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Cabo San Lucas and The Resort at Pedregal via Alaska (VX) First
Mrs. SFO777 and I are off today for a quick two day trip to Cabo San Lucas. Summer is certainly not the most pleasant time of the year to visit Cabo, but it's one of our good friend's 60th birthday and we're on our way to join the party and celebration. Fortunately, Alaska has a five days a week Orange County to Cabo nonstop. Even better since they are operating a Virgin America configured A319.
Orange County SNA to San Jose del Cabo SJD Alaska AS 1224 A319 9:50am-1:15pm July 31, 2019 First Class Seats 2AC https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/s...IMG_7009_0.jpg https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/s...IMG_7010_0.jpg This plane had the first generation VX seats, but still very comfortable especially on a short two hour flight. https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/s...IMG_7292_4.jpg https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/s...IMG_7016_1.jpg https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/s...IMG_7017_2.jpg https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/s...IMG_7018_0.jpg Excellent service today including pre-departure open bar service. And after take-off, a breakfast smoothie and my first of two Bloody Marys. https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/s...IMG_7020_3.jpg Breakfast today was a choice of yogurt and granola, or breakfast sandwich. There was only one breakfast sandwich left by the time our flight attendant got to our seats, so we were stuck with one of each. Unfortunately, the yogurt was disgusting and inedible. https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/s...IMG_7021_2.jpg The breakfast sandwich looked much better... https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/s...IMG_7024_1.jpg ... and was very tasty. My half as we split it. https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/s...IMG_7026_3.jpg The BOB Economy Cheese Platter from Economy was still available... for $8.50... https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/s...IMG_7027_2.jpg ... and unlike the yogurt was edible and refreshing. https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/s...IMG_7028_4.jpg https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/s...IMG_7030_2.jpg I guess this sounded cool 10 years ago. https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/s...IMG_7031_3.jpg https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/s...IMG_7032_4.jpg https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/s...IMG_7036_3.jpg https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/s...IMG_7038_5.jpg And then there was endless parade of Economy pax to the First Class lav. IME, Virgin America crews were pretty good about restricting lav access. Alaska? Not so much. Indeed the VX cabin divider rope was still there, hanging useless as Alaska continues to not care about who uses the F lav. https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/s...IMG_7039_2.jpg On descent to SJD. https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/s...IMG_7041_3.jpg https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/s...IMG_7044_2.jpg https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/s...IMG_7046_2.jpg https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/s...IMG_7048_2.jpg We pulled into the gate ontime at 1:15pm MST. https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/s...IMG_7049_0.jpg The deceiving deserted walk to customs. https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/s...IMG_7050_2.jpg Looking good. https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/s...IMG_7051_0.jpg But whoa Nellie. At the bottom of the escalator, the customs arrival hall... with 1,000 or so of our closest friends from 4 or 5 flights that beat us to the terminal. Nary a single person in the Mexican, pregnant and handicapped passport line but a mass of humanity in the Foreign passport line. No idea what they were, but there were a bunch of kiosks on the other side of the rope against the left wall with no signage as to purpose. I asked a security person whether Global Entry members could use them and was told no. OK, not sure about that as all sorts of people started using them, eventually resulting in an even slower line on the left side of the hall. In the end, It took 50 minutes to get to one of 6 manned booths out of 20 or so. https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/s...IMG_7054_0.jpg https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/s...IMG_7055_3.jpg As if 50 minutes for customs wasn't bad enough, we then had to queue for random incoming bag check. Not surprisingly, we got a red light and wasted another few minutes before exiting customs and entering time share central. https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/s...IMG_7057_2.jpg Outside, to tent position #4 and our pre-arranged ride. https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/s...IMG_7058_0.jpg |
That resort looks stunning - ditto the food! Craving some good ceviche and octopus right now just looking at the pictures.
I can easily see myself spending a few days there just drinking a corona and admiring the views from the plunge pool. Thanks for posting, as always! |
Another SFO777 trip review so soon after the last? Now you're spoiling us.
