Montage Los Media Highlights 2019Cabos Media Highlights Q1 2019
The New York Times USA Circulation: 972,774 Ad. Value: $75,000 January 6, 2019
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Los Angeles Times USA Circulation: 665,738 Ad Value: $4,887 March 31, 2019 L
SUNDAY, MARCH 31, 2019
TRAVEL
Christian Horan Viceroy Los Cabos
LOOK AT THE NEW CABO This stretch of Mexico’s Baja California coastline keeps getting more luxurious, and there are few bargains to be found. Take a look at eight of the latest, greatest resorts and discover what’s still to come. With posh pools and high-end amenities, it’s no wonder this is a fave L.A. getaway. L4-5
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LOS CABOS, SO LUXE BY ROSEMARY MCCLURE >>> LOS CABOS, Mexico — World-class sport fishing put the southern tip of Baja California on the map for U.S. tourists
nearly 50 years ago. Now five-star resorts are keeping it there. ¶ Los Cabos, an umbrella term for the region’s cities and tourist developments, has evolved from fishermen’s paradise to vacation focal point for celebs and the ultra-rich. The appeal? It’s a two-hour plane ride from L.A., and you can speak English, stay in American-style resorts and pay for souvenirs in U.S. dollars. ¶ The last time I visited the area, more than a decade ago, there was a lot of cactus and dirt and not much else between Cabo San Lucas, on the Pacific Ocean, and San José del Cabo, about 20 miles away on the Gulf of California. Now 10 miles of that coastline have filled with hotels and services. ¶ I spent five days in February getting acquainted with the luxury hotels that opened over the last year and those due to open soon. Some are architecturally beautiful (Viceroy Los Cabos), some have impeccable service (Montage Los Cabos), and some offer tranquillity (Solaz Los Cabos). ¶ Here’s a closer look at eight Baja newcomers:
Artist’s rendering of lobby from Four Seasons Resort
Abraham Luyando
Four Seasons Resort Los Cabos
Garza Blanca Resort & Spa
Four Seasons Resort Los Cabos, to open this summer, is part of the new Costa Palmas community on the East Cape of the Gulf of California, an isolated region known for its scenery. The 1,000-acre development, about 35 minutes north of San José del Cabo, includes multimillion-dollar homes and an Aman resort, which is still under construction. There will also be a marina capable of holding private yachts up to 200 feet. From $645 per night.
This spacious, all-inclusive resort midway between Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo has had a soft opening, with a grand opening scheduled for May. Guests can grab special rates in the meantime as the hotel adds the finishing touches. From $290 a night for two, including meals and activities. Info: Garza Blanca Resort & Spa, Kilómetro 17.5 Transpeninsular Highway, Los Cabos, Mexico; (877) 208 0689, cabo.garzablancaresort.com
Info: Four Seasons Resort Los Cabos, Calle Hacienda Eureka, La Ribera, Los Cabos, Mexico; fourseasons.com/loscabos
John Russo Montage Los Cabos
Le Blanc Spa Resorts
Le Blanc Spa Resort
Montage Los Cabos
Looking for a good time? Try this all-inclusive Palace resort, which specializes in fun, with lots of pool games and a giant spa. Think of it as a cruise ship on land. It opened in September and is midway between Cabo and San José del Cabo. Spring rates from $800 per night for two. including meals and activities.
One of Orange County’s favorite luxury resort brands last year launched its first international hotel here on a beautiful bay that once was home to the Hotel Twin Dolphin. It’s one of the area’s few resorts with a swimmable beach. The style is more Scottsdale, Ariz., than Baja, Mexico, but if you like cushy digs, exclusivity and tranquil surroundings, this place is for you. From $825 per night.
Info: Le Blanc Spa Resort, Kilómetro 18.4 Transpeninsular Highway, Los Cabos, Mexico; (888) 702-0913, leblancsparesorts.com/los-cabos/en/spa
Info: Montage Los Cabos, Kilómetro 12.5 Transpeninsular Highway, Los Cabos, Mexico; (800) 772-2226, montagehotels.com/loscabos
Nobu Hotel Los Cabos
Rosemary McClure
Nobu Hotel Los Cabos
Riu Palace Baja California
If you like Nobu’s fusion restaurants, you may want to try this 200-room beachfront hotel and golf course. It’s the first Mexican property from the team of Robert De Niro and chef Nobu Matsuhisa. It combines Japanese minimalism with Mexican wood, stone and marble. The resort hopes to open Monday with special rates of $490.75 per night, including breakfast.
The Riu chain runs more than 100 hotels in 19 countries, but it isn’t well known in the U.S. This newcomer opened in December and joins two other Riu hotels along the coast of Los Cabos. It’s all-inclusive, adults only and is higher end than its brethren but lower end than other hotels here that have opened recently. All-inclusive rates from $147 per night, per person, including meals and activities. Take care when booking; the two older Rius with similar names are next door.
Info: Nobu Hotel Los Cabos, Polígono 1 Fracción D, Fraccionamiento Diamante, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; 011-52-624-689-0160, nobuhotelloscabos.com
Info: Riu Palace Baja California, Camino Viejo a San Jose, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; (888) 748 4990, bit.ly/riupalacebaja
Christian Horan Viceroy Los Cabos
Solaz, Luxury Collection
Solaz Los Cabos
Viceroy Los Cabos
Some U.S. residents go to Mexico to stay in American-style hotels. Others go to learn about Mexico. Solaz is chock-full of Mexican art, style and striking desert landscaping. The 128-room beachfront hotel is midway between Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo and is the Luxury Collection’s first hotel on the Baja Peninsula. Each room is designed with local Huanacaxtle wood and bamboo-textured marble, custom furnishings and an original wall sculpture by Cesar López Negrete. From $402 a night.
This stunning hotel opened in May and has been wowing visitors ever since. Architect Miguel Angel Aragonés wanted to “bring the ocean inside” and used tranquil pools to create mirrors. Water surrounds the 192-room hotel, wrapping around its white buildings that are connected by elevated walkways. It’s a blissful experience for people who like to shoot pictures or videos. If you visit, don’t miss the Nest, its lounge, above. From $425 a night.
Info: Solaz Los Cabos, Kilómetro 18.5 Transpeninsular Highway, Los Cabos, Mexico; (833) 887-6529, bit.ly/solazloscabos
Info: Viceroy Los Cabos, Paseo Malecón San José, Lote 8, Zona Hotelera, San José del Cabo, México; (844) 222-6987, viceroyhotelsandresorts.com/en/loscabos
C Weddings USA Circ: 154,209 Ad Value: $13,845 Fall 2019
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Organic Spa USA Circ: 140,000 Ad Value: $5,231 July/August 2019
2019 AWARDS For our annual Wellness Travel Awards, we honor exceptional spas that not only hew to a high level of luxury, but also employ sustainable practices and elevate standards of environmental stewardship. We work hard to scout out extra special properties that we can celebrate for implementing initiatives that not only bring extraordinary wellness to their guests, but also do their part to protect the environment with nature conservation; energy efficiency; local, natural, foraged and organic ingredients; and holistic health and wellness programs that lead by their example. Kudos!
—The Editors
Dorado Beach, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Puerto Rico organicspamagazine.com
Organic Spa Magazine | July–August 2019
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Amanyara Turks & Caicos Some places are so healing that they create a transportive experience, one that enables guests to attain an almost profound level of well-being. Set on a nature preserve, jet skis and motor boats are not allowed at the peaceful Amanyara. But there is plenty to do: a Pilates studio, outdoor yoga sala, tennis, Nature Discovery Center, yoga on the beach, wellness programs led by a range of experts, a movie theater, snorkeling, diving, divine food and drink and a gorgeous, Asian-inspired spa, where you can literally float away, with the Caribbean Stars Lullaby, a warm-water floatation treatment. Relax with a nourishing jade, Himalayan salt and green clay scrub and a wrap ritual with luscious Frangipani and Cupuaçu butter. Or, sit outside the secluded villa, staring at the sparkling infinity pool as it trickles into a larger pool that feels more like a lake. aman.com/resorts/amanyara
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Montage Los Cabos Mexico The first Montage to open outside the U.S., Montage Los Cabos is one of the newest hotels in the area. A few things set it apart right away. Many beaches in Cabo border water that is too rough for swimming, with currents and riptides so fierce they will pull you out to sea. But here, the cozy cove rings one of the few beaches that is swimmable—and where you can snorkel. The food is delicious at both restaurants on property. And, of course, there is the magnificent 40,000-squarefoot spa, which is really more of a holistic retreat. Aerial yoga, meditation and breathwork classes are coming, along with a stargazing program and full-moon ceremony. A central question that drives the team: “How can we share local culture and tradition?” Very well, we would say. montagehotels.com/loscabos montagehotels.com/spamontage/
organicspamagazine.com
Organic Spa Magazine | July–August 2019
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American Spa USA January 2019 Circulation: 28,123 Ad. Value: $2,100
Luxe Interiors + Design USA Circ: 453,269 Ad Value: $13,497 November/December 2019
S O U T H E R N C A L I FO R N I A
$ 9.95
A SANDOW PUBLICATION LUXE SOURCE®
NOV/DEC 2019 DISPLAY UNTIL 01/06/20
RADAR / SCENE
CHECK IN THREE LUSH BOUTIQUE PROPERTIES PROMISE A RESTORATIVE EXPERIENCE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA— OR A BIT FARTHER SOUTH.
▲ CASA TWIN DOLPHIN
CASA TWIN DOLPHIN PHOTO: COURTESY MLC ARCHITECTURAL. THE GUILD HOTEL PHOTO: ROBERT BENSON. THE HOXTON, DOWNTOWN L.A. PHOTO: COURTESY THE HOXTON, DOWNTOWN L.A.
