Wallow in the luxury of Palmilla resort, Mexico
Immerse yourself in A-list glamour at one of Mexico’s most magical beach resorts, Palmilla, writes Laura Millar
If you’ve ever wondered how the other half live, or, more specifically, how they holiday, wonder no more – I have the answer. They like sunshine. They like golden, sandy beaches. They like stretches of smooth, turquoise ocean. And they also happen to like elegant, yet relaxed, sea-front resorts, with smiling staff, delicious food, and acres of beautiful gardens. So, not so different from the rest of us then. Handily, if you really want to treat yourself, you can check in somewhere just like this; somewhere frequented by the likes of Hollywood stars past and present, from John Wayne to Jennifer Aniston.
The One&only Palmilla resort, at the tip of the Baja California peninsula in western Mexico, started life as a fairly modest, Spanish-style hacienda built by a man named Rod Rodriguez, the son of a former president of Mexico. Rod, thankfully, was blessed with exquisite taste – he also had some influential friends, including Bing Crosby, Lucille Ball, and Desi Arnaz, who came to stay in the beautiful, white-walled rooms, lined with colourful Mexican tiles, and with jaw-dropping views out to the Sea of Cortez. The property became a favourite with the A-list, and now, more than 60 years later, it’s expanded to feature 174 rooms and suites, as well as two standalone villas. Its style, décor and service appeal to modern-day stars, including Eva Longoria, Cameron Diaz and Drew Barrymore, and the good news is that us mere mortals can enjoy it too.
While I wasn’t staying in the $20,000 a night Villa One – an opulent, four bedroom residence with a cinema room, private pool and Jacuzzi, beloved by the likes of Rihanna and actor-turned-primeus-talkshow-host James Corden – I was certainly comfortable enough in my spacious room which had a sea view, standalone bathtub, and a welcome measure of tequila (well, when in Mexico…). The hotel is well spread out, set in 900 acres of lush, tropical garden, planted with palm trees, bright pink bougainvillea, and fan shaped agave cacti. There’s even a small chapel in the grounds, built when the original house was, and they still hold mass every Sunday – you can even get married here.
Staying here is, of course, a massive treat, but it’s well worth it. The resort has two main pools – one for families, with enough water spouts and inflatable animals to keep kids entertained for hours, and an adultsonly one with the added grownup advantage of a swim up bar. Attendants cater to your every whim
The adults-only pool has the added grown-up advantage of a swim up bar