Keep in mind that the health advisory issued by the US State Department on March 31 still stands. It instructs US citizens to avoid all international travel due to COVID-19 while the CDC lectures “travel increases your chances of getting and spreading COVID-19.”

As Coronavirus cases in the United States passed the five million mark, more and more people sought the need to get out of the house at the worse times—protests, going back to bars and parties, and family vacations. The majority of U.S. citizens are opting to stay local, choosing to stay off airplanes and opting for shorter road trips instead of international air travel and for good reason. Absent from the European Union’s list of 15 countries whose tourists are allowed to visit is the United States.

Once one of the world’s most formidable travel credentials, the power of a USA passport has withered in the haze of the coronavirus, with borders looked down tighter than that vaults that contain all of the conspiracy theories of what is the real deal with COVID-19. With almost 200,000 deaths credited to the virus, most countries now view the United States and their tourism dollars with apprehension, proving that it doesn’t matter how much they want American greenbacks when US travelers could be carrying the deadly virus with them no matter how asymptomatic they appear.

Now with constraints easing up for some destinations, Americans are still on the restricted list for approximately 200 countries, but the Big 12 that left their doors open offer simple entries [think a temp check before and after boarding and a COVID-19 test before getting your passport stamped] into foreign land. It’s worth pointing out that anyone that boards an international flight should check with the airline and the US Embassy prior to finalizing travel plans, and oh, pack a couple of comfortable, full cover masks.

So without further ado, here are the nations where US passport holders can visit without quarantining for days or weeks and jump right into living it up in a new land.

Albania

Albania

Perhaps the most underrated Mediterranean destination in the entire world is Albania, which sits just across the Adriatic Sea from Italy, The former communist country recommenced international commercial in June. Known for its scruffy mountains, glistening beaches, and fortress towns, Albania was closed to foreigners for much of the 20th century. The first set of inquisitive travelers found a land where ageless codes of conduct still held influence and where the wind shrilled through the exhausted remnants of half-forgotten ancient Roman and Greek sites. A quarter century later after throwing off the constrains of communism, Albania’s gorgeous mountain are the perfect backdrop that rivals any other Mediterranean country.

Antiqua & Barbuda

Antigua & Barbuda

Their tourism site screams, “Escape 2020 and visit Antigua and Barbuda, where we’ve got the sun, the sea and plenty of much needed space.”

Antigua’s ribbed coasts embrace dozens of picture-perfect coves splashed by mesmerizing powder-blue water, while the secluded bays provided sanctuary for everyone from pirates and yachters. If you can pull away from that plush beach towel, you’ll unearth divergent English overtones to this island including the humming capital of St John’s, in the splendid English Harbor, and in the bygone forts that pay homage to its colonial past. At the same time, you will discover that Antigua classic Caribbean, full of story-inspiring villages with a liquor-infused smoothness that make the wide-smiled locals even that much more appealing.

The flamingos of Aruba

Aruba

U.S. citizens who want to escape our bitter winters have catapulted Aruba into the most visited island in the Southern Caribbean. The inducements are apparent: abundant all-inclusive resorts, miles and miles of famous white-sand beaches, and the delightfully condensed capital of Oranjestad. Now it’s welcoming Americans who want to escape the coronavirus lockdowns. Here is all about fun in the sun.

Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic

Dominican Republic

With magnificent mountain panoramas, desert backwoods, redolent colonial construction and beaches everywhere, The Dominican Republic is one of the most geographically diverse countries in the Caribbean. The coastline defines the DR and doubles down on its diversity with palm-lined white-sand beaches in some spots and rocky cliffs in others. You also get your fair share of dunes landscaped by the winds and placid mangrove bayous. With plenty of resorts that can deliver your every vacation need, the aquamarine waters showcase the temperature seas where migrating humpback whales play where pirates once ruled. Add unbeatable scuba diving and water sports and you have a grand vacation awaiting you.

Kosovo

Kosovo

Europe’s newest country, Kosovo is an enthralling destination at the heart of the Balkans. The country happily gives visitors implausible hospitality, delightful mountain towns, grand hiking expeditions, and Serbian monasteries awash in medieval art…and that’s only the beginning.