Casa Twin Dolphin is a private rental residence at the Montage Los Cabos, the Orange Countybased luxury brand’s first international property. The 9,580-square-foot structure was designed by Montecito-based architect Robert C. Glazier and Mexico City firm Bernardi + Peschard Arquitectura. The luxuriously furnished interior is imbued with the spirit of modern Mexico—bold and colorful— and each of the three master suites boasts its own spa-like bathroom. The exterior features private courtyards, two infinity-edge pools and a Jacuzzi, expansive gathering spaces, an outdoor kitchen and dining area, and a sunken fire pit. The casa includes a butler, daily chef-prepared breakfasts, a family-style barbecue, a mezcal tasting, a nightly aromatherapy menu, spa treatments, fitness classes and access to watersports equipment. An on-call shaman is also at the ready for guests whose needs are more spiritual than material. montagehotels.com
▲ THE HOXTON, DOWNTOWN L.A.
The Hoxton hotel opened this October in the former L.A. Railway Authority building, on the corner of 11th Street and Broadway. The 174 rooms are by Londonbased Ennismore Design Studio and pay homage to the 1922 Beaux Arts structure with French-inspired wall paneling, chevron flooring and decorative accents including handmade tiles and retro-style telephones and radios. For the public areas, Ennismore partnered with Soho House to create Art Deco-style spaces that reflect early Hollywood and the nearby Mayan and Orpheum theaters. The hotel features three dining options headed by Sunday Hospitality: Sibling Rival, an all-day American diner; Pilot, a rooftop restaurant and bar with a Mediterranean flair; and a basement bar scheduled to open next year. The L.A. location marks the ninth Hoxton property and continues the focus of creating welcoming hotels that make guests feel like locals with in-house cultural events. thehoxton.com
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▲ THE GUILD
Since the 1920s, the Army-Navy YMCA building on West Broadway has been a San Diego icon. Built in the Italian Renaissance style, it has hosted tens of thousands of military guests over its near-century of hospitality and in 2007 the structure was designated historic by the city. Restored by Oram Hotels and enlivened by designer Sormeh Rienne, the refined interiors evoke a European boutique hotel with a decidedly casual feel. The colorful Guild Bar is a highlight of the lobby and just steps away is Luca, the hotel’s Mediterranean restaurant headed by acclaimed chef Justin Vaiciunas. The 162 guest rooms are minimal in design with custom furnishings in a palette of soft blue, gray and green. Crowning the property is a two-bedroom penthouse featuring private gardens and expansive views of neighboring Little Italy and San Diego Bay. theguildhotel.com
Destination I Do USA Circ:100,000 Ad Value: $24,880 Fall 2019
SPOTLIGHT DESTINATION
r o d n spble y he t
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LOs Cabos, Mexico WORDS BY JENNIFER STEIN
SPOTLIGHT DESTINATION
Photo courtesy of: Montage Los Cabos
Los Cabos has become synonymous with luxury. Many affluent golfers and vacationers alike flock to the sands and the sand traps of this portion of Mexico for good reason. This resort area is located on the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula and is filled with incredible dining, accommodations and activities – think whale watching from a private yacht or dining al fresco at a cliffside restaurant as fireworks explode in the distance.
Therefore, it’s no surprise engaged couples are also putting this destination high on their list of places to consider when tying the knot. During a recent visit to the area, I had the distinct pleasure of exploring some tried-and-true property mainstays, as well as some “new kids on the Cabo block.” All are equally luxurious, but offer something different from each other.
Montage Los Cabos
FALL & WINTER 2019
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AN ARCHITECTURAL MARVEL
SoLAz
A Luxury Collection Resort, Los Cabos The minute you drive off of Highway 1 and on to the Solaz Los Cabos property, you are transported to an architectural showpiece. Its angular design is captured through almost every aspect of the resort, from the low-set furniture to the waterfall stone reception area. Magazines and websites have hailed this property as a “modern marvel,” and they’re right. Apart from the impressive design and local art set-off by stark stone walkways and buildings, the excellent service is what really makes this property shine. Staff is at the ready to serve your every need – no matter if you’re a couple planning your wedding day or are celebrating your honeymoon. Accommodates groups of up to 500. LUXURY BAYSIDE ABODE
A STYLISH & FAMILY-FRIENDLY RETREAT
ChiLeno Bay
Resort & Residences
SPOTLIGHT DESTINATION
Cool, chic and convivial are the words I would use to describe this Mexican paradise. With contemporary design elements fused with the relaxed vibe that envelops this part of the world, Chileno Bay earns some serious style points. The resort also offers a family-friendly option without sacrificing panache.
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One of the newer additions to the area is Montage Los Cabos. With one of the best swimmable beaches in the region, Montage offers beauty, impeccable service and style in a stunning setting. Although the property spans 39 acres, everything feels intimate, yet not intrusive. Enjoy private pool cabanas, fine dining, luxurious indoor-outdoor living and exceptional cuisine – all with a magnificent view of Santa Maria Bay. The guest rooms boast upgraded outdoor showers and floor-to-ceiling sliding doors that open out to your private terrace overlooking the beautiful desert destination.
The wedding venue backdrops and accommodation types are numerous. Almost anyone could find something to suit their needs.
For those who are after private residences, you’re in luck. Plus, they come complete with full access to the resort and spa.
Accommodates groups of up to 125.
Accommodates groups of up to 400.
No matter where you choose for your destination vows, you can’t go wrong with Los Cabos. The people, surroundings and surreal location emanate romance and warm hospitality, mixed with approachable sophistication – a perfect recipe for the start of a lifetime. destinationido.com
Photos courtesy of (top to bottom): Marriott International, Montage Los Cabos and 4 Eyes Photography
Montage LOs Cabos
The Sunday Times UK Circ: 712,291 The Times and The Sunday Times e-paper - Travel - 1 Dec 2019 - Page #1 Ad Value: $10,840 December 1, 2019
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Variety USA Circulation: 25,439 Ad Value: 4,728 February 29, 2019
Celebrated Living USA Circ: 251,225 Ad Value: $5,000 September/October 2019
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019
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PHOTO: JOEL STANS; STYLING: KALEN KAMINSKI
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Minaret Station
Breathtaking natural adventures are the highlight of this isolated New Zealand getaway
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An excursion to the pristine and remote Dusky Sound in Fiordland allows guests to retrace the steps of Captain Cook and view evidence of his visit in 1773.
Clockwise from above: Backcountry fishing; a helicopter transports guests to Minaret Station; hiking in the Southern Alps
COURTESY OF MINARET STATION (3)
“The predominance of our offerings involves a helicopter in one way or another,” says managing director Jonathan Wallis. “Our real signature products are off the beaten track.” Guests are invited to build their own itineraries, choosing from a selection of activities including skiing, hiking, mountain biking and fly-fishing. Undoubtedly, Minaret Station caters to the fit and adventurous. David Hiatt, a guide, mentions one couple who, during their honeymoon, ran almost a marathon distance over the course of two days, their guide in tow. But Ironman stamina is certainly not required. Guests can explore the sprawling alpine meadow at their leisure, traversing two miles of boardwalk running between waterfalls at either side of the property, or join off-site adventures more focused on scenery. The selection is limited to preserve quality, and includes only trips the staff personally enjoy. Still, Wallis singles out a visit to his childhood favorite, Fiordland, as a must-do. “That’s as far as you can get,” he says. “It’s the southwest corner of New Zealand; beyond it is Antarctica, essentially.” What does just this side of Antarctica look like? Towering waterfalls, sheer rock giving way to still, cerulean water, golden hills and white-capped mountains as far as the eye can see. While the focal point of the lodge lies beyond the property, each of the four
SIDEBAR TEXT BY JOHN G. KNECHT; LEFT AND ABOVE:
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he first sign that Minaret Station Alpine Lodge offers a distinct experience appears not during the winding descent into the glacial valley where it sits, dwarfed by the surrounding mountains, but 20 minutes earlier in the lakeside town where a helicopter waits to fly you through the Southern Alps. There’s no road to this quiet sanctuary: The only way in is by air. Guests will quickly adjust to the presence of aircraft. This is a Wallis family property, and in the Central Otago region, the Wallis name is synonymous with helicopters. Sir Tim Wallis began flying here in the early 1960s, and his sons inherited both his love of aviation and appreciation for the backcountry.
