Anna’s Cabo San Lucas Experience: Two Resort Reviews and A Recap on Downtown Cabo
Sue’s twenty-something daughter Anna (writer, social media manager, and all-around great human) reporting back from paradise, roleplaying being as cool as my mom with my very own blog post!
Hey everyone! I spent a week in San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas with my fellow twenty-something best friend, her mom, and younger sister. We stayed at two vastly different hotels: Hilton Vacation Club: Cabo Azul Los Cabos and Solmar Resort in Cabo San Lucas. They offer different energy and experiences, and I’m here to give my full report of both, as well as a run-down on our experience in downtown Cabo San Lucas!
Quick Comparison: Cabo Azul vs. Solmar Resort
- Best for luxury, relaxation, and an escape from chaos: Cabo Azul
- Best for budget and value: Solmar Resort
- Closest to downtown and nightlife: Solmar Resort
- Prettiest pools and resort grounds: Cabo Azul
- Best swimmable beach: Neither (strong currents at both the nearest beaches)
Hilton Vacation Club Cabo Azul Los Cabos
Paseo Malecon S/N Lote 11 Fonatur, 23400 San José del Cabo, Mexico
For travelers seeking gorgeous design, relaxing pools, and an unforgettable luxury experience.
I was lucky enough to stay at Cabo Azul for three days as my best friend’s mom has a timeshare. She had gotten married there, and my best friend’s younger sister had gushed about how amazing the resort is, ecstatic to go back.
Simply driving up to Cabo Azul took my breath away, and I knew I was about to be spoiled with a once in a lifetime experience. The lobby is gorgeous (and smells like a spa). The rope chandelier/art piece (not sure how exactly to describe it, see pictured below) hypnotized my best friend and I as we waited for her mom to finish checking us all in. I wish we had counted how many ooh’s and aah’s we uttered as we walked through the resort for the first time.
I have never experienced such a beautiful resort other than the Princeville in Kauai, and felt immediately relaxed and grateful as we leisurely wandered to our room. We arrived around 7pm, so we were met with blazing firepits sprinkled through the various pools and the torches mounted on the walls. The resort was blanketed by the calming air of dusk, and the smell of incense wafted along the paths. My best friend and I squealed with joy and awe as we beheld the three main pools at the center of the resort, from the Corazón Chapel (which is a sight in and of itself, and is where my best friend’s mom’s ceremony took place).
Our room was apartment style with a full kitchen, living room, two bedrooms, and two bathrooms (one an en-suite). Again, this property offers time-shares, but is open to all! We were on the first floor, and had a patio that allowed us to walk straight from our room, across the grass, to the main pools. We opted to go grocery shopping in the shopping center nearby and cook most of our own meals to save money.
We did spoil ourselves with pool-side burgers one afternoon, which were unbelievably delicious and worth the splurge.
Our three days consisted of lounging by the pool, swimming, and having (perhaps a bit too many) drinks from the swim-up bar. They have a happy hour, and we loved being a part of the crowd swimming our way up to the bar right as the clock struck 4pm (it was quite silly, but was also where we chatted the most with the other hotel guests). The bartenders were friendly, personable, and learned our names and typical drink orders.
Our favorite pool during the day was the center pool which has the swim-up bar. Each pool is different temperatures, and has differently textured floors. My best friend’s family shared either a rumor or fact (I can’t find anything about it on Cabo Azul’s website) that each pool is designed to bring you closer to feeling as though you’re swimming in the ocean. The top pool with a firepit at its center is the warmest, and most “resort” like with a smooth bottom. The middle pool was perfectly warm, and just right if we’re being Goldilocks about it. This pool is also the deepest, probably around 6 feet deep. The bottom pool was the coldest, although still heated and enjoyable, and is the best for leaning over the infinity wall to gaze at the ocean. However, the pool floor texture was pretty rough; perfect if you need some foot exfoliation! We found that most of the children were playing in this pool as well as the top pool, as they were both more shallow than the middle pool.
At night, we spent our time in the jacuzzis, the top pool, and at the beach listening to the waves from the comfort of the beach cabanas–stationary and swinging options available.
We didn’t explore the adults-only Serenity Pool, or the children’s Ninos pool as we wanted to be a part of the main action. At the main pools they have bingo (which my best friend won!) on waterproof boards that you can play on in the water. The hotel employees running the game were funny and energetic, and the activity brought the whole resort together. If memory serves me right, they also have other pool activities which we didn’t participate in.
We didn’t spend time at the movie theater, spa, fitness center, or main restaurant, but they are amenities I would have loved to explore if we had more time at the resort! While the resort is inclusive to all ages and demographics, I think this would be my hotel pick for someone like my mom. The hotel staff is incredibly friendly and helpful, and the overall atmosphere was one of the most relaxing places I’ve ever experienced. If you’re seeking a full-on resort, getaway, vacation experience, Cabo Azul is the way to go.
