Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal Review

Last weekend, we stayed at the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal for three nights where we celebrated our babymoon and our daughter’s fourth birthday.

The property itself is gorgeous. Our room was luxurious and well-appointed. And all of the staff who served us were exceptionally warm and friendly. I have stayed at numerous luxury resorts in the past, but the level of service at the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal is truly top notch and second to none.

If I could sum up our overall experience in one word, it would be “wow!”

 

Booking the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal

The Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal is part of the Hilton portfolio of hotels and therefore is bookable using points.

At 120,000 points per night, it is the second most expensive Hilton property (behind the Waldorf Astoria Maldives) when redeeming Hilton Honors points.

Alternatively, you can pay the cash rate for the same exact room for $1,954 a night.

 

However, paying the cash rate also subjects you to taxes and fees. This includes a 3% city tax, 16% VAT, and 15% property service charge.

Including taxes and fees, the cash rate becomes a whopping $2,619.57 a night!

Fortunately, I had three Hilton Honors free night certificates so I didn’t have to pay $2,619.57 or redeem 120,000 Hilton Honors per night.

Using Free Night Certificates to Book the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal

I received three Hilton Honors free night certificates by having two Amex Hilton cards.

One free night certificate was earned just for having the Amex Hilton Aspire credit card. Another was for spending $8,000 that card. And a third was earned by spending $10,000 on the Amex Hilton Surpass credit card. These cards are some of my all time favorites in my extensive credit card portfolio.

In fact, I have written extensively in the past on why I love the Amex Hilton Aspire credit card.  With a welcome offer of 150,000 Hilton Honors points, a free weekend night award certificate ever year, complimentary Hilton Honors Diamond status, $250 in airline fee and $250 in resort credits… it’s hard to beat.

 

Location of the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal

The Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal is located in Cabo San Lucas, at the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula.

It was a perfect baby moon getaway since it was only a 1 hour and 45 minute flight from San Diego.

The resort is conveniently located very close to the main part of Cabo San Lucas and marina.

By taking the resort’s private tunnel through the mountains, it is only a short ten minute walk into town.

In the map screenshot below, I outlined the 5 minute walk through the tunnel in red. The blue line indicates a five minute walk on a small street and through a parking lot to access the marina.

The reason why I included the map above is because when you search directions to the hotel on Google maps, it has no idea about the resort’s private tunnel. So it takes you around the mountain, which is a much longer walk/drive.

By using the street view, you can see the tunnel a little more clearly. Again, I outlined the tunnel in red on the map below.

Transportation to the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal

The Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal is about 50 km (or 30 miles) southwest of Los Cabos International Airport (SJD). It can take about 35 to 55 minutes to drive to the resort from the airport depending on if you take the toll roads and if there is traffic.

There are a number of private transportation companies, shuttles, and taxis that can take you to the resort from the airport. However, we chose to rent a car for the freedom and flexibility.

For $22 a day, we rented a SUV which I had booked using the Chase Travel Portal. Instead of paying a total of $88 for four days, I redeemed about 5,867 Chase Ultimate Rewards points. (By having the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, you can redeem points for 1.5 cents a piece.) This was an excellent deal given the rate of inflation and the resulting current costs of renting a car.

Driving to the resort was relatively easy. From the airport, we followed the navigation on my wife’s phone for directions to Cabo San Lucas. At the intersection of Boulevard Paseo de la Marina and Camino del Mar, we turned into the Pedregal gate.

Continuing up on Camino del Mar, you’ll see a private gate to the Waldorf Astoria to the left.

The front gate is very secure with security staff accounting for people who enter and exit the property.

When we first arrived, we simply told security that we were checking in and provided my full name. After seeing my name on the guest list, the security guard opened the gates and we drove into the resort’s private tunnel.

 

Checking In at the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal

The private tunnel is gorgeous with flamed torches lighting the way. Driving through the tunnel was very dramatic. You literally feel transported to another world.

And it’s true. After exiting the other side of the tunnel, when your eyes adjust from dark to light, the sight of a spectacularly beautiful resort comes to view.

At the end of the small road, we approached a roundabout where we parked our car for the valet. As soon as we stepped out of the car, our personal concierge and multiple members of the service staff greeted us with a friendly “hola, buenos dias”. We were given margaritas and hibiscus tea as our welcome drinks. Another member of the staff valeted our vehicle and a few others received our luggage so that they can be brought directly to our room.

We were then escorted to the lobby and front desk by our personal concierge, Rosa. The young lady at the front desk immediately recognized me as a valued Hilton Honors member with Diamond status and told us that we were upgraded to a ocean view deluxe king bed room with one of the best views in the resort. Needless to say, I was thrilled.

