In 2019, The Resort at Pedregal announced that it would be acquired by a prominent private equity firm and rebranded under Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Hilton’s top-shelf luxury brand.
This incredible resort has attracted A-list celebrities (including DJ Khaled, who stayed just a few days prior), prominent business owners, and luxury travelers alike.
I’ve been eyeing this property ever since it was rebranded, and suffice to say, the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal is one of the most magnificent hotels in the world.
- Booking Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal
- Location and Getting There
- Check-In and Service
- Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal Property Overview
- Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal Two Bedroom Ocean View Villa with Plunge Pool (2,685 Square Feet)
- Fitness Center
- Spa
- Beach
- Pools
- Tennis Court
- AlmArte Shopping Boutique
- Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal Restaurants
- Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal Personal Concierge and Service
- Wrapping Up
- FAQs
Booking Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal
Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal is consistently the second-most expensive Hilton property in the world, behind only the Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi.
The great news is that you can redeem 120,000 to 150,000 Hilton Honors points per night for a stay here.
In our case, we redeemed 2 Hilton Honors free night certificates for a stay here. We booked our stay around 1 month in advance.
We were originally booked in the 1 King Bed Pacific View room, which is the standard room for points redemptions. Nightly cash rates during the low season start at $1,200 per night, but the cash rate for the dates we were staying was a whopping $2,450 per night (inclusive of around 34% in taxes and fees).
But we were blown away when the hotel upgraded us to an astonishing 2 Bedroom Ocean View Villa with Plunge Pool, which had cash rates of an eyewatering $5,500 per night. What an unreal redemption!
Working with a seasoned points and luxury travel consultant can help you get rooms like this for free when using points or extra perks like room upgrades and free breakfast when paying out of pocket.
Location and Getting There
Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal is located around 35 to 45 minutes away from the main international airport, Los Cabos International Airport (SJD).
Despite its incredible beachfront location, the resort is also walking distance from Cabo San Lucas, should you wish to wander outside of the resort.
One of the signature elements of this resort is the entry into the resort, which consists of an epic tunnel bored into the mountain.
Once you make your way through, you are greeted by an oversized roundabout driveway. From there, exit your vehicle, and you and your bags will be whisked through the check-in festivities.
Check-In and Service
Our check-in process was polished and efficient.
We consistently found the staff to be warm, willing to chat, and professional.
At this property, you are assigned a personal concierge, which you can reach through text message or WhatsApp — it was a truly stress-free way to receive service.
We used this to arrange our pre-departure COVID test at the resort, plan activities, adjust housekeeping times, and more.
Although the property was at more than 85% capacity during our stay, we felt like the service we received was mostly exceptional. There were a few minor instances in which a staff member wasn’t nearby, but these were definitely far and few in between.
Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal Property Overview
The Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal has 115 rooms, suites, villas, casitas, and private homes spread out across 24 acres of land.
Another signature element of Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal is that the buildings have varied elevations, making for an epic backdrop.
As we roamed around the property, we noticed how immaculate the landscaping was, how breathtaking the scenery proved to be, and the expansiveness this property truly exuded.
Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal Two Bedroom Ocean View Villa with Plunge Pool (2,685 Square Feet)
Originally, we were booked in an excellent Pacific view king bed room, but the property upgraded us in-advance to the 2 Bedroom Ocean View Villa with Plunge Pool.
This villa represents an enormous upgrade of almost 3 times the cash rate of our original room.
We were assigned to villa 620, which measures 2,685 square feet (including indoor and outdoor spaces).
This villa started off with a small entryway, which was appointed with a mirror and a side table with fresh fruit and a glorious welcome amenity: Clase Azul Reposado tequila.
This is a welcome amenity that all guests can enjoy — in fact, you can even take the bottle home as a souvenir!
Then, the villa opened up into the massive living room, which boasts an enormous stadium-style sofa capable of hosting families, as well as 2 additional lounge chairs.
There was also a dining area with a 6-chair table just next to the sliding patio doors.
The patio doors open up into a jaw-dropping entertainment-style terrace, featuring a private infinity pool, another 6-chair dining table, and 2 sunloungers.
Making our way back to the interior spaces, the chef’s kitchen was waiting behind sliding cedar doors; it didn’t disappoint.
This kitchen was equipped with stainless steel Viking appliances, a large fridge, a gas range, a large kitchen island, and lots of storage space.
