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HOTEL & RESORT NEWS |
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Every week The Travel Desk posts fascinating articles
regarding Hotels & Resorts worldwide. Don't forget, if you see
something you are interested in do let us know. Give us a call
or send us an e-mail message. We are here for you.
Enjoy!
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It's All in The Details
Cabo Azul
blends style and substance
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By
Maribeth Mellin
Details
dazzle the eye at Cabo Azul Resort & Spa, the splashiest beach
resort in San Jose del Cabo. Interior designer Dodd Mitchell
didn't skip a beat when he created dramatically unique bedrooms,
kitchens, restaurants ‑ and a striking wedding chapel ‑ with a
deep espresso and cream palette set against nature's blue
horizon. Headboards and lamps have a Moroccan flair, couches and
chairs are sleekly modern and dark wooden tables and chairs on
sea view balconies conjure visions of a leisurely hacienda
lifestyle. All 332 villas feel just like home ‑ if you happen to
live in a seaside chateau straight out of
Architectural Digest.
Tucked amid the giant, all‑inclusive spreads that seem to
multiply like rabbits in Los Cabos, Cabo Azul is downright
exclusive and intimate. When I arrived at the guarded gates on a
steamy August day, other passengers in my airport van grumbled
with envy. Though the lobby was unimpressive (it's temporary),
the bellman's greeting was instantly friendly and accommodating.
Quiet air conditioning blasted beautifully when I reached my
one‑bedroom villa.
Designed with timeshare buyers in mind (but also available as
hotel rooms), the villas have up to three bedrooms and come with
fully equipped kitchens. An on‑site, gourmet market is stocked
with everything from Mexican coffee beans to French wines. At
the adjacent bakery/deli/Internet cafe, glass cases display
flaky croissants, crisp salads and flavorful pizzas. World‑weary
clients could hole up in their classy villas for days on end,
relying on speedy room service for mufti‑course meals and
various plasma screen televisions for entertainment.
But, they would miss lunching poolside on savory
seafood soup, crisp fries and fresh green salad with
panela cheese
(ask for the
spicy dressing on the side) served at Flor de Noche, a
palapa‑shaded restaurant with barstools in the pool and dining
tables beneath a canopy of thick, nautical ropes. Waiters race
about to the pools and beach delivering margaritas, guacamole
and ceviche to guests burrowing into woven, basket-like pods
with thick mattresses or lounging beneath white umbrellas. |
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In the center of the
property, three black-bottom pools descend on a slight slope
that leads to a broad band of tan sand beside the pounding waves
and unpredictable currents of the Sea of Cortez. Red flags warn
swimmers to refrain from plunging into the tempting surf. San
Jose's main hotel zone has the dubious distinction of being a
beach resort with formidable seas, best appreciated from the
sand. At
Cabo Azul, guests study the
whitecaps from plush, padded lounge chairs beneath palm
umbrellas, minty mojitos close at hand. Most days, the pools and
beach are blissfully free of pounding music and frenetic
activities, though the noise level depends on the type of guests
hanging about. Children are present and the occasional rowdy
crowd insists on splashing about but, for the most part, the
ambience is relaxing and serene.
Avoiding the brightest midday
sun, I escaped to the cool, cocoon‑like Paz Spa. Thousands of
iridescent white shells cover the ceiling above curving hallways
and smooth, pebble‑lined floors lead to bubbling hot tubs and
peaceful therapy suites. Onyx, lapis, opal and quartz crystals
help balance energies and enhance treatments ‑the signature
massage certainly soothed my jangled nerves. While checking out
the spa's terrace suite with a double outdoor shower, crystal
Jacuzzi and daybed sprinkled with rose petals, I wished my
husband had come with me. |
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Romance reigns at El
Corazon, the resort's five story-high, open-air wedding chapel
with candlelit waterfalls and a massive cross and star of David
that can be lowered from the ceiling. The breathtaking view from
this stunning aerie provides a dramatic backdrop for couples
tying the knot. However, you needn't attend a wedding to feel
the resort's elegance.
At nighttime,
candles and lights glow throughout Cabo Azul.
Fire pits burst into flame on pool islands and along paths
leading to Javier's, the signature restaurant. Like its popular
sister restaurants in Southern California, Javier's specializes
in extraordinary Mexican cuisine that keeps you coming back for
more. Have clients begin their dinner by sipping the hotel's
signature Don Julio tequila while studying the menu ‑ the
seafood enchiladas and prawns with garlic and poblano chilies
are exceptional.
Cabo Azul is still a work in progress; dining options will
eventually include a tequila and ceviche tasting bar and a taco
bar. A 60‑room boutique hotel will be the centerpiece of phase
two, scheduled for completion in fall 2009. By then, many of the
existing villas will be reserved for timeshare owners, since
Cabo Azul is a part of Pacific Monarch Resorts program. But, the
hotel promises to be exceptional as well, thanks to designer
Mitchell's eye for detail and general manager Cesar Gonzalez's
attitude toward service.
During my stay, waiters, housekeepers, store clerks and
gardeners all seemed supremely pleased to greet each guest with
a cheery smile at every encounter. Even the maintenance workers
stopped everything to walk lost wanderers to the spa or
reception.
"We want a more
relaxed environment that's not too casual," Gonzales said when I
remarked on my many pleasant encounters with staff members.
"Service is all about experience. We strive for excellence with
humility."
The result is a
welcoming and relaxing ambience that makes you want to settle
into your villas as if you truly were at home.
Interested? Give us
a call!
The Travel Desk can
help you plan that perfect experience to Cabo San Lucas and all
throughout the great country of Mexico. |
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