When Kosovo professed its independence from Serbia in 2008 only half of the world’s countries diplomatically accepted it with nearly 100 unaccepting. The past tragedies are hard to miss with their roads peppered with memorials to those killed in the 1990s and NATO forces present to guard the monasteries. For the naysayers who have never set foot in Kosovo will tell you otherwise, it’s entirely safe to travel here. Because of this reputation, Kosovo sits as one of the final off-the-beaten-path destinations in all of Europe.

The Maldives

The Maldives

Maldives has perhaps the finest beaches in the world. With an immaculate beach on nearly every one of the nation’s 1200 islands, you might be inclined to be bored with such perfection. To a person, most agree that you won’t find whiter-than-white powder sand and incandescent aqua-blue water like this anyplace else on earth. This truth alone easily produces one million plus visitors annually to this petite, secluded and otherwise little-known Indian Ocean utopia. Unparalleled luxury coupled with a remarkable underwater world makes the Maldives an understandable selection for a genuine vacation of a lifetime.

Chitzen Itza in Mexico

Mexico

Mexico’s pre-Hispanic peoples erected some of the world’s boundless archaeological shrines, including Teotihuacán’s soaring pyramids and the superb Maya temples of Palenque. The Spanish colonial era left stunning towns full of tree-shaded arcades and opulently-chiseled stone churches and homes, while the modern Mexico has seen a swell of abundant art from the likes of Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo. World-class museums and galleries detail the country’s intriguing history and its endless creative vitality. Popular culture is just as vibrant, from the visionary fusion cuisine and street art of Mexico City to the breathtaking handicrafts of the indigenous populace.

Serbia

Serbia

A landlocked country in the center of the Balkans, Serbia is pleasantly off the tourist track and offers a little something for everyone. The art nouveau town of Subotica revels in its Austro-Hungarian heritage; the unconventional Niš reverberates to the clip-clop of Roma horse carts, and minaret-dotted Novi Pazar prods the most blessed of Serbian Orthodox monasteries. Time-honored wine regions and thermal spas clasped in rolling hills date back to Roman times. On the slopes of Zlatibor, Kopaonik, and Stara Planina, ageless customs coexist with après-ski bling, while the scenic Tara and Đerdap National Parks overflow with the prospects of rafting, hiking, biking, and kayaking.

Tunisia

Tunisia

Although its place on the map is a slender wedge of North Africa’s massive horizontal expanse, Tunisia has plenty of history and varied environmental beauty that would envy many a larger nation. With a temperate, sand-fringed Mediterranean coast, fragranced with sea breezes and jasmine, Tunisia is an elite land for a forthright sun, sea, and sand experiences. Outside the beaches is an electrifying, unappreciated destination where divergent cultures and implausible extravagances of landscape—the Sahara and forested coastlines—can be explored in just a few days.

The Blue Mosque in Turkey

Turkey

Located in the Mediterranean and connecting Asia and Europe continents that are separated by famous Bosphorus, Turkey is a unique destination that welcomed last year about 40 million tourists. The country that has always been a hub for cultural interaction and home to varying climates inspires the visitors today with its history, nature and gastronomy that reflect the diversity of civilizations for centuries. Located at the crossroads of cultures, Turkey has a distinctive understanding of art and fashion, which is the synthesis of tradition and modernity.

The post Itching to Travel? There’s 10 Countries That Still Want U.S. Travelers appeared first on Media Guy Struggles.

It’s been a good year for the Media Guy Struggles. As the leading lifestyle media brand for those curious about the life of a modern (M)ad Man, the website is growing faster in unexpected ways. August marked the best month of all time for readership, advertising, and elevated Q ratings. To celebrate, I took to the road looking for the best food, drink, travel, and places to stay in the world.  The result is the Month of Travel where I tell tales and wax poetic about only the very best in the world. I’ll take you to Russia, Mexico, Lebanon, and Canada. At the end, I hope it inspires you to weave your own story through the fabric of travel. Today I take you to Puerto Vallarta and the magical healing powers of mindfulness that exists under the Mexican sun at the Villa Premiere Boutique Hotel & Romantic Getaway.   

