My family came over to visit last March, six of them to be exact.  They left and guess what they had in tow.  They checked in ten huge boxes and two luggages, each weighing 70lbs.  In addition, each of them had at least two carry-ons weighing more than 10lbs each.  With all that luggage, how did they get to the airport?  We rented a cargo van from U-Haul.

While they were checking in, the airline agent asked them if they were moving.  Another agent asked if they had fun.  I answered for them yes and told her they were here for 4 weeks.  The agent then added “…with 3 weeks of shopping.”  She was absolutely right.  With the value of the dollar down, their visit couldn’t have been at a better time.

Cabo San Lucas is similar to small city in the US with all the convenience and amenities, from stores like Costco to active nightlife. Cabo San Lucas is the best area in Los Cabos for younger crowds who like to party at night. If you want an exotic location, Cabo San Lucas is not the place for you. If you want a tropical destination but with all the conveniences of home, Cabo San Lucas is a great destination.

Just like my previous reviews, I will not be including info about Cabo San Lucas that can easily be found online. I will try to minimize this review to tips, recommendations, and my opinions of the products and services.

US Currency is widely accepted. If you want to exchange your cash to MX$, Consultoria Internacional by the Tesoro hotel had good exchange rates (US$1-MX$10.90 at the time). But some of the stores and restaurants exchanged at a better rate (US$1-MX$11 when we were there) so it was better for us to keep most of our US$. Cabs exchanged at US$1-MX$10.

Order vouchers at LosCabosGuide.com. You can buy vouchers to restaurants, tours and more at 65% of its face value. You can return the unused vouchers and get a refund. Note that the places don’t give you change with your voucher. You can find sample menus on LosCabosGuide.com so you’ll have an idea how much it would cost. Go to the Resources section of this review to view recommended restaurants.

Beware of timeshare sharks. Right after customs at the airport, you’ll reach an area with counters on the sides filled with people wearing marked shirts and ID’s that made them look official. Some may even tell you that you have to check in with them so they can call the driver you’ve booked your transfer with. That’s not true. These people are timeshare salespeople. Just tell them no and go straight outside the building. The airport transfer companies are right outside the building.

I don’t completely discourage going to timeshare presentations. You can get freebies or discounts (tours, meals) and/or cash from them. If you are approached by a timeshare shark, hesitate and you might get more. Just be cautious and not get suckered into buying one if you never plan to buy one before you came.

Most of the beaches in Los Cabos are not swimmable. A few including Medano Beach and Lover’s Beach in Cabo San Lucas are swimmable.

If you want to stock up on food, there is a City Club that was like Costco. One day membership fee was US$2.55. We bought a pack of bottled water in addition to other food. We thought the water bottles we bought were too many, but by the end of the week, they were all gone. Keep hydrated, the summer is scorching hot.

Free wi-fi and a free call to the US/Canada is available at Senor Sweets by the marina.

Gratuities are 10%-15% in restaurants, fishing, guides; none for taxis; $1/bag for bellboys; $2-$3/night for the maids; $1 for gas station attendant; $0.50-$1 for parking lot security.

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