Dining at the chef’s counter at Senia Restaurant in Honolulu, Hawaii, was definitely one of the highlights of our trip back in January. My fiancé and I have birthdays two days apart, so I took on the challenge of finding some of the best restaurants in Honolulu for our festivities. I’m not going to lie, I think I hit the jackpot choosing Senia for my birthday dinner! From the moment we sat down at the chef’s counter, we immediately felt welcomed. It was a very comfortable environment and we all (including our dining neighbors) became very good friends for the next three and a half hours.

The tasting menu outline was typical of what you would find in California, however, the Hawaiian influence on each dish really made this dinner stand out. The flavors of Hawaii make my tastebuds very, very happy. And yes, we have fresh fish galore living in Southern California, but there’s just something about fresh fish from Hawaii. It’s on another level.

Upon arrival, we were greeted with a birthday card signed by everyone in the kitchen and the sommelier didn’t waste any time offering us a celebratory glass of champagne. Yes, please! It’s always a great start to any restaurant experience when your celebrations are acknowledged. I like to feel special, ok??

Unfortunately, Chef (and owner) Anthony Rush was out of town during our tasting, but between the sommelier and the manager, we had excellent conversation and service. They both did a great job filling in, however it obviously would have been nice to see Chef Anthony in action.

The food overall was very enjoyable. The standouts for me were the premier white sturgeon caviar with sunkchoke and the foie gras with honey, chestnut, and cranberry. I am very aware I’m a basic bitch. I could have easily eaten two more of each of these dishes. As for the wine pairing, it couldn’t have been more spot-on. I enjoyed every single glass of wine that was served and that’s pretty rare for me. After our meal, I decided to “revisit” the Lionel Faury “Les Ribaudes”, Saint-Joseph Blanc, FR 2022 as a nightcap. I mean, what could go wrong ordering yet another glass of wine after a full pairing and port? Unfortunately, as history will show, it is predicted I will never learn my lesson on that one.

Senia Honolulu Photos

If you’re looking for fine dining in Honolulu, Hawaii, look no further than Senia. The relaxed yet attentive atmosphere, the classic dishes with a Hawaiian twist, and the killer wine list made for a very fun and delicious birthday dinner. If you want to get a seat at the chef’s counter like we did, I highly recommend making reservations as soon as they release as these seats get booked quickly. Check out their website for more reservation information.

Review of Senia Restaurant in Honolulu, Hawaii

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Big Sur always immediately comes to mind when people ask for recommendations on where to stay in California for nature and amazing views. As soon as the words “Big Sur” come out of my mouth, I quickly follow it up with an outburst of excitement recounting my incredible experience glamping in Big Sur at Treebones Resort. The yurt life is most definitely the life for me. Well, when it comes to camping that is.

The rugged coastline of Big Sur stretches about 90 miles from San Simeon (Hearst Castle) to Carmel by the Sea just before Monterey. And lucky for us, the most recent road closure due to a mud slide from storms is expected to open up on April 23^rd so travelers will now be able to visit via Highway 1 from both the north and the south!

Ok, back to glamping in Big Sur. Treebones Resort is the place to be to experience the raw beauty of Big Sur from the comfort of a yurt (and beyond), to eat delicious, locally sourced food, and to disconnect from our hectic lives even if it’s just for a weekend. Trust me, you’ll come out of this vacation refreshed and rejuvenated ready to tackle whatever comes at you come Monday. 

How to get to Treebones Resort

Treebones Resort is reachable by driving in from either the south or north via Highway 1. If you’re flying in from out of state, the closest airports will be Monterey Airport, San Jose International Airport and San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport. You would then need to rent a car to make the drive to Treebones Resort.

I decided to take a little California coast road-trip and drive in from San Diego. The drive from San Diego is about 5 ½ hours which is totally do-able in a day but I decided to break the drive up and spend the night in Santa Barbara. Plus, I love Santa Barbara so it was a win-win situation.

Now keep in mind, once you’re officially in Big Sur territory, the roads do get pretty windy and it’s only two lanes so take your time around the curves! We don’t want any accidents before the fun begins! But man, the views on that drive are some of the best I’ve seen in a while. You’ll find your mouth hanging open in awe as turns open up to views of rugged cliffs and the expansive blue Pacific Ocean.

Treebones Resort is located not too far off of Highway 1 so it’s not difficult to find. The highway is actually viewable from many parts of the resort, but it is not loud and there’s actually not as much traffic as you would think. I hardly noticed it at all and don’t worry, it doesn’t take away from the stunning views from all corners of the resort.  

Yurt Accommodations

Like I mentioned before, Treebones Resort is a little village of yurts scattered across the property. If you’re wondering what in the world a yurt is, a yurt is a round tent covered with a strong protective fabric. They even have real life doors that lock! The yurts at Treebones Resort start at $340 a night and include a super comfortable queen-sized bed (king-sized if you book the full ocean view yurts), a small table and chairs, a couch and a sink vanity. Each yurt also has a deck with big chairs to enjoy Big Sur’s sprawling beauty. I was so impressed with how well equipped these yurts are. I honestly could stay weeks they’re that comfortable!

Along with traditional yurts that offer full or partial views of the ocean and accommodate up to two guests max (yes, they’re very strict on this), Treebones also offers two Autonomous Tents that can accommodate up to 6 guests. These bigger and more extravagant tents start at $645 a night and each have their own private ocean view. I’ve only seen pictures of these tents, but they look beautiful and I’m definitely eyeing them for next time.

Don’t want to spend a minimum of $340 a night to experience Treebones Resort in Big Sur? Don’t worry, they offer campsites starting at $105 a night. These campsites have incredible views and are ready for you to set up a tent and whatever else you bring.

Treebones Resort is also home to the famous Human Nest and Twig Hut campsites. The Human Nest starts at $195 a night and has expansive uninterrupted views of the Pacific Ocean. Yes, people actually take their sleeping bags up to the nest and sleep in it! Brave souls. Starting at $235 a night you can experience a campsite with a Twig Hut. The hut is two storied and even has a full-sized futon for your comfort! Both the Nest and Twig Hut are not waterproof so if it’s raining, make sure to bring a tent that you can pitch nearby.

I mean for some, glamping in Big Sur is a once in a lifetime opportunity so we went almost all out and reserved a partial ocean view yurt and enjoyed every second of it! We were given yurt 10 and the views of the ocean were almost uninterrupted. We had a little stove fireplace in the yurt that we turned on when it was chilly in the mornings and at night before bed. Otherwise, for it being March, we were quite comfortable and warm for the duration of the night with all the blankets that were provided.

I do recommend packing plenty of layers. The mornings and evenings are chilly and sometimes foggy and then all of a sudden out of nowhere, the fog clears and you’re sweating. So definitely layer up when staying here as the weather can sometimes find it difficult to make up its mind. 

Luckily, all of the yurts have lighting and outlets so charging devices was not an issue. However, there isn’t any cell service on camp and there is only WIFI in the lodge area so make sure you plan accordingly.

Apart from the Autonomous tents, the yurts and campsites do not have a toilet or shower inside of them. There are communal bathrooms and showers just a short 2-3-minute walk from your yurt or campsite. Make sure to pack a flash light or lantern in case you have to go at night!  

Dining at Treebones Resort

Going into this trip, I knew glamping in Big Sur would be much more luxurious than camping (hello queen-sized bed and functioning toilets) but I was not prepared for how luxurious the food options would be at Treebones Resort.

No matter which accommodation you choose, you will have access to the free self-serve breakfast offered each morning and first priority for reservations at the two restaurants on property, Wild Coast Restaurant and The Sushi Bar.

Wild Coast Restaurant boasts a menu full of locally sourced items that also includes vegetables from their very own on-site organic garden! The lunch and dinner menu offer a great variety of cuisines ranging from American, Asian and French so you’re bound to find something that will satisfy your craving. The food is honestly top notch and I thoroughly enjoyed the more French-influenced dishes myself. Pair your meal with a nice bottle of local wine and it’s pure bliss I tell ya. 

I don’t even know where to start with The Sushi Bar. It blew my damn mind. The Sushi Bar offers an Omakase (chef’s choice) experience that is coursed out over several dishes. For $120 a person, your taste buds will be in for a trip of a lifetime. The Sushi Bar is currently open March-November (closed Mondays and Tuesdays) and has three nightly seatings at 4:30pm, 6:00pm and 7:30pm. Reservations are needed and they do not offer any customized, vegetarian or vegan options. I highly recommend making your reservation as soon as you book your accommodation!

Those that are not staying on property are welcome to make reservations at both Wild Coast Restaurant and The Sushi Bar, however keep in mind, those staying on property do get priority. 

Camp Activities

Treebones Resort has quite a few options when it comes to on-site activities. They have a pool and jacuzzi that has views of the ocean so definitely bring your swimsuit! They are also offering 70-minute massages now. Talk about ultimate relaxation. They only have one massage studio so they highly recommend making a reservation a couple of weeks in advance to ensure you get a spot.

In addition to the pool and massage studio, Treebones also offers yoga classes several times a week for a small fee in the mornings and afternoons. The yoga classes and massage studio weren’t available when I stayed a few years ago but these new perks make me excited to go back and enjoy more of the amenities!

Exploring Big Sur California

Many people visit Big Sur not only for the views and to be surrounded by nature, but they also come for the incredible hiking trails. There are tons of trails to choose from with different levels of difficulty. Some take you through the beautiful redwoods, some take you along the rugged coastline and beaches and some take you to incredible waterfalls. There’s so much out there to explore and see!

Since we didn’t have much time to do a full-on hike, we planned two scenic views that you could easily pull over and take in rather quickly. We decided on McWay Falls in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park and Bixby Creek Bridge. Our first stop as soon as we checked out of Treebones Resort was McWay Falls.

When you enter Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, there’s a large parking lot to park in. Once parked, you’ll see signs pointing you to McWay Falls. From the parking lot, it is about a 10-minute walk to the falls. It is a super easy walk and doesn’t require any hiking skill as it is mostly flat terrain. 

I highly recommend getting there in the morning to beat the crowds. Now, most likely when you first get there, it will be foggy as is normal in northern California, but just be patient and the fog will slowly start to break (it broke at about 10am for us) and the view will open up to beautiful turquoise waters, an empty hidden beach and a large waterfall falling down the cliffside. It is such an incredible and iconic view. 

After roaming around McWay Falls for a little while, we continued North for some lunch. I had heard of the amazing views from Nepenthe Big Sur and needed to come check it out for myself. Let me tell you, I was not disappointed. Try and snag yourself a table at the outer-edge on the outside patio for maximum ocean views. The food wasn’t anything to write home about but the views, oh my goodness the views. Totally worth it!

After lunch, we finally made it to Bixby Bridge for some photos. Bixby Creek Bridge is one of the most photographed bridges in California and rightfully so. It is huge and beautiful! We somehow got lucky and it wasn’t too busy so we were able to easily park on the side of the road and take some photos. I suggest finding another couple who needs photos and offer to take each others photos for maximum efficiency.

