#1 - go to Cabo
#2 - stay at this hotel
#3 - pay no attention to those complaining of how expensive Cabo is, they either did not do their research, have a less than average grasp on geography - or both!

#1 - Cabo is stunning - the contrast from the desert moon scapes and the gorgeous ocean is incredible.

Weather is near perfect, though in January with the breeze it can be a bit coolish - especially if you are lanai dwellers like we are and not sun worshippers.

Between the strong currents and the cool water temps, it is not really a beach-goers destination, but that is fine with us.

You MUST take binoculars if you go during whale watching season. No need to go on one of the cruises. Just sit on the beach or on your balcony, sip a cool drink and watch the show.

Trans-Cabo is the easy way to get to your hotel from the airport, but sometimes you make lots of stops on the way. Costs about $20 per person each way, vs. $80 for a cab. Airport was new and efficient (flew Delta, some other airlines use the older terminal)

More on Cabo later.

#2 - The Sheraton is about as good a 4 star experience as you will find. Architecture and decor are Mexican colonial style and fits in well. Nice grounds, lots of pools and a great beach.

Very good food at all of the on-property options. Even the main pool bar/snack hut had some tasty fish tacos and other dishes.

The tequila bar will keep you busy, and toasted.

Pitahayas earns its 4 stars and the location/views are tremendous. Can't say enough good things about it.

Couple of great tips -- Starwood allows you to book a Suite at most Mexican resorts using your points - a 50% premium to a standard room. A call to the Guest Services Manager pre-arrival paid off handsomely with an upgrade to the next best-category of suite -- unbelievable. 905 square feet of total luxury. Oceanfront/view (you are about 50 feet from the sand), with a 1/2 covered lanai running the full frontage and a large balcony on the side of the bedroom. Lanai had two chaise loungers and table for 4 -- perfect for breakfast or candelit dinners.

Living room had table for 6, kitchenette, couch and 42" plasma for our Super Bowl watching pleasure. Bathroom as well.

Masterbath had a great tub and spacious shower.

Best of all, we had two massage tables on the lanai awaiting our arrival (had to be up at 5Am to catch the connection from the East Coast) for a jet-lag healing massage. All of the spa services were outstanding (we are in the biz - highly recommend the newly remodeled Cactus Spa). SPG gold and platinum members get 20% off all spa treatments on weekdays.

Very ample and modern fitness center too.

For golfers, the Sheraton is in the Cabo Del Sol development, which has one of the finest courses in the hemisphere - and certainly the best in Mexico - CDS Ocean, and the Desert Course is no slouch. Twilight rate is still a load of pesos, but if you go off by 2:30 you should finish by darkness.

Believe it or not, the on-premises shops are not the price-gouging tourist traps you would expect of resort retail. The purveyors of silver jewelry, resort attire and food staples have prices on par with anything we found in either San Jose or CSL - in some cases lower. Avoid the high-end jewelry store, you are better off buying in the US.

Sams Club/Walmart is a $50 round trip cab ride from the property, so if you are staying in the time share section (all the green buildings on the West half of the property) or have a kitchenette, you can stock up on all you need.

#3 - Cabo is expensive, but don't be surprised. Gas in Cabo cost as much as any major US city, so naturally your cab ride won't be some developing market bargain. What does a 12 mile cab ride cost you in LA? Cabo is about the same, and that is how far it is to either town from the hotel.

Food and drink are pricey too. But look at the map. Cabo is at the END of the baja peninsula -- hence the name of the rock formation, Land's End. It is a 2 day drive from San Diego and has no rail service and minimal port facilities. It is also in a desert. Nothing grows there! So where do you think the food and drink have to come from? Stocking Cabo is like trying to stock a resort in Alaska, except 90% of it has to be driven (see gas price comment above) on the only highway (and I use the term loosely, 2 lanes, closer to 1.75 in width and in poor condition) on the peninsula.

Back to Cabo...

Couple of excursions to recommend.

First ,the sunset jazz cruise on the Tropi-Cat, Cabo's largest catamaran. for $50, you get open bar, lots of so-so finger food, and a 2 hour tour of Lands End, with close-up view of the creatures that inhabit it, a 30 minute sail up the pacific coast - the whales are as close as you would find on a whale seeking outing, another reason to skip that -- and then you headback right before sunset. XM Radio pumps out fun jazz for the duration.

Second - and this is not for the faint of heart - is a day trip to Todos Santos. We rented a jeep, but even with a lifetime of experience driving in Latin America I had a few white knuckles. Semis bear down on you in both directions - at speed - they know the twists and turns like the back of their hands and have no regard for the solid or dotted yellow line. But the destination is worth the grey hairs.

Charming little town with great shops and galleries. Agua Y Sol has great jewelry from Mexican designers at good prices.

Several ex-pat gringo and gringa artists have galleries in town, the best of the bunch being Jill Logan gallery (http://www.jilllogan.com/Gallery.htm).

Hotel California has a great restaurant and shop as well.

Finally, since the car rental is 24 hours, we took in dinner in San Jose. A nice change of pace from CSL - nice selection of quieter restaurants and a little more authentic Mexico. Tequila restaurant was a great setting, with delicious food and - you guessed it - a great tequila list.