Cabo San Lucas

Happy Fall Travel with Lisa Fans! Keeping it short this month, but informative nonetheless! This summer I had the opportunity to visit Cabo San Lucas for the first time. We stayed at the One and Only Palmilla, which I HIGHLY recommend to anyone looking to splurge a little,(ok, a lot), or celebrate something BIG. My slideshow says it all...Life is Short, take a vacation!

It’s been a hot year for Los Cabos, as it was selected to host this year’s G20 Summit. With a dramatic landscape of orange desert, dark blue waters and spots of emerald thanks to its many golf courses, Los Cabos—comprised of the towns of San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas—is heavy in both man-made and natural appeal. San Jose, founded by Jesuit missionaries, is the place to go for art appreciation and acquisition, with dozens of art galleries and an Art Walk taking place on Thursday evenings from November through June. It’s also the site of tree-lined plazas and top restaurants—award-winning dining is one of Los Cabos’ claims to fame, after all. Half an hour away is Cabo San Lucas, where the after-hours scene is prolific and where a modern marina and boardwalk is always bustling thanks to a bevy of shops, restaurants and boating and fishing outfitters. The towns are connected by the Transpeninsular Highway, dotted by top resorts and gorgeous championship greens designed by golf legends such as Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman and Pete Dye. Throughout, you’ll also find some of the finest spas anywhere—yet another reason why George Clooney, Jennifer Aniston and so many other celebrities spend much time here. Marine attractions off Los Cabos are even more enticing. The Sea of Cortez, which John Steinbeck described as “ferocious with life,” is an underwater utopia where sea lions frolic, roosterfish jump up to greet you and whale-watching during the winter months is a daily affair. It’s also home to some of the best sport fishing in the Americas, with several fishing events taking place annually. One of the premier luxury resorts in the world, One&Only Palmilla offers ocean views from all accommodations, ranging from luxurious guestrooms to pool casitas and the 4-bedroom Villa Cortez. One-bedroom suites come with customized iPods and laptops. There’s also butler service and celebration specialists to coordinate special occasions. THE GREENS: The Golf Club at Palmilla features a Jack Nicklaus 27- hole beauty with daily trade winds, touted among the best in the world, and divided into the Ocean Nine, the Arroyo Nine and the Mountain Nine. The stunning course offers views of the Sea of Cortez from 12 of 27 holes, five sets of staggered tees and challenging shifts in elevation. This year, the Golf Club launched the first International PGA Tour Academy, where golfers of all abilities can perfect their game with personalized instruction, the latest golf technology—including V1 video analysis—and a customized Golf for Life program. THE AMENITIES: Fine dining comes in the form of Market, by Michelin starred chef Jean-Georges, and Agua by chef Larbi Dahrouch. The spa, inspired by the Baja landscape, features 13 spa villas. Guests can charter the One&Only yacht for a romantic sail, sign up for a Desert Adventure tour in a private Hummer, reserve a cove with a “floating bed” or go snorkeling or seasonal whale watching. THE SCENE: You’ll be hobnobbing with celebrities hiding out from the paparazzi at the tennis courts and at the resort’s swimmable beach in an incomparable desert-meets-sea setting.

Sandals Royal Bahamian's New Balmoral Tower

Happy August Travel with Lisa Fans! I hope you have been enjoying all the sun and warm temperatures. I feel like this blog should have highlighted some cool SKI trips! As the days grow shorter, thoughts eventually turn towards the colder months and hopefully VACATION! It's a great time to start planning your Holiday Trip, your Winter Break, your Spring Break, and it's not too late for November either! I am highlighting two resorts in the Bahamas this month. The first is Sandals Royal Bahamian, having just undergone a major renovation. I also have Marica and Jim's vacation pictures from Club Med, Columbus Isle, San Salvador, Bahamas. Marcia and Jim are on a first name basis with the staff at this resort; they have been so many times and just love it! So take a look, see where other people are headed, and start thinking "Where should we go?" Remember, LIFE IS SHORT, TRAVEL WITH LISA!

After undergoing a $17 million renovation, the Balmoral Tower at Sandals Royal Bahamian now features a lighter, contemporary look and even more luxury! The most exciting feature is the large balconies that were added to 35 of the oceanview rooms. An additional 11 ground-floor rooms have now become walk-out rooms, providing direct access to the newly finished white concrete pool deck, which incorporates local fauna and conch shells. Beachfront fire pits and an expanded lounge area complete the Balmoral Tower’s new look. Best Rooms Some of the best rooms in the new tower are the Balmoral Tower Beachfront Penthouse with Butler Service, situated on the top floor. They have unobstructed views of the ocean. The Grand Bahamian Beachfront Walkout with Butler Service occupies an exclusive position on the ground floor of the Balmoral Tower, just steps away from the beach. Each one provides Sandals’ exclusive butler service and is generously proportioned and features an expansive bedroom. The Kensington Luxury Beachfront Concierge is a suite that is complemented by a luxurious en-suite bathroom and sliding doors that lead to an oversized private balcony where magnificent views await. Located on Nassau’s renowned Cable Beach, Sandals Royal Bahamian is approximately 10 minutes from Lynden Pindling International Airport, 20 minutes from Downtown Nassau and Bay Street, and roughly 30 minutes from Paradise Island. In 1946, the original resort “The Balmoral Club” was created to be the playground for many of the royal friends of the then-Governor of The Bahamas, the Duke of Windsor. The architecture portrays an elaborate sophistication, Roman columns and a large 25-foot tall statuary guard at the entrance to the porte-cochere. Sandals Royal Bahamian is the only resort in Nassau’s with its own private offshore island. Features on this island, Sandals Cay, include freshwater pool, swim-up pool bar, whirlpool, Café Goombay and the resort’s famous Zen Garden (Red Lane Spa). A ferry runs every hour, beginning at 10 a.m. and returns from the island at a quarter to the hour, with the last ferry returning at 4:45 p.m. The Suite Concierge Service includes in-room bar, daily newspaper, full bath, DVD and free DVD library (available in the Concierge Lounge) and more. Butler service includes everything from unpacking and packing a client’s luggage to attending to a guest’s wardrobe and serving breakfast on the balcony. Butler Suites also feature a cordless phone, DVD player and premium liquor.