I must say, I have gotten quite lucky in the glamping department. First, glamping in Zion National Park with Under Canvas and then now, glamping in Big Sur with Treebones Resort. I’m definitely a glamping convert! Forget regular camping, I’m a certified glamper now haha. 

If you’re looking for a peaceful getaway where you can unplug and enjoy the rugged beauty of Big Sur, then glamping at Treebones Resort should be your accommodation choice. Staying in a yurt itself is an experience but combine that with everything else Treebones has to offer, you’ve got yourself a pretty magical place.

Have you stayed at Treebones Resort before? What did you think about the experience? If you haven’t but have been glamping before, what’s your favorite camp??

Thank you for reading!

Related Posts:

Glamping in Zion National Park

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Glamping at Treebones Resort in Big Sur

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I couldn’t have been luckier that my first glamping experience was with Under Canvas in Zion National Park. Glamping has changed the game! I’m officially spoiled and I’m not sure if I can ever go back to the traditional tent and sleeping bag routine. This is your official warning, keep reading and you too might get drawn to the other side. 

I grew up in Central California so camping in Sequoia National Park was a regular occurrence. It usually involved a tent or my father’s tent trailer, sleeping bags and peeing in the woods. When I noticed glamping starting to take off in 2016 and 2017, I couldn’t wait to experience it myself. Man, was I blown away at all what Under Canvas Zion had to offer.

How to Get to Under Canvas Zion

There are two ways to get to Under Canvas Zion. Driving, if you’re within a drivable distance or flying into one of the nearby airports McCarran International Airport (Las Vegas, NV) or St. George Regional Airport (St. George, UT). Once you’re at camp, you’re only about 20 minutes from the entrance of Zion National Park.

The drive from Las Vegas is about 3-hours to camp and the drive from St. George is only about 45-minutes. I took a bit of a longer route and did a little road trip from San Diego. San Diego is about a 7-hour drive. A little pit-stop in Las Vegas for lunch or dinner and you’ve got yourself the perfect little day road-trip.

Funny story, after we stopped at one of the casinos for a bit before finishing the last few hours of the drive, it crossed our minds momentarily to stay the night there and continue the drive in the morning. Las Vegas sure knows how to suck you in! In the end we decided against that and I’m so glad we did. I would have been bummed missing out on a night glamping in beautiful Zion National Park. 

When we checked in at Under Canvas Zion, we told the front desk agent that we almost stayed the night in Las Vegas. He laughed and said we wouldn’t believe how many people forfeit their first night to spend some time in Vegas. I tell ya, that place will get you.  

Glamping Options at Under Canvas Zion

Under Canvas has many accommodation options to enjoy your time glamping in the amazing Zion National Park. I settled on the Deluxe tent which has a king-sized bed, an actual functioning toilet, shower and sink, a wood-burning stove and your own private deck with chairs to enjoy the beautiful views.

They also have options for suites, stargazing tents and even tents for children. The deluxe room is actually pretty spacious and very well decorated to reflect the tones of the beautiful park which is viewable right from your room. The king-sized bed was very comfy and the shower and sink actually had decent water pressure which surprised me. Also surprising was the fact that they offered daily housekeeping! I thought this was a nice touch and really emphasized the glamping aspect. 

Now take note, the tents do not have air conditioning, power or wifi. I stayed at the camp in October so the lack of air-conditioning didn’t really bother me. It would get quite warm during the day time but would cool down to a comfortable sleeping temperature at night. I was out exploring the park during the day and I can’t imagine too many guests hang out in their tent all day. 

The rooms do have battery operated fans and lanterns for your use. The lanterns have USB slots in them so you can charge your cell phone. I would highly recommend bringing your own battery bank to charge electronics or at least bring a couple as back up. I’m not sure how long the batteries in the lanterns last. 

The lack of wifi was probably the hardest amenity to live without. Some cellular services have a bit of service in the area but of course I have AT&T and they literally don’t have service anywhere. It’s even terrible in San Diego. Every once in a while, I would get a bar and rush to text my family that I was fine and didn’t have wifi. Other than worrying about my family worrying about me, it was actually quite nice to disconnect for a couple of days. 

Finally, the tents do not lock. There are two layers, the hard canvas layer that zips as well as a mesh layer that zips up behind that. But don’t worry, the site is extremely safe and there is always someone in the lobby area 24/7 keeping an eye on everything. I would recommend, out of precaution, that if you leave during the day for adventures, to take your valuables with you if you’re anxious about anything happening.

Dining at Under Canvas Zion

The camp only has one restaurant located in the lobby area that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner at an additional cost. Now let me tell you, we may be camping, excuse me, glamping, but the food was next level. I went in expecting simple camp-like meals but oh man, we got much, much better. They have steaks, burgers, tacos, curries, etc. This is definitely not your usual camping cuisine and I am here for it!

They also offer grab and go options to take with you on your adventures during the day. After hiking in Zion, I had planned to stop at one of the cute restaurants right outside the park afterward so I did not purchase a grab and go meal so I can’t comment much on those.

When dining at camp, they have seating inside as well as a beautiful outdoor area to enjoy your meal. The outdoor section has twinkly lights and they even have live music some nights which adds just about a million bonus points. Add that to the already incredible ambiance of gazing out on the outer edge of Zion National Park and you’ve got yourself the perfect night!

Many of the tables are communal and we ended up meeting so many interesting people during our stay. People from all different areas of the US and abroad and they all had different reasons for staying at Under Canvas Zion. Some were road tripping to the east coast and just staying for a night to enjoy the property, some were there for hiking adventures and some had jumped on the glamping train and wanted to see what it was all about! Everyone was so friendly!

Camp Activities

When I stayed a couple of years ago, there weren’t too many on-site activities offered at the time but after looking at their website recently, I noticed they offer quite a variety now. They have everything from smores, which were offered when I was there and was quite a nice night cap, to yoga, to beach volleyball and much more!

Hiking in Zion National Park

Obviously, one of the main reasons people are glamping at Under Canvas Zion, is the close proximity to Zion National Park. With it only being about a 20-minute drive to the entrance, it makes sense many people chose this accommodation as their post. I only had enough time for one day in the park and I tried my best to make the most of it.

With it being October, the park was still quite busy with tourists so I decided to avoid the most popular hikes like Angels Landing and The Narrows. I ended up hiking a very underrated trail called the Watchman Trail. I couldn’t believe my eyeballs once I reached the top. Zion is BEAUTIFUL! It was an amazing experience. 

After hiking the Watchman Trail, I drove around the park as much as possible (which isn’t much) to soak in as many views as I could. I wish I had more time to do more hikes but I’ll just have to come back another time. Staying at Under Canvas Zion of course!

So, tell me, have I convinced you to go the glamorous side of glamping yet? I hope this post has peaked your interest and if you’re looking for a good spot to try it out, I highly recommend glamping in Zion National Park. This particular camp is open from March-November. I actually recommend any of the Under Canvas locations, they have glamping dialed in! Under Canvas has locations in Moab, Lake Powell, Great Smoky Mountains, Grand Canyon, Mount Rushmore, Acadia, Yellowstone, and Glacier. I definitely plan on making future reservations at some of these locations.

Have you ever been glamping? Tell me where you went and what your favorite part of the camp was. I’ll be writing a post about glamping in Big Sur at the beautiful Treebones Resort. Keep an eye out for that one!

Thank you for reading!

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Glamping in Zion with Under Canvas

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After traveling to Cabo San Lucas for years now, there are a few staple restaurants in Cabo that I look forward going back to every trip. I’m always trying new spots and scoping out the ever-evolving food scene in Los Cabos but the following restaurants are tried and true. Trust me, they’re that good.

Los Tres Gallos Cabo

Los Tres Gallos in downtown Cabo San Lucas was a last minute find on my most recent trip in September 2020. Ironically, they now hold the number one spot on my list of restaurants in Los Cabos I recommend to travelers!

My boyfriend and I had no dinner plans our last night and while waiting for a taxi, we chatted with the valet about restaurants in the marina. We looked up a few of their recommendations and read some reviews but one restaurant stood out among the rest, Los Tres Gallos.

The ambiance is what initially drew me in. It’s open, inviting and traditionally decorated. I immediately felt we were about to have a delicious traditional Mexican meal and that’s exactly what we received. 

The margaritas were fresh and well-made and served in different fun cups. Mine was served in a repurposed Clase Azul tequila bottle! They also had a nice selection of beers and wine as well. When I did order a glass of wine to go with dinner, they did try and push the California wines, but while in Mexico, branch out and try some of their wine! Valle de Guadalupe is an amazing wine region in Mexico so I highly recommend something from that area. 

The food was incredible. The tableside Caesar salad is a must, my shrimp was cooked perfectly and the Chile relleno had the perfect amount of breading and oh so cheesy! And of course, we had to end the night with Mexican coffees. It’s a must. A table saw us order them and immediately asked their waiter for some as well.

However, what really makes Los Tres Gallos so special is the staff. The hostesses, the bartenders, the waitstaff and the kitchen staff are extremely nice and attentive. They actually care about your experience and it shows. 

If you’re looking for a nice traditional Mexican meal with delicious margaritas and food, Los Tres Gallos is your place!

Toro Latin Kitchen & Bar

Toro Latin Kitchen & Bar is another go-to restaurant in Cabo San Lucas that never lets me down. I can’t remember how we found it, but I’ve been several times now and we make it a point to get a dinner reservation every time we’re in town. 

The menu is Latin American with some Asian and Mexican dishes sprinkled in. Their seafood is top notch here! The ceviche, octopus and sushi rolls are a must order. I honestly have never had a bad dish at Toro, so order away! It’s all bound to be delicious.

On a nice night, I highly recommend sitting outdoors on their back patio if you can! They usually have live music on the weekends that is nice to listen to while enjoying your meal. There’s also a big firepit with seating around that you can enjoy one of their beautiful hand-crafted cocktails or a nice glass of wine.

We usually find ourselves retiring to the fire pit for the evening after our meal to enjoy one last glass of wine (or two) before heading off to bed. It’s pure bliss I tell ya! 

The staff here is extremely nice and helpful however, this is a very popular dinner spot and the waitstaff isn’t as attentive as you might like them to be. They’re usually pretty busy running from table to table especially on a busy night. However, when you do have their attention, you get all of their attention for those few minutes to order or ask whatever you would like. We don’t have too much of a problem with this as we have been many times before and knew the menu pretty well. The food speaks for itself!

Toro is definitely a trendier restaurant here in Cabo San Lucas and should probably be saved for a nice date night or a group of adults dining together. The atmosphere and the food are always a hit and you’ll definitely impress whoever you take here!

