Hacienda del Mar Los Cabos, An Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort by Marriott

The food was a pleasant surprise for an all-inclusive, with a good variety across the restaurants and solid flavors. Breakfast comes with a beautiful sunrise view from the buffet area. There are plenty of towels and pool chairs, plus shallow pools about a foot deep for newborns. The resort has 6-7 pools and hot tubs, and although it caters more to adults, kids have plenty to do. The kids club is free with the all-inclusive plan, and they run activities while you leave the kids there. The property is shared by timeshare owners and guests who rent rooms without the all-inclusive package. We had a great stay and would recommend it.

The one limitation we noticed was the small selection of shops on the property. We rented a car from Ten Car Rental, the on-site company, and it was reasonably priced, new, and easy to arrange, with insurance included. Having the car let us explore more of Cabo and find better shopping. This was our first all-inclusive stay, and we loved it. It was 75° every day, our room had a great view, and the staff were always polite, helpful, and attentive. We tried all the restaurants. Each had its good and less good points, and while service was fine, some meals took a while because of the kitchen.

The room had several problems: only 2 or 3 of the 5 to 6 lights worked, there was a strong odor, and construction noise, including chainsaws, made it hard to enjoy the view, sleep, or relax. The dishes and utensils also seemed dirty. One bowl had a yellow-orange substance in it, which was disgusting. The food was disappointing too. There are more than 7 restaurants, but most were bad. At one that required reservations, the food was so burnt it was hard to tell the items apart. Another was adults only, so children under 18 could not go in. We were excited to try an all-inclusive hotel on our first visit to Los Cabos, but the experience fell short of what I expected. Some items still cost extra, including food and pastries at one restaurant. I went to the seafood restaurant because the website said it served oysters, which I had been looking forward to, but they were not covered. They even expected me to pay for cola. The waiters and workers were rude, served dishes without smiling, and seemed hungry for tips. Most did not thank me after I tipped them and just walked away. At checkout they also asked us for an extra 500 pesos for the government, without telling us about it beforehand. They should have explained that at the start. The hotel was loud, messy, and really bad overall. I won't come back and ruin my vacation here again. Make your decision carefully.

The property is beautiful and well kept, and the restaurant staff were pleasant. But service at the restaurants and bar was slow, and the check-in process dragged on too. The front desk agents weren't as friendly or helpful as I expected at an Autograph Collection resort. Some lights in my room also didn't work, which affected my comfort. I work in hospitality, so I pay close attention to customer service. The resort has a lot of potential, but attentiveness and consistency need to improve, especially at the front desk, restaurant, and bar.