One&Only Palmilla
Hotel Name: One&Only Palmilla
Number of Rooms: 173 rooms and villas
Location: Among the golf courses on the tip of Palmilla, a 15-minute drive from San Jose del Cabo.
At once glamorous and laid-back, sceney and family-friendly, One&Only Palmilla is a luxurious crowd-pleaser with personalized service. At the center of the resort is a traditional Mexican hacienda with an enchanting whitewashed chapel that was built in 1956. Adding to the magic are the winding pathways surrounded by lush foliage that are lit by 2,000 candles by night. The 173 rooms, all overlooking the Sea of Cortez, are bright and elegant, featuring gorgeous carved wardrobes and spacious marble bathrooms. There are two pools, a sprawling kid-friendly extravaganza by the kids’ club and an adults-only infinity pool overlooking the sea that offers complimentary foot massages.
What We Loved: One of Cabo’s detractors is its lack of swimmable beaches, but the One&Only has a small stretch of sand, called Playa Palmilla, dotted with cabanas safe for an afternoon dip.
What We Didn’t Love: The dark wood and oatmeal-colored marble that pervades the space may not to be to everyone’s taste - but have another margarita and everything starts to look a little more agreeable.
Right For: Families with younger kids are well-served here, and should look to the Junior Suites, which are near the swimmable beach & kids’ pool. Plus, you’ll be greeted with popsicles on arrival.
Wrong For: Travelers looking for something a bit more sleek and formal may prefer the Rosewood Las Ventanas.
Best Time to Visit: After Halloween (Dia de los Muertos is November 1, and the property does it very well) until 4th of July. Hurricanes can blow through from August through October.
TLF Tip: The property’s in-house chocolatier makes all the chocolates placed on guest pillows during evening service (along with other special treats!) - ¡Por supuesto!