Fresh off of a 1-week trip to Cabo San Lucas (AKA Los Cabos, Lands End) my wife & I put together a list of what we did well, and what we’d do different for future trips…if you find the list useful, or if you have other tips for a great Cabo trip, please add a comment below. -Matt

Things to pack

• Ground coffee
• sugar
• salt/pepper
• Bring max wine down/Vodka (buy duty-free on way down??)
• Music speakers (battery-powered are best)
• iPod & cables
  • ipod charger (not just firewire to PC)
  • iPod holder with clip for airline seatpocket
• Long Computer Cable/extension cord. Check airline for flight with AC power
• Bring beach-friendly marg holder (like Gatorade squeeze bottle). Freeze 1/3 of bottle to keep drinks cold while on beach.
• Collapsible cooler for beach
• Big sun hat
• More day clothes, less night clothes
• More underwear, less socks
• Long sleeve surf rash guard (sun protection)
• Wetsuit Vest for me, springer for wife
• binoculars

Things to prep

• Book 2nd room for the same week. Either sell that week, or find friends to use it.
• Install movies on computer for flight
• Set up Skype account with skype credit for international ph calls
  • skype-to-skype
  • skype-to-landline (with skype credit)
  • Make sure kids/sitter have access to video calls on home pc
• Set up email servers to work in Mex

Advice while down there

• Sunscreen!! Don’t forget knees, especially if surfing
• Carry small US/ peso bills always
• Set a 6am alarm for access to the best pool chairs (though the best beach chairs are almost always easy to get and to hold onto)
• Walk on the main street between the Nowhere Bar and El Galeon or Romeo and Julieta restaurants. It’s much shorter than the wandering Marina route. In fact, the main drag is an easier walk than the Marina in general
• The store at our condo (Villa del Arcos), La Tiendita has decent prices for food. Instead of a cab to the store, get short-notice items there instead.
• Find free internet access in hospitality suite, or pay $9/day internet access throughout complex
• Pack food & head to Lovers beach for the day/snorkel

Alaska Air

• Use Alaska Air credit card
  • $75 annual fee
  • $99 companion pass

Los Cerritos (km 64)

A gorgeous beach, about 50km north of Cabo San Lucas on the Pacific side, Los Cerritos is an easy trip for the day. Next time we may stay overnight at one of the hotels listed below. There’s a restaurant (with fairly steep prices for food & drinks) that has chairs and umbrellas for customers. There’s the Costa Azul surfboard rental trailer at one end of the beach, and the Diablo Blanco surf shack at the other.end.

• Head east out of town near Pueblo Bonito/Villa Palmar
• Consider spending less days at Cabo resorts, rent hotel at Cerritos
  • www.haciendacerritos.com ($100/night)
  • Tortuga Bay has beach huts as well
• Hang out on beach, not at the restaurant. You can keep a cooler in the trunk.
• Bring chairs & umbrella
• Don’t forget surboard wax

Things to ask for if negotiating attendance at a timeshare presentation

• Fishing
• Have all $$ and details written down
• Don’t include jewlery certificates (Diamond International)
• Have Taxi include trip to WalMart/Costco

Shopping list for Costco/WalMart

• Case of beer (bottles)
• Cans of beer for beach/pool
• sugar
• Cheese & crackers
• Butter
• bread
• Sandwich stuff
• Premix Marg’s /marg mix
• Bananas
• Eggs
• Cereal
• Milk
• Juice
• Cream

Restaurants/Bars

• Arts & Sushi. Fantastic fish, great service!
• Nowhere Bar. Just around the corner from Arts & Sushi. Good club music.
• Wamango. Good fish tacos, live entertainment for lunch.
• El Galeon. Great service and the best food we’ve had. A bit pricey, but defintely worth it!
• Romeo y Julieta. Solid italian food, but steak was just average. For a pricey place, service was really slow all around & setting was only so-so. We won’t plan to go back unless we’re meeting friends there.

Stuff to avoid

• Snorkle (unless going to Lands End to use it)
• Quote from my wife: “I packed too many clothes”
  • no more than 2 pair of regular shorts
  • 1 pair jeans
  • 1 sweatshirt/jacket
  • 1 long sleeve shirt