Experience Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Inmerso en el Campo de Golf Marina Vallarta, Casa Velas es un hotel de ambiente íntimo y romántico, perfecto para  golfistas,  amantes   del  spa  y  de  la gastronomía. Creado bajo el concepto de las antiguas Casas Grandes del México colonial, da lugar a un espacio dedicado a la relajación y la tranquilidad, con increíble cocina gourmet, servicio  personalizado  y amenidades que lo harán sentirse como en casa. Sus interiores enriquecidos con obras de arte mexicano, logran una ambientación única de elegancia propia de  la vida del mar, respetando  las características  y personalidad del lugar donde se ubica, Puerto Vallarta.

Majestuosas palmeras, exuberante vegetación y una cascada de estanques en donde se observa un jardín de nenúfares que nacen del agua, son algunos de los detalles que dan una increíble personalidad a este hotel boutique, exclusivo para mayores de 15 años.

Es un escape perfecto para visitar con su pareja y degustar exquisitas creaciones culinarias; vivir los atardeceres del Pacífico en un Club de Playa privado, rodeado de la calidez de la hospitalidad mexicana o practicar su swing en campos de golf de clase mundial.

Reconocido entre los mejores del mundo, este hotel boutique fue recientemente nombrado por Traveler’s Choice 2012 de Trip Advisor®  dentro de la lista de Mejor Hotel Todo Incluido de México ocupando la 2ª posición –de los 25 hoteles seleccionados–, y en la 8ª posición dentro de la lista de los 25 Mejores Hoteles Todo Incluido del Mundo. Además, ha sido acreedor al  Premio a la Excelencia  de Condé Nast Johansens 2012 como “Most Excellent Service” de México y Centroamérica.

Casa Velas es miembro de The Leading Hotels of the World y ha recibido el reconocimiento de Cuatro Diamantes por la AAA,  así como el Certificado  de Excelencia en el 2010 y el Premio Traveler’s Choice 2011 en  tres categorías:  Lujo, Relajación/Spa y Hoteles Románticos, ambos otorgados por TripAdvisor®.

No deje de experimentar un mundo de lujo y placer culinario que le brindará bienestar en cuerpo, mente y espíritu.

Velas Resorts Dedicated Spa Website Debuts

Featuring New Personalized Spa Experiences, Special Online Savings, at Mexico’s Luxury Spas

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (January 24, 2012) – Velas Resorts, with world-class destination spas in Riviera Maya, Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit, debuts a dedicated spa website that features a spa concierge,  virtual tours and photo galleries, destination information and reservations. New, themed 4, 5 and 7 day spa experiences are detailed and prices given. Special online-only savings are also offered on select treatments.  In addition, spa products used at the luxury Mexico all-inclusive resorts are available for purchase.

The $15 million architecturally striking spa at Grand Velas Riviera Maya, a recipient of Virtuoso’s “Best Spa” award, is inspired by the jungle and natural water pools of the Yucatan Peninsula.  The recently remodeled Spa Casa Velas, a Leading Spa of the World, encompasses five treatment rooms, a hydrotherapy area, a garden-view fitness center equipped with state-of-the-art exercise equipment, and a beauty salon.  Spa Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit features 20 treatment rooms, over 60 treatments, gym and exercise room, spa boutique and beauty salon.  All are members of Leading Spas of the World.

Tailored for each guest by the spa concierges, the resorts’ Spa Experiences range from Nature, Mayan, Ayurvedic and Tao sensorial journeys to Purifying, Renewal and Beautifying rituals.  Featuring a selection of spa treatments, wraps, hydrotherapy circuits, ensuite bath rituals, gourmet spa cuisine, cooking classes, and personal training, the programs are complemented by meditation, yoga and pilates, bike and kayak tours, beach and garden walks, eco and snorkel tours, and numerous other activity options.

 For reservations and more information, contact your Spa Specialist at 1-866-634-0047 or visit Velas Resorts’ Spa Website.

