During my recent visit to Los Cabos for TravelAge West, the leading travel industry publication in the western United States, I stayed at the Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos, a family-friendly, all-inclusive Mexico beach resort in San José del Cabo. I found lots to like about about this hotel, including the new pandemic-era hygiene protocols that are designed to protect guests and staff.
You can watch my complete video hotel tour of the Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos by clicking here (or scroll down if you’re on the LatinFlyer website).
HOTEL STYLE: Located in a convenient location in San José del Cabo, the Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos features a thoughtfully beautiful design that allows for a view straight out to the pool and the ocean as soon as you enter the large, handsomely decorated lobby.
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PANDEMIC PROTOCOLS: When I visited, the Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos was operating at 50% capacity, in keeping with state guidelines during the pandemic. As soon as I arrived, I stepped on a sanitizing doormat and a bellhop offered hand sanitizer as he took my temperature. One thing I especially appreciated that not every hotel does: during check-in, the receptionist asked if I wanted my room cleaned regularly (I told him no). Having this flexibility to request cleaning only when you need it is a great way to reduce the amount of contact other people have with your room.
The Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos follows an extensive protocol, and that’s good news for both guests and staff. Masks are required at all indoor venues, and all entrances have sanitizing doormats and hand sanitizer readily available. You’ll also find dining and entertainment venues with reduced capacity and socially distanced seating — and, as usual, outdoor seating is the safest choice. The buffets are no longer self service, so you don’t need to have contact with high-touch items like tongs or serving spoons. In addition guest rooms are sealed to indicate that they’ve been sanitized, and bath amenities and TV remote control are wrapped in plastic.
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THE HOTEL ROOMS: I stayed in room 1617, a sixth floor room in the main building that was spacious and attractive, with dark wood accents and an ample seating area with sofa bed, as well as a balcony facing the pool and the ocean. The bathroom had two sinks, a water closet and a shower/tub area with a shuttered “window” (something I love) so you can bring in natural light and the ocean view while bathing. I also appreciated the good reading lights and large, comfy bed.
THINGS TO DO AT THE HOTEL: The public areas at this Mexico beach hotel are especially attractive. The visual centerpiece at the Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos is a large pool, wide beach and chic open-air lounge seating area set on a water feature. One of the most memorable evenings I spent was at the pool after dark: a very talented singer stood alone, atop a small stage in front of the empty, illuminated pool, singing a variety of dramatic ballads. It was like a scene from a movie. On another evening, I relaxed with a drink on a couch in front of a fire pit (this was October, so it was cool enough to enjoy the warmth from the flames), on a tiny island in the middle of the reflective pool, as a musician played a saxophone nearby. It was yet another magical, atmospheric evening.
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Live entertainment is a draw at the Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos. The large indoor theater — which now features socially distanced seating and reduced capacity — features a robust schedule of live music and dance performances, with a cast of talented dancers and singers. If you feel safer outdoors (which makes sense to me), you can still enjoy live entertainment outdoors, much like I did.
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Cuisine is another selling point. The restaurants are varied and attractive; I made good use of the expansive buffet, where my favorite dishes included lomo de cerdo (pork shoulder), quesadillas de birria (birria is kind of a trending meal nowadays, it seems) and carne polaca (Polish meat; something neither I nor any of my Mexican friends had heard of, but it was delicious).
I also really liked the location of the Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos. Unlike many beach resort hotels that are isolated and remote, this hotel is within walking distance of some restaurants and shopping (including an all-important Oxxo, the convenience store chain), so it’s easy to stroll off property.