Nicksan Cabo San Lucas

Oh come on, you KNEW a Sushi restaurant was going to make this list! Nicksan in Cabo San Lucas is the best sushi restaurant in town! I’ve been coming here ever since I started traveling to Cabo many years ago and they’ve held a spot in the top restaurants in Los Cabos for over 26 years. Yeah, they’re a big deal around here.

The fish is super fresh and their nigiri and sashmi plates are some of my favorites! They don’t have a large list of rolls, which I prefer. They have your typical basic rolls (that are honestly anything but basic) and a few specialty rolls. I always go for the specialty rolls as they tend to have a little Mexican influence to them that I find very unique and tasty!

My favorite place to sit is at the huge round sushi bar in the middle of the restaurant. The sushi chefs are very friendly and like to chat with you while making rolls. If you’re lucky, they will even make you something special. This happened a lot more when I was younger as they were impressed a child would eat raw fish haha.

I recently discovered they just finished a renovation which I’m extremely excited to see. The atmosphere before was always nice and bright with a lot of room to move around so I’m excited to see what they’ve done with the place.

If you’re looking for some good sushi while in Mexico, I highly recommend Nicksan. They’re located just steps from the Marina so it’s not hard to find them with their ideal location. I would recommend the sushi bar if you’re looking for a more casual experience or a table if you’re looking for more privacy.

Unfortunately, all my photos are from before I learned to take photos of food so they’re pretty terrible quality haha but I’ll make sure to update this post with photos when I visit again this year!

Tacos Guss

When you visit any town in Mexico, what’s something you ask the locals? Where has the best tacos of course!! We asked many, many taxi drivers, valets and waitstaff and every single one had Tacos Guss on their list.

Tacos Guss is located in the Marina on a side street near Cabo Wabo if I remember correctly. It’s a super casual and small taco stand with only a handful of covered tables so there may be a wait if you’re looking to dine in. 

We found this to be a perfect break from walking around the marina or a late night snack. The tacos are bomb (they have every protein you can think of), the beer is ice cold and the salsa and vegetables are fresh. What more could you ask for?

I definitely recommend Tacos Guss for your street taco fix while in Los Cabos. I’m craving them now just typing this up. I don’t know what it is, but I just can’t find anything as good here in San Diego. I guess I’ll just have to wait to get my taco fix next time I’m in Cabo!

Welp, there you have it. My go-to restaurants in Los Cabos. My tried and true favorites that never let me down! Have you eaten at any of these spots? What did you think?

And as always, comment below with your recommendations for my next trip! As I mentioned before, I’m always looking for new places to try out.

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Best Restaurants in Cabo San Lucas

The post My Favorite Restaurants in Cabo San Lucas appeared first on A Blonde's Eye View.

I’ve taken quite a few road trips throughout California and I’ll have to say, one of my favorites was a recent trip we took to Paso Robles. This small quaint town in Central California honestly surprised me. The Paso Robles wineries, hotels and restaurants all exceeded my expectations and then some.

I grew up in Central California about 2 hours west of Paso Robles and I have no idea how I had never made the trip to come check it out. Now living in San Diego, the drive is quite a bit longer clocking in at about 5 hours. However, the drive is totally worth it and I’ll explain below why your next California road trip should be to Paso Robles! 

Paso Robles Hotels and Accommodations

Stables Inn

Our first hotel stay in Paso Robles was the Stables Inn. We were arriving a night before the rest of our group where we would stay in an Airbnb the rest of the weekend, so we just needed a bed to sleep in for the night. Additional points if it’s cute! Spoiler alert, Stables Inn is SO cute!

The Stables Inn in Paso Robles is a charming western chic Inn ideally located just a couple short blocks from downtown Paso Robles. Walking to all the delicious restaurants, wine tasting rooms and antique shops took no longer than 10 minutes.

The small Inn has only 19 rooms that have been recently renovated to embody very chic horse stables. I think this is such a great idea! I have a feeling remodeling small motels into cute themed bed and breakfasts is going to become a trend. I’m definitely here for it!

The fire pit in the middle of the parking area was probably one of my favorite parts of this hotel. The fire pit was warm with plenty of chairs surrounding it and a little nook of wine glasses for your use. This was a perfect spot to enjoy wine purchases from the surrounding wineries.

The foyer was also really warm and welcoming with a stove fire place and some comfy chairs to hang out in. In the morning they have some pastries and coffee that you can help yourself to. They even have a Nespresso machine! 

I highly recommend the Stables Inn for a more casual hotel accommodation in downtown Paso Robles. I wish we could have stayed more than one night but that just means we will have to come back!

Airbnb

Once the rest of our party arrived, we packed up the car and headed to the cutest Paso Robles Airbnb! Unfortunately, I didn’t get any pictures but this Airbnb is perfect for larger groups traveling together.

This Airbnb is located in the middle of a vineyard which makes for a picture-perfect location. There were 9 of us in our group plus 2 babies and there was more than enough room for everyone. There were 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms and the master bedroom was HUGE. It was probably the size of my apartment haha. 

This location also had a pool, jacuzzi, firepit and even a chicken coop! The owners live right up a small hill behind the property so if you need anything, they are there to help immediately.

This was such a good find and I would definitely stay here again next time I plan a trip to Paso Robles with a group of friends or family.

Allegretto Vineyard Resort

Before we chose the Stables Inn, I had a list of perspective hotels I wanted to stay at. At the top of my list was Allegretto Vineyard Resort. Talk about a European getaway in California! The pictures of the resort look incredible.

You’re surrounded by vineyards and gardens; the pool looks so serene and relaxing and the spa looks top notch! This resort is definitely on my bucket list to stay at in the future.

Paso Robles Wineries

HammerSky Vineyards

The first of the two wineries we visited while in Paso Robles was HammerSky Vineyards. HammerSky is a large beautiful property dating back to 1904 although, the vineyards weren’t planted until 1997. In 2007, the property was purchased and became what it is today, a working winery with a small bed and breakfast called the Farmhouse Inn.

HammerSky Vineyards is dog friendly and even has cornhole! This makes it a fun little hangout for some winetasting and soaking in the beautiful scenery. I highly recommend for a more casual and laid back wine tasting experience.

Jada Vineyards

The second winery we visited in Paso Robles was Jada Vineyards. When it comes to the actual taste of the wine, Jada wins this trip. However, I did prefer the layout of HammerSky vineyards more as there was more space to spread out and enjoy yourself.

Located in Paso Roble’s “Grand Cru,” Jada Vineyards has developed award winning Syrahs and Cabernet Sauvignons in 2017, 2018 and 2019. We actually ended up buying a bottle of their 2016 Jack John since we loved it so much during the tasting. It is a red blend consisting of 56% Grenache, 23% Syrah and 21% Mourvedre. 

I highly recommend this Paso Robles winery for some incredibly tasting red wines and a very educational tasting. We seriously learned a lot at this tasting. Oh, and you can also purchase the cheese pairing to go with your wine tasting which was 100% worth it!

Paso Robles Winery Wish List:

Justin Wine

We all know Justin Vineyards as we see their wines at every grocery store we go to. I already know I like their wines but I really want to go to their Paso Robles winery to dine at their restaurant! The views and food look incredible!

Dauo Vineyards

Dauo Vineyards is definitely on my list for our next Paso Robles wine tasting adventure. I’ve never tried their wine, however, when I was researching Paso Robles wineries, Daou consistently popped up in all the travel guides I read. The outdoor tasting area looks beautiful and I’m really looking forward to giving it a try next time we’re in town.

Downtown Paso Robles Tasting Rooms

If you’re staying more in the downtown area of Paso Robles or can’t get a reservation at your preferred winery, there are some options for tasting rooms there as well. There’s even a Justin Winery tasting room!

After dinner one night, we wandered over to Indigene Cellars tasting room and did a tasting and had a great time. The owner, Raymond Smith is super friendly and has a very interesting story. I highly recommend this tasting room in downtown Paso Robles for some good wines and good conversation.

Paso Robles Restaurants

The Alchemists’ Garden

“Alchemy – a power or process of transforming something common into something special.” The Alchemists’ Garden definitely did not deliver anything short of spectacular.

The menus here are well thought out, unique and most importantly, really dang tasty! I wish we could have tried everything but alas, our stomachs are only so big. 

I highly recommend everything we ordered but my personal favorites were the bone marrow and the duck chalupa. Yes, you read that right. There’s a chalupa on the menu. It’s simply divine. 

I was honestly surprised Paso Robles had such a unique restaurant. This actually wasn’t the only one, Paso Robles’ food scene is popping! There are so many other restaurants I want to try next time we’re in the area.

Recommendations:

Croquettes of the Day (ours were sweet potato).

Cast Iron Fondue – melted mozzarella and raclette, soyrizo, cilantro, pepitas and crispy potato dippers.

Bone Marrow – Harris Ranch rosemary brined bone, cherry onion jam, chocolate and smoked sea salt.

Duck Chalupa – crispy pita, melted cheese, spicy slaw, sour cream, fresh herbs and duck carnitas.

Coffee Rubbed Skirt Steak – root vegetable smash, chimichurri and sweet potato threads.

Confetti Tiny Cake – vanilla cream cheese frosting and raspberry sorbet.

Bruleed Banana Split – salted caramel sauce, chocolate, peanut butter mousse, hazelnut ice cream and luxardo cherries.

Brunch

I’m all about restaurants having a specialty and Brunch does Brunch right! They have all your favorite dishes, definitely more breakfast-forward (which I prefer for brunch), made with local ingredients in a bright and airy atmosphere.

I highly recommend this restaurant for Brunch if you’re ever in the Paso Robles area!

Recommendations:

California Eggs Benedict – house made hollandaise and roasted potatoes.

Monte Cristo – French ham, turkey, Havarti, cheddar cheese, potato bread, bacon raspberry jam and potatoes.

Mimosa Flight – orange juice, guave juice, pineapple juice and strawberry lemonade.

Paso Market Walk

Paso Market Walk is a small market in downtown Paso Robles with several restaurants to choose from. I really like this concept as you can go with a group and everyone can get something from a different restaurant if you want. No need to try and figure out what you’re all craving when you can just walk into the market and have everything you need!

We tried the Momotaro Ramen which is probably one of the best ramens I’ve ever had. We also got a burger from Third Degree Grill which was delicious and then we finished it off with some cookies from Just Baked. Oh, and don’t forget to get a bottle of wine from The Wine Merchant!

Paso Robles Restaurant Wish List:

Fish Gaucho

I hear everyone rave about Fish Gaucho in downtown Paso Robles. I’m definitely headed here next time for some yummy Mexican food and margaritas! You know, when you need a small break from all the wine.

Les Petites Canailles

Are you as shocked as I am to find a French restaurant in central California?? Les Petites Canailles is definitely on my list for our next trip to Paso Robles. French farm-to-table bistro? Yes please!

