Cabo San Lucas at the southern tip of the Baja peninsula  may be awash in mega-size, mega-service, mega-resorts, and many of them are at the top of people’s lists of places to stay before they die. But Casa Natalia  in the neighboring 17th Century town of San Jose del Cabo, offers a more intimate option that’s every bit as chic and indulgent. Owners Nathalie and Loic Tenoux  like to say that the word Casa in the name of their 16 room high design boutique hotel means “home,” not merely “house.” The couple actually lives in a penthouse over the hotel’s acclaimed restaurant (where Loic is Chef) and they’ve worked hard to make you feel at home too.

With snow still piling up and spring nowhere in sight I pointed my trusty Chevy Silverado south and headed to Baja California for an emergency  dose of sunshine. I knew I'd find great lodgings at the southern-most tip of the peninsula at the celebrated likes of Las Ventanas, the all-inclusive One & Only Palmilla,  and Casa Natalia in Cabo (look for my article about Casa Natalia on this site soon). But on the drive down I was thrilled to discover a group of outstanding hotels serving other areas of the 1,000 mile long Baja peninsula.