Where: One&Only Palmilla – Los Cabos, Mexico
What: Authentic Baja Mexican Luxury
When: November 2019 (2 Nights)
Who: Just Us
THE OVERVIEW
One&Only Palmilla has been on a short list of hotel destinations that have eluded us for far too long. We’ve built it up in our heads over the years, but thankfully it managed to live up to our expectations. We often travel to Mexico’s East coast because it’s much easier coming from NYC, but a few extra vacation days called for a trip to Mexico’s Baha peninsula.
Palmilla can only be described as a destination in it of itself – once you’re there, you’re immediately immersed in the property’s rich history, exposed to its authentic Mexican architecture and design, and surrounded by lush and lux gardens and amenities at every turn. With such attentive staff, who make sure guests have the best experience, it’s easy to see why most never leave the property.
Very few hotels manage to capture a destination’s cultural authenticity within a five-star luxury package–and One&Only Palmilla hits the mark.
THE BASICS
Room: Our second-floor beachfront junior suite was absolute perfection. From the cloud-like bed and massive bathroom to the design-forward open living room and large terrace complete with a daybed, this was the kind of room that we could stay in for weeks. The bathroom is not an area that we often write about, but the huge stone-inlayed shower area and freestanding tub, large walk-in closet, and painted tile sink details made this a bathroom worth noting. Unique touches throughout, such as the in-room tequila station, daily snack and fruit deliveries, and personalized turn-down notes/treats, made all the difference. ($$$$)
Photo provided by One&Only
Food & Drink: We thoroughly enjoyed the food at Palmilla. There are 4 on-property restaurants, each with its unique menu and vibe to ensure there’s something for every guest, no matter what culinary mood they’re in.
Breeze - their pool-side restaurant, perfect for breakfast and lunch.
Agua - their Mexican-Mediterranean restaurant with unique fusion dishes and unbeatable sunset views. Reserve ahead to get the best outdoor tables.
Suviche - Jean-Georges’ take on sushi and ceviche.
Seared - One&Only’s signature steakhouse and seafood grill. An absolute must!
Breakfast and lunch consists of elevated takes on traditional Mexican dishes–think chilaquiles, huevos rancheros, tacos, and quesadillas–with healthier options to balance out the menu. Dinner is really whatever you’re in the mood given their various restaurants.
Wine (or, really, any cocktail) will cost you, but for those who are vacationing and honeymooning here, that’s typically not something that will deter them from indulging and ordering away. Dirty martinis withstood our stringent international taste test. Their spicy margarita and cucumber vodka cooler were also standout drinks that we’re still dreaming about. We also were treated to a tequila tasting with the property’s bar director who not only taught us a ton of history, but also made us realize that we like sipping room temp anejo and mezcal – win/win!
Service: Long story short, they blew us away. From the assigned butlers, pool attendants, and the general manager who personally greeted us, Palmilla does everything right. When they offered to unpack our bags for us upon arrival, I really felt like we had made it. Those little touches are what takes a hotel from great to outstanding.
Amenities: This is the type of resort that has everything you could ever want to do, even if that is nothing at all. While not swimmable while we were there because of a freak storm, the beaches are gorgeous. There are two main pools, both flanked by bars and both with incredible sunset views. The gym and spa were tranquil, spacious, and staffed with the best attendants– they kept coming up to us, offering water, iced tea, fruits or snacks at every turn. The spa had a steam room, sauna, cold and hot plunge pools, and an outdoor shower enclosed by palm trees and rocks.
THE REAL TALK
What did you do there? Prayed for sun, sipped margs, and disconnected from our NYC life.
What were some of the stand outs? The level of service from every staff member, spicy margarita, steak dinner, and the chilled hibiscus facial spray offered with our pool chair.
What kind of trip is it ideal for? Relaxing couple getaway. Mexico in the bougiest treat-yourself kind of way.
Was the wine affordable? Not at all. Glasses started at $20ish with bottles (from the menu) at around $100. We did find out that they had an off-the-menu Malbec for $75.
Who else was staying there? Honeymooners, older couples, families, and (what felt like) country club elite.
How was the trip to get there? Baja is kind of a bitch to get to from New York or any east coast city because there are very limited nonstop flight options. Most routes have you connecting in Atlanta, Salt Lake City, or Mexico City; however, it’s totally worth the trek if you’re staying there for 4-5 nights minimum. Cabo almost makes us want to move to LA.
How was the overall vibe? Mexico with money, lux living.
How was the surrounding area? We can’t comment on this because we did not leave the resort.
What’s one thing that you would change? The amount of plastic water bottles used and handed out to guests.
THE RUNDOWN
From 1 to 10, here is how we felt about each aspect of our experience.
Rooms: 9
Location: 9
Scene & Crowd: 6
Arrival Experience: 6
Value: 8
Food: 8
Drinks: 10
Service:10
Amenities: 10
WOW Factor: 9
Recommendability: 10
Contact Us with any questions as you start planning your Cabo getaway.