Book a holiday season getaway at El Careyes, a 51 room beach-side resort on Mexico’s Costalegre between Manzanillo and Puerto Vallarta, between December 20 and December 28, 2009 and they’ll toss in a whole host of additional reasons to celebrate. Special package rates (from $480 per night double occupancy, minimum four night stay) include a bevy of festive freebies including a welcome mocktail and fruit platter, a complimentary bottle of wine, a surprise Christmas gift, daily breakfast for two at La Lantana Restaurant (don’t miss the chilaquiles), a one-hour massage per couple, airport transfers, a one hour horseback ride plus complimentary use of the tennis courts, Jacuzzi, steam room and fitness center.

It may be named after a fantastic yellow flower but glorious hot pink is clearly the favorite color at Las ­Alamandas, Isabel Goldsmith-Patiño’s chic and eco (what I like to call “checo”) resort.  First - the chic. The resort, on Mexico’s dramatic and gorgeous Costalegre (two hours south of Puerto Vallarta), has its own air strip which is pretty damn chic assuming you have a plane. Whichever way you arrive, once you’re at Las Alamandas privacy is pretty much assured.

­Hotelito Desconocido (“Little Unknown Hotel”) on Mexico’s glorious Costalegre was a pioneer in the eco-luxe category and garnered its share of recognition and celebrity guests for its innovative (at the time) blend of green ideas (no electricity, natural and local building products) and jungle chic (outdoor bamboo showers, nesting turtles). Last year, Condé Nast Johansens recognised Hotelito Desconocido as one of the best destinations in the world and last month the same group recognized the hotel as one of the best green properties in the world. The hotel has even featured on Conde Nast Traveler magazine’s “Room with a View” page.