TRIP OVERVIEW: Here’s What My $600 Cabo Holiday Worth Over $13K Was Really Like. Part Two – Cabo San Lucas
After spending a couple of quiet days around San José del Cabo, I was ready for a little more action in Cabo San Lucas. One of the interesting things about travel hacking is that I end up traveling in ways that I wouldn’t if I didn’t have points/miles/etc and this trip epitomizes that reality. I was able to stay at the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal (WA) strictly because I had two Hilton free night rewards as there was no way that I would pay almost $6K for a two night stay. I always say that there is no wrong way to travel or use your points and miles and I am so grateful for every opportunity that I am able to and this trip was especially (bitter)sweet for me.
For the scoop on how I was able to travel hack this to a $600 holiday, read this trip report. I do share all applicable spend in this post since I have everything recorded. And here’s where you’ll see how I spent my time in San José del Cabo.
Day Two – Night in Cabo San Lucas
Cabo is known for its nightlife and those staying on my floor at the Fairfield were definitely there to party. I had gotten to the hotel near 9 PM and was hoping for some quiet since my knee was throbbing but the hotel proved to be anything but a nice respite. Most annoying was that I was put in a room close the elevator and was told that the hotel was sold out (I would discover later that it wasn’t PLUS I have it as one of my requests in my profile….Marriott continues to showcase that being Bonvoyed is alive and well IYKYK)
Day Three – Cabo San Lucas
Friday Morning
Breakfast and check out of hotel: Fairfield By Marriott Los Cabos
I came down from my room to find the lobby and breakfast area packed with most of the breakfast items were low or out around 6:45/7 AM. I was able to grab a coffee and some fruit plus I had some bread/pastries from Chedraui so was able to cobble together a breakfast. I opted to check out before my whale watching tour so I wouldn’t have to rush back to the hotel (I am guaranteed a later 2 PM check out with my Marriott Bonvoy Gold Status but I wasn’t sure how much walking I would want to do with the knee) Cost $10.08: brekkie was free and I didn’t leave a cash tip – I typically leave a dollar or two but was in a rush to get packed and forgot. 150 MXP ($10.08) was left in the room for housekeeping.
My knee was feeling surprisingly decent in the morning so I opted to walk to the marina Cost: $0
Whale Watching Tour
Of course I am early and chat with the Cabo Nature representative who happens to not only be one of the marine biologists going out but will be the one leading my tour group. I had been feeling very sorry for myself as my knee and leg were not strong enough for me to consider scuba diving on this trip…but after chatting with Mariana, I was reminded that I have been so fortunate thus far in life. It is rather crazy how many whale watching tours in different parts of the world I have been able to take – sometimes in life, what you need most is perspective. Cost: $11 $1 cost of tour with $10 tip (how was my tour only $1? – Viator! – read about how and what the whale watching tour was like here)
Friday Afternoon
Lunch at Los Claros
Mariana had suggest that I check out this restaurant for affordable and delicious tacos as this is where she and her friends go in Cabo. Funny that “outside of tourist zone” is really only a five minute walk away but there were only locals there when I first sat down for lunch. As I was leaving a few other tourists had come in. There was a taco topping bar with so many different things you could add to customize your tacos including some very spicy salsas. Cost: $21.48 Three tacos (fish/grilled fish/shrimp) were tasty – the mixed seafood tostada was only okay but totally my fault for ordering and not asking if it was made with onions – Virgin Pina colada was refreshing but not extraordinary
Beach Time at Medano Beach + 90 Minutes Massage at Sand Bar
One of the other beaches in the Los Cabos area that usually is calm enough to swim at. But it is also where there are many beach clubs so some may not find it to be a relaxing environment. I had the rest of the food and drinks I had brought from Chedraui and Comer since I was still pretty hungry.
I had gone back and forth about whether to book a massage here…knowing that Medano Beach is known for being a party beach with lots of beach clubs. Once I had committed to it, I had to go in knowing that it wouldn’t be the typical relaxing beachside massage – and it definitely wasn’t with the beach club next door blaring music. It was easy to book as you could do so online as I did or inquire onsite and pricing was incredible – I opted for a 90 minutes massage that was only $49. But I would definitely not come back here – not only with the ambiance but the experience was lacking. Check-in was chaotic and others were helped before I was and I was brushed aside when asked..if I hadn’t already paid, I would have left. Luckily the masseuses were on top of it and interjected on my behalf after 10 minutes…honestly a super frustrating experience plus the massage was average at best Cost $59: $49 for massage & $10 cash tip – wish I would have listened to the reviews.
