Seasonal Savings in Los Cabos: Discounts and Deals Post Hurricane Odile
When businesses began reopening in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Odile, there were a wealth of savings opportunities, as restaurants, nightclubs, and in a few cases, activities companies, tried to trumpet their returns with attractive deals and discounts. This trend has abated somewhat as Los Cabos has progressively regained a semblance of normality, but cash-strapped locals and bargain hunting tourists – the latter soon to increase dramatically with the resumption of international flights – will find there are still plenty of wallet-friendly options. Some discounts were designed to stimulate business post Odile, and as such have a limited shelf life, while others merely signal a return to standard daily or weekly deals at area bars and eateries.
Scenic mountain biking expeditions are among the many great activities options currently being offered at discounted rates by Cabo Adventures.
Activities
Cabo Adventures was one of the first places to reopen on the Marina, and savvy locals have been taking advantage of the incredible deals, which in many cases have allowed them to pay a relative pittance for the kind of VIP access that costs visiting celebrities thousands of dollars. Currently all tours are priced at $499 pesos (about $40 bucks U.S.), and run as scheduled regardless of guest count (Single guest? No problem). This offer includes dolphin swims and encounters, camel safaris – all dolphins and camels safely survived the storm and its aftermath – mountain biking excursions, and zip lining expeditions, as well as flyboarding, sailing, snorkeling, scuba diving, and now seasonally, a swimming with whale sharks adventure in La Paz. My advice: take advantage now. Once the tourists return en masse, I expect this deal will be going the way of the dodo.
Restaurants
Those of us who stayed in Los Cabos following the hurricane will probably always have a soft spot for the restaurants that reopened virtually immediately, providing much needed sustenance during a challenging first week without electricity, running water or internet access. Captain Tony’s was one of the blessed few, and remains so, dishing out delicious daily deals for breakfast and lunch. Enjoy morning specials such as vegetarian omelets, chilaquiles rojos con huevo, or chicharrón en salsa verde for 70 pesos; delicious Mexican favorites like fajitas and carnitas at lunchtime for 80 pesos; and of course the ever popular gourmet pizzas. Other mouth-watering options included Baja Cantina Beach Club – still offering 20 percent off everything on the menu – and Alcaravea Gourmet. The latter reopened this Monday, and is once again featuring an air-conditioned dining area and the best lunch deals in Cabo San Lucas: soup or salad, entrée plus pasta or vegetables, garlic bread, dessert and choice of drink for only $120 pesos (less than $10 U.S.). It’s a meal fit for a king or queen at peasant prices.
In addition to being a budget-friendly gathering place for football fans, Rockstone Tavern also features some of the best city views in Cabo San Lucas.
Nightlife
Bars and cantinas have been opening at rapid rates, bolstered by the fact that all they really needed to attract customers was comfortable seating, cold beer and a few budget-beating drink specials. By and large, that has proved a pretty easy recipe for recovery. Médano Beach mecca Mango Deck Cantina is currently offering two-for-one beers all day, every day, and other signature watering holes have quickly reinstituted its standard rotation of discounts and deals. Sammy G’s Bar & Grill is offering 20 peso beers and two-for-one well drinks during happy hour, 4–7 p.m.; Cabo Blue has free martinis for the fair sex on Monday nights, plus two-for-one margaritas all day Monday, and $1.50 U.S. beers all day on Tuesdays; Rockstone Tavern & Eatery is whispering sweet nothings to football fans with $1 U.S. draft beers and half-price appetizers on Sundays, and $1 U.S. drafts and tequila shots, as well as $2 U.S. vodkas and half-price on all menu items during Monday Night Football; and ladies still drink for free on Friday nights at Baja Cantina on the Marina. The best souvenir for Odile veterans, on the other hand, is being offered at local late night landmark El Squid Roe: “I survived Hurricane Odile to party another day at El Squid Roe” t-shirts for only $95 pesos.
Vouchers
The best deal in town, however, remains the Los Cabos Magazine prepaid voucher discount program. Discounts of 35 to 50 percent are available on activities, hotels, restaurants, spas and much, much more. Here’s how it works: Call the office for availability (624-143-1346, toll free: (800) 208-3924 or Vonage (619) 793-4973, then stop by to purchase (or arrange for delivery of) discounted prepaid vouchers that may be redeemed at full value at participating area businesses. If, for example, you want to take your family for dinner at Alcaravea Gourmet, you can buy $200 worth of vouchers at a 35 percent discount. In other words, you’d pay only $130 U.S. for a $200 U.S. meal. It’s that simple.
There are a few rules for redeeming vouchers, but they’re pretty simple: 1) Let your waiter, or the business representative, know beforehand that you intend to pay with vouchers; 2) Sign the vouchers before paying with them; 3) Remember, tips are not included, and you may not get cash back. For instance, if the bill is $97.55 and you pay with $100 in vouchers, you will not receive change. Otherwise, the vouchers function exactly the same as U.S. currency.