RESORTS
MO RE T H RI LL ING ESCA P E S
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Outdoor pleasures are the rule at these expansive properties in Mexico and Montana
Montage Los Cabos C AB O SA N LU C A S, MEX ICO
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Situated on balmy Santa Maria Bay, the Montage offers activities including swimming with dolphins, whale-watching and sailing. montagehotels.com
The Resort at Paws Up
“IT’S THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF NEW Z E A L A N D. B E YO N D I T I S A N TA RC T I C A .” OF THE RESORT AT PAWS UP
TOP RIGHT: BARBARA KRAFT; BOTTOM RIGHT: COURTESY
G REE NOU G H , M T
two-person chalets is equally inviting. With such limited numbers, guests find themselves in a near-private resort. Each chalet features a brick fireplace, deck and spa tub, as well as a personal guide. “Minaret offers a contrast between the wilds of the outside and the warmth and
comfort of the inside,” says Wallis. At the restaurant, Mountain Kitchen, guests enjoy a warm cooked breakfast, a selection of pastries, or muesli with homemade stonefruit preserves. Lunch is most often served in the field as a picnic, and might include barbecued lamb or freshwater lobster caught on-site. Much of the protein served comes from the property itself, and what doesn’t is sourced locally. “We’re not about foam [or] test tubes,” says Hiatt. “It’s about presenting food in its truest form, with as little manipulation as possible by the chefs.” —GWEN MCCLURE minaretstation.com
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A 3,700-acre working cattle ranch, the resort accommodates guests in luxurious tents (think air conditioning and fine linens) and rustic-chic cabins. Visitors enjoy fly-fishing, horseback riding, cattle drives, archery, rafting, rappelling and an interactive mustang-rescue program. pawsup.com
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Celebrated Living USA Circ: 251,225 Ad Value: $5,000 May/June 2019
PLATINUM LIST THE
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Celebrated Living’s panel of experts has chosen the world’s top hotels, resorts, restaurants and travel adventures. We need your opinion to help us determine the winners, which will be published in the September/October issue. Let us know your favorites and you will be automatically entered into a drawing to win 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® miles. Visit americanway.com to vote. Voting ends June 30, 2019. BEST BOUTIQUE HOTELS Aman, Venice, Italy The Cotton House, Mustique Hotel 41, London Hotel TwentySeven, Amsterdam The Ivy Hotel, Baltimore J.K. Place, Rome La Réserve, Paris The Siam, Bangkok The Singular, Santiago, Chile Topping Rose House, Bridgehampton, NY BEST CITY HOTELS Aman, Tokyo Baccarat Hotel, New York City Baur au Lac, Zurich Belmond Cadogan Hotel, London Line, Washington, D.C. The Middle House, Shanghai The Peninsula, Chicago The Pierre, New York City Ritz, Paris The Upper House, Hong Kong
BEST COUNTRY HOUSE HOTELS Ballyfin, Ireland The Fife Arms, Scotland Hacienda AltaGracia, Costa Rica Heckfield Place, Hampshire, U.K. Rumene Manor, Kandava, Latvia
Rosewood, Hong Kong Rosewood Miramar Beach, Montecito, CA Six Senses Maxwell, Singapore
BEST INNS Casa Maria Luigia, Modena, Italy Farmhouse Inn, Forestville, CA The Inn at Bay Fortune, Prince Edward Island, Canada The Inn at Erlowest, Lake George, NY The Inn at Little Washington, Washington, VA
BEST HOTEL DESIGNS Chicago Athletic Association, Chicago Ett Hem, Stockholm The Fontenay, Hamburg, Germany Ham Yard Hotel, London Hotel Unique, São Paulo Lutetia, Paris Mollie’s Motel Diner, Oxfordshire, U.K. Nobu Ryokan, Malibu, CA Royal Mansour, Marrakech, Morocco Viceroy Los Cabos, San José del Cabo, Mexico
BEST HOTELS OPENED IN THE PAST YEAR Blackberry Mountain, Walland, TN Brach, Paris
BEST HOTEL INNOVATORS Clayoquot Wilderness Resort, Vancouver Island, Canada Eaton, Washington, D.C.
Hix Island House, Vieques, Puerto Rico Hôtel des Grands Boulevards, Paris Nayara Resort, Spa & Gardens, La Fortuna, Costa Rica BEST BEACH RESORTS Amanyara, Turks and Caicos Belmond Cap Juluca, Anguilla The Brando, French Polynesia Conrad Bora Bora Nui, Bora Bora Domes Noruz Chania, Kato Daratso, Greece GoldenEye, Ocho Rios, Jamaica Ponta dos Ganchos, Santa Catarina, Brazil Rosewood Baha Mar, Nassau, Bahamas The Shore Club, Turks and Caicos Zanzibar White Sand Luxury Villas & Spa, Zanzibar, Tanzania
BEST WELLNESS RESORTS Como Shambhala Estate, Bali Miraval, Austin, TX The Ranch, Malibu, CA 7132 Hotel, Vals, Switzerland Sha Wellness Clinic, Alacant, Spain BEST SPORTING RESORTS Caldera House, Teton Village, WY Casa de Campo Resort & Villas, La Romana, Dominican Republic Experimental Chalet, Verbier, Switzerland Explora Patagonia, Chile Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada Les Airelles, Courchevel, France Minaret Station, Minaret Bay, New Zealand Montage Los Cabos, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico The Resort at Paws Up, Greenough, MT Sea Island, St. Simons Island, GA BEST STAR CHEF RESTAURANTS Amaya, Mexico City Atelier Crenn, San Francisco Le Bernardin, New York City Central, Lima, Peru Criollo, Oaxaca, Mexico Daniel, New York City Eleven Madison Park, New York City Mirazur, Menton, France
Odette, Singapore Restaurante Arzak, Gipuzkoa, Spain BEST HOTEL RESTAURANTS Blue, The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman The Creek Bistro Chic, Four Seasons, Gammarth, Tunisia Felix, The Peninsula, Hong Kong Hélène Darroze at The Connaught, London Langdon Hall, Ontario, Canada Locanda Verde, The Greenwich Hotel, New York City Le Louis XV, Hôtel de Paris, Monte-Carlo, Monaco Lung King Heen, Four Seasons, Hong Kong NoMad, Los Angeles The Restaurant at Meadowood, St. Helena, CA BEST CLASSIC RESTAURANTS Antoine’s Restaurant, New Orleans Il Becco Restaurant, Mexico City Le Clarence, Paris 8.5 Otto e Mezzo Bombana, Hong Kong Enoteca Pinchiorri, Florence, Italy Extebarri, Axpe, Spain Keens Steakhouse, New York City The Ledbury, London
Le Nämos, Québec, Canada Spago, Beverly Hills, CA BEST RESTAURANT SCENES The Bristol, Chicago Burnt Ends, Singapore Chateau Marmont, Los Angeles Chiltern Firehouse, London Le Coucou, New York City Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura, Florence, Italy Jòia par Hélène Darroze, Paris NoMad, New York City Swan, Miami The Tower Bar, Los Angeles BEST VINEYARD EXPERIENCES Château d’Esclans, Provence, France Chateau Montelena, Calistoga, CA Delaire Graff Estate, Stellenbosch, South Africa Gérard Bertrand, Narbonne, France Inglenook, Rutherford, CA Jackalope, Victoria, Australia Jordan Winery, Healdsburg, CA Marqués de Riscal, Elciego, Spain Reeve, Healdsburg, CA Viña Vik, Palmilla Abajo, Chile BEST HOTEL BARS Aviary, Mandarin Oriental, New York City Bar Hemingway, Ritz, Paris
Blue Bar, The Berkeley, London Candy Bar, The Siren, Detroit Connaught Bar, The Connaught, London The Coral Room, The Bloomsbury, London Manhattan, Regent, Singapore The Rattlesnake Bar, The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas Le Sirenuse Champagne Bar, Four Seasons The Surf Club, Surfside, FL £10, Montage, Beverly Hills, CA BEST INTIMATE BARS AND LOUNGES The Bar at the Egerton House, London Dante, New York City King Cole Bar, Mexico City Operation Dagger, Singapore The Polo Bar, New York City BEST LIVE MUSIC VENUES Bemelmans Bar, New York City The Bluebird Cafe, Nashville, TN Joe’s Pub, New York City Largo at the Coronet, Los Angeles Smalls, New York City BEST BOUTIQUE CRUISING EXPERIENCES Hurtigruten Ponant Seabourn Silversea Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection
Organic Spa Magazine USA Circulation: 150,000 Ad Value: $20,925 April 2019
ea l esign elicio s oo amazing spas and an eco-conscious commitment to protect nature By Rona Berg Life is a series of moments that stretch into hours, days, months, years. If you have enough good ones, you’ve got a good life. Dunking bread into a cup of cafe con leche on my terrace at Los Cabos Montage, I watch the sunrise over the Santa Maria Bay, on the Sea of Cortez. Clouds ripple and unfold, origami-like, across the sky, in shades of pearl gray, pink and lavender. I turn and walk into my room. When I come back out, it is daylight, and everything is changed. That was a good moment, I thought, before heading to the spa.
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Organic Spa Magazine
My signature “Jewel of Baja” treatment at the Spa Montage Los Cabos, in Baja California Sur, relies on local desert plants. The journey begins with a foot soak—a tincture of detoxifying damiana in agave honey and sage— in an open, airy, wood-slotted anteroom, filled with natural light. Leonardo, who is also a shaman and a gifted healer, then leads me into the spa treatment room. He dry-brushes my body briskly, then applies a light oil and wraps me in layers of warm towels while allowing the nutrients from the plant oils to absorb into my skin. While cocooned, he gives me a facial that starts with a warm mask and ends with a cold stone roller to stimulate blood flow. After I am unspooled from the wrap, another massage therapist enters the room and I am given one of the most deeply relaxing (four-handed) massage treatments I have ever had. Afterward, lounging outdoors, by a gorgeous, semi-Olympic-sized pool, adjacent to a huge Jacuzzi, I am treated to damiana sorbet, fresh berries, lots of water—and a margarita! Somehow, the combination is perfect. Soon, the spa will feature a healthy organic lunch menu. According to Maxime Cormier, spa and wellness curator, “The
Los Cabos Montage
biggest organic food production in Mexico is in Baja.” A few minutes later, Leonardo returns and offers some advice: Take good care of yourself, live less in your head and put your heart forward. I am grateful for his insight, because I know he is right. Mexico is a sunny land, full of warm and compassionate people. Los Cabos, “the Capes,” a tranquil spot with a hardscrabble beauty, is located midway between the two main towns of Baja: Cabo San Lucas (known for its nightlife), and Cabo San Jose (for arts and culture). Cabo, as this ocean-meets-desert mecca is known, is in the throes of a development boon, with the growth of beautiful hotels like Montage and home developments attracting A-list celebrities. The first Montage to open outside the U.S., Los Cabos Montage is one of the newest hotels in the area. A few things set it apart right away. Many beaches in Cabo border water that is too rough for swimming, with currents and riptides so fierce they will pull you out to sea. But here, the cozy cove rings one of the few beaches that is swimmable— and where you can snorkel. The food is delicious at both
restaurants on property. And, of course, there is the magnificent 40,000-square-foot spa, which is really more of a holistic retreat. The treatments are divinely relaxing, the staff is loving and attentive and the facilities strike a perfect balance between luxury and comfort. Cormier and Corporate Spa Director Patrick Huey just keep innovating. Aerial yoga, meditation and breathwork classes are coming, along with a stargazing program and full-moon ceremony. A central question that drives them: “How can we share local culture and tradition?” This spring, they are rolling out Montage Expeditions, curated cultural/wellness experiences that will bring guests to remote areas of Baja for unique experiences like “The Path of the Shaman,” or an arts and culture tour of local galleries, with wine pairings and a visit to a local organic farm-to-table hacienda. My time at the spa floated by. I thought about my cell phone, and my laptop, but not enough to go and get them. Instead, I learned a few things about myself by looking inward, and following my heart. montagehotels.com/spamontage/loscabos 5
Organic Spa Magazine
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THE SPA AT PENINSULA BEVERLY HILLS (CA) www.americanspa.com
glam
GETAWAY
DESTINATIONS Discover the spa scene in Cabo
ONCE IN A BLUE MOON Tucked into the southernmost tip of Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula lies the 24-acre Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal, formerly known as the Resort at Pedregal. As the resort celebrates its 10th anniversary this year by joining the Waldorf family of properties, its Waldorf Astoria Spa dives deep into the healing elements of the moon with the launch of a series of moon phase treatments—The Awakening Moon, The Calming Moon, and The Resorting Moon ($450, 1 hour 50 minutes). Each session features natural ingredients and techniques enhancing the energy and healing influence that each phase of the moon has on the body. Whether they be returning guests or Pedregal newbies, spa-goers will be over the moon at this new anniversary offering. —ALLISON INGRUM
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At Milagro Holistic Spa at Hacienda Encantada Resort & Spa, guests can unwind on Los Cabos beach.
