In short - We spent 4 nights at WA Los Cabos and glad to say we had a wonderful time. We will definitely come back.



Very Long Trip Report:



We celebrated both my wife and my son’s birthday (1day apart) at the WA Los Cabos with 2 FNC and 2 nights with points. Before arrival, couple of emails exchanged with the resort and confirmed our arrival as well as the birthdays for both my wife and son.



Room:


We arrived at the resort in late afternoon and was greeted by Sergio. He showed us around and lead us to our room. We are not someone that would ask for an upgrade due to being a “diamond” (and if no upgrade we are still happy with it), but due to both birthdays I was secretly hoping for a bigger upgrade. We were assigned to room 121 which is located on the far end of the resort next to EL Farallon. My first impression of this assigned room is a NO. Our room was on the 2nd level at the very last room that’s next to the pathway to El Farallon. We can directly see the check-in stand of El Farallon. In theory, anyone walking to and from the restaurant will be able to see us out at the pool. I was seriously considering asking for a room change (which we never have done in all our years of travel and only changed when the hotels offer voluntarily), but want to give it sometime in the room before asking for one. As I sat out at the pool and look out to the view of rocks on my right with the beach and ocean in front of me, I quickly realized my room is not all that “bad”. After spending 4 nights there, I actually think my room is in the best location in the resort. We would only spend time out in the balcony pool in the morning and early afternoon and I could count with one hand the amount of people walk the path to El Farallon daily. As I walked around the resort, I realized the other rooms doesn’t have the privacy or the view as the room I was assigned. I especially wouldn’t want to be assigned to the rooms surrounding the kids pool area. This is personal preference but I would request not to be on the ground floor (no privacy at all) or near the kids pool. At the end, I felt we are assigned to a great location. If I have a choice, I would want the same room location near El Farallon but would like to be on 3rd or 4th floor. I would also prefer room 123 or 124 (both in the middle). Overall, we are very happy with the room assigned.



Services:


We consider ourselves easy going ppl and really don’t request services but this is not our first time celebrating a special occasion at a luxury resort so we did have some tiny expectations. When we first arrive, Sergio mentioned about both my wife and my son’s birthday and they will make it special for us. When we enter our room the first night coming back from dinner, we saw a cake on the coffee table. My wife birthday is on our 4th night of our stay and my son the next day after that. Our first impression was a misstep on the service and just put the cake in the fridge. Surprisingly, on the 4th night, another cake was placed at the coffee table for my wife. The next day, which is the day we are heading home, we didn’t expect anything for my son but entered our room after breakfast and saw another cake on the coffee table with a note from Sergio congratulating my son’s 6th birthday. On the night of my wife’s birthday, we dine at El Farallon and as expected a complimentary dessert for both my wife and son with the servers singing happy birthday to them. What was not expected happened on the next day. We headed to breakfast and the server congratulated my son for turning 6. We thanked him for his birthday wish and proceeded to have our last breakfast at the resort. My son wanted to go back to the kids club for the half day before our flight so I walked to the kids club with my son and my wife continued her breakfast. As I arrive at the kids club, I saw one of the staff that works at the kids club holding a stuffed toy heading towards where we came from. I think nothing of it, checked my son into the kids club and head back to finish my breakfast. When I sat down, I saw the kids club’s staff standing at the entrance of the restaurant waiting. I found it unusual but think nothing of it. After about 15 to 20 more minutes of chatting and enjoying our last few hours at the resort for this trip we asked for the check. The server asked where is our son and we informed him he is at the kids club. The server told us they have prepared him a cake and that one of his coworker at the kids club have a little surprise gift for him. The staff at the kids club waited 20mins at the breakfast area without saying a word! The staff brought the cake back to the kids club and they all sang happy birthday to my son as well as gave him the stuffed turtle toy. We honestly expected just a complimentary dessert at El Farallon. Safe to say this resort gone beyond our expectations for our celebrations.



Other services are on par (or even slightly better than some of our recent stay) with similar luxury resorts. On the first day we were asked what time we would prefer for the daily cleanup and turndown. My wife informed Sergio on one of the day she has a meeting at 9 to 12 and would like to not be bothered by anyone (I was kicked out as well .. lol). Everyday, the cleanup was done during our breakfast and turndown during our dinner. On the day of the meeting, according to my wife, no one knock on the door. Our clothes left on the bench were folded, the charging cables were organized, drinks and nespresso pods were refilled daily, and the chips and guacamole comes daily at around 4. Most of the staff will stop and greet us when we walk by and some staff remembered our last name by our 2nd day. The drivers of the golf cart that take us to and from the gate remembered us on our entire stay. They will also bring us water and cold scented towels while we waited. It is what we expected from a WA and this resort is on par with other similar resorts around the world.



