothes and our shoes felt damp. The moisture issue even caused a bag of cough drops I brought to completely melt.
Related: 25 hotel views you'll want to see for yourself
Food and drink
If you're an avid foodie like me, you'll be happy to know that the Conrad Punta de Mita has you covered. Nearly every dish we tried was tasty.
On our first night, my aunt and I visited Arbol to experience the eatery's Monday taco night, a weekly themed dining experience popular with guests. For $45 per person, we received chips and guacamole, a choice between the soup of the day and a salad, all-you-can-eat tacos from an a la carte menu with various proteins (try the octopus) and a selection of two desserts. Of everything we ordered, the flavorful tortilla soup with fresh avocado cubes was the highlight, though all the dishes were excellent. A clear sky full of stars overhead as we dined, with the strum of an acoustic guitar playing in the background, made for the perfect ambiance.
As a Hilton Honors Diamond member, I received a daily breakfast credit of $17 per person for up to two guests. Unlike Hilton properties in the U.S., where the credit can cover any food or beverage purchase made, the credit at the Conrad Punta de Mita can only be used toward breakfast purchases. Considering the high prices and the fact that 26% in surcharges was tacked onto every food and beverage purchase, the credit didn't go far, but we still put it to use at Arbol, where breakfast is served daily.