indigenous INDULGENCES The subtropical landscape of Cabo cultivates a wide array of plants that thrive in the unique desert landscape. It also provides access to a range of powerful native ingredients that local spas are integrating into their treatment menus in enticing ways. Local ingredients like Baja lime, mango, and papaya are used in many of the body treatments at The Spa at Esperanza at Esperanza, an Auberge Resorts Collection. Another highlight is the Damiana Alegre ($670, 2 hours 30 minutes), a couples’ treatment that includes an amaranth exfoliation, a private soak, a massage, and a beverage made from damiana, a wild Mexican shrub.
foot wash and is followed by an exfoliation with sea salts and desert herbs, a warm body wrap and massage with aloe vera, a facial cleansing and moisturization, and a tea made with cactus.
At the Eforea Spa at Hilton Los Cabos Beach & Golf Resort, guests can experience the Agave Tzolkin Ritual ($185, 90 minutes), the Mexican Herbal Poultice Massage ($180, 80 minutes), the Xoco-Tequila Native Experience ($185, 80 minutes), and the Nopal Detox Cure ($185, 80 minutes). Native-inspired treatments are abundant at the Milagro Holistic Spa at Hacienda Encantada Resort & Spa with
Nopal cactus takes center stage at The Spa at Las Ventanas at Las Ventanas al Paraiso, a Rosewood Resort. The Nopal Detox Desert Wrap ($380, 2 hours) uses locally grown nopal cactus and includes an exfoliation, a nopal mask, a massage, and body wrap, and concludes with a nopal-pineapple smoothie. Using oils, exfoliants, wraps, and teas handmade from desert herbs, The One&Only Spa at One&Only Palmilla features Ancient Mexican Remedies ($680, 3 hours), which consists of a copal and aromatic herb smoke bath. It starts with a purifying
services such as Mezcal Therapy ($200, 1 hour 50 minutes), which incorporates mezcal lime and chaya, and Mayan Massage ($150, 50 minutes), which offers a fusion of a special ancient Mayan practices to balance the body and mind. Beginning with a Mexican blessing, the Baja Sensorial Journey ($751, 2 hours 30 minutes) at Spa Montage Los Cabos at Montage Los Cabos continues with a relaxing foot bath ritual and body mask followed by an exfoliation and herbal rinsing ritual.—A.I. AND STACI SOSLOWITZ
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ROOM FOR wellness
Four Seasons Resort Los Cabos at Costa Palmas
Catering to a new wave of travelers looking for a complete wellness immersion, the Chileno Bay Resort & Residences recently debuted five Ocean View Wellness Rooms as part of the resort’s Baja Balance program, a new resort-wide wellness initiative created to inspire movement, mindfulness, and fun for all ages. Each of the rooms is located within steps of the resort’s Auberge Spa and features an open design with floor-to-ceiling windows and an oceanview terrace. They also come with notable amenities, such as a Watt Bike, a citrus juicer, chilled eye masks, an aromatherapy kit, a yoga mat, two Mala and Mantra Bracelets, and a pair of Oka-B sandals. The wellness journey starts at check-in with a welcome cold-pressed juice or superfood smoothie and continues throughout the guests’ stay with two complimentary fitness classes per day, 20 percent off all spa treatments, and unlimited use of the spa facilities. Every night ends with a custom Great Sleep and Gratitude turndown tray, which rounds out the day by focusing on the guests’ physical and mental wellness.—A.I.
CHILLING IN CABO The spa scene in Cabo is thriving. Here’s a look at some of the latest spa openings and those set to debut on the not-so-distant horizon.
Chileno Bay Resort & Residences recently launched a resort-wide wellness initiative.
• BlancSpa at Le Blanc Spa Resort Los Cabos (April 2018) • Spa Montage Los Cabos at Montage Los Cabos (May 2018) • Reflect Spa by Pevonia at Reflect Krystal Grand Los Cabos (July 2018) • Ojo de Liebre Spa at Solaz (September 2018) • The Spa at Viceroy Los Cabos (February 2019) • Esencia Wellness at Nobu Hotel Los Cabos (April 2019) • Spa by the Ocean at Grand Solmar at Rancho San Lucas Resort Golf & Spa (April 2019) • Rock Spa at Hard Rock Hotel Los Cabos (May 2019) • Oasis Spa at Four Seasons Resort Los Cabos at Costa
Palmas (September 2019) Can’t get enough Cabo spa news? Visit us online and on Facebook and Instagram for scenes from editor-in-chief and publisher Julie Keller Callaghan’s recent trip to Cabo. CHECK OUT: • Photo and video tours of SE Spa at Grand Velas Los Cabos and Spa Montage at Montage Los Cabos.
• A video interview with Maxime Cormier, the spa and wellness curator at Spa Montage. Plus, stay tuned this fall for an in-depth feature on Spa Montage.
• Spa Alkemia at Zadún, a RitzCarlton Reserve (October 2019) • Seed Spa at 1 Hotel & Homes Cabo (Fall 2019) • Aman Spa at Amanvari at Costa Palmas (Late 2020) • Qua Baths & Spa at Caesar’s Palace (Late 2020)
—A.I AND S.S.
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NOBLEM AN STYLE & SUBSTANCE FOR THE MODERN GENTLEMAN
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TRAVEL
the great
ESCAPE THE MONTAGE LOS CABOS GIVES NEW MEANING TO "VACATION"
W
hen it comes time to escape to an undiscovered paradise, few would say that the ever-popular vacation destination, Cabo San Lucas, would be the logical choice. However, there is nothing logical about the Montage Los Cabos. It is simply an enchanting place that will keep you coming back for more.
Montage Los Cabos is situated within The Twin Dolphin master-planned community located on the “Golden Corridor” between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo on the southernmost tip of the Baja Peninsula in Mexico. This spectacular property overlooks a sheltered bay and provides a plethora of activities in deliciously clear waters, including the finest swimming, diving, and snorkeling in the region—unless, of course, you fall under the spell of the soft white sands that stretch along acres of sealine and decide on a lazy beach day… or two. With 39 acres of beachfront overlooking the azure waters of Santa Maria Bay, the resort offers spectacular views that can be enjoyed literally at your doorstep. This idyllic location is the perfect place to recharge and enjoy the vaunted Mexican hospitality. If you are vacationing with family or a group of friends, consider one of the resort’s astounding residences. Whether you choose a two or a three bedroom, each one of these residences boasts a private patio, a fully equipped kitchen, and a laundry room, along with a communal terrace featuring an outdoor grill; it feels like your own beach house in Baja—with all the benefits of a hotel. Montage Los Cabos has 124 expansive guestrooms and suites and 52 fully furnished spectacular Montage Residences offering indoor-outdoor living. Pamper yourself at Spa Montage, enjoy a workout at the tennis court, meet with friends at the recreational lawn facilities, make a splash in one or even all of the three pools, and the list goes on. For the foodie in you, the two beachfront restaurants offer exquisite dining experiences. Signature eatery Mezcal is known for modern Mexican cuisine and top-notch tequilas, while Marea is the kind of place where lazy lunches often drift into sunset drinks and surf-and-turf dinners. For a quick snack, stop by Paletas, a charming market. As a family-friendly resort, Montage Los Cabos made sure the kids were also guaranteed an exceptional vacation. Montage’s signature children’s program, Paintbox, keeps children entertained while adults enjoy all that this resort has to offer. Finally, for golf aficionados, Montage Los Cabos guests and residents also have access to The Fred Couples Signature Golf Course. The Montage Los Cabos is the perfect vacation, and trust us, you won’t want to wait to get back for more!
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THE SUNSET FROM ISLAND CLUB AT FASHION ISLAND HOTEL IS NOT TO BE MISSED.
