Cabo
lodging... where to stay? It's one of the most important decisions
you'll make and it'll shape your Cabo vacation more than most other dilemmas.
(Almost as much as deciding whether or not to drink the water!)
That picture
to the right? It's the least flattering picture we could take of the Cabo
Inn. It might not look like much, but it's something special.
You have four main
choices for lodging:
- Resort
hotel
- City
hotel
- House
rental
- Timeshares
- The
gutter
All five
are viable, depending on your priorities.
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Did you know Cabo offers many Internet cafes allowing you
to get online? They're not the fastest connections in the world, but they
get the job done. Expect to pay about $5 for a twenty minute chunk of
access.
If you want
to check a POP3 email box from Cabo's cafes, try Mail2Web's
free service. You don't even need to register!
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Resorts
in Cabo are just like their brethren everywhere else - some are great,
some are pits. You know the old saying, location, location, location?
If not, you know it now. It's the most important aspect of any resort
- some are close to town and activities while most are far from signs
of life. Do your research before choosing any of the resorts advertised
to the right!
Resort
Pros:
- All
inclusive options - If you're into not carrying cash and love
drinking booze all day long, AI is the way to go.
- Pools
- Most resorts have at least one, and hot tubs are common too. Sometimes
the ocean's too cold for swimming, remember that!
- Beach
- Most resorts are conveniently located along the beach. Awesome!
- Services
- Laundry, room service, concierge, activities desk, restaurants, bars...
resorts pack a wallop!
Resort
Cons:
- Lock-in
- When you're the only well in town, you can charge as much as you want
for water and other staples, like beer!
- Upsells
- Many resorts allow dreaded timeshare gnats to use the grounds for
unending sales pitches. I don't know about you, but I don't want to
be a mark for my entire vacation!
- Location
- Your resort might be "near" the beach and shopping, but
their definition likely differs from yours and they don't all mention
the six-lane highway between your room and the overpriced amenities
you covet!
- Culture
- Or more specifically, a lack thereof. What's the point in going to
Cabo if you don't truly experience it? Resorts are usually cookie-cutter
white-bread affairs. We're talkin' aqua-jazzersize action!
- Cost
- Resorts can be pricey! Most of the more affordable resorts are better
relegated to the, "Glad we didn't go there!" department.
- Kids
- Kids are great if you've got'em, but they can be a nuisance to non-breeders
and empty-nesters. These small humans are more likely to be found at
resorts than your other options.
- Taxes
- All resorts charge about 20% in sundry tourist taxes. Your $200/night
tab quickly jumps to $240/night. That's a neat trick!
There are
plenty of fantastic properties available by the day, week or month.
Pros:
- Privacy
- Run around the villa in your birthday suit! Nobody's going to know!
- Parties
- There's nothing like inviting a bevy of hotties back to your pad.
- Kitchen
- Not into ceviche and tacos? Cook whatever you fancy!
Rental
Cons:
- Location
- Most (but not all) rentals are far from the action. You'll need a
car or frequent taxis to truly experience what Cabo has to offer.
- Hidden
fees - Read that fine print with a magnifying glass! Some rentals
require excessive deposits and cleaning fees.
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Even if you
don't stay in a downtown hotel you should take a tour of the options.
You'll find some pretty boring hotel rooms offered by the major chains,
but you'll also find unique rooms in mom and pop settings. Some
of them are so charming you'll want to grab a few carryout beverages and
just hang out in the lobby.
Pros:
- Location
- Most city hotels are in the action. Need something to drink? Walk
next door and grab it for a few pesos.
- Variety
- Though you can find cookie-cutter hotels, there's an abundance of
character-laden options. The Cabo Inn has incredible open-air rooftop
rooms replete w/ chimineas, hot tubs, plants and more!
- Price
- Decent rooms start at about $35/night in some hotels.
Cons:
- Amenities
- Or rather, a lack thereof. Most city hotels are a short hike to the
beach and they often don't have pools. Things like room and laundry
service are similarly often lacking.
Ah timeshares...
We've never owned 'em, so our knowledge is secondhand and peripheral.
Take it with a grain of salt. If you're going to vacation in the same
spot every year, a timeshare isn't a bad idea, if you've got the wherewithal.
Pros:
- Trades
- Once you own a timeshare you can trade your spot for properties in
other locales.
- Easy
out - "I already have a timeshare," is the best way to
get rid of timeshare salespeople.
- Amenities
- Many timeshares offer services similar to resorts.
- Location – big resort companies can afford to build their timeshares in great
locations, like beach front, and offer everything you need on site – some even
offer all-inclusive services so you don't have to worry about paying for the
extras like food and drink.
- Resales - resale/rental websites offer the properties for far less than the resorts do, because of the competitive nature of the secondary market.
Cons:
- Ownership
- Ugh. With timeshares comes the burden of management. Maintenance fees raise almost every year.
- Association
- Guilty by association, you're contributing to the biggest pain in
the ass imaginable. (Timeshare salespeople!)
- Cost
- They're not cheap.
- No diversity - Though there are exceptions, timeshares are often a cookie-cutter affair.
Really
low on cash? No worries. Cabo's warm enough for street sleeping!
If you're feeling brave and don't mind the sand, you can always try sleeping
on the beach like our amiga to the left. Her makeshift shelter will protect
her from the sun's glaring rays in the morning and also offers some protection
from thrown projectiles.
Pros:
- Cheap
- Expenses are minimal.
- Options
- Cabo streets can accommodate sleepers on both sides!
- Embedded
- Sleeping in the gutter allows unparalleled access to Cabo.
Cons:
- You're
in the gutter - Room service? Nope. Bathroom? Um... no. You get
the idea.
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