I was on my way to one of the Tanzania threads and was waylaid here. Headed back to Cabo San Lucas on 10Feb for the second time in the Covid era. I have vacationed here off and on for the last 30 years or so and love it. I've discovered plenty of fine places to eat (rule of thumb: further away from the Marina, the better) and enjoy buzzing across the corridor or up to Todos Santos for golf, food, shopping and general leisurely loitering. Except for hurricane season, the weather is consistently warm and dry.

As my friend BESVISOR knows, I tend toward upmarket urban hotels. While in Cabo, however, I've been content to hole up at a Villa La Estancia condominium since I found it many years ago. What the rooms lack in luxury appointments (and they can vary somewhat in quality), they tend to make up in size (standard 2BD units are about 2250 sq. ft of living space including large patios with beach and ocean views). Which is not to say the rooms are in the least bit shabby and the place isn't immaculately maintained, clean and attractive. It also has it's own section of lounges and umbrellas with drink service along lazy Medano Beach, and the adjacent bay is calm and swimmable. A short walk down the beach leads to your brunch and fake workday outpost, The Office. It's been there forever. The spa next door to Estancia at Villa del Arco is enormous, with multiple hot/warm/cold pools plus steam and sauna. Massage rooms are comfortable and the therapists highly skilled. Other amenities onsite are useful for those who want to stick around all the time, though that's not my preference. Thankfully, it is NOT all-inclusive. Its location, a five minute drive to town and with easy access to the corridor and the expressway to the airport, are peerless. Yes, I always rent a car and have never had a problem (except for one minor, inexpensive fender bender a few years back ).

Estancia is luxury to my way of thinking, if not in the manner of your standard 5* hotel. There are more families with small children and (well-heeled) let's-get-drunk-and-party crowd than I prefer, but it tends to get quiet in the evenings. My July visit was stunningly still for the most part, probably the most laid back Cabo has ever been. I'll be interested to see how much busier it will be in typical high season. So, as much as I dig a FS, Aman or like type of property, don't overlook this as an option. I book through a company called La Estancia Vacations, a cheerful spousal operation out of West Palm Beach, who can set up transfers and the like, though one can reserve through many other channels. There's a particular penthouse unit I prefer, with it's own hot tub and oceanfront location, but it wasn't available this time.

That's my unintended contribution here. Now off to find an African safari outfitter. Best to all.