Okay, so where am I?

I don’t really know how it happened or why, but I’m on a Puerto Vallarta beach overlooking the legendary Banderas Bay attempting to emulate Gisele Bündchen, Deepak Chopra, and Angelina Jolie in our mutual quest toward mindfulness through “meditation moments” and yoga.

Ever the skeptic, I was lured to the Villa Premiere Boutique Hotel & Romantic Getaway because of their Mind & Spa amenities and the promise of “promoting a lifestyle full of health and balance.” I spent almost a week meditating in various forms in the very city that Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton turn their passion into living love entity and barely thought about the stresses that always seem to haunt me back in my home base of Los Angeles.

I thought I’d loathe the world of mindfulness. Instead, it changed the way I’ve thought about my own mind in the months since.

How did I get here?

A year ago, close friend of mind randomly suggested one day that we sign up for a great week in Puerto Vallarta where I could get in touch with my inner self on a makeshift meditation retreat. One of the best parts—I was told—was that the romantic getaway was only a three-hour flight from Los Angeles. “But there will be no romance for me going solo,” I protested, to which the quick reply was, “Have a romance with yourself. Treat you for once. Give yourself the gift of peace of mind. What’s the worst that could happen?” I was skeptical enough, but per most of life’s best moments, I spontaneously said, “I’m all in” and we were on our way.

A short coach ride from Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport brought us to the gleaming white beachfront hotel. There, the romance began. At check-in, I was treated to a refreshing scented towel, a massage, and a champagne toast. The front office staff, who live the Mexican hospitality dream daily, walked me through the a vast selection of temporary lifestyle changes. Everything from linen and pillow choices to an upgrade to a balcony Jacuzzi room was offered. I was walked through their exclusive in-room aromatherapy where I would be surrounded by lovely scents in your suite. I opted for the sage with lemon grass on days one and two and Sandalwood for the remainder of my stay.  It was then that I learned we would not be allowed any types of stress during our all-inclusive stay. A boy could get used to this (and as you’ll see, I did). Things were about to get interesting.

The Honeymoon Jacuzzi Suite includes a free sunset daily.

As I discovered, meditation days are one of the biggest travel trends of the past decade, and, like a fine suit expertly crafted by an English tailor, you can have them your way at the Villa Premiere. You can bask in the quiet detoxifying air in the luxurious steam and sauna rooms, or take a massage at the end of the hotel’s cobblestone pier that stretches into the bay. Here, you can be treated to the beginnings of mental and spiritual balance with an exclusive body treatment in a setting you typically only see in fancy brochures. Once-in-a-lifetime pampering trace their history back to the days of the Roman Empire, but have picked up steam as ever more of us seek an escape from modern life towards immersion into holistic solitude.

The type of meditation I would be experimenting with traces its contemporary roots to the late sixties and, as I was about to find out, is certainly more on the extravagant without flashy touches or corporate wellness packages.

I checked into my room—the Honeymoon Jacuzzi Suite—and immediately got lost outside where the hot, bubbling water called me to watch the sunset from my clothing-optional outdoor hot tub overlooking the Bay. All of this forced me to be late downstairs to get the lowdown on what to expect from my time at the resort. But none of that mattered because I was promised absolutely no stress upon check-in and as it turns out, I wanted to test limits of that mantra. The goal of this retreat, as I understood it, was to remove all thoughts from our minds so that we could glimpse, if only for a moment, the feeling of enlightenment. (I’m fairly sure I was never promised enlightenment, but from my reading of “Siddhartha” at the time I was pretty sure that’s what they meant.)

The next day I was down on the pristine sands, filling the beach with hopes of enlightenment, and there she was there she was: my Mexican yogi for the day. Not in one of those intimidating white robe reminding me that yoga wasn’t my thing, but rather a beautiful spirit in white leggings there to nurture my journey. After we were given mats and towels to rest our weary bodies, it began.

