Detailed Review: Come Inside The # One&Only Mandarina

 
Occasion: Birthday celebration
 
Date of Stay: November 2020
 
Who: Couples Trip
 
On the 1st of November, I checked into the One & Only Mandarina, which was their actual opening day. During this time I stayed for two nights as a paying guest on their property and toured it extensively.
 
It is located in a unique part of Mexico with rain forest and a swimmable beach that has clear water.
 
While many parts of the hotel are still under construction, we liked what we saw and there is no reason at all why this property couldn’t be one of the best resort properties in Mexico once it’s fully completed.
HOW TO BOOK THE ONE AND ONLY MANDARINA:
Booking your stay through a Virtuoso agent such as Clements Travelwill afford you the following added benefits, at no extra cost:
  • Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
  • Complimentary a la carte breakfast daily for two guests per bedroom
  • USD 100 equivalent Resort or Hotel credit to be utilized during stay (not combinable, not valid on room rate, no cash value if not redeemed in full)
  • Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi
It is not uncommon for the One&Only Mandarina to have promotions with most of their room categories where you can book four nights and only pay for three. .
 
Message me for a complimentary quote today. I am ABTA and ATOL bonded and do not charge booking fees.
GETTING TO THE ONE & ONLY MANDARINA
The closest airport is Puerto Vallarta (PVR) which has direct flights to and from the US and European major cities on most days. The 49-mile ride to the hotel is a comfortable 1-hour journey along the Pacific coast in which you will pass through picturesque rainforests and surfing towns.
GETTING TO THE ONE & ONLY MANDARINA
The closest airport is Puerto Vallarta (PVR) which has direct flights to and from the US and European major cities on most days. The 49-mile ride to the hotel is a comfortable 1-hour journey along the Pacific coast in which you will pass through picturesque rainforests and surfing towns.
NOW TIME FOR THE REVIEW

We traveled by car from Guadalajara, passing tequila fields and traditional Mexican villages, The hotel is located down a driveway, where the signage could be improved – we did get lost and ended up at a very much under construction Rosewood hotel. A tour guide working nearby ended up giving us directions to the property.

Due to unexpectedly crossing a time zone within Mexico we arrived at the hotel earlier than planned which meant we were the very first guests to ever check in. Many of the staff came out to greet us including the general manager Serge Ditesheim (ex Aman and Banyan Tree). Cold face towels and a refreshing passion fruit cocktail. One staff member also bought a bowl of water out for our small dog which was a much-welcome detail!
 
Immediately we were blown away by the beautiful lush green rainforest setting of the property.
Check-in was smooth, there are no desks, instead, you are seated in the lobby while the necessary formalities were undertaken. As this was happening our suitcases were unloaded from the car and it was then valet parked. Parking was complimentary for the duration of the stay.
 
After this process, we were then taken in an electric motorized cart to our room which was an Oceanview Treehouse.
 
OUR TREEHOUSE WITH OCEANVIEW WAS OUT OF THIS WORLD
As with all other rooms and suites on the property, our Treehouse was fully detached. We were upgraded from a flora and fauna view to an ocean view room.
 
Our Tree House was located a good 40 feet from the ground, with an expansive balcony and small infinity pool. Understandably, due to the height, the property does not allow children under 18-years old in this room category for safety reasons.
A wooden path linked the road to our treehouse. The advantage of being so high up from the forest floor was the beautiful view of the treeline and of course, the added oceanview was a bonus. You can put a rope across this path if you don’t want to be disturbed. Each villa has two umbrellas should it start to rain – which thankfully it didn’t during our stay.
 
The dark wood walls and floors gave the room a look of sophistication and luxury while blending into the surrounding environment
When entering the room, you pass through a small foyer to get to the main part of the bedroom – consisting of a king-sized bed (extremely comfortable), a desk, and a coffee table with two chairs. There is a minibar but it wasn’t overly stocked due to current government regulations.
 
What we did like most about the interior of the room was the sunbed/daybed which had a skylight above it. The skylight could be covered at night to prevent morning light from coming into the room.
There was a working desk, with power points and stationary.
 
A pair of binoculars came with the room which was a fun addition. On day two we were able to spot a pod of dolphins in the ocean below using these. Several bird species call the surrounding forest home.
 
Huge, floor-to-ceiling windows surround the whole room where beautiful views can be had throughout the day – especially at sunset (sunsets on the Pacific Coast are always something special).
 
The doors between the bedroom and balcony open right up for the near entirety of the room which provides open plan living. The blackout curtains did their job well.
 
We spent a lot of time enjoying the balcony. As I mentioned earlier it was very large – maybe as big as the room itself. We ordered a few cocktails to the room which we sipped on while enjoying the views and peacefulness of the forest.
 
There was a double sun lounger on one side and a dining table for two to the other. The centerpiece is a small infinity pool. The pool’s temperature could be adjusted to your liking. While my photos don’t pick up the oceanview clearly, do trust me when I say it was there.
 
The oversized bathroom has a vanity constructed out of black marble. There was a lot of space to layout toiletries and double basins. Points need to be given for having the water in the bathroom in glass bottles instead of plastic.
 
Toiletries consisted of soap, conditioner, shampoo, and body lotion – all of which came in a pump bottle format. Manufactured by Mexican company ‘X I N U’ they are made out of natural herbs, citruses, and oils. I was very impressed by them and will visit the X I N U showroom next time I am in Mexico City.
 
What we loved most in the bathroom was the double head rain shower. The shower led to an outdoor bathtub. While outside it was completely private with views of the forest. I would have appreciated some bath salts to go with the bathtub.
 
