Revisiting Los Cabos for 2021 (plus a chic stay at Viceroy Los Cabos)
Hola Los Cabos, we missed you!! As I shared in a previous postcard here on the blog we flew to the desert meets the sea mecca of Los Cabos last May. The first several days we stayed at the chic, design crush Viceroy Los Cabos where we enjoyed stunning views, stellar service, sunsets from the rooftop deck, and PURE relaxation. As one of our Curated Travel preferred partners, it was exciting to experience this fabulous resort, on the beach in San Jose del Cabo, firsthand.
Hola Los Cabos, we missed you!! As I shared in a previous postcard here on the blog we flew to the desert meets the sea mecca of Los Cabos last May. The first several days we stayed at the chic, design crush Viceroy Los Cabos where we enjoyed stunning views, stellar service, sunsets from the rooftop deck, and PURE relaxation. As one of our Curated Travel preferred partners, it was exciting to experience this fabulous resort, on the beach in San Jose del Cabo, firsthand.
A tour of our suite at Viceroy Los Cabos
(…and what’s not love about a bed and a bath on the balcony?)
Another of our preferred partners is the Auberge group and we thoroughly enjoyed our hosted visit to the iconic, sun-drenched Esperanza perched on the corridor near Cabo San Lucas.
On our itinerary was also a visit to the stylish and family friendly Chileno Bay, also an Auberge Resort.
Our beachside dinner at Sea Grill at Las Ventanas al Paraiso was a delicious treat.
A quick stop to check out the bougainvillea decked Mar del Cabo by Grand Velas Resorts.
A stop in San Jose del Cabo is a must when visiting the area of Los Cabos! Known as the slower-paced, artsier sister of the fishing village turned party scene turned luxury vibes of Cabo San Lucas. We love exploring the area around historic Plaza Mijares, the colorful streets, unique galleries, chic boutiques, and fabulous dining options in San Jose del Cabo.
Los Cabos at a Glance:
To Stay: Viceroy Los Cabos, Esperanza, Chileano Bay Resort & Residences, Las Ventanas al Paraiso, Le Blanc, Montage Los Cabos and the chic boutique hotel Mar del Cabo by Velas Resorts.
*Contact us to book with VIP perks and upgrades through Virtuoso
To Dine: Acre, Flora Farms, Cielo Rooftop at the Viceroy, Cocina del Mar (at Esperanza), 7 Seas Seafood Grill, El Farallon (at Waldorf Astoria Pedregal), French Riveria Restaurant, the Sea Grill at Las Ventanas and Choriarte in San Jose del Cabo.
To Do: Visit the San Jose del Cabo Art Walk (Thursday evenings November-June), hit up the taco stands in town, order ceviche, chips, and guacamole at the pool at noon, swim/water sports at Santa Maria Beach (in front of Montage), rent a car for a day for a spin along the coast to Todo Santos.
Our thanks to the Viceroy Los Cabos and the Auberge Hotels group for the lovely stays and visits.
Contact us to curate your next getaway here.
Curated Hotel: A VIP Visit to the Luxurious Ritz-Carlton Kapalua on Maui
During our recent getaway to Maui, we had the pleasure of spending the day at the luxurious Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua. It was impressive to be greeted with, "Mrs. Lindstrom, we've been expecting you" as we drove up to the stately entrance lined with pots of fresh orchids, swaying palms, breezy island furnishings and the sound of softly falling water.
During our recent getaway to Maui, we had the pleasure of spending the day at the luxurious Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua. It was impressive to be greeted with, "Mrs. Lindstrom, we've been expecting you" as we drove up to the stately entrance lined with pots of fresh orchids, swaying palms, breezy island furnishings and the sound of softly falling water.
I was fortunate to be meeting with Tori Tenorio, general sales manager, who gave Scott and me an insider's tour of the expansive property and luxurious suites. The entire decor scheme has recently been refreshed with a luxurious, tropical vibe of natural woods, richly textured furnishings and art pieces. The flower arrangements, as usual for the Ritz-Carlton brand, are extraordinary.
When the hotel was in the pre-construction phase, an ancient burial ground was discovered near the beach. Rather than relocate the sacred grounds, as is often the practice, the brand chose to change the plans for the beachfront resort and left the burial grounds intact to honor those who came before. This was a highly respected choice by locals and travelers alike for this luxury brand.