Desayuno in its simplest of glory.

“Focus on your breath,” our instructor said, in the calmest meditation-yoga tone possible. “Just imagine your thoughts are like orangutans, swinging from branch to branch. When a thought comes, identify it, and let it go.” The goal was to stop our “orangutans minds” from leaping from one arbitrary thought to the next, which can be a source of stress and sorrow. As we moved through position to position, she told us frequently to focus on our breath “going in one nostril and out the other” as we inhaled and exhaled, over and over again.

Breathing and spa treatments weren’t the only thing I did for five days. There was also some exploration and lots a delicious, healthy food. At dawn each day, I watched the light rise about the hotel poolside over desayuno delicately prepared by their amazing culinary staff (more on that later). My favorite treat was the pancakes with fresh berries and a Mexican latte. The simple things in life are not free, but all meals and beverages (yes, alcohol too) were included with my room, so I lived it up. I felt at home by the mere fact my waiter who wound up serving us for five straight days remembered my name and room number by the time my coffee cooled off enough to drink it. With each bite, I breathed with my nostrils, in through on, and out through another with reckless abandon.

And that was the first time I started to realize this whole meditation thing might actually be working. I was focusing on chewing without letting those annoying random thought invade my bliss, when I realized I was really connecting—like, chewing the life out of these pancakes. As the berries begged my taste buds to enjoy the flavors I often took for granted, I thought to myself, “What the heck? I never enjoyed fruit as much as this before.” Then I realized my mind, finally uncluttered, was so focused that I was able to enjoy a meal as never before.

The delectable grilled octopus at the Cafe des Artistes.

Puerto Vallarta is known around the world as a destination with an abundance of culinary delights. As a foodie hotspot, I didn’t have much interest since the Villa Premiere had a host of excellent restaurants ready to accept my bidding, each with its own distinctive style and flavors. At the urging of my meditation partners, I was persuaded to try the iconic Cafe des Artistes and I am sure happy with myself that I agreed.

Chef Thierry Blouet is a legend in Puerto Vallarta and upon entering the Café des Artistes you easily see why. The romantic lush multi-level patio gardens surround you and the twinkling lights engulf your senses. Good thing I already had the orangutans mind training by then because you swoon because of the setting along. The exceptional haute cuisine fuses fresh Mexican ingredients with European techniques to deliver a meal you’ll be hard pressed to find a parallel. I opted for the ceviche and then the grilled octopus with roasted polenta and smoked organic beets, chicharitos mousseline in red wine sauce.

“For me, grilled marinated octopus served with chayote au gratin, spinach, mushrooms, bean sauce and crispy cuitlacoche is one of the best octopus dishes we have ever served at the restaurant. We tried various ways to prepare octopus, always keeping in mind the questions: How can we reinvent it? How can we use it differently? Until this recipe occurred to me” says Blouet.

There I was, reveling in my newfound superpowers, chewing and submerging my being into the flavors I never stopped to full embraced, when I accidentally broke my the rule of allowing random thoughts to engage me and I devised a plan for a project at work the had dominated my workflow for months. In an instant I had mapped the plan out on my iPhone notepad. Ah, the power of breathing and meditation.

Villa Premiere’s Executive Chef Elias Sapien

Just when I thought I reached food nirvana at the Café des Artistes, it was in the very spot where I indulged in the bayside massage that I was spoiled with a dining experience that I doubt my life would be complete without. In one of the most overwhelming dinners ever created, the Villa Premiere’s Executive Chef Elias Sapien created an private and elite menu* and I am still left wondering why and how I was worth of such haute cuisine. Sapien, was at the table the entire evening making the night that much more special, adding his unique layer of humor and explaining how to blend regionally-source ingredients into his recipes. The fun came to light in the “Go Fishing” fishing course where shrimp-filled fish bowls bubbling with dry ice were served and we actually caught our meal with the fishing poles they supplied. 

I wonder how many hours of meditation he needed to gain the clarity needed to dream up that brilliance….

