☀️ Welcome to our not-so-relaxing “relaxing” vacation in Mexico
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Happy Monday!

As I write this, I’m sitting on a beach in San José del Cabo, Mexico—waves crashing, sun blazing, and a breeze doing its best to keep me cool (spoiler: it’s losing). Not a bad “office” view for the week, right?

This is our third of five days here and we’ve already experienced a lot of the local flavor:

• Tacos, and more tacos
• Tequila tasting
• Walks on the beach
• Pool time
• And (my new favorite) another cooking class

Throughout it all, I’ve been reflecting A LOT.

💎 Luxury, on our terms

I know timeshares get a bad rap (and sometimes deservedly so), but as Hilton timeshare owners, we LOVE it. Sitting at the swim-up bar at the stunning Cabo Azul Resort, Todd and I just looked around in awe.

Never in a million years did we imagine—two kids who grew up poor, lived paycheck to paycheck raising a family, and worked regular jobs—that this would be our life. And yet, here we are.

I don’t share that to brag (though it feels a little braggy). And we certainly don’t always stay at resorts like this (but it’s fun when we do).

I share it because if we can figure out how to travel in luxury without breaking the bank, you can too.

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🤔 The plan vs. reality

We told ourselves this trip would be relaxing. We’d enjoy time lounging by the many pools at the resort or sinking our feet in the sand. (Go ahead, you can laugh now. 😂)

• Before heading to Cabo, we booked a cooking class (day 2)
• Before checking into our room, we booked a sunset sailing cruise (day 3)
• And then, we took a walk into downtown San José, where we discovered artisan shops, live music, and authentic food at local prices.

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🌮 Where to eat in Cabo (hint: not at the resort)

A hotel staff member recommended La Lupita Taco & Mezcal our first night—it was lively, authentic, delicious.

On night two, we tried El Ahorcado (The Hangman Surf & Tacos), a quirky little spot decorated floor-to-ceiling with random treasures. It was one of our best meals so far:

• A spectacular salsa board (set on the table as soon as you sit down)
• Frijoles soup (delicious!)
• Tacos filled with beef, marinated pork and roasted barbecue-style ribs (three different tacos)
• Jericalla for dessert (think Mexican creme brûlée)
• Sparkling water for me, and a margarita for Todd
• PLUS: a 3-taco take-out for our friend back at the resort

The bill? About the same price as two mediocre resort cocktails.

Moral of the story: Eat like a local. Your taste buds—and wallet—will thank you.

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🇲🇽 Local hospitality

I can’t recommend enough getting away from the resort and tourist areas. Sure, there are kitschy shops and souvenirs downtown, but there are also local artisans, live music, and restaurants with authentic cuisine.

Not to mention, all the wonderful people you’ll meet.

San José del Cabo is smaller and quieter than its well-known neighbor, Cabo San Lucas. It feels more relaxing and has a welcoming vibe.

The locals are excited to share their favorite hangouts, tell you about their family’s history making tequila, or offer up a taste of something traditional.

It said a lot about the area when we met three people in just one day who all said practically the same thing… “I came for vacation and never left.”

Right now is the off season in Los Cabos. It’s hot (muy caliente, in fact!), but less visitors adds to the laid back feel.

If you don’t mind the heat and want a quick getaway, San José del Cabo is a great option.

If you prefer milder temps and lower humidity, start planning your trip for sometime between November and April. Bonus: that’s also the best time for whale watching.

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Next week, I’ll share all about our cooking class with Francisco, our incredible chef and host. Trust me, you’ll want to hear about that one...

Until then, stay cool, dream big and keep wandering.

✈️ Your fellow wanderer and luxury traveler (this time 🩵)