My wife and I have traveled extensively throughout the world during our 43 years of marriage. Without question, our favorite and most relaxing destination continues to be the Villa Corona del Mar, a Bed & Breakfast Hotel located in Rincon de Guayabitos, Mexico. The Villa is owned and operated by Sean and Karen Phillips, a mother and son team that plays host and hostess to visitors from around the world. Once serving as a private home, the gated Villa boasts of a Master Suite on the third floor and fourth floor and a total of six additional large rooms on the first and second floors of the main building, each with a private bath and private balcony. A bungalow which can accommodate four adults is located near the tennis court and swimming pool area. It contains a living room, kitchenette, and a dining area -- a perfect setting for a family or two couples traveling together.

The Master Suite has nearly 360 degrees of continuous window space providing a panorama of both the ocean and the neighboring mountain range and jungle. The elevated king size bed allows one to view the gentle waves, the beautiful sunsets, and the star-laden heavens while relaxing in bed. The Master suite has its own satellite TV and lounge area and a spacious bathroom. The accompanying fourth floor cupola contains a double bed and a second bathroom and can accommodate two additional adults. The cupola balcony atop the Villa provides a magnificent view of the sandy beach lined with palm trees and located a few feet from the front door.

All of the guests have access to common lounge areas including a separate satellite TV lounge area, an honor bar, comfortable sitting areas, and game table areas. The décor, the art work, and the furnishings throughout the Villa are all with a traditional Mexican flare. Throughout the day and evening, guests have the opportunity to mingle with one another in the common areas, or they may choose to relax alone in solitude with a good book on one of the many couches.

Breakfast is served each day in a splendid outdoor setting. A wide variety of fruit, cereal, yogurt, and breakfast rolls are spread out on a buffet table along with plenty of hot Mexican coffee--among the best I have ever tasted –to help you start your day. You are then served the hot breakfast of the day which is usually an egg dish or hot cakes accompanied with some form of breakfast meat. Occasionally chilies rellenos, the specialty of the house, are served, and breakfast is followed by a standing ovation for the cook.

In addition to providing a most comfortable setting, with neatly manicured grounds and flower beds, the Villa Corona del Mar is also recognized for its gracious staff. The owners, the Assistant Manager, the cleaning staff, the kitchen personnel, and the groundskeeper are all friendly and accommodating. They always greet you in a cheerful fashion, and any reasonable request is fulfilled with a smile. They are both kind and pleasant, and their work ethic is second to none.

The Villa is located within walking distance of the Center of Rincon de Guayabitos, a quaint Mexican village located in the State of Nayarit approximately 45 miles north of Puerto Vallarta. Situated within the residential area of the town, the Villa’s location provides the quiet serenity that many seek while on vacation, but the many attractions within the town may be accessed either by a casual stroll along the beach or by using the walkways that meander through the magnificent residential section of town. As you approach the village center, you will discover that the streets are lined with restaurants and shops where both local residents and visitors are treated in a courteous and respectful fashion. A variety of ethnic restaurants provide a wide range of menu choices from tacos, enchiladas, and hamburgers to filet mignon and pescado sarandiado – all at very attractive prices. All of your shopping needs can be accomplished as you stroll through town.

Located just to the north of Rincon de Guayabitos is the village of La Penita. Every Thursday is Market Day in La Pinita. People from miles around flock to the market where one can purchase authentic Mexican wares – glassware, leather goods, ceramics, and a variety of food products. Oftentimes, guests will gather as a group and walk to the Market together…a delightful way to spend a morning.

In short the Villa Corona del Mar provides a perfect vacation setting for all of your needs: swimming, surfing, kayaking, tennis, shopping, sunbathing, hiking, lounging, strolling on the sandy beaches, or simply relaxing by the pool. Reserve a room at the Villa Corona del Mar now for your best vacation ever.

