Bahia Hotel & Beach House

We picked Bahia Hotel and Sur beach house for our first Cabo trip, and the location was a big reason. It’s a block from the beach and an easy walk to shops, restaurants, and bars, while still being outside the center of the party. The hotel feels comfortable, with simple beach elegance. The pool was a great place to spend an afternoon, especially on weekends when the beach gets livelier. The food and drinks were a big part of the stay too. The coffee shop was excellent for a morning pick-me-up, the pool bar had good drinks and tacos, and Bar Esquina made for a special dinner. Staff were all excellent, especially Brisa, Cristian, and Raul, who helped us book beach club visits and dinner at bar esquina. Sur Beach house made the beach experience for us. We went at the start of the off season, so it was less crowded, but the service, food, and drinks were still fantastic. It’s the best swimmable beach, just a short walk or golf cart ride from the hotel. We also took a one-hour small boat tour to the arch and lovers beach. Great value and one of the trip’s highlights. My favorite moment was a private tequila tasting with Bar Esquina’s sommelier/bar manager. It was well worth paying for.

The staff are what make this place special. They really go out of their way to make your stay memorable, and I can’t praise them enough. We were greeted in the open-air reception, which flows into the bar and restaurant, with friendly smiles, a lovely spa scent, and a welcome glass of Rosé. Check-in was quick, and they shared plenty of ideas for restaurants, bars, and activities. Our room was spacious, clean, and nicely decorated, with a balcony overlooking the pool. The resort is not right on the beach, but it’s only a block away on foot or a short golf cart ride provided by the resort. That made beach access easy without the late-night noise from the beach bars. The resort owns Sur Beach Club, where you can use the restaurant, bar, and private beach with chairs, umbrellas, and service. Chairs can be reserved at no extra charge. There are nice bars and restaurants nearby, and the marina and downtown are about a 12-minute walk away. I’d happily recommend this beautiful boutique resort and stay here again.

I want to be clear that the staff were very friendly, and I’d rate the beauty and kindness a 10, but the way the extra charges were handled left a terrible taste. There was a $55 daily resort fee that wasn’t disclosed when booking. When they offered an upgrade, they didn’t mention the taxes on top, which added many more dollars. Throughout sorting out the charges, I kept hearing one thing up front and something different later. It felt disingenuous and ruined the good feeling after our stay. Noise was another problem. Construction directly behind the hotel meant constant hammering, banging, and sawing, so relaxing by the pool wasn’t possible. We were on the fifth floor and could still hear music from Esquina through the walls. The activities director was top-tier, and I enjoyed him a lot. At Sur, souvenir sellers on the beach kept approaching us and wouldn’t leave us alone. It made the beach impossible to enjoy, and staff had nothing to keep them away. I also didn’t realize this part of the bay was a cruise port. A cruise ship, sometimes three, blocked the view and filled things with exhaust. The staff were affable, but I give the hotel a zero for explaining all those hidden charges.

Sofia took such good care of me when I arrived after a horrible experience at Casa Dorada. She asked why I was checking in after I’d been in Cabo since Wednesday, and when I told her about CD, I started crying. She came around the desk to hug me and said that should never have happened. She put me on the third floor so I’d feel safe, checked in by phone twice to make sure I felt okay and comfortable, and sent up chocolate cake with a warm birthday note after dinner because I’d told her I was celebrating my 40th. When I checked out, Raul was a perfect gentleman and made everything smooth. The hotel is gorgeous and updated, with a quiet, bohemian luxury feel. My room was beautiful and the bed felt like a cloud. The pool was private and clean, and the restaurant and coffee area felt like what you’d expect in LA or New York. The reception was warm and professional from the start. I couldn’t have asked for a better stay. For an unsafe, budget-level experience, go to CD. For a safe, upscale and beautiful experience from start to finish, go to Bahia. Ask for Sofia or Raul, though everyone is wonderful.