Guests don’t book the Elizabeth Taylor Suite in one of Puerto Vallarta’s most elegant boutique hotels just because the stay is an experience in itself (the 2,500-square-foot sanctuary has perks like a wrap-around terrace, a private pool and jacuzzi, and a personal elevator that takes you directly to the charming downtown). Nor do they come because the One-Key Casa Kimberly was once the joint home of the Hollywood queen herself and her on-again, off-again prince charming, Richard Burton.
Even the fact that the star couple helped thrust the Mexican resort town into the international spotlight pales in comparison to the hotel’s real attraction.
Anyone who’s been to this hilltop paradise knows that the real draw is the pink marble bathtub.
The pink marble bathtub: not quite a valentine.
A Turbulent Romance and an Accidental Bathtub
At least, that’s the case for anyone with a penchant for celebrity romance and exotic bath fixtures. In the 1960s, the lovestruck pair commissioned local artisans to create a valentine heart-shaped tub for Taylor's bathroom. Their request was misunderstood and the bath arrived in the shape of a literal, anatomical human heart.Today, that tub still remains—it sits in the Elizabeth Taylor Suite inside Casa Kimberly, this nine-room boutique hotel fashioned from the couple's former pied-à-terre perched high above the hilly terrain and glistening bay in the cosmopolitan port city of Puerto Vallarta. Golden beaches, lush mountains, and a nearly perfect climate had been attracting the jet-setting crowd since the 1930s, but the town saw a boom in the '60s when the famously turbulent duo were spotted exploring the cobblestone streets.
When you get here, you may ascend to Taylor's former private quarters from the hotel’s courtyard, up a set of hand-painted tiled steps to the exclusive sanctuary adorned with perfectly polished marble floors and pillars, or you may take a private elevator directly from street to suite.
From top: The bedroom, terrace lounge, and bathroom of the Elizabeth Taylor Suite. The bathroom has its own balcony and large-scale mirror where Taylor once did her makeup.
Need to Know
Where's it set?
PV, as it’s often called by regulars, is a vibrant port city on Mexico’s Pacific Coast known for its rich culinary scene, sizzling nightlife, abundant adventure, and captivating history. The region is naturally breathtaking, set amid the Sierra Madre mountains and abundant with tropical jungles, waterfalls, and whale sightings. Some come for hiking and water sports, others for boutique shopping and gallery-hopping, and many simply for the beach.
On offer: spectacular views of the Sierra Madre mountains in the distance.
Who comes here?
Those in search of a tranquil getaway to Mexico’s Pacific Coast will find the intimacy of Casa Kimberly unmatched. A far cry from Puerto Vallarta’s buzzing resort scene, the hotel offers a quiet luxury that might escape the average visitor here. Aficionados of art and design, as well as history buffs, are sure to enjoy the ambience and element of sophistication.The Elizabeth Taylor Suite is particularly suited for couples in search of an exclusive escape from the coastal city’s crowded resorts.
The statue of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton that sits at the hotel entrance.
What's to eat?
The Iguana Restaurant and Tequila Bar serves a mix of traditional Mexican and more contemporary dishes—its retractable walls letting in the breeze, its live mariachi band creating an excellent ambiance. If you're in the Elizabeth Taylor suite, you may opt some nights for room service dining on the private patio.
The Iguana Restaurant and Tequila Bar, with its retractable wall open to the breeze.
How to book a room at Casa Kimberly?
Head over to the hotel page, here. Our customer service team can help you book the Elizabeth Taylor Suite or another particular room.
Another stellar bathtub, this one in the Cleopatra Suite.
Keep Exploring
The top suite isn't the only ode to Taylor: her portrait takes a place of honor above the stairway.
In fact, every suite is named for something related to Taylor's life or filmography. This is the Velvet Suite, for the 1944 film, "National Velvet."
The V.I.Ps Suite: with its own wrap-around terrace and panoramic views.
The Cleopatra Suite's private terrace with sunken jacuzzi.
One of two adjoining villas that makes up the Casa Kimberly hotel.
The Sandpiper and Flora rooms open onto Casa Kimberly's scenic courtyard.
The famed "Puente del Amor" that connected Taylor's quarters with Burton's.
The gorgeous Casa Kimberly, as seen from the pool.