 About Velas Resorts:

Offering unparalleled all-inclusive experiences, Velas Resorts in Riviera Maya, Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit have earned 26 AAA Diamonds, including the prestigious Five Diamond Award.  At the ceremony for AAA 2012 awards, Tony Perrone, Regional Manager Travel at American Automobile Association (AAA), cited the Grand Velas Riviera Maya for setting a new standard for the five diamond awards throughout the industry.  Other esteemed international awards for their services and facilities are Conde Nast Johansens’ “Most Excellent Spa Resort”, Conde Nast Traveler’s “Gold List” and the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences’ 5 Star Diamond Award.  Casa Velas was also chosen a Top 10 in three categories - Luxury, Relaxation/Spa and Hotel for Romance - by TripAdvisor® in its 2011 Travelers’ Choice® awards. Expedia^® named Casa Velas, Grand Velas Riviera Maya and Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit among the top-ranked hotels on this year’s Expedia Insiders’ Select™ list which formally recognizes the best hotels worldwide that consistently deliver excellent service, a great overall experience and a notable value.

Velas Resorts offer spacious luxury accommodations, world-class spas, a la carte gourmet cuisine at a selection of specialty restaurants, and an indefinable hospitality experience.  For more information, please call 1-866-847-4609 or visit www.velasresorts.com.

Excellence in Service

On January 16th, worldwide luxury hotel guide Condé Nast Johannens published their prestigious list: Awards for Excellence, 2012. Made up of 30 hotels in four regions of the Americas, the Awards for Excellence included Casa Velas in the category of “Most Excellent Service Hotel” in Mexico and Central America, in recognition of the high standards and quality of service the boutique hotel offers guests.

The list offers “only the best of the best”, according to a statement made by Vice President and Editorial Director Lesley O’Malley-Keyes upon presenting her experienced readers with the lodging options that meet extraordinary standards.

Preferred by travelers in Mexico and worldwide

With over 65 million unique visits per month, TripAdvisor® is the most recognized travel forum in the world, offering advice from travelers for other travelers. In the tenth edition of its acclaimed Traveler’s Choice awards, the site published the favorite hotels of its users, naming Casa Velas in two categories: Best All Inclusive Hotel in Mexico in 2^nd position of 25 total hotels and in 8^th position on the list of the 25 Best All Inclusive Hotels in the World.

Casa Velas is also a member of The Leading Hotels of the World and has been recognized with Four Diamonds by the AAA as well as receiving the Certificate of Excellence in 2010 and the 2011 Traveler’s Choice awards in three categories: Luxury, Relaxation/Spa and Romantic Hotels, both by TripAdvisor®.

For more information about the hotel, please call 1-888-309-5385 or visit http://www.hotelcasavelas.com/.

Charro means cowboy or horseman in Spanish, and rodeos and displays of horsemanship are a national pastime and part of our country’s rich history. With an agenda full of excitement and Mexican traditions, the first edition of the National Charro Championship 2012 will be held at the Vallarta Arena; an event space of over 80,000 square feet that was inaugurated in May of 2011 with an unforgettable rodeo including Vicente Fernandez´ Tres Potrillos, the state champions of the state of Nayarit and many more.

Everything is set for the beginning of the Charro celebrations on January 26th at 3:00pm, including a sign decked out with the teams of the Hacienda Vieja Tequila Factory, Hacienda Serena de Jalisco and Rancho el Quevedeño from Nayarit. Don’t miss the traditional Verbena Popular and Maleconada on January 26^th and 27^th, respectively. For the grand finale of this exciting event the organizing committee puts out a call to participate in the National Pialadero Open, or roping competition, on January 30th to commemorate the 9^th Anniversary of the website DeCharros.com.

Come and enjoy the Charro celebration in Puerto Vallarta!
Take a look at our special promotions: Package

A favorite of travelers from around the world year after year, Puerto Vallarta and the Riviera Nayarit prepare for one of the most important events in the tourism sector.

Since the official announcement of the host of the Tianguis Turistico 2012, or Tourism Fair, in July 2011, the states of Jalisco and Nayarit began preparations to welcome this highly anticipated event. With 70% of the planning and logistics complete, Puerto Vallarta and the Riviera Nayarit are well on their way to guaranteeing the success of the Tianguis: from urban renovations and transportation improvements to infrastructure and security.

