Mexico: The Real Deal - Great deals in Los Cabos

The malecón along the Cabo San Lucas marina was nearly deserted. Musicians wandered between empty restaurants with guitars slung on their backs. Timeshare peddlers looked bored out of their gourds.

Los Cabos was a ghost town during my recent stay in late May and early June. I had pools and spas to myself while over-nighting at four hotels in one busy week. Most properties had closed a wing or two and were running with fewer employees. Waiters, housekeepers and tour guides were out of work.

It was truly pathetic. Even though I abhor Cabo’s usual crowds and traffic, the whole place felt totally out of sync. I thoroughly enjoyed the peace and solitude, mind you. But I couldn’t ignore the worry and despondence around me.

Tourism drives the Los Cabos economy. Without tourists (and developers) the corridor between Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo would look like a rocky moonscape. No golf courses, resorts, residential developments and multi-million-dollar villas. No Wal-Mart, Costco or Office Depot.

Granted, some of us would enjoy seeing Cabo return to its natural state. But it’s too late now. A total bust would devastate thousands of Mexican, American and Canadian workers and investors.

Tourism officials and private developers are scrambling to bring visitors back to Los Cabos. The timing’s tough, given the global recession, drug trafficking and pandemic angst.

The solution?

Los Cabos is now on sale.

Let’s make a deal

Hotels have slashed their rates 30 percent or more. Most are giving away free rooms (albeit after a few paid nights). Packages abound.

Some of the best deals are at super-expensive resorts you’ve only dreamed of experiencing. One-of-a-kind hotels are competing for dollars as well. Every hotel I checked was offering irresistible incentives. The following examples are especially tempting:

Casa Natalia

In 2008, Casa Natalia was rated Mexico’s Best Hotel by Conde Nast Traveler, beating out stellar properties such as Mexico City’s Four Seasons and W hotels. In 2009, the hotel’s restaurant was listed at the top of the magazine’s survey of the best restaurants in the Americas.

No small feat for a 20-room boutique inn beside San Jose del Cabo’s shady plaza. The hotel is blocks from the sand and sea-bird songs replace the music of crashing waves. Small by Cabo standards, the sapphire pool is tucked nearly out of sight beneath slender palms. Window boxes overflowing with manicured bougainvillea hide private terraces beside each secluded room.

Guests return annually and settle into rooftop suites with hot tubs or simpler ground-floor rooms with hammocks on the terrace and silky sheets on uncluttered beds.

Diners stop by to sample the owners’ latest creations (loved the pulpo, spring rolls and reasonable prices on the summer menu).

Owners Nathalie and Loic Tenoux, from Luxembourg and France respectively, have shaken things up just a bit this summer. They’re showcasing a wonderful Euro-Latin band on Wednesday nights and are serving tapas other nights.

And they’ve dropped the lowest room rate from $250 to $145 per night-a shockingly low rate for Los Cabos. The suites start at $320 (down from $395). Spend a little more and you get free transport to the hotel’s beach club in the Corridor. Amiable, efficient concierges tailor packages to match your preferences.

Details: (888) 277-3814; www.casanatalia.com

One&Only Palmilla

I’m a sucker for the Palmilla. Loved it back when the whitewashed guestrooms lacked phones and TVs. Managed to keep faithful through several incarnations, both good and bad.

It’s now a full-fledged resort with lavish pools and gourmet restaurants. New and remodeled suites with private horizon pools line the sand.

Fortunately, the various owners and mangers have preserved the Palmilla’s Mexican-Mediterranean architecture and its lush landscaping. The newest additions include the four-bedroom Villa Cortez, a lavish oceanfront suite with private gym, spa facilities and an awesome 12-seat cinema.

Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten now oversees the menu at MARKET, the latest gourmet restaurant to open in the original dining room. The décor is cozily sophisticated, befitting a new irresistible menu featuring meats and fish prepared to order. I swooned over succulent Chilean salmon with miso-yuzu broth and the foie gras brulee.

ESPA, the hot new spa company, has taken charge of the Palmilla’s exceptional spa and wellness center. I could easily spend my entire vacation at the gym, yoga garden and spa villas with rain showers, whirlpool baths and lounging daybeds. Sampling the spa menu alone would take several days.

The One&Only Palmilla is always pricey, but its summer packages do encourage splurges.  If you stay for four nights you’ll save 30% off the published rate. Room rates start at $525 per night in summer.

Details: (888) 877-7528; www.oneandonlyresorts.com

Packages Galore

The Los Cabos Convention & Visitors Bureau’s new  “Los Cabos a la Carte” promotion includes vacation packages at 35 hotels. It’s also good to check the hotels’ websites, along with vacation packages in general.

Beware of hidden taxes and service charges (sometimes 15 percent of the daily room rate). Check all the details and cancellation policies as well –some hotels have stringent rules about changes in reservations.

IF YOU GO

More Info: Log on at www.visitloscabos.travel

Flight Alert: Alaska Airlines will offer daily flights from San Diego to Los Cabos until July 2. After that, the flight will be available on Monday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday only. Alaska also reduced its twice-daily LA to Los Cabos flight to once daily.  Details: www.alaskaair.com

Maribeth Mellin covers Mexico for SDNN Travel.

Tags: SDNN

This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 9th, 2009 at 9:42 pm and is filed under Mexico, Travel. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.