Notable amenities include a dishwasher, a professional kitchen sink, a microwave, cookware, silverware, and dishware.
On the counter were a coffeemaker, creamer, sugar, and freshly ground Mexican coffee.
The refrigerator was stocked with complimentary water, soft drinks, and juice, which were refilled daily.
Just next to the kitchen was a laundry room, which was incredibly handy!
Exiting the kitchen, we also found a Bluetooth soundbar, binoculars for ocean or people watching, and a small table with a chair.
This villa also includes a half bathroom with a water closet and a single vanity.
The first bedroom is furnished with 2 queen beds, a flat-screen TV, and a closet.
It also has a fantastic bathroom complete with a single vanity, an LED make-up mirror, a walk-in rain shower, and a water closet.
The master bedroom is nestled away in the corner of the villa, outfitted with an Eastern king bed, 2 nightstands, a sitting area with 2 lounge chairs, and bedside power ports.
Opposite the bed is a wall-mounted Samsung SMART TV, a closet with bathrobes, slippers, an extra pillow, a beach tote bag, and hangers. There’s also a fantastic gas fireplace that we enjoyed greatly.
The other terrace is located next to the master bedroom, and it contains 2 sun loungers to enjoy the ocean view.
The spa-like bathroom has 2 separate vanities, a cushioned bench with pillows, a water closet, a walk-in shower, and a soaking tub.
The designer bath products were green tea, mint, and ginger-scented by Vervan.
We had an incredible upgrade of more than triple the square footage. This 2 bedroom ocean view villa is something we will never forget.
Rooms vs. Suites vs. Villas vs. Casitas vs. Private Homes
This property has numerous tiers of accommodation.
The entry-level types of accommodation are called rooms. Rooms are what you’d get when booking a Hilton Honors standard redemption rate.
Not to worry, even standard rooms have private plunge pools and terraces, complimentary refreshments, the Clase Azul Reposado tequila welcome amenity, and a full bathroom.
Suites are the next step up and typically contain a second terrace, an outdoor sitting area, and more space.
However, it’s important to note that the most expensive rooms on the property actually some of the premium beachfront suites, including the Presidential Beachfront Suite.
Next up are casitas, which are usually on the ground floor of a building and feature a full kitchen, a separate living room, and at least 2 bedrooms.
Casitas are the entry-level “family-style” accomodations — they’re conveniently located near much of the resort’s facilities but don’t have the best views. In addition, casitas are spread out across 2 levels.
Villas are similar to casitas in the sense that they offer a full kitchen, a separate living room, and a minimum of 2 bedrooms of space.
The main difference is that villas are more private than casitas, are a bit further from the resort’s main facilities, but usually enjoy better views. Also, villas are single-floor units, as opposed to casitas, which have 2 floors.
Lastly, private homes are the best option for large families. You can pick between a 3-bedroom or a 4-bedroom private home — each of these has views of the marina. They’re perched at the top of the cliff and have much more privacy.
In general, you should book private homes if you need to house 8 or 9 guests. It makes sense to book private homes if you’re a public figure needing to stay away from the public eye, too.
Fitness Center
This property has an awesome fitness center, which contains an assortment of Technogym machines, free weights, and 2 exercise rooms.
One of the private rooms is a yoga room, while the other is a powerlifting room.
At the entrance of the fitness center is a refreshment station.
Spa
Another lovely facility is the resort spa, which has ocean views, 10 treatment rooms, and an awesome waterfall pool.
Although we didn’t book any spa treatments, we were shocked that in an apples-to-apples comparison with treatments at similar resorts in the Maldives, this property’s treatments were way more expensive!
Facials and massages were priced at around $4 to $5 per minute, while signature treatments were consistently around $5 per minute. That’s like paying $250 for a 50-minute massage!
Beach
Although the Waldorf Astoria doesn’t have a swimmable beach (as is the case with many resorts, even top-tier luxury resorts in Cabo), it has an awesome and lengthy stretch of beach.
Most resorts in Cabo don’t have swimmable beaches because of the steep drop-off in ocean floors causing a rapid change in water depth and therefore dangerous rip tides and currents.
Technically, this isn’t a private beach; but had no problems peacefully walking on the beach. You’ll love this beach if you like long walks on white sand!
