9 minute read
Hola Mexico
Hola Mexico
A perennial member favorite, Exclusive Resorts’ 2018 Destination of the Year, Real del Mar, claims the title of most coveted escape. just what makes this top hideaway so unique? Club Members reveal their tips to experience the Riviera Nayarit.
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Written by Jen Murphy
Young Club Member Montana Bell Jenkins celebrates hues of blue at a Real del Mar residence, where an infinity pool overlooks a serene Banderas Bay.
Mexico’s 200-mile Riviera Nayarit and the gorgeous hillside haciendas of the Real del Mar community live like a secret seaside sanctuary that casts its spell on Exclusive Resorts Members year after year. Tucked away in a gated community adjacent to the authentic town of La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, Real del Mar is a 45-minute drive from busy Puerto Vallarta but feels worlds away. Of Exclusive Resorts’ 75+ destinations, this Club flagship is a perennial favorite thanks to its combination of spacious homes, tranquil setting, and warm staff who deliver elevated service. Exclusive Resorts introduced the destination to its Portfolio in 2004 with just one home. It’s since grown to include 13 cliffside residences, all of which recently underwent renovations. Members certainly approved of the updates, as their feedback positioned the property as the 2018 Destination of the Year.
The colorful living room at Casa Risco
Club Members Mike Jenkins, Keli Jenkins, Mikey Jenkins, Montana Belle Jenkins, Vicki Snyder, and Taylor Snyder at the Real del Mar beach club.
Jenkins Family
Members Since 2006
Like many Members, Keli and Mike Jenkins were initially drawn to Real del Mar’s accessibility. The destination is an easy flight from their home just north of Dallas, and after their first stay, they fell in love with all the property has to offer. Members for 13 years, the couple has now logged 32 visits to Real del Mar. One of the draws is the selection of residences. Keli estimates they’ve stayed in nearly every home. “Each has a different layout, style, and personality to experience,” she says. “Trying to pick a favorite is like picking a favorite child, it’s just not possible.” She finds some homes better suited for little kids, like Casa Patio, as most of the bedrooms are located inside the large main living area and the beach club is only a few steps away. When they travel with other couples or older kids, they choose homes with the privacy of separate rooms, all of which have unforgettable views of Banderas Bay. The Jenkins are keen on traveling with multiple families, often hosting large group gatherings and festive al fresco dinners on the outdoor terraces.
Member Lydia McKibben
McKibben Family
Members Since 2005
Dallas-based members Tim and Lydia McKibben also like how the destination is less than a two-hour flight away. In addition to the variety of the homes, they love the privacy the resort offers. “We’ve been to nearly every Exclusive Resorts destination and this is unlike any other offering,” says Tim. “About 70 percent of the gated community is private and the rest is devoted to Exclusive Resorts. The maintenance of the grounds, the service, the food, and the Beach Club are all a 10—absolutely perfect.”
Over the past 14 years, the couple has also accrued 32 visits to Real del Mar. The ocean views are one of their favorite aspects of the villas. “There are very few places where you can have whitewater views (of the ocean),” says Tim. “The homes are perched on cliffs and appear to cascade down the mountain side. You have this rare vantage where you can see the ocean and the waves right in front of you. And hundreds of whales migrate to Banderas Bay so you can whale watch right from your home.”
Casa La Costa overlooks the horseshoe bend of Banderas Bay.
Marcela and Alvaro Rodríguez Arregui celebrate Alvaro’s 50th birthday at Real del Mar.
Rodríguez Arregui Family
Members Since 2005
Unlike Cabo San Lucas, where the ocean tends to be too rough to swim, Banderas Bay is like a large pool, making it an ideal beach getaway for families with young kids. Members Álvaro and Marcela Rodríguez Arregui have been vacationing here since 2006 and joke that their twin sons Mateo and Lucas practically grew up at Real del Mar. They learned to surf here at age four, and at the ages of 17, they venture further afield to ride bigger waves in nearby Punta Mita and Sayulita. The family owns bragging rights of 33 stays—the most of any other Club Member. They typically visit for three weeks each summer, using their villa as a family beach retreat with a rotating cast of visitors.
“One week we’ll have my family, the next Álvaro’s family, and then the third week we have friends,” says Marcela. Álvaro adds that even the nicest hotels in the world can’t accommodate family groups as comfortably as Real del Mar’s residences do. “One person can be reading in the living room, others playing a board game, another fixing something in the kitchen,” he says. “We can easily have meals together without a hassle of reservations. These residences were designed to support multigenerational travel.”
Marcela appreciates that the destination offers something for everyone. “You can be really active and nonstop all day with zip-lining, scuba diving, golf, hiking,” she says. “Or you can just sit and lounge by the pool.”
Aerial view of Alvaro Rodríguez Arregui’s beachside 50th birthday party.