Other Things to do in Paso Robles

Antique Shopping

Like a lot of other small towns in Central California, there are some great antique shopping possibilities. We stopped in at the Great American Antiques Mall and I was blown away at all the antiques they had. It was huge! Anything you can think of was in here and it was fun to walk around and look at all the goodies.

Sensorio Lights

Unfortunately, this beautiful light display was not open while we were in town. Good news is, they’re re-opening April 15^th! You have until September 30, 2021 to go and see this magnificent field of lights. I really want to go see it so hopefully we can sneak a trip in before the end of September!

As I mentioned before, I was quite surprised how much fun I had during our road trip to Paso. I never knew central California to be much fun, but Paso Robles is definitely making a name for itself! I’ll definitely be back to try more wineries and restaurants. 

Tell me, if you’ve ever been to Paso what was your favorite thing you did? I’m always looking for ideas to add to my list for next time!

Thank you for reading!

Related Posts:

San Diego to Carmel: A California Coast Road Trip

Weekend Road Trip to Paso Robles, California

The post Paso Robles: A California Road Trip appeared first on A Blonde's Eye View.

I recently had the opportunity to stay at The St Regis Punta Mita Resort in November 2020 and I thought I would compile my experience into a comprehensive review. I hope you find this helpful and inspires you to visit the beautiful St Regis Punta Mita in Mexico! It really is a magical place. If you have any questions about the resort please leave a comment below.

I’ve had The St Regis Punta Mita on my list for quite some time after seeing Punta Mita trend for a bit on Instagram and then seeing Marriott Bonvoy advertise the property in emails, Instagram, etc. However, I didn’t really know much about the area so I never really made it a priority to visit.

Fast-forward to July of last year when I got an email from TravelZoo and The St Regis Punta Mita Resort was one of their featured deals! We had been discussing finding somewhere in Mexico to go for Thanksgiving so when this popped up in my email, I knew it was fate. We quickly purchased the 3-night deal and emailed the resort with our desired dates. Luckily they were able to accommodate us and within no time, we had the resort booked!

Another quick email to the concierge and we had transportation set up from the Puerto Vallarta Airport. The reservation and the concierge teams made the booking process so easy. That’s just a small glimpse of the St Regis hospitality we all know and love.

How to Get to The St Regis Punta Mita

The easiest way to get to The St Regis Punta Mita Resort is by flying into the Puerto Vallarta Airport. Coming from San Diego, we flew a direct flight on Alaska Airlines. From the airport you can either take a taxi, rent a car or have the resort pick you up.. 

The resort is about a 45 minute to an hour drive from the airport depending on traffic. The drive is so beautiful as you make your way out of the city and into the lush jungle with terrific views of the ocean at every turn.

Resort Overview

The Resort sits on a huge property development called Punta Mita, (now keep in mind, the actual name of the town is Punta de Mita), that they share with The Four Seasons Punta Mita, two Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Courses and a few small residential communities. It was nice seeing some of the residents whipping around in their golf carts after a round of golf or a day at the beach. We also saw a few of them pull up for dinner at the resort. I believe you have to be a member of some kind to do this.

We were also told that we too could rent a golf cart in town for the duration of our stay but we decided to hold off until next time as a taxi drive into town was only about 5 minutes and wasn’t much of a hassle. 

Guest Rooms

The St Regis Punta Mita Resort has a total of 120 guest rooms ranging from their base Deluxe Guest Room with a garden view to a three-bedroom Beach Front Villa with a whirlpool and plunge pool. There are many options between those two categories so you’re bound to find a room perfect for your stay.

I bought the TravelZoo voucher with the base Deluxe Guest Room with a garden view. Because of my gold status with Marriott Bonvoy, they graciously upgraded me to a Deluxe Guest Room with an ocean view.

The views from the balcony were stunning. Our room overlooked the Arecas adult only pool and just past that was the beautiful twinkling ocean. The sunsets were incredible to watch from the balcony each night.

Each room has a walk-in closet which I found to be a great touch as it was easy to keep all your belongings organized instead of stuffed in random corners. Every room also has a marble tub (located inside of the huge shower room) and an outdoor shower! 

I had read several reviews that the rooms were very outdated and needed a major overhaul. While I could see where these people were coming from, I thought the room was very charming. It was a good mix of Mexican decor and modern chic furnishings. Yes, the rooms could use a fresh coat of paint, the wood a fresh coat of stain and they should definitely get rid of the white pleather benches in the room. They were pretty ugly. However, I loved the Mexican tile on the ground, the big comfy chair, the luxurious wood outdoor furniture and the huge bathroom layout. I still definitely think it’s worth the price tag per night.

Pools

There are three pools guests can enjoy on property and the beach stretches the entire length of the resort with plenty of lounge chairs and hammocks. 

Las Marietas Family Pool

The family pool is located next to the Las Marietas Restaurant. The two-level pool is heated and they offer pool toys and floaties for the children. This pool is perfect for those traveling as a family with little ones. This pool was closed during our trip in November due to COVID.

Arecas Adult Pool

The adult pool was my favorite of the three pools. It was the quietest and had an upper level infinity pool that had amazing views of the ocean. There are also Cabanas available for rent with many special amenities. 

Sea Breeze Pool

The final pool is located next to the Sea Breeze Restaurant. The location to the restaurant and beach made it an ideal location. The infinity edge made for great views of the ocean as well. Since the family pool was closed during our stay, this is where the families with children came to hang out for the day.

Beach

In front of the Arecas Adult Pool is also the adult only section of the beach. We split our days between the pool and the beach soaking in the sunshine. The service at both the pool and beach was incredible. The cushioned lounge chairs were very comfy and staff went above and beyond to meet your every need. 

We never once had to flag someone down to get a refill. They really are on top of their game here and checked in with you pretty frequently which I appreciated. When we would first set up camp, we would get a bucket of waters and they never let that ice melt all the way. It was incredible that our waters never got warm.

The beach attendants would also come by time to time with different refreshments for you to try. Ranging from fresh cut fruit and Tajin to homemade mini popsicles. They were definitely welcomed mid-day treats.

Restaurants

During our stay at The St Regis Punta Mita, only three of the six restaurants were open. I completely understood since we visited during COVID so I can’t wait to go back and try the others!

Sea Breeze Restaurant & Bar

This is the only restaurant that is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The breakfast here is top notch. They offer an a la carte menu or a breakfast buffet which includes an omelet station and a homemade quesadilla and taco bar. During COVID, the breakfast buffet was still open but only the servers could handle the serving utensils. A server walked you through the buffet and made your plate as you picked out items.

Lunch and dinner were equally as good in a more casual setting. They had dishes from all parts of the world ranging from ceviche to empanadas to pizza to Argentinean style steaks. Everything was executed perfectly although it was a bit pricey considering it’s their more casual restaurant on site. We particularly enjoyed sitting in the outdoor bar area where we had some of the best margaritas and were able to catch some of the football games on Sunday.

Carolina

Carolina is the resort’s fine-dining Mexican restaurant. In fact, this restaurant is the only AAA Five Diamond Award for dining experience in Punta de Mita. I was very bummed as we had planned to dine there Sunday night but when I called to make a reservation, they informed me they were closed on Sundays. I wish we would have known that at check-in as I would have changed our plans to eat there Saturday night instead. I guess just another reason to come back!

Mita Mary Boat Bar & Bistro

This was a fun little casual spot to grab some lunch or dinner. The bar is inside of a big boat and the tables are set up in the sand so going barefoot is a must! Their menu was simple with choices of fresh tacos, quesadillas and ceviche. My shrimp tacos were definitely tasty however, we left still hungry as portions are small. We ended up back at Sea Breeze for more food. This restaurant is first come first serve and as it is a very small restaurant on the beach, I would recommend getting there fairly early in the evening.

Las Marietas Restaurant & Bar

A casual Mexican restaurant located next to the family pool. They are open for lunch with a casual dress code. This is one of the restaurants that was closed during our stay.

Altamira Cantina Gourmet

This Mexican restaurant on property was also closed during our stay. From what I could tell, the resort was currently using the space as the lobby area since it’s open air. From the pictures online, the restaurant looks beautiful especially at sunset as you can see the ocean from almost every seat. Yet another reason to come back!

Avocado Vegan Bar

This vegetarian restaurant is the newest of the restaurants on property. I didn’t even see it set up when we were there in November. But according to the resort website, they serve organic and plant-based options daily from 12pm-5pm.

Remede Spa

Wow, the Remede Spa here at the St Regis Punta Mita is stunning. It really is a relaxation haven. The spa has 10 treatment rooms including 2 couples’ treatment rooms and even a luxury suite for those wanting ultimate seclusion. They also offer outdoor treatments that are shaded.

Other amenities include a Spa Dining menu, a sauna, steam room, jacuzzi, cold plunge pools and relaxation gardens. There’s also a salon for manicures and pedicures. 

I visited the spa for a massage and found myself to be the only one there. I had the whole place to myself and it was so blissful. Their relaxation gardens and waiting room were my favorite part as you could lounge on a sun bed soaking in nature or relax in the covered area on one of the sofas with a cup of tea.

The therapists were all so nice and professional. They explained all the precautions they were taking during COVID and made sure you felt 100% safe during the treatment. My massage was wonderful and I think I may have even fallen asleep a couple of times.

Fitness Center

I did not actually get a workout in on this trip but after a quick peek inside, they have everything you need to get a quick but effective work out in. They had treadmills, Stairmasters, bikes, elliptical trainers and free weights. There’s also private yoga and Pilates lessons available by reservation.

If tennis is more your style, they have the Punta Mita Tennis Center which has 5 hard-surface courts and 5 sand-filled synthetic grass courts.

Golf

Punta Mita boasts 2 courses designed by the legendary Jack Nicklaus. Both Bahia and Pacifico Golf Course have made the list for the Best Golf Courses in Mexico awarded by Golf Digest in 2019. Pacifico Golf Course is best known for its island green called “The Tale of the Whale.” This green is the world’s only natural ocean island green.

Other amenities include the clubhouse, golf shop, restaurant, driving range and putting green. They also offer lessons as well as a golf program for juniors.

La Tortuga Children’s Club

The St Regis Punta Mita also has a children’s club on property. Reservations must be made at least 24 hours in advance and they have all kinds of activities planned for the little ones. This includes treasure hunts, arts and crafts, board games and they even have a children’s spa. I can remember the days my brother and I spent at hotel children’s clubs. I wish one we stayed at had a children’s spa!

Other Resort Activities

In addition to lounging by the pool and beach and eating all the tasty food, the resort offers some other activities that might spark your interest. They have cooking classes, yoga, a baby turtle release program and SUP paddle boards and surf boards available for rent. There’s actually a good surf break out front of the resort so my boyfriend rented a surf board and caught a few waves!