The Benefits of Hilton Diamond Status

In addition to our room upgrade, the front desk staff informed me of other Diamond status benefits such as 1,000 Hilton Honors points, free continental breakfast, late checkout, and more.

Admittedly, I was a bit distracted during the check-in process because the ocean views from the open air lobby are breath-takingly stunning.

 

Next, another member of the staff walked us through the property to escort us to our room. The walk through the property was dreamy as every inch of the resort grounds is pristinely well-kept and beautiful.

Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal Room

Our room was wonderful. After entering our room through the massive solid wood door, you see a luxurious king bed, sitting area, fireplace, private terrace, infinity edge plunge pool, and balcony.

Cleanliness and comfort is always high on my wife’s priority list. Of course, the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal certainly did not disappoint. The room was exceptionally clean, well-appointed, and very large. According to the hotel’s website, the room is 856 square feet. In some ways it feels even larger because of the very high ceilings and the outdoor space.

The bed was very comfortable and the bedding linens were high quality and luxurious. Needless to say, my slept very well despite being 27 weeks pregnant.

It doesn’t hurt to wake up to an amazing view of the ocean.

Just outside of the room was a terrace with a few comfortable lounge chairs and a private infinity edge plunge pool.

My daughter loved hanging out in the terrace.

It felt so nice to lounge around in the heated plunge pool every day.

And just beyond the plunge pool was a balcony with beautiful 180 degree views of the ocean.

The bathroom was also huge and impressive with its own sitting area. It had an open plan shower room with an overhead rain shower plus a handheld nozzle. The bathtub was large and the towels, robes, and linens were first rate plush. Every time I took a shower I felt like I was in my own private spa with a view of the ocean. I kid you not.

 

Service at the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal

Our experience at the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal was exceptional, but without a doubt, the highlight of our stay was the amazing service.

Right from the start, since the seamless check-in, the service staff really impressed me.

Genuine Friendliness

Throughout our stay, all members of the service staff were extremely warm and friendly.

Service in Mexico, and Cabo San Lucas in particular, has a reputation of being friendly. But the staff at Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos take it to a whole new level. We were always greeted with either a “hola” or “bueno/as dias/tardes/noches” along with a smile. I never once saw any employees at the resort just “go through the motions.” All of the staff I encountered were enthusiastically friendly and it seemed real, authentic, and genuine.

Prompt and Attentive

The service staff is also prompt and responsive. You can stay in touch with the concierge and the front desk through text messaging. Our personal concierge or some other member of the service staff was always available to respond within seconds, and took care of whatever we requested promptly and accurately.

Additionally service staff was always attentive and helpful without being overly intrusive or overbearing. The staff at Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal really strike the perfect balance.

Personal Touch

Not only was the staff exceptionally attentive and genuinely friendly, but they also really get to know you. Throughout our stay, a lot of the staff knew our names and personal preferences which is truly remarkable since the resort has over 100 rooms. For example, they even knew my daughter’s name and that we were celebrating her birthday.

Knowing that we were celebrating her birthday, the staff gave her various gifts. On the first day, a member of the staff gifted her a plush toy whale. That same  night, they left these four vegan coconut cakes as part of the turn down service. (Yes, they even remembered that we are vegan!)

On the last day of our stay, the restaurant service staff came to our table, served our daughter some coconut mango sorbet with a sparkler candle on top, and sang the Birthday Song to her. It was a pleasant surprise to say the least!

 

Amenities at the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal

The resort offers several amenities and services that are complimentary.

For example, every day at around 4pm, a serving of chips, guacamole, salsa, and two Coronitas were delivered to our room. The salsa and guacamole was always fresh and tasty. And I’m not going to turn down free cerveza. It was a nice touch.

Included in each room is also a bottle of Clase Azul tequila as a welcome gift.

Each Clase Azul decanter is customized for the resort and hand painted by artisans in the small Mexican town of Santa Maria Canchesda using the Mazahua people’s ancient techniques. The tequila itself was quite good. Sipping it was delightfully smooth and the flavor profile has hints of vanilla and sweet caramel. It was my first time trying Clase Azul and now I’m a fan.

Also included in the room was a refrigerator minibar filled with various juices, soft drinks, and sparkling water. The minibar is fully complimentary and was re-stocked daily.

There was also a set of high quality Bushnell binoculars on the night stand. These are provided to guests for whale watching.

Whale watching season in Los Cabos ranges from early December through the middle of April. I was fortunate to see whales every day from the comfort of our own room!

Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal Swimming Pools

While every room has its own personal infinity edge plunge pool, the resort also has four large pools available to all guests.