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Montage Los Cabos A New Resort with Ties to One of Cabo’s Original Gems Raises the Standards for Luxury at a Beachfront Location on Santa Maria Bay. ~by Michael Koehn | photos by Francisco Estrada~
T
There’s always something compelling about a new story that’s tied to an old story. Whether it’s something that’s connected to the area’s history or one of the area’s many pioneers, it seems important that as Los Cabos is developed and built up, that we never lose sight of the original inroads that were made in discovering and celebrating all the charms that Los Cabos has to offer. Continued on next page
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That’s also the position of the owners and new management of the impressive Montage Los Cabos, situated on Santa Maria Bay as part of the master-planned Twin Dolphin community. If the words Twin Dolphin ring a bell, that’s because Montage and its sister residential community Maravilla Los Cabos inherit an area that the original Twin Dolphin Hotel once occupied. The
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Twin Dolphin was once one of the area’s original jewels, a property built by David Halliburton, and is considered to be one of the original beachfront luxury destinations in Los Cabos when it opened in 1977. It’s a nice part of history to have in your pedigree, but the new Montage Los Cabos takes the luxury living lifestyle in Los Cabos to a whole new level. With its elegant low-
slung design in a palate of sandy beiges, natural wood and stone neatly integrated into the beachfront environment, it’s a design that might be called “New Mexican,” exceptionally tasteful but also fully modern in an understated way. As the resort came together it also offered a unique opportunity for the owners to create something entirely new from the ground up,
with a team that Director General Manager Marco Ortlam was allowed to recruit and manage from Day One. “It doesn’t happen every day that you have an opportunity to put a team together from scratch. This was one of those rare moments where everything came together around an amazing site,” Ortlam says. “Cabo is such a wonderful destination and has such a rich service culture and an identity for traditional culture and a sense of place in Mexico through
food and beverage and arts and crafts.” The hospitality that the Halliburton family established at their boutique luxury has now evolved to the highest levels operating under the Twin Dolphin banner, a master planned development combining the Montage Los Cabos resort with the adjacent residential community of Maravilla Los
(ABOVE) | Montage resort and Montage townhouse bath and townhouse balcony.
Continued on next page
CABO LIVING • 47
(ABOVE, BELOW AND FAR RIGHT) | THIS PAGE: Twin Dolphin living room. Aerial view of Montage Los Cabos. OPPOSITE PAGE: Twin Dolphin master bedroom. Montage townhouse.
Cabos and the Twin Dolphin Golf Club. The property occupies 39 acres fronting Santa Maria Bay and a lot of open space and oversized pools, giving a feel of spaciousness, but it’s only a three minute walk from the farthest part of the resort to the beach. The hotel also offers 122 rooms, each with an
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ocean view, large terrace and outside shower, three casas, a two-bedroom presidential suite and 52 full ownership residences consistent with the style of the resort. Each of the spacious rooms is tastefully appointed in tones reflecting sandy beiges and the water and sky of the southern Baja environment and has views of Santa Maria Bay and the Sea of Cortez. The casas are truly something special, offering over 10,000 sq. feet of luxury living space and all the amenities anyone could want, including marble bathrooms, a
spacious courtyard, signature spa treatments, private chefs, a private pool and Jacuzzi, private beach beds and a personalized mezcal tasting. They offer, in the words of hotel management, a true home away from home. Once you settle into your room, you’ll want to explore the grounds (which feature 30,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting and event space for corporate meetings, executive retreats and Continued on next page
CABO LIVING • 49
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destinations) and take a walk down to the beach along Santa Maria Bay (one of the few Blue Flag beaches in the area reflecting the highest standards of cleanliness and environmental responsibility and one of the few swimmable beaches in the area) and maybe stop in at Mezcal for some refreshment. Mezcal isn’t by definition a fine dining spot, but it is certainly upscale and the location overlooking the water is world class. At Mezcal you can enjoy their Agave Experience, a sampler of some of Mexico’s finest spirits, including tequila, bacanora (a mezcal from Sonora described as tequila’s friendlier cousin) and small batch artisanal mezcals that will get you into the culture
quickly and put a whole new perspective on your visit. Montage’s other restaurant, Marea, is a stylish spot for casual dining, offering fresh options with the finest locally sourced ingredients ranging from a fresh Baja shrimp aguachile and traditional ceviche, to quesadillas, tacos, pizza and a first class Black Angus burger. The heart of Montage Los Cabos is their 40,000 sq. foot spa, the largest in Los Cabos at last count and it’s there to help achieve levels of wellness and relaxation that you’ve probably never reached before. Here you can experience their “Jewel of the Baja” treatment that can last two hours and uses infusions of the Damiana plant and a cocooning ritual
that combines herbs and agave honey in a nurturing wrap. After this sort of rejuvenation you’ll want to be up early, not only to see the sunrise over the Sea of Cortez, but also to take advantage of one of the local excursions curated by the resort. Active types will find a full slate of activities available here, including snorkeling and scuba diving (Santa Maria Bay teems with undersea life), ATV tours, tennis, and even something called snuba, a combination of snorkeling and scuba where guests breathe through a 20-foot-long hose Continued on next page
CABO LIVING • 51
connected to an air supply on the water’s surface. And, of course, there’s the golf. Designed by Masters Champion and Golf Hall of Fame Member Fred Couples, the Twin Dolphin Golf Club is a one-of-akind, 19-hole golf course integrated into the desert landscape above the resort, with deep arroyos, diverse native flora and views of the Sea of Cortez from every hole.
(BELOW AND FAR RIGHT) | THIS PAGE: Guest room. OPPOSITE PAGE: Montage townhouse. Twin Dolphin outdoor terrace.
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For aficionados of local culture there are also guided excursions to the art galleries in “Pueblo Magico” Todos Santos, the old mining town of El Triunfo, the popular waterfall hike near Santiago and the weekly Art Walk in San José del Cabo. If you’re in the family friendly mode you’ll appreciate the Paintbox program offered here, where young guests from 5-12 years of age engage in adventure and creativity through arts and crafts, games and creative activities both indoors and out at the pool, beach, tide pools and event lawns. “We’ll often greet kids here with our remote controlled Baja 1000-type vehicle. That is always a real crowd pleaser,” Ortlam says. It’s almost an embarrassment of riches, this place and all the amenities it incorporates. I haven’t mentioned all of
the services available – there are also the requisite fitness facilities, yoga, nutritional guidance and offerings of refreshing paletas in the afternoon - but the list is lengthy and continually evolving. Maybe the best testament to the planning here is the service philosophy in place through the dedicated employees of General Director Ortlam. “We try to respond to every need of our guests, and even anticipate them,” Ortlam says. “Our greatest success is when our guests leave and they are happy in a way that were not when they first arrived.” Montage Los Cabos Carretera Transpenisular, KM. 12.5 Int. Bahia Santa Maria, Twin Dolphin, Cabo San Lucas Web: www.montagehotels.com/loscabos Ph: 800.772.2226 • +52.624.163.2000 El Fin!
CABO LIVING • 53
Beverly Hills Courier USABeverly Hills Circ: 39,975 USA $4,725 Ad Value: November Circ:29, 2019
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Travel
Beverly Hills on the Baja Peninsula Once upon a time in Cabo, there were tacky all-inclusive hotels and only a trio high-end options to choose from: Las Ventanas, Esperanza, and One & Only Palmilla were the holy trinity of luxury resorts.
BY CAROLE DIXON
Montage Upper Pool with Firepit
Now it seems every high-end brand from Waldorf Astoria to the Montage has opened along the corridor with Nobu in the North, Viceroy in the South, and Four Seasons to the East. With all of this new development and construction, the corridor is getting crowded. In 2019 alone, the destination will have seen 10 new hotel openings or expansions and anticipates another seven in 2020. It’s no surprise that international arrivals from private jets are up 17 percent. But with big-name brands branching out to more remote locations, there is plenty of room for all and hotel occupancy is up to 87.8 percent – a steady climb from previous years. To support this huge demand, Los Cabos has dramatically increased the air connectivity from Los Angeles which now represents almost 50 percent of all air routes connecting L.A. with Los Cabos in just a few hours. Rodrigo Esponda, Managing Director of PAGE 12
Los Cabos Tourism Board, who just opened a new trade office in Century City to keep up with the growing demand, spoke to the Courier about why Los Cabos is a premier luxury travel destination in Mexico. "Los Cabos is the fastest growing tourist destination in Mexico with more than three million tourists visiting every year (40 percent from California). It's no secret why this number keeps growing year after year. The destination offers a clear differentiation in value versus other locations in terms of experiences, attractions and beautiful geography. And, whether a traveler is interested in a trip focused on nature, adventure, romance, sports, cuisine, complete relaxation or a mix of everything in between, they can find the right trip for them here.” Real estate purveyors have shown their belief in the value and growth of the destination as well with investment in commercial development from hotels to villas and office buildings. Here are a few highlights and
what not to miss when planning your next visit, upcoming holiday vacation or potential purchase. The Corridor Located in the Twin Dolphin master community, along with a golf club, Montage Residences, and Maravilla, The Montage is an exceptional new addition to the well-traveled corridor section that connects the towns of Cabo San Lucas to San Jose del Cabo. The verdant grounds hold 250 plant species and walkways leading to several main swim-up bar laden pools and the beach area. One of the main perks here is you can actually go into the water and the small bay in front of the property is set up for water sports and snorkeling. Yes, there are a few small boats that will cruise past but the property is blue flag certified so no vendors are allowed to approach you on the beach. NOV. 29, 2019
While there is a public area but guests of the Montage have private cabanas and lounge chairs with full-service drinks, food and even suntan lotion, and a section of ping-pong and other games. There is even a carpet set up to walk down to the shore so you won’t burn your feet or get sandy after a dip in the water. They think of everything and the service is exceptional. When you’re feeling peckish, Marea is an all-day restaurant with an ocean view or you can head to the main lobby area to Mezcal where they specialize in the local spirit and tasting menus. If you really love mezcal, be sure to leave time to visit the 40,000 square foot spa for a “mezcal renewal massage” where essential oils mixed with the liquor are used, followed by a drink of the same. North of Cabo San Lucas Nobu – The eponymous brand from the world’s most famous Japanese chef, has also headed south of the border. The minimalist, spacious and austere resort is located about 30 minutes north of the main town and about 50 minutes from the airport. If you want to play golf and chill by one of the three main pools with a sake cocktail, this is your spot. Naturally, you can dine on prime sushi and even some specialty items with a Latin flair created just for this location such as the short rib mole miso or crunchy lobster tacos.
