By Expedia Team, on January 13, 2014

People’s Choice: One&Only Palmilla Resort, Mexico

It’s not often a girl gets to visit the number one hotel in all the world, but that’s what I did in Mexico.

The One&Only Palmilla Resort topped Expedia’s Insiders Select 2013, a list of the best hotels in the world chosen from 150,000 properties on the site. The votes were collated from 500,000 travellers. It’s a huge honour and one I discovered was certainly well deserved.

The One&Only Resort is perched on a rocky outcrop edged with snatches of sandy beaches at the bottom of Mexico’s Baja Peninsula. It’s a two hour flight from Los Angeles to Los Cabos, so by the time you’ve practiced saying ‘hola’ and ‘adios amigos’, you’ve landed. Expedia’s Kiwi travellers can’t get enough of Mexico, it’s one of the most popular destinations at the moment, and with properties like this, we know why.

The One&Only Palmilla knows how to make a good first impression. A sweeping staircase leads up to the bar at the entrance but straight in front of you is a breathtaking view over the infinity pool that drops into the Sea of Cortez. It’s surrounded by sun loungers and umbrellas anchored at a swim-up bar. And I kid you not, whales and their babies were swimming about 300 metres away when I stopped by.

I walked up the sweeping staircase (perfect for a wedding, FYI) through the indoor bar with its open-air balcony and large glass-less windows and had yet another gasp at the view.

I love to people-watch in places like this because you never know which rich and famous soul you might spy hanging out. And if they’re here, I want to gawk. Ok, a little more discretely than that.