A look at the renovations at the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal

The Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal is a favorite among points and miles enthusiasts. With rooms often costing over $2000 per night (and sometimes close to $3000), it’s a great place to get great value for your Hilton Honors Points. And with standard rooms now reaches 250,000 points per nightis possibly the best possible place to use your Hilton Free Night Certificates.

I happen to be one of their fans (as is my fellow TPG Chief Content Officer Eric Rosen, who reviewed the hotel in 2022), so when the Waldorf reopened this fall after renovationsI knew I had to see it.

As I was happy to discover, the renovations were mostly additive and everything I loved about the resort on my first few visits was still intact. Here’s a look at what changed, what beloved features stayed the same, and how you can experience them for yourself.

Related: The best Hilton hotels in the world.

Changed: Design details in each room.

As part of the renovations, each room received a facelift that introduced a lighter, more neutral palette. Tiles around the fireplace and whitewashed ceilings replaced darker wood tones (which felt heavy and dated). As a result, standard rooms appear larger, brighter, airier and more modern while retaining the same general layout.

The renovation also brought Mexican art and crafts to each room with a curated art collection and custom furniture and decor created by artists and artisans from around the country.

Stayed the same: deep pools in every room

One feature of the rooms that didn’t change? The plunge pool outside every room on the property. It’s a special feature and perfect for watching the sunset, relaxing while the kids nap, or enjoying happy hour (more on that later).

Changed: technology in the room

In addition to the cosmetic editions, the rooms also received some love in the technology department. They now feature power outlets, including USB-C ports, on both the bed frame and nightstand so you can keep all your devices close at hand while you charge them overnight. Soft motion sensor lighting also activates to guide you to and from the bathroom when the lights are off, and rooms are now equipped with room service and do not disturb buttons.

Stayed the same: in-room happy hour

My favorite part about staying at the Waldorf (and I honestly don’t know how to top this) is that the hotel staff members hand out free fries, pico de gallo, freshly made guacamole, and a two Corona frozen bucket every day between 4 and 5 pm. This should be consumed at your pool for maximum effect (and don’t forget to turn off the aforementioned do not disturb button so you don’t miss it).

Changed: renovated service spaces

It wasn’t just the rooms that received a facelift at Pedregal. A couple of key common areas also received major upgrades, starting with the spa. It now features a brand new salon and beauty room, with areas for full hair and nail treatments. In the gym, all equipment has been replaced with new Technogym machines. The Beach Club has also been reborn as La Palapa, and now includes a new outdoor terrace for alfresco dining.

Stayed the same: iconic cliffside spaces

The property is situated between the ocean and a cliff outcrop, a location that gives the resort some of its most distinctive features. You have to pass through a tunnel carved into the rock to reach the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal, for example, and its elegant restaurant, El Farallón, famous for being located on the edge of a cliff overlooking the water.

Changed: expanded pool area

In my opinion, the best loungers on the property are at the adult pool which faces directly out to the ocean, offering unobstructed views of the water and any whales that may be passing by. After the renovation, there are even more loungers that fit that description thanks to an addition that extended the pool further down along the beach.

Stayed the same: pool bar

While the adult pool may be longer than it used to be, its best feature is still its swim-up bar, which is part of the Crudo restaurant. Along with a wide variety of drinks (of which my favorite remains the frozen tamarind margarita with Tajin), Crudo offers an extensive food menu ranging from tacos to maki rolls, all with an emphasis on fresh seafood. There’s something about having lunch by the pool that really takes a vacation to the next level, and I’ve yet to find a better place to do it.

Changed: New dining options.

Meanwhile, the cliffside El Farallón restaurant is now open both day and night, from 11am to 11pm, offering the opportunity to further enjoy its beautiful views in daylight. Their new daytime concept “Taste the Sea” includes seafood towers and fresh oysters that you can wash down with champagne on their champagne terrace. The new La Palapa also offers a Sunday brunch from 10am to 2pm, complete with a culinary rotation and weekly wines.

Stayed the same: old menu favorites

The Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal serves very good food and I was really worried that with all the updates at the resort, my favorite dishes might have been replaced. Fortunately, I needn’t have worried. The grilled vegetable fajitas with melted cheese at Don Manuel’s ($27) and blue corn quesadillas with squash blossom at Crudo ($19) tasted just as I remembered, as did Neutral Coffee Lab’s spicy Mexican iced mocha ($12), which rivals any coffee drink I’ve had at home in Portland, Oregon.

Booking the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal

Whether you book with cash or Hilton Honors points, the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal isn’t cheap, but there are a few ways to cut prices.

I have I redeemed my free night certificates earned with the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card and the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card there on multiple occasions, as they will cover a standard room at almost any hotel or resort in the Hilton portfolio, regardless of price.

The Aspire also comes with up to $200 in statement credits twice a year when you make eligible purchases directly at participating Hilton resort properties. Specifically, you will receive a credit of up to $200 from January to June and another between July and December, for a total of $400 per year. These credits are great for covering food and beverage charges while you are on the property, reducing out-of-pocket expenses.

Related: How to use up to $400 Hilton Aspire resort credit each year

When paying with points, Hilton Honors Elite Members You can also reserve your fifth night freereducing the price of a stay of that duration by 20%.

Meanwhile, if they use cash, cardholders American Express Platinum® Card either The Business Platinum Card® from American Express you can reserve through American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts for extras like noon check-in based on availability, guaranteed late check-out at 4 pm, a room upgrade at check-in when available, daily breakfast for two, and a $150 property credit to use during your stay. Additionally, those cardholders also receive up to $600 in hotel statement credits each calendar year (up to $300 every two years) for FHR prepaid reservations.

Otherwise, you’ll want to use one of the Credit cards that earn more points for Hilton staysor one that offers Hilton Honors automatic elite status to obtain value-added benefits. These include:

• Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card: Earn 14 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at Hilton hotels and automatic Diamond Elite status.
• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card: Earn 12 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at Hilton hotels, automatic Gold elite status and the ability to upgrade to Diamond status through the end of the next calendar year by spending $40,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year.
• Hilton Honors American Express Business Card: Earn 12 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at Hilton hotels, automatic Gold elite status and the ability to upgrade to Diamond status through the end of the next calendar year by spending $40,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year.
• Hilton Honors American Express Card: Earn 7 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at Hilton hotels and automatic Elite Silver status (with an upgrade to Gold through the end of the next calendar year when you spend $20,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year).

In a nutshell

With its recent renovations, one of Hilton’s best properties just became even more attractive. While the price in points is unfortunately more than double what it was last year, if you’re looking for a special place to redeem your Hilton Honors points or free night certificates, this is the place.

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