Day by Day at Las Ventanas al Paraiso, Baja California, Mexico (consolidated thread)
Aug 13, 2017, 7:14 pm
#1
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Day by Day at Las Ventanas al Paraiso, Baja California, Mexico (consolidated thread)
Trying out something different in recording our week-long stay at Las Ventanas al Paraiso (LVP) in Cabo. A diary approach narrating our day-to-day experience.
Day 1, Sunday
To start, ordinary flight SFO/SJD; on time departure and arrival, quick pass through immigation, baggage claim and customs. Driver right there, escorted to SUV, thence to LVP. Could not have been easier.
The LVP greeting was gracious, kindly and swift. Not too much folderol. Um, there was a Mariachi trio in full costume but it was at a decent distance (no eye contact) and no xylophone. [I am on record as disliking welcoming ceremonies.]
Then off to the spa for a 10-minute neck, shoulder and head massage. Wow, this is brilliant marketing. I tend to shy away from massages, overly modest am I. But I for sure am getting a 90-minute treatment whilst here!
Next, butler escort to our one bedroom villa which is merely utterly perfect. All sorts of goodies upon arrival: bubbles from The Widow, crudities, tequila, handwritten greetings from the GM (!), and TA. The villa stands alone: garden entrance, foyer, small kitchen to the side, living room, king bedroom, bathroom with requisite double vanities, enormous jetted tub, two large showers, one inside the other outside. Terrace off living room with private pool including ocean, surf and sand view. Also hot tub and fire pit. Another terrace off to the side with more ocean and crashing surf views plus loungers sun umbrellas, upholstered and pillowed couches. Furnishings and handcrafts gorgeous and mostly comfortable.
I'll wax at length in later entries about resort facilities which, overall, just about knock your socks off. Dinner has been ordered in room for 8pm: guacamole, steak tacos, lobster tacos, tres leches for dessert, sangria.
First impressions here are managed with grace, keeping the guest in mind for comfort.
This place makes me wildly happy. Stay tuned for Day 2, see you then.
Day 1, Sunday
To start, ordinary flight SFO/SJD; on time departure and arrival, quick pass through immigation, baggage claim and customs. Driver right there, escorted to SUV, thence to LVP. Could not have been easier.
The LVP greeting was gracious, kindly and swift. Not too much folderol. Um, there was a Mariachi trio in full costume but it was at a decent distance (no eye contact) and no xylophone. [I am on record as disliking welcoming ceremonies.]
Then off to the spa for a 10-minute neck, shoulder and head massage. Wow, this is brilliant marketing. I tend to shy away from massages, overly modest am I. But I for sure am getting a 90-minute treatment whilst here!
Next, butler escort to our one bedroom villa which is merely utterly perfect. All sorts of goodies upon arrival: bubbles from The Widow, crudities, tequila, handwritten greetings from the GM (!), and TA. The villa stands alone: garden entrance, foyer, small kitchen to the side, living room, king bedroom, bathroom with requisite double vanities, enormous jetted tub, two large showers, one inside the other outside. Terrace off living room with private pool including ocean, surf and sand view. Also hot tub and fire pit. Another terrace off to the side with more ocean and crashing surf views plus loungers sun umbrellas, upholstered and pillowed couches. Furnishings and handcrafts gorgeous and mostly comfortable.
I'll wax at length in later entries about resort facilities which, overall, just about knock your socks off. Dinner has been ordered in room for 8pm: guacamole, steak tacos, lobster tacos, tres leches for dessert, sangria.
First impressions here are managed with grace, keeping the guest in mind for comfort.
This place makes me wildly happy. Stay tuned for Day 2, see you then.
Last edited by KatW; Aug 13, 2017 at 8:09 pm
. Bye bye procrastination. 
Aug 14, 2017, 12:40 pm
#5
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Frederic Vidal is GM, since 2014
Lionel Alvarez iscst Villas del Mar: “We start where Presidential Suites end,” says Parisian born Lionel Alvarez, the Head of Hotel Operations at Villas del Mar in Los Cabos, Mexico.
