Few things make me sing, “California, here we come,” more than driving up the 101 to Santa Barbara. The ocean views, swaying palm trees and blue skies will draw you in, but staying at a place like the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort really seals the deal and makes you never want to leave this beautiful coastal town.
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If you’ve ever wanted to sleep suspended high up from a cliff in a transparent pod, look no further. Tucked away in the Sacred Valley of Peru and just a couple hours drive away from Cusco, this one-of-a-kind experience will take you cliffside above the Urubamba River.
Chances are you’ve seen this unique hotel somewhere on Facebook, Instagram or Buzzfeed if you enjoy perusing unique travel experiences. I can’t remember the exact platform on which I first saw this hotel, but just a quick video of the world’s first-ever “hanging lodge,” and I was immediately sold. My husband and I decided if we were ever going to Peru, we simply HAD to do this.
So let’s be honest—the experience is not cheap. We paid something like $445 USD per person, plus $85 USD for the photo package. But let’s break down what it includes:
And as far as the photo package is concerned, it’s 100% worth the splurge. Our photographer, Diego, would speedily climb past us and hang off of cliffs to get the photos of us. It’s worth capturing the memories for this once-in-a-lifetime experience, and also a lot safer than (and not nearly as stressful as) trying to take photographs yourself!
There are only three pods (each can hold 2-4 people), so reservations naturally run out quickly for this experience. We booked our sky pod six months in advance of our Peru trip, and already we snagged the last available slots! Each pod has beds, solar-powered lights, a bathroom (with a “dry toilet” system) and a 300 degree view of the valley below.
We got picked up in Cusco’s San Blas district around 2:00pm, and transported to the Sacred Valley. After a quick review of how to do Via Ferrata and getting fitted into our harnesses, we were on our way, climbing up the mountain. Random buses filled with tourists would occasionally stop below us to watch us climb, shouting at us and cheering us on.
At the 300 meter point (almost 1,000 feet!), we hit a suspension “bridge” of tightrope wires. We were told to walk across—and to push AWAY from the wall (toward nothingness) as we crossed the rope. Okay, no big deal. I reached up for the wires and made a comment about possibly being too short. One of our guides then proceeded to tell us that a 6-year-old did this, so we were fine. Alrighty then.
In total, we climbed up 400 meters (1,300+ feet). But the pods that we slept in were a slight decline from the highest point we reached, which meant we slept at 300 meters up. That’s still the equivalent of climbing a 90-story building, though!
We hung up our helmets and gloves, and ate a dinner in the main communal pod that our guides prepared on a stovetop hanging off the rocks in the cliff. A truly unique thing to witness!
The food was prepared from frozen ingredients they carried in their backpacks, and we ate a squash soup, salad, a quinoa/chicken dish and dessert. They even were able to accommodate my allergy restrictions, and had a separate gluten-free banana bread that I could eat for dessert when they gave everyone else brownies! They also gave each couple (there were six of us total) a bottle of wine.
We conversed over our meal as it started to rain. After dinner, we were told we’d need to climb further to get to our rooms, and my husband and I were specifically told ours was the furthest and most difficult to get to. “Be careful, because it’s also dark and very slippery when it rains,” they said. My mind was racing, wondering why I had JUST drank wine. But we made it up to our pod without issue, climbed onto the wooden deck and then down into the room as though descending into a submarine. Our feet hit the bottom of the pod, and we were immediately excited by the adorable setup we saw before us.
It’s hard to get to sleep here, not because it’s uncomfortable (the bed was sooo soft), but because sleep almost feels like a waste of time. Here we were, lying in a bed far above the ground and surrounded by incredible views of the valley below—what were we doing sleeping?! In hindsight, I definitely would’ve set an alarm to wake up more than an hour before breakfast so we could sit on our little patio with the pillows/blankets they provided for us and taken in the breathtaking views.
