Hotel Mousai—the only AAA Five Diamond resort in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico—is filled with wow moments. Discover the best all-inclusive resort.
I travel around the world and across the street looking for wow moments and find them in various places. On a recent visit to Puerto Vallarta with three girlfriends, I stayed at Hotel Mousai—the only AAA Five Diamond resort in Puerto Vallarta—and I found so many wow moments at the hotel that I wasn’t ready to leave on my last day. Come along and let me share a few of the luxury wow moments I discovered at Hotel Mousai in Mexico.
Hotel Mousai in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
I admit that I didn’t make this trip to explore Puerto Vallarta. That is for the next visit. This time, I was in Mexico to hole up in the hotel, luxuriate by the pool, and enjoy the all-inclusive offerings at Hotel Mousai. But getting to Puerto Vallarta is easy from just about anywhere because it has a modern airport served by most major airlines—there are even seasonal direct flights from Europe and Canada. I flew on a direct flight from Phoenix.
The Bay of Banderas from atop Hotel Mousai. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham
Puerto Vallarta is a charming resort town on the Pacific Coast of Mexico. It is a popular Spring Break getaway with beautiful expanses of beaches. It is also a lovely town with cobblestone streets, boutique shops, a beachfront promenade with beautiful sculptures, and lively bars and nightclubs. But I chose to spend my days at Hotel Mousai and discovered one wow moment after another.
A Suite Stay at Hotel Mousai
Hotel Mousai is a hotel-within-a-hotel concept located high on the hillside within Garza Blanca Resort. So, while Hotel Mousai itself is limited to guests 18 and over, the entire resort’s offerings are available if you want them.
My stay started with a definite wow moment when I was escorted to my suite. Hotel Mousai is an all-suite hotel, and my Mousai Suite, the “basic” suite at the five-diamond resort, was more than 1,000 square feet of luxury. I love the red, purple, and gold tones of the room. It’s chic, fun, and comfortable without being over the top. With one wall of windows looking out over Banderas Bay and the Pacific Ocean beyond that, it was a wow moment.
The Mousai Suite is fun, roomy, and luxurious. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham
The modern rooms have automated lighting, window coverings, air conditioning, and music. The room service menu and the hotel’s offerings are on an iPad by the bed. And yes, that’s a hammock you see on the balcony. How can something so simple feel so luxurious? I grew to love that balcony and that hammock.
I loved my hammock on my balcony at Hotel Mousai. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham
The balcony also had a jetted hot tub, which became my favorite spot for relaxing. I realized it was so convenient that there was no excuse for not stepping into the hot tub for a quick soak several times a day.
The private jetted tub on the balcony is a great Wow Moment at Hotel Mousai. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham
All-Inclusive Stays at Hotel Mousai
The best way to experience Hotel Mousai is to purchase an all-inclusive package. It makes staying at the hotel worry-free. All alcoholic drinks and wines by the glass are included (along with the bottles in the mini-bar in the room).
Since drinks are included, I started with a delicious margarita on the roof. I preferred the Margarita Corazon with tequila, Cointreau, and hibiscus syrup, and my girlfriend ordered a guava colada with white rum, guava, and coconut cream. What a way to start a trip to Mexico!
Sipping drinks at the rooftop bar at Hotel Mousai. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham
The all-inclusive plan also includes 24-hour room service, which I took advantage of several times. I had the option of going to The Terrace for breakfast—or hopping on the free trolley that would take me to Blanca Blue or Bocados STK at Garza Blanca—but I ordered room service for my balcony. What a treasure to start each day with the salt air blowing across my face, gazing at the ocean, and breathing in the fresh air.
As part of the all-inclusive plan, you can have lunch at the Rooftop pool, Bocados STK, or Aquazul, snacks all day at the pool, and dinner at Blanca Blue, Bocados STK, or Hiroshi Restaurant. Hiroshi is located inside Hotel Mousai, and dinner there is a pure delight for all the senses.
Enjoy the creativity of Japanese gourmet dining at Hiroshi at Hotel Mousai. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham
We arrived at Hiroshi just at sunset, and it was spectacular. The sun cast a beautiful golden sheen over the restaurant, and the salt air made me say, “Wow!” Hiroshi serves contemporary Asian cuisine, and the fish is incredibly fresh. My favorite dish of the evening was the Tuna Wonton Tostada, with a touch of citrus that added such a delightful freshness to the tuna.
