Hilton's crown jewel resort just leveled up: Here's what's new at the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal
Editor's Note
The Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal is a fan favorite among points and miles enthusiasts. With rooms often going for more than $2,000 per night — and sometimes close to $3,000 — it's a great place to get some serious value from your Hilton Honors points. And with standard rooms now reaching 250,000 points per night, it's arguably the best possible place to use your Hilton free night certificates.
I happen to be one of its fans (as is my fellow TPG content director Eric Rosen, who reviewed the hotel in 2022), so when the Waldorf reopened this fall after renovations, I knew I had to see it.
As I was pleased to discover, the renovations were mainly additive, and everything I loved about the resort on my first couple of visits was still intact. Here's a look at what changed, what beloved features stayed the same and how you can experience it for yourself.
Related: The best Hilton hotels in the world
Changed: Design details in every room
As part of the renovations, every guest room got a face-lift that introduced a lighter, neutral-focused palette. Tiles around the fireplace and whitewashed ceilings replaced darker wood tones (which had felt heavy and dated). As a result, standard rooms feel larger, brighter, airier and more modern despite retaining the same overall layout.
The renovation also brought Mexican art and craftsmanship into every room with a curated art collection and custom furniture and decor created by artists and artisans from across the country.
Stayed the same: Plunge 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 one that's perfect for taking in the sunset, relaxing while kids nap or enjoying happy hour (more on that later).
Changed: In-room tech
In addition to the cosmetic edits, rooms also got some love in the tech department. They now feature outlets — including USB-C ports — in both the bed frame and bedside table so you can keep all your devices close at hand while charging overnight. Soft motion-sensor lighting also kicks in 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 truly, I don't know how you top this— is that hotel staff members deliver chips, pico de gallo, freshly made guacamole and an icy bucket of two Coronas free of charge each day between 4 and 5 p.m. This should be consumed in your plunge pool for maximum effect (and don't forget to turn off the aforementioned do-not-disturb button so you don't miss it).
Changed: Refreshed amenity spaces
It wasn't just the guest rooms that got a face-lift at Pedregal. A couple of key common areas also got major upgrades, starting with the spa. It now sports an all-new salon and beauty room, complete with areas for full-service hair and nail treatments. In the gym, all the equipment has been replaced with brand-new Technogym machines. The Beach Club has also been reborn as La Palapa, and it now includes a new open-air terrace for outdoor dining.
Stayed the same: Iconic cliffside spaces
The property is situated between the ocean and an outcropping of cliffs, a location that gives the resort some of its most distinctive features. You have to pass through a rock-hewn tunnel to reach Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal, for example, and its fine-dining restaurant, El Farallon, famously sits on a cliff's edge overlooking the water.
Changed: Expanded pool area
In my opinion, the best lounge chairs on the property are at the adults pool facing directly toward the ocean, offering unobstructed views of the water and any whales that may be passing through. Post-renovation, there are even more loungers that fit that description thanks to an addition that extended the pool farther down along the beach.
Stayed the same: Swim-up 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 restaurant, Crudo. Along with a wide array of drinks (of which my favorite remains the frozen tamarind margarita with Tajin), Crudo offers an expansive food menu spanning tacos to maki rolls, all with an emphasis on fresh seafood. There's just something about eating lunch in the pool that really takes vacationing to the next level, and I have yet to find a better place to do it.
Changed: New dining options
The cliffside restaurant El Farallon, meanwhile, is now open during the day as well as the evening — from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. — offering the chance to enjoy more of its beautiful vistas in the daylight. Its new daytime "Savor the Sea" concept includes seafood towers and fresh oysters you can pair with bubbly from its Champagne terrace. The all-new La Palapa also offers a Sunday brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., complete with a culinary rotation and weekly wine partners.
Stayed the same: Old menu favorites
The Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal serves very good food, and I was genuinely concerned that with all the updates at the resort, my favorite dishes might have been replaced. Thankfully, I needn't have worried. The grilled vegetable fajitas with melted cheese at day-to-night restaurant Don Manuel's ($27) and the blue corn quesadillas with squash blossom at Crudo ($19) tasted just like I remembered them, as did the spicy Mexican iced mocha from Neutral Coffee Lab ($12), which rivals any coffee drink I've had at home in Portland, Oregon.
Booking the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal
Whether you're booking with cash or Hilton Honors points, the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal isn't cheap — but there are a few ways to bring prices down.
I've 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'll 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 with participating Hilton resort properties. Specifically, you'll receive one credit of up to $200 from January through June and another between July and December, tallying $400 back annually. These credits are great for covering food and beverage charges while on the property, reducing out-of-pocket spending.
Related: How to use the up-to-$400 Hilton Aspire resort credit each year
When paying with points, Hilton Honors elite members can also book their fifth night free, taking the price of a stay of that length down by 20%.
Meanwhile, if using cash, holders of American Express Platinum Card® or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express can book through American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts for extras like noon check-in based on availability, guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout, a room upgrade at check-in where available, daily breakfast for two and a $150 property credit to be used during the stay. Plus, those cardholders also receive up to $600 in hotel statement credits each calendar year (up to $300 biannually) for prepaid FHR bookings.
Otherwise, you'll want to use one of the credit cards that earn the most points for Hilton stays, or one that offers automatic Hilton Honors elite status for 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.
- The 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 Silver elite 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).
Bottom line
With its recent renovations, one of Hilton's top properties just got even more desirable. While the price in points is unfortunately more than twice 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 it.
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