Pretty self-explanatory

 

Robert Read of Lonely Planet on Fox News

From CNN Travel

 

Esperanza, Cabo, San, Lucas, Mexico

Just a two-hour flight away from Los Angeles, sunny Cabo San Lucas is perfect for a quick, relaxing and romantic getaway for stressed-out Hollywood types.
This luxurious resort overlooks both the Sea of Cortez and Punta Ballena — or “Whale Point,” past which humpbacks migrate in winter — says Travel+Leisure, which has named Esperanza one of the world’s top 50 hotels.
All the hotel’s suites and villas offer ocean views. Some have private pools, a dedicated butler and private chefs for “in-villa dining.”
This is where LeAnn Rimes and Eddie Cibrian honeymooned in May. Paltrow and Martin have stayed as well.

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Originally published by:Jessica Silver-Greenberg – Wall Street Journal online

The clouds hanging over upscale vacation-home markets are starting to lift. While prices are still falling in most regions, the luxury segment is picking up, and brokers are reporting more inquiries than they have had in years.

The upshot: If you have the money and plan on staying put for the long term, now may be a good time to buy.

Five years after housing’s peak, markets that once were out of sight even for well-heeled buyers are now in range. On Hilton Head Island, S.C., a three-bedroom home nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and Calibogue Sound changed hands in April for $750,000, after having sold for $1.2 million in June 2006. In Vail, Colo., a three-bedroom home that fetched $3.3 million in 2008 sold in February for $2.5 million.

Overall, the median second-home price was $150,000 in 2010, down 11% from 2009 and roughly 25% from 2006, according to the National Association of Realtors. That isn’t pretty, but it is only slightly worse than the 22% drop for the overall housing market. The higher end of the market—homes in the $5 million-plus range—has held up better, says Douglas Duncan, chief economist at Fannie Mae. “At the top of the market, particularly luxury homes, prices have proven very elastic, and have sprung upward quickly,” he says. Read more…