The Zen, Miyabi, Sake, and Nobu Suites all come with butler service who can help you book breakfast at Malibu Farm, and all the suites include a wooden Japanese soaking tub and shower room. For VIPs, the bar cart will knock on your door right before sunset to whip up your favorite drink on the house. According to Trevor Horwell, Chief Executive Officer Nobu Hospitality, “Our partners at RCD Hotels are very important to us and the decision to go into Cabo was based on our relationship as well having a successful presence in Mexico where we have had two restaurants for over ten years. Cabo is also a prime visitors’ market from the west coast U.S. where we have several restaurants and a hotel presence and many of our customers travel frequently to the region so it naturally makes sense for us to be there.” You won’t be completely alone up in this neck of the woods as The Hard Rock Hotel has also opened an all-inclusive branch right next door. But they should really consider opening up even part of the grounds to hotel neighbors, especially if there is a concert in town. Rounding out the offerings, Quivira residences is also nearby with a worldclass Jack Nicklaus golf course dubbed the “Pebble Beach” of Cabo. By 2021, the St. Regis will also be adding a hotel and residences to the mix.
total seclusion spanning a two-mile stretch on the Sea of Cortez. This location is not for guests who want to party in Cabo, or shop in San Jose (they are both about one hour away), but for a complete emersion in the secluded 100-acre grounds with an organic farm. “I fell in love the first time I visited and I swam in the calm, warm Sea of Cortes,” said Jason Grosfeld, CEO of Irongate, real estate, and development firm. “Where else can you find 2 miles of swimmable warm water and the opportunity to create today's version of an international resort? It just doesn't exist in North America. The natural attributes of the land and the sea drew me." You will be able to spend all day at the beach indulging in water sports near the marina before retreating to the Tata Harper spa with private villa-style rooms. At night, you’ll want to pick out a fresh catch of the day at Milos restaurant specializing in a
Nobu Hotel Los Cabos Lobby
San Jose del Cabo Zadún, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve has been swiftly inducted to the discerning Virtuoso portfolio. Situated on the coastal sanctuary of Puerto Los Cabos in San Jose del Cabo, with panoramic Sea of Cortez views, the ground encompasses 87 guest rooms, 28 suites, and 42 villas. The two-story beachfront Grand Reserve Villa, at almost 6,000 square feet, will offer two bedrooms, a kitchen, private pools, outdoor shower, and a butler. The property is surrounded by the 27-hole Puerto Los Cabos Golf Course, featuring three courses by legends Greg Norman and Jack Nicklaus. Other draws include the spa, with a modern interpretation of a traditional Mexican sweat lodge that aims to cleanse your body, mind, and spirit, and a sound room will offer therapy that resonates through the flooring to facilitate
NOV. 29, 2019
Montage Breakfast Enchiladas Photo by Carole Dixon
bounty of Greek-style seafood. When the entire resort is completed, there will be a full residential development, golf course, and yacht club with Aman opening their first Mexican resort, Amanvari, in 2020. According to Gosfeld, “The setting and proximity gave us the platform to bring in the world's leading 5+ star hospitality brand, Four Seasons and Aman, and pair it with an international marina and an unmatched members-only beach and yacht club that will become the heartbeat of Costa Palmas for its members. Our vision is to create a more modern version of the master-planned resort. A resort that marries a refined aesthetic and modern design with a spirit of adventure that touches every person who visits or calls Costa Palmas home.”
deep meditation. And, most importantly, there is a JeanMichel Cousteau’s Ambassadors of the Environment program, with expert naturalists providing educational activities for all ages focusing on the sustainability of the region’s landscape and culture. Concepted by Mexico-based architect, Miguel Angel Aragonés, the 194-room Viceroy, also new to this part of town, offers a beachfront pool and bar as part of five on-property dining venues- including the iconic “nest-like” restaurant Nido, and a rooftop bar and restaurant, CieloMar. The ethereal white tones and modern furnishings the brand is synonymous with are alive and well in this region of Cabo. East of Cabo One of the most talked-about areas in Baja has been the East Cape and the brand new Four Seasons Costa Palmas which offers
Four Seasons Costa Palmas View PAGE 13
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That being said, he successfully transformed an iconic corner
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surveys and satisfaction rates by 8 percent, improved our
of downtown Seattle that was previously a mostly abandoned
attention to detail for our guests. In order to do so, you have to act
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building into a bustling hotel and restaurant, providing a safe
like the mayor of a small town; gathering many talented experts
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under one umbrella (each one of them in their own areas) and you
phenomenal results for our ownership group,” according to
influx of the hotels being built, Rob was always laser-focused on delivering an incredible
have to guide them to the correct direction in creating everlasting memories for our guests. I love
nominator Katie Nessel, director of communications for Columbia Hospitality. “In addition to this,
experience.”
connecting with the guests and creating a repeat clientele that
he somehow finds the time to mentor three other GMs at three
business. My team and I evaluate our year and look at what we are
the past year was reinventing myself and the hotel. I’ve been
.MARCO ORTLAM.
will become loyal to the property and hotel brand.”
properties around the region and is also partially accountable for
doing well and what we can do better. For the things that work,
in this box since 2006 and habit is a powerful thing. It’s easy to
What do you love most about being
.ALAN STEPHENS.
the financial success of those properties. Never has a GM of a
we find ways to incorporate these best practices into other
understand that going through a 10-year product improvement
a general manager? “From a very young age, when
GM/AREA MANAGER, SALISH LODGE & SPA, SNOQUALMIE, WASH.
property [of] Salish’s size been tasked as an area manager in the
areas of our hotel. Of course, our No. 1 goal is to continue
plan with Hilton generates some exciting physical results at the
I first started in the hospitality business, becoming a GM had
Why does the person you’re nominating deserve this award?
history of our company. Alan is incredibly driven, hard-working,
to grow our guest satisfaction while operating a successful
property but the success isn’t sustainable without behavior
always been a career goal for me. What I love the most is
“Since taking over as GM, Alan has improved team member
energetic, smart and also fun to work with. He makes everyone around him laugh and brings an amazing positivity to the workplace.”
hotel for our owners, partners and Marriott. Our ultimate goal is a balanced score card— guest satisfaction, associate satisfaction and financial success.”
change. The behavior change had to start with me as the leader of the hotel. I’m fortunate that there is very little turnover at the hotel but that can work against you when it comes to infusing new ideas and change. We cast aside many of the best practices we’ve used over the past decade and forced ourselves to reimagine. The results have been remarkable. It has led to redefining every part of our business.” HM
GM, MONTAGE LOS CABOS, CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO
.TOM ULLRING. GM, COURTYARD CAROLINA BEACH
.BRAD WENGER.
(N.C.) OCEANFRONT
GM, HILTON WILMINGTON/
Tell us about some of your goals for the next year. “We look at every year as an opportunity for growth both personally and within our
CHRISTIANA, NEWARK, DEL.
GM’s to Watch Geri Lombard, Hotel LeVeque
“Geri is a great leader because she has the talent of inspiring others to perform at their very best.” -Hotel LeVeque Team
Congratulations Geri! -Your Hotel LeVeque and First Hospitality Family
50 W. Broad St. Columbus, OH hotellevequecolumbus.com *Managed by First Hospitality
What is the most pressing challenge you’ve faced and resolved in the past year? “The most challenging issue over
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Above, Montage Los Cabos provides a peaceful place to view the sunset, and dine on lobster with an ocean view, below. Photos by Montage Los Cabos
CUISINE
MONTAGE LOS CABOS The 122 guestrooms and 52 resort-style residences of year-old Montage Los Cabos claim an enviable spot on one of the region’s few swimmable beaches. Just as appetizing, though, are the resort’s chic restaurants: Mezcal specializes in modern interpretations of Mexican cuisine and tastings of Tequila, agave and Mexican wines, while dramatically perched Marea showcases seafood and aged meats. Nearby Los Tamarindos, an organic farm (lostamarindos.mx), offers cooking classes and tours year-round, while elite chefs such as Gerald Hirigoyen and Charles Phan fly in bimonthly for Montage’s weekend culinary series of special dinners and gettogethers. From $787; montagehotels.com/loscabos
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Montage Los Cabos.PHOTO COURTESY OF MONTAGE LOS CABOS.
Punta Lobos beach. PHOTO COURTESY OF HOTEL SAN CRISTÓBAL.
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Before Jon Yao opened his heralded Taiwanese restaurant Kato in Los Angeles in 2017, he was on a different track, studying for the LSATs. Charles Olalia, the Filipino chef behind Los Angeles’ Ma’am Sir, felt obligated to follow in the steps of his doctor parents and take up medicine. Vietnamese food pioneer and San Francisco’s The Slanted Door mastermind Charles Phan’s parents pushed him to a career as an engineer or doctor, even though he dreamt of being a potter. DeeDee Niyomkul of Atlanta’s Chai Yo came from a family of well-known Thai chefs, but that presented its own set of pressures. Their chef origin stories are fairly typical for children of Asian immigrants: parents prod them to pursue what they perceive to be successful careers, like medicine, law and engineering. Obviously, these culinary stars forged their own paths. Yet despite defying their parents’ wishes, the chefs revealed that what keeps them motivated day after day is their families.
The chefs shared their backstories and more at Montage Los Cabos’ new Culinary Series, a weekend of events centered on a food theme. “It’s important to tell a story through the lens of culture,” says hotel manager Victorio Gonzalez.
