Relaxing, fun, exciting.
This was our second visit to Cabo. On our first visit we stayed at Casa Dorada, a beautiful place, walking distance to everything. This year we were at Villa del Palmar, a bit further down the beach but also a beautiful place.
The people. They are just wonderful. Most speak fluent English and are willing to help with restaurant recommendations etc.
The money. According to Mexican law, bills that are marked, written on, or torn will not be accepted. Your bank at home might have a problem finding unmarked small bills. Just be aware of this.
Timeshare pitch. Just don’t do it unless you are interested in a timeshare. They will entice you with passes for all inclusive benefits, cash, and a day at the spa. It’s just not worth spending 4 hours in a high pressure sales.
The airport gauntlet. Once you get past customs you will have to walk through “the gauntlet”. People will be offering you transportation to your hotel, tours, rental cars and more. Just keep walking till you are outside. If you have transportation already arranged they might claim they are the company. Don’t fall for it. Just keep going until you are outside.
Transportation. There are a number of choices available including shuttles, private shuttles, and even Uber. Our private shuttle was $160 round trip. The driver had tequila, water, and cold beer for the trip and took us to the local Walmart for groceries. Just an FYI. Uber will drop you off at the front of the hotel but may not be able to pick you up at the same place. We had a very short walk to the gate to pick up our Uber when we went to the city. The rates were very reasonable!
Airport drinks. Right out of the airport are a number of vendors selling $11 beers and $20 margaritas. Seriously it’s like buying beer at an Astros game.
Villa Del Palmar. Like most condos on the beach it was gorgeous. Very well kept properties. It’s not a place for the 20-30 year olds. It’s a bit more relaxed with few kids. People tend to wake up early to reserve chairs and umbrellas on the beach and at the pool. There’s never enough umbrellas. Most of these condos have a small convenient store that has everything you need for the week including food, liquor, beer, etc. Our trip to Walmart was unnecessary. We rented a cabana and negotiated a good price on the all inclusive deal for the day. We enjoyed the day!
Beaches. Some of the beaches in Cabo are not swimmable due to the rough waters. You can swim at Villa Del Palmar and the hotels on Medano Beach. Our beach had a rope line to keep the vendors away. There are vendors everywhere selling t-shirts, jewelry, wood carvings, and more. Their prices are negotiable. Just ask for “a deal”.
Activities. We didn’t have much luck with fishing. My suggestion is to find someone who has a guide they have successfully used a number of times. I have a guide here in Galveston I use. I would recommend him in a heartbeat. There are a number of guides available with various size boats and prices. Our trip turned out to be a great boat ride in beautiful weather.
Snorkeling was also fun. The trips we have gone on included lunch and drinks and another great boat ride. There are a lot of options. We booked ours through Viator. If you go to the dock area there are vendors everywhere. Personally I would go through Viator.
There are lots of activities to choose from including fishing, snorkeling, whale watching, and taxis to the Love and Hate beach. The Love beach is calm and swimmable. Just a short walk on the other side is the Hate beach which is very dangerous due to the riptide.
Cabo is a beautiful place to visit. Do it sometime!
Posted by johncoby 
Bay Area Houston 