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We go to Cabo at least once a year. It’s our favorite place and we are going in October. Each time we go, our last dinner is at El Farallon at Pedregal. It’s simply breathtaking and this time is no different; we have reservations on Oct 9th. We are also trying the restaurant at Esparanza this time as well. The airport machine where you tap the button is unique and decidedly kind of funny. The first two times we went, I got the red light and had bags checked. Since then, my wife hits the button and has been green every time. Of course, we have nothing to hide, but it has become a fun little game we play now. Hope you enjoyed. |
Had to laugh at the immigration line, we had the exact same experience when we visited this February. That line puts Disney to shame.
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The kiosks may be for the Viajero Confiable program. Apparently if you have GE, a US citizen may obtain an equivalent for Mexico. Just 3 airports though - CUN, SJD, and MEX. Looks like a nice resort.
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Great to see this new report from you, SFO777! Looks like you had a fun trip ... the dinner at your resort hotel made me super hungry! Also did the guacamole and corona pictures! :) I am amazed sometimes when airlines don't enforce the F class lav policy more. In my opinion I think it's fine if people use it if they are in the very front of the cabin (like the bulkhead of Y), but to have an endless stream seems to be a bit much especially when there are always comments of "remaining in your ticketed cabin."
As always, thank you for sharing your travels with us! Best - Matthew |
Gasp... the immigration lines. To think it was a Wednesday and it would probably be worse towards the weekend.
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Originally Posted by Romanianflyer
(Post 31378264)
That resort looks stunning - ditto the food! Craving some good ceviche and octopus right now just looking at the pictures. I can easily see myself spending a few days there just drinking a corona and admiring the views from the plunge pool. Thanks for posting, as always!
Originally Posted by Parterre
(Post 31378466)
Another SFO777 trip review so soon after the last? Now you're spoiling us.
Originally Posted by cslovacek
(Post 31378877)
We go to Cabo at least once a year. It’s our favorite place and we are going in October. Each time we go, our last dinner is at El Farallon at Pedregal. It’s simply breathtaking and this time is no different; we have reservations on Oct 9th. We are also trying the restaurant at Esparanza this time as well. The airport machine where you tap the button is unique and decidedly kind of funny. The first two times we went, I got the red light and had bags checked. Since then, my wife hits the button and has been green every time. Of course, we have nothing to hide, but it has become a fun little game we play now. Hope you enjoyed.
Originally Posted by HLT1904
(Post 31379184)
Had to laugh at the immigration line, we had the exact same experience when we visited this February. That line puts Disney to shame.
Originally Posted by lamphs
(Post 31379322)
The kiosks may be for the Viajero Confiable program. Apparently if you have GE, a US citizen may obtain an equivalent for Mexico. Just 3 airports though - CUN, SJD, and MEX. Looks like a nice resort.
Originally Posted by 757
(Post 31379344)
Great to see this new report from you, SFO777! Looks like you had a fun trip ... the dinner at your resort hotel made me super hungry! Also did the guacamole and corona pictures! :) I am amazed sometimes when airlines don't enforce the F class lav policy more. In my opinion I think it's fine if people use it if they are in the very front of the cabin (like the bulkhead of Y), but to have an endless stream seems to be a bit much especially when there are always comments of "remaining in your ticketed cabin." As always, thank you for sharing your travels with us! Best - Matthew
Originally Posted by miuk
(Post 31379674)
Gasp... the immigration lines. To think it was a Wednesday and it would probably be worse towards the weekend.
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An amazing resort in a stunning location on the tip of Baja California Peninsula, SFO777:). The mountain tunnel makes for a very grand entrance too!
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Wow at the resort! :o
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I took my first trip down there with Alaska First mainline (737) earlier this year. It was pretty disorganized as you accurately describe, but otherwise an interesting destination. I'm not sure if it actually compares with Hawaii but it made for a nice change of pace than our usual island holiday.
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I was in Cabo in 1982. The problem is that most of the beaches are too rough to swim in. The only swimable safe beach is near the famous rocks. Unfortunately our hotel was not there.
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Excellent report as usual, SFO777. Based on your photo and reviews, Cabo definitely looks like a great destination outside summer, and the resort must added a lot of extra memories to your trip. Getting there from Australia is a real problem though (I'm talking about flying at least 8,000 miles and two transits to get there)
Stay tuned for my upcoming Jakarta and Bali trip in September (spoiler: flying Y only, I'm poor on miles now :D) |
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