Travel ideas to help you plan the ultimate getaway
Jean Chen Smith
Spring break is right around the corner. Whether you’re planning a last-minute trip for this year or looking ahead to 2021, we have some ideas that can help you experience the ultimate getaway.
Mix it up in Mexico
Looking to be in the center of the action? Then you’ll want to head to Cabo San Lucas. While there are many hotels to choose from, you’ll be stunned by the beauty and luxury of the newly opened Le Blanc Spa Resort Los Cabos, an adults-only property on Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula. The all-inclusive beachfront destination features 24-hour room service, a plethora of world-class dining options, in-room pedestal tubs, butler service and an award-winning 29,000-square-foot full-service spa with 25 treatment rooms.
Book a class at the hotel’s massive fitness center. With daily offerings of Pilates, yoga, spinning and more, there is no shortage of options. Guests can also rent a poolside cabana and take in the sights while relaxing. More adventurous? Schedule a catamaran tour across the Sea of Cortez or partake in a whale watching expedition.
With so many dining options, it’s easy to get overwhelmed, especially at an all-inclusive. You will want to make reservations at Lumiere. Try the seven-course tasting menu, complete with wine pairings. Plates include everything from grilled seared tuna to oven-roasted mutton. More casual restaurants include Mezze, an homage to Lebanese cuisine, Blanc Italia and Blanc Pizza.
For a kid-friendly luxury resort, look no further than Viceroy Los Cabos. Opened in 2018, the hotel boasts an amazing modern design, and the accommodations are elegant and spacious with large terraces or balconies. With four pools and amazing views, the hotel also offers a kids club as well as babysitting so adults can relax and get some time away.
Make time to enjoy The Spa at Viceroy Los Cabos because it will delight your senses. Whether you opt for the signature facial or a body treatment, you are in for a treat. The facility offers a cold plunge pool, Jacuzzi, sauna and much more. With 11 treatment rooms, plus a beauty bar offering mani-pedis and a full-service hair salon, the spa’s primary goal is to provide zen for the senses and rest for the mind.
Dine at NIDO, specializing in robatayaki (a table-side Japanese grill), the freshest harvest from the sea and spectacular views of the sunset. Must tries from the grill include red snapper and short ribs. Order the chicken ginger dumplings, and don’t skip the dessert.
For an experience that is off the grid, look no further than VIDASOUL Hotel, a 16-room boutique hotel in the oasis village of Boca de la Vinorama, on the East Cape of Baja, Mexico. The eco-friendly resort is completely run on solar energy, encouraging guests to be mindful of power and water usage, while providing spectacular views and modern amenities. Because there are no restaurants nearby, the hotel provides excellent dining options for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
VIDASOUL owner Joan Hafenecker believes in working with local businesses such as Cabo Coffee and Sierra Chicken to support the local community and deliver a true local experience to visitors. The spot is heralded as a destination for surfing from March to October. The hotel also hosts many weekend concerts from November through May. Many of the rooms are decorated with art from local artists, highlighting the uniqueness of this remote location.
For the love of adventure
The Big Island is more laid-back and offers lower rates than some of the other popular Hawaiian Islands. Fly into Hilo International Airport and begin with a stay at Volcano Village Lodge, a charming bed and breakfast just 2 miles from Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. You’ll have the unique experience of staying in a cabin amid a rainforest, with breakfast delivered to your door the night before so you can
See GETAWAY, Page 16A