The drinks at Hiroshi are fresh and flirty. We also ordered them on several other nights at the adjacent bar. I enjoyed the Geisha (Chambord, berries, caviar, and sparkling wine) and the Melrose (champagne, raspberry Absolut vodka, lemon, and rose petals).
I also discovered that when four girlfriends are famished at night and want to enjoy their private balcony, having 24-hour room service in an all-inclusive resort is perfect. We ordered almost every dish on the menu—plus dessert. After we ate, we spent a couple of hours sipping bubbly in the hot tub with the sound of the ocean below us. Another unforgettable wow moment at Hotel Mousai!
Rooftop Pool is a Wow Moment at Hotel Mousai
Despite how much I loved my private balcony and the hot tub, the Rooftop Pool at Hotel Mousai had to be the most amazing wow moment of the trip. My breath caught in my throat as I exited the elevator and looked across Banderas Bay at the view. The white lounge chairs stretch across the rooftop, surrounding an infinity pool. You can pick a seat in the sun, find a shady cabana, or spend the day in the pool. What a magical paradise.
Find a lounger and spend the day at the rooftop pool at Hotel Mousai. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham
The rooftop bar serves food and drinks all day, starting with coffee, tea, and mimosas and then transitioning to great cocktails. For nibbles, I enjoyed guacamole, steak tacos, and ceviche.
Standing at the edge of the pool, I realized how the jungle of Puerto Vallarta comes right down to the water. Sitting there in the pool, I felt as if I was perched on the edge of the world. The sea breeze kept things cool, and the vantage point showed why Puerto Vallarta is protected from the hurricanes that plague other parts of Mexico. The sheltered bay makes this an ideal vacation spot.
The jungle meets the water below Hotel Mousai. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham
When the day turns into evening, the lights come on in the pool, the music goes up a notch, and the drinks seem a bit stronger. Hotel Mousai is small, so there aren’t huge crowds here, even on the busiest nights. This is still a relaxing way to spend an evening, and looking out across that water is pretty special.
The rooftop pool fills with color and music at night. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham
Fun and Relaxation at Hotel Mousai
As if all of that wasn’t relaxing enough, I booked a spa day at Spa Imagine during my stay at Hotel Mousai. I had one of my best massages during my stay, and the overall spa experience was delightful. It starts with the relaxation room open to the ocean below.
The relaxation room for Spa Imagine is open to the Pacific Ocean breezes at Hotel Mousai. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham
There is an optional hydrotherapy ritual you can enjoy either before or after your treatment, and the attendants will help you through a series of relaxing stations. After the hydrotherapy ritual, I had a deep tissue massage with a custom oil treatment that put me in such a perfect state of relaxation that I was putty for the rest of the day.
Following my spa treatment, I returned to my room to chill on my balcony. I loved looking down at the rest of the resort. It was colorful and well-maintained. The photo below shows the pool at the mid-point between Hotel Mousai and the beach. What a tropical paradise.
The view of a second pool from my balcony at Hotel Mousai. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham
After relaxing at the spa, the next day was about fun in the sun. We got up early and jumped on the trolley for a 5-minute ride to the beach. We mde our way across the main lobby at Garza Blanca, and then walked a few steps to the beach. Lounge chairs and towels await at Garza Blanca Beach, and you can rent kayaks and standup paddleboards.
Hop in a kayak or jump on a stand-up paddleboard at Hotel Mousai. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham
The beach is sheltered from the waves, so this isn’t the place for surfing but is ideal for relaxing. You won’t be dodging any motorized vehicles here, either. It’s all about letting go and enjoying the surf and sun.
The pristine beach at Hotel Mousai. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham
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When You Visit the All-Inclusive Hotel Mousai in Puerto Vallarta
The wow moments just kept on coming throughout my entire trip. Such endless blue skies and expanses of water made it hard sometimes to find that spot where sky and land meet. I made this trip with my girlfriends, but it is a place I’d like to revisit with my husband. It can be fun, quirky, and magical. Since it’s all-inclusive, it is easy—which is important to me when I get away.
Looking out over the Bay of Banderas and the Pacific Ocean at Hotel Mousai. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham
Puerto Vallarta is filled with wow moments, and Hotel Mousai is over the top. I discovered so many amazing wow moments at Hotel Mousai in Mexico. The day after I left the hotel, I woke up missing my balcony, my private hot tub, and my breakfast, with the salt air bringing peace of mind that comes only in paradise. Our Wander writers have many more ideas for visiting Mexico.
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