Barcelo Los Cabos Palace Deluxe

The Barcelo Los Cabos Palace Deluxe, facing a half-mile of wide, sandy beach at the tip of Mexico's Baja Peninsula, is one of several new resort developments in the area.

The 619-room, $85 million hotel, just outside San Jose del Cabo, incorporates features that Barcelo Hotels & Resorts plans to expand to other properties, including two new types of guestrooms: family suites and swim-up suites.

Barcelo acquired the old Grand Baja Hotel several years ago and tore down much of it, keeping just one tower, Tower B, now under refurbishment, and developing a new resort around it.

Two new towers feature 34 rooms on ground-level floors that are swim-up suites: Guests can dive from the patio of their room directly into a swimming pool or relax in chaise lounges at water's edge.

The family suites consist of two rooms and one bathroom. One contains a king-size bed, sofa bed and terrace; the other has two beds and a terrace. The family suites were unveiled at Barcelo's Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, property in December.

On the menu

Specialty restaurants, each with their own kitchens, design and decor, offer Spanish, Italian, French and Japanese cuisine. Guests can also choose from a beachside Argentinian steakhouse and Mexican and international buffet restaurants. "Our deluxe concept is to offer the highest level of food and beverage of all the Barcelos," said Hernan Vanegas Pastrana, managing director.

Barcelo's all-inclusive program allows for unlimited dining at the buffet restaurants. To dine at specialty restaurants, guest use "tickets" they receive at check-in. The number is based on length of stay (seven-night stays typically allow three nights' dining).

The all-inclusive concept stretches to the cocktail lounges spread through the resort, including a casual sports bar; an elegant, nautical-theme lounge; and two outdoor bars overlooking the large, main courtyard.

A 526-seat theater with a bar showcases Broadway-style entertainment nightly on a large stage. An 18,000-square-foot spa contains 16 treatment rooms, a steam room, a sauna and a hydrotherapy room.

Rooms all have sitting areas, terraces and beds with high-thread-count cotton sheets, jetted bathtubs and separate showers with "rain dance" showerheads.

An interactive "smart TV" with a 40-inch flat screen can be used to control room temperature, order room service, move draperies, check email and surf the Web.

Barcelo officials expect 60% of the Cabo resort's business to be generated by meetings and incentives. The 35,000 square feet of meetings space is the largest in Los Cabos and includes a 9,735-square-foot ballroom.

Through May 31, travel agents get reduced rates of $70 per person, per night, double, or $112 single, in Deluxe Junior suites. Kids ages 2 to 12 stay for $28 per child, per night, and third and fourth adults may be added to agent reservations for an additional $49 per person, per night.