where should I stay in Cabo?

[nejarb]

I''m looking for suggestions for good places to stay in Cabo. Any stories to share about trips there? resorts? hotels? resturaunts? thanks

 

[diamondfan]

i think the One and Only Palmilla is supposed to be great...

 

[KristyDarling]

Casa del Mar - small, intimate, romantic, luxurious but still reasonably priced. Has an excellent restaurant. 1 beautiful eternity pool.
Marquis Los Cabos -- medium sized hotel, quite luxurious, more expensive but well worth it. Has multiple pools, including a heated one that's great for families. Restaurant is not bad.

Service and cleanliness at both hotels is top-notch.

ETA: both hotels are just outside of downtown Cabo in the quieter area dotted with resorts along the coast. If you want nightlife and a more festive atmosphere, stay downtown. I've never stayed at a hotel there so I don't have any recs for that, sorry.

 

[nejarb]

Wow, those places you ladies suggested are all really nice--in fact they''re too nice for us at this point in our lives. We''re just kids! we were hoping to spend less than 3k for the whole trip (including parking at airport, bottled water, new bikini, etc.)! we want to go for 4 nights in mid december.

Has anyone ever stayed at the Riu? it''s all-inclusive, which i''ve never done before, but i''ve heard good and bad from others about.

One of my guy''s friend''s reccommended it. it looks really big and a little cheesy, but i''m sure it''ll be a nice break to relax and get some sun before i lock myself in a study room at the library for 2 months to prepare for the bar exam.

 

[MsP]

The Riu Palace resorts are nice but I wouldn''t recommend the regular Riu resorts. I haven''t stayed at a Riu Palace that I didn''t like... the regular Riu''s are just normal all inclusive resorts that IMO aren''t impressive or even tolerable.

 

[anacgarcia]

Las ventanas al paraiso, is one of the best hotels.. a friend went there to his honeymoon and I saw the pictures and was like

, they even met nick lachey there

hehe



las ventanas al paraiso

 

[KristyDarling]

Ventanas is gorgeous but it''s something like $900/night! I think the original poster wanted something more down-to-earth.

Have you checked out tripadvisor.com? The site bases its hotel ratings on user reviews, so it''s fairly reliable.

 

[diamondfan]

Justs want to let you know, since prior to going years ago, I did not know...the whole area is called Los Cabos. (the Capes). There is Cabo San Lucas and San Jose Del Cabo. If I recall, San Jose is more quiet and Cabo San Lucas is more touristy and rowdy. I have not been in 16 years, and when we went the whole area was less developed than today. My dh just went recently and the area is booming. Tons of American retirees etc, people with second homes...there was a golf course for example that after he was leaving was being turned into luxury homes. Two rows of homes, beach front row (small lots) 8 million US dollars, second row, not far from beach, small, with homes in front of you, 4 million US dollars. INSANE. So the area is clearly burgeoning. We stayed in San Jose and would go into Cabo proper, it was much busier to me, but this is a long time ago...in Cabo San, there are these really cool stone arches and this area with a hotel called the Finisterra (spelling) which literally means the end of the earth or land...I think it is the southermost point geographically on the Baja coast...

 

[anacgarcia]

Date: 10/30/2006 11:24:28 PM
Author: KristyDarling
Ventanas is gorgeous but it''s something like $900/night! I think the original poster wanted something more down-to-earth.

Have you checked out tripadvisor.com? The site bases its hotel ratings on user reviews, so it''s fairly reliable.

oops! i didn''t know it was that expensive.. here''s the link to the hotel diamondfan mentioned:

Finisterra

 

[:)]

Date: 10/30/2006 3:55:31 PM
Author: nejarb
Wow, those places you ladies suggested are all really nice--in fact they're too nice for us at this point in our lives. We're just kids! we were hoping to spend less than 3k for the whole trip (including parking at airport, bottled water, new bikini, etc.)! we want to go for 4 nights in mid december.

Has anyone ever stayed at the Riu? it's all-inclusive, which i've never done before, but i've heard good and bad from others about.

One of my guy's friend's reccommended it. it looks really big and a little cheesy, but i'm sure it'll be a nice break to relax and get some sun before i lock myself in a study room at the library for 2 months to prepare for the bar exam.

