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Palmilla Resort, Los Cabos Mexico
A One and Only Resort
Photos & Text By BCMurray
The Palmilla resort was founded in 1956 with 15 rooms and quickly became an intimate hideaway for celebrities like Bing Crosby, Lucille Ball & Desi Arnaz, John Wayne, and President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Today the resort has undergone an $80 million dollar face-lift by One & Only Resorts making it one of the premier beach resorts in the world. And it continues to attract celebs and high-rollers from around the world.
One and Only Palmilla Resort is located at the southernmost tip of Baja California Mexico where the Pacific Ocean meets the Sea Of Cortez. Just minutes away from Cabo San Lucas, the resort is surrounded by sweeping vistas of desert, mountain and coastline. Lovely landscaping and distinctive workmanship is found at every turn, stone sculptures and massive wooden doors are just a sample of the excellent artistry. The historic chapel overlooks the resorts grounds and offers an excellent venue for wedding and renewal of vows.
Latest Awards For Palmilla
Condé Nast Traveler – 2013 Readers’ Poll The Top 270 Spas – #8 in Top 25 Spas, Mexico and Central America
Conde Nast Traveler – 2013 Gold List – 96.3 Readers’ Choice Rating - Los Cabos Hotels and Resorts
Travel+Leisure – 2013 500 World's Best Hotels – 91.14 Readers’ Choice Rating - Best Hotels in Mexico
Accommodations are located in single & three story buildings located along the resorts waterfront. All rooms and suites offer a patio or terrace facing out toward the sea offering unobstructed views. Property Map
The rooms & suites have lovely travertine floors and heavy furniture by local craftsmen. Cleverly hidden are all of today's modern amenities: minibar, phones, high-speed internet, large flatscreen TVs, and a Bose DVD/CD surround-sound audio system. The resorts library offers an extensive collection of DVDs and CDs in addition to books and games. Wireless internet is available throughout the resort.
Bathrooms are luxurious and a personal butler quickly attends to your needs. Services includes: twice daily maid service, welcome tequila beverage, fresh fruit of choice delivered daily, aromatherapy menu, nightly turndown service, telescope for star gazing and seasonal whale watching.
Both the restaurants and inroom dinning at the Palmilla hotel are excellent. On the property are two restaurants, "C" and Aqua. Both are very comfortable with spectacular views of the Sea of Cortez. As expected service levels are excellent and every meal was served as described on the menu. C features the food of celebrity Chef Charlie Trotter, offering indigenous flavors using the finest local ingredients. Agua, my favorite, offers "Mexiterranean" cuisine. Kids menus are available throughout the resort, as is a KidsOnly club for children from 4 to 11 years of age.
Both an Adult pool and Family pools are available. The larger, the Family pool, offers a dramatic infinity edge that blends the surface of the water out into the Sea Of Cortez. Other activities include the signature 27 holes of the Jack Nicklaus Palmilla Golf Course, some of the world's best sport fishing, diving/snorkeling and sight seeing. Be advised that the beaches can be subjected to very dangerous surf. Waves break very close to the beach and can be dangerous.
The One & Only Spa, operated by Mandara Spa, is a sublime experience and will restore your inner balance. Treatments begins with a Floral Foot Wash to symbolically cleanse life's stresses and tensions, preparing you for total relaxation. Following your treatment enjoy a Tea Ceremony with a selection of fresh fruits and use of the whirlpool bath in your private villa. Also available is a state for the art fitness center.
Daily fitness and aerobic classes are offered. They include Spinning, Yoga, Tai Chi, Pilates and more. A spa day pass is also available. Hair and nail service are also available.
The fine staff at Palmilla are very polite and responsive. They wear an outfit called a "Charro" once used in the Haciendas during the Colonial Era. The uniforms at O&O Palmilla bring to life the Mariachi theme and expand on costumes from several indigenous areas of Mexico. They feature very unique natural fabrics, hand embroidery and hand woven leather belts. Today the resort's staff also welcomes you with a traditional hand gesture to their heart, a movement similar to the one used for centuries by the "Otomi" Indians of Jalisco.
One&Only Palmilla is part of the elite portfolio of exclusive One&Only resorts and hotels in Mauritius, the Maldives, Dubai and the Bahamas, each known for its idyllic setting and superior service.
Here are some more details: Property: 250 acres, Range of Rates: US475-1450, Accommodations: 172 rooms and suites, Meeting Space: 5,000 sq ft, Location: 25 minutes from Las Cabos Int'l Airport / between San Jose' and Cabo San Lucas.
San Jose' del Cabo Restaurant Suggestions: Mi Cocina - Mexican-Euro - More Info - The cuisine is gourmet Mexican. Set in an oasis of palm trees, Mi Cocina provides an innovative, sophisticated addition to the dinning scene in San Jose del Cabo. Offerings include a seasonal emphasis on fresh seafood, grilled meats, poultry, pasta, fresh garden salads and handmade desserts. / Tequila - Asian Mediterranean & Mexican - More Info - Garden gourmet dining, located in the center of town, Tequila is rated the most innovative cuisine in the area. Their cold seafood linguini and their "Tequila Shrimp" are excellent selections. Tequila menu consists of excellent seafood, beef and poultry and their vegetables are locally grown on organic farms.