When I arrived at Paradisus Los Cabos — Melia Hotels International’s newest hotel in Mexico and the ninth property in the company’s Paradisus brand portfolio — I was absolutely famished.
A gracious server appeared by my side with a chilled cocktail — a welcome amenity for guests booked in the adults-only Royal Service Suites — but I politely declined. I had something else in mind. I headed across the property to the Family Concierge Lounge, and I quickly found what I was looking for: a tray of gooey, fresh cookies.
With kid-like vigor, I descended upon the platter, but — in a last-ditch effort to reclaim my adulthood — made sure to pair my sweet snack with a few freshly cut veggie sticks. Satisfied, I walked to the Royal Service area of the resort complex and back into adults-only bliss.
Formerly the site of Melia Cabo Real, the 14.5-acre, 350-room hotel opened at the beginning of this year after a $35 million transformation.
The idea that “there’s something for everyone” rings true across the entire all-inclusive Paradisus brand. It attracts and caters evenly to every type of client, from families and couples to kid-at-heart adult travelers like me.
Families staying in one of the 30 Family Concierge Suites, for example, have their own offerings that include a dedicated lounge, valet service and private beach areas in the swimmable Los Cabos Corridor, along with a separate check-in experience (where I found the aforementioned kid-friendly goodies) and other family-exclusive amenities.
Meanwhile, over at the adults-only Royal Service, which includes 98 Royal Service Suites and 28 Royal Service Swim-up Suites, guests receive a cellphone with which they can call their personal butler, along with free rein of their own pool and exclusive access to La Palapa restaurant and pool bar. My spacious swim-up suite provided a relaxing haven in between dips at the property’s other four swimming pools, and featured a bright and airy design paired with minimalist, beachy accents and an in-room soaking tub.
The resort has kept corporate clients top of mind, too. The Cabo Real Golf Course surrounds the accommodations, and the property is home to one of the largest convention spaces in the Los Cabos area (holding up to 1,100 people in its 13,000-square-foot center and 10 breakout rooms).
As I suppose is the case for many of my fellow adult guests, I had everything I needed within the confines of the Royal Service area. However, those who like to mix and mingle will be happy to know that the property’s common spaces and private beach can host up to 3,000 people. Additionally, seven on-site restaurants and bars specialize in a range of international cuisine and handcrafted cocktails.
And when clients want to wind down, I recommend a leisurely afternoon spent at Melia’s signature YHI Spa followed by a complimentary water therapy session.
During my four-day stay, I feasted on Mexican delights at Mole, watched a Teppanyaki demonstration at Asian-fusion sushi bar Bana and expanded my palate with Basque-French molecular gastronomic creations (including a quite refreshing lemonade “foam”) at the adults-only Gastro Bar, helmed by Michelin-starred chef Martin Berasategui. Other tasty offerings include Market Grill, which is perfect for noshing on salads, wood-fired pizza and more; Gabi Club, a two-story beach club offering light bites with an upper-level bar; Naos, which offers a great breakfast buffet; and the open-air Avenue bar.
And, when it was time for dessert, I knew just where to find the cookies.
The Details
Paradisus Los Cabos
www.melia.com