Kids Club:


First impression: underwhelming. Our son turned 6 and started going to kids clubs at the age of 4. Because of covid, we have limited experiences with kids clubs in other resorts but my first impression of the one in WA Cabos was underwhelming compared to the other kids clubs he experienced. The entire room is maybe 15x15 sq ft. and don’t have much of an outdoor area for kids. This is also the only time we have to pay a fee of $30 for a half day or $50 for a full day. We have paid a small fee for extra activities like pizza making class, ornament making, or slime making in other kids clubs but this is the only one that charged us for a day. It’s not a big deal but just seems like nickel and dime to us. My son is shy and slow to warm up with others he just meet. In our opinion it is important to interact with others so we purposely put him in a kids clubs whenever one is available. We have even picked a couple of trips due to the raving review of the resort kids program. The kids clubs we visited from his past included Aulani, a couple of Disney cruises, WA Maldives, IC Maldives, and a Royal Caribbean cruise. At first glance, WA Cabos is not even on the same league as the one my son visited recently. Aulani and Disney cruise are geared towards kids so I assume my son would love it. The kids club on the RC cruise is not on par with Disney but still looks fun for young kids. Both WA Maldives and IC Maldives looks amazing and has it own playground outdoor and waterpark within the kids clubs. I assume every kids will love it! With the limited of time my son visited kids clubs, he is only somewhat fine with going to the one at Aulani. Everywhere else he would negotiate with us the amount of time he will be in the kids clubs daily. We expected the same reaction from my son in the kids club of WA Cabo as well but we are pleasantly surprised when we tried to pick him up after the first morning section of the half day that he wants to return that afternoon. He requested to go back everyday and even spend the last day before our flight at the kids club! As an adult, I don’t understand how he could like the kids clubs at WA Cabos over the other amazing kids clubs he had visited previously but he said this is the BEST kids club ever. If he said this is the best then it is the best for me so I will gladly pay the daily fee. Also the little birthday gesture for my son puts them on the top of the kids clubs in the world! Lol.



Dining:


We dined each day at Don Manuel for breakfast and had El Farallon for dinner once. We were given a few different version of what diamond members entitled for breakfast. The first day we were told the $10 upgrade comes with a make to order specialties on the menu and they will bring the fruit and yogurt to us (no buffet). The 2nd day we were told the upgrade is for the buffet breakfast and can order an egg dish from the kitchen counter directly (no menu order). The 3rd day we were finally told we can order one specialties from the menu as well as the buffet. The kids has their own menu and it’s free. He ordered the french toast one morning and it’s amazing! My son is a small eater so he couldn’t finish the french toast but someone (me looking nervously) finished the entire plate for him. I’m not totally sure how I felt about the breakfast at this resort for Hilton diamond. The $10 upgrade is not unreasonable but seems petty for an up charge for diamond members. The buffet overall is decent but other luxury resorts around the world (especially Asia) provide more selections in their breakfast buffet. With that said, everything we tasted was good and I didn’t get tired of the food after 4 days. This is not the worst buffet breakfast we had at a high end resort (looking at you Grand Wailea) but definitely won’t be considered in our current top 5 or even 10 (Conrad Tokyo, WA Maldives, St Regis Bora Bora, Al Maha, Conrad Macau - wife’s favorite, Conrad Maldives - my favorite, etc.)



We had dinner one night at El Farallon and we were satisfied celebrating my wife’s birthday at the cliff of the beach. Our table was at the very end of the restaurant and we felt the location was prefect for us for the view. We both ordered the surf and turf, a chicken tenders from the child’s menu, a Fiji water, and 2 non alcoholic drink. A soup, trio of appetizers, and dessert are included with your main course. It is the most expensive dinner of this trip ($480 total) but we felt it is worth it for a special occasion. I recommend making reservation here at 5 or 5:30. I felt this restaurant is more for the experience of sitting at the cliff of the ocean having dinner and once it gets dark the view is totally gone and cold. We arrived at 5 and enjoyed the view of the ocean as we chatted away for most of our dinner. By the time our main course arrive at 6:15, it was getting dark and by 6:25 it was completely dark. It was getting cold for us (as well as the food) so we finish dinner and head back to our room by 7:15.



I also ordered a quesadilla on the kids menu at the swimming pool for my child between the one hour break (12 to 1) for the kids club. The food was fine for a total of $20 including additional tips. What I appreciated was the server coming over at the kids pool where my son was playing and letting us know the food is ready and he have it covered. Some bottles of water in a bucket of ice was also provided.