In May 2007, we returned from a fabulous family two-week getaway to Villa Corona del Mar in Rincon de Guayabitos on Mexico's Pacific Coast. Having only traveled to the tourist and vendor crowded beaches of Puerto Vallarta as a high school student, I was pleasantly surprised as we drove into the small tranquil town of Rincon de Guayabitos. Guayabitos is an easy hour's drive from the Puerto Vallarta airport direct on one highway - so it's impossible to get lost. On the way, we caught glimpses of wildlife along the side of the road: a live armadillo and several iguanas.

As new parents of a 20-month-old son, we were thrilled to find Villa Corona del Mar. It is located in the residential area of Guayabitos, so it is very tranquil both day and night while only a 10-minute beach walk from the center of town. The B&B is luxurious for adults; affordable for couples, friends and families; and fun, safe and laid-back for small children. There are three pools; one is only two feet deep and shaded by poolside coconut palms. Awesome set up for kids fewer than 5. Ours played for hours at a time.

The Villa's website describes its breakfasts as "continental." Nothing could be further from the truth. The breakfasts were so amazing -- four or five kinds of fresh tropical fruit, four kinds of juices, cereals, yogurts, granola, raisins, coffee and pastries. And just when we thought we were full, one of the staff comes to your table to ask if you are ready for Chilaquiles, Huevos Rancheros or Huevos Vera Cruz. We ate so well at breakfast, we were easily tided over until dinner in the late afternoon. Of course, staff made sure our son was well stocked with kid-size bananas from Villa's banana tree. Great snack for our son who must have eaten three or four bananas a day while we were there!

After breakfast, we usually went for a swim in the pool or headed to the beach to build sand castles and tunnels, walk and comb the beaches, or talk to local fisherman casting from the shore. Every morning, our son was eager to find the iguanas sunning themselves or crawling in the trees in and around the Villa. Paco, the friendly house parrot was also a great distraction and conversationalist. A couple days we played tennis on the Villa's poolside court -- then enjoyed a frosty Corona from the Villa's honor-bar.

Guayabitos' clean and soft sandy beach is literally only 25 steps from the B&B's front door. It was a great place to stroll with our son along gentle waves, open-air palapas, fruit vendors and Mexican nationals on holiday. We felt like we discovered a hidden secret that the locals keep under their hats!

Guayabitos is a great launching point for other attractions in the Nayarit province. For example, there is an ecological beach preserve for sea turtles not far from Guayabitos. While our stay didn't overlap with the turtle nesting or hatching seasons, the owner/host of Villa Corona del Mar noted that on our next stay he could arrange something with the Preserve managers if we were interested. There is also a Crocodile preserve about an hour north of Guayabitos, where you can take a boat tour through mangroves to see the creatures in their own habitat. We visited Sayulita, about 20 minutes north of Guayabitos, twice. The first time for boogie boarding and kayaking, the second for a catamaran and snorkeling day trip with our son. Very fun!

We did make it to the Thursday Market Day in La Penita, and glad we did. Since we didn't have to deal with the crush of vendors on the beaches of Guayabitos, the market was the perfect setting for us to peruse the goodies and buy mementos on our own. We also strolled the public plaza and main street of Guayabitos.... Warning: Mexicans love small toddlers and will shower them with smiles, hugs and lollipops as they walk by their stores and homes. Our son, who had never really eaten candy up to this point, was pleasantly surprised on two separate occasions when a local store owner was quick to gift him a lollipop... even unwrapped it and showed him how to eat it! Fortunately, we were headed to the beach on both occasions, which helped immensely in cleaning off the red sweet sticky stuff!

And the distance to Puerto Vallarta is perfect... not too close, not too far. We booked a tree-canopy tour in the Sierra Madre mountains with Vallarta Adventures. What a memory maker -- swinging from zip line to zip line from treetop to treetop. We highly recommend the adventure if your looking for an adrenaline high. Fortunately, we found a sitter who hung out with our son for the three and half hour trip. We then toured the Vallarta Marina and enjoyed a fabulous seafood dinner along the boat docks.

The best end to our busy days was returning to our "Las Delfinas" room at the Villa, with our balcony doors open we could hear the sound of waves in our ears as we dozed off to sleep.