What I loved:
- The pools: Heated, sparkling, and offer different experiences depending on what you’re looking for (in-water lounges included if you’re able to snag one).
- Our room: Apartment style, comfortable, and pristine. Our ability to walk straight from our room out to the pool was fantastic.
- The beach: While you’re unable to swim in the ocean due to the currents, the scenic views were amazing and calming. Long walks on the beach are certainly do-able, and the sound of the crashing waves throughout the day and night added to the overall ambiance of the resort.
- The overall vibe: Relaxing, luxurious, and a full-on mental and physical reset.
Good to know/potential downsides:
- This resort is located in San José del Cabo, a much quieter area than main Cabo San Lucas. To reach Cabo San Lucas, you’ll need to take a taxi/Uber and make the 30-40 minute drive to the main nightlife/tourist spots. There are some restaurants and other activities near by, but we hated the idea of leaving the gorgeous hotel for more than a few minutes.
- This hotel is not exactly budget friendly, the food and drinks are pricey. However, you can combat this with cooking your own food (if you’re in an apartment-style room), and purchasing your own alcohol from the nearby grocery store.
- This resort does not offer an all-inclusive option if this is something you’re looking for!
Check Pricing Here:
Solmar Resort
Av Solmar #1 Col Centro., 23450 Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
For travelers who want ocean views, beautiful sunsets, a more affordable stay, and close proximity to downtown Cabo San Lucas.
Now, you can clearly see how much we loved Cabo Azul from all my gushing, and I know for a fact that staying there first affected our opinion/experience at Solmar Resort. However, this hotel certainly had its pros as well.
Solmar Hotels & Resorts is a collection of resorts along the coast of Cabo San Lucas. Four of the resorts are located close to each other, near the iconic Arch of Cabo San Lucas. The other two, Grand Solmar Pacific Dunes and Grand Solmar The Residences, are located further up the coast in a more serene, nature-surrounded area near the Solmar Golf Course.
We stayed at Solmar Resort, located right next to Grand Solmar Land’s End Resort & Spa. Solmar Resort is older, its design and architecture feeling much more homey and authentic. We stayed in a one-bedroom Suite. It had two bathrooms (one an en-suite), one bedroom, two private balconies, and a kitchen. We loved the unique design of the room, with colorful tiles, dark wood, and the wall niches holding statues. The room was clean, but lacked the luxurious feel of Cabo Azul. My best friend and I agreed that if we were to visit Cabo on our own, this would be the type of hotel we would choose to stay at (due to the budget-friendly prices and close distance to downtown and nightlife).
My best friend and I slept on the queen-sized sofa bed. Our first night was absolute torture; we had never had such bad sleep in our lives, but it ended up being due to our own stupidity. We could not for the life of us figure out how to set up the sofa bed. We had expected a pull out bed, but were met with some sort of mix of couch cushions and the hard couch bottom. The next day, with cricks in our necks and intense back pain (we thought we may just be getting old), we contacted the resort staff and they came and showed us how to set up the bed properly. There were forehead slaps and “doh’s!” from both of us.
Exploring the hotel grounds was a bit underwhelming, but offered a different, unique energy from Cabo Azul. The twisting paths, sand, and coastal style buildings made us feel, and realize, that we were, in fact, in Mexico. The resort has a sort of hidden beauty that surfaces once you spend some time wandering the paths to the pools. Our view from our balcony was gorgeous, and certainly surpassed Cabo Azul’s sunset views. The pools were honestly underwhelming, as well as the bar and restaurants offered. There were limited lounge chairs available, and the atmosphere was nowhere near as relaxing as Cabo Azul. However, I think this hotel is a great choice for families with younger children! The pools were still pretty, and offered a nice, tropical vacation vibe.
What I loved:
- The architecture: Both tropical and desert vibes, unique rooms, and authentic-feeling design. The view from our balcony of the ocean was to die for.
- The price: This resort is incredibly budget friendly, with room rates starting at $95/night.
- All inclusive option: While we didn’t get this, I like that this is an option! It includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks, theme nights, and access to mini golf and tennis at Playa Grande Resort. Seems like a decent deal to me!
- Proximity to downtown: While not as walkable as advertised, this resort is a great option to be close to the action and any Cabo San Lucas activities.
Good to know/potential downsides:
- Another beach with strong currents that you are not allowed to swim in. Great views and relaxing ocean waves, but if you’re looking to swim in the warm Baja California waters daily, I’d advise another resort.
