Our Experience
I’ll be honest. Until recently, I was very confused about the difference between the cities of Los Cabos and San Jose del Cabo, and like many Americans I had always referred to the southern tip of Baja California Sur, Mexico as just “Cabo.” Also, I was too embarrassed to ask so when a couple of girlfriends and I flew into San Jose del Cabo (SJD) airport, which services both cities, I was still under the assumption I was in “Cabo.” And I was, sort of. But I quickly learned Cabo is a jargon term that refers to either Los Cabos (the county, which includes several cities) or the city of Cabo San Lucas. Most locals don’t use the term Cabo…just us Americans! In any case, we enjoyed two ideal getaways in Los Cabos and want to share our experience with you.
I was in Mexico for eight nights, spending the first five in San Jose del Cabo with my girlfriends and the last three in Cabo San Lucas with my husband. In the remainder of this blog I will tell the tale of our experience of two hotels in Cabo San Lucas and Jose del Cabo.
San Jose del Cabo – Cabo Azul Resort
San Jose del Cabo is like the older sister of Cabo San Lucas. It is a tranquil and more historically-influenced city, tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Cabo San Lucas. San Jose del Cabo has a quaint downtown area where visitors can enjoy colonial architecture, galleries, restaurants, and boutiques. It is known for its picturesque beaches and natural beauty, offering a relaxed and laid-back atmosphere.
The Hotel
My girlfriends and I checked into the Cabo Azul Resort. Oh my gosh, it was gorgeous and only about 20 minutes from the airport. Like you find in many hotels along the beaches in Mexico, the lobby had massive ceilings and was open to the outside, letting the cool ocean breeze blow through.
Our Room
The hotel offered junior suites with a mini-fridge, and 1, 2, and 3 bedroom suites with full kitchen facilities. We were in a 2-bedroom so there was plenty of room to spread out with a king size sofa bed. The master bedroom was equipped with a sunken tub and a separate shower. The second bedroom had access to a separate bathroom, which also served as the guest bath. Each bedroom also had a ceiling fan, closet, and chest of drawers.
Dining
There is a small convenience store and coffee shop with yummy, fresh-baked pastries on site. The poolside café and swim-up bar, Flor de Noche, offered excellent food and drinks from breakfast through dinner. A more upscale Mexican cuisine experience was Javier’s Restaurant. It is a must try before you leave. Ask for a seat outside or by the windows. The views of the ocean are amazing. Also onsite is a lovely gift shop with locally made artisan crafts.
If you are staying longer than a couple of days you may want to visit one of the larger grocery stores in town to pick up larger quantities of food and supplies. We had not rented a car, but were within walking distance (.8 mile) to the La Comer La Cascada, a very large grocery store in the Zona Hotelera. With multiple sacks of groceries to haul back, we decided the smart thing to do was use a rideshare for the return! If you are bothered by the heat, you may want to rideshare in both directions.
Pools and Beach
There are six (yes, six!) pools on the property, including a tri-level infinity pool. Not surprisingly, we spent our time mainly at one of the six pools. We had to make the rounds of course and give each one a try.
Another onsite amenity? The beach! From this hotel you could see both the sunrise and the sunset. The hotel had large beds available — no additional charge, but you need to arrive early to secure one. But there were also plenty of lounge chairs available. We were there in late August which is considered low season due to the chance of hurricanes. Fortunately, we didn’t have any rain, only sun. NOTE: This is not a swimmable area, so don’t try it.
Shopping and Dining Outside the Hotel
Across from the hotel was a small shopping area (Mall Plaza del Pescador) and several restaurants. While we didn’t try any of the restaurants, I did fall in love with a local artisan shop, Eclectic Array. You can find items for your pets, clothes, hats, shoes, jewelry, bags, and more. I loved their mission, “…to create unique products and spaces that connect consumers to artisans, their stories, techniques, and heritage.” Prices were reasonable and the products well made. If you want something beautiful that is locally made, this is the place to shop. Check out my new hat from Eclectic Array!
Besides doing a little shopping in San Jose del Cabo, we took a rideshare one day to Cabo San Lucas, which was about a 30 minute drive. There isn’t a lot to see between the two cities but hotels and resorts, and an occasional glimpse of the ocean. We walked around the marina and found an upscale shopping mall, mainly to get out of the heat and cool off. Then we headed down to the ocean to look for a bite to eat.
One of my girlfriends had been to a restaurant called, The Office on the Beach, but unfortunately we learned they close the month of August because of the potential for hurricanes and use the time to clean up and remodel. Next door however was a place called, Aleta. The views were amazing and so was the food. I would definitely eat here again. And maybe next time I’ll get to try the infamous, Office on the Beach.
Our five nights in San Jose del Cabo flew by and I had to say goodbye to my girlfriends. We had a fabulous time at the Cabo Azul Resort and in San Jose. This is definitely a resort where I would stay again.
Cabo San Lucas – Nobu Hotel
After saying goodbye to my friends as they headed off to the airport, I jumped in a rideshare and went back to Cabo San Lucas to the Nobu Hotel, where I was meeting my husband and spending the next three nights.
Cabo San Lucas is a lively and bustling city, offering plenty of nightlife, dining and shopping experiences. It is known for its beautiful beaches, marinas, and resorts, and is a popular choice for those looking to have a fun and exciting vacation.
We chose to stay about five miles outside of Cabo San Lucas at Nobu. And, while the distance isn’t far, it will take 20-30 minutes to make the drive, depending on traffic. We chose Nobu because we tremendously enjoyed a Japanese meal at the Nobu Las Vegas restaurant earlier in the year and wanted to experience what it was like to stay in one of their hotels.
