Where to Stay in Los Cabos: Krystal Grand Los Cabos

I was hosted by Los Cabos and Krystal Grand Los Cabos. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Los Cabos is one of those Mexican destinations I couldn’t quite put my finger on. I’ve heard countless people come to love or hate the area thanks to its reputation as a party destination that rivals Cancun, but I realize now that where to stay in Los Cabos plays a huge role in shaping the kind of vacation you’re looking to have. 

Why? Because Los Cabos actually makes up two towns, each with their own incredibly distinctive personalities and rhythms. 

Cabo San Lucas, what most people think of when they hear Cabo, is where you will find the destination’s distinctive Arch of Cabo San Lucas – the spectacular rock formation at Land’s End (or, the southern tip of Baja, Mexico). It’s also the town known around the world for lively nightlife and luxury yachts. 

Just 20 minutes down the road along what’s known as The Corridor, San Jose del Cabo has a decidedly more local – though still incredibly hip – vibe that’s more laidback. Less crowded beaches and more approachable restaurants can be found here.

When it comes to where to stay in Los Cabos, there really is no wrong choice. But after staying in both Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo, I have to say – I really enjoyed San Jose! 

I stayed at the Krystal Grand Los Cabos, a relaxed, reasonably affordable, remote-work-friendly all-inclusive that gives you everything you need, and nothing you don’t. 

Read on for my review of the Krystal Grand Los Cabos!

Location

At the far east end of The Corridor, just before you hit downtown San Jose, you’ll find Krystal Grand Los Cabos. The resort itself is one of three Krystal Grand properties in Mexico, with others in Nuevo Vallarta and Cancun. 

The Krystal Hotels brand promises excellently located hotels with rooms just steps from the ocean, and I have to say – they definitely deliver on this in Los Cabos. Uninterrupted views of the Playa Costa Azul to the right, and Playa Hotelera to the left, greeted us as soon as we arrived. 

While you may not want to leave with that kind of view, I should mention here that many beaches in San Jose del Cabo are generally not swimmable. The undercurrents here are no joke, so instead, most travelers sunbathe or spend their days poolside (which honestly, isn’t a bad trade-off for views as beautiful as these). 

The Krystal Grand Los Cabos is an all-inclusive resort, but if you did want to leave the property, you’re no more than 5-10 minutes from downtown San Jose, and 25 – 30 minutes from Cabo San Lucas. To get around, you can use Uber or easily rent a car (driving around Los Cabos is easy, and there’s onsite parking at the resort). 

The Krystal Grand Los Cabos All-Inclusive Property

Krystal Grand Los Cabos was built in 2017, and features 429 rooms. The lobby itself is a standout feature, with views that extend beyond a dramatic water-framed plank walkway that leads straight out a massive pool terrace. At check-in, I was greeted by kind and attentive staff, and though there was a long line to check in, I felt instantly at ease knowing the ocean was just beyond the pool. 

The hotel’s all-inclusive rates grant you dining at the property’s four restaurants and two bars, minibar access in the rooms, and access to both pools (one for families, one for adults with a bonus swim-up bar). For families in particular, there’s a massive play area and kids’ club for children within sight of the larger family pool. For myself, I was more interested in the swim up bar 🙂 

While you can’t swim in the ocean, there’s still tons to do. I spent my afternoons getting massages at the onsite spa (not included in the all-inclusive rate) and reading on the sun loungers out on the beach. There’s a fitness center here as well, but I conveniently forgot during my stay (to be fair, I was on a work-cation, and every minute I wasn’t working I spent soaking up sun on the beach. Can you blame me?). 

My favorite part of the entire property was the VIP rooftop terrace, called the Sky Lounge, which feels like a true hidden gem when staying at this hotel. Equipped with its own bar, lounge beds, and music, the Sky Lounge offers the very best views of San Jose del Cabo’s beachfront, and is without a doubt where I spent most of my time!

The Rooms

The recently renovated rooms are open and minimalist, with neutral colors and pops of blue to remind you of Los Cabos’ oceanfront. My room was above the lobby, with head-on views of the pool and beach, and featured a full dining area, seating area, and a jacuzzi tub in the bathroom.

On the flip side, the rooms on the ground floor trade their balcony views for swim access, with a wraparound pool that connects the back entrances of each room for a little extra special touch.

Beyond the rooms, most of the hotel is well-equipped with WiFi. As I was working remotely when I stayed at Krystal Grand Los Cabos, I found that I was able to send emails from both pools (when sitting close to the restaurants), all restaurants, the lobby, and the Sky Lounge. There are lots of places to stay connected throughout the property so you don’t just have to hang out indoors! 

Food & Drink

When it comes to where to stay in Los Cabos, choosing all-inclusive resorts with lots of dining options is actually pretty crucial, as some of these properties (like Krystal) offer such close proximity to the beach at the expense of being far from outside restaurants and bars. 

At Krystal Grand Los Cabos, there are four restaurants, plus a breakfast buffet venue: 

• The Grill: The hotel’s beachfront restaurant that is good for lunch due to its gorgeous views 
• The Hacienda El Mortero: A contemporary mexican restaurant with traditional food in a massive palapa overlooking the adult pool 
• Risotto: A traditional italian restaurant with pastas and pizzas 
• Restaurant O: The breakfast buffet, where you can get made-to-order chilaquiles (my favorite), pastries, green juices, coffee, mimosas, and more 
• Ayami: A fusion Asian restaurant drawing inspiration from Japan, Thailand, China, and India. Here, you can dine a la carte or enjoy a teppanyaki cooking show

In my opinion, while The Grill has the best view, Ayami is their tastiest restaurant, and the teppanyaki experience shouldn’t be missed. While all other restaurants do not take reservations, reservations are required if you want to enjoy teppanyaki. 

Every restaurant at the Krystal Grand has a resort casual dress code, so you can dine comfortably in whatever you are wearing each day. For even more comfort, you can also order included room service, though delivery is a small additional fee. 

Last but not least, the property does have bars and places to get snacks throughout the day.

Tips To Know Before You Go

1. TRANSPORTATION: As I mentioned earlier, there’s parking onsite at Krystal Grand Los Cabos, so if you do rent a car in Los Cabos, you’ll be able to go wherever you want, whenever you want. If you don’t have a rental car, Uber is usually very quick, and what I opted for when I was in town. 
2. WHAT TO DO IN THE AREA:
   • Lounge at the beach or the pool
   • Get a massage at the onsite spa 
   • Spend the day in Cabo San Lucas and take a boat ride out to see The Arch (El Arco)
   • Check out downtown San Jose del Cabo, and grab a bite and a drink at the Baja Brewing Company 
   • Have lunch at the gorgeous – and delicious – Flora Farms 
3. TIPPING ETIQUETTE FOR ALL-INCLUSIVES IN LOS CABOS: No matter where you stay in Los Cabos, if you’re at an all-inclusive, it’s typically encouraged to tip for good service. $1 (roughly 20 pesos) for a drink, $5-$10 for a good meal, and so on are good general benchmarks to show appreciation for the resort staff working to make your stay enjoyable. 

Ready to pack your bags? Book your stay at the Krystal Grand Los Cabos All-Inclusive here.

Book Activities In or Near This Hotel Here:

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