Recommend August 2010 - (Page 29)

Opposite page and below: This all-suite resort offers a sleek and contemporary design. tronically controlled curtains, room climate, Internet and TV—all from a remote control. They feature Mexican tile floors, coffee machines and mini-bars and the Barcelo Bed, designed exclusively for the company, as well as oversized bathrooms with jetted tubs and separate rain showers. Barcelo Los Cabos has 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom suites for families, which can fit up to nine guests; and 22 honeymoon suites are located in the buildings’ higher floors. Best of all, there are 34 swim-up suites, the only ones in Los Cabos to date and the first for a Barcelo property. These have direct access to the pool and swim-up bar. There is a sports bar that attracts even non-sporty types, with popart likenesses of famous athletes on the walls, large TV screens for a good game of American or Mexican football, a bar, pool table and Wii system—we wish we had had more time to hang out here. Adjacent to the lobby there is another huge bar/lounge, also nautical in theme, which opens early in the morning for a casual cup of coffee when a full breakfast is not desired. Just outside of this bar and in other strategic locations throughout the property, there are telescopes through which people can spot whales gallivanting about the Sea of Cortez during the winter season. There’s also a martini bar overlooking the pool and sea with exciting options such as chocolate- and espresso-flavored ‘tinis, not to mention a huge theater with nightly Broadway-style shows and live orchestras. Another favorite: comfy chairs and fire pits set about a few “lagoon islands,” where guests can enjoy the starry, cool nights of Los Cabos over a flambe coffee after dinner. Five a la carte restaurants and two buffets hold Japanese, French, Italian, Spanish, Mexican and international choices, as well as steak and seafood favorites. “Try our trilogy creme brulee with caramel, espresso and chocolate flavors, the peach melba cup or the green tea ice cream,” says Vanegas. “The buffet restaurants offer diverse food stations such as the sushi corner; seafood with the catch of the day, octopus, shrimp, crab and calamari; Italian; the Mexican specialties corner and the poultry grill. Each restaurant features a chef to create everyone’s specialty to their own taste,” he goes on to say, adding that kids also enjoy a special mini-buffet bar, complete with cartoon characters’ faces made from watermelons. Kids are just as delighted as adults to have so many options for entertainment. There’s the Barcelo Barcy’s Club—with the coolest pod-like chairs—and an adjacent children-only water park with interactive jets and water cannons and a play area. Besides baby-care services, parents can rest easy as children have a blast with a variety of supervised activities, either indoors or out. Those little ones that like a bit more pampering on their vacation, can visit the Life Spa with their parents and indulge in a Little Princess facial or strawberry banana manicure, among other treatments. Life Spa provides a long menu of delicious massages and treatments whether in one of 16 indoor cabins or three palapas outdoors, as well as a hydro-thermal circuit available to guests for just $15. To keep the heart pumping, there’s a large fitness center as well as tennis and basketball courts. Given its amenities, design and location, this is also a great place for romance. Barcelo Los Cabos can put together a proposal to remember with dinner by the beach, tiki torches all lit up and fireworks once the question has been popped (and the bride has presumably acquiesced). “Best of all,” says Vanegas, “while the couple celebrates at the beach, the hotel staff prepares the couple’s suite with flowers and candles.” For weddings, there is a beachside gazebo and many other locations for a great reception, plus the resort offers a free wedding for eight to 10 rooms booked for a 3-night minimum. At press time, Barcelo Los Cabos was working on a “green” wedding concept to debut soon. It also offers complimentary honeymoon amenities and room upgrades when available. If you haven’t already, it’s a good time to sign up for Barcelo’s B Partner program, which rewards agents for confirmed bookings at hotels in Mexico, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic. For each night booked at a Barcelo Premium property, an agent receives 15 “perks”; for each night at a Barcelo hotel, they get 10 perks. They’ll thus earn free night stays for as little as 300 perks. Agents can register for this program online at barcelopartnerclub.com; the site also provides information on new hotel openings and products such as Barcelo Premium, which offers upgraded amenities. All-inclusive rates at Barcelo Los Cabos start at $99 pp dbl until December, when they go up to $257 pp dbl. There are also early booking specials available online. Through Dec. 23, two kids 21 and under can stay (and eat) for free when traveling with two adults. n contact information Barcelo Los Cabos Palace Deluxe: (800) BARCELO; barceloloscabos.com august 2010 29 http://www.barcelopartnerclub.com http://www.barceloloscabos.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend August 2010

Editor's Notes/Agent Speak
Hotel Desk
Tour Talk
Uniworld's River Royale
Discover flanders
Five-Star Taiwan
Karisma Sweetens the Pot
Barcelo Los Cabos Palace Deluxe
Playa Grande Resort & Grand Spa
Central America Calling...
Garza Blanca Preserve, Resort & Spa
Israel With Goway Travel
Puerto Rico: A community Experience
Hyatt Regency Curacao Golf Resort, Spa and Marina
The Bahamas: Players' Paradise
Orlando World Center Marriott Resort
All-American St. Louis
PH Towers by Westgate, Las Vegas

Recommend August 2010