Lovely Los Cabos

We visited San Jose del Cabo several times. It is a quaint little town on the Sea of Cortez that many local artists call home. There are many nice restaurants with excellent food, some with live music. Shops line the main street. Here you can find beautiful silver Mexican jewelry alongside Mexican fire opal jewelry, art galleries, and many shops that carry local arts and crafts. Cabo San Lucas is more for the party crowd. We spent a day there and enjoyed it, but it didn't have the relaxed, laid-back feeling San Jose did. Mostly we spent our time relaxing in the sun listening to the ocean.

Quick Tips:

Don't worry about the language barrier too much. Most locals speak at least a little English, but it does help if you know a little Spanish as well (at least enough to ask for another beer and where the bathroom is). The exchange rate was 10/1 pesos/dollar when we were there. That made conversion much easier when trying to figure out how much something cost. There is no need for you to convert your dollars into pesos either. All businesses were happy to accept dollars and give change in pesos. Ask your lobby staff for recommendations on things to do and places to eat. In most cases, they are happy to make reservations for you.

Best Way To Get Around:

We rented a car, but that is certainly not necessary. Club Regina is not really within walking distance of anything. It is situated between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo. The resort does offer a shuttle to both towns. Your other option if you don't rent a car is to take a taxi or the bus.

Best Things Nearby:
San Jose del Cabo, Cabo San Lucas, Sea of Cortez and the Pacific Ocean

Best Things About the Resort:
It's view of the Sea of Cortez, the beautiful pools, and the wonderful staff.

Resort Experience:
Club Regina Los Cabos is the jewel in Club Regina’s crown. This resort has won multiple awards for its architecture and design, deservedly so. It is spectacular. It is an oceanfront property where every condo and hotel unit has a 180° view of the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific Ocean. Built into the side of a cliff, the condo units stairs step down the side of the cliff to the ocean. The hotel is run by Westin, and it is a lovely property. People staying in the Club Regina condos have access to all of the pools, restaurants, and services at the Westin.

Five of us stayed in a two  bedroom, three bath unit, and were very comfortable. There is a partial kitchen that was sufficient for fixing breakfasts and lunches. We ate all dinners out. There is a dining table that seats six. The living room has a queen sleeper sofa. Off the living room is a balcony with a table and two chairs, and a seat for three built into the balcony wall. The units are decorated in typical Mexican style. Bright colors, and natural stone and tile are present throughout the units. The bathrooms have a spa-like feel to them. They are tiled in large, 14-inch squares of travertine, featuring a large walk-in shower with bench, frosted glass block window, and his and hers sinks. Hairdryers are provided, so no need to pack one. Both bedrooms have a Jacuzzi tub recessed into the floor, located next to the window looking out over the ocean. Our view was fantastic, but I don’t think there are any units that have bad views. It was wonderful to get my cup of coffee in the morning, totter out to the balcony, and watch the ocean wake up. From the very first day, I could feel the stresses and cares of my everyday life melting away into complete relaxation.

Getting around at Club Regina can be a bit challenging, especially for older people. My father has a heart condition, and walking up the ramps and stairs were difficult for him. Fortunately there are guys in golf carts to shuttle you from the beach and pools back to your room, or up to the lobby. If you enjoy exercise then this is a great resort for you.

The staff at Club Regina are fantastic. There is a maid service every day. They make the beds, provide fresh towels if needed, and even run the dishwasher for you. Make sure you leave the maids a small tip daily. They work really hard. The front desk staff is well informed, and they do everything they can to make your stay at Los Cabos a memorable one. We got some great tips on local restaurants from the golf cart guys.

Club Regina is far and away one of the nicest RCI properties I have stayed at. I can’t wait to go back.

• Unit Type: 2 Bedroom
• Activities: Very Good
• Amenities: Excellent
• Unit Satisfaction: Excellent
• Family Friendliness: Excellent
• Service: Excellent

Damiana is a family owned restaurant in San Jose del Cabo. It is located right across from the plaza. They serve regional Mexican cuisine in a quaint, friendly atmosphere. I had the chili relleno plate, which was outstanding. Others in our group had the Mexican sampler plate, which also looked very good. It was fruit fly season when we were there, so dining outdoors on their lovely patio was not recommended.

The Tropicana is one of the more lively restaurant/bars in San Jose del Cabo. If you are looking for a little nightlife in San Jose, this would be a good place to start. The food here was excellent, and the Margaritas were divine. My sister ordered a chicken Caesar salad. The salad maker came out and prepared it at our table. It was a work of art, and my sister claims it is the best she has ever had anywhere. I had enchiladas, which were very good. Others again went for the Mexican sampler plate.

Morgan’s is an upscale restaurant located off the main drag, in San Jose del Cabo. The menu consists mostly of steak and seafood, with a continental flair. Expect to pay upwards of $20 per person. The décor is somewhat Mediterranean in style. There were large modern paintings by local artists on the walls. We had to eat inside, due to fruit fly season, but the courtyard was quite beautiful. I’m sure any other time of year, the outdoor courtyard would be a lovely spot to eat. Two in our party ordered Coconut Shrimp, and were a bit disappointed. The shrimp were a little overcooked and somewhat dry. The fillet, with its accompanying béarnaise sauce, was outstanding. We all felt it was somewhat overpriced, but still a good meal in lovely surroundings.

Zipper’s Restaurant is located on the west side of Costa Azul Beach, just as you’re headed into San Jose del Cabo. When you see it from the road it looks like a dive, and you think you’ve made a terrible mistake going there. Don’t let your first impression deceive you. Zipper’s was a wonderful surprise. Once you get inside you’ll discover an open-air bar and restaurant, right on the beach. The bar, and some of the tables, are under a giant palapa. The other tables are out in the open, right on the beach. They are set-up for live entertainment, but no one was playing while we were there. Zipper’s is owned by Tony Magdaleno, who also owns Big Tony’s Surf shop right next door. As you sit, and sip Margaritas or an ice cold Negra Modelo, you can watch the local surfers catching waves. The food is distinctly American. You can get hamburgers, ribs, prime rib, or choose from many excellent Mexican entrees as well. Zipper’s is very laid back and relaxing. It’s also very reasonably priced. I’ll be eating there again the next time I visit Los Cabos.

Margaritavilla is located right on the marina, in Cabo San Lucas. It is a very lively place, with good local cuisine and enormous Margaritas. It’s a very busy place, so I would recommend reservations. We ate here after a day of shopping in Cabo San Lucas.

The Margaritas were pretty expensive, almost $10, but they were the size of a goldfish bowl. The food was good. It’s a great place for people watching. They have indoor dining or you can sit out on the veranda, which is what we opted to do. A wandering mariachi band played for awhile on the sidewalk along the marina. All in all, it was a nice place. As you can tell from my picture, we were having way too much fun with our Margaritas.

Margaritavilla

I can't remember the last time I had such a relaxing vacation. We traveled with my parents and sister. We provided the condo. Traveling with family can be stressful at times, but this trip was different. Of course there were a few moments, but by and large everyone felt relaxed and content. We spent 7 days in Cabo, and for nearly all of those days we were content to lay by the pool and be lounge-slugs, or walk on what seemed like an endless beach. We made evening forays into San Jose del Cabo in search of food, and found so much more. What a quaint lovely town. We spent one day in Cabo San Lucas, and while we enjoyed it, we liked the slower pace of San Jose better. We read lots of books, drank Miami Vices and Margaritas poolside, walked on the beach, took naps, and generally recharged our dead batteries. This is a great place to come if you're suffering from major burnout. I guarantee you'll feel better in no time.