"And if anyone is qualified to compare the rental program at the 180-estate gated community to a five-star resort, it is certainly Alvarez. With 35 years at top properties in the Seychelles, Mauritius, Bora Bora and legendary groups such as Aman and Rosewood Alvarez has seen his share of the world’s finest resorts."
Lionel Alvarez iscst Villas del Mar: “We start where Presidential Suites end,” says Parisian born Lionel Alvarez, the Head of Hotel Operations at Villas del Mar in Los Cabos, Mexico.
"And if anyone is qualified to compare the rental program at the 180-estate gated community to a five-star resort, it is certainly Alvarez. With 35 years at top properties in the Seychelles, Mauritius, Bora Bora and legendary groups such as Aman and Rosewood Alvarez has seen his share of the world’s finest resorts."
Aug 15, 2017, 1:42 pm
#9
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So busy doing nothing I didn't post yesterday. In brief, more paradise.
I've managed to talk myself into buying up for the next four nights, to the oceanfront signature villa. Oh, I am so bad, so self indulgent. And SO happy. I'll be back to tell you all about it!
I've managed to talk myself into buying up for the next four nights, to the oceanfront signature villa. Oh, I am so bad, so self indulgent. And SO happy. I'll be back to tell you all about it!
Aug 17, 2017, 9:34 am
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Aug 17, 2017, 2:21 pm
#12
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Catching up:
SanDiego1K, we were in villa 802 (one-bedroom oceanview) our first two nights; in signature beachfront media one-bedroom villa 102, the following four nights. The first, described above, is utterly splendid. Only a self-indulgent sybarite such as I would bother to buy up to the latter. So glad we did.
The signature beachfront one-bedroom villa is gargantuan: full kitchen (where one's butler/host cooks breakfast to order), king bedroom with fireplace, living room, media room, large foyer, entrance garden. Two bathrooms, one powder room, one jacuzzi tub, three showers, one of which is also a dteam room and another of which is a large outdoor shower Bathsheba would envy. Outdoors: shaded terrace with ceiling fan, sofa, chairs, lounge chairs, ottomans; unshaded terrace with loungers (equipped with knee supports which I love) and shade umbrellas, enormous private infinity pool, hot tub, outdoor fire pit, steps down to beach. Unobtrusive security on beach.
By the way, this is true butler service, not just a high-falutin' word.
Upon checkin, which is done in the villa, we were treated to a bottle of the Widow, plus various snacks including heathy crudites which we carefully avoided.
When we moved to the breachfront villa, we simply walked down to villa. Our belongings were packed, moved and unpacked. We fid nothing but splash in the pool drinking rum punch.
Enough for now, more to come.
SanDiego1K, we were in villa 802 (one-bedroom oceanview) our first two nights; in signature beachfront media one-bedroom villa 102, the following four nights. The first, described above, is utterly splendid. Only a self-indulgent sybarite such as I would bother to buy up to the latter. So glad we did.
The signature beachfront one-bedroom villa is gargantuan: full kitchen (where one's butler/host cooks breakfast to order), king bedroom with fireplace, living room, media room, large foyer, entrance garden. Two bathrooms, one powder room, one jacuzzi tub, three showers, one of which is also a dteam room and another of which is a large outdoor shower Bathsheba would envy. Outdoors: shaded terrace with ceiling fan, sofa, chairs, lounge chairs, ottomans; unshaded terrace with loungers (equipped with knee supports which I love) and shade umbrellas, enormous private infinity pool, hot tub, outdoor fire pit, steps down to beach. Unobtrusive security on beach.
By the way, this is true butler service, not just a high-falutin' word.
Upon checkin, which is done in the villa, we were treated to a bottle of the Widow, plus various snacks including heathy crudites which we carefully avoided.
When we moved to the breachfront villa, we simply walked down to villa. Our belongings were packed, moved and unpacked. We fid nothing but splash in the pool drinking rum punch.
Enough for now, more to come.
Last edited by KatW; Aug 17, 2017 at 2:48 pm
Aug 17, 2017, 2:39 pm
#14
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