Diamond Destination: The AAA spotlights the Riviera Nayarit’s hotels and restaurants

• The American Automobile Association (AAA) reaffirmed its Four and Five Diamond awards for hotels and restaurants in Nuevo Vallarta, la Cruz de Huanacaxtle, and Punta de Mita.

With 2020 hitting its mid-year mark, the Riviera Nayarit is holding its place among Mexico’s top tourist destinations by reaffirming the number of hotels and restaurants with Four and Five Diamond designations.

The American Automobile Association (AAA) awards are the highest distinction granted to lodging and dining establishments worldwide, and only those that pass the professional and personal inspection of this association obtain a Diamond designation.

 

This year, the AAA has confirmed Five Diamond Awards for four Riviera Nayarit hotels: Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit (2007) and Grand Luxxe Residence Club (2014), located in Nuevo Vallarta, as well as Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita (2001) and The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort (2009), both located in Punta Mita.

Five Diamond Hotels are accommodations with luxurious facilities and ultra-personalized service. For 2020 only 119 hotels in the world are on this list.

 

Similarly, 11 hotels confirmed their spots in the Four Diamond category: Grand Matlali Hills Resort and Spa (2015); Dreams Villamagna Nuevo Vallarta (2009); Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta (2006); Marival Distinct Luxury Residences (2011); RIU Palace Pacífico (2009); The Grand Bliss (2011); The Grand Mayan Nuevo Vallarta (2006); Villa La Estancia (2008); Casa de Mita (2004); Iberostar Playa Mita (2014); and W Punta de Mita (2017); plus the inclusion for the first time this year of Marival Armony Punta de Mita.

The Four-Diamond establishments offer refined and elegant luxury accommodation with a high degree of hospitality, service, and attention to detail. In 2020, only 1,718 hotels are on this list.

Culinary excellence

In terms of gastronomy, the Riviera Nayarit has a lot to offer with its Five Diamond restaurant, Carolina at The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort (2010), as well as seven Four Diamond establishments: Aramara (2003); Lucca (2006); Piaf (2006); Epazote (2011); Frida (2010); Azur Bistro (2016), and Sen Lin (2019). They have also confirmed their Three Diamond awards awarded to 10 hotels and 21 of the destination’s restaurants.

 

Jesús Carmona, president of the Banderas Bay Hotel and Motel Association (AHMBB) and of the Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), mentioned that the Riviera Nayarit has piqued the interest of a select group of tourists worldwide in search of ultra-luxury resorts, exceptional gourmet experiences, and unparalleled service.

 

“Being part of the select group of hotels that have achieved the Five and Four Diamond designations is a source of pride for us; we are convinced this is the result of the continuous work of the hotel partners, of their commitment to excellence, to our guests, and to this region of the Pacific coast,” he said.

MORE INFO:

• The American Automobile Association (AAA) awards hotels and restaurants in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean with the AAA Diamond Awards. AAA inspectors visit 1,200 hotels and restaurants weekly in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean, and only 0.3 percent of the nearly 59,000 properties inspected annually are rated Five Diamonds.

Below is the list of Riviera Nayarit hotels and restaurants that have confirmed AAA Five and Four Diamond Awards.

 

FIVE DIAMOND HOTELS

Nuevo Vallarta

Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit (2007)

Grand Luxxe Residence Club (2014)

Punta Mita

Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita, Mexico (2001)

The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort (2009)

 

FOUR DIAMOND HOTELS

La Cruz de Huanacaxtle

Grand Matlali Hills Resort and Spa (2015)

Nuevo Vallarta

Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta (2006)

The Grand Mayan Nuevo Vallarta (2006)

Villa La Estancia (2008)

Dreams Villamagna Nuevo Vallarta (2009)

RIU Palace Pacífico (2009)

Marival Distinct Luxury Residences (2011)

The Grand Bliss (2011)

Punta de Mita

Casa de Mita (2004)

Iberostar Playa Mita (2014)

W Punta de Mita (2017)

Marival Armony (2020)

 

FIVE DIAMOND RESTAURANTS

Punta Mita

Carolina at The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort (2010)

 

FOUR DIAMOND RESTAURANTS

Nuevo Vallarta

Lucca (2006)

Piaf (2006)

Frida (2010)

Epazote (2011)

Azur Bistro (2016)

Sen Lin (2019)

Punta Mita

Aramara at Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita (2003)

 

Remember, Mexico’s Pacific Treasure will be here when you’re ready to travel again.

#AwaitsYou

 

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The Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) and the Bahía de Banderas Hotel and Motel Association (AHMBB) work to promote the region with the support of the Government of the State of Nayarit through its Tourism Promotion Trust (Fiprotur).