St Regis Punta Mita Tips

• Bring water shoes! The beach is pretty rocky so save your feet and bring some if you plan on going in the ocean or walking on the beach.
• Don’t forget your bug spray. Punta Mita is technically jungle, so there are quite a bit of mosquitos at night.
• You don’t have to pack a ton of sunscreen to beat the prices of buying it onsite. The resort has sunscreen stations at all three pools for your own use!
• Bring cash for tipping! They do have an ATM in the lobby area if needed. We had zero issues tipping in both dollars and pesos.

Price

Marriott Bonvoy Points

The St Regis Punta Mita is a category 8 resort and the redemption rates are as follows:

• Off-Peak 63,000 points a night
• Standard 85,000 points a night
• Peak 100,000 points a night

Generally, in this part of Mexico, peak season is in spring and fall (after September) with the slowest time being summer when it is usually very hot and humid.

Cash Price

I’ve seen basic level rooms start at about the mid-$500’s range a night although this number has been known to sky rocket depending on the season, occupancy rate, etc. When I was booking our trip for November, I saw at one point the price per night got all the way up to the high $700’s and then as people started cancelling due to COVID, the rate lowered.

I would suggest trying a few dates you have in mind and see what works best for you price-wise. Even after booking, I still check prices for the dates of my stay, if I see it has lowered significantly I usually rebook at that price. This trick does not work if you booked a pre-paid reservation. I find it highly useful to book a flexible rate so you have more wiggle room.

Everything about The St Regis Punta Mita is executed perfectly. It is luxurious without being over the top and in your face. The staff is incredible and they somehow know what you need before you even do. No request is too little or too big and everyone seems to genuinely enjoy working there. The vibe is amazing here and I can’t wait to start planning our next trip back!

Related Posts

• Traveling to Puerto Vallarta and Punta Mita During the Pandemic
• Where We Ate in Puerto Vallarta and Punta Mita
• Traveling to Cabo San Lucas During the Pandemic

Have you been to The St Regis Punta Mita Resort? What was your experience like? If you haven’t been, has this review inspired you to do so? Let me know in the comments below!

Thank you for hanging out!

A Review of The St Regis Punta Mita Resort

The post The St Regis Punta Mita Resort Review appeared first on A Blonde's Eye View.

One of the main attractions for visitors planning a vacation to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico is the beaches. The promise of sunshine, warm waters and a margarita or beer in hand. You’ll most likely find this at your resort or at least a short walk from your accommodation, but what if I told you there was something better? Something more secluded and quiet away from the crowded beaches and persistent beach vendors. Take your vacation to another level with a day trip to one of the 3 best hidden beaches in Puerto Vallarta.

What makes these beaches so special is that they are only accessibly by boat. There aren’t any roads leading to these beaches from Puerto Vallarta so because of this, there are less tourists and everything is locally run. You’re bound to get the most authentic Mexican beach town experience!

I recently wrote a post about what it’s like traveling to Puerto Vallarta during the COVID-19 pandemic where I go over the current safety precautions being taken at the airport, resorts, restaurants and downtown Puerto Vallarta. I also wrote a similar post about my experience traveling to Cabo San Lucas during the same time so you can compare the two. Check it out!

How to Get There

The best way to get to all three of these beaches is by water taxi from Boca de Tomatlan. Boca de Tomatlan is a pretty quick taxi ride from Puerto Vallarta. The taxis start departing for Yelapa, the beach furthest away, as early as 8am making stops along the way at the other beaches. The boats usually depart in 30 minute increments from Boca de Tomatlan. The current schedule is easily found after a quick google search as it changes time to time especially during COVID.

There’s no need for piers here as the taxis take you right up to the beach and help you off. Want to leave and head to another beach or back to Puerto Vallarta? Just wave down a taxi and they’ll take you wherever you need to go.

Pricing for water taxis from Boca de Tomatlan start at 220 pesos per person one-way and 380 pesos per person round-trip. Make sure to take note of their last taxi leaving Yelapa because if you miss it, you’re stuck on the beach for the night. Don’t worry, there are small hotels in town if that nightmare of a situation happens to you.

1. Yelapa

The first and most popular of the hidden beaches in Puerto Vallarta is the small fishing village of Yelapa. Located about 30-40 minutes south of PV by boat, Yelapa is situated in a small cove surrounded by the lush green jungle of the Sierra Madre Occidental. The long strip of beach has a few locally owned restaurants where you’ll find freshly caught seafood and ice-cold drinks. Each restaurant has beach chairs set up where you can still get service while relaxing in the sunshine. We stopped in at Fanny’s for a couple of drinks and a break from the sun before heading off to the next beach!

What to do in Yelapa

If you’re spending the day at Yelapa and are looking for more to do, you can take a short walk into town. Yelapa has only about 1,500 residents and boasts a picturesque quaint village that you can walk through and shop for authentic handmade items. If you want to stay on the beach there are kayaks for rent, snorkeling, swimming and parasailing. There’s even horseback riding. Well, they’re actually donkeys but it looks like a pretty popular activity.

And for the best part, if you’re up for about a 20-minute hike, there’s a hidden waterfall called The Cola de Caballo! Although I did hear it can get pretty crowded on the weekends so it would probably be best to get there in the morning to avoid crowds as the swimming hole is quite small.

Oh, and keep an eye out for the “Pie Ladies.” Some of the women in town are well known for their homemade pies ranging from coconut to cheesecake. They walk around the beach offering slices for sale in order to help their families earn more income. I’ve heard the pies are delicious but it kind of freaked me out that they weren’t refrigerated or at least kept in a cooler while they walked around. We politely declined.

2. Majahuitas Beach (My favorite of the 3 hidden beaches in Puerto Vallarta)

Out of the three beaches I visited while in Puerto Vallarta, Majahuitas Beach was my personal favorite. We had originally planned on just visiting Yelapa and Las Animas but the boat captain recommended a stop here for a swim. I’m so glad we took his advice. We didn’t make it on the beach for sake of time but we anchored a little way off for a swim and to ride the jetski for a bit as this cove isn’t as crowded as the other two.

As soon as I jumped in the water and took in the scenery around me, I found myself in awe profusely thanking the crew for taking us to this beach. The contrast between the lush green jungle and the crystal-clear blue ocean is incredible and needs to be seen in person to fully grasp its beauty. 

I honestly felt like I was on a deserted tropical island. It’s the smallest of the three beaches and looked to be the emptiest. Like Yelapa, this beach is perfect for swimming and kayaking. There’s also a reef in this cove so the snorkeling is quite good! Next time I’m in Puerto Vallarta, I’m definitely coming back to spend a full day here. It truly is that beautiful.

A new beach club called Majahuitas Beach Club actually just opened at the end of last year that looks amazing! Besides having reservations at this beach club, I don’t think there’s another way to get food on this beach. So if you’re hanging out and get hungry, I would recommend flagging down a water taxi and head to Yelapa or Las Animas for a delicious seafood meal.

3. Las Animas

This beach is the closest to Boca de Tomatlan and is usually the first stop the water taxis make on their way to Yelapa. It’s only about a 5-10 minute boat ride so this makes it a pretty popular hangout spot. This was our final stop on our beach tour and unfortunately, I might have had one too many margaritas at Yelapa because I completely forgot to take photos of our arrival. I just seem to have some terrible quality videos haha. But what I did get was some photos of our very delicious lunch at Los Conos Restaurant Bar which had a nice upper deck that overlooked the ocean. Like Yelapa, the fresh seafood here is amazing! It literally came off the fishing boat earlier that day so no matter what you order, you know it’s going to be fresh and really dang good. 

Since we arrived later in the day, people were starting to pack up to catch the last of the water taxis back to Puerto Vallarta. You could definitely tell a good time was had by all by the looks of empty drink glasses, sun kissed faces and big smiles. It was definitely the liveliest of the three beaches. As for activities, they’re similar to the other beaches. There’s swimming, kayaking, snorkeling and even banana boats! Those things honestly terrify me. 

If you’re more of the adventure type, you can actually hike to Las Animas from Boca de Tomatlan. I’ve heard the route is pretty safe and well labeled by locals. I’m sure the views from the hike of the ocean are stunning. However, I’m not entirely that adventurous (unless we had a guide) so I’ll stick with the quick boat ride to get to this beach.

Puerto Vallarta Hidden Beach Tours

If you don’t feel comfortable tackling these beaches and water taxis alone, there’s a tour company called Vallarta Adventures that does a Yelapa and Majahuitas Tour. They offer snorkeling, paddle boarding and kayaking in Majahuitas Cove and Yelapa. They also allow you to hike to the Cola de Caballo waterfalls in Yelapa. There’s also a deli-style lunch prepared and an open bar on board. Check out their website for their current rates!

We decided to use a private charter for our trip to these beaches as we wanted a more tailored experience and didn’t want to be crammed on a big tour boat. We used PV by Sea Tours for our private charter. While it is pretty pricey, it was worth it to have our own boat and explore the beaches at our own pace. Memo and the boat crew with PV by Sea Tours were awesome and were very accommodating. I highly recommend them!

Welp, there you have it, my top three hidden beaches in Puerto Vallarta! Like I mentioned above, Majahuitas Beach was my personal favorite with Yelapa coming in close second in terms of seclusion. As for food, Memo and crew all agreed Los Conos Restaurant at Las Animas has the best seafood.

I hope this post was helpful and gave you a good idea of what to expect from these beaches. Have you been to Puerto Vallarta before and made it to one of these hidden beaches? Which one did you go to and which one is your favorite?

Related Posts

Traveling to Puerto Vallarta During the Pandemic

Where to Eat in Puerto Vallarta

The St Regis Punta Mita Resort Review

Puerto Vallarta Hidden Beaches

The post 3 Best Hidden Beaches in Puerto Vallarta appeared first on A Blonde's Eye View.

Who knew Puerto Vallarta, Mexico had such a good food scene?? I sure didn’t. Imagine my surprise when I started researching restaurants before our trip and pages of highly rated spots popped up for breakfast, lunch and dinner! I was overwhelmed. I persevered determined to find my favorite Puerto Vallarta restaurant! I went through multiple pages and made a short list of restaurants that I definitely wanted to try. I also made an extended list of possible alternatives if we couldn’t get into the ones on the short list.

During this trip to Puerto Vallarta, we stayed at an all inclusive so breakfast and lunch were eaten at the resort so most of these restaurants below are for dinner. It also made sense to try and stay away from downtown as our trip was taken during the COVID-19 pandemic and we wanted to be safe as possible.

If you’re curious what it’s like traveling to Puerto Vallarta during the pandemic, I recently wrote a blog post about my experience at the airport, resorts and downtown. In the meantime, below are the four restaurants in Puerto Vallarta we dined at and my thoughts on each one!

The Iguana Restaurant and Tequila Bar

Looking for stunning views of Puerto Vallarta and Banderas Bay while eating delicious contemporary Mexican cuisine and sipping some of the finest tequilas from the Jalisco region? This is your place. The menu is definitely on the more traditional side of Mexican cuisine but there’s a little personal touch in each dish that Executive Chef Jesus Suastegui incorporates to have a more modern flare.