Pools
In total, the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos has 4 pools:
- Main resort pool (infinity pool) near Don Manuel’s
- Kids pool near The Beach Club
- Pool near The Beach Club
- Waterfall pool in the spa
Most guests flock to the main resort pool, which is located right next to Don Manuel’s and Crudo.
And although this pool is generally the most crowded, it’s also generally the least windy.
The kids pool is circular in design and is located next to The Beach Club.
There was also a quieter infinity pool next to The Beach Club, which also had a hot tub built into it.
This pool was generally windier, which made using umbrellas a delicate balancing act.
Tennis Court
A little-known fact about this property is that there are 2 tennis courts, which are located before the entrance tunnel.
The courts have Laykold construction (the same used for the U.S. Open) but have some sort of astroturf-like surface, which was somewhat confusing. The playing surface resembles a grass court, while the underlying material is that of a hard court.
In any case, there are also complimentary racket and ball rentals, as well as a minifridge with refreshments.
AlmArte Shopping Boutique
This property has a shopping and gift boutique, where you can buy extra sunscreen, swimsuits, souvenirs, hats, and much more.
Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal Restaurants
Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal has a handful of food and beverage outlets, including El Farallon, an extremely popular signature restaurant that even attracts guests staying at other hotels for its unreal views, fresh seafood, and innovative dining experience.
In this section, we’ll examine the various dining options available!
Don Manuel’s
Don Manuel’s is the all-day restaurant most popular for serving breakfast.
It has plenty of seating options, including shaded, unshaded, indoor, and outdoor choices.
It’s located just behind the main resort pool and steps from the beach.
Because we arrived early and were waiting for our villa to be ready, we had lunch at Don Manuel’s.
We ordered:
- Chips and guacamole
- Grilled shrimp tacos
- Seafood molcajete ceviche
All of these dishes were very good — but the most memorable experiences at Don Manuel’s were during breakfast and late at night.
Breakfast at Don Manuel’s
During our stay, breakfast was served at Don Manuel’s. starting from 7 a.m. until 11:30 a.m.
On account of our Hilton Honors Diamond status, we enjoyed the complimentary continental breakfast buffet (valued at $32 per person), which included the following:
- Local seasonal fruits
- A selection of breakfast pastries (which were absolutely delicious)
- Butter and homemade marmalades
- Homemade granola and a selection of cereals
- Choice of milk, juice, coffee, and tea
In reality, the breakfast buffet also had numerous hot dishes available as well, including tamales, freshly prepared quesadillas, and grilled vegetables.
Every day, we opted to pay an additional $9 per person to upgrade to the traditional Mexican breakfast, which included an a la carte hot dish in addition to the buffet.
On the first day, we ordered the motuleños eggs and croque madame. The next day, we ordered breakfast chilaquiles and a steak and eggs.
While all of the choices at Don Manuel’s were tasty, the most memorable dishes were the steak and eggs and the breakfast pastries.
Don Manuel’s Bar
Don Manuel’s Bar was located in an outdoor corner of Don Manuel’s.
Although there are a healthy number of guests throughout the day, this area became the liveliest during the night when there was live music.
We had a fantastic time listening to live music in the evening while sipping cocktails.
El Farallon
The property’s signature restaurant is El Farallon.
This restaurant is so popular (even amongst guests staying at other hotels) that it was actually fully booked prior to our arrival.
We’ve even heard that it can book out weeks in advance. So as soon as you book your stay, reach out to the hotel to lock down a reservation here.
El Farallon overlooks the Pacific Ocean’s scenic cliffs and azure waters with its location on the western edge of the resort.
Luckily, on the day we arrived, there was 1 cancellation, which allowed us to snag a 7:15 p.m. dinner here.
In fact, there was a wedding on one of our dates, and El Farallon was completely bought out as the dinner venue.
The restaurant starts off with a reception area called the Champagne Terrace.
While you’re waiting for your table to be prepared, you can order a glass (or bottle) of Champagne and enjoy the postcard-perfect views.
Next to the Champagne terrace was a cocktail bar and the open-air kitchen.
Stress-free ordering is the name of the game here at El Farallon — a fish expert brings the menu to your table on a chalkboard.
Just choose your protein and sides, and the team will prepare a 4-course dinner for you!
The cocktails were incredible, too.
We also enjoyed a delicious duo of sesame crackers and focaccia bread, accompanied by a local hummus.
