my wife and I decided to spend our 1 week honey-moon at the Casa Dorada resort. We flew into the airport at San jose del Cabo and after dodging a gauntlet of time-share hustlers, we got on the shuttle for the 30 minute ride to our hotel. We stopped at the hotel RIU to dropped some travelers off, and I must say that place looked like a palace. We then proceeded up some flooded sketchy backroads to the Casa Dorada. The hotel entrance looked like a real dump compared to the RIU. We checked in at the dinky front desk with some less than professional people. Then we were sat down by a young guy named Ruben who pretented to be cool but only wanted us to sign up for a timeshare presentation. It was very annoying that he would not take no for an answer, and we reluctantly signed up so we could go to our rooms.
The room was fantastic! We got a 1 bedroom suite with a kitchen and a huge bathtub by the king size bed. The room exceeded our expectations by far.
The beach was great. Not exactly quiet with all the boats and street peddlers asking you to buy henna tattoos or silver junk literally every 15 seconds. We enjoyed the prompt drink service while on the beach in the nice lounge chairs.
The timeshare presentation sucked. 75 minute turned into 3 hours even though we told them from the begining there was no way we would buy anything. At least we got a fee breakfast and free drinks along with a $50 coupon to the restaurant 12 Tribes. They should have paid us $50 to eat their terrible food. We ended up paying 35 bucks to pick onion skins out of the soup. The ambiance would have been nice if the party boat just offshore wasn't blaring the Macarena and other Latin disco hits of the 90's. Horrible experience at the 12 Tribes! You are better off eating at Mangos on the beach.
Overall this vacation turned out to be a relentless bariage of sales pitches for timeshare presentations, activities, or silver junk. I don't think we will ever return to Cabo to have a peaceful relaxing vacation. Should have gone there for the bachelor party!

Highs- rooms, beach service, close walk to downtown
Lows- unfinished hotel, timeshare hustlers, overpriced food, no good coffee.

Casa Dorada never has to worry about me booking a stay. They are very rude and arrogant. There are other properties in and near Cabo that offer much friendlier service.

Drive from the airport is about 40 minutes and they pick you up (always nice) pay for the toll road (also nice) and drive you to your unfinished destination where the timeshare hell begins. The entrance to the hotel was nowhere near finished (literally, dirt road and broken fountains under construction) but it kind of makes the hotel foyer really stand out once you enter. The architecture and design is really beautiful, very clean and tastefully decorated with sculptures, sandstone, cherry finished wood, etc. The real attraction is the view through the main arch of the entry - looks right out over the ocean and at the island chain of lovers beach (the famous arch). Our first introduction at the lobby was a stall tactic where "your room will be ready in 10 minutes" and you are asked to go to such-and-such to receive your "welcoming package" which is really just a time-share bait and switch routine (you're offered fabulous amenities and adventures at deeply discounted rates or for free IF you sign up). After successfully waving off our "welcome" we were shown up to a spectacular room with a king bed and two queens. The bellman asked us if we were expecting guests to which we shook our heads in confusion. We were later surprised by random "guests" walking about in our suite while we were unclothed (to say the least). Apparently they didn't understand that they had given us two suites about 30 minutes before showing someone into "the other half" of our room. Once we figured out how to explain their own suites to them ("them" being the management) our vacation commenced to a constant barrage of hotel employees knocking and barging into the room for every imaginable reason. My fantastic husband had, unknown to me, booked a honeymoon package. Apparently he had to remind them several times about our room "surprizes" (i.e. rose peddles on the bed, champagne on ice, chocolate strawberries, etc.) and they still only forgot about 60% of the time. Straightening out the bill was a disaster - apparently there is great confusion about how a package works and the definition of "included". Despite all of this, the place is really beautiful and in a great location (walking distance to downtown and the marina). We had many delightful hours just lounging by the pool and sipping drinks. The beach is nice, the jet skis are fabulous (there ARE advantages to not having any rules or successful lawsuits)! Would I recommend it? If you're able to ignore the constant ploys for time-shares and peddlers EVERYWHERE, then...maybe.

After being thru hell at the airport with all the crazy little travel guys pulling you back and forth to get you to commit to a "time share" (dont fall 4 this 90min trip with free this and free that, they reel you in for 5 hours!!! and by the end you spent your savings and that free breakfast aint tasting so good) So.... now that that was over. We get to our hotel, and all i could say was WOW! beautifully decorated. Our room was fabulous, very tastefully done. Great bed, clean huge bathroom. The hotel grounds were well kept. The staff was gracious and experienced. Me and my fiance stayed here after tons of research of our "perfection" and we found it here with a clear view of the famous arch and gorgeous medano beach. The food was great, drinks weren't watered down!!! the pool was awesome with cold and warm temperatures for your preferance. They had these great cabanas on the beach which were super comfy. I just cant think of anything that we weren't happy with. The hotel is located a few walking minutes to the shopping area and town. Check out cabo wabo for great music and tequila! and definitely take one of those water taxi's to lovers beach and divorce beach :)
Overall? great hotel great location and service. Definitely will be coming back!