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Every February, my husband and I use his birthday as an excuse to get out of town by ourselves for a few days. Typically, he can only get away from the J O B for a few days before he is back at the grind. I’m lucky if I can keep him off the phone for the short amount of time we are away. For the first few years after our twins were born (our last kiddos), we did Cabo. One stay at the One & Only Palmilla, another in a friend’s luxury villa complete with personal chef and pool. That was 6 years ago. That is so sad!

This year, I decided to surprise my guy by taking him away to Cabo San Lucas, as it has always been our happy place to relax, sun, drink and dine. I have to admit, the thoughts of, “Is Mexico safe?”, did cross my mind. But at the end of the day, the sea, sun and mezcal was calling our names- as was the brand new Montage Los Cabos- we couldn’t resist.

Sitting exclusively in its own private alcove on the Sea of Cortez in the Santa Maria Bay, is the newest Montage property. You may be somewhat familiar with this brand, with properties located in desirable destinations such as Laguna Beach, Deer Valley, Maui and Beverly Hills. The service and offerings at a Montage property are second to none. (And, we also love their sister company, Pendry Hotels!) The Los Cabos property boasts of 174 oceanview guest rooms, suites and residences, 3 signature dining options, a world-class spa, a killer pool and the most amazing staff.

February was definitely a perfect time to visit. We happened to be there right before the crowds started rolling in…we were leaving as they were coming. We had any spot to ourselves on the beach and pool. We watched the whales swim and play right in front of us- no need for a boat cruise! We had coffee on the beach in the morning, hand-crafted margaritas in the afternoon, the most delicious fresh-caught grilled lobster, and a Mezcal tasting experience to finish off our stay.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Being just the two of us, we chose the Oceanview King at 859 sq.ft., and it was perfect. The room itself is quite spacious, offering a morning wake-up view of the Santa Maria Bay. We enjoyed breakfast on our very spacious balcony each morning. The bathroom reminded us of our honeymoon in Bali complete with a stand alone soaking tub and an outdoor shower. The pillows on this bed were my absolute favorite, and I am still trying to find out if I can purchase them for my own bed!

The Oceanview King sleeps 3 comfortably, with a roll-away or crib. If we were to visit with our 4 children, we would have to look at the 2-bedroom suite or a connecting room option. Although, we may just keep this gem on the Cortez all to ourselves!

DINING

Every meal at Montage Los Cabos was fantastic. I truly cannot decide which to tell you about…the hand cut tortilla chips with salsa, guac and sea bass ceviche to the chicken enchiladas for breakfast? Maybe the fresh cut papaya served with lime wedges and a basket of Mexican pastries? Or the homemade paletas as a refreshing afternoon treat.

Marea by Day highlights the continuation of blues as sky meets sea against the contrast of the light brown sand, vignetted by the surrounding mountains forming the cove. The swim-up bar in the pool is also part of Marea.

Marea by Night invites a more romantic ambiance with candlelit pathways and shelves looking out into the sea. Nightly entertainment secures the atmosphere.

Mezcal is the restaurant that also provides the room service dining. The special Mezcal tasting with a Mezcal Master can be arranged by the concierge. This was a really cool experience, and quite educational. We learned all about Mezcal, the difference between Mezcal and Tequila and how to sip and enjoy. This was also the place where I tasted my first cricket salt. Yes. Crickets. They were actually good- though I don’t think my mind would let me try them again. Good thing the Mezcal Master told me after the fact.

WHAT TO DO

We did a whole lot of nothing, eating and drinking, which was our plan. There was a debate for a minute on whether or not we should ride camels. But it was fleeting. The whales swimming in the distance was enough entertainment for us.

The concierge at the Montage Los Cabos will provide you with very accurate and relevant suggestions like camel safaris, zip lining and deep sea fishing. There is plenty to do if you are looking for some adventure or to leave the resort. However, being that the Santa Maria Bay is one of the few swimmable beaches in Cabo San Lucas, the Montage also offers complimentary use of kayaks, snorkeling gear, and SUPs to use in the bay. There is also the Twin Dolphins Golf Course, a Fred Couples Signature course.

SPAAAHHH

The Spa at Montage Los Cabos deserves its own paragraph. It was that amazing. We enjoyed a couples massage, the Mezcal experience- some exfoliation, and smelly oils and one of the best head to toe massages I have had in a while. It ranks right up there with the Head, Body and Sole at Cavallo Point in the Bay Area.

There is an adult only pool located inside the spa. The spa facilities include sauna, steam and jacuzzis. Showers and lockers are available for personal use. There are also several relaxation areas for both separate male/female and co-ed sharing space.

GETTING THERE

What happened to all the direct flights from Las Vegas to Cabo!? Hoping that this mini-boom of interest in the Southern Baja town brings back the direct flights from Las Vegas. There were many folks we chatted with on our flight coming and going from Vegas, through LAX. There is also a Phoenix option, but we preferred to fly Delta. American Airlines flies through Phoenix and SouthWest Airlines can get you there via Orange County, LAX, San Diego or Oakland.

Advice: Global Entry for an easier customs experience. American Express Card Platinum holders are given a credit towards Global Entry.

Once you get through customs, be prepared to walk the hustle of the city transports and timeshare traders. My advice is to arrange transport through your hotel or resort. We arranged for the Montage Los Cabos to pick us up- it was simple, comfortable, the driver spoke English very well, and we felt at ease.

To find your driver, you will have to walk through the airport, say, “No, Gracias,” a lot, and continue across the street to an area called The Beach. There you will see the organized transports through your hotel or arranged in advance.

GETTING AROUND

Though we set up a driver for transport to and from hotel to airport, we used the taxis to get us around to our destinations in Cabo. During our stay we visited the new Thompson Hotel The Cape, Edith’s Restaurant and Flora Farms. We took taxis to all of these locations. We felt safe every time. The cabs are much more affordable in Cabo, and Uber is not quite a thing there yet. Stick with the cabs.

FOR THE KIDS

The Montage is known for its children’s program, Paintbox, for children ages 5-12 years old. Fees and availability vary, and everything is listed on the website. There is also a Merits program, which works like a scavenger hunt offering ideas/activities for families throughout their stay.

ANY DOWNSIDE?

For us, there was no downside, but could see how there could be a few points of contention for some.

There is a bit of walking to and from the beach, but golf carts are available for an escort at any time.

We did speak to one gentleman who felt like he didn’t have enough privacy. If you are in need of absolute privacy, you may consider looking into one of the Residence options. With that being said, the resort does seem a bit secluded, and it was very quiet when we were there, but it could have been the time of year.

The food was magnificent, but with only two true dining options, I could see how this could be critical for an extended stay. We were there for 4 days and left the resort twice for dinner and once for brunch- but that was more for purpose of my work. I would have been very content to eat on property every meal for 4 days/3 nights.

The pool and hot tubs are somewhat limited and I could see if there resort was quite busy how that could possibly be cumbersome with a mix of couples and families.

WHO SHOULD COME HERE?

Anyone! It seemed perfect for couples, again, was quiet during our stay. Maybe consider that if you plan for a couples only trip as there is an adult-only pool at the spa, which we never had to use.

I would definitely recommend the Montage Los Cabos as a chic, luxury vibe with plenty of room for families, friends, and couples.