Austin Way Magazine - GreenGale Publishing - There is a place beyond the crowds, beyond the ropes, where dreams are realized and success is celebrated. You are invited.
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76 A U S T I N W A Y L A T E F A L L 2 0 1 7 | M O D E R N L U X U R Y . C O M CHILENO BAY RESIDENCES PHOTO BY PATRICIA LYONS T R A V E L & R E C R E A T I O N g e t a w a y L os Cabos is booming. Five new hotels— including a Park Hyatt, Nobu and a Solaz— are set to open this year in the posh Mexican resort area at the southernmost tip of the Baja peninsula, a 775-mile-long sliver of land that separates the Pacific Ocean from the Gulf of California. And more are coming—the next few years will bring a 1 Hotel, a e Ritz Carlton Reserve, a Montage, a Four Seasons and a e St. Regis. What's the appeal? "If you're on the West Coast or in the mountain regions, you can decide on ursday, 'Hey, let's fly down [to Mexico] on Friday,'" explains Neil Johnson, director of residential real estate for Ohana Real Estate Investors, the company behind the already-open Maravilla Los Cabos (maravillaloscabos.com), as well as the Montage Residences Los Cabos (montageresidencesloscabos.com) and hotel, scheduled to debut early next year. "It's a short flight, and you're in Mexico where the weather is essentially guaranteed and the service is phenomenal." About 500 weekly flights arrive into Los Cabos, and the airport is currently undergoing a $48 million expansion, which is slated for completion in two years and will include five new gates, a total refurbishment of the domestic terminal and a brand-new VIP lounge. It's clearly a necessity, as the area—more than ever before—is poised to become one of the top luxury playgrounds in the Americas. Many existing resorts have been renovated or upgraded in the past three years since Hurricane Odile, which slammed into the peninsula in September 2014. Las Ventanas al Paraiso (room rates from $990 per night, rosewoodhotels.com), a perennial favorite among the boho- chic set, was one of them. In addition to storm-related renovation, the resort recently unveiled the Ty Warner Mansion, a Robert Couturier-designed 28,000-square-foot art-filled villa perched on the most enviable spot on the property. For $35,000 per night, guests at the two-bedroom villa can luxuriate in over-the-top amenities, including the beachfront infinity pool with a sunken, in-pool living room and swim-up bar; a rooftop terrace with glass- bottom lap pool, whirlpool spa and putting green; as well as the expected private chef, driver on-call and butler. And let's not forget the customizable fireworks display that can be arranged at a moment's notice and controlled by the guest, via remote. While Las Ventanas is a stalwart, the aforementioned statistics site room for competition. Grand Velas Los Cabos (loscabos.grandvelas.com) is one of the newer entries in the market and is removing the stigma around the words "all-inclusive," with rates from $548 per person, per night. Every room has a private terrace with a view of the ocean, as well as incredibly thoughtful room amenities. ere's a staff ratio of 3:1; the resort has five fine-dining restaurants from which guests can choose (including Cocina de Autor, From left: Dramatic dining at Chileno Bay Resorts & Residences; the avant-garde Mar Adentro at night. BAJA BOOMTOWN A surge of sojourners are expected in Los Cabos this season, as the Mexican playground welcomes an onslaught of new luxury hotels and residences catering to those with high-end tastes and an appetite for sunshine and siestas. By Rima Suqi