Note: Not all room types do not have an exterior bath.
 
Not the most exciting pic but I did want to include it to show the incredible amount of closest storage that the room had – which would be handy for longer stays.
 
There are two different robes types housed in the wardrobe – fluffy style and kimono style.
 
dining at the one&only mandarina
There are currently three dining areas throughout the property. Each area has a swimming pool area attached with loungers, cabanas, and beautiful forest and sea views. Unlike many other hotels, the One&Only Mandarina do not charge for cabana use.
alma restaurant
Alma offers all-day dining starting with a comprehensive breakfast menu in the mornings. The pastries are addictive and coffee is made to perfection.
Lunch and dinner can also be had here. The food was of a consistently high standard and represented good value for money.
Two wood-fire ovens make the most delicious flatbreads which are served with a variety of fresh dips.
 
I noticed they were in the process of building a bar, which looked to be nearly finished. This would be a good space to mingle and socialize with other guests.
Outside of the restaurant were two infinity pools each with a different view. One of the Pacific Ocean the other being of the forest. Both at a consistent depth of 1.20 meters deep which I found to be a bit too shallow for my liking.
 
As expected, food and drink could be ordered poolside – which came beautifully presented in wooden picnic baskets.
carao at the one&only mandarina
The signature restaurant of the One&Only Mandarina which offers Mexican cuisine. Led by celebrity chef Enrique Olvera from the famous Pujol restaurant in Mexico City (12th best restaurant in the world).
 
As it was opening night Chef Enrique was actually onsite. Not only did we get to meet him ( but he was actually in the kitchen and cooked for us. A true once in a lifetime experience.
The open plan kitchen means that those diners sitting inside the restaurant can see everything going on. This made the dining experience all that more interesting.
The open plan kitchen means that those diners sitting inside the restaurant can see everything going on. This made the dining experience all that more interesting.
It has to be said that the dining experience was one of our favorite memories from our stay. Everything was just perfect. I think Carao will be getting a Michelin Star or two in no time!
A pool area is also attached to the restaurant – this is the acts adults-only pool area of the One&Only Mandarina. Poolside dining is also available here.
 
Future guests take note, this is the best place on the property to witness those famous Pacific Coast sunsets. Which we did with a glass of champagne and a camera in hand.
THE JETTY BEACH CLUB AND BEACH AREA
The Jetty Beach Club provides afternoon dining. As you have probably guessed by the name it is located in the beach area of the One&Only Mandarina.
 
The main restaurant area is a covered terrace with views of the beach. It serves a variety of dishes ranging from fresh ceviche and shellfish to a selection of grilled fish and meats.
Below the restaurant is a pool and sun lounger area. The low temperature of the pool made it a refreshing way to cool off from the heat of the sun.
.
The final part of this area is of course the beach.
Unlike many areas of the Pacific Coast, this beach is perfectly swimmable. The waves are not too high which means the whole family can enjoy it safely. It is good to see that all the pool areas, including the beach, have a lifeguard on duty.
The water is warm and completely clear (see photo). The sand is golden in color and quite fine.
 
I did notice several non-motorized water sport options on offer, such as sea kayaking and paddle boarding.
 
Every evening, there is a ceremony where hotel staff light the flame at the actual jetty area. This is worth going down to the beach to witness, it does look quite spectacular.
Let’s enjoy a few more pics of that sunset…
ONE&ONLY MANDARINA SPA AND FITNESS AREA
As we were there during the opening weekend the spa wasn’t quite open yet. However, the hotel staff kindly gave us a tour of the facility. The area is impressive in terms of detail and size.
 
Each locker room (male and female) has an ice fountain, cold plunge pool, sauna, and steam room.
A boutique is on-site selling a range of Tata Harper beauty and wellness products. This is the same brand of product as they use in the spa.
 
Most of the spa is outdoor in a tranquil setting that is perfectly landscaped. There is a pool with loungers and also a fire pit, They even a temazcal hut!
 
Note – the photos look a bit bare as the hotel is brand new, as of 2022 the plants are nearly fully grown and the area is now lush and green
The gym is comprehensive, with all the equipment that one would need to stay fit during their stay. There are daily classes and personal trainers available.
ONE& ONLY MANDARINA ‘KIDSONLY’ CLUB
The kids club wasn’t quite open when we were there in the opening week. As with the spa, we did get to have a sneak preview of this area too. This could be one of the best and biggest hotels or resort kids club in the world.
 
Highlight from our tour was seeing the:
  • Butterfly house, that when finished will be full of color (what kid doesn’t love butterflies)
  • Insect house
  • Giant sandbox
  • Outdoor amphitheater
  • Gaming consoles
  • Giant multilevel treehouse/fort with lookouts, multiple rooms, swing bridges, and more
HOW TO BOOK THE ONE AND ONLY MANDARINA
Booking your stay through a Virtuoso agent such as myself will afford you the following added benefits, at no extra cost:
  • Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
  • Complimentary a la carte breakfast daily for two guests per bedroom
  • USD 100 equivalent Resort or Hotel credit to be utilized during stay. (Not combinable, not valid on room rate, no cash value if not redeemed in full)
  • Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi
There is also a promotion with most of their room categories – book four nights and only pay for three. A guaranteed upgrade is also on offer at the moment.
 
Message us for a complimentary quote today. Clements Travel is ABTA and ATOL bonded, thanks to its partnership with Protravel. Booking fees are not charged on hotels.
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We’ve put together the ultimate travel inspiration guide to help you find the perfect vacation. Whether you’re looking for a romantic retreat, the thrill of a lifetime, or an incredible multi-stop adventure, we’ve got you covered.

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