Four Seasons | Puerto Vallarta | Hotel La Jolla | chef

"There's such a variety of places to stay, from very family-friendly-priced places to luxurious fantasy vacations. A few weeks ago, we stayed at the Four Seasons in Punta Mita. We had our children, and my mom and dad came along. My husband and I had a romantic candlelit dinner on the beach. The Four Seasons has an incredible spa. The masseuses are so strong. One of them told me their secret was all the chocolate they ate. In Puerto Vallarta, the Hotel La Jolla is very moderately priced and wonderful. It's convenient to everything - shops, beaches, all the points of interest - and it's got such charm. Another place is Costa Azul, where your meals are included. It's very family-friendly and has all of the activities. It's about 30 minutes from the main town. If you're looking for a villa, Casa Demae overlooks the ocean, has a great infinity pool, a staff, and it's big enough for six couples or three families."

DINNER
"Café des Artistes is a must. Everything the chef, Thierry Blouet, does is a work of art. If I could only eat one thing, it would be the chicken poblano and the soufflé from Café des Artistes. The setting is so romantic, with secluded dining patios overlooking the outdoors. They put on fashion shows with local models wearing local clothing while you're dining. The restaurant was such an inspiration that we tried to duplicate its look and feel in our showroom in North Carolina. The restaurant now includes Gallery des Artistes, where you can buy beautiful art from all different periods, all different genres, all different artists."

NIGHTLIFE