Getting Away… with Kids

My mom always said travel without kids is a vacation; with kids, it is a trip. But every blue moon, we need time with our children, and we don’t want to give up luxuries. While at first glance, the Chileno Bay Resort seems like an idyllic couples spot, the property is also geared toward families—offering a variety of amenities to let parents feel relaxed while keeping children fully entertained.

Owned by Auberge Resorts, The Chileno Bay Resort opened in early 2017. The company also owns the nearby Esperanza Resort as well as Auberge du Soleil in Napa.

During our three-day visit, the service was among the best of any luxury property I’ve visited. From the eateries to the housekeeping, the service has the consistency of a more established resort—one with a seasoned staff that has learned the art of being intuitive. For example, at one point I was in the spa steam room and I felt a bit overwhelmed by the heat. As if reading my mind, an attendant suddenly stepped in with a bottle of water and a cold towel. While some poolside waiters feel compelled to interrupt you every 30 minutes—regardless of whether you are deep in conversation or snoozing—the Chileno staff seems to know when you want to be left alone.

“The Spa at Chileno Bay is also exceptional. The serene space includes eucalyptus steam and salt inhalation rooms, sauna whirlpools and cold water plunges.”

Sixty rooms and 32 villas are set amid the 1,200-acre property, which fronts Cabo’s largest swimmable beach. The resort is located on the Sea of Cortez side of the peninsula (not the ocean side) and snorkeling is delightful.
Décor throughout is modern and sophisticated, but unpretentious and comfortable. Rooms and villas have amply sized, artfully tiled bathrooms and outdoor showers.

The resort is built around a dazzling infinity pool, positioned on three levels. There’s a children’s pool at the top, a family pool in the middle and an adults-only pool at the bottom that “spills” into the sea. A noise buffering waterfall is strategically placed at the edge of the children’s pool.

The Spa at Chileno Bay is also exceptional. The serene space includes eucalyptus steam and salt inhalation rooms, sauna whirlpools and cold water plunges. My husband and I both decided to go for the signature “Auberge Head to Toe.” It is a 90-minute treatment which includes—hands down–the best massage I’ve ever had. My husband concurred.

Little ones can be checked into the Kids Club for the day; there’s also a large lawn adjacent to the kid’s pool that is filled with sports equipment, games and mini trampolines. For the older set, there is a Teens Club that offers foosball, Xbox and other games.

A movie screening room—complete with classic theatre snacks—is available for a three-hour rental. There is a large fitness center, and guests can play golf at a nearby 18-hole Jack Nicklaus-designed course.

While we typically like to explore Cabo’s dining scene, at Chileno we had a hard time tearing ourselves away from Comal, the resort’s open-air restaurant, which boasts a large circular fire pit, perfectly positioned for sunsets. Cuisine is a blend of Mexican and Latin American-inspired dishes, accented by farm-fresh produce. We stayed with local fresh fish entrées (excellent), ordering meat only once with the signature “Chileno Grill” entree; a hibachi filled with seafood, ribeye steak and grilled veggies is placed on the table.

We ventured off campus only once to go to Esperanza’s open-air eatery, Cocina del Mar. The best tables are out on the rocks (reserve in advance) above the waves. I ordered one of the best fish dishes I’ve ever had: a salt-crusted Totoaba with confit tomato, onion, corn and kale. The coup de grace: a perfectly cooked banana soufflé.

On our final day, we lunched at Chileno’s poolside grill, TnT (short for tacos and tequila). We were fully immersed in tasty shrimp tacos and a crisp yellowtail salad when we saw a whale and her baby breaching on the horizon. They jumped up out of the water more than a dozen times. It was the perfect bookend to a magical getaway. I hope to return to Chileno someday with husband—and kids.

For more go to chilenobay.aubergeresorts.com. Rooms from $675; villas from $1275.