On the third day of meditation, I finally did it. I reached the glorious moment we had all been striving for: For a moment, my mind went truly blank and it happened in one of the best private beaches in the world: Las Caletas, Mexico’s Garden of Eden. Access to this enchanting coastal haven runs through Vallarta Adventures, I’ve had excellent times with Vallarta Adventures in Cabo San Lucas over the years, so entrusting my meditation relocation to them was an easy call, especially since the Villa Premiere worked with them to set up a, isolated, off-the-beaten-path day of relaxation underneath swaying palms and the gentle barks from the seal sanctuary that resides on the island. 

The bliss came as I was lounging on my sequestered hammock while trying one of the four specialty drinks they made for me there. It only lasted only a few seconds before the orangutan burst in and I thought to myself, triumphantly, “I have no thoughts in my head!” which, of course, is a thought, so I had to start all over again. But for that moment, I nibbled on that transcendental state that had only been rumored. I have to admit; it was an incredible moment of enlightenment that seemed to last for hours.

In the months since these elevating stages of mental paradise, I have replicated it regularly. I never forget it and I suspect that if you get the chance to try it—really, actually shut your brain up for a few days—you’ll find that place where all happiness and transparency begins. 

And, to think it all started for me on a magical hotel in Puerto Vallarta.

Coral Salad with a collection of herbs dressing and traditional Caesar

_______________

The post Month of Travel: Meditation in Puerto Vallarta appeared first on Media Guy Struggles.

Once a destination stops for priests and pirates alike whom voyaged from faraway lands to serve God or pursue their treasures down the southernmost coast of the Baja California peninsula, Cabo San Lucas has something to please everyone. Sportfishing, snorkeling, world-class golf, divine spas, appreciation of fine food, and all agave cocktail are sure to line your itinerary. The real trick is finding the right place to lay your head.

In the search for the perfect destination (is there such a thing?), we stumbled across the Grand Velas Los Cabos. Let me tell you, I am a sucker for fancy marketing words on travel websites and the Grand Velas really draws you in from their opening paragraph.

Paradise Perfected At Our Cabo Mexico Resort

Strikingly located where golden sand beaches embrace turquoise seas, Grand Velas Los Cabos welcomes you to a world of uninhibited luxury and unique style. We’ve elevated the concept of all inclusive to deliver unforgettable vacations that amaze your senses and stir your soul.

What stood out in this amazing journey was the all-inclusive part.

One price for the room and all the food and drinks I want? Is that really possible?

Would it be like a Sandals Resort where you’re more like a number and regulated to a run-of-the-mill buffet at set times?

Or would it be so special like a bespoke suit being made with everything custom tailored to my specific needs?

The challenge of finding out invoked my inner Pericue so I caught the quick two-and-a-half-hour flight from Los Angeles to find out.

Thursday
2:05 p.m. ARRIVALS

The flight arrived right on time and a quick burst through immigration brings you to the pickup area and the resort’s staff were waiting and ready for a tidy 25 minute drive to the resort. Once you arrive there, the magic begins and quite frankly, you don’t want to leave.

The lobby sits on the fifth floor, which is particularly noteworthy because the waiting area to check-in overlooks the magnificent pool and the Sea of Cortez. Within minutes the hospitality greeters welcomed me with a drink, cool towel, and a shoulder and scalp massage. Yes, this is going to be special.

I was booked into an Ambassador Suite, which by size alone exceeds expectations. At almost 1,100 square feet it’s bigger than most so-called suites at other properties across the world.  The private terrace featured views of the pool and the sea and the afternoon sun lulled me into a heightened state of bliss.

Besides the incredible bed that gave me three nights of the best sleep this year, the minibar was stocked with sweets (restocked daily) welcome bottles of artisanal mezcal, and both red and white wines.

Honestly, there was no reason to move from the room until dinner time. And I didn’t move at all.