We ate our breakfast at 7:00am, which was complete with coffee, juice, eggs, granola, fruit, yogurt and luncheon meats/cheese. We then headed back to our individual pods to pack up and take some final photos in the room.
Diego, the photographer, was hanging off the side of a cliff with his camera and snapping shots from the outside looking in at us in the pod. We had a blast during this 20-minute photoshoot, and it definitely wasn’t something we could have done on our own!!!
After this, everyone met up at the top pod (ours) and climbed further up the mountain to find a trail. We wandered down the first of six zipline wires, and began or zigzag descent to the ground. One of the ziplines is even 600 meters (2,000 feet) long!!!
We hit the ground, and suddenly we were back in reality and our night in the clouds was just a precious memory. We continued on our way to Ollantaytambo, and were even given snacks for our journey. All in all, this experience was the highlight of our trip—which is saying something when you consider all the amazing sights that Peru has to offer!
Price per person:
OVERNIGHT
Via Ferrata + Zipline + 1 night –1,475 Soles (approx. $445 USD)
Zipline + 1 night – 1,385 Soles (approx. $417 USD)
Via Ferrata + 1 night – 1,385 Soles (approx. $417 USD)
LUNCH ONLY
Via Ferrata + Zipline + Lunch – 860 Soles (approx. $260 USD)
Via Ferrata + Lunch – 770 Soles (approx. $232 USD)
Zipline + Lunch – 770 Soles (approx. $232 USD)
(We definitely recommend doing the overnight and both the Via Ferrata and Zipline, if you can! It’s two incredible and unique activities that my husband and I both felt made the whole experience complete.)
Most of you know that I tend to travel at 100 miles an hour, jumping from place to place and cramming as much into my travels as possible. So when the opportunity came up for me and my husband to actually relax for a weekend and enjoy each other’s company for our one-year wedding anniversary at the Kimpton Hotel Palomar San Diego, we jumped at it!
FIRST IMPRESSION / SERVICE
Upon walking in, we were taken by the beautiful modern décor and Latin influence. When we were greeted at the front desk, we immediately knew we were going to be taken care of. The service is warm and professional, and the hotel is upscale while maintaining a level of boutique charm.
LOCATION
This property is conveniently located in the heart of the historic Gaslamp Quarter of San Diego, which we loved. It was convenient for exploring, and is close to museums, theaters and even the San Diego Convention Center (0.7 miles) and zoo (1.5 miles).
THE ROOM
There are 211 guest rooms at the Kimpton Palomar, and we were fortunate enough to stay on the 20th floor in a beautiful Skyline Suite with a King Bed and two lovely balconies. Seeing the panoramic views of the Gaslamp and the ocean was truly an incredible and romantic experience, by day or by night!
We also had a flat screen TV in our room and high speed Internet, which meant we could lounge side by side while watching the Oscars and getting some work done (which we did).
The room was modern and comfortable, with books on San Diego’s best beaches and surf-inspired decorations distributed throughout the space. Floor-to-ceiling windows and an L-shaped couch made the atmosphere cheery. White linens on the bed gave it an air of chic sophistication, and the bright interiors made us feel relaxed.
Oh, and the bathroom had the most incredible rain shower, and a variety of deliciously scented luxury shampoos and conditioners with scents from oolong tea and orange blossom to cardamom and eucalyptus!
THE FOOD
We were here during off-season, which meant the Pool Deck & Lounge was closed. However, we had a delicious dinner at Curadero, the charming in-hotel Mexican restaurant that feels like the perfect blend of big city sophistication and small town cantina. They’re also famous for their ceviche bar, and the corn tortillas are made in house.
We chowed down on some delicious Suadero Tacos, Queso Fundido (which we LOVED and got two orders of) and a Carne Asada plate. For drinks, I opted for the El Noble, and Michael nursed a glass of complimentary wine.
