After breaking up with Kevin Federline via text message, Britney Spears went to her hometown of Kentwood, Louisiana. She wanted to be somewhere comfortable, and around the people who know her best.

After a similar life-altering event, I felt inspired to take a page from the Princess of Pop’s book. But Elkins Park, Pennsylvania is boring as all hell, so I got creative. My two best friends from childhood and I packed our bags and jumped on a flight to Puerto Vallarta, one of the Spring Break capitals of Mexico’s west coast. From there, a chauffeur drove us a little under an hour to the gated community of Punta Mita.

Before arriving, I’d seen photos of the elite beach resorts and houses. How could you not, when it’s a favorite of celebrities like the Kardashians, Kylie and Travis, Gaga, the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kanye West, etc.? Anyone with a true eye for escapism and a hankering for over-the-top lavishness has surely stumbled across an image of Punta Mita’s five-star hotels. Or mouthwatering villas. Or 9.5 miles of blissful beach.

Villa Tres Amores, a four-bedroom paradise on what feels like the edge of the world, was named in reference to the owner’s three children. Therein, we met Brenda, our private concierge, as well as Elisa, our private chef. After passing through the massive atrium, embellished with cushioned, swinging chairs and a sweet, miniature fountain, we entered into a living room that overflows with light. Beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows that extended to the bar in the room beside us, hints of the heated pool and very heated hot-tub awaited. I would come to spend no less than 15 or so hours in said pool over the coming days. The water, especially in the cool of the night, felt nirvanic.

Each bedroom is complete with its own private bathroom, most of which came with a freestanding bathtub and private shower. These lavatories were opulent enough to spend the entire day in, should you choose to. But why would you? Everything from the sunny and cozy living room to the sprawling, multi-acred gated community awaits you, depending on whether you’d rather just chill at the house (even the interior is temptingly welcoming for an all-day hang, despite wanting to be outside while in Mexico) or take the private golf cart out and explore local beach clubs, like Pacifico, where you can take private surf lessons. I stood up three times. Not to brag.

While there, make sure to check out the restaurant, which serves stunningly surreal views of the ocean, perfect for dinner at sunset. Try the ceviche and octopus. I think both dishes changed my life.

If surfing Punta Mita’s cool blue waters isn’t your cup of mezcal, you could try golfing—the gated community includes one of the world’s only holes located on its own island. But you need to get there in the morning; by the evening, the tides rise enough to make the island inaccessible by land again. Even as a non-golf enthusiast, it’s pretty wild.

You can also easily escape to the surf town of Sayulita, just 25 minutes away from the villa.

To have spent five whole nights at the villa with two wonderful people…it would have been nice. But my best friends sufficed. It was, hands down, the best trip of my life—and I must admit, I’m spoiled when it comes to travel.

So maybe I’m not Britney Spears, and I didn’t escape to Kentwood. Where I went is better.

Click below for a slideshow of Villa Tres Amore.