For example, their Poblano Chile in Puff Pastry stuffed with squash blossoms and cream cheese topped with a roasted pepper and goat cheese sauce. The puff pastry was such a great complimentary crunch to the poblano and the squash blossoms were a pleasant surprise! I loved the subtle creativity in each dish and of course, the cocktails. 

I honestly had no idea until we arrived, but Casa Kimberly, where The Iguana Restaurant is located, was actually gifted to Elizabeth Taylor for her 32^nd birthday by Richard Burton. During their early romance while both were still married to others, Burton arranged for Elizabeth to stay in Casa Kimberly. The Casa is located across the street from his own house while filming The Night of the Iguana. He even had a bridge built connecting the two casitas to avoid paparazzi. When dining here, you’ll definitely feel the extravagance of the many crystal chandeliers and antique sculptures located throughout the dining room. However, there’s extra charm added knowing that Elizabeth Taylor once roamed these very walls. 

Recommendations: Basil Cucumber Margarita, Lobster Tacos, Squash Blossoms, Poblano Chile in Puff Pastry, Diablo Shrimp and of course to top it all off, a Mexican Coffee.

Café Des Artistes Restaurant Puerto Vallarta

A French inspired Puerto Vallarta Mexican restaurant. Can you imagine it? Ok, now take that thought and multiply it by 100 because this meal was better than I could have ever imagined. Chef Thierry Blouet, born in Puerto Rico, is trained in both French and Mexican cuisine. He has taken his love of both cultures and has thrived in Puerto Vallarta where he owns multiple restaurants with Café Des Artistes being the most prominent. And of course, when a chef is given the most prestigious award in the industry and is officially included in the “Maitres Cuisiniers de France,” you can expect anything with his name attached to it to be quite the experience for all of the senses. 

Café Des Artistes is most known for their exterior garden dining area. What started 22 years ago has developed into a lush and almost forest like atmosphere. Tall trees and all variety of plants have enveloped the terraces. Add in stringed lights throughout the garden and this combination makes for one of the most romantic dining scenes I’ve ever seen with my own two eyes. 

With a good-sized menu and an option for the current tasting menu and wine pairing, there is much to try but only so much room in the stomach unfortunately. I can’t wait to go back and try some of the other items that were calling my name but didn’t get to. 

I have to say if I had to choose now, I would choose Café des Artistes as one of the best restaurants in Puerto Vallarta!

Recommendations: 

• Seared Rougie Foie Gras in Mole with truffled potato siphon, black mole and vinegar sauce, spice bread, tropical salpicon
• Tuna and Avocado Over Salt Block with bread chips, habanero mayonnaise, seaweed, radish and salmon roe, Itsmenas chips
• Suckling Lamb crusted with pistachios, crunchy ossobuco, eggplant cloud, braised carrot, cruncy garlic
• Milk Caramel Fondant with pecan crumble, banana ice cream, caramelized banana

De Mita Restaurant Punta Mita

De Mita in Punta Mita was one of the more casual restaurants we ate at on this trip. However, it was still a delicious meal none the less! De Mita has prime real estate right on the beach in downtown Punta Mita so sunsets here are a must. We were lucky enough to snag a table at opening and the restaurant quickly filled up after us so. I highly recommend calling and making reservations ahead of time. 

The motto here is, “fresh ingredients, high quality standards and providing an unforgettable experience.” Their selection of fish for the night is brought in daily by local fishermen so have no doubt that your fish selection is as fresh as it gets!

One of my favorite parts about this restaurant is the freshness of their margaritas. There is nothing pre-made about these. All margaritas are made to order with fresh squeezed lime juice and your choice of tequila. Just the way I like them! Combined with the lively atmosphere and traditional décor, DeMita makes for perfect restaurant in Punta Mita for dinner with friends and family. It would even make a good spot for a date night if you can snag one of the two seaters on the beach.

Recommendations: Fresh Margarita, whatever fresh sashimi they have that day (we got yellowtail and it was delicious), Grilled Chile Relleno stuffed with cheese and shrimp and the jumbo prawns. 

SeaBreeze Restaurant at St Regis Punta Mita

SeaBreeze Restaurant & Bar is located at the St Regis Punta Mita which is where we stayed the first few nights before heading into Puerto Vallarta. One of the more casual restaurants on property, SeaBreeze has something for everyone. Chef Julio Curiel has curated a Latin bistro concept that ranges from ceviche to empanadas to pizza to Argentinean-style steaks! Like I said before, something for everyone!

Now most places that have a wide range of items on their menu doesn’t usually execute them all very well. SeaBreeze is not most places. Every single item we had was cooked beautifully and the flavors were spot on. I was truly impressed. I definitely recommend this restaurant in Punta Mita if you’re staying on property or even if you happen to be in the area and you’re looking for a nice casual dinner overlooking the ocean or at their beautiful outdoor bar. Now disclaimer, the food is pricey here, but that is usually expected at a restaurant located on a St Regis property.

Recommendations: Ceviche, empanadas and the Argentinean-style steaks. 

Out of these four restaurants, Café Des Artistes has officially won my award for best Puerto Vallarta restaurant! The flavors, the ambiance, the cocktails and the wine list were perfect. It was an experience I’ll never forget and I’ll definitely be back next time I’m in PV.

I’m curious, if you’ve been to Puerto Vallarta and Punta Mita, what are your favorite restaurants? I’m always looking to add to my list! Oh, and let me know if you try any of these. Or if you’ve added them to your own list.

Related Posts

My Favorite Restaurants in Cabo San Lucas

Traveling to Puerto Vallarta and Punta Mita During the Pandemic

Traveling to Cabo San Lucas During the Pandemic

Restaurants in Puerto Vallarta

The post Where We Ate in Puerto Vallarta appeared first on A Blonde's Eye View.

I recently wrote a blog post about my experience traveling to Cabo San Lucas during COVID-19 in both July and September. I included my experiences on flights, airports, snippets from the resort we stayed at and shared a bit of the downtown experience. I thought it would be interesting to compare my Cabo experience with my most recent trip traveling to Puerto Vallarta in November for Thanksgiving. Can you guess which destination I felt safest regarding COVID-19? Spoiler alert, it’s not the one you would think. 

Alaska Airlines San Diego to Puerto Vallarta

Like I mentioned in my Cabo San Lucas post, Alaska Airlines is my favorite domestic airline. Obviously I’m biased since I live on the west coast and Alaska Airlines is readily available for most of my needs especially when it comes to traveling to Mexico. They have it covered! From San Diego, the flight is about 2 hours and 45 minutes. It’s an easy peasy flight so it doesn’t necessarily make too much of a difference if you’re sitting in the main cabin, premium or first class due to how short the flight is. 

I booked my boyfriend and I a main class ticket for this trip. I’m currently MVP Gold 75K with Alaska Airlines so I knew my chances of getting an upgrade were pretty high. They are so good at upgrading their elite members. It’s very rare that I don’t get any kind of upgrade. After booking, I was upgraded to premium class right away. However, we didn’t get the upgrade to first class until we were literally about to board our flight. Even though it was nerve racking because I knew there were available seats, Alaska Airlines came through once again!

Because of such a short notice on the upgrade, they didn’t have enough breakfast meals loaded on the plane to give us one which we were totally ok with. From what I could tell, it looked like some kind of omelet however, I don’t believe it was served hot so I definitely wasn’t mad about missing out on it.

When snacks came around I was ecstatic to find it was their cheese plate which is hands down my favorite snack they offer in first class! On our way to Cabo, they just gave out Mediterranean tapas boxes which were just meh. Like the Cabo flight, all alcohol was in single serve bottles for first class and premium class. Beer and wine were the only options for this. No mixed drinks. Alcohol was also not for sale in the main cabin.

Puerto Vallarta Airport Arrival

After a quick flight, we landed in beautiful Puerto Vallarta! We deplaned and like Cabo, we were all shoved into a bus to take us to the terminal. Not exactly COVID friendly but everyone was respectable and kept their masks on. If you read my Cabo San Lucas blog post, you would have read about the chaos that ensued when health forms to nowhere were passed out as we walked down the stairs to the bus. I’m happy to report that this did not happen at the Puerto Vallarta airport. There was no health declaration passed out upon arrival.

Once in immigration, we quickly noticed how packed it was. There must have been a couple other flights that had just gotten in before us so there was quite a long line. There were social distancing stickers on the ground but, and I’m not sure if this related to COVID-fatigue or not, people were not paying attention to these stickers. Everyone was crammed in this small room and while we kept our distance from the people in front of us, I can’t say the same for the people behind us. 

As you wind your way through immigration, there is a temperature check with a big screen showing your body temperature as you walk by. The man standing by the screen wasn’t really paying attention so I’m not sure if there was someone with an elevated temperature walking though that he would even notice. There was no beeping to signify a difference and he never once pulled someone aside for further testing. I for sure thought out of all these people in that room that someone would need to be pulled aside for additional testing.

The line actually moved pretty quickly so once our passports were stamped, we were quickly on our way to baggage claim. Once bags were collected, we quickly made our way through the timeshare hallway of doom trying our best to avoid eye contact with anyone and everyone. I quite admire these timeshare agents’ tactics to get you to their desk. They’re ruthless!

Airport Transfer to The St Regis Punta Mita Resort

While in Puerto Vallarta, we stayed at two resorts with the first being The St Regis Punta Mita. We arranged private transfer through their concierge. We easily spotted the driver as he was in the exact spot the hotel said he would be waiting which is always a great way to start a trip. Stress-free!

As we always do in Mexico, we had the driver pull over for some road beers as the drive to The St Regis Punta Mita is almost an hour. We of course asked if he was comfortable with us removing our masks during the car ride and he had no objection. He kept his on the whole duration. We stopped at a small Corona store right outside of the airport and ran in for some beers. We were startled to find that we were the only ones in the store wearing a mask. Not the cashiers, not the shoppers, no one! I guess that should have been my first sign.

Hotel Arrival St Regis Punta Mita

The drive to The St Regis Punta Mita is beautiful. The landscape change from the city to the jungle is so different than the desert views in Cabo San Lucas. I was in awe. As we pulled up to the resort, we put our masks back on and started the check-in process. They put all of our luggage off to the side and sanitized the outside of it while we were directed toward some mats on the ground that disinfect your shoes as you walk over them.

Our temperature was also taken as well as a squirt of hand sanitizer. Once we were sterilized, we were offered a delicious complimentary margarita and the check-in process officially began. I will be writing a more in-depth review of The St Regis so stay tuned!

Hotel Arrival Grand Fiesta Americana Puerto Vallarta

The second resort we stayed at was the Grand Fiesta Americana Puerto Vallarta. Our arrival was pretty similar to our arrival at The St Regis when it came to COVID precautions. We walked on the sanitation mats, temperature check, used the hand sanitizer provided and we were whisked away to a special check-in area since my mom is a timeshare owner. A complimentary margarita was also given! I think this should be mandatory for hotels when checking in. It just makes the process so much more enjoyable.

