The just-opened Montage Los Cabos may have garnered praise as the most anticipated luxury hotel openings for 2018, but it’s certainly not the only high-end property making news in that booming Mexican resort area. Here are some other recent openings (and near-future ones) to keep in mind for your Los Cabos-bound upscale clients.
Viceroy debuts: In May, the Viceroy Los Cabos opened in the heart of San Jose del Cabo. Formerly known as the Hotel Mar Adentro, the 194-room hotel became a Viceroy property after undergoing renovations and enhancements. Brand new to the resort are a beachfront pool and bar, a refreshed lobby and arrival experience, new dining venues and a fitness center curated by celebrity trainer and nutritionist Harley Pasternak.
Upon arrival through a sculpted iron portal and artisan wooden door, guests are greeted by the sound of water, the conceptual central element at the resort. Viceroy Los Cabos’ new lobby interiors have gone from stark white to a warm color palette of blue and natural sand tones.
Among the other renovations, Viceroy Los Cabos has unveiled five dining venues, each providing a fresh and local experience reflecting the history and culture of Baja. With an international ceviche menu and innovative handcrafted cocktails, Nido draws inspiration from Spain, Mexico and Peru. Casero Restaurant serves homestyle Mexican cuisine, while the Otro Bar has a Tequila Library stocked with house infusions such as chile and marigold, as well as craft coffee and specialty Mexican hot chocolate. Nidito, Viceroy Los Cabos’ beachside eatery, overlooks the resort’s brand new infinity beach pool and the ocean, while offering bite-sized snacks, including tacos, fruit cups, and Instagram-worthy cocktails with festive garnishes. A rooftop bar with ocean views will open later this year.
Viceroy Los Cabos also offers experiential activities, including surf lessons with a local pro, an exclusive fishing-with-the-chef experience, scuba diving (including underwater photography and fluorescent night dives) and custom tequila-making classes.
Palace Resorts opens second Le Blanc: Following the success of its first Le Blanc Spa property in Cancun, Palace Resorts opened the all-inclusive, couples-oriented Le Blanc Spa Resort Los Cabos in April. The most luxurious suite available to guests is the Royale Governor Suite, which has a bedroom with a walk-in closet and a bathroom connected to the common areas, which include a living room and dining room. With a partial ocean view and a balcony with a daybed, seating area and dining table, guests can view sunrises and sunsets without leaving their room. The in-room liquor dispenser is stocked with a premium selection of rum, whisky and vodka.
Le Blanc Spa Resort Los Cabos has four pools, one of which is an infinity pool. The resort’s 29,000-square-foot spa includes a hydrotherapy area, hot and cold plunge pools, a sauna, an herbal steam room, chromotherapy, an ice room, a relaxation lounge and 25 treatment rooms. Among ancient, local-inspired treatments available is the signature Pericue Massage, a four-hand massage ritual derived from the history of the region’s ancient natives, the Pericue Tribe.
There are seven restaurants, including Lumiere, the hotel’s French-fusion signature restaurant that presents a seven-course tasting menu. Lumiere is the only restaurant at the hotel that requires reservations. At the Blanc Ocean restaurant, the majority of the tables have a front row view of the ocean with glass windows surrounding the perimeter. There are also six bars on site and private dinners and tequila tastings can be arranged.
Solaz set for late summer: All set for a September 1 debut is the beachfront Solaz, a Luxury Collection Resort, with 128 guestrooms and 21 residences set on 34 acres. Each accommodation at Solaz Resort has a private entrance and patio or terrace, original art, and a control panel that allows guests to make dining or spa reservations. Also, artisans (butlers) are available to book excursions.
Solaz is decked out with original works throughout — all by Mexican artist César Negrete, who traveled throughout Baja for years, studying the region’s natural history and folklore. El Gabinete “Del Barco” is an indigenous gallery with regional artifacts; exhibits include a 43-foot-long whale skeleton suspended from the ceiling and a historical original map collection.
The beachfront Solaz, a Luxury Collection Resort, will debut on September 1 with 128 guestrooms and 21 residences set on 34 acres.
The resort will have six restaurants and lounges helmed by executive chef Pedro Joaquin Arceyut. Guests can order freshly caught fish and seafood at Al Pairo; traditional and contemporary Baja fare and tapas at Cascabel; and a “dinner grill” at Mako, with such choices as dry-aged steaks, local live lobsters and fresh fish. There will also be cocktails and a wine program at La Cava, with a selection of more than 2,500 vintages — many of them local to the region.
The property will also have 160-foot infinity pools lining nearly a quarter mile of white-sand beaches. The Ojo de Liebre Spa has 10 private treatment rooms and two VIP double rooms, along with a range of services such as Alo Therapy (Himalayan Salt Igloo) and Thalasso Therapy, and a full-service salon. Families staying at Solaz can take advantage of its children’s club.
A new Nobu: Robert De Niro’s Nobu Hotels is expected to debut early next year in Cabo San Lucas. Set along the Sea of Cortez, the luxury Nobu Hotel Los Cabos will have a signature Nobu Restaurant, a desert botanical park, a five-acre Spa Alkemia, retail stores, and a variety of dining and lounging experiences. The 200 rooms and suites are being designed with the use of natural materials, with a “contemporary and elegant style” inspired by Japan and the beach.
Putting on the Ritz-Carlton: San José del Cabo is set to welcome Zadún, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in March 2019. The resort will have 115 luxury suites and villas, each with a private butler and many with a private plunge pool. Zadún will also have a spa and three championship-caliber golf courses and a botanical park. Set along the Sea of Cortez, the resort is also a prime location for guests interested in whale or dolphin watching.
Journese Adds New Montage Los Cabos to Portfolio
Pleasant Holidays’ luxury brand, Journese, has added the brand new Montage Los Cabos to its portfolio. To celebrate, travelers will receive every fourth night complimentary through December 20. Alternatively, travel agents can book the “Grand Opening Stay & Play” offer that includes a $100 resort credit per night for guestrooms and $300 resort credit per night for stays in suites or residences. The offer is valid for travel through September 30. Agents will also get a booking bonus of up to $4,000, plus future travel credit for their clients up to $2,100, when booking their groups into Montage Los Cabos.
Related Stories
Stats: Crime Down 90% in Los Cabos
Karisma Increases Partnership With Apple Vacations
Report: Isla Blanca Ferry Service Running Again from Isla Mujeres
Los Cabos Tourism Head on What New President Means for Mexico Travel