The gourmet gathering is an effort by the 2018-opened hotel to establish itself as a foodie destination beyond its modern Mexican fine-dining venue Mezcal and internationally influenced restaurant Marea. The ongoing series brings top chefs together to share their experiences and their food with Montage Los Cabos guests.
Each three-day weekend carries the same format: Fire Friday, a barbecue; Talks & Bites, a panel discussion; Aventura Culinaria, a five-course dinner; and a VIP farewell breakfast with the chefs. You can book events à la carte or the full package of foodie festivities. The next Culinary Series is set for December 13 to 15. October’s Southeast Asian edition began with Fire Friday under the stars and strung lights on the Ocean Lawn, as the chefs cooked over flames. Olalia’s savory linked longanisa sausage hung over a fire like a string of oversized meaty beads with “rice tamales” (Filipino sweet rice wrapped in banana leaves) toasting on the side. Yao offered a rich bite with his Mishimawagyu shortrib with Thai basil and Fresno chili, and Niyomkul added a flavor jolt with moo yang pork skewers, spicy papaya salad and sticky rice. Phan won over the crowd with large, luscious grilled scallops doused in a creamy lemongrass and chili beurre blanc.
The hotel also set up a couple of other stations, including one with desserts such as pumpkin crème custard topped with candied pepitas, coconut sorbet crowned with toasted coconut and lime shavings, and s’mores paletas (Mexican ice pops, which are a specialty at the property). A Veuve Clicquot cart kept everyone topped off with champagne, and a Clase Azul bar doled out tequila tastings. As the live band’s guitar strumming mingled with plumes of smoke, foodies grazed among the outdoor stations. Because of the party’s limited size, there was never a line. This allowed attendees to linger and leisurely chat up the chefs, which was Montage Los Cabos’ goal. “We thought it would be more meaningful to have intimate interactions to get to know the chefs,” hotel general manager Marco Ortlam says about the Culinary Series. “This brings people together for extraordinary food and beverage. We want to be a culinary destination. It’s only the beginning.”
The next day, about a dozen foodies joined the toques in the hotel’s Casa Twin Dolphin villa’s luxe living and dining room. As the chefs fielded audience questions on everything from their go-to comfort food to what inspires them, we sipped wine and noshed on bites they prepared beforehand, including a toasted sourdough cube slicked with buttery uni from Yao and a pan de sal (a sweet Filipino roll) doughnut drizzled with a pandan glaze (all recipes were provided to attendees afterward in a goodie bag with a Montage apron signed by all of the chefs). The chefs flexed their epicurean muscles the following evening at Aventura Culinaria, a wine-paired dinner in Mezcal’s terrace next to the flickering fireplaces and infinity pool. Each chef prepared a course, and we were able to peek at the behind-the-scenes action with two TVs showing a live feed from the kitchen. Yao kicked off the meal with a light, fresh kombu-cured kanpachi with Sungold tomatoes and Thai basil. Montage Los Cabos executive chef Xavier Salomon (known as “The Pope,” the well-connected toque is responsible for securing the stellar series lineups) took the next course: chilled, melt-in-your-mouth wagyu with salsa macha, panuchos (black-bean-filled tostadas), aged cotija and chile mole espuma.
Next came Phan’s daikon radish cake with spicy soy. Before dinner, he deprecatingly warned us about the unsightly appearance of the dish, but the rectangular slice was comforting and delicious. Olalia served pancit palabok, noodles with Baja seafood and Mexican parsley in a shrimp sauce. Niyomkul followed it up with a tender grilled lamb chop, bamboo shoots, jungle curry eggplant, rhizome, Thai basil and a scoop of jasmine rice.
The weekend ended the next morning with one final meal. Phan and Olalia joined the foodies for a family-style breakfast. Over the three days, many of the attendees got to know each other, so it made for easy and fun conversation over flavorful chicken tamales, tropical fruit and loads of pastries. It was a fitting close to an intimate culinary weekend.
The Culinary Series debuted in July with a Maîtres Cuisiniers de France theme, featuring chefs Claude Le Tohic of One65 in San Francisco; Gerald Hirigoyen of Piperade in San Francisco; Eric Branger of The RitzCarlton, Los Angeles; and David Serus of Montage Laguna Beach. December 13 to 15 will spotlight women in gastronomy, including Tanya Holland of San Francisco’s Brown Sugar Kitchen; Claudia Sandoval, a San Diego chef who serves as a judge on Telemundo’s MasterChef Latino; Kim Alter of San Francisco’s Nightbird; and Pia Quintana of Los Cabos’ La Lupita Tacos y Mezcal. And many more foodie experiences are in store for 2020 (February 7 to 9, May 29 to 31, July 17 to 19 and October 9 to 11).
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The party starts on my Southwest Airlines flight to Cabo. A quick two-and-a-half hours from Houston, it’s just enough time for passengers to get a pre-beach buzz going. Our flight attendant announces that we have two bachelor parties, three bachelorette parties and a wedding party aboard. This news inspires a generous soul to order a round of margaritas for the entire plane and a rowdy rendition of Dierks Bentley’s “Drunk on a Plane” from one of the bachelorette groups ensues. After exiting customs, I watch the bachelor parties descend on the boisterous Corona Sports Bar just outside the terminal. “Tequila!” is shouted both as an order and celebratory vacation anthem. Cabo has certainly not lost the Cabo Wabo party crowd that defined its reputation for the past decade or so. But it’s no Cancú n. The number of private jets in the neighboring terminal is my first clue that a very different version of Cabo awaits. After Hurricane Odile hit in 2014, Cabo began a transformation. Classic properties such as the Resort at Pedregal and Esperanza, an Auberge Resort, were renovated to a new level of luxury, kicking off a high-end hotel boom that shows no sign of slowing down. By the end of last year, Los Cabos boasted more five-star stays than any other destination in Latin America. And 2,400 new rooms from brands including the Four Seasons and Ritz-Carlton Reserve are expected by the end of 2019. These properties are tapping into the new luxury traveler — a generation that craves more than swim-up pool bars and beach cabanas.
Though still-new Chileno Bay offers both, it goes beyond that. The resort’s location, on one of Cabo’s few swimmable beaches, makes it a perfect base for ocean adventures. A water-sports center is equipped with everything from kayaks and boogie boards to a monster-sized, 12-person stand-up paddleboard. I’ve signed up for a private stand-up- paddleboard snorkel adventure. Many resorts keep their paddlers within a tiny roped-in section of water, but after assessing my water skills, my guide Donny, deems me worthy of venturing out to sea. The region’s whale migration, from December to April, has become one of its star attractions. Less appreciated, but no less spectacular, is the mobula ray migration. I could spot leaping rays (and hear the loud slaps of their belly flops) from my ocean-view breakfast table. Now, Donny and I are paddling straight toward the flying creatures. I’m not sure who is more excited. Every few minutes three or four flapping rays pop out of the water a few feet from our boards. I assume that is the highlight, but then Donny asks if I want to put on my snorkel gear and jump in. Nothing has prepared me for the spectacle below the surface. Like a scene from “The Blue Planet,” thousands of rays glide through the water in unison as I swim respectfully above them. Donny and I take turns snorkeling and guarding the boards. “I’ve always wanted to do this,” he confides. Later that night, when a fellow guest brags to me about his epic day of golf on the resort’s 18-hole Tom Fazio-designed course, I whip out Donny’s GoPro footage of our marine-life encounter. Best day ever, we agree, is highly opinionated, but Chileno Bay seems able to deliver to everyone’s version. Comal, Chileno Bay’s main restaurant, also exemplifies Cabo’s emerging reputation as one of Mexico’s culinary meccas. Though there are plenty of great hole-in-the-wall tacos to be had in the region, there are also a growing number of destination restaurants helmed by some of Mexico’s top chefs, including Enrique Olvera and Javier Plascencia. Yvan Mucharraz, whose ré sumé includes stints at the French Laundry, Arzak and Joë l Robuchon at L’Atelier, is the visionary behind the food at Comal and one of Cabo’s rising stars. His cooking showcases the bounty of the sea, with a focus on sustainability, as well as seasonal produce from the region’s abundant organic farms. Similarly, bar manager Osvaldo Vasquez is largely responsible for elevating Cabo’s cocktail game — he’s on a mission to get visitors thinking beyond margaritas. At Comal, he’s even created a menu of dry craft cocktails made from botanical hydrosol for guests who are going booze-free, something becoming more common. The 6 a.m crowd in Chileno Bay’s pool-facing gym is proof that wellness is top of mind for next-gen travelers, and the resort caters to them with Pilates, boot camps, even aqua spin. Given the caliber of the region’s new spas, it’s not long before Los Cabos does a complete 180 and becomes recognized as the wellness escape of choice in the West. Aman junkies, fanatics of the brand’s sanctuarylike aesthetic and focus on wellness, are already booking in anticipation of the opening of Amanvari in 2020. The spa at Nobu Los Cabos, which opened in April, spans nearly 13,700 square feet — but the new Montage Los Cabos owns bragging rights for the most expansive wellness space in all of Los Cabos, with a spa spread out over 40,000 square feet. After three days of playing in the sun, my skin needs a break, so I retreat to Ojo de Liebra Spa at year-old Solaz, a Luxury Collection Resort. With 10 private treatment rooms, two VIP double rooms, a Himalayan salt igloo, Thalasso therapy, chromotherapy and more, it’s easy to forget the beach and devote an entire day to mind-body pampering. An aloe vera body wrap rehydrates my sun-scorched skin, and a magnesium massage relieves my muscles, sore from snorkeling, paddling, yoga and morning runs on the sand. After my treatments, my therapist brings me a mug of herbal tea and encourages me to cocoon myself within the hammock on the private patio outside my treatment room to let the “healing” sink in. El Gabinete Del Barco, an on-site indigenous gallery with regional artifacts such as a 43-foot-long whale skeleton and a historical map collection, is my first hint that Solaz caters to a diverse crowd. The gallery curator informs me the hotel gets quite a few history and biology nerds, like myself, who pop in for an hour or two to geek out on megalodon jaws and other marine fossils. At first glance, the hotel’s size — 128 rooms plus 21 residences — can be
