A Valentine's Day gift from actor Richard Burton to wife Susan Hunt, Hacienda San Angel retains the romance of that gesture. American Janice Chatterton bought Casa Bursus (Bur for Burton, Sus for Susan) from Hunt in 1977, adding two adjacent properties before deciding to turn her vacation home into a nine-room hotel. More hostess than hotelier, Chatterton personally welcomes guests to this hideaway perched above Banderas Bay but warns that her fine linen sheets are irreplaceable and allows her three dogs free rein. A knowledgeable guide with his own SUV is available free of charge for excursions around Puerto Vallartaa delightful surprise for those weaned on The Love Boat's portrayal of this town at its tackiest.
When to go: November through January.
Which room to book: Casa San Angel rooms are quietest; avoid the San Francisco Suite, just off the entrance