Cabo: sunshine and good times

Well, it’s been a minute! After traveling for 13 weeks in the span of one year—four of which were over the holidays and marred with illnesses—we definitely needed a break. We restarted our normal work schedules as parental leave was officially over (Wah!). It was kind of refreshing to come home, especially as Jai started growing up at an alarming pace. Not only was he getting better at communicating, but he also became physically more independent. That baby who was taking his first wobbly steps in Hyderabad is now sprinting up and down our hallways and climbing and jumping off of everything.

Neal and I took our first short trips without Jai—first to Utah to ski and then to Vegas for a birthday. We are so lucky to have parents who are obsessed with our kid and were excited to watch him without us in their way. These short trips allowed us to refill our gas tanks, so we were ready for our next adventure with our little boy.

Jai’s newfound independence has made our lives easier and harder. We no longer need to carry formula, baby bottles, or breastmilk. He doesn’t have any food allergies or serious aversions, so feeding him is SO much easier. Other than carrying some snacks and shelf-stable milk for the flight, he’ll basically eat whatever we eat. He can actually tell us what he wants (and doesn’t want) more easily, so we’re getting better at our game of poorly-acted charades.

We were most worried about his new physical independence. How can you tell a toddler, whom you cannot yet reason with, that he can’t just roam around an airplane whenever he wants? Our answer: snacks and an iPad. He doesn’t really get any screen time at home, so it’s a total treat for him. In my opinion, planes and vacation don’t count!

Why Cabo?

So why Cabo? While we were super excited to get back on an airplane, we didn’t want to fly for that long. Cabo is less than three hours away, so it didn’t feel daunting. Plus, we wanted to go somewhere warm where we could just veg out at a resort. I have a list of hotels I’ve always wanted to stay at, and Cabo is home to quite a few of them. In the end, we chose to stay at the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal.

The Waldorf is located in Cabo San Lucas. Instead of using the hotel transport, which almost always is excessively priced, we used a service called Welcome Pickups. This Uber-esque pickup and transfer service is fantastic. Your driver, whom you are introduced to via email or on the app, meets you at your chosen pickup point, whether it be at the airport or hotel. The fare is already prepaid, so you don’t have to worry about getting ripped off or having to negotiate. They track your flight details, which is super helpful in case of any delays or cancellations. They provide cars based on the number of passengers and how much luggage you tell them you’re bringing. You can also specify that you need a car seat. This was clutch since we weren’t planning on leaving the resort and decided to leave both the stroller and car seat at home. Our drivers were super courteous, had water and snacks (and tequila and beer), and spoke fluent English. While it wasn’t a huge deal in Mexico since my Spanish is passable, it is a draw in many other countries where the service is available.

The Idyllic Resort Experience

The resort itself couldn’t be in a more idyllic location. While you do drive by all the bars and clubs that make Cabo so popular for spring break, you initially find yourself in front of a large gated entrance where a security guard confirms your reservation. The entrance is literally carved into the heart of a mountain, and you drive through a 900-foot torch-lit tunnel into an airy, Mediterranean-style outdoor check-in lobby with fabulous views of the ocean. Our personal concierge, whom I had been communicating with the week prior, met us with two welcome margaritas and a hibiscus juice for Jai. Check-in was seamless, and because we booked through AMEX Platinum’s Fine Hotels and Resorts, our room was ready well before traditional check-in time, and we were upgraded to the highest floor. He gave us a brief tour of the property before showing us to the room, in which they provided a crib, some toiletries and amenities for Jai, and an extra fridge as per our discussions over email.

We booked a King Deluxe Ocean view room, which at over 800 square feet, was spacious and airy. Located on the top floor of our building, it offered sweeping views of the ocean and Pedregal cliffs. The outdoor terrace extended the living space, with two low-cushioned couches and an infinity-edge plunge pool. The pool is also elevated, which was appreciated given Jai’s mobility; he couldn’t just fall in. We spent the majority of our time out here, enjoying our happy hour Coronitas and guacamole (delivered every afternoon around 4), splashing in the warm water with Jai, and soaking in the incredible view. Neal and I also used it as our hideaway to have a glass of wine while Jai napped in the afternoons. We were even lucky enough to see whales on our last day!