intimidating, but the clever layout means you rarely ever see more than a handful of guests, even when fully booked. With four infinity pools — two dedicated to kids — there are days when I have a Solaz pool with an ocean view all to myself. And four restaurants, including health-minded Mako, with a menu of power bowls and ceviche, and newly opened sushi restaurant Misaki, allow for guests to dine at different venues nightly without ever having to wait for a table or leave the property (though the tacos at La Lupita in San Jose del Cabo should not be missed). It’s easy to come to Baja California Sur and never see beyond your manicured resort grounds in Los Cabos. But you’re missing out if you don’t explore the region’s natural beauty and culture, especially in the East Cape, just over one hour’s drive north of San José del Cabo. Home to empty beaches and sleepy fishing villages, this off-the-radar paradise will welcome the Amanvari next year and the Four Seasons Los Cabos at Costa Palmas this fall. The resort isn’t complete when I visit, but I am able to get a taste of its activities and can say this is experiential travel at is best. In the span of two days, I go ATVing down dusty dirt roads lined with cardó n cactus and through small local villages where we stop for a tortilla-making class in a local home, and visit Rancho Ecoló gico Sol de Mayo, a tuckedaway oasis full of towering waterfalls and natural waterslides. One morning a guide takes me snorkeling with schools of jack fish at nearby Cabo Pulmo Marine Sanctuary, the UNESCO World Heritage Site Jacques Cousteau famously called “the world’s aquarium” because of its abundance of marine species. Just off the resort’s beach, I am able to wake surf, SUP and help release hundreds of turtle hatchlings out to sea. There are few destinations that can be everything to everyone, but Los Cabos is definitely trying, and so far with success. THE NEW CABO BLACK BOOK 1 Hotel & Homes Cabo Starwood’s sustainably minded 1 Hotels brand plans to open a 115-room hotel and 55 residences on Medano Beach next year. In addition to a restaurant and rooftop bar with edible gardens will be an open-air collection of cooking stations inspired by local markets and a cooking school. Daily activities, such as yoga and paddleboarding, will be complimentary. 1homescabo.com Amanvari Aman’s first property in Mexico is slated for completion next year and will be in the westernmost edge of Costa Palmas, a new beachfront community on the peninsula’s East Cape. Amanvari is derived from the Sanskrit words for “peace” and “water,” perfect descriptors for the resort’s serene seaside location. A main pavilion, featuring three restaurants and a pool, will be surrounded by 20 bi-level, stilted hotel pavilions. costapalmas.com/amanvari Chileno Bay, an Auberge Resort The new sister property of Cabo classic, Esperanza, has become an instant hit thanks to its Tom Fazio-designed golf course, innovative Kids Club Program and a water-sports center that takes advantage of its unique setting on calm Chileno Bay. With 99 rooms and 60 villas, the property conveniently accommodates families and groups of friends. If salt air and sun don’t erase your stress, book one of the spa’s Mayan and Aztec healing rituals. From $500; aubergeresorts.com/chilenobay Four Seasons Costa Palmas
Slated to open this fall on Baja Sur’s less trodden East Cape, the Four Seasons will feature 141 rooms overlooking the Sea of Cortez. Part of the 1,000-acre Costa Palmas community, guests will have access to farm-to-dinners at the on-site farm and can dock their yacht at the community marina. From $645; fourseasons.com/loscabos Montage Los Cabos Next-level service sets this year-old, 122-room property apart, as does its location on tranquil Santa Maria Bay, one of the region’s few swimmable beaches. Golf lovers, take note: Guests have exclusive use of the Twin Dolphin course. And sybarites have endless choices for pampering at Spa Montage; it’s the largest on the peninsula. From $825; montagehotels.com/loscabos Nobu Hotel Los Cabos This 200-room, ryokan-inspired property blends Japanese minimalism with Mexican materials, including wood and stone. In addition to the signature Nobu restaurant, the hotel has an outpost of California’s popular Malibu Farm. Guests have access to four pools with private cabanas, plus a massive spa that boasts both indoor and outdoor hydrotherapy areas. From $490; loscabos.nobuhotels.com Solaz Los Cabos, A Luxury Collection Resort Original works by Mexican artist Cé sar Negrete are on display throughout this 34-acre, 128-room beachfront property. Guests can choose from four infinity pools and four restaurants, including an outpost of stellar sushi spot Misaki. From $380; marriott.com Viceroy Los Cabos Located in the heart of San José del Cabo, Viceroy’s futuristic design, courtesy of architect Miguel Angel Aragoné a, makes it one of the most Instagrammed hotels in Baja Sur. The shot to get: the Nest-like exterior of Japanese restaurant Nido. Workout junkies appreciate the resort’s fitness programming, curated by celebrity trainer Harley Pasternak. From $365; viceroyhotelsandresorts.com Zadún, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve The fourth resort in Ritz-Carlton’s exclusive Reserve portfolio will debut this fall along the coastline of Puerto Los Cabos. The property will have 87 rooms, 28 suites, 42 villas, plus three restaurants, an agave bar and a gamechanging spa. Guests will be able to connect with the area’s famed marine life through the brand’s Jean Michel Cousteau’s Ambassadors of the Environment program. From $799; zadunreserve.com
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Oh, December. The glacial last month of the year stirs visions of snow-covered hills, wooden toboggans, hot cocoa with mini marshmallows and ripping open presents while fluffy powder falls outside. In our youth, December break meant being out of school, frequenting the local skating rink in town and competing against other neighborhood kids in sledding contests. It also meant road trips to visit grandma and grandpa at their residence upstate, or even the occassional weekend at the nearest ski mountain. As we grew older, mulled wine and decadent, spiked eggnog joined the party. But, of course, there is another way (well many) to spend December still surrounded by friends and family that has nothing to do with freezing temperatures or icy roads. It’s time to trade flurries for frozen drinks and put your bikini to good use. In your not-so-distant future, we see hours lazing on the glimmering shores of a far-away beach and eating fresh coconut. We’d deem that the polar opposite of arctic. To inspire your steamy getaway—and all the torrid antics likely to ensue—we’ve pulled together a list of hot spots worthy of your PTO. From sun-drenched domestic destinations to exotic islands with balmy climates, here are 15 awesome warm places to visit in December.
11. CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO When we scroll through our Instagram feed in December, it seems like everyone and their brother is in Cabo San Lucas. There must be a reason, right? Try many reasons. Seriously, we could (and, in a moment, will) name dozens of things that fully rationalize our desire to wait out cold snaps in the southernmost tip of the Baja Peninsula. The basis of our affection goes deep. Cabo San Lucas delivers endless sunshine and average temperatures in the low 80s. The tranquil tides of the Sea of Cortez appeal to travelers who just want to swim without worry. On the opposite side of the spectrum, epic swells coax surfers to the famously tumultuous Playa del Amor. Known for lively clubs and bars, Cabo San Lucas doesn’t shy away from its standing as a happening after-dark destination. Adding to the appeal are tons of tasty restaurants—notably Edith's and El Farallon—as well as a string of sophisticated lodgings. Kelly Grumbach of Quintessentially Travel, a Virtuoso Agency in New York City, recommends the stunning Montage Los Cabos, which wins hearts with its incredible views of Santa Maria Bay. Average daily temperature in December: 77°F
USDailyNews.com USA UMV: 41,317 Ad Value: $382 October 26, 2019
Oh, December. The glacial last month of the year stirs visions of snow-covered hills, wooden toboggans, hot cocoa with mini marshmallows and ripping open presents while fluffy powder falls outside. In our youth, December break meant being out of school, frequenting the local skating rink in town and competing against other neighborhood kids in sledding contests. It also meant road trips to visit grandma and grandpa at their residence upstate, or even the occassional weekend at the nearest ski mountain. As we grew older, mulled wine and decadent, spiked eggnog joined the party. But, of course, there is another way (well many) to spend December still surrounded by friends and family that has nothing to do with freezing temperatures or icy roads. It’s time to trade flurries for frozen drinks and put your bikini to good use. In your not-so-distant future, we see hours lazing on the glimmering shores of a far-away beach and eating fresh coconut. We’d deem that the polar opposite of arctic. To inspire your steamy getaway—and all the torrid antics likely to ensue—we’ve pulled together a list of hot spots worthy of your PTO. From sun-drenched domestic destinations to exotic islands with balmy climates, here are 15 awesome warm places to visit in December.
11. CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO When we scroll through our Instagram feed in December, it seems like everyone and their brother is in Cabo San Lucas. There must be a reason, right? Try many reasons. Seriously, we could (and, in a moment, will) name dozens of things that fully rationalize our desire to wait out cold snaps in the southernmost tip of the Baja Peninsula. The basis of our affection goes deep. Cabo San Lucas delivers endless sunshine and average temperatures in the low 80s. The tranquil tides of the Sea of Cortez appeal to travelers who just want to swim without worry. On the opposite side of the spectrum, epic swells coax surfers to the famously tumultuous Playa del Amor. Known for lively clubs and bars, Cabo San Lucas doesn’t shy away from its standing as a happening after-dark destination. Adding to the appeal are tons of tasty restaurants—notably Edith's and El Farallon—as well as a string of sophisticated lodgings. Kelly Grumbach of Quintessentially Travel, a Virtuoso Agency in New York City, recommends the stunning Montage Los Cabos, which wins hearts with its incredible views of Santa Maria Bay. Average daily temperature in December: 77°F