To commemorate this new stage of the Tianguis Turistico, held for over 30 years in the port of Acapulco, a special logotype has been designed representing most relevant aspects of Mexico as a favorite destination among tourists: tradition, adventure, beaches, businesses and luxury.

It is hoped that this year the grand beauty of our destinations will impress the name of our country upon the thousands of attendees expected for event. The Tianguis Turistico will be held from March 25^th to 28^th, 2012.

Condé Nast Traveler has published its exclusive Gold List 2012, and Grand Velas Resorts have the honor of being found among “The Best Places to Stay in the World”, according to its readers.

With over 8 million votes cast, the renowned Gold List, edition 2012, was published by Condé Nast Traveler. It includes over 500 tourism experiences: the best destinations, hotels, restaurants, cruises and airlines in the world, according to the refined taste of its readers. Resorts Grand Velas of Riviera Nayarit and Riviera Maya appear in the selection of “The Best Places to Stay in the World”, each with a score of over 90 points in the Suites and Services categories, affirming their status as world-class luxury resorts.

Read more: http://www.cntraveler.com/gold-list/2012/americas/mexico-best-hotels-resorts-gold-list-2012?page=2&

Presidential Promotions in 2012 in Puerto Vallarta

Receive 50% Discount or Complimentary Presidential Suite Upgrade

At Casa Velas Boutique Hotel & Ocean Club

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (January 6, 2012) — In honor of the 2012 US Presidential Election this fall, hotel guests can reap the benefits of candidates all year with presidential suite promotions at Casa Velas, an adults-only boutique hotel and ocean club in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.  Available now through December 22nd, groups of up to four people can take advantage of 50% off the Presidential Suite, while up to six traveling together will receive a complimentary Presidential Suite upgrade.

At over 5,550 square feet, the four-bedroom Presidential Suite features original artwork by Mexican artist Sergio Bustamante, a spacious private terrace with a 376 sq. ft. plunge pool, expansive living and dining areas, full bar, formal dining table for 10, Italian marble bathrooms and more. All-inclusive features also include gourmet a la carte dining at the hotel’s Emiliano restaurant and Private Ocean Club as well as sister property, nearby Velas Vallarta’s La Ribera Steakhouse and Andrea restaurants; premium international liquors; mini bar in suite, replenished daily; and 24-hour in-suite room-service.  The use of all facilities at both Casa Velas and Velas Vallarta, in addition to shuttle service, and all taxes and gratuities are also included.

The Presidential Suite Upgrade, available with reservations up to six people staying in a Grand Class Plus Suite or higher, starts at $320 per person, per night, based on double occupancy.  Applying the 50% discount promotion, the Presidential Suite is $1,400USD per night with a maximum occupancy of 4 people.  Additional persons are $260USD per night. The Casa Velas Presidential Suite promotions are available now through December 22nd.  The Presidential Suite sleeps a maximum of eight guests.  Upgrades are based on availability. For more information or reservations, please call 1-888-296-9010 or visit www.hotelcasavelas.com.

About Casa Velas:

Casa Velas, a boutique hotel and ocean club nestled on the greens of Marina Vallarta’s 18-hole golf course, is a member of The Leading Small Hotels of the World and a recipient of the AAA Four Diamond Award.  Located just five minutes from Puerto Vallarta Airport and only 15 from the popular downtown area, art galleries and “El Malecon” (the boardwalk), the hotel features 80 suites, some with private pools and Jacuzzis.  The recently remodeled Spa Casa Velas, a Leading Spa of the World, encompasses five treatment rooms, a hydrotherapy area, a garden-view fitness center equipped with state-of-the-art exercise equipment, and a beauty salon.  Emiliano a la carte fine dining restaurant is at the hands of one of the area’s leading chefs serving Mexican and international cuisine.  Casa Velas was chosen a Top 10 in three categories - Luxury, Relaxation/Spa and Hotel for Romance - by TripAdvisor® in its 2011 Travelers’ Choice® awards, and Expedia® named Casa Velas among the top-ranked hotels on this year’s Expedia Insiders’ Select™ list which formally recognizes the best hotels worldwide that consistently deliver excellent service, a great overall experience and a notable value.

