Holiday Inn Resort Los Cabos All-Inclusive

At the end of hotel row's boulevard sits the Holiday Inn Resort's bland beige-stucco building with the chain's recognizable green and purple signage. Inside, the lobby has grand ceilings but very minimal decor, save for some large pieces of abstract art. But the grounds have lovely palms, cacti, and a unique stone water feature that spruce up the place. Some areas of the resort -- including the main restaurant and first-floor rooms -- were refreshed after the hurricane in 2014.

This affordable all-inclusive sees a range of leisure travelers -- tequila-ordering partiers, romancing couples, and families with rambunctious children -- and the hotel has three distinct pools to cater to each type. However, the resort does see many young groups, so peace-seeking travelers should check on this before booking. 

Holiday Inn Resort Los Cabos is located on the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja California Sur. The town of San Jose del Cabo is the second of two major hubs that make up Los Cabos -- the other being Cabo San Lucas. Most resorts in this eastern part of the coast sit along a stretch of beach that fronts the Sea of Cortez, commonly called Hotel Row. To arrive, guests will fly into Los Cabos International Airport, 14 miles away, and either take a taxi or rent a car to get to the property. Those who choose the latter have free self-parking by the entrance, though few guests actually drive as all-inclusive rates eliminate the need to leave the property. Taxis are easy to obtain. 

There are some shops and restaurants across the street from the hotel and it's a quick two-mile ride to the colonial downtown area of San Jose del Cabo. This photogenic historic section is well worth a visit -- especially near the Town Square -- with its charming cafes, bars, and art galleries, which are often featured in chic travel magazines. It's also worth driving 13 minutes to the Flora Farm in the Sierra de la Laguna Mountains, a 10-acre organic farm and restaurant. There are several golf courses and excursions such as whale watching and diving nearby as well. Lively nightlife can be found in Cabo San Lucas, a 20-minute drive away, but be forewarned that taxi fares from the hotel are quite high. 

There are nearly 400 rooms in this expansive resort, housed in modern (albeit bland) three-story buildings. Rooms themselves have simple furnishings that include terra-cotta tile floors, neutral-tone walls, brown pullout futons, and simple bold red or gold bed runners. Standard amenities include flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, safes, work desks, coffeemakers, and two bottles of water refreshed daily, but there are no mini-fridges. Bathrooms have walk-in showers, wall-mounted hairdryers, and basic toiletries. Suites include separate living rooms and an additional bathroom with stand-alone tubs. All rooms have furnished patios or balconies either facing the grounds of ocean; the first-floor units facing the beach also have hammocks, but they lack privacy.

This property helps compensate for an un-swimmable beach with several quality features. Most activity takes place at the three pools that are well-separated from each other. The main pool has a fun atmosphere, and hosts daily activities such as water aerobics or pool volleyball as pop music plays in the background; one of the swim-up bars is found here. A quieter (and much smaller) adult-only pool has plastic loungers under palapas, but does tend to get crowded. The family pool is the largest of the three and features a section with a swim-up bar and bold sculpture fountain, plus a narrow water path that leads to a kids' area with waterslides. Though it's not swimmable, the massively wide beach has a long stretch of beige sand with lounge chairs and provides stunning views. There are some vendors selling wares and horseback riding, but they are unobtrusive. 

For exercise, there's a 24-hour gym with cardio and strength-training equipment, and free weights. There are also basketball and tennis courts available. Children aged 5 to 12 have free access to the daytime kids' club and its indoor and outdoor play space. The outdoor theater will have live entertainment some nights. Additionally, a couple of meeting rooms and laundry facilities are available. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.

Everyone is on the same food and beverage package at this all-inclusive resort. Guests can drink beer, wine, and basic mixed cocktails at the six bars located around the resort. Two restaurants include a buffet for all three meals and an a la carte eatery for lunch and dinner. Room service is also available from early morning through the evening. The buffet restaurant Frutas y Flores has an industrial-looking indoor space with red accents, plus a large, covered outdoor patio with a bar. The food offerings don't vary much, but theme nights such as Asian and Italian help mix it up. The open-air, thatched-roof Azul Estero Restaurant sits next to the beach and serves lunch and dinner a la carte style.