Nobu restaurant is the brainchild of Japanese celebrity Chef “Nobu” Matsuhisa and actor Robert De Niro. There are multiple dining locations throughout the world and the Japanese minimalist concept has expanded to include Nobu Hotels.
I used American Airlines miles to pay for the three night stay. This is NOT a good use of AA miles, but what I can I say? I wanted to spend a few more days in Los Cabos with my husband and didn’t want to pay the $$$$ for an upscale experience.
The Hotel
Driving up to the Nobu Hotel is an experience. Once you leave the main highway from Cabo San Lucas you drive on a series of gravel roads that wind up and down and across open terrain toward the ocean. You will pass one security gate, then another, before finally arriving at the hotel. Several bellmen were waiting to take my luggage and whisk me off to the lobby where I would sit on the sofa while someone checked me in. No standing at a check-in desk at this hotel!
I arrived before my husband and our room wasn’t quite ready so I was shown to Pacific Cocina Mexicana, one of several onsite restaurants for a bite of lunch, and a cocktail or two!
It was a bit windier in Cabo San Lucas than it was in San Jose del Cabo, and I wasn’t quite prepared for that, but the views were amazing no matter where you looked.
Besides lunch, we ate dinner here one evening and enjoyed being serenaded by live music underneath a canopy of stars.
The service was impeccable. Food was excellent, and cocktails delicious. We wanted for nothing!
Our Room
The Nobu Hotel Los Cabos has two-hundred guest rooms. It’s fascinating because I would never have thought the property was that large when I arrived. The hotel is laid out beautifully with just the right amount of minimalism that it really has a boutique-type feel. It’s not until you get out and start walking the property that you realize it is quite large. Of course, Nobu is nothing compared to the size of the Hard Rock Hotel next door. The hotels are a good distance a part so you need not worry about noise from the Hard Rock drifting over.
There were a number of rooms to select from, but we chose a junior deluxe suite with swim up access. It was really nice to be able to walk out the patio door and step into the pool. The patio was also a nice place to sit and enjoy a glass of champagne. Some swim up rooms don’t have access to the entire pool area, meaning you are confined to a smaller pool area. This did not detract from the experience. You can always get out and walk across to another area of the pool.
Also, it’s good to know that if you are looking for an ocean view, the swim up pool rooms will not provide that experience. The room (and the bathroom!) was amazing. Soft, subtle interiors blended with the desert and seascape to create a luxurious, relaxing environment. We could have never left the room and that would have been okay!
Dining
Playabar serves breakfast every morning from 7 am – 11 am. Alternatively, you can purchase pastries, coffee, and other goodies at the Nobu Café, located in the lobby and enjoy them on your patio. And, if you really don’t want to leave the room, there is always room service.
If you love sushi, you will not want to leave without trying Nobu, the restaurant. Be sure to make a reservation and if the weather is good, ask to be seated outside. You may want to go early to enjoy a cocktail and watch the sun set. No worries if you don’t love sushi, there are other items on the menu. You will also want to have dinner one evening at Ardea Steakhouse. We ate dinner there on our last night and it was fabulous. Not surprisingly, the food and cocktails were fun and tasty at every restaurant!
Pools and Beach
The biggest amenity are the multiple pools located across the property. These pools, everyone one of them are simply beautiful. Once you find yourself in a comfortable lounge chair, you won’t want to leave. Ever.
Then there is the beach, and wow, what a beach. NOTE: No swimming allowed. But, you can certainly walk for miles with the water lapping at your feet. And the sunsets? Magical!
In terms of other amenities, there is a small gift shop, and I did see a ping pong table. But, here’s the thing. You really don’t need any other amenities. Interested in a private sunset cruise, a day of snorkeling or whale watching? Just ask your personal concierge to arrange it for you.
Personal Attendant
Our personal contact was attentive, kind, informative and did everything possible to ensure we left having had the best vacation ever. He assisted us with dinner reservations, called a taxi, and provided recommendations for site seeing in Los Cabos. He texted us each morning to make sure we slept well, ask what we had planned for the day, and did we need anything.
The staff at Nobu will help you with every request, large or small. We saw one family had asked to have dinner set up on the beach, with a private sitting area of lounge pillows, a bonfire, and a tent for the children to play in. My guess is that no request will go unanswered. You just need to ask.
Shopping and Dining Outside the Hotel
We had such a limited time at Nobu, and the drive into Cabo San Lucas, as stated earlier, was about 30 minutes, even though it’s not that far in distance. The traffic can back up quickly then nothing moves. We did, however, go into town one afternoon, for a little shopping, but didn’t buy anything. We walked around the marina area and found a dive bar for a couple of beers and fish tacos. Just know as you walk around the marina, everyone will want to take you on a fishing trip or water taxi ride.
We were glad to return to the quiet retreat of Nobu and sad our short stay was over so quickly. The Nobu hotel staff treated us royally from the time we arrived to the time we left. No need went unmet. We felt pampered and enjoyed every minute of it.
Some Final Thoughts
Both San Jose del Cabo and Los Cabos are known for their stunning beaches, luxurious resorts, and vibrant nightlife. Visitors to both areas can enjoy a variety of activities such as snorkeling, swimming, whale watching, and golfing. Both places offer a wide range of restaurants and bars, as well as shopping and entertainment venues. With its temperate climate, San Jose and Cabo San Lucas are great destinations for those looking for a relaxing getaway. It really depends on the kind of vibe you are looking for.
One final word about safety. As three women walking and traveling alone in San Jose del Cabo, we felt safe. At no time did we feel threatened. We did not walk alone at night however, but would have felt safe enough to walk across the street for dinner, but probably not beyond the near vicinity of the hotel. I can’t really speak to the experience of Cabo San Lucas as we were not there in the evening. Please use common sense. Don’t travel alone and let your friends know where you are.
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