Yes, we have. It is a RIU palace - we were considering the One and Only for that trip, but I couldn't pass this one up for the deal that it was!... First of all I would check to make sure all the storms down in Cabo over the past few months did not damage any resorts. I do recommend all inclusive down there - you expect it to be cheap b/c it is Mexico, but they charge American prices everywhere (and then some!). All food and alcohol is included - you have a refrigerator in the room with h2o, soda, and beer that they restock. You also have liquor bottles of vodka, rum, tequilla and whisky, and brandy -they are in the upside down dispensers but they put new bottles in if you use them up. THey also have open bars scattered around there where you can get mixed drinks. Two swim up bars too. There is a disco that opens late at night. They have nightly 'entertainment' that you wouldn't normally go to, but somehow is okay b/c you are on vacation! You can make 'reservations' (no extra charge, but you have to have a reserved time slot) for some of their restaurants - the Japanese restaurant is excellent. Room gets made twice daily - once to make up the room, and then turn down service. I liked the nonreservation places b/c I did not want to be on a schedule (it was, after all, vacation!) and I liked the really large selections there.

The service was fine, the people are friendly. Sometimes people complain about the service in Mexico, but I think it is b/c we speak a different language than they do, and sometimes I think the aggressiveness of Americans is intimidating to some of the staff. Some will avert their eyes (I think this is what is interpreted as the unfriendliness or snobbishness) - I do not think they do this b/c they are unfriendly, but because they are uncomfortable/shy and do not know what to expect. If you simply say 'hola' or smile, they will always respond in kind with a big smile and 'hola'.

We were on the top floor right by the ocean and left the sliding door open every night to listen to the literal pounding of waves - the beach break is steep there, so it sounds incredible. Be careful about getting pulled in - the first night we were there we were walking in the moonlight along the shore and a wave came farther up than usual and the undertow knocked me off my feet and actually started dragging me (fully clothed!) into the water. As I was trying to get get up another wave knocked me back over and almost dragged me the rest of the way - my poor F was struggling to help me get back up and almost getting knocked over himself - we made it out and laugh about it now, but I ruined a skirt (tore a gigantic jagged hole in it) and really had a scare at the time due to the power of the waves.

Exercise room was adequate - it is oceanfront with all glass along the front window so you can ride a bike or treadmill or elliptical while watching the rays jump out of the water in the morning (that was really neat to watch). Don't try to go too late in the day - it is air conditioned, but the sun starts heating up some corners of the room pretty fiercely in the mid afternoon (of course this was in July so it will be better now). Difficult to run on the beach b/c the sand is kind of rough and the slope is steep, but walking is fine.

They do have spa services, but I was so busy 'relaxing' at the pool, gym, etc that I never actually made use of them!

At night they had some cheesy 'shows' that most people went to and had drinks - some vendors would come and sell pottery, jewelry, etc set up outdoors inside the RIU confines.

Some of the noise would echo through the complex - the 'adult' pool is on the left if you are standing on the beach facing the resort, and the 'activities pool' is on the right - the activities pool is much louder - we were fortunate enough to be on the 'adult' side. We did not have any trouble hearing any neighbors through the walls or anything.

The pool is very nice to relax and read books by under the umbrella - make sure you bring plenty of books b/c the book selection down there is extremely sparse. They do charge top dollar for everything - sunscreen, magazines, postcards, etc so just be prepared and don't expect to buy things down there (like leaving items at home instead of bringing them with you b/c you are expecting them to be dirt cheap since it is Mexico)

Couple of words about where you choose to stay - if you choose SAn Jose del Cabo it will be quieter and more 'authentic Mexico', but also not as much to do if you leave your resort (unless you take an ATV trip, etc). With CAbo SAn Lucas it is closer to town and you can walk down the beach. The Riu is at the end of the CAbo San Lucas strip (towards San Jose), and is MUCH quieter than the other places down the strip. I think Laguna Beach (the TV show) overpopularized CAbo, and as you walk down the beach towards the town it turns into Spring Break Central (at least when we were there - all the kids staying in the Laguna Beach place and the ones around it) - fun to walk by and reminisce watching the partying and wet t shirt contests and dancing bachelor contests, but the amount of litter the americans were putting on the beach - washing the beer bottles out to the ocean along with cigarettes and food wrappers, etc was embarrassing where the 'spring break' section of the beach was. (I had to think the Mexicans must think we are the most disrespectful people in the world for this)

The Riu is nicely situated far enough away that the noise from that does not affect the RIU. A lot of the street peddlers that sell on the beach stay more down the Laguna BEach section so there are fewer (but still plenty) by the RIU.

