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Photo courtesy of Twitter member @LUISFELIPE_P |
As Los Cabos is struggling to recover from Hurricane Odile, which slammed the Baja Peninsula Sunday night, military and private aircraft are airlifting stranded tourists out of the destination.
NBC News is reporting that the first flight left for Tijuana with 44 passengers aboard. The tropical storm has damaged hotels, homes and the airport. About 30,000 tourists, including 26,000 foreign visitors, are stranded, according to the Mexican government.
Hotels
The Hilton Los Cabos Beach & Golf Resort has updated its statement concerning the hurricane. "All guests and team members at Hilton Los Cabos Beach & Golf Resort have been accounted for and are reported safe. At this early stage, we do not have a definitive assessment of the damage. Our immediate priority is to care for our guests and team members and we are doing everything we can to minimize the effect on them. Currently, our team is assisting guests, providing meals and water, and trying to keep them as comfortable as possible. The hotel continues working with the local authorities and our tourism partners in the area. As a reminder, the Los Cabos airport remains closed until further notice. At this time, the hotel is closed to arrivals and no longer accepting reservations. Guests with existing reservations should call 1-800-HILTONS."
Esperanza, An Auberge Resort says, "Hurricane Odile has passed through Cabo San Lucas and everyone at Esperanza is safe, however the hotel did sustain damage from the high winds and rain. We are assessing the extent of the damage and repairs over the next few days and will let everyone know when we expect to reopen. Thanks to our guests and homeowners for their amazing support and the warm wishes." Travel Agent spoke with a representative from Auberge Resorts who told us that Esperanza evacuated guests ahead of the storm. All 160 guests with their luggage were put on luxury coach buses and transported up to San Diego where members of Auberge Resorts were waiting to help them get home safely.
As we reported yesterday, other area hotels continue their assessment of the damage.
Both the Westin and the Sheraton Hacienda del Mar Golf Resort & Spa have sustained damage and are not able to accept new guests at this time.
"It is too soon to determine when the hotels will be fully operational," Starwood says. "However, it is not expected until at least October 31." The hotel staff is on hand to help make alternate arrangements for guests at hotels that were not affected by the storm. "Starwood has resorts in Puerto Vallarta, Punta Mita and Cancun and we would gladly assist you in changing your reservation from Los Cabos to any of these three resort destinations."
To receive a full refund, e-mail [email protected].
Guests of One&Only Palmilla were evacuated ahead of the storm and no guests were at the resort when Hurricane Odile hit the area.
"While it is too early to give a complete assessment, our dedicated team is working diligently to assess damage in order to determine when the resort will reopen," One&Only says. "We will provide updates as they become available. We are in the process of contacting guests with bookings immediately impacted."
For additional updates or inquiries, please call:+866 829 2977 within the U.S. or +1 954 809 2726 outside of the U.S.
Secrets Marquis Los Cabos reports, "Resort executive staff members are currently assessing the damage and will be providing a report later today. We will be updating you with the confirmed details as soon as we receive the information. The Los Cabos International Airport remains closed until further notice." AMResorts has put out an official statement saying, "Our resorts have sustained cosmetic damages and substantial debris, yet no serious structural damages." AMResorts says that guests with reservations through September 23 may travel to the same brand that was previously reserved in an alternate destination for the same rate that was booked in Los Cabos, subject to new resorts availability. Guests may also cancel their reservations without penalty.
Solmar Hotels & Resorts posted on Facebook, "Hotel management is currently surveying and assessing the damage to all properties. We will share more information once we have it but rest assured that Solmar will continue to provide the best service possible to the guests that remain with us during this time through our dedicated staff & management team."
Hotel operations at Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos are currently impacted, as well. Contact the hotel directly with any questions, or call 1-800-323-7249.
Tour Operators
Apple Vacations is reporting that there is limited information coming directly from Los Cabos due to the power outages, though all reports indicate that at this time customers are safe at hotels or in emergency shelters. Apple Vacations is in the process of contacting all passengers to travel to Los Cabos through Saturday, September 20, regarding rebooking travel to Los Cabos on a future date, or booking an alternative destination, based on the applicable airline and hotel policies. Passengers whose flights have been cancelled and wish to re-book an alternative destination will receive a $50 discount per person for departures through October 31.
We have reached out to MLT Vacations, FunJet Vacations, Classic Vacations, Pleasant Holidays, Travel Impressions and the Los Cabos Tourism Board and are awaiting responses.
The Los Cabos International Airport is expected to remain closed for at least a week.
Stay tuned to Travel Agent Central as more news becomes available.