"Immerse yourself in a true Hawaiian experience at The AAA Five-Diamond Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, which boasts 54 stunning acres in the midst of the luxurious Kapalua Resort on the northwestern tip of the island of Maui. The hotel proudly maintains the Honokahua Preservation Site, a recognized “wahi pana” (sacred site) that lies adjacent to the property and serves as a destination where Native Hawaiians can gather to conduct ceremonies and protocol. This oceanfront hotel introduces visitors to the culture and natural beauty of Maui while pampering them with luxury amenities to meet every need and desire." Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua Maui
Following our tour of this luxury resort, on a most stunningly beautiful day in paradise, we dined at the poolside cafe, "Ai Ono", with Tori. The fresh bowls and specialty fries are favorites and the poolside location makes you feel as though you are on a luxury vacation.
Enjoy this glimpse of paradise as captured on my iPhone.
To book a VIP stay at the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua contact me or book online here and we will upgrade you.
Thank you to the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua and Tori Tenorio for the personalized behind the scenes tour, poolside lunch and time to enjoy the Ritz-Carlton in real time. We will definitely be back for a longer stay. Maholo!
“A day without Aloha is just another mainland day.”
A few of my favorite glimpses from our time in Maui
Maui Style
Getaway to Seville, Spain
In Seville we caught a taxi, and experienced an ultra wild ride, through the extremely narrow streets of the city center. I'm sure we could have reached out and touched the buildings on either side if we had only dared open the windows.
From the moment we entered the Fontecruz Sevilla we knew we had made the perfect choice with this sleek, modern hotel in the midst of Bario Santa Cruz. It's located within a couple of winding blocks to cafe-lined streets, the Sevilla Cathedral, the Alcazar, the Plaza de Espana, and the river front. From this 'wagon wheel' of a city center we could pick a direction, head down a tiny street to explore, and it would take us to a new hidden gem.
Along with the excellent location, I liked the vibe of the Fontecruz Sevilla. Our suite was sleek, well-appointed and spacious. The common spaces, were luxurious and comfortable. There is even an outdoor pool for a dip on hot summer days.
When I was making reservations for the trip the photos of this hotel had me at "roof-top terrace overlooking the city". The Fontecruz Sevilla is the perfect perch for capturing a brilliant sunset from the rooftop lounge.
We walked by this friendly fellow (with cap (center) who encouraged us to see the city, escorted by himself and his steed, in this colorful carriage. We politely declined, but a minute later changed our minds. Why not? We found the carriage to be a charming way to see the sights in Sevilla. We recommend a carriage ride in the mid-to-late morning, during the summer months, before the heat sets in.
I captured a moment during our carriage ride on this video:
The Seville Cathedral, also called 'Cathedral of Saint Mary of the See', is the third largest church in the world and adorns the ancient city center of Seville like an ornate stone wedding cake. We viewed the burial site of Christopher Columbus and the scope of that slice of history is awe-inspiring. This gothic cathedral is definitely worth a visit and we appreciated it's ability to transport us to another place in time, even for just an hour, on a sunny Spanish afternoon.
One a completely different cultural note, one of our favorite aspects of travel is meeting fellow travelers and locals along our path. Just across the cobbled street from our hotel we spotted 'Abbatia', an authentic tapas restaurant. We thought it would be an excellent first stop for our evening out. Little did we know that the warm, friendly owners, Pedro and Blanco, and their chef Andres, would capture our hearts. Our evening started with tasty tapas, lovely wines and lively conversation. We eventually made our way out on the town to discover more of Sevilla. As we ventured back to our hotel, late at night, our new friends waved us back in for a nightcap, an after-hours flamenco show/dance lesson and the hilarity ensued. We certainly felt the 3:30 am bedtime the next morning, but our adventure was more than worth it! In travel there are those memorable times, when a language barrier simply does not exist, and this was one of them. Thank you to our new friends in Sevilla!
A few more views of Sevilla (the street view taken from our tiny balcony).
