Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/7240
march 2010 / the tasting panel / 25 was hot, steamy and noisy as we pushed our way through the crowd of vacationers in the San Jose del Cabo airport. Three full planes had landed at once, and chaos reigned. We had about 15 bags between us, and the porters seemed to be on break. Everything changed when we straggled out onto the sidewalk in front of the terminal. We were met by two Villas del Mar employ- ees in crisp white uniforms, who took charge of our luggage and hustled us into an air-conditioned, leather-lined Suburban stocked with cold water, sodas and beer. Our perfect vacation had begun. For the past several years, I have taken my family to Cabo San Lucas in December. Located at the tip of Baja California, this Mexican resort is just a two-hour flight from LAX. The weather is always great, and the available accommodations range from beach shacks to palatial villas. Nightlife options span from raun- chy tequila bars to exquisite Jean-Georges Vongerichten haute cuisine. This time we opted for the high end of the spectrum. We have stayed at various hotels and resorts, but this year we decided to go for the gold and stay in a villa at the ultra-exclusive Villas del Mar at Palmilla. Built on a rocky rise that stretches along two miles of pristine oceanfront property overlooking the Sea of Cortez and adjacent to one of the world's most luxurious resorts, One&Only Palmilla, Villas del Mar offers the comforts of an über-luxury vacation home along with the services and amenities of a five-star resort. Just outside the heavily guarded gates of Villas del Mar, there are 27 holes of Nicklaus championship golf, state-of-the-art tennis facilities at the Palmilla Tennis Club and an amazing selection of restaurants, as well as access to the extraordinary spa at the One&Only Palmilla. The Suburban came to a smooth stop in front of our villa. Standing at attention in front were two members of the Villas del Mar staff and, in white coats, our butler, Rolando, and the chef, Geraldo. Our luggage was quickly and silently whisked into the house and placed in the appropriate bedrooms. There were eight of us: my three daughters, two sons-in-law, my three-year-old granddaughter, my wife and myself. The villa could have held ten or more comfortably. There were five roomy bedrooms, a large living room that opened out onto a TRAvEl It Perfec t The Villas del Mar resort is one of the jewels of Cabo. The lunch table.