Kashmira's Sight Visit Review

[gkashmira]

So here's the review that I put up on the old forum. I figured some of the new members may not know how to get back over there, so here it is again...

 

1) Hilton - I loved it. They are redo-ing all their rooms by december and we saw the new "standard" and suites and they are GORGEOUS! Also I liked that they had a beach where people could swim if they wanted to. The prices are very high for the rooms ($350 -450/ night after taxes and gratuities) and also very high for the drinks. The food is pricey but there are some reasonable options. I also liked that they had a lot of activities that guests could do right from the hotel. To get the "free" ceremony and reception we were told that we would need to book 10 rooms for 3 nights or 15 for 2. We did get them to agree to 10 rooms for 2 nights since most of our guests are close-by in LA and may only come down for a quick visit. (Note: they also agreed to include chair bows, candles on the tables and candles in paper bags for the ceremony/reception. This is not standard so you need to ask).

 

2) Sheraton - Also loved it. It was very similar to the Hilton in that they are redoing their rooms and they are gorgeous. However at the Sheraton you cannot swim at the beach and they also don't have activities for guests that leave right from the resort (like the Hilton) but I think it's a little bit more luxurious and a little more private feeling. The infinity pools are beautiful but as always their open bar plans are super expensive.

 

3) Casa Natalia - This place has the most delicious food I can remember eating... maybe ever. We stayed here and the rooms are really fantastic - they each have a private patio where they serve you a multi-course breakfast each morning. Everything was really perfect. I don't have even one bad thing to say about it. It's not on the beach but they have deal with Casa del Mar to use their beachclub if you want. BUT the food and drinks for a wedding are pretty expensive (the food might be worth it - but expensive none the less). They treated us to a fantastic dinner that we assumed we were paying for and they said it was on the house. The one problem though is to get married on the beach you need to pay a sight fee somewhere else and also transportation to get all your guests back to the hotel for the reception and needless to say this is an extra cost. The largest wedding they've ever had was 85 people but I don't think more than 50 or so would fit well. The owner Nathalie is lovely and very personable. In order to hold the wedding there with no limits you can actually block the whole hotel (14 of 16 rooms) and they'll upgrade the bride/groom to a suite (one of 2 suites with private outdoor jacuzzis). This place is perfect for someone who is havign a small intimate wedding where the food and drinks are the main focus. It's also beautifully and artfully decorated. It's part of the "Small Elegant Hotels of the World" and highly rated just about everywhere. If we don't have our wedding here which we may not be able to afford we are definitely going t have our rehearsal dinner because the food is fantastic (have I said that yet?). Yup, the food is REALLY good!

 

3) Cabo Surf Hotel - It wasn't right for us just because it's a little smaller than what we envisioned. It's pretty expensive and since we don't surf it didn't make much sense for us. We ate there on Friday night and the food was pretty good. I had the seafood ravioli appetizer which I would recommend. The margaritas were nice and tasty too! Plus they have good prices for their open bar - which is refreshing. We didn't see the rooms but the beach was small but pretty. I think you can swim here but I'm not sure.

 

4) Melia San Lucas - a cool hotel that would be fun too stay at but isn't right for our wedding (we have a lot of family and family friends coming). The sort of club atmoshpere didn't feel like a good match with OUR families. But I LOVED the beds outside beside the pool and beach. Plus it has a swimmable beach and seems like a fun place to hang out - definitely would be a place to go for a night out on the town! This is a gorgeous hotel - plus it's really close to San Lucas which can be good or bad depending on what you're looking for. It's a little tricky to find but is actually easy to reach once you figure out what road you're suppose to turn on.

 

5) Melia Cabo Real - Sort of the opposite of the Melia San Lucas actually - felt like we were at a country club with a lot of older guests. I think the clientele is very golf oriented (which we are not) so the atmosphere was a little subdued and the crowd was a little older. But this is another AI and though I don't know the rates it could definitely be a nice place for a wedding - especially if you are golfers! We didn't meet with anyone - just sort of wandered in and wandered around. Sadly, it does not have the great beds next to the pool/ beach that the Melia San Lucas had.

 

6) Westin -very BIG and very modern. My fiance thought it was cool but I didn't really like it. I think it's also pretty expensive.

 

7) Marquis Los Cabos - the lobby is fantastically gorgeous but we turned around after we saw the room prices because they were too high for us. I imagine this would be a gorgeous place for a wedding!

 

Dreams - we liked it plus the prices for a wedding are just so reasonable that you have to consider how much you're saving!

 

9) Presidente Intercontinental- Actually a little bit nicer than Dreams and is also an AI. It's at the very opposite end of San Jose del Cabo (as far away from San Lucas as you can get) so it wouldn't be good for people who want to be near the action (or even a quick drive away from it). We did see an event being set-up and it looked nice. There are two pools both which were lovely - we did not get to see a room. It seems liek a very family friendly place (but not over-run with kids or anything)

 

(Can you believe we did this all in two days?!?)

 

10) Royal Solaris - I did not like it at all! It was sort of dirty and was really for families with small children. The pool was being worked on so it was empty and it's possible it may have made a different impression if it was full. I would not recommend it at all.

 

11) Casa del Mar - Very pretty but also very expensive. It was certainly lovely but it wasn't right for us. But we did see natasha there for her tasting which was fun! She said the food was amazing

 

13) Marbella en la Playa - the rooms aren't very nice but they are pretty inexpensive and large. The food is very reasonbly priced as is their open bar. the downstairs area near the pool could be really beautiful at night with a lot of lights and candles. It would be a cute place for a lower budget wedding. But there are a ton of stairs and no access for handicapped or injured guests so that is something to consider. I think they're also trying to buy property next door so depending on whether they are successful there could be construction going on sometime in the future. It is a cute hotel though. We would happily stay there though I don't think it's right for our wedding.

 

If anyone needs contact info just send me a PM and I'll email it to you! Sorry this is so long but I hope it's helpful!

[gkashmira]

I've been meaning to put up the pics since I came back and I finally got them up in my gallery. If you're interested in any of these properties you check out the pics there.

[TammyB]

Hey Kashmira, I know I've been picking your brain like crazy.. lol I'm thinking about looking at casa natalia for our dinner and ceremony. I have a question for you, in your review you mentioned they are "not" located on the beach. When I talked to Natalia she told me we can have a beach wedding, where would that be? Also what is the closest resort to them? I'm trying to get an idea of where their located.

 

Thanks again for all your help..

[gkashmira]

They are in San jose del Cabo near ther church where Maria Elena got married. nathalie has had some other weddings where people have done them out on the beach but you'll need transportation to/from the hotel for you guests.

 

Also unless things have changed I don't think Nathalie sets up all the legal stuff and I think you do need to hire an outside coordinator. She is lovely however - I really enjoyed meeting with her and the food and rooms and service at the hotel is some of the nicest - if not the nicest I saw/tasted. They have a deal with Casa del Mar for their guests (not for the wedding) where they will take you to/from Casa del Mar to use their beach club. But I do think this is a fantastic place for the reception dinner - the food cannot be beat anywhere in Cabo (in my opinion).

 

yum!

[Jandez]

I've been meaning to put up the pics since I came back and I finally got them up in my gallery. If you're interested in any of these properties you check out the pics there.

Oh your awesome!! SOOOO appreciate the pictures!