In the past 6 months, a few new exciting hotels have opened their doors in Los Cabos, Mexico. The most anticipated opening was actually two hotel brands owned by the same owner, located only a few steps away from each other. Both properties are located on the Pacific side of Los Cabos in the Diamanté area, which is approximately one hour from SJD airport.
Nobu Hotel Los Cabos:
This 200-room property is the first of the Nobu brand to build from the ground up. From the moment you walk into the lobby, you feel as though you've entered a spa retreat. And from the moment you pass through the gates to Nobu, you experience the inviting atmosphere and the staff's warm welcome.
The food and service are what set this property apart--and not just the Nobu restaurant, but all of the food and beverage outlets at the hotel. The lobby coffee & snack shop is perfect for someone looking for a quick bite or light breakfast. The service is exceptional throughout the property and the team does its best to learn guests' preferences throughout their stay. The property is still in need of a late night bar option (other than Nobu), but that is currently the only feedback in terms of F&B because the quality of food throughout is impressive. Keep in mind though: this property is almost 25 minutes to downtown, so without a late night bar, the hotel scene gets sleepy by about 10pm.
One of the only drawbacks is that the beach is not swimmable, but this is a common issue throughout Los Cabos. The golf in the Diamanté region is exceptional (albeit expensive) and the hotel has four large heated pools for guests to enjoy. The spa is in line with other five star hotels, but a step down from from the Cabo hotels like Rosewood, Le Blanc, or Grand Velas.
The rooms are especially large, showers are impressive, and balconies provide great views. Each room in their suite product is unique and emphasizes natural tones throughout.
The weather can be more unpredictable given the location on the Pacific side but Nobu has spent the last year focusing on solving for their windy periods.
Don’t forget: for groups, there is an all-inclusive package option that competes with Grand Velas in terms of pricing.
Hard Rock Hotel Los Cabos:
This 639-room property will be one of the most talked about openings in 2019. Yes, like most new hotels, the opening was delayed, but the final product is a significant step above the rest of the Hard Rock all-inclusive properties. It was worth the wait.
The rooms are simple in design but clean, bright, and have large balconies. One interesting feature is the soaking tubs on the balconies, given that many of the rooms are facing the resort (versus having oceanfront privacy). Overall, the rooms are what you would expect of a four-star hotel. The oceanfront suites and rooftop suites are impressive and a significant upgrade from their standard product.
The food and beverage outlets were beautifully designed, with plenty of options at any time of the day. Yes, it’s still an all-inclusive but it’s a step up from the rest of their four-star competition in Cabo (think Breathless, Secrets, Hyatt Ziva, Paradisus, etc). For evening enjoyment, there are two bars opened late, with bowling, TVs, pool tables, and DJs. During the day, there are bars throughout the property--in the pool, on rooftops, and hidden throughout the hotel. The quality of alcohol is good/brands you recognize, and the tequila selection is top notch.
The pools and service are where this hotel sets itself apart from the rest of the hotel market in Cabo. I would go as far as to say it is a five-star experience. There is an adults only pool, with a swim-up bar, ocean views, and a center DJ booth. There’s also a kids pool with water slides, a serenity infinity pool, and three other larger pools on property. Plenty of space for everyone. Again, the beach is not swimmable but the pools provide plenty of entertainment on property.
The spa is extremely large, and with the unlimited inclusions, extremely affordable. It has everything you would need and you will not leave disappointed.
But again, the service is where this hotel shines. The staff has spent the last year training in every aspect of a guest experience. What they lack in past hotel experience, they make up for in personal pride and a deep desire to make guests happy. The staff is memorable and again is there to meet every request.
The meeting space and main ballroom are perfect for corporate events. I only wish they built a much larger conference center. Once events start in Fall 2019, the property will continue to fill up with groups for years to come. Their wedding market is already extremely busy and the group market is starting to heat up now that the hotel is up and running. If your budget isn’t that of a Grand Velas and you are looking for an all-inclusive experience in Cabo, look no further, you will not be disappointed in the quality of this product.
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