We planned to visit a few lunch spots during our days in Cabo San Lucas but due to the unexpected interest of my child in the kids clubs as well as the amount of food we consume during breakfast, we skipped lunch for the 4 days we were in Cabos. My wife and I just walked around town and grabbed a coffee or a cup of ice-cream since we have dinner early at 5 everyday. After having a child, we started to eat earlier. It turns out to be a blissing in disguise. No waiting for a table, no crowds at the restaurant, and catch up with some much needed sleep. Maybe we are just old lol.



Our first night we walked to Crazy Lobster. We ordered a guacamole, a cheese quesadilla for my child, a steak and lobster, a shrimp and lobster, and two nonalcoholic pina colada. The lobster was great and the garlic shrimp was really good as well. My wife said the steak was really good for the price. At the end it was $100 including tips. It is the best valued dinner from this trip.



We Uber to Los Tres Gallos on our 2nd night. We started with the bone marrow and the Cesar salad. My son had the cheese quesadilla, my wife had the “catch of the day” which is sea bass, and I ordered the marinated steak. For dessert we shared a Mexican chocolate taco and a churro. We also have a couple of nonalcoholic drink and a bottled water. The salad was prepared tableside. Everyone waved about the Cesar salad but I think it was just okay. The bone marrow on the other hand was amazing. I would no doubt order it again if I ever go back. My wife said the sea bass was cooked to perfection and my marinated steak was fine. I would skip the churro (nothing special) but the dessert taco was delicious. We felt for $170 including tips is a good value for what we were served.



The next day we Uber to Hacienda Cocina Y Cantina. The view of the ocean with the cruise ship was spectacular. We started with the queso and the guacamole. I had the filet mignon and my wife had the whole octopus on the special menu. Guess what my son had .. yes cheese quesadillas. We also ordered a couple of nonalcoholic drink. No dessert tonight since we were extremely full once we were done with our main course. The guacamole is prepared tableside. We have guacamole daily in Cabos but my wife said this is the best guacamole she ever had. For me, this is the best queso I ever had. It is really heavy but the three of us managed to destroy the entire queso. My wife said the octopus is fine but not amazing. Maybe is because of the queso, I couldn’t finish my filet mignon. It is decent but not great. For $200 including tips (no dessert), I felt it was fine but not great value for the food we received. All the food tasted fine but I personally prefer Los Tres Gallos. With that said, we really enjoyed the view. My wife would argue this restaurant has a better view than El Farallon. My son definitely agrees since he was leaning back to the sofa to watch the cruise ship for most of the dinner. Personally, I will come back just for the queso and the view.



Excursion:


We booked a week ahead with Cabo Adventure for a camel ride. With tax it was $254 for the 3 of us. Transportation to and from the hotel is included. We were picked up at 8:10am and dropped off at Cabo Adventure headquarter to wait for another bus heading to the camel ride location. We arrived at the destination at around 9:45. The entry fee was not included and it was about $50 for the 3 of us. There are a few extra filler activities beside the camel rides since the entire rides only lasted for 30mins at best. No cameras allow since they want you to buy their photos and drone video. We paid $175 for the photos and one drone video and it was the first time I really want to say no to my wife and son lol. Lunch was expected to taste like cafeteria food since it was included with our tour. A tequila tasting was also included during lunch. It was a fun little activity for my son since it was his first time riding a camel. We got dropped off back to our hotel by 3:30pm. I’m somewhat annoyed with the extra entry fee for 3 of us and $175 for photos and drone footage but find Cabo Adventure to be a safe and reliable option for a family looking for excursions in Cabos.



Transportation:


As advised by others, we booked with Cabo Airport Shuttle. After landing at T2, we headed to umbrella #5 and leaded to our ride in minutes. On the night before our departure, we received an email letting us know to be at the lobby by 12pm. Our ride arrived at 12:05. the total for the round trip was about $125 and I will use them again next time I visit Cabos. Uber was cheap and easy to use around town. It was about $5 to $9 per trip including tips.



VIP Lounge at T2:


It is what it is. Nothing special. Just a place to get a drink and wait for our flight. We actually grabbed some Panda Express and brought it into the lounge for lunch. I guess it’s better than sitting outside but the service was really slow and the food option was limited. I tried to order a latte and they said they only have regular coffee.



Overall:


We were very pleasantly surprised how much we enjoyed staying at the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos. We are based in Orange County, California and Los Cabos is only 2hrs and 30mins away from John Wayne with a direct flight. This hotel won’t be on the top of our list of resorts to visit but we can see ourselves planning a long weekend trip to WA Los Cabos yearly for a quick getaway. We usually have a couple of international trips planned every year and would add a few short trips in between. We have Vegas as 1 or 2 days trip, some short cruises out of SoCal or Mammoth during winter for a 3 nights trip, and one of the islands in Hawaii for 3 or 4 nights quick getaway destinations. We are happy to add WA Cabos in our rotation and can’t wait to go back.