Are you ready to travel? Do you want to go somewhere exotic but do not want to take a 20 hour+ flight? Do you want to make sure you are socially distanced? If you answered YES, YES, YES...I have the perfect place for you! I was privileged with the opportunity to visit One & Only Mandarina, a new resort in Riviera Nayarit, just opened on November 1st. This property made me feel as though I traveled to a remote island in Indonesia. The resort is immersed in a jungle with a bonus of having a beach.
What is the property like????
I ABSOLUTELY LOVED the layout of this resort, as it is spaciously laid out over acres and acres of jungle land...literally planned for social distancing before social distancing was a “thing”! The accommodations are individually designed so you can choose to stay in either a standalone treehouse or in a larger villa style accommodation that is great for a group of friends or a multi-generational family vacation.
What did I stay in???
I stayed in Ocean Treehouse #327 perched hidden within the jungle including views of the ocean in the distance. I loved the location of this treehouse...I felt hidden at the end of a cul de sac like road. The layout and décor of this treehouse was so on point! Spaciously everything made sense with the layout and made for a nice flow. Indoors I had 3 seating areas which were well thought out and nice: the desk area...2 chairs and table in the “living area” and the daybed which separated the bathroom from the main area of the room. The bathroom was a wonderful size including a private water closet, spacious double vanity, HUGE shower area and a doorway to an outdoor tub perfectly situated for a relaxing bath. The interior design was sleek and modern but was so comfortable and really has a “sense of place”. The size of the outdoor terrace was absolutely perfect! There was room for a double lounger, a nice sized heated plunge pool and a table with 2 chairs that is perfect to begin the day with a private breakfast.
Who doesn’t want a personal driver?!?!
If I never had to drive again, I would be oh so happy! At home that is not reality but this was one aspect I enjoyed at this resort. Since this resort is so widespread there are buggies and buggy attendants that drive guests around the property. They were so easy to work with and truly wanted to please guests. I found some guests complained about the timing of the buggies. To avoid this issue, I would say be sure to communicate what your needs are, as I did, for a seamless service. For example, I knew when and where I was going throughout the day/evening so I would explain to the attendant my schedule and they did their best to have someone from the buggy team waiting for me each step of my day throughout the itinerary.
Is it really possible to travel to Mexico right now?
Given the restrictions on travel due to COVID, some of my family members and friends were surprised I was able to travel to Mexico. With our clients very much wondering about how it is to travel outside of the country right now, I decided it was best for me to travel and document my stay on my Instagram stories for followers to see first hand how I went about traveling as safely as possible.
I flew nonstop on United from EWR to PVR. I honestly pretty much had my own private plane. There were very few people on my flight and EWR airport was and is employing COVID safety measures.
For the safety of our group, we all took a COVID test 5 days prior to our arrival date even though Mexico does not require one. We each submitted a negative test result within 24 hours of our arrival. Upon my return, I followed the CDC recommendations:
Get tested 3-5 days after travel AND stay home for 7 days after travel.
Even if you test negative, stay home for the full 7 days.
If your test is positive, isolate yourself to protect others from getting infected.
If you don’t get tested, it’s safest to stay home for 10 days after travel.
Avoid being around people who are at increased risk for severe illness for 14 days, whether you get tested or not.
Always follow state and local recommendations or requirements related to travel.
Tell me something TO DO…
While I do love a day of relaxing on a beach in a lounge chair with a drink in my hand I am not someone that can just sit and do nothing for very long though! Here are some activities that I enjoyed during my trip that you may want to experience too...
A visit to the One&Only Mandarina Spa is an absolute MUST!!! I had my first spa appointment since March and loved it so much that I made sure to have another one before my flight home. The therapists were very attentive and talented. They truly made me feel relaxed and took away my stresses which is honestly not an easy task! They were safe and followed COVID protocols completely.
Due to an injury, I was unable to partake in a hiking experience that my group enjoyed. In lieu of the hike, I had a private astrology appointment on my terrace. I really enjoyed this experience! The astrologer was so profound and everything she said to me resonated deeply within me. Also, this experience was in the comfort of my own treehouse which was the perfect location for this spiritual journey.
One & Only Mandarina had also planned for us to visit San Pancho followed by lunch at La Perla. I loved having this local and casual “feet in the sand” type of dining experience as well as felt safe walking around the town to the authentic boutiques. I was pleasantly surprised to see the servers at the restaurant wearing masks as well as offering us hand sanitizer. They really embrace our new way of living and want us to feel comfortable and safe.
Other FUN Experiences for Guests….
Equestrian Club:
Horseback Riding Lessons
Polo Lessons
Trail Rides
Charro nights that make you feel rooted in Mexico.
Ocean Adventures:
Scuba diving with Whale Sharks
Surf Lessons
Kayaking
Paddle Boarding
Boating Excursions.
Land Adventures:
Zip lining
Hiking
Eco Adventure Hunt
Sports:
Soccer
Football
Frisbee Golf
Croquet
Tennis
Pickle ball
Basketball
Archery
Do you want to be VIP???
I have great relationships with people on property and the sales team so the clients of Jet Set Getaways receive VIP status and the below perks at no additional cost!!!!
Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability.
Daily a la carte breakfast for two guests per bedroom, available in our restaurant Alma
$100 USD 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
Ready to Jet to One & Only Mandarina?
If you have any specific questions please feel free to follow us on Instagram, send us a DM or write your inquiries on the “contact” section of this website.