The menu changes every day, but we enjoyed:
- Tortilla soup
- An appetizer of shrimp ceviche, chicken tostada, and papaya salad
- Main courses of totoaba (a local fish), bluefin tina, and jumbo shrimp with 4 sides
- Churros with chocolate and caramel (and a bonus chocolate tamale as an anniversary gift)
The bluefin tina and totoaba were the 2 highlights of the dinner, and we enjoyed the rest of the night with cocktails and live music.
The Beach Club
The Beach Club is located on the east end of the resort. This was definitely the quieter side of the resort (Don Manuel’s, Crudo, and El Farallon are all on the west end).
The all-day menu features Mexican favorites like ceviche and tacos, as well as Western classics like burgers and pasta.
We opted to enjoy dining from The Beach Club at one of the infinity pools instead of sitting down at one of the restuarant’s tables.
We ordered the bluefin tina ceviche and chicken nachos, both of which were tremendous.
Crudo
Crudo is the name of the swim-up bar serving cocktails and specializing in raw food, including ceviche, tataki, sashimi, and sushi.
It’s located in a palapa just next to Don Manuel’s.
You can order service from either Crudo or Don Manuel’s while relaxing at the main resort pool.
We ordered the bluefin tuna tostada and black shrimp aguachile ceviche to enjoy at our sunloungers. I can’t recommend the bluefin tuna enough while you’re in Cabo — it’s truly delicate and incredible.
Agave Study at Peacock Alley
Peacock Alley was the name of the classic lobby bar in the original Waldorf Astoria New York, and all Waldorf Astoria properties have some sort of local take on it.
Here, Peacock Alley consists of a beautiful outdoor space and a glass-windowed space just adjacent to the lobby and check-in area.
The highlight of Peacock Alley is The Agave Study (the glass-windowed space next to the check-in area).
Here, you can immerse yourself in tequila tasting featuring different accompaniments, types of agave spirits (tequila and mezcal are both offered), and engage in a multisensory agave experience.
Although we weren’t big fans or students of agave, we were impressed with our tasting experience. There’s so much more than the spirit itself, and pairing your tequila with different fruits and sweets can accentuate various flavor notes!
Va y Viene Beach Bar
There’s also a beachfront Champagne bar called Va y Viene. This outlet was neat because of its swing-style seating.
For the most part, it was very busy during our stay.
Neutral Coffee Lab
Just opposite Peacock Alley was Neutral Coffee Lab, an artisanal cafe serving fine Mexican coffee.
Enjoying your coffee here is fairly simple:
- Choose whether you want a hot or cold beverage
- Choose your preparation (e.g. French press versus Aeropress)
- Choose your dairy
- Choose your flavorings or add-ons
- Choose your accompaniments (pastries, sandwiches, and salads)
You can also order smoothies and juices here!
Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal Personal Concierge and Service
The team takes great pride in having the privilege of working at a Waldorf Astoria property, and it shows in almost every way.
We learned some of this by talking to the staff and learning about other properties they’ve worked at, but we also learned this by observing the service culture.
To start off, there’s a thoughtfully implemented service concept — you can text or WhatsApp message your personal concierge as needed and get a response within minutes, if not seconds.
Even during a busy period, we didn’t feel left out. Service was consistently up to the level we expected from a Waldorf Astoria.
Also, so many little touches were done right. For example, the landscaping was immaculate — the sand around the property was flawlessly raked every day.
And the service around the pools was another highlight — team members are always serving complimentary treats.
For example, during our stay, we were offered complimentary lime and mint popsicles, bluefin tostadas, and pineapple margaritas.
Wrapping Up
This property truly lives up to the Waldorf Astoria name in the best way possible. The Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal is one of the most exceptional hotels in the world. Period.
Although this is more of a personal preference, our only feedback would be to offer 1 more dining option, such as a Mediterranean or Chinese restaurant.
Everything else, though, was immaculate.
The service was almost perfect, we got an unreal upgrade to a 2 Bedroom Ocean View Villa, and we enjoyed a much-needed relaxation-style vacation here.
The villas were tastefully appointed in a nod to traditional Mexican luxury interior design, and we had no complaints with the room.
Although there’s no swimmable beach here, the property makes up for this by offering excellent pools and poolside service.
The fact that Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal is a member of a major hotel loyalty program is the reason why we went.
And everything else about the property is the reason why we will return.