Linner at Tacos Gardenias
I had passed this restaurant and looked up the reviews and it looked promising so I decided to stop by on my way back to the Fairfield and I tell ya what – this place did not disappoint. I wasn’t really hungry when I stopped by but lol ended up with three tacos since all of the plates at the neighboring tables looked so good! Cost: $22.18 Three tacos (fish x2:fried and grilled + shrimpx1) plus two of their limeades – made with club soda absolutely delicious
Uber from the Fairfield to Waldorf Cost: $5.96
Friday Early Evening
Check into hotel: Hotel: Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal
Dedicated review post to the hotel is upcoming…but here’s a little teaser. The standard room that is bookable on points at the Waldorf Astoria is a Pacific King and comes with a private plunge pool! This is from my upgraded room which is an Ocean so the plunge pool is more directly facing/has an Oceanview. The bottom showcases one of the cool things that you get for staying at the property: your very own customized for the Waldorf Astoria Clase Azul Tequila decanter! Cost: 2 Hilton Free Night Certificates – it’s great that Hilton does not charge you for taxes or fees when using a FNR! (wanna learn more about these – of course, I have a post about them!)
Every night, the hotel will send up freshly made guacamole, chips and coronas to each room – I had a cheese platter welcome amenity that I enjoyed along with the gratis goodies in the pool. Cost $0
Evening mocktail at Crudo Bar: Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal
I had started chatting with a couple at check-in and met up with them for a nightcap. One of the reasons why I have opted to stay in hostels when I solo travel is for the social aspect as those who stay at them also are looking for a more social travel experience. It turns out that this couple was staying here for their honeymoon (and on gifted by his grandparents) but they also prefer hostels so I suppose it wasn’t surprising that we gravitated towards each other. I did feel bad for third wheeling but they assured me that they love travel to meet people and dive into cultures/places so the hotel was a bit of a culture shock to them. Cost $25.17:
Day Four – Cabo San Lucas
Saturday Morning/Afternoon
Breakfast at hotel: Hotel: Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal
I shower and then head down to Don Miguels for the breakfast buffet spread. This is a huge benefit of being Hilton Diamond (but even Gold would get this free) as the continental buffet is gratis which worked out to $44.54 after taxes/fees are included. To have hot food, there is an additional cost of $20/person which I opt for this morning Cost $44.92: Upgrade$20 + water$12 + addl tip
Magic at the Waldorf Astoria Cabos / video of breaching whales from my private plunge pool!
I had originally planned on heading to the marina and either heading to Lover’s Beach or perhaps even doing a snorkeling tour but the adrenaline had finally worn off from the dog incident and my knee was in such bad shape. I was planning to head back down to the pool and lay out but I couldn’t talk myself into it and “had to settle for relaxing in the private plunge pool in my villa”. What an incredible and fortunate thing because otherwise I would have missed being able to say that I was able to see breaching whales from my private plunge pool! (Definitely watch it on YouTube for the higher quality video and please support by subscribing to my channel!)
Lunch at Tacos Gardenias..again
I had talked up these tacos so much to a Matt & Jamie that they asked if I wanted to go with them for lunch. Um of course! I am now thinking of these tacos again…what makes them so good? Consistency – the drinks and the food were spot on both times. Everything is well seasoned (but not overly so) and you can just tell that the quality and freshness are important (or that the restaurant does such brisk business that by default things are fresh). I normally am a person that likes to try different things but I went back to the same three tacos as before: grilled/fried fish + shrimp and not pictured was the limeade Cost: $19.28
Saturday Evening
Dinner at hotel: Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal/El Farallon
There is an upcoming dedicated post to this restaurant and my dinner.
Day Five – Cabo San Lucas
Sunday Morning
Breakfast and check out of hotel: Hotel: Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal
One of my favorite things was to sit and watch the sunrise and have a coffee in the pool (and have a drink in it at sunset). I was really lucky in scoring the upgrade because not only was the orientation of the balconies + pool directly towards the ocean, they were also basked in sunlight for a lot of the day so I was able to enjoy the sun and as importantly, the pool was warmed up Cost: $0
Breakfast again at Don Manuel’s. I know that I am in pain because I have lost my appetite and am still noticeably limping (and there’s also the possibility that it may have been conveyed to the staff that I limped back to my hotel room after dinner last night….this is now only dawning on me as I write this because multiple people offered to have a golf cart drive me around) I have fresh fruit and lots of juices for breakfast but otherwise nothing seems appetizing Cost: $2
I still had a few hours so I lounge by the beach/pool for awhile and then head up to take one last dip in the plunge pool.
Transportation was pre-arranged and Epic was great about communication again with a reminder message the day before pick-up. Another courteous driver with a longer drive back to SJD for departure Cost $2 – cash tips $43.08 for round-trip:
There is a priority pass lounge at SJD – there was a pretty long line to get in and it took probably 15-20 minutes before I was able to enter Cost $2 – cash tips $43.08 for round-trip:
I couldn’t fit in a longer vacation before one of my Free Night Rewards expired as I found 4 days to be too short at this property. But I’m so grateful that things lined up to be able to visit for even this time ~ and this is why I love travel hacking so much. The ability to have experiences like these.