6:30 p.m. DINNER TIME
Dinner at Velas 10

Food trends come and go, and consumer fads fade in and out. But when it comes to all-time favorites, surf and turf still reigns supreme in my book.  The concierge promised “ultimate steak and grill experience” and boy was he right. Velas 10, is quite simply, just that.  Every facet of the Velas 10 dining experience is exceptional, from the initial friendly greeting to the final farewell.  As you’re guided to your table, you get a first-hand view of the seafood tanks and gaze at the night’s fresh cuts on display in the meat cases. You can’t help but marvel at the grandeur of these glorious prime cuts — it’s the carnivorous equivalent of passing by a dessert cart.

Check out the menu, click here.

My dining adventure began with the big trio of Carpaccio de Ris (Beef Carpaccio), Timbal de Cangrejo de Alaska (Alaskan King Crab Timbale), and Vieras Carmerlizadas (Carmaleized Scallops). The aromas are seductive, and, as the Borg say, Resistance is Futile. But do exercise control—these are just the entradas (appetizers)!

But enough about the starters, we’re at Velas 10 — we’re here for the meat. As mentioned prior, this is not just your ordinary meat. I had many choices on the menu: Rib Eye Tomahawk, T-Bone Angus, Filete Mignon Angus, Rib Eye Angus, and New York Angus. The tough part was upon me – deciding which one to call my own. After much indecision, the waiter suggested to let him handle it. What arrived was an Everest-sized mountain of beef that arrived still sizzling and cooked precisely to order, bearing that telltale char and crust of the high-temp ovens that you just can’t duplicate at home. Or anywhere for that matter.

If even possible, the non-steak entrees could actually be better that the beef. The Ensenada Ajilio Octopus (another unique rarity), succulent U8 Shrimp filled with fresh mozzarella from San Carlos, and blackened Sea Bass from Mar de Cortez, are all delightful and to-die-for.

All of this set my fitness routine back a solid month, but well worth it. Time to walk this off at the beach.

9:30 p.m. WALK ON THE BEACH

The waves crashing on the beach call you from every inch of the resort. You simply can’t ignore it. Being from LA, we take the beach for granted, but the immaculate sand was the tranquil solution to the two-mile walk needed to start to burn off dinner. Very few places offer stargazing (more on that later) like here in Cabo San Lucas. After an hour, I was hypnotized by the abundance of starlight and was feeling somewhat lithe once again. Ah, the power of the Mexican beach.

Friday
9:00 a.m. BLUE AGAVE MORNINGS

It’s hard to imagine a more relaxing setting than the pristine setting of the Grand Velas, but this property takes relaxation and well-being up a notch with its pampering spa treatments. The SE Spa features a personalized hydrotherapy ritual replete with their seven-step water ceremony, consisting of:

• eucalyptus steam therapy with chromotherapy*
• ice room
• sensory shower
• polar pool and jacuzzi
• thermal lounges
• sensation pool with various circuits: cascades, bubble bed, multisensory jets, bubble geyser and warm pool

* – I must be honest. I didn’t know what science chromotherapy was before visiting the SE Spa. Once my spa valet told me what it was, I had to scramble to find out what it was. It turns out that chromotherapy is the science of using colors to adjust body vibrations to frequencies that result in health and harmony. We learn something new everyday, don’t we?

The ritual ended with me in a thermal lounge chair in a heightened state of rest. It was so good for my soul that I forgot I had two blue agave spa treatments scheduled. Without getting into too many superlatives, let’s just say facial and the candle massage are worth a trip back, if only for the pressed dragonfly-shaped flower they give you for luck while washing your feet before your healing session.

1:15 p.m. BLOWN GLASS

Casa Bonita Home Décor
Carretera Transpeninsular Km. 17.5, Int Glass Factory Plaza,
23405 San José del Cabo, B.C.S., Mexico
Phone: +52 624 144 1500

I wanted to go antiquing and over the years I’ve discovered the best way to find the best shops is to ask your taxi driver and go for a ride. The intrepidness of travel discovery takes you places you can’t find on Trip Advisor or Lonely Planet. So I hailed a cab and off I went. I have to tell you that much was lost in translation because the driver went up a few miles and u-turned it back almost the same amount, dropping me at Casa Bonita Home Décor. The funny thing was that it was literally six hundred steps diagonally from the front of the Grand Velas. Walking there was a much simpler option, but I was pleased to have discovered it all.