Room St Regis Punta Mita

Upon entering our room, we immediately noticed a small zip bag sitting on the table that included two masks, hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes. The best part is that these are replenished daily if you decide to use them! Housekeeping here is optional. If you want housekeeping, you schedule it with the front desk at check-in. Just give them a preferred time and they will schedule it for you for the rest of your stay!

Room Grand Fiesta Americana

Housekeeping came as usual at the Grand Fiesta American Puerto Vallarta. There was no need to schedule but I’m sure if you wanted to opt out you could definitely arrange that and just call down when you need fresh towels, etc.

Restaurants St Regis Punta Mita

Restaurants were operating about the same as we were used to in California (at least at that time). You could sit either inside or outside, tables spaced out and masks worn until you’re seated. We were pleasantly surprised to find that the breakfast buffet was open in the mornings! The only difference was that you waited until one of the waitstaff was available and they walk you through the buffet and you just let them know what you would like! This way, they were the only ones touching serving utensils, etc.

Restaurants Grand Fiesta Americana

I wish I could say the same about the Grand Fiesta Americana as I did about the St Regis but restaurants were definitely ran a little more relaxed here. You could sit inside or outside, masks worn until seated however, tables were not spaced out much. This hotel definitely had a higher occupancy and the hotel didn’t hide that they wanted to accommodate everyone they could.

Their breakfast buffet was also open which was nice. Their approach was you stood back at a safe distance and kind of yelled at the person at each station what you wanted as you held your plate out. It was pretty comical yelling at each other from a distance with masks on. It made for some funny miscommunications but still safer than everyone handling the same serving utensils I would think.

Pools St Regis Punta Mita

The St Regis has three pools. Out of the three only two had service. The only one that didn’t have service was the family pool which caused people with kids to migrate over toward the pool located by the main restaurant. The pool closest to the lobby was an adult only pool which is where we spent most of our time as well as the beach where there was also plenty of service.

Pools Grand Fiesta Americana

There are also three pools at this property all located right next to each other. The first pool was what I would call the “party pool.” There were so many people crammed into this pool, drinks flowing, loud fist pumping music with many games and competitions throughout the day. This pool was definitely a breeding ground for COVID. We stayed far away from this pool and alternatively spent our days lounging on the beach on the opposite end of the COVID infested pool water.

Spa and Gym St Regis Punta Mita

I will admit that I did not make it to the gym this trip but it was open for guests as long as a reservation was made in advance. Masks are required while working out. It’s a smaller gym but there’s enough to get in a good quick workout to help balance out the delicious margaritas and food!

The Remede Spa at the St Regis Punta Mita is stunning. You thought lounging by the pool and beach here was relaxing? Just wait until you spend just a few minutes in the spa’s gardens and waiting room. I’m not sure if they are spacing treatments out to be COVID safe but I only saw one other guest the whole time I was at the spa and she was on her way out as I was on my way in. There were outdoor showers available and the jacuzzi and cold plunge were open for use as well.

The therapists wore masks at all times and they give you a few options to make sure you are comfortable. My therapist asked if I preferred if she wore gloves or not and left it up to me if I wanted to wear my mask the whole time or keep it off during the massage. I really appreciated them giving options as it can be tailored to anyone’s personal preference. I personally opted for her to not wear gloves and I did not wear my mask during my massage. 

Spa and Gym Grand Fiesta Americana

Again, I did not make it to the gym while here (shocker), but from what I saw by taking a quick peek inside, it had the essentials. Enough to get a quick and efficient workout in. I didn’t see anything about making an appointment, but I never saw many people in it whenever I walked by.

I also didn’t get a spa treatment during our stay at The Grand Fiesta Americana so I can’t really speak on what precautions they are taking. However, I imagine it is similar to the precautions resorts in Cabo and Punta Mita are taking.

Downtown Punta de Mita

Downtown Punta De Mita is so quaint and cute! We went into town on a Saturday night for dinner at DeMita and the streets weren’t very busy. The restaurant filled up pretty fast but once you step outside, it was dead. Many people, depending on where you’re staying, rent golf carts and cruise into town for meals and shops. However, taxis are readily available.

Downtown Puerto Vallarta

Downtown Puerto Vallarta is a whole different story than our trips to Cabo and Punta Mita. Downtown PV was a free for all. The streets were packed, restaurants were packed and bars were overflowing with people. I would have to say it was a 50/50 chance someone was wearing a mask or not. PV was definitely more relaxed on the restrictions. We even found out bars and clubs were allowed to stay open until 4am!! Quite the difference to our 10pm closures in California.

Luckily the two restaurants we chose for dinner in downtown Puerto Vallarta were adhering to COIVD dining guidelines and tables were spaced out, masks worn and hand sanitizer at your disposal. Our dinners at both The Iguana Restaurant and Café Des Artistes were incredible and I highly recommend both of them for different reasons. I will get a blog post up about the restaurants we ate at on this trip to go more into detail. I honestly had no idea Puerto Vallarta had such a good food scene! 

Puerto Vallarta Airport

The Puerto Vallarta airport is a bit bigger than the Cabo San Lucas airport and they seemed a little more technologically advanced. Checking in our bags at the Alaska Airlines counter was the first time we had been approached about health check forms. The nice part about their health declarations is that it could all be done online after scanning a QR code. Only one person in your party had to fill out the form for everyone. This saved some headache of four of us trying to scramble with using cellular data and filling out forms. 

The TSA lines were pretty long and once again we found ourselves in a room where no one was social distancing. However, masks were being worn. I think this took a bit longer because agents had to check your online health form submission. There were quite a few people that didn’t know about it and had to leave the line to fill it out.

Once we were through, we found there were quite a few spots for food. Right after TSA, there’s a small food court with different cuisines available. Tables were spaced out and masks were being worn. We were looking for a more sit-down style restaurant so we kept exploring the terminal. Surpisingly, the only sit-down restaurant we could find was good ol’ Bubba Gumps. I guess I shouldn’t be too surprised as Cabo’s airport only had one sit down restaurant as well. We didn’t even attempt the airport lounge as they aren’t quite as useful during the times of COVID. Service and food is severely limited. 

As I concluded with my Cabo blog post, did I feel safe in Punta Mita? 100% yes. Did I feel safe in Puerto Vallarta when it comes to COVID precautions? 100% no. Haha. Punta Mita is much smaller and I felt they did a great job with following COVID guidelines. Puerto Vallarta on the other hand is much bigger and I definitely felt like it was more of a free for all there. Life looked pretty much back to normal downtown. 

In terms of COVID safety precautions I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Cabo San Lucas and Punta Mita as travel destinations during this pandemic. Although all three destinations can be as secluded as you want them to be, I felt Cabo and Punta Mita’s safety was more effortless if that makes sense. I didn’t really have a moment where I thought, “Wow this is sketchy.” Where in Puerto Vallarta I had quite a few of those thoughts. My guess is that this is because Cabo San Lucas and Punta Mita are more secluded than Puerto Vallarta.

With more accessibility comes more people and then it just kind of all unravels from there. Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoyed Puerto Vallarta and I would love to go back and explore more of the beaches and food scene, but I think I’ll be waiting until everything settles down before I head there again. As for Cabo and Punta Mita? I would go back tomorrow if I could.

Have you been to Punta de Mita or Puerto Vallarta during the pandemic? What were your thoughts?

Related Posts

• Hotel Review: The St Regis Punta Mita Resort
• Where We Ate in Puerto Vallarta and Punta Mita
• Traveling to Cabo San Lucas During the Pandemic

Traveling to Puerto Vallarta and Punta Mita Mexico

The post Traveling to Puerto Vallarta and Punta Mita During the Pandemic appeared first on A Blonde's Eye View.

Since the COVID-19 Pandemic started in March, I have traveled to Cabo San Lucas twice. I also traveled to Puerto Vallarta and Punta Mita in November. I will admit that I didn’t post anything on instagram or really tell anyone about my first trip in July as I was terrified of the backlash I would receive.

Although I took all safety precautions and felt very safe at the resort we chose, I didn’t want to face any criticism that others were starting to experience at that time for leisurely traveling during a pandemic. Unfortunately travel-shaming is definitely a thing right now.

However, as the world is slowly opening up to non-essential travel, I wanted to share my experience traveling to Cabo San Lucas so that others could get an idea of what it is like and make their own deicison on if they feel comfortable enough to do the same or to wait a bit longer for vaccines and what not. To each their own. I’m not one to judge.

Since I’ve been to Cabo twice now, I’ve mashed up both trips into this post as my experience was relatively the same both times.

Alaska Airlines Flight San Diego to Cabo San Lucas

Alaska Airlines has a very special place in my heart. They are my go-to domestic airline as I travel with them weekly for work and I always know they will consistently deliver the best service. Flying during COVID was no exception.

The flight from San Diego to Cabo San Lucas is only two hours so it doesn’t really matter if you’re flying economy, premium or first class, it’s a short flight so all seats are just fine. I booked a main cabin economy ticket but because I’m MVP Gold 75k, I got an email the night before that I had been upgraded to first!

This is pretty common on Alaska Airlines. They treat their elites so well! Unfortunately, my boyfriend and I booked on different tickets so he didn’t get the upgrade with me…I didn’t have much of a problem leaving him in economy though hehe.

Boarding went smoothly. I was one of the first people on the plane so it was interesting to see how flight attendants directed passengers during this time. The first thing I noticed was how ecstatic the flight attendants were to be back on their normal route.

They joyfully welcomed everyone on board and even recognized a few regulars (mainly boat captains) going back to Cabo for the first time since the marina opened.

I overheard one of the attendants reveal that she had actually cried when she saw the first passengers board on her first flight back at work. So dang sweet!

They also nicely reminded passengers to have their mask on. Many people tried to board with their noses exposed but the flight attendants at the door were on top of it. Everyone obeyed the rules and we luckily had no issues!

There are a few differences when flying during these times. Masks are to be worn at all times during the flight except when eating or drinking. They also made an announcement that they would give passengers sanitizing wipes to anyone who asked for one.

Meal service was extremely limited. First class got a light meal box and all drinks were in single serve bottles (wine, beer, soda, water, etc.). Premium class got a light snack and also choice of water or single serving alcoholic beverage.

Premium and economy service doesn’t make another pass through so if you want more than one drink, ask for more when they first serve you. Economy got a small snack and just a small water bottle I believe. There was no alcohol for sale on this flight. First class and premium has alcohol included in the ticket price.

The two hour flight went smoothly and after filling out our immigration forms, we anxiously awaited decent into Cabo!

CABO SAN LUCAS AIRPORT ARRIVAL

Arrival to San Jose Del Cabo is where it gets a little interesting. While deplaning, we were each handed a health check form that needed to be filled out before customs.

