Palmilla is as suitable for hushed-toned honeymooners as it is for families of six playing Marco Polo. There are two oceanside pool areas: one for the noisemakers (you and yours) and one, way on the other side of the property, for the would-be eye rollers and shushers (those without kids). The ocean (one of the only swimmable beaches in the vicinity), which is closer to the family pool, is a free-for-all. The posh Palmilla, which was recently renovated for $100 million, was the backdrop for a surprise 50th birthday party for John Travolta. But even with its litany of luxuries—a 27-hole Jack Nicklaus–designed golf course, a 22,000-square-foot spa complex, and three restaurants (including C, from world-renowned chef Charlie Trotter)—this impeccable property also has a soul: Every time you pass a hotel employee, whether a gardener or the concierge, you get the signature salutation—a quick hand over the heart accompanied by a slight bow of the head. This small, gracious gesture is just one of hundreds of well-thought-out details that distinguish Palmilla and give you the sense you have happened upon a small village frozen in time. Of course, the minute you leave the grounds, you realize you aren't in a small village but, rather, in a major tourist center that is in a perpetual state of expansion. But take a drive south along the coast on a cliff-clinging dirt road and you just might resurrect that post-collegiate fantasy of quitting it all and living under a beachfront palapa for the rest of your life. Or stay within the confines of the resort and realize that you don't need that fantasy anymore—you've arrived. From $500 for standard oceanfront in low season to $1,670 for a deluxe suite in high season; (011)+52-624-146-7000.

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