We stayed at the Pacifica the week before Christmas and loved the resort. The grounds and rooms were gorgeous, very clean, and stylish. The proximity to downtown is very good - only a 5 minute car ride. We rented a car and would recommend doing so. You'll end up paying the price in taxi and shuttles and without the freedom of your own transportation. Miguel, the Activities Director, was great!!! Our friends had dinner at Siempro and said it was excellent! Prior reviews with complaints have been addressed (such as slow pool food/drink service and aggressive timeshare people). We didn't have problems with either one. We would definitely recommend this resort!!! P.S. Before you upgrade to the "Cadillac" margarita - check the price - we were charged $15 per drink...

A beautiful new hotel in Cabo San Lucas on the Pacific side. Cabo really needed a hotel to compete with the majors like Las Ventanas, Palmilla, etc at a more reasonable price and this is it. The Pacifica is a beautiful, zen-like hotel. The staff treated us with incredible respect and catered to our every need (even on the busy Thanksgiving holiday) - we had a wonderful vacation and will go back.

A few traveler notes:

If you can stomach the time share presentation, it's worth it - the discounted spa services are first rate. The Sunset Beach has a larger spa and better fitness center than the Pacifica.

Also - don't bother with the "free" shuttle into town unless you are really pinching pennies - it's a $10 USD taxi ride each way and much faster by taxi.

My husband and I also had the chance to take advantage of the 7 night/$299 special. It was well worth the trip and we didn't want to leave. When we arrived, our room wasn't ready so they gave us 4 drink vouchers to use at any Pueblo Bonito (PB) pool bar or restaurant. We relaxed at the pool bar and received great service and fabulous food. Our room was very clean and comfortable with a spectacular view of the grounds, beach, and ocean from our patio. We were looking for a quiet and relaxing vacation and it is exactly what we received. We spent some time in Cabo shopping, dining and even used our complimentary glass-bottom boat ride to Lover's Beach, but much preferred to hurry back to the Pacifica for some much needed R&R. The timeshare presentation at PB Sunset Beach was painless (although took almost 3 hours) and we weren't pressured when we declined to purchase. We did eat at The Bistro twice and La Nao once at Sunset Beach. Both restaurants were excellent and we received a 10% discount for being PB guests. The coffee at La Nao was the best I've ever had and they even warmed the cream. My husband came down with strep throat two days into our vacation and we got him right into the clinic at PB Sunset Beach. They delivered antibiotics right to our room and he was feeling much better the next day. We each chose massages at the spa and thoroughly enjoyed them, the steam and jacuzzi facilities. We enjoyed breakfast at Siempre on property and only experienced some waiting time once. All the staff persons were very friendly and accommodating. The concierge staff was extremely helpful and were very proficient in getting us dinner reservations in Cabo. We especially enjoyed Mi Casa, Edith's and The Office. You must try breakfast at The Office. Anyway...back to the Pacifica. We did not experience any problems with sewage smell or early knocks by housekeeping. In fact, we had a bean bag type thing to hang outside our door - one side had a moon (do not disturb) and the other a sun (clean room). We requested down pillows for our bed and they even gave us robes to wear during our visit. We took advantage of the free Wine & Cheese tasting party at PB Sunset Beach on Wed. night. We did get tired of waiting for the shuttle as it took almost an hour to go from Pacifica to Sunset Beach to Rose. We ended up spending a lot on taxi service but we were on vacation so why complain? If you want to be waited on hand and foot and are picky about what you are eating then you need to spend the money to stay at One & Only Palmilla or Las Ventanas. But for a young couple with a vacation budget, the Pacifica was perfect. I didn't mind that you can't swim in the ocean, I preferred the beautiful pool area. I didn't mind spending $12 on a couple of Pina Coladas. It's vacation. The going rate for cocktails anywhere we went was the same. I didn't mind that there wasn't a Starbucks around the corner. This is Mexico and you are on vacation! I could probably go on and on about how much we enjoyed the Pacifica but I think you get the idea! Try it out, you'll LOVE it!

The hotel management must be reading the reviews on Trip Advisor, because almost everything that previous reviewers mentioned as irritants had been fixed or addressed when we arrived. We stayed for 7 nights in a regular room, not a suite. The room was comfortable, but small for the rack rate. If you want to spend time relaxing in your room, then go for a suite. (Full disclosure: we went on an invitation that included a $299 per couple for 7 nights deal as well as discounts on selected services.) The service was excellent. The shuttle service has been expanded to twice per hour. Several people made friends and shared taxis or rented cars, since this resort is outside town. We talked with people who took taxis to San Lucas from the "corridor" or from San Juan, and they paid much more. If you don't want to time your leaving to coincide with the shuttle and you don't want to pay for a taxi, then choose a resort located in the crowded, noisy center of town. We thought the serenity of coming "home" to Pacifica and leaving the party scene back in town was worth the cost of the taxi. If you want to party and dance and haggle with the beach vendors, choose another resort, since this one is quiet, serene and absolutely the most relaxing hotel I have ever visited. We had no waits at any restaurant. In fact, we usually had two or three waiters nearby, refilling coffee cups or water. The food prices at the hotel are very high, but are comparable to all of the finer resorts in Cabo. We ate at local restaurants in town that were just as high and not as good. We did find the best value was the lower-priced cafe at the Sunset Beach. We were greeted by name at the pool and at the restaurant and the service only slowed a little at peak times in early afternoon when almost all of the lanai chairs were filled. We were disappointed that the wine bar which advertised tapas did not serve them after 6 p.m. Tapas are generally served in most places as a light evening meal. We are used to eating a larger noon meal and eating light in the evening, but this hotel and all of the Pueblo Bonito resorts followed the American tradition of a light lunch and heavy evening meals. Since the resort defines itself as a "Spa", it was surprising to find an extra $15 per day usage fee for the gym or any wet area. That fee was waved if you received a massage or treatment. The gym and equipment were appropriate for the size of the hotel , but there could have been more scheduled activities and training offered. There were lighted tennis courts, but the golf courses are in the process of being built. If you want to swim in ocean water, take the shuttle to the Rose and you have full privleges at this or other Pueblo Bonito resorts in Cabo. We liked the atmosphere at the Pueblo Bonito San Lucas or the "Blanco" as the locals call it, which is just next door to the Rose. The beach service was excellent. Many people we talked to liked the heavy architecture of the other Pueblo Bonito resorts that are in the traditional Mexican or mediterranean style, but we loved the clean lines and open contemporary style of the Pacifica resort. The concierge service was very good, but many of the staff are only recent arrivals to Cabo from Mexico City or Cancun, so don't expect them to know the local scene very well, or any of the sights in Baja Sur. They will however get you in touch with locals who do know the area. We rented a car and spent a day in Todos Santos, about 75 km north, and it was a trip well worth taking. Get a local guide to take you if you don't know the local and national driving customs, which can be hair raising. We even took advantage of viewing timeshare opportuntiies (or fractional ownership as they insist on calling it) which we normally do not do. We received a large discount on food costs and spa treatments and received a number of free activities, like sunset cruise. All in all, it was a terrific vacation, and well worth it if you want a quiet, serene place to stay without noisy children, without beach vendors and without a Starbucks for miles....yes!