I will be posting a review in the reviews section, but I thought that I would consolidate some of the information here since it isn't easy to find for this particular Casa Dorada resort.
Casa Dorado Spa & Golf (co-located on the Hilton property)
Pros:
1. This resort is truly beautiful
2. It is located on a small swimmable beach
3. There are multiple restaurants on site
4. It's located close to the highway which allows easy access for Uber
5. It appears that all rooms may have ocean views. Some may be obstructed by foliage.
6. There is a 10% food & beverage discount for Casa Dorada guests
7. We had no chair hog issues. I am not sure if this was due to it being May or if there are actually enough chairs?
Cons:
1. The restaurant prices are very high
2. Since it is located in the corridor nothing is within walking distance
3. The sand on the beach is coarse so walking was a bit uncomfortable. I walked in my flip flops which I never do.
Common questions that I had - with the answers:
1. Do all rooms have an ocean view? Seems like most of them do, and on the Hilton site is says that all rooms are ocean view. Just in case, I would request one. The only rooms that look iffy are those on the ground floor.
2. Are the rooms the same as the Hilton rooms? I am not 100% sure but have read that there are some designated Casa Dorada rooms. Our room was nice but some of the finishes (cabinets and floors) are clearly older, but everything in our room matches the photos on the Hilton website.
3. What is the cost to rent a cabana? The cost for the day (infinity pool near the sushi bar) was quoted as $90 (USD) but there was a service charge added to bring the total to $105 (USD). Service was the same as any other poolside chair and there was no food & beverage credit.
4. What does the "limited kitchen" consist of? There was a dorm fridge, no freezer and a portable two burner electric cooktop, plus a microwave. There was a small coffee maker. There were very limited glasses, plates, silverware etc (think 3 or 4 of each). No dishwasher. No paper towels. For the week, we were given one kitchen towel and a sponge. Cooking can be done but it is a bit of a challenge.
5. Can four people stay in a 1 bedroom unit? This room would be best for adults + kids. The sofa bed was actually some type of a pullout that looked pretty small. I cannot imagine two adults being able to comfortable share that "bed".
Other info -
Uber fares to San Jose del Cabo ~$10-$15 (USD) each way (2024)
Uber fare to Cabo San Lucas ~ $18 - $25 (USD) each way (2024)
Offsite activities that we did (booked via Chase Ultimate Rewards)
Cooking class: Cookin' San Jose. Our chef, Francisco, hosted the class in his home. We learned to make tamales, different salsas, and margaritas. We truly enjoyed this class.
https://cookinvallarta.com/cooking-classes/san-jose-del-cabo/
Sunset sail: We actually sailed - sails up - and our cruise only had 4 people aboard. This was a great activity.
https://www.cabosailing.com/book-now/shared-snorkeling-or-sunset-sailing/
Other than a visit to the Office and Tacos Gardenias, we ate at the resort. The food was pretty good and the portions were on the larger side (imo). Even though the food was expensive, once you add the Uber cost, it was about the same cost as going out so we just kept things easy.
Our room was on the third floor just like Andy's. See photo.
If this wasn't located on the corridor, this would be my favorite resort. We have had a nice relaxing week here and wouldn't hesitate to return again.