While some of the reviews I read commented on the rooms being outdated, I actually enjoyed how authentic it felt. From the hand-carved wood doors to the artisan mesquite furniture and art, from the locally-made ceramic tiles on the floors and walls to the rustic wooden beams on the ceiling, the room felt distinctly Mexican. It’s easy and somewhat expected to have a sleek, modern aesthetic at a luxury hotel; it almost becomes generic. The Waldorf accomplished something that is both rustic and luxe, and more importantly, speaks to the location you’re actually visiting.

While we spent a lot of time in our room and in our private pool, we did make it out to enjoy the grounds. Nestled on 24 acres of Baja beachfront, you get amazing views from wherever you are. It is not a swimming beach given the rough current and massive waves, but the main pool essentially floats above the shore, blurring the line between the two. In low tide, you can definitely still stroll along the beach and get sand between your toes. While there is no set kid’s pool, it’s pretty obvious where they hang out, close to the kid’s club. We did check it out for a change of scenery, and so I could have my obligatory poolside margarita. Poolside service was great, and Jai enjoyed the french fries. He was too young to make use of the kid’s club, but we did have access to all the toys.

Dining

I had heard so many wonderful things about the food at the resort, and I will say, it did not disappoint. Breakfast was served at Don Manuel’s, the resort’s main restaurant. It has a sprawling patio that is just a short walk from the ocean, so your views are omnipresent. Because we booked with AMEX, the breakfast buffet was included, and it was amazing. Along with serving an impressive selection of pastries and fruits, they also had a made-to-order egg station and a wide variety of traditional Mexican delicacies. The breakfast enchiladas were some of the best I’ve ever had. We also had dinner at the restaurant, which was just as delicious. An elevated take on traditional Mexican cuisine, you can enjoy these bright flavors while being serenaded by live music in the warm ocean breeze. What we weren’t expecting was to be fighting over the scraps of some of the best macaroni and cheese we have ever had; yes, it’s not Mexican, but kids love Mac n cheese, right? And having Jai there was just our excuse to order it again and again. For those who want more, Don Manuel’s does have curated dinner experiences that looked great, from private wine dinners to a taco tasting menu.

When you think about a destination restaurant, El Faillaron is on that list. Perched on a craggy cliff over the ocean, it truly is a stunning place. Neal and I chose to dine here on our last night, just the two of us. The concierge team made our reservations for 8:30 PM, well after sunset and after Jai’s bedtime. In order for us to enjoy the sunset and the views with Jai before bed, they reserved us a spot at the Champagne Terrace. It truly was a beautiful place to have a glass of champagne, relaxing on a banquette overlooking the rocky cliffs. In hindsight, it probably wasn’t the safest place to bring a 17-month-old, as you are surrounded by wine bottles and a minimal barrier to the cliff that drops off into the ocean below, but there’s nothing that some watermelon and Miss Rachel on an iPad can’t help.

After Jai was settled in his crib, we returned to enjoy our dinner. You can hear the ocean waves crashing below as the open-air kitchen prepares the local catch of the day. While there is seating directly on the cliff edge, we chose to sit abutting the rocky mountainside, and I’m so glad we did because the waves at one point doused some very nicely-dressed people. The food was delicious, and the service was attentive without being overbearing. It was truly a special sea-to-table experience.

So how did we leave Jai for dinner? The concierge team helped set up a babysitter through a trusted service that they use. We didn’t want to test out someone else putting him to bed on our last night, so while Neal got him to sleep in the Slumberpod, I met her in the lobby to give her the rundown. At $30 an hour, it was comparable to what we would pay a sitter back at home and let us enjoy our dinner in peace.

Some odds and ends

While we had a fantastic experience and the property is stunning, I do have one significant gripe: the price. I know and expect it to be expensive to stay at a luxury resort. Room rates started at $1200 per night, which was on par with the other luxury resorts in the area, including the Four Seasons, Las Ventanas, and Esperanza. However, everything is subject to a 15 percent service fee and a 16 percent tax. I knew this before we got there, but it still hurt. Being a wine snob, I perused the wine list before we arrived, and while they have a great cellar, I’d rather jump off the Pedregal cliffs than pay the over 300 percent markup, not including the 31 percent charge. Our solution? We brought a suitcase of our wines from home instead. Per Mexican regulations, you can bring in three liters of wine per person, so we did just that (okay, only four bottles total).

Overall, our experience at the Waldorf was amazing. Despite my complaints about the costs, we couldn’t ask for a more beautiful place to relax with our son and reconnect with each other.

We’re back, baby!