Casa Bonita is Coco-level charming and so authentically Mexican that you get lost in the colorful pottery and hand-crafted furniture. I’m in heaven, asking the shopkeeper a million questions as I zoom in on some original photography of locals in their humble surroundings. “I don’t know where the heck I’m going to put it, but I think I have to have it,” I squawk, before spotting an even bigger draw: the glass factory in the back of the U-shaped complex.

As I draw closer to the factory, the temperature rises about ten degrees and the glassworks workshop crackling with heat and fire. The artisan hand-blows their colorful vases, cups, votive holders, and bowls, from opaque and/or transparent glass. Two other glassblowers share the space, giving it a busy, work-collective vibe; one of them hand-blows sculptural pieces while the other handcrafts fish and turtles that would compliment any eclectic environment. I opted to make my own original piece, art directing them into a modified heart-shaped number cobbled together from scraps of glass pieces destined for the meltdown bin. At 2,000 degrees F, my finished piece is definitely not cash and carry. It will be ready tomorrow for pickup.

Walking back to the hotel is a bit of a Frogger video game experience. But, after a little bit of light car dodging, I navigated my way back without incident or the need for a taxi.

5:00 p.m. TEQUILA! (Please drink responsibly!)

Tequila & Mezcal Tasting with Nestor Jones, Head Mixologist of Grand Velas Los Cabos

On the tasting menu:

• Siete Leguas Tequila Blanco
• Tequila Ley 925 Reposado
• Patrón Añejo
• Casa Dragones Blanco
• Mezcales de Leyenda Durango

Yeah, yeah, I know what you’re thinking when you hear tequila: shot glasses lined up on a bar with limes and salt readying you for a night you’ll soon forget (because of the blackout). After an hour with Nestor Jones, you will definitely have a different perspective.

As I quickly learned, tequila is a complex, gentle, and sophisticated spirit that’s intended to be sipped and not power shot. If you consider yourself to be a tequila drinker (beyond doing indiscriminate shots at holiday parties), then there two simple truths that you need to know:

Tequila Tasting with Nestor Jones

1) Never, ever drink a tequila that doesn’t have “100 Percent Blue Agave,” “100 Percent Agave,” “100 Percent Agave Azul,” on the label.

2) There are three principal selections: blanco (unaged), reposado (aged at least 60 days in oak), and añejo (aged from one to three years in oak).

So why 100 percent agave, you ask?

Here’s why.

Mixto, aka, non-100 percent agave tequila, are fermented with up to 49 percent non-agave sugars, with most producers using cheap cane sugar. When you drink mixto tequila, you’re basically consuming half-tequila, half-other junk. To make matters worse, in order to make mixtos taste and look like 100 percent agave tequila, these producers add ingredients like oak and almond extracts, caramel coloring, sugar syrup, and glycerin. And yes, they are still allowed to call it “tequila.” This, my friends, is how hangovers happen.

Fun Fact: You will never actually see the word “mixto” anywhere on the tequila bottle—it just won’t say that it’s 100 percent agave. Buyer beware.

6:00 p.m. DINNER WITH FRIDA

The amazing churro – check out the menu.

Famous Mexican painter Frida Kahlo is an inspiration to so many including Grand Velas’s Frida restaurant. I remember an interview with Kirk Varnedoe, chief curator of the Museum of Modern Art, who reflected on the impact of Frida: “She clicks with today’s sensibilities—her creation of a personal alternative world carry a voltage. Her constant remaking of her identity and her construction of a theater of the self are exactly what preoccupy contemporary artists.”

That identity altering artistry is reflected in the tastes of the culinary specialties that delight at Frida—think traditional with a contemporary twist. I asked what the most special thing on the menu is and I was quickly told it is the Conejo Al Molé. Here the molé consists of “black aztec rabbit ribs, over rice puréed with criollo ajo macho garlic, in a mole poblano bowl.” Those menu words lay flat when juxtaposed to the real deal and the superb gastronomy presentation. When the meal comes out, your server pours the hot molé sauce over a chocolate structure with the rabbit encased inside. It melts in front of you revealing a thick tasty dish where bitter meets sweet and sweet meets spicy.