Now keep in mind we’re in the middle of the tarmac about to cram into a bus to take us to customs. Where in the world do we fill these suckers out?? Welp, let me tell you, watching people scramble (including myself) to fill out these forms on the short bumpy bus ride was a sight to see. I bet half of these forms were even eligible.

Once we got to the terminal there was a small room with tables to fill these forms out but definitely not enough space for a full flight that just landed. You also couldn’t continue on to immigration until an airport employee checked to make sure you had filled out and signed the health check form.

I really wish our flight had had these forms before-hand and could have given them to us along with our immigration forms. It would have made it less chaotic.

Immigration went smoothly enough once we got through the panic of filling out the health forms. The lines had social distancing stickers on the ground so everyone was six feet apart and we all still had our masks on.

Once your passport is stamped you again show an airport employee your signed health check form and you’re directed to look at this camera type thing off in the distance which I can only assume is a temperature check.

The camera man gives a nod, the employee circles your “No” answers to COVID related question and hands the form back to you and you continue on your way to baggage claim. That’s it. They don’t keep your health check form that you had just panic completed 20 minutes prior. I was shocked. Do we keep it just in case? Do we need it for the return flight home? Do we throw it away? To this day my questions are still unanswered.

The baggage area also had social distancing stickers and again, we all still had our masks on. This is about the time I got a big sniff down from the security dog which resulted in my purse getting searched.

Back at the San Diego airport, in order to get an alcoholic beverage, you have to buy some food as well. We chose the cheapest item and bought a banana with our beers and I shoved it in my purse on our walk back to our gate and completely forgot about it.

Well everyone knows you can’t bring fruit from one country to another so when the dog started sniffing my purse very persistently I was so confused as to why. Lo and behold the security officer pulled out that damn banana. Embarrassed was an understatement. He took my banana.

We collected our bags and ran them through the second security check and we were quickly on our way to the exit to meet the transfer to our hotel. When meeting your transfer company, follow their instructions and if they say meet them outside, meet them outside. Not in the impending corridor of time share doom.

These guys and gals try everything to try and get you to their desk and sell you time shares. They will even go as far as pretending to be your transfer service if you tell them which company you’re using.

Just keep walking until you get, you guessed it, OUTSIDE! Unless you’re into going to timeshare presentations then by all means counter hop in that corridor of doom.

AIRPORT TRANSFER TO PUEBLO BONITO SUNSET

We arranged private transfer through Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach Resort and got a nice sedan. They also offer shared shuttles that were a bit cheaper but they weren’t available late in the afternoons which is when we landed.

As we always do when we’re in Cabo, we had the driver pull over and we picked up some road beers. Don’t forget to offer your driver something! Non-alcoholic of course. Our driver wore a mask the whole time and had plenty of hand sanitizer with him. We asked if he was ok if we took our masks off for the car ride and he didn’t mind which was nice. 

The transfer from the airport to Cabo San Lucas is about 45 minutes. We took the time sipping our Coronas and looking out at the beautiful desert landscape and of course the blue, blue ocean!

PUEBLO BONITO SUNSET CHECK-IN

Upon arrival, we put our masks back on and started the check-in process. A bellman took our bags and directed us toward a sanitizing station. Each guest upon arrival is required to get their temperature checked and then proceed into a closed chamber where it directs you to turn around in two complete circles while it sanitizes your shoes and clothing with a fine mist.

After they sanitize you, lol, you’re directed to the front desk. There are social distancing stickers on the ground keeping everyone 6 feet apart. Hotels in Cabo are not operating at 100%, so I never saw a line form at the front desk which was nice.

All employees are wearing masks and there are plastic shields separating you from the front desk agents. Check in was as normal as any other check in. They went over their current rules, closures, etc. on property. Each guest has to fill out and sign a health check form and unlike the airport, the hotel actually keeps yours and files it away.

After a quick and painless check in we were whisked to a golf cart to take us to our room! Pueblo Bonito Sunset Resort is a huge resort so golf carts are widely needed to get from one place to another. Luckily, the golf carts are in quite an abundance there and there’s never much of a wait for one.

PUEBLO BONITO SUNSET ROOM

The golf cart ride to our room was quite the adventure. The paths are full of hatchbacks and I was very impressed on how well these drivers were able to maneuver these big carts around the sharp turns. Even with oncoming traffic they knew exactly at what point to each turn so we narrowly missed side swiping each other.

Who needs Disneyland when you have these golf carts?? During COVID, the carts have a maximum of four people per cart when they can easily fit six. It’s configured as two long benches facing each other. In order to ride, the driver makes sure your mask is on and gives you a squirt of hand sanitizer before you climb on board. 

When we reached our room, there was a sign on knob letting us know our room was fully sanitized before arrival. This resort does offer daily housekeeping which I was extremely grateful for.

Resorts back home won’t do housekeeping until you’ve reached a certain number or nights. I don’t know about you, but I feel a daily sweep and mop is 100x more sanitary than leaving it for four days untouched.

At this particular resort, each room has a small kitchenette and while I was looking through cabinets at what was offered, I found that they had provided us with a bottle of Lysol underneath the sink. Of course, it was accompanied with a little card that nicely requested that you leave the bottle in the room and not try and pack it in your suitcase back home. I guess the shortage of cleaning supplies applies everywhere.

PUEBLO BONITO SUNSET RESTAURANTS

Restaurants on property are operated much like back home in San Diego. Masks had to be worn until seated at your table and all menus were accessible by QR code that are scanned by your phone.

Also, like back home, not all tables are available. Some are marked off to allow for proper social distancing between tables.

Again, all employees are wearing masks throughout your whole service. You also sign your check through your phone as well. When your meal is complete, the server comes by with a QR code you scan with your phone and you complete the transaction on your phone.

This includes adding tip and even signing! You receive a copy of your receipt in your email. Contact is definitely kept at a minimum here!

PUEBLO BONITO SUNSET POOLS

Only two of the many, many pools on property were open. The Sky Pool and the Main Pool. We wore our masks during the trek to the pool and once we got our chairs we took them off.

Lounge chairs are separated in pairs of two or in groups of four for families traveling together. Although only two of the pools were open, there was no need to wake up early and snag your chairs. There were more than enough for everyone!

Unfortunately, all swim up bars were closed. I was extremely bummed about this but I completely understood. It would definitely be the spot for everyone to accumulate and hang out. The pool menu is accessible by QR code and everything is ordered through your server. 

PUEBLO BONITO SUNSET SPA AND GYM

This resort has one of the best hotel gyms I’ve seen in quite a while. It is huge and has everything you could possibly need. There’s even a barbell and plates!

However, in order to access the gym, you need to make a reservation. You might also want to ask for a schedule as well because every couple of hours they close the gym for about a half hour to deep clean. They definitely don’t mess around here when it comes to cleanliness! 

The spa was also taking special precautions. When you’re directed to your locker, there’s a little note inside letting you know that your locker has been sanitized. I even saw one of the attendants cleaning a used locker and she really got in there. Sanitized to the max!

Like most spas here in San Diego, saunas and steam rooms were closed. However, the whirlpool and cold plunge remained open as well as showers. 

MARINA & DOWNTOWN CABO SAN LUCAS

We left the resort a few times during our trip. Since Pueblo Bonito Sunset is on the pacific side, you cannot swim in the ocean as it is way too rough so we took the free shuttle to their sister property Pueblo Bonito Rose to get a day in at the beach.

The same rules at Sunset applied to Rose. The beach was a blast although all the vendors are still there trying to sell you anything and everything. They were all wearing masks though!

Another night, we left to have dinner at one of my favorite spots Torro Latin Kitchen and Bar. Same rules applied as our resort and back home in San Diego. All precautions were taken. This is still one of my favorite restaurants in Cabo and I highly recommend it. It’s even more special when they have their live music and fire pits going.

Our last night in Cabo we decided we wanted to see how the marina was holding up. Driving through the usually packed marina was a sad, sad reality. It was dead.

There was hardly anyone walking the streets and many of the famous clubs and bars were boarded up. Some have managed to adapt and turn more into restaurants during the time being with some music. I mean, we saw people eating dinner at Squid Roe! How weird is that??

I mean I’m obviously happy they were able to adapt and stay open but it’s just so odd to see a globally known club becoming a lunch and dinner spot. 

During our trip down to the marina, we decided on dinner at Los Tres Gallos. This is now a new-found favorite!! This place is such a gem. Beautifully decorated and delicious traditional Mexican fare.

All precautions are taken with temperature checks at the door and there are sanitization mats you stand on to sanitize your shoes. Restaurants are relatively empty so the attention you get from the staff is 10/10. They’re honestly so happy to have tourism back. 

CABO SAN LUCAS AIRPORT

Sadly, all good things must come to an end. After a wonderful four-night escape (seven nights after both trips were completed), we packed up our luggage and headed back to the airport.

Upon arrival, there are security agents at all entrances to the terminal checking your boarding pass to make sure you’re on a flight for that day. Once we got to the Alaska Airlines desk and checked our baggage, we were given a piece of paper to fill out. Can you guess what it was?

You guessed it, another health check form! We laughed wondering what would happen to this one. We took the forms and filled them out before heading to security. It was set up similarly to immigration.

There was the temperature check camera thing and an agent checking your yes or no questions. Once again, our “No” answers are circled and the paper given back to us where no one ever asked for them again. Shocker.

There’s one sit down restaurant in the terminal called Corona Sports Bar. There was a line to get in as tables are limited to allow for social distancing. However, the line to get seated was moving fast.

There’s also a lounge we were able to get in to using my Priority Pass card. The food was ordered from a little placard on the table and came pre-packaged. Options were severely limited but at least there was free alcohol and football on!

The Corona restaurant would be a better option if you were hungry and wanted a hot meal but as we had just eaten before we left for the airport, the lounge was just fine for us. However, the upstairs portion was closed so it got a little cramped in the small main room.

So, the question remains, did I feel safe traveling to Cabo San Lucas during COVID-19? 100% yes. Cabo is handling the COVID pandemic similarly if not better than the US. We never ran into a situation that made us feel uncomfortable and we got extremely lucky that everyone at our resort was happy to follow the rules. 

Would I travel back to Cabo again during COVID? 100% yes. I love Cabo and have for a very long time especially since it’s just a short flight from San Diego. COVID does not change this and I would book another flight there next week if I could.

After speaking to many of the servers at our resort and at the restaurants in town, Cabo is extremely happy to welcome back tourists. They’re happy to be working again and it reflects in their attitude and service. I am so glad Cabo welcomed us with open arms.

I couldn’t have imagined a better place to go as the world of travel slowly opens back up. Although completely different than what we’re used to, I’ll take any version of travel we can get right now. 

Related Posts:

Traveling to Puerto Vallarta and Punta Mita During the Pandemic

A Cabo San Lucas Vacation COVID-19 Style

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