This blog trip is going to be a bit different than other ones I’ve written for this page – though I suppose not that much different from my last one in Hawaii – this week I head to Cabo San Lucas with my travel buddy Eliza chasing the band Blue October for an epic experience.
Last year they announced it – the “Into the Ocean” getaway – a four-day, private and limited concert event at a hotel they booked out just for fans. I got the email, couldn’t believe it, and immediately started booking! The only problem is… they wanted two people per room – and at the price levels they were discussing and with most of my travel buddies these days in the “young children” phases of their lives… I didn’t really have anyone to go with…. And then I remembered my last trip to Maine being mostly Eliza’s fault – and a new travel buddy was cemented!
I wrote Eliza in a panic, tickets settling out fast: “Hey will you go? Do you know the band?”
By the time she agreed… tickets were already sold out. I was heartbroken – Blue October has been an influential band in my life since I was a teenager and some of their music has changed my life as my life changed with it. Their lead singer and I dealt with some of the same things as children, divorced around the same time, and while mine divorce wasn’t quite as rough as his turned out to be we both came out of those long dark tunnels together at about the same time as well. I had to see this band, had to find a way
And then, kismet: Blue October opens another week of tickets the week prior – I late September – to extend the experience. I booked immediately and still the only room type left was a “VIP Tower” with a private plunge pool. It was expensive, I’m not going to try to hide that fact, but having been here for a few days now I will say it was the absolute right decision.
And so, on September 25th, I boarded an airplane for Houston from Denver where I’d meet Eliza. We’d have a small layover there to catch up… and then we’d be on our way to Cabo together to spend four days with other Blue October fanatics – and believe me…. that’s who is here. There’s a Facebook page for the trip now full of people meeting the band, traveling with them on the way down here, generally just loving life with the experience. It’s been so much to be in rooms full of people and watch them all sing along to the most random of songs because we’re all here for thing: music.
My room view from the Westin, Denver International Airport
The flight to Houston was fine, I actually stayed in the Westin at the Denver airport since my flight was so early. The hotel is very modern and nicely decorated – heck it was pretty amazing everywhere except for the hotel restaurant where I got a disappointing dinner before an early bedtime. I also didn’t sleep much but that was out of sheer excitement.
By the time I ran into Eliza in Houston I’d had a full coffee, thank goodness, and we started caching up like no time has passed at all – which is the best way to catch up with old friends. We caught our flight to Cabo… got off and onto the bus (thank goodness Eliza read directions I would have wandered the right way after a while but it might have been a while!) and the private tour bus took us to our hotel. It was a bit of a long drive, and these roads definitely weren’t made for busses this size, but our guys were professionals and we made it with no issues.
That’s our hotel waaaaay down on the beach, secluded on purpose so we can have big concerts late into the night without disturbing the other resorts.
It’s hot here, that was my first thing I noticed. While the temperature was only in the 08’s the humidity and sun make it feel like the 90’s and it was no joke. I was hot and sweaty within minutes but the hotel’s A/C is amazing once you’re in your room. Our room also comes with a private butler – Hannia, who has already helped us out with a number of things and purchases we needed after we got here.
Half of the suite with bedroom, oh and there’s a private pool just out that door
Our private room pool
We settled in, Eliza unpacked (I tend to live from a suitcase I call it my “Jen trauma” from all the nonstop-trip vacations), and we decided to head up to the “VIP Lounge” – where only people from our type of room suit are allowed to go, and see if we could get some food before the “beach dinner welcome event’ at 7pm. We got to the lounge just as it closed but they let us in for snacks/drinks as the kitchen cleaned up. And that is when we promptly met Ryan Delahoussaye. He came in looking for food, we treated him just like anybody else and warned the kitchen had just closed. He confirmed, it, looked disappointed, and then said he’d see us that night at the ‘big dinner’ and we both agreed. After he walked out, Eliza asked me if I knew which member of the band that was and we ended up having to look together (sorry Ryan!). We’re pretending he didn’t want to be treated like a celebrity just then and we… helped. Yeah!
The VIP Lounge
From there we wandered back to the room, then out to the dinner and welcome event where we sat with strangers who became friends – some who have been to over 40 of Blue October’s live concerts (and here I am at three!).
Food and some new friends
The stage/video wall
Oh yeah, and Jeremy Furstenfeld, brother to lead singer Justin and drummer for Blue October, came and ate with us at our table also. It was a great intro, good food, an amazing experience overall out on the beach. The next few days would have tons of concerts in the same venue – just head out to the beach and grab a chair.
We ended the night back in the room, both getting ready to go to bed and wake up relaxed for the next morning!