The meal was as exciting as it was delicious and unique.

8:00 p.m. STARGAZING

Inspiration in a glass.

Another fun learning experience—a Grand Velas exclusive—awaited me on the same beach where I walked on the first night. Los Cabos Baja Peninsula is considered by NASA to be one of the top 20 locations to research the night-sky.

When I arrived at the beach the high-caliber 127mm Maksutov-Cassegrain telescope was ready to help me discover the stars (and planets and constellations and nebula).

We scoped Mars, Saturn, the Milky Way, and Zodiac Signs while learning about the Mayan Calendar and Native American moons.

Saturday – DAY OF CREATION

I didn’t leave my suite. There was no need. I lounged on my terrace puffing on my Cohiba (purchased at the vast boutique gift shop) while working on my screenplay, and devouring the delectable shrimp cocktails via in-suite dining. The sounds of the ocean created this environment I haven’t felt before, or since.

3:00 p.m. MORE FROGGER


I Froggered across the highway to pickup my blown glass art.

4:00 pm SUNSET SAIL

Cabo Adventures
From USA / Canada:
1-888-526-2238
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Whenever there’s a place with a sea or lake, I look for some kind of boat for a relaxing water cruise. Being at sea invokes a thousand daydreams. Nothing beats the summer breeze blowing in your face distracting you from life’s problems. The summer exhales gently. Its breath bangs the halyards on the mast, making them chime pleasantly and methodically. I heard that Los Cabos rises to the occasion and it didn’t disappoint. The charming and amazing natural scenarios can help anyone have their own unique experience. In fact, the most emblematic sites of Cabo San Lucas fill that purpose perfectly: Land’s End.

One of the most endearing sayings that many people say is “I would go to the end of the world for you!” Here, Cabo comes forward and sparkles in all its splendor to create the picture-perfect moment where you can make that statement come true. Well, maybe not the end of the world per se, but it is Land’s End for goodness sakes. This piece of land is the very tip of the Baja California Peninsula, where the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez meet. At Land’s End, you can see the famous Arch of Cabo San Lucas, Lovers’ Beach, and Divorce Beach, each part with a beautiful story that your tour guide at Cabo Adventures will be happy to tell you.

Cocina de Autor: Check out the menu.

8:30 pm MICHELIN DINING

Dinner at Cocina de Autor

One could say that I dined a lot on this trip. One could also say that how could I not.

Two-star Michelin Dutch Chef Sidney Schutte leads restaurant on the top of every big list around (Robb Report’s selection of 5 Outstanding Restaurants to Try in Los Cabos, Mexico’s Emerging Dining Scene, and the CNN’s Best New Restaurants in 2017).

This was my last real meal at Grand Velas and it was easily the best. It was a set menu consisting of ten courses with two being dessert. The culinary voyage was paired with a wine and spirits menu through every course.

It was one of those avant-garde fusion feasts that was delicious but also makes you think.

Sunday 
LAST HOURS

My three o’clock flight meant leaving the resort at noon, so time was of the essence to soak in every last minute. I broke the cardinal rule of vacation and got up early to watch the sunrise, have breakfast at the finest buffet in Mexico at Azul next to the water, and walk with the horses on the beach.

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All in all, it was easy to see why the Grand Velas is undeniably the all-inclusive trailblazer and among the preeminent resorts in the world.

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The finest buffet in Mexico at Azul, next to the water.

Upon Arrival: Welcome Drinks

Frida Restaurant

Lands End in Cabo San Lucas

A mountain of meat from Velas 10

Dessert at Velas 10

Inspirational Views

No, it’s not a mirage.

Hand-blown, original art.

Michelin dining at Cocina de Autor.

More: Cocina de Autor

Real Cohibas…

The aforementioned vast boutique gift shop

You’ll never want to leave.

Afternoon espresso and treats

All smiles before sailing.

When in Rome Mexico…

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