Marquis Los Cabos
Arriving at Marquis Los Cabos is to walk into the luxurious golden sun of Mexico. Everything takes on a golden quality of light and air. I was warmly greeted by a member of the guest relations department, offered a cold cloth to freshen up and a refreshing glass of juice while the registration process was completed. The bellman then took my luggage and guided me to my home for the next four days.
The owner ‘s story is that the Angels descended to earth and were looking for a new paradise home on earth, when they happened upon the Marquis Los Cabos. They entered and looked around, taking up residence and leaving their wings out in front at the fountain to let everyone know they had found their heaven on earth. Two angels have taken up residence in the lobby, one male and one female and turned to stone, guarding the location for the rest of the angels who have abandoned their wings and set up permanent residence. The sculpture was designed by Jorge Marin to bring alive the spirit of the Angels to both guests and staff. The grounds were impeccably maintained, manicured and groomed to perfection. There were many plantings of cacti and indigenous plants with identifying signs for anyone interested in the landscape.
The staff is pleasant, resourceful and helpful. In a few challenges I had with the internet/WiFi connectivity, the IT staff and the concierge staff gave it immediate and careful consideration, doing everything possible to make sure I had connectivity in my casita. WiFi was also available for me around the swimming pools, lobby and restaurants. With that connectivity I was able to share my experience of the Marquis with family in Seattle via my webcam which was really fun to share in real time. Every question, no matter how trivial, the staff handled with immediacy.
There are three restaurants and one bar at the Marquis. On my last evening, I stopped for a glass of wine at the bar, El Suspiro, before heading to dinner at the Canto del Mar, an intimate gourmet restaurant, with the chef recommending specially prepared dishes just for the evening. I had breakfast at Vista Ballenas on my last morning at the hotel and the food and the service was outstanding.
In the main hotel, the rooms were undergoing maintenance, what with the lowered occupancy due to the novel H1N1 scare. Usually this is done during the fall time period when occupancy can drop off. However, since the opportunity presented itself, the hotel took advantage of the down time to keep people employed and to perform maintenance that might otherwise have been delayed until the fall.
The 15,000 square foot spa, with ten treatment rooms, is a delightful refuge from the daily grind and their spa treatments include massages, facials and full body treatments, as well as a fully equipped fitness center.
With 203 suites, 5 master suites , 1 presidential suite and 28 private pool casitas, there is something here for everyone. All accommodations offer ocean views and include Bulgari toiletries, Frette bed linens, hydromassage tubs and a Marquis breakfast consisting of a thermos of hot coffee, warm breads and cold fruits placed in a private niche for the guest’s convenience.
As a location for a storybook wedding, there are three wedding packages to choose from: Classic, Gold and Platinum. Based on the number of guests and your budget, the Marquis los Cabos has a wedding package for nearly everyone. Whether choosing a jr. suite or a casita, this is the setting for the wedding and/or honeymoon of your dreams.
The casita I stayed in was number 704. This casita is a 1 bedroom, 2 bath, approximately 1800 square foot casita (little house). With living room, dining area, kitchenette and wet bar, one could comfortably throw a fairly large party if one had 50 or so intimate friends in Los Cabos to invite. If you are planning a destination wedding, the casita is definitely the accommodations the bridal couple want to reserve. Not only is it spacious enough for the pre-wedding party, it is a fabulous place to spend the honeymoon!
As I entered the casita, there was a table in the living room with a welcoming dish of salsa and chips, while in an ice bucket were two Corona Extra and two Pacifico beers chilled to perfection. The casita was cool, roomy and inviting. I was pleasantly greeted with soulful jazz emanating from the speakers. The stress of travel dropped away from me instantly, causing me to relax and take the time I needed to indulge in the moment. The king sized bed is perfectly firm, wonderful for sprawling into for a great night’s sleep while listening to soft new-age music on one of the channels of the television. There is a ceiling fan in the bedroom and the living room which keeps the air moving with big lazy straw paddles.
A girl could get used to getting up every morning to freshly made coffee, warm breads and cold fruit plate, discretely placed in the cubby from outside the casita. The nook had a locking door from the outside and a locking door from the inside. I retrieved my snack each morning at 6 AM, bringing the tray from the nook to the table on the deck. From there I could observe the sunrise, the sky lightening and the roar of the ocean.
Outside the sliding glass doors were 2 lounging chairs, with beach towels and two deck chairs and a table, as well as a hammock chair hanging from a pole extending out from the deck above. This is accessible from both the bedroom and the living room through three different sets of sliding glass patio doors. Beyond the deck is the private plunge pool for cooling off in the 93 degree heat. The plunge pool is not heated, but it does not need to be for cooling off in that sultry weather.
In the master bathroom, there is a hydro-massage tub that is easily 6 feet in length, with arm rests and lots of jets. The casita amenities features luxurious Bulgari shampoo, conditioner, lotion and bath gel, a fluffy wash puff and any other necessity you might think of. The towels are big and fluffy and abundant. There were jets at foot level, jets on back, jets on the sides. All the hydro-massage you can imagine and the water stays warm as it pulses. It can be relaxing enough to make you fall asleep in the tub. It is a great way to wind down after a high energy day and evening. Add a glass of wine, light the candles supplied in your room and fall in love all over again. There is a glassed-door shower right next to the hydro-massage tub with the rain shower head. Windows on both ends of the bathing area allow lots of light in during the day. The vanity area has double sinks with lots of room between for amenities, towels and your personal items. A lighted magnifying mirror rounds out the amenities. There is a separate water closet for privacy. The casita is serviced twice a day with fresh towels and amenities.
The people who serviced the casita were discretely available and attentive to occupant needs. Smiling, warm and friendly, I saw them infrequently, yet every time I returned to my casita, it had been freshened. There were landscape staff frequently watering and manicuring the areas, while the pool and bar staff were available to handle every request. I needed ice on Sunday afternoon and had not seen an ice sign or machine in my wandering of the property. I sauntered down to the pool bar to be met half way by a bar staff and immediately the ice bucket was full to brimming over. Everyone that I spoke with was eagerly awaiting the return of guests to the Marquis los Cabos. While I was there, I was certain there was no novel(H1N1) flu in residence at the Marquis los Cabos.
Additional Information:
• There is a roomy safe in the closet which is more than adequate for cameras, notebook computers, personal items.
• The mini-bar is priced in USD and everything is refreshed daily.
• WiFi is available in each casita and is included in the price of the casita.
• The breakfast amenity is included in the price of the casita.
• If your casita is on the second floor, the plunge pool and extra seating area is accessible via a hidden circular staircase.
• There are 28 casitas available in 7 buildings on the property.Please contact the travel agent below to book your perfect Mexico vacation:
Carlanne McCrystal, CTA
Personal Travel Concierge Services
TopDawg Travel
2515 4th Avenue. Seattle, WA 98121 USA
Phone: 206-728-6064
email: carlanne@topdawgtravel.com
Tags: Los Cabos, Marquis Los Cabos, MEXICO