- This is a budget friendly resort, and while it has its own charm, there was definitely a difference in experience compared to what’s offered by other resorts. I’d say it’s a good homebase for exploring outside of the hotel, this isn’t somewhere I’d choose to spend days on end at.
Check Pricing Here:
Downtown Cabo San Lucas (Overwhelming) Adventure
My best friend and I were most looking forward to experiencing downtown Cabo. We had heard rumors about Mango Deck, Cabo Wabo Cantina, and El Squid Roe. Now, we are in our twenties, so I’m not sure how much this will appeal to you readers, but I’ll share nonetheless to either defer you or convince you depending.
We took a hotel-offered taxi down to the downtown area–these two Solmar resorts are walking distance I suppose, but entail a large hill and around a 20 minute walk until you hit the main streets. We attempted to eat at the infamous Cabo Wabo, but decided to try somewhere else with a more popping atmosphere as it was very dead that night. We decided on The Sand Bar (which has a very cute history you can read about here, and hopped in another taxi to drive us the rest of the way.
The Sand Bar was calmer, but still fun. A great place to begin our night with some energy, and grab a bite while doing so. When we sat, we were greeted by free shots of tequila (watered down, I’m sure), and friendly waiters. The food and drinks were delicious, and they did a fantastic birthday celebration for my best friend and her mom with singing and free dessert!
PS: I had no idea that this was a hotel, “Nook Azul!” The restaurant felt detached, completely separate. However, looking back, I realize that the cool buildings we were seeing nearby are their rooms! It seems to offer quite the variety, I’d love to check it out some day. It seems like you can book through Airbnb, or What’s App (which feels a little sketchy to me but what do I know!?)
After stuffing our bellies full, we made our way to the main downtown area. We ended up skipping Mango Deck, wanting a more well-rounded experience where we could hop from place to place. In Squid Roe, we were bombarded by club promoters offering free drinks, hookah, and discounted cover charges–beware! We decided on the iconic “El Squid Roe” as our club of choice. This three story building was a cool experience, but I think my mom would have panicked from the crowds, noise, and loud music. Drinks were overpriced, and the club was filled with 18 year olds on their high-school graduation trips–seeking a cheap vacation where they can legally drink and party.
Now, my best friend and I love dancing and going out, but this was too much for us. The other partiers were belligerent, obnoxious, and immature. The actual building is cool, covered in thousands of signs on each of the three stories. It was quite the sight to behold, and I’m glad we checked it out (even with the expensive, cash only cover fee); however, I don’t think I’ll ever be returning.
BONUS! Grand Solmar Land’s End Resort & Spa
Alright, I just needed to ramble about my downtown experience, but back to Solmar Resort we go. The following day, we were tremendously missing our days at Cabo Azul. We missed the warm pools, the relaxing lounge chairs, and the general resort experience. My best friend and I were on a mission–we infiltrated the hotel next door (which I now believe we did in fact have access to, although we felt like undercover spies).
We ventured into the lobby of Grand Solmar Land’s End Resort & Spa, and felt right at home with our spoiled, Cabo Azul mindsets. We each let out massive sighs of relief, and excitedly wandered through the resort grounds.
This resort has multiple infinity pools with various seating areas–secluded and central. Guess what, this hotel has a swim up bar! We loved the little alcoves in the water, where you could eat lunch at cement tables in the pool surrounded by palm trees with waiter service.
This hotel also offers an all-inclusive option, which we learned from hotel guests bearing wristbands. I’m struggling to find information on what this included on their website, but from what we saw, drinks are certainly included.
Speaking of hotel guests, this hotel seems to offer a good mix of lively partiers, loungers, and families. Everyone was very friendly, and we had fun spending time with the guests and staff while we were here.
I think this resort is the perfect middle-ground among the three resorts I’ve written about. The location is great–right next to Solmar Resort with the same transportation options available. The resort grounds were stunning, more lively than Cabo Azul, but still offering a serene space to relax and rewind. The price point also falls in the middle of Solmar Resort and Cabo Azul, so if you can splurge a little, but not a lot, I think this could be the resort for you!
Which One Should You Choose?
Let’s do a quick highlight recap, and help you decide on your dream experience. Any resort you choose, you really can’t go wrong.
If you want…
- A luxury resort that offers gorgeous pools, an escape, and a full reset: Cabo Azul
- An affordable stay close to downtown Cabo: Solmar Resort
- A mix between the two that nails the full Cabo resort experience: Grand Solmar Land’s End
I had so much fun on this trip, and would gladly stay at any of these resorts again. Consider this your Cabo scouting resort straight from the younger half of the SWS team. I hope I could offer you some fresh, valuable insight!
Let me know if you’d like more “research” from me. I’d love to put in all the strenuous, hard work of staying in beautiful places to give you more reviews (;
Thanks for reading my first blog post! 😀