If you go out to eat, Mi Casa (the Mexican place, not the seafood place) is excellent. We rarely left the RIU except to walk down the beach - I was very tired and just needed to relax on that trip. If it bothers you to be relaxing in nice surroundings and then seeing poverty around you when you leave the resort, then you likely will be most comfortable staying at whatever resort you choose.

Although places are all inclusive, the cleaning staff really does appreciate a couple of dollars a day if you feel so inclined - I usually left it in an envelope that I made a notation in Spanish that it was for the maid, and a small amount for the person that stocks the refrigerator when we needed it stocked (in a separate envelope labeled for that person). One day the cleaning lady wrote a "thank you" back which made me feel good. I saw one lady all the time that I swear was there morning and night - washing the restrooms by the pool all morning (I mean constantly cleaning!) and the floor in one of the open air food places between the pools, and then at night she had changed into their night time uniform cleaning in the large meal place. The woman did not stop cleaning. ALWAYS working. It was incredible. I felt so bad. I ended up giving her $20 when I saw her one day, trying to communicate in broken spanish that I had noticed that she worked so hard. She thanked me (she looked so tired) and without missing a single beat went right back to cleaning!!!

Taking a large number of singles with you is a good idea for tipping, or even for cab rides, buying jewelry, etc - unless you want to return with a lot of pesos! They do have some very nice Mexican Fire Opals - I bought a few from a jewelry store in the mall there - you can take larger bills for purchases like that, but in general if you stay in an all inclusive and remain there most of the time you won't spend much money.

The Riu does have a safe in the room for your valuables. You do have a carry a key with you (it is not a programmable safe), they do, however, place it on a long rope which is adjustable.

Also, whatever you do, set up transportation to your resort before you go down there. The time share salespeople are a really aggressive - just avoid them, it isn't worth your time for what they offer. After you go through the baggage claim and then the big xray machine they make you place your bag on, start walking VERY quickly for the exit - the time share people are all dressed up behind counters in the airport and at first you think they are official airport people calling you over to get checked or something - you place your luggage on the xray machine, walk though a ton of time share people trying to get your attention at the desks, and then make a left turn through another group of people until you finally get to the exit - that is where the people who pick you up are waiting - DON'T STOP UNTIL YOU ARE OUTDOORS - that is where you will find the transporation - if you stop before you get outdoors you are in trouble and have to try to extricate yourself from the sales pitches.

Sorry so wordy, hope this helps. I do think that is was a deal considering that it included airfare, all meals, beverages (including liquor), and accomodations.

 

[nejarb]

thank you

San Jose del Cabo sounds more relaxing, but there aren''t any all-inclusive resorts that are as nice as the Riu. And I''m worried we''ll get there and end up spending over 200/day on food and drinks b/c we''ll want to have all our meals at the hotel resturaunts.

We''ve decided to stay at the Riu Palace. I think it''ll be fun. We''re just going there to relax, so we probably won''t even leave the place. The only thing that sounds a little wierd about it is the liquor dispensers in the room. are they unsightly?

thanks again for all the great info.

 

[:)]

Date: 10/31/2006 9:58:06 AM
Author: nejarb
thank you

San Jose del Cabo sounds more relaxing, but there aren''t any all-inclusive resorts that are as nice as the Riu. And I''m worried we''ll get there and end up spending over 200/day on food and drinks b/c we''ll want to have all our meals at the hotel resturaunts.

We''ve decided to stay at the Riu Palace. I think it''ll be fun. We''re just going there to relax, so we probably won''t even leave the place. The only thing that sounds a little wierd about it is the liquor dispensers in the room. are they unsightly?

thanks again for all the great info.

Ha ha, no - you won''t even notice them - they are hidden in an alcove over the refrigerator lined up in a row, mounted on the wall. It is fairly dark in the area so you won''t have to look at them! We used them I think once or twice, otherwise you won''t even notice them.

 

[diamondlove]

I''ve also heard good things about the One and Only - Palmilla. I''ve been trying to find an excuse to go to Cabos just to stay there. Check out the website: http://www.oneandonlyresorts.com/flash.html

 

[nicolejrx]

For others wanting something on the upper end, the One and Only is in one word AMAZING! I know it is out of the original posters price range but it was incredible! Just got back from our week long honeymoon there and it is the nicest resort I have ever been too (and I have been to Four Seasons, Ritz Carlton''s, etc) The service was impecable, down to the five different choices of milk (whole, lowfat, skim, cream, or soy) they steam for you at breakfast so your coffee doesn''t get cold. Butler service 24/7, excellent pool attendants, best spa I have ever been too, the food was great! Sigh it was the trip of my life!
Nicole