THE AMENITIES
In addition to boasting an incredible location, gorgeous rooms and a fabulous restaurant, the Kimpton Palomar Hotel has a beautiful rooftop pool on the fourth floor. It was unusually chilly in San Diego when we went, but because the pool is heated, we were able to take a dip and gaze out at the city skyline without feeling cold! I can’t wait to return here during the summer when the rooftop bar is open as well to enjoy the pool while also snacking on some delicious foods and drinks.
Also, the hotel has a cute Arriba Room filled with vintage arcade games, foosball, pool tables and general fun.
The hotel also has a 24-hour fitness center (we never used this because we were too busy enjoying everything else!) and a Social Hour with complimentary wine from 5-6pm.
Bicycles are available to borrow as well. The hotel is also pet-friendly if you would like to bring your furry friends with you for a weekend getaway!
MEANINGFUL EXTRAS
When we went up to our room after dinner at Curadero, were pleasantly surprised to find a bottle of champagne with a note wishing us a very happy anniversary! It was a nice touch to an already perfect weekend.
CONCLUSION
If you’re ever in San Diego and want to stay in the heart of the city, this is the place for you. The service is incredible, the accommodations are comfortable and they take the extra step to go above and beyond to make you feel at home.
To book a night at the Kimpton Hotel Palomar San Diego, click here!
This review is written in partnership with the Kimpton Hotel Palomar San Diego. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you so much to the wonderful staff at the Kimpton Hotel Palomar for making our one-year anniversary an experience to remember!
Ah, Cabo San Lucas. The most relaxing trip of our married life so far!
For us, it was important that wherever we stayed on this trip be a convenient, beautiful and relaxing place that we didn’t have to leave if we didn’t want to. This is contrary to our usual travel habits (we usually barely spend any time at the hotel), but we had gone on a variety of exhausting whirlwind trips and were ready for something chill!
The Cape, a Thompson Hotel was definitely one of the most beautiful resorts we’ve ever stayed at without it being too pricey.
We actually went from one Thompson property (the Thompson Toronto) to another (The Cape, a Thompson Hotel)—not because they sponsor our travel (although we wish they did!), but because both properties had a discount we could afford on the weekend we were visiting, while still providing us with a luxury experience.
If you want details on our trip to Mexico, check out my post here. For the Cape Hotel review, keep reading!
FIRST IMPRESSION / SERVICE
We arrived to the hotel in our rental car, and immediately were greeted by a friendly staff member who took our bags for us.
Walking down to the hotel entrance, we were taken by the unique, modern building that stood before us. And the giant driftwood whale.
Upon entering, we had to stop and catch our breath a moment when we saw the beautiful property: positioned perfectly on the beach with a stunning view of El Arco Cabo San Lucas, waves crashing on the shore, beautiful pools and a terrain of palm trees and cacti everywhere.
We checked in, and everybody was incredibly kind and provided us with a delicious ice cold cider.
We then went up to see our room and take it all in!
THE ROOM
Location
A really nice thing about this property is that literally every room has a view. The rooms face the ocean and have a lovely balcony to spend time on, complete with a couch swing.
The property itself is a 15-20 minute drive from the main Cabo San Lucas town, so it’s close enough to get around to other things with a taxi/car, but still far away enough to feel like a private getaway. If you are looking for a place to stay that’s walking distance from town, however, this is not for you.
Amenities
Our room had a lovely King bed and fun robes/slippers for us to wear.
We had two separate shower heads (you know, for when you think, “Gee, I wish I could have alternating temperatures/water pressures on me right now.”) in the bathroom, and even had a fun copper-colored bathtub.
Wifi was a little tricky to figure out here initially, but once we went down to the front desk they helped us get all set up on our devices. Pro tip: If you’re trying to connect and it’s not loading, try going to CNN.com. Once connected, the Internet was high-speed and covered most of the extent of the resort grounds.
THE FOOD
We really enjoyed the meals we ate here, as well as the view that accompanied those meals!
