Wooo Cabo!
My birthday is at the beginning of the month, which means it tends to sneak up on me because it seems so far away (think: “Oh, it’s next month…” followed by “Whoa it’s in 5 days!”). This happens almost every year, so you’d think, by now, I would know better to plan ahead. Nope.
Alas, with just a little more than a week away, my husband asks “What do you want to do for your birthday?” and I kinda freak out because nothing has been planned and it’s so close to my birthday.
It has been a particularly cold spring in San Diego, with very few trips to the beach (which we usually do every weekend). Being tired of constant overcast, my response to the question is simply, “Go somewhere sunny”. He agrees: we needed a break from the bad weather. My first thought is to go to Palm Springs. But the weather report forecasts a high of 110 degrees. That’s a bit TOO HOT, and the thought of going from one extreme to the other is not that appealing.
Then, I remember that we have an abundance of frequent flyer miles. Clicking on the Alaska Airlines rewards map, I find that we could take a short flight to a warm destination for minimal fees. So, on a whim, we book a weekend getaway to Cabo San Lucas! Neither of us has ever been there, but it’s supposed to be warm and sunny which is all we are looking for.
On Friday, the day of the flight, we finish packing, arrive at the airport early enough to take a shuttle from long-term parking to the terminal, go through security, and get to the gate.
The adventure begins!
Two hours later we arrive, and the moment we leave the airport terminal we are happy to see bright blue skies and feel the warm sunlight on our skin. There is a sign that says “Cabo” right where the hotel shuttles are, so we take the gratuitous “Wooo Cabo!” photos. Our vacation has officially begun!
Wooo Cabo!
We have to wait a while for the bus, so it’s time for a photoshoot!
We booked a room through VRBO, but it’s not the usual kind of rental we are used to. This is via an owner of a timeshare at a large resort. So instead of renting someone’s apartment, we check in to the hotel like a regular guest and are assigned a room upon arrival. The resort is Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach. There are a few sister resorts, and they offer free transportation between them all. Sunset Beach is built on the side of a cliff so that each room has a view, but the rise in elevation makes walking around the resort is difficult; fortunately, the resort offers free golf cart transportation throughout the resort. We are escorted to our room in one of the taller buildings.
The room has an ocean front room and it is phenomenal.
The view from our room.
We quickly unpack, clean up, and explore the grounds. There are five pools; one is adult-only and another is just for kids (which is nice, depending on the kind of vacation you are enjoying). And, of course, there are stairs. Lots and lots of stairs. 😀
Just past the main pool is beach access – exactly what we came here for! A long stretch of sand to walk along, the sun starting to set, a warm day with a cool breeze, and crashing clear blue waves. The waves are too rough for swimming, but it’s still lovely to walk alongside such energy!
The waves make the ocean too dangerous for swimming.
After our walk, we decide to go out for my pre-birthday dinner.
Mmmmm, sushi…
We select the Japanese restaurant because, while it may seem strange to go for Japanese food in Mexico, the seafood should be astonishingly good (and it is) and we want something lighter than the usual Mexican fare.
A friendly visitor wants to have dinner with us.
We only have a couple of days here, so, on Saturday morning – My Birthday! – we decide to spend whole the day at the resort. We get our morning coffee and pastry.
Coffee and pastry in the morning.
Then we head straight to the adult-only pool, where we soak up some sun, swim, and meet some fun people.
Everyone is happy.
Everyone is friendly here because everyone is here to have fun!
So cool in the pool.
Even though the temperatures do not break 100, it still gets quite hot. Now we understand the concept of siesta! It’s a time to go indoors to cool off.
Sunset on my birthday!
That evening, we watch the sun set while walking on the beach, and then decide to try the Mexican restaurant for my birthday dinner.
Dinner at LaFrida’s on my birthday.
It is at LaFrida’s – themed after Frida Kahlo. They have a number of photographs which we take a moment to browse. 😉 We both are pleasantly surprised by the upscale ambiance and that the food is not the usual Southern California idea of Mexican Food (i.e., a giant plate with rice/beans and a couple of tacos or enchiladas – which is fine but very heavy and not what we’re looking for). Instead, we order a seafood plate with the best charred octopus I’ve ever had.
Decor at LaFrida Restaurant.
On Sunday, we take the free shuttle to Pueblo Bonito Pacifica, the upscale adult-only resort.
The adult-only resort grounds.
It is built on a flat piece of land, so no golf cart tooling around needed. We quickly notice how quiet it is here. We walk around the pool and are disappointed that there are no lounge chairs available with an umbrella shade. We decide that we’ll probably just go to the lobby bar for a drink to cool off and go back to our resort. When we asked the concierge to point us to the lobby bar, he lets us know that it’s not open yet, but there is a bar near the pool, and offers to escort us to it. When we arrive back at the pool, we ask if there is a way to find two lounge chairs with an umbrella, and within 10 minutes, the arrangements have been made.
Staying cool in the adult-only resort.
So, we end up spending most of the day at this pool! It is lovely.
Enjoying the lap pool.
Quiet, classy, and larger than the adult-only pool at Sunset Beach so we are able to do longer laps, too.
I brought my favorite pink skirt, so I’m going to wear it for a while on my birthday.
My pink skirt!
Do you like it? My husbands always insists on photoshoots when I’m wearing it. 😛
By the evening on Sunday, we realize that two days of resort living is about our limit. Truth be told, we are not resortists and this is not our style. We are adventurers and explorers. And while everything is beautiful, there isn’t that much activity to keep our interest. We are glad that our trip is for only three nights – any longer and it would have gotten boring.
This is me, happy.
Overall though, it is the perfect quick getaway for this birthday girl.
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On the drive back to the airport on Monday, I overhear an interesting conversation. I’m not trying to eavesdrop but this couple is sitting right next to me and don’t seem too concerned about privacy. He is American and she is Mexican. It appears that they have “an arrangement”, whereby she is negotiating her fees with him, after having provided an authentic Mexican girlfriend for his vacation. I didn’t even know you could do such things! This world is certainly full of wonderful surprises!!