We fell in love with the charms of Sevilla. Scott and I agreed that three days was not enough and next time we will plan to stay longer. Our plane reservation was already scheduled so we reluctantly boarded the plane to Bilbao, Spain. Join me on the next leg of our 'Summer Travel to Portugal and Spain' series for a glimpse of the sparkling seaside city of San Sebastián.
Lisbon Getaway
Our summer travel to Portugal and Spain had been in the works for over a year, so when we touched down in Lisbon, after 30 hours of travel, Scott and I were beyond excited. Portugal has always been on our bucket list. We were enamored with visions of colorful tile roofs, pastel buildings, old school trams, and vibrant bougainvillea brightening the neighborhoods, all enhanced by city and sea views.
Our summer travel to Portugal and Spain had been in the works for over a year, so when we touched down in Lisbon, after 30 hours of travel, Scott and I were beyond excited. Portugal has always been on our bucket list. We were enamored with visions of colorful tile roofs, pastel buildings, old school trams, and vibrant bougainvillea brightening the neighborhoods, all enhanced by city and sea views.
As the taxi pulled up in front of our hotel, the CS Vintage Lisboa, I knew we had landed in the right place. We were warmly welcomed by Ines and the team at this sleek, hip hotel in the center of Lisbon. Despite Scott's crash course in Portuguese on the plane (while I was glued to 'Orange is the New Black'), we found English speakers to be very common in Portugal. From our first trip to the Veranda Do Castello at the rooftop terrace of our hotel, Nuno treated us to a refreshing variety of sangrias, tapas, expansive city views and great laughs.
After a good night's sleep, day two found us eager to start exploring this picturesque city. We strolled through charming neighborhoods near our hotel, filled with cafes, boutiques, flower shops and charming parks where locals gathered.
On the advice from our concierge we made our way to a hilltop park, Jardim Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara, with incredible city views. We settled in at the cafe for lunch and enjoyed the people watching, city views, fresh fare and more sangria.
Next stop, we chose to take the iconic, graffiti-covered tram down the hillside to Avenida da Liberdade, with luxury shopping and wide, tree-lined streets. Graffiti is everywhere in Lisbon.
With luxury boutiques and pop-up markets, we found a variety of shopping options in Lisbon. Boutiques generally take credit cards but for other vendors and most taxis you will need cash.
Here's where our tale takes a brief but costly turn. Scott picked up cash so that I could do some shopping and we could take a taxi back to the hotel. We bought some sweet gelato from this darling girl, and boarded the 'now we know' notorious Tram 28, to take in scenes of the old town. Read my account of what happened next on Tripadvisor here. In the end, Scott discovered that within 25 minutes of his wallet being lifted over $2000.00 had been charged to his visa/debit cards at perfume stores in the area. I'm not suggesting not to ever take a Tram, but we wish we had been more aware of the theft issue. In all big cities and tourist areas pick pocketing happens so simply be prepared. Thankfully, Visa graciously refunded all of the charges and shipped us new cards within two days.
Scott's advice: Carry minimal cash, carry only 1 credit card at a time, keep your wallet in your front pocket with your hand on it.
My advice: consider a waist belt that you wear under your clothes for cash, credit and passports.
Despite the inconvenience, and lost time making a police report, we got back on track in time to enjoy dinner at Povo on the famous 'Pink Street' in Cais do Sodre, a former red light district turned trendy night spot.
We enjoyed delicious dishes, plentiful wines, and Paula took excellent care of us. Povo is also a perfect place to listen to the local Fado music in a non-touristy environment.
We were up bright and early, fueled with cafe com leite, said goodbye to the wonderful staff at CS Vintage Lisboa, and headed to Sintra, the famed summer vacation palaces of royalty, only 20 minutes away.
We felt as though we were transported to another place in time in Sintra. Even the climate was dramatically different with undulating clouds, verdant pinnacles and lush foliage. There are number of medieval and Moorish palaces in this magical hilltop enclave. In these photos we were at the Seteais Palace viewing the Pena Palace on the pinnacles. Despite the weekend crowds this is a fascinating place to visit.
For the next leg of our trip we headed about 4 hours south to our next destination, the beachy Albufeira in Algarve, Portugal. I will explore our time there in an upcoming post. Thank you for joining my series 'Summer Travel to Portugal and Spain'. Please click title of the post to leave a comment.
Bon voyage!
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