The Ledge
This contemporary Mexican restaurant was our first spot where we grabbed a late lunch upon arrival. We had the restaurant entirely to ourselves, which felt incredibly relaxing and romantic.
We opted to sit outside, where we had a lovely view of the ocean and the Arch. We started our meal with white sangria, which they brought in adorable champagne glasses.
I was pleased to see that everything on the menu indicated whether it was gluten-free. We ordered Baja’s Fish Ceviche Tostadas (with guacamole, carrot, cucumber and Cholula sauce) and Slow Roasted Duck Tacos (with soy-tamarind marinade and celery & sweet pepper salad).
All restaurants on the property use Tamari (gluten-free) soy sauce in their cooking, which I was very excited to hear! It’s often very difficult for me to find places that do, even in Los Angeles.
Manta Restaurant
We had dinner at The Cape’s signature fusion Japanese-Peruvian-Mexican restaurant our first night in Cabo.
The thing that stands out most about this restaurant is THE VIEW. We were seated at the perfect table overlooking the ocean and the Arch, and watching the sunset was positively breathtaking.
The staff was all incredibly helpful, and very accommodating of my gluten allergy. There was a dish we wanted that was made with flour tortillas, and they willingly swapped it out for corn for us.
They also were willing to take pictures for us whenever we asked (and would offer even when we didn’t!).
We ordered Beef Yakitori with spicy Ponzu Sauce, Black Miso Fish Tacos, a mushroom taco dish and another beef dish (alas—don’t remember the names and can’t find an updated menu online!).
We also tried some Asian-inspired drinks (yuzu and shiso-infused)!
Overall, this was an incredible experience. The food here was very good—not excellent—but quite tasty and 100% worth the view.
Glass Box
The Glass Box is a beautiful piece of architecture, and one of the first things you notice when you walk into The Cape.
We didn’t stop inside here until our last day, when we grabbed a quick coffee before heading out. It’s certainly a nice place to hang out, and the coffee is decent. They also have pastries (we didn’t get any), and at night the café doubles as a bar.
THE PREMISES
Had to add a section for the general hotel property, because man, this place was gorgeous!! We honestly could have stayed here for a week and never left the property.
There are two gorgeous pools—one is an infinity pool that has a swim-up bar. Oh, it also has lounge chairs IN the pool! The bar at the pool makes a great piña colada, and they also kindly have sunscreen tucked away in case you forgot to bring your own!
The other pool is a smaller, unmanned one hidden between rocks under The Ledge restaurant. We spent a good amount of time here as well!
The lobby area is also great fun to spend time in. We played a fun game of pool together while looking out over the Pacific Ocean.
In the evenings, they will often have a band in the lobby playing music. Sometimes it’s jazzy, and sometimes it’s rock classics. The hotel definitely has a young vibe, but we saw people of all ages there!
We also took some evening and morning strolls along the beach.
It’s a gorgeous view, but the hotel staff recommends that you do not go in the water as the waves are quite rough and it’s primarily surfers who are out there.
We did not wander into the ocean, but we walked along the shore and admired the surfers’ skills from afar.
The hotel lobby also has a gift shop, which sells souvenirs as well as travel essentials. My poor sunburned husband was able to find a honey cream here that helped him a lot. There is also a rooftop bar that often hosts events at night—we didn’t make it up, but it seemed like a very popular place to be!
MEANINGFUL EXTRAS
This seems to be a staple for many luxury resorts in Cabo San Lucas, but we were brought up a complimentary “tequila amenity,” which turned out to be an entire bottle of tequila (we were barely able to make a dent in it!) with lime and salted chili dried mangos.
(Note: They did forget to bring this up until the second day when we asked for it—no big deal, but just remember to ask about it!)
CONCLUSION
Overall, this hotel is a beautiful, relaxing and easy place to stay that is filled with charm and breathtaking views.
The staff are all incredibly friendly, helpful and speak phenomenal English. We truly enjoyed our stay at this beautiful place, and would return in a heartbeat!