There are two large infinity edge pools. One of the pools had a swim up bar and catered more toward adult guests.

The other infinity edge pool doesn’t have a swim up bar, but it is also right on the beach and it is situated right in front of The Beach Club restaurant. We spent a lot of our time relaxing on the lounge beds by this pool!

Just like everywhere else throughout the resort, the service at the pool was fantastic. Servers would tend to you and offer complimentary bottles of water, snacks, and popsicles. They were also available to take food and drink orders from the restaurant. As the day went on, the staff was very proactive to move the poolside umbrellas to make sure we were shaded from the sun.

The pools were very comfortably heated and offered stunning views of the beach.

There is also a circular pool that was closer to the interior of the resort. This pool appeared shallower and was more popular with families with toddlers and little kids.

The fourth pool is outside of the spa and has some beautiful waterfalls and a few lounge chairs. However, there is a limited view of the beach since it was bordered by shrubbery.

Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Gym

The Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos has a very nice gym equipped with everything you’d need for a good workout.

One of the rooms has several treadmills, ellipticals, stationary bikes for cardio and high-quality machines for weight training.

There was another room that had a bench with barbell and weights, multiple kettlebells of various weight, dumbbells, and TRX bands.

Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal Kid’s Club

There is also a Kid’s Club at the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal. Various services are offered such as half and full day baby-sitting as well as activities such as kite making, beach volleyball, movie nights, videogames, scavenger hunts, and more.

The resort also offers other family events and activities such as group Spanish lessons, bonfires, and smore making.

We didn’t have our daughter participate in any of the Kid’s Club activities because we wanted to hang out with her all the time to celebrate her birthday. Even so, one of the staff members at the Kid’s Club gave our daughter a cute whale stuffed animal.

 

Dining at Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal

As you would expect from a 5 star resort, dining at the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos is also top notch.

The two main restaurants: Don Manuel’s (traditional Mexican fare) and El Farallon (upscale cliffside dining at the edge of the ocean).

Don Manuel’s

We went to Don Manuel’s every morning for breakfast. Since I have Hilton Honors Diamond status, we received complimentary continental breakfast at this restaurant.

The continental breakfast includes juice, tea or coffee, a variety of Mexican pastries, fresh fruit, and a choice of granola or cereal. For an additional $9, you can also have access to the buffet that includes eggs and a omelette/quesadilla station.

Since we are vegan, we stuck with the continental breakfast. It was delicious and way more than enough food!

Believe me, the breakfast was very filling!

There are additional items on the menu at Don Manuel’s that you can order including huevos rancheros, chilaquiles, quesadillas, and more. While we didn’t have any of these dishes, I’m sure they are good as well.

El Farallon

El Farallon is the resort’s upscale restaurant that is located on along the cliff at the edge of the ocean. My wife and I decided to splurge a little bit and have a romantic dinner for just the two of us (my wife’s parents were watching my daughter). What a great decision!

First of all, the restaurant has a full vegetarian menu that can easily be made vegan. Upscale, fine dining restaurants with a vegan menu are hard to come by so we just had to eat here!

Also, I have a $250 resort credit just by having the Amex Hilton Aspire card. Eating an amazing meal at El Farallon is an excellent use of the resort credit. Talk about guilt free luxury spending!

Since the restaurant is on the edge of the cliff overlooking the ocean, the views are spectacular.

The Food

The dinner form the vegan menu is $60 per person. However, it comes out to be about $80 a person when you factor in 15% service charge and 16% federal tax.

Nevertheless, I think $80 a person is a great value for an amazing dining experience with such a spectacular view.

The dinner included a choice of soup, all of the appetizers, a choice from the main course, and all of the desserts.

We had the asparagus soup which was tasty. The appetizers came as a sampler and they were all delicious.

My wife ordered the oyster mushrooms al ajillo tacos while I ordered the portobello mushroom stuffed with jackfruit and avocado. Both were divine.

The dessert was also very yummy.

And of course, the service at the restaurant was on point. There was no lapse in the service at all. The servers were well-aware of our vegan dietary preference, enthusiastically introduced each of the dishes as they were served, and always made sure we were well taken care of. They even realized that our daughter wasn’t with us so they packed dessert churros at no extra charge so that she can eat them as a treat for her birthday.

 

Final Thoughts

Checking out of the resort on the last day of our stay at the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal was tough because it was so hard to leave!

From the luxurious room to the delicious food and the impeccably attentive and friendly service, we were all wowed by the entire experience and loved every moment of our stay.

It was a great use of my Hilton free night certificates as well as the perfect place for celebrating our babymoon and our daughter’s fourth birthday.

My family and I will always cherish our time at the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal and perhaps we will return again one day in the future. 🙂