Guest post by Beverly Saul
Recently, I took my daughter on vacation so we could enjoy some mother/daughter bonding and well-deserved pampering. We had the pleasure of staying at Capella Pedregal, a Virtuoso property in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Capella Pedregal is located on the Pacific Ocean near the marina area of Cabo San Lucas, but is situated on the opposite side of a mountain. The Capella Hotel company took care of that issue by building a tunnel through the mountain for easy access to Cabo.
When I arrived at the resort and entered the tunnel, there were chandeliers lighting up the tunnel…a sign of the luxuries to come! As I stepped out of my transfer vehicle, a Mexican caballero appeared with an ice-cold freshly made Margarita. So far, so good! Another caballero greeted me, asked my name and guided me past the hotel desk and outdoor lobby area that overlooked the ocean. I didn’t have to go the hotel desk to check in, but instead was introduced to a personal assistant for my stay. I was beginning to feel like royalty! She showed me to my room which was on the second level of the property and had my own private plunge pool on the veranda. The next five days were heaven!
The resort has a desert-like ambiance and décor, mixed with Mexican mission touches. The landscaping was immaculate, as was everything in the entire resort. A light breeze always blows and helps relieve the heat. The resort has a private beach for sunning, but you can’t swim in the ocean there due to dangerous riptides. Again, the hotel developers met that challenge by including four stylish swimming pools on the property for guests.
The Mexican style food in all three of the restaurants was wonderful. Every day at 4:00pm, guacamole, salsa, chips and two beers on ice were delivered to my room. Complimentary bottled water was replenished in my room daily and routinely provided on ice at the resort pools the moment you sat down.
Other features included a boutique, a gym and a glorious spa. A complimentary golf cart shuttle was offered down to the marina where you could walk to shops and restaurants. Taxis to the Medano Beach area cost $10 each way.
The service at this resort was stellar but what set it apart from other places I have stayed is that the entire staff, no matter in which area they worked, was friendly, warm and genuinely welcoming. Employees go through a rigorous seven interview process to be hired, so only the best get the jobs and it shows. I highly recommend Capella Pedregal for anyone wanting a relaxing, pampering vacation!
Beverly Saul is a Master Cruise Counselor (MCC) with Covington Travel. She has been on over 100 cruises in her 28 years as a travel advisor, but clearly has a taste for luxury on land as well as at sea.
For more information and planning a trip to Capella Pedregal, please contact Covington Travel.
Since they charge 15% service charge to everything at the hotel, do you bother adding an additional tip to your meals or other things? Or is that 15% considered their tip?
JD, The best answer is … it depends! Service charges or resort fees typically cover service staff like bellmen, chambermaids, etc., but when the rates are inclusive of meals, resort fees may include gratuities for restaurant servers as well. You really have to ask or it will be stated on the bill. Of course, your Covington advisor would be happy to clarify tipping policies for a specific resort before you travel. Best – Beverly