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In Mexico you’ll often find that hotels like to welcome their guests “home.” The Resort at Pedregal in Cabo San Lucas is one such property. But after a recent stay it became clear that this resort was nothing like my home — it was so much better.
The Resort at Pedregal rises out of the rocky mountains that line the Cabo San Lucas coast. Rooms dot the face of the craggy cliffs that slope down toward the sea. There is nothing short of absolute luxury and indulgence at this resort. That said, pretension is checked at the door. Pure comfort, ease and approachability are what most characterize a stay at this spectacular property.
The Resort at Pedregal was left in shambles by Hurricane Odile in September 2014. But after a multimillion-dollar investment and a change in ownership, the resort re-emerged in January 2015 showing off the subtle sides of luxury.
I arrived at the hotel via a chandelier-lit tunnel carved through the mountains. Emerging on the other end, all you can see is sea and sky. After eagerly sipping a welcome margarita, I was escorted to the Estrella Suite, a 1,600-square-foot corner unit with a living area, bedroom and two terraces.
The resort offers three accommodation options: guestrooms and suites, private Beachfront Suites and residential-style villas complete with full kitchens. Each unit has a private terrace and at least one private plunge pool.
A two-bedroom Beachfront Suite at the Resort at Pedregal. Each room has a private terrace and at least one private plunge pool.
Beyond that, each guest has a personal concierge, a bottle of tequila in the room, an in-room refreshment center and a private chef upon request. Every afternoon each guestroom is brought a ice bucket with two Coronitas and a side of chips with fresh guacamole.
The resort’s AlmArte Gift Boutique is a little jewel of the hotel. Helmed by Isis Aguilar, the small shop is a treasure trove for artisan gifts and souvenirs that you can be sure are authentic and high quality.
The piece de resistance is the Luna y Mar spa, a 12,000-square-foot, candlelit oasis in the center of the resort. Eight treatment pods float on the secluded spa pool, while two deluxe couples suites provide indoor, private hot tubs. Inside the separate men’s and women’s areas is a hammamlike hideaway with rounded archways, intricate tile work and steam, sauna and ice rooms. The fitness facility upstairs is open 24 hours, and fitness classes include boot camp, TRX, cross-training and seaside yoga.
If the spa is the heart of the hotel, then its restaurants are its soul. The signature Don Manuel’s restaurant serves breakfast and dinner. In the morning, choose from either the breakfast buffet or a number of a la carte items (the huevos rancheros in particular are exceptional).
At night the menu switches to elegant Mexican cuisine, and sommelier Jose Maria Aguirre is on hand to pair the perfect wine to any menu item.
The Beach Club and Crudo bar are wonderful, casual daytime lunch options, serving everything from salads and sandwiches to sushi and ceviches.
But the crown jewel of the resort’s culinary offerings is El Farallon, a restaurant built against a cliff right at the base of the rock face, where waves crash at your feet. What you’re ordering at El Farallon is protein, and lots of it, whether it’s the fresh catch of the day, a thick cut of steak, shrimp, lobster, grilled vegetables and more.
New to the restaurant after the reopening is the Champagne Terrace, where Aguirre leads guests through a variety of Champagne tastings, including Dom Perignon and Cristal, by the glass. This is a highlight of a stay at Pedregal: sipping decadent Champagnes while white, foamy wave caps clap against the rocks below.
But while the hotel flexes its glamour muscles, the real secret is the relationship between guest and staff. It’s attentive, yet effortless. Indulgent and comfortable. That line is blurred; you really are part of their family. I would be lucky to go home to a place like that.
Source: travelweekly.com