Milestone Moments
The selection of four- and five-bedroom residences has made Real del Mar a popular option for Members looking to celebrate holidays and special occasions. The Rodríguez Arregui family booked four residences and invited 20 couples to celebrate Álvaro’s 50th birthday. Keli Jenkins celebrated her mom’s 60th birthday there this year—a surprise soirée with close friends and family. “The team helped us hire a saxophone player for the cocktail reception and passed around hors d’oeuvres and even set up a tequila tasting station,” Jenkins adds. “They grilled freshly caught fish, shrimp, lobster, and steak to order. We also had a mariachi band surprise her during dinner and dessert. The Concierge team had a beautiful cake made from a local bakery and ordered the most beautiful floral arrangements for the table centerpieces as well as arrangements for inside the home during the week.”
More than a vacation home, Real del Mar is truly a Members’ home away from home. And after its recent design face-lift and being named the 2018 Destination of the Year, this Riviera Nayarit gem is poised for continued applause.
The master bedroom terrace at Casa La Costa is the perfect perch for coffee and ocean views.
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Tried + Trending: Top Real del Mar Experiences
A Member favorite, Real del Mar is a serene oasis nestled between the Sierra Madre Mountains and Banderas Bay. A 45-minute drive from Puerto Vallarta, this quiet gated community offers plenty of options to unplug and play.
In-Residence Tequila Tasting and Margarita Classes: Learn from a local tequila expert, who reveals tricks of the trade.
Private Chef Dinner with Guacamole Class: A Member favorite, the local chefs may have fine-tuned the recipe for the tastiest guac on the globe.
Adventure: Deep Sea Fishing + Marietas Islands: If the ocean is your muse, boat excursions are anchored in Real Del Mar’s natural bounty.
Sayulita Day Trip and Surf Lessons: Just a scenic, 45-minute drive from the resort, Sayulita is a bohemian-chic town with plenty of wave riding.
La Cruz de Huanacaxtle Fish Market: Want to live like a local? Shop for fish straight from the sea, and then, come evening, Real del Mar chefs can prepare it for a beachside family meal.
Real del Mar Beach Club: Just a short ride in your private golf cart is the ultra-private Real del Mar Beach Club. Other highlights include a tennis and fitness center, volleyball courts, and paddleboards.
Health & Holistic Center: Arrange for a massage and facial at Real del Mar’s spa or opt to enjoy a treatment in the privacy of your residence.
Whale Watching: If traveling in December, this rare experience should top your itinerary.
R&R at Casa Punta Sur.
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The Service Factor
Real del Mar’s Concierge team delivers elevated service, valuing Member experience above all else. Memberfocused hospitality is leveraged by exceptional, knowledgeable individuals to make Real del Mar a truly best-inclass destination.
Residence Manager David Lozano and his team of three Concierges earned an average score of 4.89 from 2018 post-trip Member surveys (receiving a perfect 5.0 in the last quarter of 2018). Member comments always reveal their dedication to detail and display of care for families, and many having developed close relationships with Members.
Frequent trips by the Rodríguez Arregui family mean the staff have become like family. Jiro, the head of the beach club, joins the boys when they’re watching soccer matches and points them to the best surf breaks. “At a hotel, you might see the concierge at check-in and never again,” says Marcela Rodríguez Arregui. “Here, the staff makes a point to see you every day and ask how your stay is and if you need anything.”
Keli Jenkins agrees that the familiarity her family has with the Concierge team and Beach Club staff always makes them feel at home the minute they arrive. “Anything we ask for is taken care of and the Concierge team is constantly checking in,” she says. During a recent trip, the staff set up spa services all over the property for the family: Beachside and in-home massages, manicures by the pool, and facials at the spa. On another vacation, the family needed a doctor and was pleasantly surprised with a house call.
The entry to Casa Risco features regionally inspired sculptures.
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Behind the Scenes: 2018 Destination of the Year
Every year, Exclusive Resorts calculates the post-trip survey scores for each destination and ranks them. The Club takes the average score of overall satisfaction with the trip, Concierge service, quality of housekeeping, and residence satisfaction, and each destination must have a minimum of 30 surveys to qualify. The destination with the highest average score wins. Real del Mar clenched the 2018 title with the following satisfaction rating.
Yet Real del Mar is ultimately defined by the relationships nurtured while there. Members return year after year not just because of the homes and amenities, but because the Concierge team, housekeeping, and staff become like family. Members request to have their same Concierge, housekeeper, and cook with each visit. It’s this emotional DNA of Real del Mar that anchors the property’s “wow” factor.
Outdoor living at Casa Cielo calls for al fresco dining
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Stay
13 Residences • 4-5 bedrooms
All 13 of The Club’s cliffside villas, ranging between 5,000-8,938 square feet, boast panoramic views of the Sierra Madres mountains and Banderas Bay.
