by Wendy

For those of us in parts of the country experencing a slow start to Spring, late March is surely a time for daydreams of warm beaches and summer vacations. Especially after reading Dad’s Hawaii posts!

Last summer, my husband and I spent several days at the Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos in beautiful San Jose Del Cabo, Mexico. It was my first visit to an all inclusive resort, and I was impressed with the gorgeous hotel, wonderful service and relaxing atmosphere. Unfortunately, Hurricane Odile struck shortly after we returned home, causing serious damage in the region. It is heartbreakingly sad to read about the losses suffered, and the area is still recovering. Our thoughts are with the kind staff, their families and neighbors.

The tourism industry is a big part of Los Cabos’ economy, and they are working hard to rebuild. According to their website, the Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos will reopen in mid-September 2015. For anyone researching an all inclusive option, consider this place! I wanted to share a few observations/tips inspired by my 2014 trip for fellow dreamers/planners out there. Of course I’m not sure what, if any, features will change after their renovations, so be sure to contact the resort with specific questions. I would love to check out this place again.

Swim-up room

1. Book a swim-up room! – Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos had luxurious ground floor suites that opened onto a small patio with our own lounge chairs and what practically felt like our own private pool (we shared the pool with others who booked swim-up rooms). When the main pools got a little crowded, we knew we could always retreat to our chairs and more secluded pool area. Besides this amazing feature, the rooms had comfortable, cloud-like beds, a sitting area, large bathroom with shower and whirlpool tub, and refrigerators stocked with cold drinks and snacks.
2. Read up – Before booking your all inclusive, read the resort’s website and TripAdvisor reviews to better understand what the hotel offers. For example, Hyatt Ziva in San Jose Del Cabo is on a stunning beach, but swimming is not permitted due to the powerful waves and dangerous currents. I seem to remember seeing sunbeds and a volleyball net on the beach, but not too close to the water. Take the warnings about the ocean seriously. We were fine with this since their pools were so awesome, including one infinity pool looking out onto the beach. We spent hours in that pool watching the sparkling aqua waves and the incredible open skies as sunset approached.
3. Arrange airport transportation through your resort – We booked our ride to and from the hotel through the options on their website, choosing a shuttle with other passengers. The drivers were courteous, welcomed us with bottled water when we arrived, and got us to the airport on time when we left. Thanks to the instructions we received in advance, we knew to bypass a strange area of the Los Cabos airport where vendors are aggressively vying for your attention. Many sit behind a counter so they look official…but I have no idea whether they are affiliated with the airport or not. One man kept asking us for our transportation information so he could “call the company”. As indicated on the instructions, we declined and walked right outside, where the company driver was already waiting for us.
4. Be prepared for the bracelet – Resorts may fasten a bracelet on your wrist so they can easily tell that you’re a guest on the property. It’s waterproof and you’ll quickly forget it’s there. As far as I can tell, the only time it becomes a potential issue is if you leave the resort and are quickly identified as a tourist. This may or may not matter to you. If you like to try and blend in a bit more, cover the bracelet with a watch or wear a bunch of colorful bracelets.
5. Get the lay of the land – Walk around the resort and check out your options. You don’t want to find out on the last day that you missed knowing about a pool, restaurant/bar option, a business office with free wifi, or cute souvenir boutique. While walking around Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos, we found a sports pub where we could drink beer, play cards and shoot pool. We also found one of our favorite spots the first afternoon – Coco Loco bar – and loved it so much went back for a daily taco (or three). I miss the amazing shrimp ones!
6. Bring lots of small bills for tipping – If you’re going somewhere that takes American dollars, start putting aside singles and $5 a few weeks before the trip. Otherwise, save small bills/ $1 coins after you convert to local currency to tip the hard-working bartenders, housekeeping and wait staff, drivers and lobby attendants. For housekeeping, I like to leave a daily tip if I’m having my room cleaned every day, and writing a brief thank you note on a scrap of paper is a nice personal touch. If you want something specific, like extra bottled water, you can also politely request that on the note.
7. Dine with style – When you check out the resort restaurants, part of the fun is getting a little dolled up. The buffet was casual and quick, but others provide table service and have restrictions, like no shorts or flip flops. Bring at least one outfit that is suitable for a nice dinner out. Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos was a family friendly resort, so the restaurants seemed a bit crowded before 8pm. There were many dining options when we were there – Italian, French, Spanish, Mexican, Japanese –good luck choosing a favorite!
8. Order room service – If your all inclusive includes room service, take advantage of it! It’s so much fun to order breakfast and coffee and start the day on a leisurely pace. Hyatt Ziva also had a late night menu, which we loved. If we had a late lunch and hung out at the pools well into the evening, or were maybe feeling a bit tipsy (see below) and craving a snack, we could request a sandwich or quesadilla delivered to our room at midnight! I actually liked the room service option more than the giant buffets, where the food is definitely abundant, but sometimes a little bland.
9. Avoid drunk sunburns – It goes without saying to be responsible, because the refreshing and plentiful drinks can really sneak up on you. Keep it cool and classy, and remember to put on sunscreen already! The margaritas and pina coladas were pretty good, but in our experience it was better to stick to beer, wine or very basic mixed drinks (like rum and coke, whiskey ginger, or cranberry vodka). As the bartenders get busy, you might get a mojito that tastes like a weird margarita – but seriously, if this is the worst thing that happens on vacation, you’re very fortunate indeed!
10. Don’t feel guilty for not leaving the resort – I love walking around cities, checking out famous sites and going to local restaurants, but sometimes your main goal is to chill. Sign up for the tours and expeditions if you want. It’s a big world and there’s always so much to see. But if you just want to relax, and let problems melt away in a cool blue pool with a book and a drink in your hand, that’s a perfectly fine way to spend a vacation.

The Hyatt Ziva resort looked as beautiful at night as during the day.