Cabo’s New Grand Velas Boutique Hotel is Indeed Grand
Intoxicating ocean vistas, good food, and incredibly spacious accommodations, not to mention superb service, are just a few reasons to stay at the Grand Velas Boutique Hotel in Cabo San Lucas. This property is the newest belle of the ball in Velas’ portfolio and may in fact be my favorite of Velas’ seven properties.
The Grand Velas Boutique Hotel takes the Velas brand signature style, and with no expense spared – spending approximately 50 million dollars in construction and design – created a luxury, adults-only, all-inclusive oasis, only a quick 25-minute jaunt from Los Cabos International Airport. Its dramatic appeal is evident the minute guests enter its expansive lobby and beat witness to its enticing views.
The Bed
The Grand Velas Boutique Hotel has 79 all-suite accommodations. And what suites they are. The “smallest” suite, the Ambassador Garden, is nearly 900 sq.ft. For point of reference, my entire east coast graduate school apartment contained a “roomy” 275 sq.ft. and I was then considered quite lucky.
Opening the door to my Grand Class Suite caused a significant “wow” exclamation. Containing 1,600 sq.ft. with oversize marble tile floors, it was designed with a calming, neutral color palette throughout. The massive quartz wet bar and coffee area had stylish, gold-veined quartz counters, housed a Nespresso vertuo machine, Cuisinart tea kettle, and fully stocked mini bar, including wines, beers, artisanal house-branded Mezcal, and both sweet and salty snacks.
The living area had a large dining table, a sofa that could easily fit six people and a huge quartz coffee table bearing fresh fruits and a 65-inch flatscreen television. The enormous bedroom likewise had a full sofa, lounger, Dyson hairdryer and flatiron, another 65-inch flatscreen, a make-up table and a separate, large working desk.
The suite had two full bathrooms, both with a two-person sized shower. The principal bathroom also had a deep soaking Jacuzzi tub, dual vanities, two-person shower containing both European and rain showerheads with Milton Brown and L’Occitane products. A large walk-in closet was roomy enough to live there permanently.
The pièce de résistance for me was the immense patio with a lovely, remote controlled gas-operated fire pit with seating for four, plus a double daybed and a plunge pool, all of which overlooked the property’s lovely geometrically-shaped infinity pool and the Sea of Cortez. Leaving my patio, and indeed my suite, even for a wonderful reason, was a true test of will.
Food Matters
There are three restaurants onsite and of course room service and three bars. The oceanside Del Mar had terrific breakfast buffets, with all manner of fresh fruits, charcuterie, made-to-order eggs, patisserie items including carb-loving French toast, as well as a chia coconut pudding I won’t soon forget.
While Del Mar also serves lunch, I usually found myself at Roca Snack & Bar as its outside terrace felt like suspended animation overlooking the sea. Here the freshest cervices and salads made me happy.
The Loto Robata Grill, a Japanese-Mexican fusion restaurant, is the brainchild of Chef Sidney Schutte, who honed his skills at the Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam’s two Michelin-starred Librije Zusje. Here, shared dishes are perfect for those like me suffering from FOMO and thus loathe to commit to any one appetizer and entrée. There were swoon worthy items such as steak, tuna, and salmon tartar cones, unusual salads, Comondu oysters, octopus with gochujang and yuzu, and surf and turf skewers.
Additionally, Velas Boutique guests are entitled to also dine with reservations at any one of Grand Velas Los Cabos Hotel’s specialty restaurants, a five-minute stroll away for dinners. One evening we dined there at Italian-Mediterranean Lucca, where Chef Antonio La Monica prepares great pizzas and tiramisu. Another evening, we dined at Cocina de Autor, also led by Chef Schutte, which has an inspired seven-course tasting menu, with dishes such as Australian wagyu with smoked parmesan and local figs, Shitake mushroom and corn velouté, and two outstanding desserts, one named Winter, with almond ice cream, dulce de leche, and olives for a delectable full-frontal umami experience, and Chilate, with mezcal and cacao.
Before or after my daily workouts I’d pop into Bar 51 for one of their fresh wellness shots or a yogurt parfait. If only Starbucks was like this. It’s also a lovely spot for a sunset cocktail, where firepits set a festive mood and mixologists are masters of happiness.
The Finds
One of the best things about the Velas Boutique is not leaving. There are morning yoga classes in an alcove near the infinity pool. Two corners of the pool have Jacuzzis and a third corner houses a swim-up bar constructed of beautiful, Carrera-like marble. All throughout the day, waiters pass by the pool area bringing fresh fruit platters, BBQ chicken wings, and grilled chicken and vegetables skewers. And if that were not enough, ice cream or sorbet in waffle cones. If you’re still feeling peckish, there’s a pool menu with sandwiches, burgers, guacamole, and tacos.
In the Agave Tasting Room there are several experiences to select to try. Guests can choose tequila, mezcal, chocolate, or wine & cheese pairings events. I enjoyed the 1921 crema de tequila with a 15-percent alcohol volume that reminded me of less sweet Bailey’s Irish Cream and especially loved the Agavero Liqueur, a honey-colored Reposado and Añejo blend.
To counteract all the good food, the Velas Boutique has large, state-of-the-art 24-hour fitness center with all manner of Technogym equipment, free weights, yoga mats, and floor-to-ceiling windows. It overlooks a calming succulent garden helping to take one’s mind off of exercise.
Velas Boutique’s Spa Se is a haven of relaxation and rejuvenation. Generally, I have no patience for wet areas other than a quick Jacuzzi soak, but the water ritual here was excellent. Commencing with a seven-station shower system with differing pulsation modes was followed by a steam room, sauna, ice room, then two Jacuzzis, one warm and one hot. I graduated then to a ‘mind-sync’ chair boasting six programs for meditation coupled with inflight-like vibrations. A deep tissue massage followed in a zen-inspired treatment room. What’s not to love?
The Lessons Learned
Whether seeking a romantic or relaxing escape, a baby moon, or a friends’ get-away at an oceanfront property where you will have no desire to leave, which happens fortunately to be all-inclusive, then the Grand Velas Boutique Hotel in Cabo may be just the ticket.
Julie L. Kessler is a journalist, attorney, and the author of the award-winning memoir: “Fifty-Fifty, The Clarity of Hindsight.” Her work has appeared in several major publications around the world, including The LA Times, The SF Examiner, The Asia Times, The Jerusalem Post, and The Honolulu Star-Advertiser, among many others. She can be reached at Julie@VagabondLawyer.com