If Mexico isn’t in the forecast for this holiday season, bring the beach to you with our Southern neighbor’s version of a Peppermint Mocha Frap – the Tamarind Mint Margarita. Perfect for a post-holiday meal refresher or New Year’s Eve fiesta, the holiday concoction uses tamarind’s sweet and sour taste to compliment the pleasant warm and aromaticflavor of the mint.

Yield: 1 cocktail

Recipe:
1.5 oz Tamarind Concentrate
4 Fresh Mint Leaves
1.5 oz Tequila
½ oz Controy (Mexican Orange Liqueur)
Dash of Lemon Juice
Dash of Simple Syrup

Preparation:
Mix all ingredients in a shaker glass filled with ice, shake vigorously and serve in salt-rimmed frosted glass.
In addition to the Tamarind Mint Margarita, Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit offers hotel guests the latest in margarita mixology from Chili Pepper and Avocado Pistachio to Huitlacoche and Cilantro Coriander. At no additional cost to hotel guests, the margarita menu is exclusively available at Frida, the resort’s fine dining Mexican restaurant and a recipient of the AAA Four Diamond Award. For more information and reservations, please visit

- Recipe Courtesy of Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit –

With the New Year coming just around the corner, a lot of people around the world like to start off on the right foot with New Year resolutions. Some recent surveys have found that 40 to 45% of Americans declare a New Year’s resolution each year. Popular resolutions include exercising more, spending more time outdoors, eating healthier, quitting bad habits, and spending more time with loved ones or family.

Well, we have put together some vacation packages at Casa Velas that are intended to help you stay on track this 2012 with your resolutions. Feel free to socially share your New Year’s resolutions and tell your friends what you will be working on!

1. Less Stress and More Relaxing in 2012
The Casa Velas All-Inclusive Spa Package includes accommodations in a Luxury Master Suite, a la carte dining at onsite gourmet restaurants, and 20 luxurious spa treatments! Spa treatments include treatments such as:
- Mud massage
- Honey scrub
- Green tea and kiwi facial
- Strawberry facial
- Bamboo scrub
- Reflexology massage

“My New Years resolution is to relax more. I am going to start with the Casa Velas All-Inclusive Spa Package!”

2. Spend More Time with Nature and the Outdoors in 2012
The Casa Velas Snorkeling & Water Sports Package includes a luxurious Grand Class Suite with private plunge pool or Jacuzzi, full-day snorkeling or scuba diving trip to the emerald waters of Banderas Bay, a guided nature walk, kayaking, parrot encounter, spa treatments, and all meals.

“My New Year’s resolution is to spend more time outdoors. I am going to start with the Casa Velas Snorkeling and Water Sports Package!

3. Exercise More and Stay Active in 2012
The Casa Velas Adventures & Canopy Tours package will get your adrenaline pumping and heart rate pounding. The package includes luxurious accommodations, a zipline adventure over treetops, repelling down cliffs, splashing through streams, sliding down water slides, and great spa treatments. Don’t forget that you will be eating healthy with your choice of all-inclusive on-site restaurants.

“My New Year’s resolution is to exercise more and stay active in 2012. I am going to start with the Casa Velas Adventures and Canopy Tours Package!

4. Work on My Golf Handicap in 2012
The Casa Veals Golf Course Package includes a luxury guest room, all-inclusive gourmet dining, golf clinics dedicated to irons, woods, putting, chipping, theoretical concepts, strategies, and two rounds of golf on fabulous 18-hole championship courses. When you day on the course is over, unwind with $100 in spa credits!

“My New Year’s Resolution is to work on my golf game. I am going to start with the Casa Velas All-Inclusive Golf Course Package!

5. Get Married in 2012!
If you are engaged and planning your big wedding day in 2012, this package might be your dream come true. The Casa Velas Wedding Package includes:
- Wedding ceremony setup
- Flower decorations and bouquets
- Champagne
- Wedding cake
- Breakfast in bed
- Beautiful beach setting
- Much more!

There are plenty of add-on features you can attach to your wedding package to make sure it matches your dream wedding. Choose to have a professional photographer, live music, and more.

“My New Year’s Resolution is to get married in 2012 and the Casa Velas Wedding Package looks like such a great fit!”