Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Pueblo Bonito Los Cabos – Hotel review + videos

Overall, we enjoyed our experience and would go back again - 4 stars.  Here is what I thought overall including some videos of stuff
  • Location: Awesome – 5 stars.  Right on the Medano beach with views of Lovers Beach.  We can do all the water activities right there and walk to Mango deck in 3 min.  10 min walk to downtown where all the night life is or $6 cab.  Very very convenient. The view is spectacular every day.  see video.  this is the smaller pool
  • Room: 4 stars.  Henoc is very friendly and always there at the front desk and if you mention Tripadvisor and give him a good reason, he will try to give you a free upgrade to a better room.  We got an upgrade and had a nice ocean view.  The room arrangement felt a little weird at first.  The bedroom is separate with no views and the living and dining area has the view to the ocean, but it turned out better as hubby can watch TV in living room and I can sleep well in the bedroom.  I give 4 stars though as our safe broke twice.  We ended up just giving up using it.  Nothing was lost, more of a hassle to keep asking it to be fixed.  Our shower broke once but they fixed it in 20 min so no big deal.  Beds were comfortable enough.  Only have double beds – okay by us as we can snuggle in one if we want to or sleep separately if we want more space.  Here is a video I took at just after sunrise so you see a view from our room. 
  • Food: 4 stars.  Lots of varieties.  Love the fact we can do a la carte or buffet.  At probably 5 times a day as we had the all inclusive deal (recommend this – great for my low carb diet) They asked us to make reservations but given Oct is not high season, we didn’t and got in everywhere with no issues.  We love the buffet breakfast in Mare Nostrom in the Rose with made to order eggs and they made me egg benedict twice even though it’s not on the menu.   We love doing lunch at Cilantro overlooking the ocean or at the pool at Rose hotel.  Delicious food.  Fish ceviche at Cilantro is awesome!!  Sushi bar is pretty good especially if you stick to Tuna.  We had Tuna Sashimi Serrantino, Fried Rice and Calamari.  Others say the other fishes are not as good so we didn’t try.  Dinner buffet are usually good with variety.  You can also order a grill for two with all kinds of meat on it.  They also deliver food to the room until 1am for a $5 charge.  That was useful as we get hungry at night and there is no food option except that after 10pm.  Only complaint is lots of flies and bugs in some areas of Mare Nostrom.  Makes me wonder if all the food is clean if they left it open.  We had a little stomach issue one day but it was mild and passed. Not sure it was from the food or the heat. 
  • Service: 3.5 stars.  I think if you don’t tip extra, you will get a 3 star experience.  Service is slower and less prompt.  We decided to tip often about $50 total for a week and service was much better.  Waiter will remember your drink order from the day before and will also bring you a ice bucket for your water by the pool.  I dislike the fact that service is different based on tips but understand why it’s that way, I guess since this hotel is not all all inclusive.  The mix makes the service inconsistent.  
  • Entertainment:  3 stars.  Best night was sat night Carnival night.  Show is spectacular and well worth it. Other nights are pretty dead.  Day time activities at the Rose are somewhat entertaining – water aerobic class is a bit better than at our hotel + volleyball + contests.  Wish they played more music.  here is a video of one of their game by the larger pool in the Rose hotel 
  • Pool:  5 stars for the pool at the Rose.  The size is awesome and perfect 3 – 3.5 feet deep.  Love the cabanas which you can get if you go early.  No extra charge.  The pool at our hotel is smaller but also good. 
  • Clientele: seems to have more older 45 – 60+ year old crowd and out of shape + some families.  30% younger crowd.   We didn’t mind it as it’s quiet and we can go into town for partying but would have like more eye candies at the pool.  J
We will stay here again.  Rooms have a better view and about the same price at the Rose. WE paid $2715 for round trip SFO to Cabo, hotel and all inclusive J for Sat to Sat stay.  If you know better deals, let me know J

Tips
  • $32 massage 5 min walk to the right on the beach.  Just look for the big Massage sign.  Awesome deal and good
  • Cabo escape sunset Fajita cruise is fun with lots of dancing.  Can get it for $35 a person down the beach, not at the hotel.  
  • Everything is negotiable 
  • Private taxi to and from airport $126 + tip from Cielito lindo.  Pretty good.
  • No need for spike heels as most dress very casual.  Platform sandals are nice if you want to dress up one night. 

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